Radiation Measurements 40 (2005) 491 495

www.elsevier.com/locate/radmeas

Search for Uranium Source in Warcha Sandstone, Salt Range,

Pakistan, using SSNTD Technique
K. Ullaha, , N.U. Khattaka , A.A. Qureshia , M. Akrama , H.A. Khanb , A. Nisarc
a Physics Research Division, PINSTECH, P. O. Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan
b COMSATS Headquarters 4th Floor Shahrah-e-Jamhuriat, G-5/2 Islamabad-44000, Pakistan
c Radiation and Isotope Application Division, PINSTECH, P. O. Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

Received 27 August 2004; accepted 19 January 2005

Abstract
The similarity in sedimentary depositional characteristics of the Warcha Sandstone of Nilawahan Group in the Salt Range
to the uranium bearing sandstones of Siwalik Group in the foot hills of Himalaya and Sulaiman Ranges, Pakistan, tempted
geologists to investigate the former group for the occurrence of uranium deposits in it. Like volcanic ash beds in Siwaliks,
phosphatic nodules may be a possible source of uranium mineralization in Warcha Sandstone. Samples of phosphatic nodules
occurring in the Warcha sandstone near Chakwal were collected and subjected to the solid state nuclear track detection
technique for the determination of their uranium concentration. The uranium concentration in these samples ranges from
(434 32) to (964 74) with an average of (699 16) ppm. The high uranium content indicates that the phosphatic nodules
may be the possible source of uranium mineralization in Warcha Sandstone. These results are quite encouraging and favor the
idea of exploring the area in detail for any possible occurrence of uranium deposits.
2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords: Uranium; Phosphatic nodules; Sandstone; SSNTD technique

1. Introduction
Sandstone uranium deposits occur in medium- to coarsegrained sandstones deposited in a continental uvial or
marginal marine sedimentary environment. Impermeable
shale/mudstone units are interbedded in the sedimentary
sequence and often occur immediately above and below
the mineralized sandstone. Uranium precipitated under reducing conditions caused by a variety of reducing agents
within the sandstone including: carbonaceous material,
suldes, hydrocarbons and interbedded basic volcanics

Corresponding author. Tel.: +92 51 2207269;

fax: +92 51 9290275.
E-mail address: kafayat@pinstech.org.pk (K. Ullah).

1350-4487/$ - see front matter 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

doi:10.1016/j.radmeas.2005.01.011

with abundant ferro-magnesian minerals. Ore bodies of this

type are commonly low to medium grade (0.050.4% U3 O8 )
and individual ore bodies are small to medium in size (ranging up to a maximum of 50 000 t U3 O8 ). Depositional environments of these deposits may include continental-basin
margins, uvial channels, braided stream deposits and stable coastal plains.
The Siwalik Group of sedimentary rocks is the major
source of uranium deposits in Pakistan. The Siwalik rocks
occur along the southern anks of the Himalayas and consist predominantly of molasse sediments comprising sandstones, siltstones, mudstones and conglomerates. The characteristic sedimentary features of the Siwalik rocks such as
frequent occurrence of cross-bedding, ripple marks, vertebrate fossils and wood logs, and the association of pebble
and cobble-sized fragments with sand size detritus are suggestive of shallow water deposition for these rocks. These

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K. Ullah et al. / Radiation Measurements 40 (2005) 491 495

Fig. 1. Map showing locations of samples collected from the Chakwal district. These locations include the areas of Nawabi Kas, Nurpur,
Matin, Gahi, Simbal, Karuli, Malot and Warala in the south and south west of Chakwal district.

lithological characteristics favor braided stream deposition

under swampy conditions (Abid et al., 1983).
Pakistan produces about 2000 MW of electricity but that
demand has increased many folds due to industrialization
and population growth. Our hydroelectric sources are limited and thermal power production is beyond our reach due
to the high import bill for oil. As a result the best alternative to generate electricity is by using nuclear fuel, uranium. Our uranium deposits in the Siwalik System of rock
are being depleted. To cope with our future requirements of
power generation, we need to search for new uranium deposits. The best alternative for this purpose is to search for
uranium deposits in the Warcha Sandstones of Nilawahan
Group exposed extensively in the Salt Range.
Having sedimentary features and lithological characteristics nearly similar to the Siwalik Group, the Warcha Sandstone of Nilawahan Group, Salt Range provides ideal
conditions for occurrence of potential uranium deposits.
The presence of uranium mineralization in the Nilawa-

han Group, Eastern Salt Range has been reported in a

couple of recently unpublished reports (Azizullah et al.,
2003; Nisar, 2003). The Warcha Sandstone of the Nilawahan Group is of special interest containing phosphatic
nodules, and is composed of sandstone, shale, conglomeratic beds and some carbonaceous shale in the Eastern Salt Range. The presence of phosphatic nodules in
the Warcha Sandstone, Eastern Salt Range supports the
idea and requires detailed study of any uranium mineralization associated with these nodules. These phosphatic
nodules are scavengers of heavy metals, particularly, rare
earth elements and uranium. Furthermore, the geology
of the eastern part of the Salt Range is also favorable for
concentrating uranium to form deposits. Several uranium
and thorium anomalies in the eastern part of the Salt
Range have been discovered in geological and radiometric surveys carried out during 19921993. More promising areas for hosting signicant uranium resources in the
Eastern Salt Range have also been delineated (Azizullah
et al., 2003).

K. Ullah et al. / Radiation Measurements 40 (2005) 491 495

The development of the earths crust and creation of continents were not uniform processes all over the globe, which
is why uranium ore deposit formation started at different
times in various geostructural units. The transition of the
earths crust evolution from sea to continental conditions
of sedimentation took place in six denite geological periods during which extensive uranium deposits were generated all over the globe. One such period is the Permian time
(250190 my) during which 16 uranium deposits in Asia
(India), Africa, South America and Australia were formed.
Thus, the search for a uranium deposit in Warcha Sandstone
of Nilawahan Group, Salt Range seems to be a justied proposal.
The solid state nuclear track detection technique (SSNTD)
is being used for measuring the concentration and spatial
distribution of certain elements which emit heavy nuclear
particles either directly or as a result of a specic nuclear
reaction (Fleischer and Price, 1964). This technique is a
suitable choice and is selected to observe the uranium distribution pattern in the phosphatic nodules and other phosphatic materials (Qureshi et al., 1997). Samples of phosphatic nodules associated with the Warcha Sandstone of the
Nilawahan Group have been collected from Nawabi Kas,
Nurpur, Matin, Gahi, Simbal, Karuli, Malot and Warala areas
(Fig. 1). The technique has been used for determination of
uranium concentration in samples of phosphatic nodules using 235 U(n, f) nuclear reaction under thermal neutrons in

493

order to search for any possibility of uranium sources in

Warcha Sandstone.

2. Geology of the area

The Permian sequence of the Salt Range is composed of
two groups: (i) the Nilawahan and (ii) the Zaluch groups.
The Nilawahan Group is well developed in the Salt Range
and represents mostly non-marine rocks with only a small
transitory marine transgression during Asselian. The Group
includes Tobra Formation, Dandot Formation, Warcha Sandstone and Sardhai Formation (Table 1). Lithologically this
group consists of boulders, conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones and shales (Shah, 1977, 1980; Kadri, 1995).
The Warcha Sandstone of Nilawahan Group is widely
distributed and well preserved all over the Salt Range. The
sandstone is red, purple or is of lighter shades of pink. It is
medium to thick bedded, ne to coarse grained, with gravels
and pebbles of granite at places. Sedimentary features like
crossbedding in the sandstone are suggestive of a uvial
depositional environment. Shale is thin bedded and dark
brown in color. Phosphatic nodules are associated with shale
beds in the upper part of the formation. The thickness of the
formation varies from 70 to 165 m in the Salt Range. The
formation was deposited probably in the near shore/uviatile
environments (Shah, 1977, 1980; Kadri, 1995).

Table 1
Lower Permian succession (Nilawahan Group) of the Salt Range (Shah, 1980)
Formation

Description

Environment

Stage

Sardhai

Shale and clays of lavender

color, with interbedded sandstone of greenish color well
bedded and cross bedded; carbonaceous in part with copper
minerals, jasper and gypsum

The formation was mostly deposited in the lacustrine but

laterally marine reducing environment has also been noted

Sakmarian (288283 Ma)

Warcha Sandstone

Sandstone, shale, conglomerates and some carbonaceous

shale; the facies changes from
sandstone in the Western Salt
Range to alternation of sand
and shale in the Eastern Salt
Range. Thin coal seams and
copper minerals are locally
present

Mostly uvial with localized

lagoonal conditions

Sakmarian (288283 Ma)

Dandot

Olive grayish green shale and

coarse sandstone with localized carbonaceous shale
Boulder with claystone, sandstone and siltstone

Marine in the Eastern and

Western Salt Range

Asselian (291288 Ma)

Glacial, glacio-uviatile and

uviatile environment

Asselian (291288 Ma)

Tobra

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K. Ullah et al. / Radiation Measurements 40 (2005) 491 495

Table 2
Uranium concentration in samples of phosphatic nodules of Warcha
Sandstone, Nilawahan Group, Salt Range
S. no. Sample no. Induced tracks in Lexan

U Content (ppm)

Total tracks Track density

(
i ) (104 )
(Ni )

Fig. 2. Diagrammatic sketch showing packing arrangement for

irradiation of phosphatic nodules in the research reactor PARR-1,
at PINSTECH, Islamabad.

3. Experimental procedure
Twelve samples of phosphatic nodules taken from the
studied area were cut into rectangular pieces and polished
with an automatic lapping and polishing machine to obtain
smooth surfaces. Lexan detectors were placed in contact
with all samples and Standard Reference Material (SRM612) of known uranium content as shown in Fig. 2. Both
the samples and Standard Reference Material were irradiated with thermal neutrons in the Pakistan Research Reactor1 (PARR-1). After irradiation the lexan detectors were removed from samples and standard and etched in a 6.5 M
NaOH solution at 50 C for 45 min. The ssion tracks registered in the lexan detectors were counted using a Zeiss
binocular microscope at an overall magnication of 400.
The uranium content in the phosphatic nodules was determined by comparing the track density of unknown samples
with the standard samples using the following relation of
Fleischer et al. (1975):
Cux =

Tx Is Rs
Cus ,
T s Ix R x

(1)

where Cux and Cus are the uranium content in the unknown
and standard samples, Tx and Ts are the ssion track densities in lexan detectors for the unknown and standard samples, Ix and Is are the isotopic abundance ratios of U235
to U238 in the unknown and standard samples and Rx and
Rs are the average etchable ranges of ssion fragments in
the unknown and standard samples, respectively. The ratio
Rs /Rx is assumed to be unity, because the average ranges of
ssion fragments in the SRM-612 and phosphatic material
are approximately the same.
4. Result and discussion
Twelve samples of pinkish brown to dark brown phosphatic nodules were collected from Nawabi Kas, Nurpur,
Matin, Gahi, Simbal, Karuli, Malot and Warala areas of
Chakwal district, Punjab, Pakistan (Fig. 1). These nodules
have a high specic gravity and range in size from 1 to
15 mm. These nodules are mainly restricted to the shale in

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

WS-2
WS-3(a)
WS-3(b)
WS-4(a)
WS-4(b)
WS-5(a)
WS-5(b)
WS-6(a)
WS-6(b)
WS-7
WS-8(a)
WS-8(b)

12 711
112 399
9969
14 706
16 566
11 352
10 878
7752
9195
10 956
19 220
15 240

76.69
74.81
60.15
88.73
99.95
68.49
65.63
46.77
55.48
71.53
103.89
91.95
Mean

71155
69453
55843
82363
92771
63549
60947
43432
51540
66451
96474
85365
69916

the upper part and are characteristic of the Warcha Sandstone. They are present throughout along the strike in a strip
of 25 km length.
The uranium content in this study has been found to range
from 434 32 to 964 74 ppm with an average value of
699 16 ppm. The average uranium concentration in each
nodule has also been given in Table 2. It was observed that
some irregular patterns of calcite lled veins on the polished surfaces of the samples had negligible uranium content. Some clusters of ssion tracks have also been noted as
showing a relatively high content of uranium at a few places
in these nodules. Generally, uranium distribution is uniform
and no preferred control of increasing uranium content from
the core to the periphery or vice versa has been noted in
these phosphatic nodules.
The results of this study can be compared with the uranium concentration in these phosphatic nodules determined
by Nisar (2003), ranging from 470 20 to 786 25 ppm using gamma spectrometry (unpublished M.Sc. Thesis). The
results of uranium concentration in phosphatic nodules determined with the SSNTD technique are in good agreement
with the uranium concentration determined with gamma
spectrometry.
Strong bleaching and uraniferous solution movements are
also present in Simbal and Matin areas, in the Eastern Salt
Range. The presence of color bandings and bleaching within
the sandstones strata due to uraniferous solution movements
indicates that some uranium deposit was formed in the vicinity of Matin area, but has possibly been disturbed due to
block faulting associated with Salt Range Thrust. Therefore,
areas with high radioactivity, bleaching, color bandings and
relatively higher values of uranium, both within the sandstone as well as in phosphatic nodules need attention for
further exploration (Azizullah et al., 2004).

K. Ullah et al. / Radiation Measurements 40 (2005) 491 495

5. Conclusion

(1) Like volcanic ash beds in Siwaliks, phosphatic nodules may be a possible source of uranium mineralization from where uranium has been leached out and distributed in the Warcha Sandstone of Nilawahan Group,
Eastern Salt Range.
(2) The presence of color bandings and bleaching within the
sandstones strata due to uraniferous solution movements
also supports the idea that uranium has been leached
from these nodules and possibly precipitated where the
geological conditions were favorable.
(3) Keeping in view these encouraging results, it is suggested to carry out a comprehensive exploratory work
in all other extensions of the Warcha Sandstone, especially in areas having phosphatic nodule beds. It is
hoped that these studies would lead to the discovery of
new uranium deposits in the Nilawahan Group, Eastern
Salt Range.

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