Iran said the find - which has not been independently confirmed - would treble the size of known uranium deposits.

BBC: Iran nuclear crisis: Jalili says talks 'positive step'

Areva controls one of the most lucrative uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, a province accounting for 30% of global uranium production.

FORBES: Money & Investing

The company said it continues to make progress on its troubled Cigar Lake mine, which is sitting on one of the richest uranium deposits in the country.

FORBES: Uranium sell-off an overreaction

Decades ago, when nuclear power plants were still being built, the search for uranium deposits turned up millions of pounds in states like Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah.

FORBES: Energy & Genius