Speciation and Precipitation of Uranium Complexes in Hydrothermal Solutions Related to Granite—type Uranium Deposits

Uranium-bearing hydrothermal solutions during the stage of ore deposition are weakly alkaline and of the Ca^2 -Na^ /HCO3^- -F^- type.UO2(CO3)2^2- and UO2F4^-, are dominant in the hydrothermal solutions with respect to their activity.Wall-rock hydrothermal alterations ,temperature and pressure drop and the reducing capability of rock assemblage (Δeh) led to a decrease in Eh of the hydrothermal solutions and an increase in Eh at which uranium began precipitating.Therefore,the mechanism of uranium precipitation is essentially the reduction of uranium complexes.The granite-type uranium deposits are the most important type of uranium resources in China.Discussions will be made in this paper concerning the hydrothermal speciation and precipitation mech-anisms of uranium complexes in the light of fluid inclusion and geological data from some major de-posits of this type in South China.     

Assessment of Prospecting Potentiality for Superlarge Continental Volcanic Rock—Type Uranium Deposits in China

The superlarge continental volcanic rock-type uranium deposits,which were discovered abroad long ago,have not ye been reported up to now in China.This is an important problem that needs to be urgently solved by uranium geologists at present.In this paper,on the basis of analyzing the metallogenic settings and geological conditions of the superlarge continental volcanic rock-type uranium deposits discovered in the world along with the metallogenic characteristics of those of the same type in China,the space-time distribution patterns of continental volcanics and the metallogenic potential of main tectono-volcanic belts in China are discussed,and a synthetic conclusion has been drawn that there is a possibility to discover the superlarge continental volcanic rock-type uranium deposits in China.Moreover,it is evidenced that the Ganhang,Nanling,Yanliao,Da Hinggan Ling and other tectono-volcanic belts possess favorable geological conditions for the formation of ssuperlarge ore deposits of the continental volcanic rock type.The intersecting and overlapping locations of the aforementioned main belts with other tectono-volcanic(-intrusive)belts are the most potential areas where the superlarge continental volcanic rock-type uranium deposits would be found.     

Geochemical characteristics of Dongsheng sandstone-type uranium deposit, Ordos Basin

Generally, sandstone-type uranium deposits can be divided into three zones according to their redox conditions: oxidized zone, ore zone and reduced zone. The Dongsheng uranium deposit belongs to this type. In order to study its geochemical characteristics, 11 samples were taken from the three zones of the Dongsheng uranium deposit. Five samples of them were collected from the oxidized zone, four samples from the ore zone and two samples from the reduced zone. These samples were analyzed using organic and inorganic geochemical methods. The results of GC traces and ICP-MASS indicate that the three zones show different organic and inorganic geochemical characteristics.     

铀-铅同位素谱系研究及其在铀矿地质中的应用

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

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     

Isotope Geological Studies of Granite-Type Uranium Deposits in South China

The uranium-bearing granites in South China can be classified into two types. namely, syntectic type andtransformation type. A fairly systematic hydrogen, oxygen. carbon, sulfur isotopic study of uranium depositsrelated to these two types of granites has been carried out by the authors, and the results show that they haveobvious differences in such aspects as ore-forming and rock-forming ages. properties of ore-forming solutionsand source of ore-forming substances. The authors hold that the uranium deposits related to the syntectic typegranitoids are intimately connected with magmatism in time and space, whereas the uranium deposits relatedto the transformation type granites, though spatially linked up with uranium-bearing granites, should actuallyowe their formation to extension in the fault block movement in South China.     

Effect of Groundwater Radiolysis on the Wall—rock Alteration of Uranium Ore Deposits

Reported for the first time in this paper are the results of simulating experiments on the γ-irradiation-induced oxidation of Fe^2 under the physicochemical conditions(T=200℃，P=50MPa,Eh=-0.1V,pH=7.2)simial to those under which moderate-low temperature hydrothermal uranium deposits are formed.Evdence shows that the effect of groundwater radiolysis seems to be the major mechanism of wall-rock alteration(hematitizaton)of hydrothermal uranium deposits.Moreover,adiscussion was made of possible effects of radiolysis of the water-rock system on wall-rock alterations including argillization and decoloration of uranium ore deposits on the basis of the experimental results.     

The Major Ore Clusters of Super-Large Iron Deposits in the World,Present Situation of Iron Resources in China,and Prospect

Abstract: The metamorphosed sedimentary type of iron deposits (BIF) is the most important type of iron deposits in the world, and super-large iron ore clusters of this type include the Quadrilatero Ferrifero district and Carajas in Brazil, Hamersley in Australia, Kursk in Russia, Central Province of India and Anshan-Benxi in China. Subordinated types of iron deposits are magmatic, volcanic-hosted and sedimentary ones. This paper briefly introduces the geological characteristics of major super-large iron ore clusters in the world. The proven reserves of iron ores in China are relatively abundant, but they are mainly low-grade ores. Moreover, a considerate part of iron ores are difficult to utilize for their difficult ore dressing, deep burial or other reasons. Iron ore deposits are relatively concentrated in 11 metallogenic provinces (belts), such as the Anshan-Benxi, eastern Hebei, Xichang-Central Yunnan Province and middle-lower reaches of Yangtze River. The main minerogenetic epoches vary widely from the Archean to Quaternary, and are mainly the Late Archean to Middle Proterozoic, Variscan, and Yanshanian periods. The main 7 genetic types of iron deposits in China are metamorphosed sedimentary type (BIF), magmatic type, volcanic-hosted type, skarn type, hydrothermal type, sedimentary type and weathered leaching type. The iron-rich ores occur predominantly in the skarn and marine volcanic-hosted iron deposits, locally in the metamorphosed sedimentary type (BIF) as hydrothermal reformation products. The theory of minerogenetic series of mineral deposits and minerogenic models has applied in investigation and prospecting of iron ore deposits. A combination of deep analyses of aeromagnetic anomalies and geomagnetic anomalies, with gravity anomalies are an effective method to seeking large and deep-buried iron deposits. China has a relatively great ore-searching potential of iron ores, especially for metamorphosed sedimentary, skarn, and marine volcanic-hosted iron deposits. For the lower guarantee degree of iron and steel industry, China should give a trading and open the foreign mining markets.     

Ore Genesis for Stratiform Ore Bodies of the Dongfengnanshan Copper Polymetallic Deposit in the Yanbian Area, NE China：Constraints from LA-ICP-MS in situ Trace Elements and Sulfide S–Pb Isotopes

The Dongfengnanshan Cu polymetallic deposit is one representative deposit of the Tianbaoshan ore district in the Yanbian area, northeast(NE) China. There occur two types of ore bodies in this deposit, the stratiform ore bodies and veintype ones, controlled by the Early Permian strata and the Late Hercynian diorite intrusion, respectively. Due to the ambiguous genetic type of the stratiform ore bodies, there has been controversy on the relationship between them and veintype ore bodies. To determine the genetic type of stratiform ore bodies, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS) in situ trace elements and S–Pb isotope analysis have been carried on the sulfides in the stratiform ore bodies. Compared with that in skarn, Mississippi Valley-type(MVT), and epithermal deposits, sphalerite samples in the stratiform ore bodies of the Dongfengnanshan deposit are significantly enriched in Fe, Mn, and In, while depleted in Ga, Ge, and Cd, which is similar to the sphalerite in volcanic-associated massive sulfide(VMS) deposits. Co/Ni ratio of pyrrhotites in the stratiform ore bodies is similar to that in VMS-type deposits. The concentrations of Zn and Cd of chalcopyrites are similar to those of recrystallized VMS-type deposits. These characteristics also reflect the intermediate ore-forming temperature of the stratiform ore bodies in this deposit. Sulfur isotope compositions of sulfides are similar to those of VMS-type deposits, reflecting that sulfur originated from the Permian Miaoling Formation. Lead isotope compositions indicate mixed-source for lead. Moreover, the comparison of the Dongfengnanshan stratiform ore bodies with some VMStype deposits in China and abroad, on the trace elements and S–Pb isotope characteristics of the sulfides reveals that the stratiform ore bodies of the Dongfengnanshan deposit belong to the VMS-type, and have closely genetic relationship with the early Permian marine volcanic sedimentary rocks.     

A new type of micro-disseminated gold deposits in association with diabase found in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region—Their geological characteristics and metallogenic conditions

With the continuous development of gold ore prospecting and exploration in recent years a new type of micro-disseminated gold deposits have been found in the regions of Southwest Guizhou Province and Northwest Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,with the orebodies directly occurring in diabase or in the contact zone between diabase and strata.The orebodies are strictly controlled by fault structures.The discovery of this type of gold deposits has brought about new prospects for gold ore prospecting in the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi Golden Triangle region.From the preliminary analysis of the geological characteristics of the Qiaoxiang gold deposit in Wangmo County,in combination with the results of research work in the adjacent areas in recent years,this paper roughly described the geological characteristics and metallogenic conditions of this type of gold ore deposits with an attempt to make more and more geologists pay enough attention to this type of gold ore deposits,so as to promote gold ore prospecting in Guizhou Province to develop toward a variety of types of gold deposits in all round way.     

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.     

Evidence of uranium biomineralization in sandstone-hosted roll-front uranium deposits, northwestern China

We show evidence that the primary uranium minerals, uraninite and coffinite, from high-grade ore samples (U₃O₈>0.3%) in the Wuyiyi, Wuyier, and Wuyisan sandstone-hosted roll-front uranium deposits, Xinjiang, northwestern China were biogenically precipitated and psuedomorphically replace fungi and bacteria. Uranium (VI), which was the sole electron acceptor, was likely to have been enzymically reduced. Post-mortem accumulation of uranium may have also occurred through physio-chemical interaction between uranium and negatively-charged cellular sites, and inorganic adsorption or precipitation reactions. These results suggest that microorganisms may have played a key role in formation of the sandstone- or roll-type uranium deposits, which are among the most economically significant uranium deposits in the world.     

661铀矿床矿石U-Pb等时线年龄及其成矿构造背景

661铀矿床位于赣杭构造火山岩铀成矿带东段大洲铀矿田内,矿体赋存于磨石山群九里坪组流纹岩之中,矿床定位于岩石圈伸展断陷盆地附近,明显受断裂带的控制.利用矿石U-Pb等时线法确定了该矿床两个矿体的成矿时代,分别为(107.0±2.3)Ma和(110.0±3.5)Ma.这些年龄值与断陷红盆底部发育的玄武岩的成岩年龄一致,也与东南沿海地区明显存在的110 Ma基性脉岩拉张活动的时间一致,表明岩石圈伸展与铀成矿之间具有良好的对应关系,为岩石圈伸展期与铀成矿关系研究提供了年代学证据.岩石圈伸展控制着富CO2热液形成的时间,因而也大致控制了铀成矿的时代.     

电子探针化学测年在攀枝花大田晶质铀矿中的应用及其意义

晶质铀矿和沥青铀矿是热液铀矿床的主要工业铀矿物,在研究热液铀矿床成因及成矿规律方面具有重要的意义。攀枝花大田地区是我国混合岩型热液铀矿分布区,已发现粗粒特富铀矿滚石(铀含量10%)及较富基岩矿石(铀含量为0.1%~2%),主要铀矿物为晶质铀矿,对两种晶质铀矿成分及形成时代的研究对该区混合岩型热液铀矿成矿规律研究具有重要的价值。本文通过对大田地区滚石中的晶质铀矿和基岩矿石中的晶质铀矿进行矿物学及电子探针分析,研究了晶质铀矿的成分及形成时代。结果表明:(1)大田地区滚石和基岩矿石中的晶质铀矿除铅之外化学成分较为相似,两类矿石晶质铀矿中UO_2含量为77.36%~84.04%,ThO_2含量为0.98%~5.59%,PbO含量为1.79%~8.8%,其中滚石晶质铀矿中的铅含量低于基岩晶质铀矿,钍含量高于基岩晶质铀矿;(2)电子探针化学定年结果表明,基岩矿石晶质铀矿的形成时代为774.9~785.5 Ma,滚石晶质铀矿的形成时代为783.7 Ma,与传统同位素测年结果(775~777.6 Ma)非常一致,一方面说明滚石晶质铀矿和基岩晶质铀矿为同一时代的产物,另一方面说明电子探针原位测年方法是可靠的;(3)在后期的热液蚀变中,晶质铀矿先后发生了硅化、碳酸盐化及赤铁矿化,蚀变发生的时间分别为730.6Ma、699.8 Ma和664.0 Ma。此结论对研究攀枝花大田地区热液铀矿成矿时代及成矿作用过程提供了依据。     

相山铀矿田611和6122矿床与34号矿床矿石建造特征对比

中国火山岩型铀矿床主要产于东南沿海一带 ,其矿石物质成分以单铀类型为主 ,但也存在一些复杂类型的矿床。本文旨就该类矿床中的铀及多元素建造类型列举了 34号矿床和相山矿田6 11,6 12 2等矿床进行具体对比。发现上述矿床在矿石物质成分上基本一致 ,表现为铀与钍、钇 (重稀土 )、钼、磷等构成铀多元素矿化类型。     

若尔盖碳硅泥岩型铀矿成矿规律及控矿因素分析

西秦岭南亚带的若尔盖碳硅泥岩型铀矿床是中国重要的十大铀资源基地之一,但是在加大找矿深度、扩大资源量以及矿床成因等方面仍然存在一系列的问题。通过多年的详实野外勘查和研究,总结出了若尔盖地区硅泥岩型铀矿的矿体形态、产出特征及空间分布规律,即矿床主要产于下志留统一套浅变质硅质岩、灰岩、板岩层中,矿体形态呈似层状、透镜状、扁豆状,矿体严格受岩性、构造、硅灰岩组合体3要素控制; 提出了“断裂构造-硅灰岩组合体-岩性界面”3要素组合控矿的成矿规律,以及“组合成矿”和“深源流体”对若尔盖铀成矿起主导作用的新认识。     

河南省卢氏县灰池子岩体外围花岗伟晶型铀矿地质特征研究

灰池子岩体外围发育大量的伟晶岩脉,是伟晶岩型铀矿的重要富集区,已在陕西境内发现2个大型伟晶岩型铀矿床。经过近几年的铀矿勘查,在河南省卢氏县灰池子岩体外围也发现了伟晶岩型铀矿体,证明该区存在巨大的铀矿找矿潜力。然而,由于该区研究程度较低,不利于进一步的铀矿勘查。文章以灰池子岩体外围含铀伟晶岩为研究对象,在全面分析其宏观、微观及地球化学特征的基础上,指出研究区伟晶岩型铀矿以晶质铀矿和铀钍石的形式赋存于黑云母花岗伟晶岩中,并提出了伟晶岩型铀矿的宏观、微观及地球化学找矿标志。通过对研究区伟晶岩铀矿石与光石沟铀矿石的对比研究,发现两区铀矿石虽具有相似的矿物组成及结构构造等特征,但在常量及微量元素含量、副矿物种类、岩石分异度、稀土元素及微量元素配分等方面存在一定差异,推测导致这种差异的主要原因与两个地区所处的构造位置及岩浆活动强烈程度有关。     

桂西大新-钦甲地区辉绿岩脉地球化学与锆石U-Pb同位素年代学及对碳硅泥岩型铀矿床成因的启示

碳硅泥岩型铀矿床是我国铀矿地质工作者建立的铀矿床类型,是我国四大铀矿工业类型之一。桂西地区是我国华南地区一个重要的碳硅泥岩型铀矿床产出区域,包括大新(373)铀矿床等多个典型铀矿床(点)。研究辉绿岩与矿床成因的联系,对重新认识矿床成因有重要意义。本文在对桂西大新-钦甲地区碳硅泥岩型铀矿床和辉绿岩脉野外地质研究的基础上,系统研究了辉绿岩的地质特征、岩石学、地球化学特征以及其中锆石的U-Pb同位素年代学特征,在此基础上,探讨了辉绿岩的成岩与碳硅泥岩型铀矿床成矿间的关系。元素地球化学特征显示Rb、U、Th、Ba等大离子亲石元素的含量都高于MORB值,高场强元素Ta、Nb、Zr、Hf等均相对于MORB有所富集,而HREE元素中等亏损,表明本区辉绿岩属于富集地幔特征的板内碱性玄武岩系列(WPB),属于华南陆内伸展构造背景下软流圈上涌导致富集岩石圈地幔部分熔融形成的铁镁质岩浆发生侵位的产物。辉绿岩脉3个样品的锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄为86. 7±0. 9Ma、89. 05±0. 96Ma、91. 6±8. 3Ma,表明形成于晚白垩纪早期,与华南地区与中基性岩脉有关的铀矿床成矿时代具有较好的对应关系,也与华南地区广泛分布的中生代基性岩脉时代一致,对应于华南白垩纪构造应力场中四次重要的拉张活动时代中的一期。辉绿岩脉锆石特征指示了辉绿岩成岩过程对矿源层中铀的活化所产生的重要作用以及成岩与成矿之间的热动力联系;结合元素地球化学、矿床成矿年龄和辉绿岩锆石UPb同位素年龄研究结果表明,区内铀矿床具有多期成矿特点,即"沉积期铀预富集、辉绿岩作用下二次预富集、后期热液再次富集成矿",可能是该类型矿床成矿作用的重要形式。     

Fluid inclusions in late minerals from the paleovalley-type uranium deposits of the West Siberian ore region: Thermochemical characteristics and genetic applications

Comprehensive microthermometric investigations revealed similar temperature ranges (280–120°C) for the formation of late carbonates in the Khokhlovskoe, Semizbai, and Malinovskoe deposits of the West Siberian uranium ore region. A close chemical similarity was definitely established between the solutions of fluid inclusions and thermal nitrogen-methane waters with elevated CO₂ concentrations typical of this region in general. It was noted that such CO₂-rich mineral waters (Yessentuki no. 4 type) are common in the Mesozoic sequences of the Shadrinsk region, where Transuralian uranium deposits occur, and are similar in composition and temperature to the modern CO₂-rich formation waters of the host sequences of the Khokhlovskoe deposit. The mineralogical and geochemical features of newly formed late minerals and uranium ores were considered as the most probable reflection of the exfiltration of such thermal solutions into the host levels. Two late mineral assemblages were distinguished: (1) hematite-calcite and (2) goethite-berthierine and goethite-smectite-chlorite with siderite or goethite-kaolinite-illite with siderite; they occur both in the host sequences and in the underlying basement rocks. The development of the latter assemblage causes a significant change in rock color (bleaching); it is widespread and was observed in all the deposits. It was shown that these altered rocks and uranium ores (especially high-grade) are very similar in mineral and chemical composition to the products of acid leaching and accompanying mineralization, which could be related to low-temperature argillization. It was suggested that exogenic epigenetic processes of ancient soil-bedrock oxidation contributed certainly to the development of uranium mineralization, and the modern character of the uranium ores and their host rocks is related to a large extent to the influence of hydrothermal CO₂-rich solutions related to the neotectonic activation of the region. This resulted in the development of their specific mineral and chemical compositions and corresponding technological characteristics. It seems expedient to estimate the possible contributions of exogenic and endogenic factors to the formation of the uranium mineralization rather than oppose the roles of these processes of different stages.