| Abstract: | In order to ascertain the forms in which uranium is present in ores of the Melovoe rare metal sedimentary deposit of uranium
and rare earth minerals (South Mangyshlak), we investigated a series of typical ore samples that were collected earlier; both
the uranium content and the total content of rare earth metals in them lay within 0.1–0.3%. The study was carried out by analytical
electron microscopy using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, electron microdiffraction, and
microprobing. It was ascertained that both uranium and rare earth elements are present in ore mostly associated with biogenic
phosphate in the form of natural minerals, such as uraninite, ningyoite, coffinite, autenite, and churchite. Iron hydroxides
and graphitized organic matter are present in some samples. It is assumed that the co-occurrence of uranium and rare earth
elements, which is nontypical for the sedimentary process, resulted from secondary epigenetic processes and alternation of
reducing and oxidizing environmental conditions. |
