Mineral composition of uranium ore at the Dalmatovo deposit,Russia

The mineral composition of hydrogenic uranium ore of the Dalmatovo deposit was studied with analytical scanning electron microscopy. The results correspond to earlier known data only in general terms. Phosphosilicate uranium mineralization, which is predominant in the samples, is similar to P-bearing coffinite in elemental composition but differs in morphology. The quantitative analysis of microcrystals corresponds to the formula (U,Ca)[(Si,P)O₄]₂, where U/Si ratio is twice as low as in coffinite. The occurrence of oxide pitchblende mineralization has been confirmed. The initial stage of the formation of uranyl minerals has been revealed. The mineral species of Ti-U substance that determines geochemical attributes of the Dalmatovo deposit is considered.     

Products of abiotic U(VI) reduction by biogenic magnetite and vivianite

Reductive immobilization of uranium by the stimulation of dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria (DMRB) has been investigated as a remediation strategy for subsurface U(VI) contamination. In those environments, DMRB may utilize a variety of electron acceptors, such as ferric iron which can lead to the formation of reactive biogenic Fe(II) phases. These biogenic phases could potentially mediate abiotic U(VI) reduction. In this work, the DMRB Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN32 was used to synthesize two biogenic Fe(II)-bearing minerals: magnetite (a mixed Fe(II)-Fe(III) oxide) and vivianite (an Fe(II)-phosphate). Analysis of abiotic redox interactions between these biogenic minerals and U(VI) showed that both biogenic minerals reduced U(VI) completely. XAS analysis indicates significant differences in speciation of the reduced uranium after reaction with the two biogenic Fe(II)-bearing minerals. While biogenic magnetite favored the formation of structurally ordered, crystalline UO₂, biogenic vivianite led to the formation of a monomeric U(IV) species lacking U-U associations in the corresponding EXAFS spectrum. To investigate the role of phosphate in the formation of monomeric U(IV) such as sorbed U(IV) species complexed by mineral surfaces, versus a U(IV) mineral, uranium was reduced by biogenic magnetite that was pre-sorbed with phosphate. XAS analysis of this sample also revealed the formation of monomeric U(IV) species suggesting that the presence of phosphate hinders formation of UO₂. This work shows that U(VI) reduction products formed during in situ biostimulation can be influenced by the mineralogical and geochemical composition of the surrounding environment, as well as by the interfacial solute-solid chemistry of the solid-phase reductant.     

Role of organic matter in uranium mineralisation in Vempalle dolostone; Cuddapah basin,India

Dolostone of Vempalle Formation near Tummalapalle hosts large uranium deposit (>100,000 tonnes with an average grade of 0.045%U₃O₈). It is a unique type of uranium deposit because carbonate formations have been considered to be among the least uraniferous of all the rocks of the Earth’s crust due to mobility of uranium in aqueous fluid in the presence of carbonate and bicarbonate ions. Vempalle dolostone hosts syn-sedimentary uranium mineralization in the form of discrete uranium phases (pitchblende and coffinite) associated with collophane, and adsorbed uranium in organic matter. The organic matter has played dual role of concentrating uranium from solution and also chemically reducing it to pitchhblende and coffinite.     

Coupled uranium mineralisation and bacterial sulphate reduction for the genesis of the Baxingtu sandstone-hosted U deposit,SW Songliao Basin,NE China

The Baxingtu deposit is a typical redox front tabular-shaped uranium deposit hosted in sandstones of the Late Cretaceous Yaojia Formation deposited within a braided river environment during the post-rift stage of the Songliao Basin, in northeast China. This study proposes the first metallogenic model for the Baxingtu deposit and provides new data on genetic processes involved in the uranium mineralisation of sandstone-type deposits that were characterised through petrographic observations, whole-rock geochemistry, and geochemical and/or mineralogical study of iron disulphide, uranium minerals, Fe-Ti oxides (EPMA, LA-ICP-MS), and organic matter (REP). The δ³⁴S value has been measured in situ by SIMS on the different generations of iron disulphide.Within regional primary reduced sandstones, pre-ore uranium enrichment (U_mean = 7.6 ppm in whole rock) was identified on altered Fe-Ti oxides along with minor concentrations on organic matter (respectively 26.3% and 1.3% of the whole-rock U content), which together represent a significant source of uranium for the mineralisation. Additional pre-ore uranium concentrations may also be associated with clay minerals. Petrographic observations and REP data indicate that organic matter occurring in the host-sandstone is mainly inherited from land plants and corresponds to type III or type IV kerogens. Ore-stage iron disulphides largely occur as framboids and in replacement of organic matter or also as sub-idiomorphic to idiomorphic cement and crystal. Trace element signatures detected within framboids are likely indicative of formation mainly from a single event. Framboids and iron disulphide in replacement of organic matter have a light sulphur isotope signature characterised by δ³⁴S values from −72.0 to −6.2‰, suggesting that sulphur originated from bacterial sulphate reduction, which was mainly responsible for (1) the liberation of U from Fe-Ti oxides and organic matter, (2) the generation of ore-stage iron disulphides, (3) the bioreduction of uranium and (4) the production of a secondary H₂S-rich reducing barrier also involved in uranium reduction. Uranyl and sulphate ions were transported through the host sandstone by low-temperature oxygenated groundwater and U(IV) was precipitated at the redox interface as nano to microcrystals of pitchblende and coffinite, dominantly associated with bacterial substrate and as intergrowth with biogenic iron disulphide or directly associated with organic matter and residual Ti-Fe oxides. The uranium mineralisation does not replace ore-stage iron disulphides. Therefore, the combined mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic characteristics of the Baxingtu tabular uranium deposit characterise dominantly biogenic processes for the genesis of the uranium mineralisation.     

An excellent fossil wood cell texture with primary uranium minerals at a sandstone-hosted roll-type uranium deposit, NW China

A fossil wood cell texture with pitchblende and coffinite found at a sandstone-hosted roll-type uranium deposit, Xinjiang, NW China, is first reported here for the country. In the mineralized sandstone, detrital grains consisting of quartz, feldspar, rock fragments, carbonaceous trashes, mica and accessory minerals were deposited in early Turassic time and were cemented by clays and minor authigenic calcite and quartz. Pitchblende and minor coffinite are principal ore minerals at the deposit, and selectively replaced carbonized fossil wood remnants or filled fossil wood cells. An excellent fossil wood cell texture with primary uranium minerals formed. Replacement of organic debris by primary uranium minerals may be due to a local reducing environment resulting from the production of CH₄, H₂S or H₂SO₃ in its decomposition, and a biochemical reaction indicated by the common presence of framboidal pyrite.     

松辽盆地白兴吐铀矿床热液蚀变及物质组成研究

显微镜下矿石薄片鉴定和铀矿物电子探针分析显示,白兴吐铀矿床发育高岭石化、碳酸盐化、黄铁矿化、水云母-绢云母化和赤铁矿化等中低温热液蚀变;矿石的铀矿物主要为铀石,少量沥青铀矿,以及部分含钛铀矿物,矿石普遍富含磷和钛。铀矿物与热液成因的胶状、团块状和莓状黄铁矿、铁白云石、赤铁矿等共生。这些特征表明,该矿床的工业铀矿化与热液作用关系密切。     

河北张麻井矿床的矿物学研究及其对铀钼成因关系的启示

张麻井铀钼矿床是中国北方地区最大的火山岩型铀钼矿床.为探讨该矿床的铀钼成因关系,对浸染状钼(铀)矿石开展了矿物学和元素地球化学研究.除沥青铀矿外,铀石也是该矿床的一种重要铀矿物,常呈他形粒状,与胶硫钼矿、闪锌矿共生.元素面扫描结果显示,铀与钼元素的空间分布范围非常一致,表明铀和钼可能为同一期成矿作用的产物.此外,相较于...     

A Rapid In Situ Method for Determining the Ages of Uranium Oxide Minerals: Evolution of the Cigar Lake Deposit,Athabasca Basin

We present a rapid and accurate technique for making in situ U-Pb isotopic measurements of uranium oxide minerals that utilizes both electron and ion microprobes. U and Pb concentrations are determined using an electron microprobe, whereas the isotopic composition of Pb for the same area is measured using a high-resolution ion microprobe. The advantages of this approach are: mineral separation and chemical digestion are unnecessary; homogenous uranium oxide standards, which are difficult to obtain, are not required; and precise and accurate U-Pb ages on ～10 μm spots can be obtained in a matter of hours. We have applied our method to study the distribution of U-Pb ages in complexly intergrown uranium oxides from the unconformity-type Cigar Lake uranium deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada. In situ U-Pb results from early formed uraninite define a well-correlated array on concordia with upper and lower intercepts of 1467 ± 63 Ma and 443 ± 96 Ma (±lσ), respectively. The 1467 Ma age is interpreted as the minimum age of mineralization and is consistent with the age of clay-mineral alteration (～1477 Ma) and magnetization of diagenetic hematite (1650 to 1450 Ma) that is associated with these unconformity-type uranium deposits and early diagenesis of the Athabasca Basin sediments. In situ U-Pb isotopic analyses of uraninite and coffinite can document the Pb?/U heterogeneities that can occur on a scale of 15 to 30 μm, thus providing relatively accurate information regarding the timing of fluid interactions associated with the evolution of these deposits.     

Uranium deposits with a new phosphate type of blacks

Data on ningyoite [CaU(PO₄)₂ · 2H₂O] occurrences in uranium ores and on deposits with ores composed entirely or largely of this mineral are considered. Most of the recent findings of ningyoite mineralization are confined to infiltration deposits, and only sporadic ones, to pegmatites and hydrothermal deposits. The geological settings and mineral assemblages indicate that ningyoite ores are formed from neutral or slightly alkaline solutions at higher Eh values relative to other types of uranium blacks (uraninite, coffinite) and are localized in the reducing zone at the boundary of redox zoning. The factors that testify to the decisive role of microbiological processes in the formation of monomineral ningyoite ore are considered. All hydrogenic deposits (occurrences) of ningyoite ore known to date in Japan, Bulgaria, Canada, Kazakhstan, and Siberia belong to the same ground-infiltration genetic type.     

鄂尔多斯盆地纳岭沟地区铀矿物赋存形式研究及其地质意义

纳岭沟铀矿床位于鄂尔多斯盆地东北部的伊陕单斜构造区,该区含矿主岩为中侏罗统直罗组下段下亚段。本文通过电子探针、能谱及背散射分析等方法,详细研究了该区目的层砂岩的铀矿物类型及其赋存形式,并对其矿物组合特征及期次等进行了探讨。结果表明纳岭沟地区铀矿物主要为铀石,还有少量的含钛含铀矿物、沥青铀矿、铀钍石等。铀矿物与黄铁矿、蚀变钛铁矿、锐钛矿/白钛石、粘土矿物等密切共生,呈毛刺状或微细柱状产于矿物边缘,或呈粒状产于黑云母解理缝中,另外也见产于碎屑颗粒中。结合电子探针及背散射分析,对蚀变黑云母解理缝中黄铁矿及铀石成因、以及蚀变钛铁矿与铀特殊关系进行了初步探讨。另外该区存在高Y和低Y元素两种铀石类型,沥青铀矿可能为原铀矿物蚀变残留,结合矿物蚀变期次,初步认为该区含铀砂岩至少遭受两期不同成矿流体作用,多源流体耦合成矿可能是砂岩型铀成矿的重要机制之一。     

Genesis and Metallogenic Process of the Lujing Uranium Deposit,Southwest Jiangxi Province,China: Constraints of Micropetrography and S–C–O Isotopes

The Lujing uranium deposit, located in the southeastern part of the Nanling metallogenic province, is one of the representative granite‐related hydrothermal uranium deposits in South China. Basic geology, geochemistry, and geochronology of the deposit have been extensively studied. However, there is still a chronic lack of systematic research on the genesis and metallogenic process of the deposit. Thus, we recently carried out an electron microprobe and stable isotopic analysis. The main research results and progresses are as follows: Uranium minerals in this deposit include coffinite, pitchblende, and uranothorite, and small amounts of uranium exist in accessory minerals in the form of isomorphism. Coffinite, which occurs predominantly as the pseudomorphs after pitchblende, also occurs as a primary mineral and is locally formed from the remobilization of uranium from adjacent uranium‐bearing minerals. The mineralizing fluid was originally composed of a magmatic fluid generated by late Yanshanian magmatism. The high As content of pyrite in ores may reflect the addition of meteoric water, or the formation water (or both), to the magmatic hydrothermal system. The δ³⁴S values vary from −14.4‰ to 13.9‰ (mean δ³⁴S = −3.9‰), showing a range that is similar to nearby Cambrian metamorphic strata and Indosinian granites, indicating that these host rocks represent the source of sulfur; however, the possibility of a mantle source cannot be completely ruled out. According to our new isotopic data and recent Pb isotopic data, we conclude that the uranium in ores was derived by leaching dominantly from the uranium‐rich host rocks, especially the Cambrian metamorphic strata. The δ¹³C_PDB values (−8.75‰ to 1.40‰; mean δ¹³C_PDB = −5.41‰) and δ¹⁸O_SMOW values (5.45–18.62‰; mean δ¹⁸O = 13.02‰) of reddish calcite from the ore‐forming stage suggest that the CO₂ in the mineralizing fluids was derived predominantly from the mantle, with a small component contributed by marine carbonates. Based on these new data and previous research results, this paper proposes that uranium metallogenesis in the Lujing deposit is closely associated with mafic magmatism resulting from crustal extension during the Cretaceous to Paleogene in South China.     

东胜砂岩型铀矿床中烃类流体与成矿关系研究

东胜砂岩型铀矿床定位于灰绿色岩石与灰色岩石的接触部位,主要受古层间氧化带控制.矿体以板状为主.铀主要以铀矿物和吸附铀形式存在.铀矿物主要为铀石, UO2含量为 46.72%～ 74.60%.吸附铀及 U6 、U4 在铀矿床的不同地段所占比例存在明显差别.该铀矿床与世界上其他砂岩型铀矿床在成因上具有明显的不同,表现在矿床特征、岩石地球化学环境及控矿因素等方面具有很强的特殊性.晚侏罗世-早白垩世的构造热事件形成的含烃热流体参与了成矿作用,不仅为铀的活化、迁移、富集提供了有利条件,而且使铀矿床完全隐伏在还原环境中,对矿床的保存起到了重要作用.由烃类流体产生的后生还原作用所形成的灰绿色砂岩可作为铀矿床的岩石地球化学勘查标志.     

Comparative dissolution kinetics of biogenic and chemogenic uraninite under oxidizing conditions in the presence of carbonate

The long-term stability of biogenic uraninite with respect to oxidative dissolution is pivotal to the success of in situ bioreduction strategies for the subsurface remediation of uranium legacies. Batch and flow-through dissolution experiments were conducted along with spectroscopic analyses to compare biogenic uraninite nanoparticles obtained from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and chemogenic UO_2.00 with respect to their equilibrium solubility, dissolution mechanisms, and dissolution kinetics in water of varied oxygen and carbonate concentrations. Both materials exhibited a similar intrinsic solubility of ∼10⁻⁸ M under reducing conditions. The two materials had comparable dissolution rates under anoxic as well as oxidizing conditions, consistent with structural bulk homology of biogenic and stoichiometric uraninite. Carbonate reversibly promoted uraninite dissolution under both moderately oxidizing and reducing conditions, and the biogenic material yielded higher surface area-normalized dissolution rates than the chemogenic. This difference is in accordance with the higher proportion of U(V) detected on the biogenic uraninite surface by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Reasonable sources of a stable U(V)-bearing intermediate phase are discussed. The observed increase of the dissolution rates can be explained by carbonate complexation of U(V) facilitating the detachment of U(V) from the uraninite surface. The fraction of surface-associated U(VI) increased with dissolved oxygen concentration. Simultaneously, X-ray absorption spectra showed conversion of the bulk from UO_2.0 to UO_2+x. In equilibrium with air, combined spectroscopic results support the formation of a near-surface layer of approximate composition UO_2.25 (U₄O₉) coated by an outer layer of U(VI). This result is in accordance with flow-through dissolution experiments that indicate control of the dissolution rate of surface-oxidized uraninite by the solubility of metaschoepite under the tested conditions. Although U(V) has been observed in electrochemical studies on the dissolution of spent nuclear fuel, this is the first investigation that demonstrates the formation of a stable U(V) intermediate phase on the surface of submicron-sized uraninite particles suspended in aqueous solutions.     

砂岩型铀矿中铀矿物U-Pb年代学研究现状及研究方向

该文基于中国地质调查局天津地质调查中心研究团队近年来的研究工作及对相关文献的综合研究,对砂岩型铀矿中一些重要铀矿物如沥青铀矿(晶质铀矿)、铀石、钛铀矿等的微区原位成因矿物学和U-Pb年代学研究现状进行了深入分析,提出新的研究方向,即通过采用二次离子质谱法、激光剥蚀多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱法与电子探针化学分析法和同位素稀释热电离质谱法相结合的方式,综合研究砂岩型铀矿中沥青铀矿(晶质铀矿)、铀石、钛铀矿等铀矿物和金红石、磷灰石等含铀矿物的微区原位成因矿物学和U-Pb年代学,探索砂岩型铀矿中矿石矿物的U-Pb同位素测年新方法,获取更精确的砂岩型铀矿成岩成矿的年代学信息。这对于全面准确地认识砂岩型铀矿床的生成和演化历史,建立砂岩型铀矿床的成矿新理论具有十分重要的科学意义。铀矿物测年新方法在砂岩型铀矿床的地质勘探中也有广阔的应用前景。     

Hydrothermal mineralization in the sandstone–hosted Hangjinqi uranium deposit,North Ordos Basin,China

Tabular–type uranium ore deposits (the Hangjinqi and Daying deposits) have recently been found in the Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation, north of the Ordos Basin, China. Petrographic observations, the chemical composition of U minerals determined by EMPA and fs–LA–ICP–MS, whole rock geochemistry and the microthermometric study of fluid inclusions have been integrated to characterize the genetic conditions of the U mineralization in the Hangjinqi sandstone–hosted deposit. Two different groups of U minerals have been identified. One group includes coffinite(I) associated with vanadium–rich micas. Coffinite(I) is enriched in vanadium (V) and devoid of iron (Fe) and yttrium (Y) and has a LREE–enriched chondrite–normalized REE pattern. The U minerals of this group are similar to meteoric fluid infiltration related deposits. The second group has coeval coffinite(II) and coarsely crystalline calcite cement. Coffinite(II) is enriched in Y and Fe and depleted in V and is marked by a flat chondrite–normalized REE pattern, which is compatible with typical hydrothermal genetic deposits with high–salinity mineralizing fluids. The temperature and salinity of the primary aqueous inclusions in the ore–stage calcite are 120–180 °C and 8.00–16.34% (eq. wt% NaCl), respectively. These mineral assemblages, temperatures and salinities indicate that the Hangjinqi deposit was affected by two distinct types of ore–bearing fluids: low–salinity meteoric waters and high–salinity hydrothermal fluids. The meteoric fluids event began at 97 ± 5 Ma with the titling of the northern Ordos Basin and the uplift of the Hetao region to the north. Hydrothermal U mineralization occurred since 39 ± 2 Ma with the rifting of the Hetao graben. Thus, the previous biogenic model for the U mineralization should be modified in the uraniferous region of the north Ordos Basin.     

Genesis of coffinite and the U-Ti association in lower old red sandstone sediments,Ousdale, Caithness,Scotland

The mineralogy of a fault-related uranium occurrence, in clastic rocks overlying granite, is described from borehole material. Coffinite is the only important uranium mineral. Other notable minerals are sulphides, fluorite, calcite and hydrocarbon. Coffinite is epigenetic and paragenetically late, rimming sulphides and hycrocarbon. It occurs partly in spatial association with a TiO₂ mineral (probably anatase). This U-Ti association is attributed to adsorption of U by altered Ti-minerals prior to growth of the U mineral. Thus is has similarities with many diagenetic occurrences, though their mineralogy is usually different (the U-Ti association being represented by uranotitanates). The latter are attributed to local supersaturation of TiO₂, which did not occur at Ousdale because Ti was relatively mobile in the fluids. Coffinite + TiO₂ + quartz is interpreted as a stable low-temperature assemblage. The mineralogy thus indicates a hydrothermal uranium mineralization of an unusual type (without prominent uraninte), formed from relatively low-temperature fluids containing complexing agents which mobilized Ti.     

The zircon-thorite mineral group in metasomatized granite,Ririwai, Nigeria 1. Geochemistry and metastable solid solution of thorite and coffinite

Summary At Ririwai, Nigeria, a biotite granite has suffered extensive post-magmatic metasomatism to produce albitized, microclinized, and greisenized rocks; the latter two lithologies form the wallrocks adjacent to tin-zinc vein-style mineralization. All the rock-types carry accessory amounts of thorite, locally accompanied by trace amounts of paragenetically late coffinite and xenotime. Petrographical and electron-microprobe data are presented for these minerals. In the biotite granite, thorite and coffinite range to high Zr contents (25.1 wt% ZrO₂ in thorite and 11.7 wt% in coffinite), exceeding the highest values previously reported in both minerals. In the lode wallrocks, yttrium contents range up to 13.9 wt% Y₂O₃ in thorite and 15.9 wt% in coffinite. From stoichiometric considerations, both minerals are inferred to contain OH. Petrographically, the thorites of the lode wallrocks are distinctive, and they are interpreted as having grown from the metasomatizing fluids. The albitized rocks and some of the lode wallrocks contain the thorites with the highest U contents, including one example of continuous zoning to coffinite. The unusual mineral compositions are interpreted as metastable solid-solution ranges formed from fluids that transported U, Th, Y and, over short distances, Zr.

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Die Zirkon-Thorit Mineral Gruppe in metasomatisiertem Granit, Ririwai, Nigeria. 1. Geochemie und metastable feste Lösungen des Thorit und Coffinit

Zusammenfassung In Ririwai, Nigeria, wurde ein Biotit-Granit durch extensive Metasomatose in albitisierte, mikroklinisierte und vergreisete Gesteine umgewandelt. In Mikroklin-Gesteinen und Greisen sitzt eine Zinn-Zink-Gangvererzung! Sämtliche Gesteinstypen führen Thorit als akzessorischen Gemengteil, stellenweise mit Spuren von spätgebildetem Coffinit und Xenotim. Petrographische und Mikrosonden-Daten dieser Minerale werden präsentiert. Im Biotit-Granit erreichten die Zr-Gehalte im Thorit und Coffinit Werte, wie sie bisher noch nicht bekannt waren (25.1 Gew.-% ZrO₂ im Thorit und 11.7 Gew.-% im Coffmit). In den Nebengesteinen reichen die Yttrium-Gehalte im Thorit bis 13.9 Gew.-% Y₂O₃, und im Coffinit bis 15.9 Gew.-%. Aus stöchiometrischen Überlegungen kann vermutet werden, daß beide Minerale OH enthalten. Petrographisch sind die Thorite aus den Nebengesteinen eindeutig definiert, und sie dürften aus metasomatischen Fluida entstanden sein. Die albitisierten Gesteine und auch einige Nebengesteine führen Thorite mit den höchsten U-Gehalten, darunter ein Beispiel mit einem kontinuierlichen Zonarbau bis zum Coffinit. Die ungewöhnlichen Mineralzusammensetzungen werden als metastabile feste Lösungen interpretiert, die aus Fluiden gebildet worden sind, welche U, Th, Y und über kurze Distanzen auch Zr transportiert haben.

     

In-situ SIMS uraninite U–Pb dating and genesis of the Xianshi granite-hosted uranium deposit,South China

The southeastern part of the Nanling metallogenic province, China is host to numerous granite-hosted vein-type hydrothermal uranium deposits. The geology and geochemistry of these deposits have been extensively studied. However, accurate and precise ages for the uranium mineralization are scarce because the uranium minerals in these deposits are usually fine grained, and may have formed in several stages. Therefore, the ages previously obtained by the bulk dating techniques are possibly a mixed age.The Xianshi uranium deposit, located in the southeastern part of the Guidong granite complex, is a major uranium deposit in South China. The uranium mineralization from this deposit is mainly fine grained uraninite in quartz or calcite veins which are spatially associated with the Cretaceous mantle-derived mafic dykes. Micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses indicate that the dominant uranium mineral occurs as a rare form of uraninite (U₃O₇). Three distinct generations of uranium minerals have been identified based on petrographic and field relations. Stage 1 uraninite has the lowest UO₂ and highest PbO contents whereas Stage 3 uraninite has the highest UO₂ and lowest PbO contents.Uraninite from the Xianshi deposit was dated using an in-situ SIMS U–Pb dating technique. The results show three distinct age groups: 135 ± 4 Ma, 113 ± 2 Ma and 104 ± 2 Ma, which are in excellent agreement with the ages of three episodes of mantle-derived mafic dykes. Therefore, the Xianshi uranium deposit has experienced at least three hydrothermal events that are responsible for the deposition of uranium ores, which are genetically related to the emplacement of three sets of mafic dykes.     

Formation of uranium(IV)-silica colloids at near-neutral pH

Evidence is provided by photon correlation spectroscopy, ultrafiltration and ultracentrifugation that uranium(IV) can form silicate-containing colloids of a size of ?20 nm. A concentration of up to 10⁻³ M of colloid-borne U(IV) was observed. The particles are generated in near-neutral to slightly alkaline solutions containing background chemicals of geogenic nature (carbonate, silicate, sodium ions). They remain stable in aqueous suspension over years. Electrostatic repulsion due to a negative zeta potential in the near-neutral to alkaline pH range caused by the silicate stabilizes the U(IV) colloids. The isoelectric point of the nanoparticles is shifted toward lower pH values by the silicate. The mechanism of the colloidal stabilization can be regarded as “sequestration” by silicate, a phenomenon well known from heavy metal ions of high ion potential such as iron(III) or manganese(III,IV), but never reported for uranium(IV) so far. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy showed that U-O-Si bonds, which increasingly replace the U-O-U bonds of the amorphous uranium(IV) oxyhydroxide with increasing silicate concentrations, make up the internal structure of the colloids. The next-neighbor coordination of U(IV) in the U(IV)-silica colloids is comparable with that of coffinite, USiO₄. The assessment of uranium behavior in the aquatic environment should take the possible existence of U(IV)-silica colloids into consideration. Their occurrence might influence uranium migration in anoxic waters.     

The Nuheting deposit,Erlian Basin,NE China: Synsedimentary to diagenetic uranium mineralization

Sedimentary units deposited during the post-rift stage of the Erlian Basin located in northeast China present an alternation of sandstone and mudstone layers. This sedimentological architecture is at the origin of confined permeable reservoirs hosting sandstone-type uranium deposits. The study of the Nuheting deposit offered the opportunity to identify synsedimentary/early diagenetic uranium concentrations and diagenetic mineralization hosted in mudstone-dominated layers of the Erlian Formation, indicating that a stock of uranium was present in the basin prior to the genesis of sandstone-hosted uranium deposits. Therefore, this pre-existing stock may constitute a significant source of uranium for the formation of roll front deposits present in other parts of the Erlian Basin.Detailed petrographic and geochemical study of drill-core samples from the Nuheting deposit led to the characterization of different stages related to the formation of the uranium ore bodies and allowed to propose a new metallogenic model. Uranium mineralization of the Nuheting deposit is mainly hosted in dark gray silty mudstone of wetland depositional environment of the Late Cretaceous Erlian Formation. Petrographic observations and EMP analyses evidenced that a significant amount of uranium was associated with clay minerals (interstratified clays, smectite, chlorite, palygorskyte, illite and kaolinite), either adsorbed on mineral surfaces as U (VI) ions or reduced mainly as UO₂ nano to microcrystals disseminated in the clayey matrix, which corresponds to synsedimentary/early diagenetic concentrations. Trace elements on pyrite analyzed by LA-ICPMS, petrographic observations and whole-rock geochemical data led to the characterization of a diagenetic uranium mineralization. High As (1–50 ppm), Mo (10–500 ppm) and Se concentrations in the whole rock and the incorporation of these elements in pyrite highlight reducing conditions within the host-rocks during the diagenesis of the Erlian Formation. During the early diagenetic stage, uranium was either desorbed from clay minerals and organic materials to be reduced or directly reduced and precipitated as P-rich coffinite and pitchblende on pyrite crystals. During the late diagenetic stage, uranium was redistributed in situ and locally deposited mainly as coffinite on pyrites. Finally, an epigenetic stage of cementation was identified with sulfate and carbonate minerals, which may enclose some uranium minerals. This epigenetic stage of fluid circulation may be responsible for a minor uranium remobilization. Therefore, the Nuheting deposit experienced three main stages: (i) a synsedimentary/early diagenetic uranium concentration and mineralization, (ii) a late diagenetic in situ uranium remobilization and deposition on pyrite and (iii) an epigenetic cementation. Rock-Eval pyrolysis indicates that the organic matter contained in host-rocks of the Nuheting deposit is of type IV, inherited from land plant, and do not contain free hydrocarbons (very low S1). Therefore, our results do not support that migrated hydrocarbons were involved as a reducing agent for uranium mineralization.