Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications

This study reports major, minor, and trace element data and Sr isotope ratios for 11 uranium ore (uraninite, UO_2+x) samples and one processed uranium ore concentrate (UOC) from various U.S. deposits. The uraninite investigated represent ores formed via different modes of mineralization (e.g., high- and low-temperature) and within various geological contexts, which include magmatic pegmatites, metamorphic rocks, sandstone-hosted, and roll front deposits. In situ trace element data obtained by laser ablation-ICP-MS and bulk sample Sr isotopic ratios for uraninite samples investigated here indicate distinct signatures that are highly dependent on the mode of mineralization and host rock geology. Relative to their high-temperature counterparts, low-temperature uranium ores record high U/Th ratios (>1000), low total rare earth element (REE) abundances (<1 wt%), high contents (>300 ppm) of first row transition metals (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni), and radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (>0.7200). Comparison of chondrite normalized REE patterns between uraninite and corresponding processed UOC from the same locality indicates identical patterns at different absolute concentrations. This result ultimately confirms the importance of establishing geochemical signatures of raw, uranium ore materials for attribution purposes in the forensic analysis of intercepted nuclear materials.     

U-Pb systems and U isotopic composition of the sandstone-hosted paleovalley Dybryn uranium deposit, Vitim uranium district, Russia

The isotopic (U-Pb, ²³⁸U-²³⁵U, ²³⁴U-²³⁸U) and chemical study of whole-rock samples and finegrained fractions of rocks in a vertical section of the terrigenous sequence at the Dybryn uranium deposit in the Khiagda ore field shows that a wide U-Pb isotopic age range (26.9-6.5 Ma) is caused by oxidation and disturbance of the U-Pb isotopic system in combination with protracted uranium ore deposition. The oxidation of rocks resulted in the loss of uranium relative to lead and eventually to an overestimated ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age at sites with a low U content. The ²³⁸U/²³⁵U ratios in the studied samples are within the range of 137.74–137.88. Samples with a high uranium content are characterized by a decreasing ²³⁸U/²³⁵U ratio with a decrease in ²⁰⁷Pb/²³⁵U and ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages. A nonequilibrium ²³⁴U/²³⁸U ratio in most studied samples furnishes evidence for young (<1.5 Ma) transformation of the Miocene uranium ore, which is responsible for uranium migration and its redeposition.     

Physicochemical formation conditions of banded iron formations and high-grade iron ores in the region of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly: Evidence from isotopic data

The oxygen and carbon isotopic compositions of minerals from banded iron formations (BIFs) and high-grade ore in the region of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly (KMA) were determined in order to estimate the temperature of regional metamorphism and the nature of rock-and ore-forming solutions. Magnetite and hematite of primary sedimentary or diagenetic origin have δ¹⁸O within the range from +2 to 6‰. During metamorphism, primary iron oxides, silicates, and carbonates were involved in thermal dissociation and other reactions to form magnetite with δ¹⁸O = +6 to +11‰. As follows from a low δ¹⁸O_av = ?3.5‰ of mushketovite (magnetite pseudomorphs after hematite) in high-grade ore, this mineral was formed as a product of hematite reduction by organic matter. The comparison of δ¹⁸O of iron oxides, siderite, and quartz from BIFs formed at different stages of the evolution of the Kursk protogeosyncline revealed specific sedimentation (diagenesis) conditions and metamorphism of the BIFs belonging to the Kursk and Oskol groups. BIF of the Oskol Group is distinguished by a high δ¹⁸O of magnetite compared to other Proterozoic BIFs. Martite ore differs from host BIF by a low δ¹⁸O = ?0.2 to ?5.9‰. This implies that oxygen from infiltration water was incorporated into the magnetite lattice during the martite formation. Surface water penetrated to a significant depth through tectonic faults and fractures.     

A study of the U-Pb isotopic systematics and its application in uranium geology

The main purpose of this paper is to present a fundamental concept of U-Pb isotopic spectrum-system and its application to the interpretation of the mechanism of uranium ore formation. It is evident from a number of examples of uranium deposits that uranium deposits formed in various processes are characterized by different types of U-Pb isotopic spectrum-system.     

A method for determination of the isotopic composition of authigenic uranium in Baikal bottom sediments

A simple, reliable, and high-performance method has been proposed for direct determination of the isotopic composition of authigenic uranium in silica lacustrine sediments. The method is based on studying the kinetics of the selective extraction of authigenic uranium from sediments with weak solutions of ammonium hydrocarbonate followed by the ICP-MS analysis of the nuclides. To estimate the contamination of authigenic uranium by terrigenous one, the contents of ²³²Th and some other clastogenic elements in the extracts were measured simultaneously. The selectivity of extraction of authigenic uranium from the sediments treated with a 1% NH₄HCO₃ solution appeared to be no worse than 99%. The method was used to analyze the isotopic composition of authigenic uranium at several key horizons of a core dated before. The measurements directly prove that the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U values in Baikal water varied depending on climate, which contradicts the previous statements. The measured ²³⁴U/²³⁸U ratios in paleo-Baikal water match the values reconstructed from isotopic data for total uranium in the sediments on the supposition that the U/Th ratio is constant in the terrigenous part of the sediment. Direct experimental determination of total and authigenic nuclides in sediments enhances the potentiality of the method for absolute ²³⁴U-²³⁰Th dating of carbonate-barren lacustrine sediments, including those from Lake Baikal, within the intervals corresponding to the periods of glaciation, where the sediments contain a large fraction of terrigenous component. Given the fractions of terrigenous and authigenic uranium are accurately determined, we have an opportunity to study the variability of the sources of terrigenous matter and to refine the previous model for reconstructing the climate humidity in East Siberia.     

柴北缘都兰地区片麻岩的起源及形成时代:锆石U-Pb年代学、REE和Hf同位素的证据

在柴北缘HP-UHP变质带东端的都兰地区,大量正、副片麻岩中包裹有少量榴辉岩和超基性岩。这些片麻岩普遍显示出角闪岩相变质作用特征,但是野外关系和少量副片麻岩中的柯石英包体显示这些片麻岩与榴辉岩一起经历了超高压变质作用。本文通过两个片麻岩样品的锆石U-Pb年代学测定,结合稀土元素和Hf同位素分析,来确定这些片麻岩的原岩起源和变质作用时代。锆石的阴极发光图像分析、稀土元素特征、U-Pb定年结果显示锆石具有明显的核、幔、边结构;岩浆成因的锆石核部获得的不一致线上交点年龄为2322～2365Ma,反映了源区经历过一期古元古代早期的岩浆热事件;岩浆和变质成因的幔部给出的不一致上交点年龄为1830～1837Ma,反映了片麻岩在古元古代晚期经历的变质和深熔作用。锆石幔部获得的不一致线下交点年龄451～465Ma与边部3个近于谐和点的加权平均年龄466Ma在误差范围内基本一致,结合锆石增生的边部较为平坦的重稀土配分型式、低的Th/U值,代表片麻岩发生榴辉岩相变质作用的时代。古元古代早期和晚期年龄的锆石大部分具有负的εHf(t)值,锆石的二阶段Hf模式年龄主要分布于2725～2835Ma之间,说明片麻岩的继承性碎屑锆石源区存在太古代的地壳生长事件,并在古元古代经历过两期再循环和改造事件。都兰地区的部分片麻岩具有与其北侧欧龙布鲁克微陆块中变质基底相似的早期演化历史,但前者在早古生代与所夹的榴辉岩的原岩一起发生了深俯冲作用。     

Evolutionary characteristics of the U-Pb isotopic system in a certain uranium deposit in North Guangdong—A discussion on the model for its genesis

Based on the evolutionary theory of U-Pb isotopic system, we have studied the genetic model for a uranium deposit occurring in carbonate-silicolite-pelite. The data show that the U-deposit is characterized by a multi-stage evolution with respect to its U-Pb isotopic system, and the mechanism of its genesis can be explained by later repeated superimposition of mine-ralization which took place at about 200±10m. y., 100±10m. y., 60±10m. y. and 11±1m. y. ago. These mineralization stages are closely related to regional tectonic activities.

     

丹凤地区光石沟铀矿床大毛沟岩株锆石U-Pb同位素定年及其地质意义

丹凤地区是我国伟晶岩型铀矿床的重要产区,光石沟铀矿床是该区最大的铀矿床之一,大毛沟岩株与光石沟铀矿床有密切的空间关系与成因联系。本文采用锆石LA-ICP-MS定年方法测定了大毛沟岩株的U-Pb同位素年龄,获得了代表大毛沟岩株形成年龄的锆石谐和曲线加权平均值年龄为418.3±8.8 Ma,与光石沟铀矿床的成矿年龄相当,说明光石沟铀矿床的成矿作用在时间上与该岩株的形成时间相当。同时,残留锆石中1980.5±19.47 Ma年龄的发现,说明大毛沟岩株白岗质花岗岩的物源可能与中下地壳秦岭群有关;E颗粒内核465Ma的年龄则可能代表灰池子岩体片麻状二长花岗岩的形成年龄,表明大毛沟岩株与灰池子岩体的形成年龄之间存在约30 Ma的时差。     

华北克拉通南缘张士英岩体大陆动力学背景:来自地球化学、锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素的证据

张士英岩体位于华北克拉通南缘,岩体主要由石英正长岩组成。石英正长岩的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为122.8±1.5Ma。其Si O2含量为66.04%~67.80%,Na2O+K2O=9.03%~10.97%,K2O=4.40%~6.37%,K2O/Na2O1属于钾质长英质岩石。A/CNK=1.26~1.58,A/NK=1.63~1.79属于过铝质岩石系列。石英正长岩的Mg#变化范围在12.9~39.4。富集LREE亏损HREE,轻重稀土分异明显,(La/Yb)N=15.48~21.12,Eu呈弱的负异常(δEu=0.54~0.99)。富集Rb、K、Th、U等大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、P、Ti等高场强元素。张士英石英正长岩岩浆锆石εHf(t)集中在-17.6~-13.9,Hf两阶段模式年龄tDM2集中在1.7~1.9Ga。石英正长岩的岩浆Zr饱和温度高(936~998℃)。地球化学及同位素显示张士英石英正长岩源区主要为古老的壳源物质,并有少量年轻组分加入,这种年轻组分是幔源物质。岩体形成于拉张性构造环境下,拉张性的环境导致了幔源物质的上涌,底侵下地壳使其发生部分熔融。形成时代正好位于华北克拉通破坏峰期,张士英石英正长岩正是这一地质事件的响应。     

The sulfur isotopic composition of sulfides from ores and host rocks of the Upper Kolyma region,Magadan Oblast

More than 200 analyses of the sulfur isotopic composition of sulfides from various terrigenous and intrusive host rocks, metasomatically altered wall rocks, and gold lodes of the Upper Kolyma region are presented. In accessory pyrite of the metaterrigenous rocks, δ³⁴S varies from ?23.1 to +5.7‰ δ³⁴S of pyrite and arsenopyrite from gold-quartz mineralization is within the range ?10.6 to ?0.4‰ and is close to the average δ³⁴S of pyrite from the metaterrigenous rocks (?4.4‰). In the intrusive rocks, δ³⁴S of pyrite varies from ?3.8 to +2.6‰ (+0.7‰, on average) and drastically differs from δ³⁴S of arsenopyrite from postmagmatic gold-rare-metal mineralization (?7.9 to ?2.7‰; ?5.2‰, on average). The comparison of the δ³⁴S of accessory sulfides from the host rocks with δ³⁴S of sulfides from the gold deposits suggests that sulfur mobilized from the terrigenous sequences participated in the hydrothermal process. The results obtained are consistent with the metamorphic model of the formation of gold-quartz deposits in the Upper Kolyma region.     

海南岛南部侏罗系的发现——来自碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄及Hf同位素的证据

海南岛一直被认为缺失侏罗纪沉积记录,指示了海南岛与大陆内部不一样的中生代演化特征。对海南岛南部三亚地区尖岭剖面和海螺岭剖面紫红色碎屑岩,以及早白垩世鹿母湾组进行了详细的野外地质调查和碎屑锆石U-Pb同位素分析。结果表明,尖岭剖面和海螺岭剖面的紫红色碎屑岩具有高度一致的碎屑锆石年龄谱,限定的最大沉积年龄为172～174Ma,完全不同于下伏晚奥陶世榆红组和海南岛早白垩世鹿母湾组沉积岩的碎屑锆石年龄谱。综合区域构造-岩浆活动和中—新生代碎屑锆石年代学分析结果及尖岭剖面紫红色碎屑岩中锆石Hf同位素特征,认为海南岛三亚地区尖岭和海螺岭紫红色碎屑岩应沉积于172～158Ma之间,属于中—晚侏罗世沉积岩。其沉积物源和构造背景与广东东部和福建沿海同时代沉积岩相似,指示华南东南沿海地区在中—晚侏罗世具有统一的大地构造背景。     

华北中部狐偃山杂岩体形成时代研究——来自榍石U-Pb同位素年代学的证据

近年随着定年技术的发展,榍石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年法逐渐被学者采用,用来揭示某些特殊岩石类型的形成时代,如碱性岩。华北中部狐偃山碱性杂岩体由多个侵入体组成,岩性主要为二长岩类,岩石中发育大量继承锆石,结晶锆石相对较少,但包含大量岩浆榍石。本次研究即利用榍石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年法,对研究相对薄弱的矿泉、狼窝沟2个二长岩体中榍石进行了年代学分析。结果表明这2个二长岩体分别侵位于129 Ma和130 Ma。作为对比,同时对相同2个样品进行了锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年,2种方法得到的结果在误差范围内一致。结合前人研究资料,狐偃山杂岩体主体二长岩类侵位于早白垩世早期（127~131 Ma）,早白垩世晚期（111~114 Ma）有少量正长岩形成,从而构成了狐偃山杂岩体。     

西准噶尔萨吾尔地区科克托别基性岩体岩石成因:地球化学和锆石U-Pb年代学证据

萨吾尔地区位于西准噶尔东北缘,广泛发育晚古生代中酸性侵入岩和火山岩以及少量基性侵入岩,这些岩浆岩的年代学研究对于限制西准噶尔地区石炭纪构造环境具有重要的意义。本文通过研究萨吾尔地区科克托别岩体的岩相学特征、锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄以及地球化学特征,探讨该岩体构造背景以及成因机制,为进一步论证西准噶尔地区石炭纪构造环境提供佐证。科克托别岩体包括中粗粒辉长岩、细粒辉长岩和闪长岩,在野外露头显示细粒辉长岩以脉状侵入中粗粒辉长岩中,细粒辉长岩中包裹有中粗粒辉长岩包体,中粗粒辉长岩与闪长岩之间呈渐变过渡接触关系,说明科克托别岩体是不同期次岩浆侵位形成的杂岩体,早期岩浆侵入形成中粗粒辉长岩和闪长岩,晚期岩浆上侵就位于中粗粒辉长岩构造裂隙中形成细粒辉长岩。科克托别岩体中细粒辉长岩锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄为323.2±6.2Ma,表明岩体形成于早石炭世晚期。该岩体成岩年龄晚于该地区蛇绿岩套岩石年龄,也晚于岛弧火山岩年龄以及含斑岩矿床侵入岩年龄,与该地区I型花岗岩年龄相似,而明显早于碰撞后A型花岗岩和双峰式火山岩的形成年龄,说明科克托别岩体可能形成于同碰撞构造环境中。不同岩相的岩石主量元素之间的相关关系以及微量元素配分型式相似性说明它们为同源岩浆结晶分异的产物。岩相学和地球化学特征表明岩体初始岩浆可能为软流圈地幔与上覆交代地幔相互作用形成,板片断离可能为软流圈地幔的上涌起到重要作用。     

Orthorhombic lazurite from the Tultui deposit in the Baikal region

A lazurite sample taken from the Tultui deposits in the Baikal region has been studied using petrographic examination, X-ray diffraction, and local X-ray spectroscopy (electron microprobe). It is established that the line of the basic cell in the X-ray diffraction pattern of the orthorhombic lazurite is widened, so the unit-cell parameters should be recalculated from the interlayer distances of the superstructural reflections. The chemical compositions and unit-cell parameters of the lazurites from the Baikal region and the Pamirs are different. Two schemes of the chemical substitutions of atoms in the mineral are assumed: (1) the hauyne cluster [Na₃CaSO₄]³⁺ is replaced with a sodalite cluster [Na₄Cl]³⁺, and (2) two hauyne clusters 2[Na₃CaSO₄]³⁺ are substituted by nosean clusters [Na₄SO₄]⁺ and [Na₄H₂O]⁴⁺ with retention of the total charge. The increase in the Na and Cl contents in the orthorhombic lazurite is accompanied by a decrease in the unit-cell dimensions. Orthorhombic lazurites from the southern Baikal region and the southwestern Pamirs were formed in apocarbonate (apocalciphyre) metasomatic rocks at a lower temperature than pyroxene, afghanite, and cubic lazurite.     

华北陆块南缘小秦岭地区早白垩世埃达克质花岗岩的 LA-ICP-MS 锆石 U-Pb 年龄、Hf 同位素和元素地球化学特征

文峪和娘娘山花岗岩体位于华北陆块南缘小秦岭地区,侵位于太古宇太华岩群中,主要岩性为二长花岗岩.LA-ICP-MS 锆石 U-Pb 定年结果显示,文峪和娘娘山黑云母二长花岗岩体形成时间分别为(135±7) Ma 和(139±4) Ma,普遍含有大量继承锆石.两个岩体均属于具有高硅(SiO2=64.80%~73.30%)、...     

鲁西隆起侏罗系碎屑主物源来自华北北缘:锆石U-Pb和Hf同位素年代学证据

鲁西隆起保存并出露比较完整的晚中生代沉积记录,是研究华北东部晚中生代构造演化的重要窗口。本文采用碎屑锆石LA-MC-ICP-MS测年方法分析鲁西隆起北缘淄川地区坊子组和三台组中的两个砂岩样品,以此探讨华北东部侏罗纪的沉积物源并约束构造古地理格架。两个砂岩样品具有近似的U-Pb年龄谱。古元古代和新太古代两组U-Pb年龄及其Hf同位素组成与广泛出露于北部的华北克拉通基底一致,根据缺乏新元古代中期(850～700 Ma)岩浆年龄和三叠纪变质年龄的事实,以此可以排除扬子板块以及现今临近于鲁西隆起东南部的苏鲁造山带物源。坊子组和三台组碎屑锆石显生宙年龄(393～256 Ma)记录的晚古生代岩浆活动均未发现于鲁西隆起及其邻近地区,而可以与大量出露于华北北缘及其北部的兴-蒙造山带的岩浆活动进行对比。此外,相当部分的显生宙碎屑锆石(183 Ma、462 Ma和324～154 Ma)具有正的ε_Hf(t)值(0.9～12.7)同位素特征,也与兴-蒙造山带特征相似,且三台组砂岩中显生宙碎屑锆石及其中ε_Hf(t)值为正值的比例较坊子组均增多。研究认为,华北北缘及其北部的兴-蒙造山带在侏罗纪时从早到晚不断抬升、剥蚀,形成相对华北克拉通内部的高地势特点,由此大量的剥蚀产物向南输运而成为鲁西隆起侏罗系的主要碎屑物源。     

北阿尔金西段正长花岗岩和闪长岩地球化学、锆石U-Pb定年及Hf同位素特征

北阿尔金西段出露大量中酸性侵入岩,为探讨西段地区花岗质岩石的成因、形成环境以及北阿尔金地区岩浆活动特点,本文选取北阿尔金西段的正长花岗岩体和闪长岩体作为研究对象,进行了岩石学、地球化学、锆石U-Pb年代学及Hf同位素等方面的研究。研究结果表明,正长花岗岩体形成时代为495.7～502.0Ma,铝饱和指数A/CNK为0.86～1.09小于1.1,P_2O_5与Si O_2含量呈负相关,具I型花岗岩特征。轻稀土富集而重稀土亏损,具有明显的负Eu异常,微量元素特征显示富集Rb、Ba、Th、U、K等元素,相对亏损Nb、Ta、P、Ti等元素。岩石地球化学及锆石Hf同位素特征暗示其源区物质成分不均一,源岩主要为0.95～1.4Ga的新生地壳(变中基性岩),并有1.42～1.83Ga的古老地壳物质的参与。闪长岩体的侵位时代为497.1±3Ma,轻稀土富集而重稀土亏损,较弱的负Eu异常,相对富集Rb、Ba、Th、U、K等元素,而亏损Nb、Ta、P、Ti。锆石ε_(Hf)(t)值为-1.61～+2.16,二阶段模式年龄t_(DM2)为1.34～1.56Ga,暗示其源岩可能主要为新生地壳,并有古老地壳物质参与成岩。北阿尔金西段正长花岗岩、闪长岩均形成于早古生代,具弧型花岗岩特点,结合区域构造背景,认为其形成可能与北阿尔金洋壳俯冲有关,产于陆弧环境。