The Antei uranium deposit: A natural analogue of an SNF repository and an underground geodynamic laboratory in granite

The estimation of the long-term stability of crystalline rock massifs with respect to natural and technogenic loads in the course of long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is a special area of surveys at underground research laboratories (URLs). In parallel with these surveys, data on uranium deposits—natural analogues of repositories of SNF consisting of 95% UO₂—are used for obtaining insight into the dynamics of radionuclide migration and validating barrier properties of host rocks. Examples of URLs located in granitic massifs of Sweden (Äspö), Canada (Whiteshell), Switzerland (Grimsel), Japan (Mizunami), and Finland (ONKALO), as well as the El Berrocal (Spain), Palmottu (Finland), Sanerliu (China), and Kamaishi (Japan) deposits, are considered in the paper. The objects listed above are distinct in tectonic settings, geology, control of ore mineralization, redox conditions of uranium migration, and character and intensity of filtration and transportation, which predetermine the direction and specific features of research conducted therein. A variant in which a URL and a natural analogue are combined in one object is especially promising for validation of safe long-term isolation of SNF. The Antei vein-stockwork uranium deposit in the southeastern Transbaikal region, localized in Paleozoic granite at a depth of 400–1000 m and opened by mine workings at six levels, is such an object. Its geological features, stress-strain state, and infrastructure of mine workings offer an opportunity to study the entire spectrum of processes proceeding in near-and far-field of an SNF repository. The structural geology, mineralogy and petrography, and petrophysical and tectonophysical features of the deposit at its three lower levels are considered. The sequence of metasomatic alteration of rocks and the dynamics of formation of ore-bearing faults that crosscut prototectonic elements, as well as relationships of physicomechanical properties of rocks as a function of the intensity of their metasomatic alteration and the distance from master fault planes, have been established. A 3D geological model of the deposit in combination with estimated parameters of the present-day stress field and physicomechanical properties of particular rock blocks serves as the basis for prediction of the geomechanical behavior of the massif. The practical implications of the results obtained for assessment of the long-term safety of SNF repositories in granites are discussed.     

Behavior of uranium under conditions of interaction of rocks and ores with subsurface water

The behavior of uranium during interaction of subsurface water with crystalline rocks and uranium ores is considered in connection with the problem of safe underground insulation of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Since subsurface water interacts with crystalline rocks formed at a high temperature, the mineral composition of these rocks and uranium species therein are thermodynamically unstable. Therefore, reactions directed toward the establishment of equilibrium proceed in the water-rock system. At great depths that are characterized by hindered water exchange, where subsurface water acquires near-neutral and reducing properties, the interaction is extremely sluggish and is expressed in the formation of micro- and nanoparticles of secondary minerals. Under such conditions, the slow diffusion redistribution of uranium with enrichment in absorbed forms relative to all other uranium species is realized as well. The products of secondary alteration of Fe- and Ti-bearing minerals serve as the main sorbents of uranium. The rate of alteration of minerals and conversion of uranium species into absorbed forms is slow, and the results of these processes are insignificant, so that the rocks and uranium species therein may be regarded as unaltered. Under reducing conditions, subsurface water is always saturated with uranium. Whether water interacts with rock or uranium ore, the equilibrium uranium concentration in water is only ≤10^?8 mol/l. Uraninite ore under such conditions always remains stable irrespective of its age. The stability conditions of uranium ore are quite suitable for safe insulation of SNF, which consists of 95% uraninite (UO₂) and is a confinement matrix for all other radionuclides. The disposal of SNF in massifs of crystalline rocks at depths below 500 m, where reducing conditions are predominant, is a reliable guarantee of high SNF stability. Under oxidizing conditions of the upper hydrodynamic zone, the rate of interaction of rocks with subsurface water increases by orders of magnitude and subsurface water is commonly undersaturated with uranium. Uranium absorbed by secondary minerals, particularly by iron hydroxides and leucoxene, is its single stable species under oxidizing conditions. The impact of oxygen-bearing water leads to destruction of uranium ore. This process is realized simultaneously at different hypsometric levels even if the permeability of the medium is variable in both the lateral and vertical directions. As a result, intervals containing uranyl minerals and relics of primary uranium ore are combined in ore-bearing zones with intervals of completely dissolved uranium minerals. A wide halo of elevated uranium contents caused by sorption is always retained at the location of uranium ore entirely destroyed by weathering. Uranium ore commonly finds itself in the aeration zone due to technogenic subsidence of the groundwater table caused by open-pit mining or pumping out of water from underground mines. The capillary and film waters that interact with rocks and ores in this zone are supplemented by free water filtering along fractures when rain falls or snow is thawing. The interaction of uranium ore with capillary water results in oxidation of uraninite, accompanied by loosening of the mineral surface, formation of microfractures, and an increase in solubility with enrichment of capillary water in uranium up to 10^?4 mol/l. Secondary U(VI) minerals, first of all, uranyl hydroxides and silicates, replace uraninite, and uranium undergoes local diffusion redistribution with its sorption by secondary minerals of host rocks. The influx of free water facilitates the complete dissolution of primary and secondary uranium minerals, the removal of uranium at the sites of groundwater discharge, and its redeposition under reducing conditions at a greater depth. It is evident that the conditions of the upper hydrodynamic zone and the aeration zone are unfit for long-term insulation of SNF and high-level wastes because, after the failure of containers, the leakage of radionuclides into the environment becomes inevitable.     

Ontogenetic analysis of individual olivine grains in ultramafic rocks

The morphology and internal structure of individual olivine grains from ultramafic rocks in the Guli and Gal’moenan dunite massifs differing in origin are considered. To restore the ontogeny of mineral aggregates, traces of elastic deformation retained in mineral grains have been used. Comparison of anatomy of olivine grains from these two massifs showed that the mechanism of accommodation of rocks to changing geological settings is expressed as the response of the mineral aggregate structure and variation in the anatomy of individual mineral grains. At the level of individual grains, this is annihilation of older defects and origination of younger dislocations; refinement of the crystal lattice; exsolution; formation and transformation of new mineral phases; and creep and migration of subboundaries within grains. At the aggregate level, this is rotation and migration creep of the internal boundaries of rock; formation of new boundaries of mineral intergrowths; reorientation of boundaries; and variation in their extent, density, and grain dimensions. The prehistory of massifs controls the manifestation and abundance of various elastic deformations and related types of recrystallization of olivine grain boundaries and subboundaries in aggregates. New conditions and accommodation of mineral aggregates to these conditions have instigated specific schemes of recrystallization, which bear information on the history of rocks and their massifs.     

Catagenesis of terrigenous rocks in the neoproterozoic intracratonic sedimentary basins and its effect on the formation of unconformity-type uranium mineralization

Mineral transformation of host rocks and localization of orebodies at the unconformity-type uranium deposits are considered for the Karku deposit in the northern Ladoga region. It is shown that the great depth of uranium mineral formation and the peculiar composition of host rocks, along with temperature and chemistry of fluids, played a critical role in variation of lithostatic and fluid pressure, porosity, and permeability. The compaction of quartz sandstone and gravelstone, which are typical host rocks at unconformity-type deposits, the development of microstylolithic sutures, conformal structures, pressure solution and deposition of quartz in free pores gave rise to the closure or constraint of pore space and to increase in pore pressure of fluids in the deep part of the Riphean troughs with approaching lithostatic loading. A transitional zone between hydrostatic and lithostatic pressure controlled localization of orebodies and was decisive for uranium mineral formation. This zone coincided with the Riphean-Paleoproterozoic unconformity and sank somewhat into the crystalline basement. Below this transitional zone, the intergranular fluid was under a pressure that was close to the pressure on solid phases, i.e., P _tot ≈ P _fl. The reliability of this phenomenon is confirmed by cessation of pressure solution-redeposition of quartz and distinct deceleration of dehydration of hydrous minerals. As is shown for the Karku deposit, the highly hydrated clay minerals of the illite-smectite series are widespread in its subore portion and lacking at the supraore levels along with termination of quartz regeneration. It is suggested that a zone of superhigh fluid pressure in deep parts of sedimentary basins constrains localization of uranium orebodies by structural and stratigraphic unconformity between Riphean and Paleoproterozoic rocks. It is stated that altered wall rocks at the unconformity-type uranium deposits cannot be identified with products of hydrothermal phyllic and argillic alteration of host rocks at the medium- and low-temperature endogenic deposits. The main distinctions consist in lack of wall-rock metasomatic reaction zoning and acid-alkaline evolution of solutions. All transformations of host rocks should be classified as diverse manifestations of deep catagenesis of sedimentary sequences and buried regolith. The carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of calcite from host rocks at the Karku deposit are far from those of magmatic and hydrothermal carbonates. They are characterized by a high δ¹⁸O = +17 to +25‰ and a high dispersion of δ¹³C = −1.5 to almost −15‰. No granitoid magmatism is known in the regions, where the unconformity-type uranium deposits occur. Therefore, the rocks of the crystalline basement are the most probable source of uranium, which precipitated on the reductive barrier as a product of interaction with bitumen contained in the Riphean basal beds.     

下庄铀矿田火山岩的厘定及与周边同期火山岩的对比

本在系统分析下庄铀矿田火山岩的分布，火山岩系的旋回性，火山岩的岩石地球化学特征及火山岩的成岩时代等特征的基础上，较为详细地对下庄铀矿田的火山岩和赣南－粤北地区晚中生代武夷群火山岩各种特征进行了对比，厘定了下庄铀矿田火山夺为赣地－粤北地区晚中生代中火山岩系武夷群的组成部分；认为南岭铀成矿带今后寻找富矿，大矿的主要目标应该放在火山侵本和后火山侵入体的内外接触带上，以早期铀矿化（140－100Ma）为的主要目标类型。     

Localization of deformation and kinematic shift during the hot emplacement of the Ronda peridotites (Betic Cordilleras,southern Spain)

The Ronda peridotites form the largest mass of subcontinental mantle outcropping on land. Unlike other orogenic lherzolite massifs, the two main bodies of Ronda (the Sierra Bermeja and Sierra Alpujata massifs) are unique cases where ductile shear zones linked to the hot thrusting of mantle over continental crustal rocks are well exposed. We present a new insight into the deformation localization in these shear zones based on structural, fabric and petrological data. The Ronda peridotites show increasing deformation towards the continental footwall rocks, from porphyroclastic rocks to ultramylonites. Garnet-pyroxenites from the basal shear zone of the Alpujata massif yield ca. 1100 °C and 1.4 GPa for the mylonitization. Such conditions promoted partial melting and the formation of felsic dynamothermal aureoles from the underlying crustal rocks. Subsequent deformation is mainly localized in the dynamothermal aureoles, since they are weaker than the peridotites. Both aureoles show marked strain gradients towards the contact but record different kinematics. In Sierra Alpujata, kinematic criteria indicate a top-to-the ENE shear sense, whereas in Sierra Bermeja the felsic mylonites provide a top-to-the NNW motion. A transpressional setting is proposed to explain such kinematic shift.     

北淮阳盆岭带的构造演化与铀成矿

北淮阳盆岭构造带是大别造山带的重要组成部分。佛子岭岩群代表了早古生代扬子地块北缘大别古岛弧弧前海盆的火山沉积建造,在加里东运动陆块对接过程中变形变质。石炭系梅山群具磨拉石建造特征。在华力西印支期陆内俯冲褶皱带的基础上,燕山期沿桐柏桐城断裂伸展北移,近东西向断陷盆地发育,形成盆岭构造景观。南侧大别山强烈隆升,铸就了现今大别山变质核杂岩构造格局。中生代岩浆活动是区内重要铀源,具有成矿潜力的地质体是响洪甸正长岩体和北带粗面质火山碎屑岩     

地幔流体与铀成矿作用

文中探讨了地幔流体铀成矿作用的可能性 ,并以相山世界级铀矿田为例 ,阐明了地幔流体铀成矿作用的主要特征。岩石圈之下存在一个富含放射性生热元素的富集圈 ,在造山带崩塌阶段 (岩石圈拆沉或减薄 )以及弧后拉张环境下 ,富集圈中的U、Th将随地幔流体一起上升迁移至地壳中直接成矿。相山铀矿床就是在弧后拉张环境下由当地富集地幔流体上升迁移至早先火山杂岩裂隙带中沉淀成矿而形成的。弧后拉张环境有利于地幔流体上升 ,早先的火山通道和火山杂岩中非常发育的裂隙为成矿流体提供了迁移和赋矿空间 ,成矿与幔源岩浆活动 (煌斑岩 )相伴随 ,成矿流体和成矿物质具有幔源特征 ,地幔中放射性生热元素富集圈为其提供了强大的物质基础 ,从而形成了相山超大型铀矿田。     

鄂尔多斯盆地深部富铀烃源岩提供铀源可能性的实验研究

鄂尔多斯盆地上三叠统延长组长7段石油优质烃源岩以富铀为特色,而盆地侏罗?白垩纪地层以赋存大量砂岩型铀矿而著称.为探索深部长7富铀烃源岩为浅部砂岩型铀矿形成提供铀源的可能性,选择盆地南部的富铀烃源岩、油样以及具有代表性的碳酸铀酰作为反应物,在中?高温高压还原条件下分别进行烃源岩生排烃?排铀模拟实验和油?铀关系模拟实验.结...     

Uranium Provinces in China

Three uranium provinces are recognized in China, the Southeast China uranium province, the Northeast China-Inner Mongolia uranium province and the Northwest China (Xinjiang) uranium province. The latter two promise good potential for uranium resources and are major exploration target areas in recent years. There are two major types of uranium deposits: the Phanerozoic hydrothermal type (vein type) and the Meso-Cenozoic sandstone type in different proportions in the three uranium provinces. The most important reason or prerequisite for the formation of these uranium provinces is that Precambrian uranium-enriched old basement or its broken parts (median massifs) exists or once existed in these regions, and underwent strong tectonomagmatic activation during Phanerozoic time. Uranium was mobilized from the old basement and migrated upwards to the upper structural level together with the acidic magma originating from anatexis and the primary fluids, which were then mixed with meteoric water and resulted in t     

中国近东西向中生代火山岩带及其铀成矿作用

燕辽火山岩带、赣杭火山岩带及南岭火山岩带，它们不仅是横亘于中国东部的3条重要的近东西向中生代火山岩带，而且也是我国3条重要的铀多金属成矿带。对比研究表明，虽然它们各具特色，就脉型富大铀矿床成矿作用而言，它们又具有较多的共性；重要成矿区的火山喷发皆奠基在古老的结晶基底上；古裂谷（或裂陷）既控制了火山岩带的发育，又是有利的成矿构造背景；铀矿赋存对火山岩的岩性没有明显的选择性；铀成矿的深部控制作用明显；联通的构造网络系统是形成富大铀矿的必要条件。     

Geology and geochronology of neoarchean anorogenic magmatism of the Keivy structure, Kola Peninsula

Anorogenic magmatic complexes were formed during protoplatformal evolution of the Keivy structure. This evolution ended with development of aluminous schists, which were derived by deep disintegration and redeposition of the rocks from the lower parts of the sequence and surrounding of the structure. The anorogenic rocks of the region are represented by the following magmatic complexes: gabbro-labradorite-latite-monzonite-granites; ophitic gabbro and gabbrodiabases; quartz syenite-alkaline granites; alkaline and nepheline syenites. The magmatic activity of this period, starting from the emplacement of gabbrolabradorite massifs and ending with alkaline and nepheline syenite bodies, was caused by ascent of mantle asthenolith, which destructed the Earth’s crust basement in this area. The anorogenic magmatism of the Keivy structure lasted for no more than few or few tens of million years. The granitoid subcomplex of the gabbro-labradorite-latite-monzonite-granite complex is dated at 2674 ± 6 Ma, which is comparable with an age of alkaline granites of the Ponoy and Beliye Tundry massifs (2673 ± 6 Ma). The considered complexes are separated in time by intrusion of amphibole-biotite plagiomicrocline granites with an age of 2667 ± 8 Ma. Gabbrolabradorites of the Shchuch’e Ozero and Tsaga massifs have close ages (2663 ± 7 and 2668 ± 10 Ma, respectively, Bayanova, 2004), but were formed earlier than granitoids (Bayanova, 2004). Formation of alkaline syenites of the Sakharijok I Massif, which finalized the Neoarchean anorogenic magmatism of the region, falls in the same interval. During Paleoproterozoic transformations, the rocks of the Keivy structure were sheared and uranium was introduced in the contact zones of the alkaline granite massifs, which caused formation of palingenetic melts and subsequent formation of pegmatites in the outer contact zones of the granite bodies.     

Formation of gas hydrate deposits in the Siberian Arctic shelf

Natural gas hydrate deposits have been estimated to store about 10% of gas in hydrate form (even with regard to a higher concentration of gas in hydrates), proceeding from the known ratio of dissolved-to-deposited gas. This high percentage is largely due to the fact that the buffer factor in natural gas hydrate deposits is lower than that for free gas because of less diverse structural conditions for gas accumulation. Therefore, the available appraisal of world resources of hydrated gas needs a revision.Hydrates in rocks are either syngenetic or epigenetic. Syngenetic hydrates originate from free or dissolved gas which was present in rocks in situ at the time when PT-conditions became favorable for gas hydrate formation. Epigenetic hydrates are derived from gas which came by migration into rocks with their PT-conditions corresponding to formation of gas hydrates.In addition to the optimum PT-conditions and water salinity, economic gas hydrate accumulation requires sustained supply of natural gas into a specific zone of gas hydrate formation. This condition is feasible only in the case of vertical migration of natural gas along faults, fractured zones, and lithologic windows, or, less often, as a result of lateral migration.Of practical importance are only the gas hydrate deposits produced by vertical or lateral gas migration.     

Tectonodynamic Adjustment of Crustal Materials in the Middle-Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River1

Abstract Under the tectonodynamic process, crustal materials tend to experience two modes of adjustment: (1) structural (physical) adjustment, manifested by folding, faulting, uplifting, downwarping, etc.? (2) compositional adjustment, represented by element migration, concentration and dispersion, crystalline and dynamic differentiation of crystals, metamorphism, etc. (Yang Kaiqing, 1986; Yang Kaiqing et al., 1986). The dynamic adjustment of crustal materials in the middle- lower reaches of the Yangtze mainly occurred in the Mesozoic under the conditions of intense collision between the North China (Dabie) massif and the Yangtze massif. The structural adjustment refers to various types of deformation within the two massifs and the intensive shortening of the stratigraphic cover of the Yangtze massif, whereas the compositional adjustment implies the structural remelting of the basement and the ore- and rock- forming processes in the two massifs.     

晚期小岩体归宿及其在找矿中的意义初探

本文提出了晚期小岩体不是花岗岩浆演化的产物,而是相当于超浅成的次火山岩。由于它与铀成矿关系密切,因而花岗岩型铀矿与火山岩型铀矿成矿机理相同。对比火山岩中两大系列铀矿,即与次火山岩有关的早期铀矿和与红盆发生发展有关的晚期铀矿,认为花岗岩中也应有相应的两期铀矿。今后找富矿、找深部矿时应注意寻找早期铀矿。同时根据花岗岩中面型蚀变体的存在,推论在面型火山岩铀矿深部应寻找次火山岩型铀矿。     

Permo-Triassic stage of alkaline magmatism in the Vitim plateau (western Transbaikalia)

We present results of geochronological (⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar, U-Pb SHRIMP-II, and LA-ICP-MS) and geochemical studies of alkaline rocks of the Amalat, Sirikta, Tsipa, Pravyi Uligli, and Verkhnii Uligli massifs in the Vitim plateau (western Transbaikalia). The formation of the alkaline rocks and the accompanying albitization are dated at 261-242 Ma. The isotope inhomogeneity (?_Nd(T) = + 8.4 to -1.7) of the alkaline rocks indicates the heterogeneous composition of the source of their material, having a depleted component, an enriched juvenile metasomatic fluid, and a crustal substrate.     

Neotectonic stage in the formation of the Khokhlovskoe uranium deposit, eastern Transural region: Structural, hydrochemical, mineralogical, and geochemical formation conditions

The structural, hydrochemical, mineralogical, and geochemical features of the Khokhlovskoe uranium deposit related to neotectonic processes are considered. The structural feature is expressed in neotectonic dislocations in the form of overall intense fragmentation of host rocks and widespread low-amplitude strike-slip faulting. The hydrochemical specificity is determined by the appearance of thermal carbonated formation water in ore-bearing aquifers. This water is similar in chemical and gas composition to hydrothermal solutions in fluid inclusions and mineral waters abundant in this district. The mineralogical and geochemical features comprise the occurrence of newly formed ferroan carbonates and late iron hydroxides in altered (bleached) pelitic rocks; the formation of silicic opal segregations in ore-bearing sand and sandstone; late sulfides, arsenides, and selenides of iron and other metals; and multiphase gel-pitchblende enriched in Zr especially typical of high-grade uranium ore. The age of high-grade ore determined by a precision uranium-ionium method coincides with the time when thermal carbonated water appeared in the host rocks. This time was estimated from a mathematical model of heat transfer and regional dynamics of underground water. This coincidence clearly indicates that the aforementioned processes are related to the late Quaternary neotectonic reactivation of the eastern Transural region.     

俯冲带变质过程中的含碳流体

俯冲带含碳岩石通过俯冲过程的变质反应生成了含碳水流体、富硅酸盐的超临界流体和含碳熔体。不同类型流体的形成与岩石成分和岩石经历的温压条件相关。岩石中碳酸盐矿物脱碳反应的温压条件取决于岩石起初的流体成分:有水存在时,反应发生在低温条件下。在高压条件下,碳酸盐矿物在水或含盐水流体的溶解是生成含碳流体重要的机制,其导致的碳迁移作用可能超过脱碳变质反应的作用。高温条件下,含碳岩石的部分熔融可以生成含碳的熔体,这在热俯冲环境和俯冲带岩石底辟到上覆地幔的情况下是碳迁移重要载体。富硅酸盐的超临界流体可能是在第二临界端点上形成的超临界流体,目前在超高压岩石中观察到的非花岗质成分的多相固体包裹体被认为是这种流体结晶的产物,然而对其理解尚存在很多问题,需要进一步的实验研究。地表含碳岩石在俯冲带被带到深部,俯冲带地温特征的不同导致了不同类型含碳流体的形成,这些流体运移至上覆地幔引起岩石部分熔融产生含碳的岛弧岩浆,岩浆喷出到地表释放了其中的碳,这构成了俯冲带-岛弧系统的碳循环。     

Rescaling of fluid-conducting fault structures

The interrelation between geometric parameters (density and length) of the fault systems of four scale levels (kilometers, meters, centimeters, and millimeters) was established for the first time by detailed structural study of the rocks of the Urtui granite massif located in the western framework of the Strel’tsovskii uranium caldera in the Southeastern Transbaikalia. The further use of these geostructural data for conceptual and numerical modeling of the fluid filtration processes and transport of radionuclides in a three-dimensional crack and pore space in the variably deformed and metasomatically altered crystalline rocks was substantiated.     

铀的迁移富集机理新探索

描述了铀迁移、富集成矿的新机制。通过对铀氢化物、铀合金氢化物的形成条件及理化性质，铀矿石的矿物流体包裹体物质成分，主要内生铀矿物化学成分及其微观结构，铀矿物的共、伴生矿物组合的研究，并结合地球的形成和演化史，认为铀主要呈铀氢化物、铀合金氢化物从地壳深部迁移至地壳浅部，由于环境发生变化，氢逃逃、氧化，上述氢化物被氧化分解、富集成矿。