Choir Depression
{{Short description|Depression near Choir, Mongolia}}
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The Choir Depression is a depression near Choir, Mongolia. It is about 150 km long and 10 to 20 km wide, about 500 m lower than the surrounding upland.{{cite web|url=http://www.denisonmines.com/files/objects/2006%20AIF%20FINAL.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928122047/http://www.denisonmines.com/files/objects/2006%20AIF%20FINAL.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-09-28 |format=pdf |title=Annual Information Form |author=Denison Mines |date=December 2006 |page=62 |accessdate=2007-07-24 }} It lies at an altitude of 1269 m.
Uranium mines
Uranium prospecting began in the Choir Depression in 1955, and the Haraat deposit (of uranium trioxide), identified in 1970, began major drilling in 1988.{{cite web|url=http://sec.edgar-online.com/2000/03/31/17/0001035704-00-000218/Section4.asp |author=International Uranium Corp |title=Annual and Transition Report |date=March 2000 |accessdate=2007-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204107/http://sec.edgar-online.com/2000/03/31/17/0001035704-00-000218/Section4.asp |archivedate=2007-09-30 }} Following new discoveries in 1997, there is estimated to be 8165 t (18 million lbs.) of uranium trioxide in the depression.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/International+Uranium+Corporation+Announces+1997+Exploration+Results...-a020301865|title=International Uranium Corporation Announces 1997 Exploration Results in Mongolia - New 10 Million Pound Uranium Deposit Delineated|date=1998-02-18|accessdate=2007-09-25|archive-date=2011-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520120221/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/International+Uranium+Corporation+Announces+1997+Exploration+Results...-a020301865|url-status=dead}} In early 1994, the area was licensed to the Gurvan Saihan Joint Venture, with a 70% interest by Denison Mines, and 15% each from the Mongolian government and a Russian state geological concern.{{cite web|url=http://biz.yahoo.com/ccn/070313/200703130377729001.html?.v=1|title=Denison Announces NI 43-101 Resource Estimate on Hairhan Deposit in Mongolia|date=March 13, 2000|work=Yahoo! Finance|accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}{{cite web|url=http://www.denisonmines.com/content/exploration/Mongoliaexploration.cfm?catid=1281 |title=Exploration and Development: Mongolia |work=Denison Mines |accessdate=2007-09-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711233347/http://www.denisonmines.com/content/exploration/Mongoliaexploration.cfm?catid=1281 |archivedate=2007-07-11 |url-status=dead }} Rail lines connect the Trans-Mongolian Railway with the mine.