Contaminant dispersion at the rehabilitated Mary Kathleen uranium mine, Australia

This study reports on the transfer of contaminants from waste rock dumps and mineralised ground into soils, sediments, waters and plants at the rehabilitated Mary Kathleen uranium mine in semi-arid northwest Queensland. Numerous waste rock dumps were partly covered with benign soil and the open pit mine was allowed to flood. The mineralised and waste calc-silicate rock in the open pit and dumps has major (>1 wt%) Ca, Fe and Mg, minor (>1,000 ppm) Ce, La, Mn, P and S, subminor (>100 ppm) Ba, Cu, Th and U, and trace (<100 ppm) As, Ni, Pb, Y and Zn values. Consequently, chemical and physical weathering processes have acted on waste rock and on rock faces within the open pit, mobilising many elements and leading to their dispersion into soils, stream sediments, pit water and several plant species. Chemical dispersion is initiated by sulfide mineral breakdown, generation of sulfuric acid and formation of several soluble, transient sulfate minerals as evaporative efflorescent precipitates. Radiation doses associated with the open pit average 5.65 mSv year⁻¹; waste dumps commonly have lower values, especially where soil-covered. Surface pit water is slightly acid, with high sulfate values accompanied by levels of U, Cu and Ni close to or above Australian water guideline values for livestock. Dispersion of U and related elements into soils and stream sediments occurs by physical (erosional) processes and from chemical precipitation. Plants growing in the mine void, on waste dumps and contaminated soil display evidence of biological uptake of U, LREE, Cu and Th and to a lesser degree of As, Ni, Pb, Y and Zn, with values being up to 1–2 orders of magnitude above background sites for the same species. Although rehabilitation procedures have been partly successful in reducing dispersion of U and related elements into the surrounding environment, it is apparent that 20 years after rehabilitation, there is significant physical and chemical mobility, including transfer into plants.     

Likely recharge to permanent groundwater beneath future rehabilitated landforms at Ranger uranium mine,northern Australia

The magnitude of recharge beneath rehabilitated landforms at former mine sites is one of many variables required for a comprehensive assessment of potential future environmental impacts of those sites. The magnitude of net groundwater recharge that may occur on the rehabilitated Range Uranium Mines landform is estimated to be of the order of 2–5% of the incident rainfall, that is, about 25 to 65 mm/a.     

Fluid Flow During Contact Metamorphism at Mary Kathleen, Queensland, Australia

Corella marbles in the Mary Kathleen Fold Belt were infiltratedby fluids during low-pressure (200-MPa) contact metamorphismassociated with the intrusion of the Burstall granite at 1730–1740Ma. Fluids emanating from the granite [whole-rock (WR) ¹⁸O=8.1–8.6%]produced Fe-rich massive and banded garnet—clinopyroxeneskarns [¹⁸O(WR)=9.1–11.9%]. Outside the skarn zones, marblemineralogies define an increase in temperature (500 to >575C) and XCO₂ (0.05 to >0.12) towards the granite, andmost marbles contain isobarically univariant or invariant assemblagesin the end-member CaO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O–CO₂system. Marbles have calcite (Cc) ¹⁸O and ¹³C values of 12.3–24.6%and –1.0 to –3.9%, respectively. A lack of down-temperaturemineral reactions in the marbles suggests that pervasive fluidinfiltration did not continue after the thermal peak of contactmetamorphism. The timing of fluid flow probably correspondsto a period of high fluid production and high intrinsic permeabilitiesduring prograde contact metamorphism. The petrology and stableisotope geochemistry of the marbles suggest that these rockswere infiltrated by water-rich fluids. If fluid flow occurredup to the peak of contact metamorphism, the mineralogical andisotopic resetting is best explained by fluids flowing up-temperaturetoward the Burstall granite. However, if fluid flow ceased beforthe peak of regional metamorphism, the fluid flow directioncannot be unambiguously determined. At individual outcrops,marble ¹⁸O(Cc) values vary by several permil over a few squaremetres, suggesting that fluid fluxes varied by at least an orderof magnitude on the metre to tens-of-metre scale. Fluids werefocused across lithological layering; however, mesoscopic fracturesare not recognized. The focusing of fluids was possibly viamicrofractures, and the variation in the degree of resettingmay reflect variations in microcrack density and fracture permeability.The marble—skarn contacts represent a sharp discontinuityin both major element geochemistry and ¹⁸O values, suggestingthat, at least locally, little fluid flow occurred across thesecontacts.     

Internal control of fluid compositions in amphibolite-facies scapolitic calc-silicates,Mary Kathleen,Australia

Unaltered metasediments of the Mary Kathleen Fold Belt are composed predominantly of layered amphibolite-facies scapolitic calc-silicate rocks in which minimal infiltration of externally derived fluids occurred during regional metamorphism. There were substantial differences in volatile activities between different layers in the layered sequences, in particular: a _CO2/a _{H 2 O} inferred from reaction progress estimates and analysis of biotite-clinopyroxene-fluid phase relations; a _NaCl/a _{H 2 O} inferred from scapolite compositions; and a _HCl/a _{H 2 O} inferred from biotite compositions. In one outcrop in which a clinopyroxene-producing reaction dominated, differences in approximate X _{CO 2}of up to 0.25 occurred between several samples collected over 50 metres. Variations in a _{H 2 O}/a _HCl of up to one order of magnitude are inferred at 1 to 50 m scales from biotite-Cl contents, and variations in NaCl contents of scapolite from 0.0 to up to 0.6 Cl atoms in the Cl–CO₃–SO₄ site reflect a large variation of a _NaCl in the coexisting fluid at similar scales. Most calcsilicate layers internally buffered fluid compositions in the H₂O–CO₂–NaCl–HCl system. Local occurrences of NaCl-rich scapolite suggest that some layers may have been in equilibrium with halite during early prograde metamorphism. At peak metamorphic temperatures, disolution of halite was complete but layers containing high-NaCl scapolite continued to buffer fluid at high values of a _NaCl. Fluid immiscibility does not appear to have affected the progress of the devolatilization reactions. Although fluid was predominantly internally buffered, moderate quantities of fluid were released by prograde mineral reactions in many layers, up to 30 cm³ fluid per 100 cm³ rock. Numerous episodes of fluid escape were required, probably via microfractures, such that the released fluid did not obviously influence reaction progress in the layers through which it passed. The anomaly of beautifully preserved internal buffering signatures and the requirement for produced fluid locally to pass across layers in a deforming rock sequence suggest that the escaping fluid did not leave any readily observable tracks. This is explained by rapid rates of fracture propogation and fluid migration therein. This internally buffered system contrasts strongly with adjacent calc-silicate rocks that show evidence for infiltration of externally derived fluids at high fluid/rock ratios, and highlights the broad range of fluid behaviour that can be expected in deforming, heterogeneous rock sequences.     

The origin of scapolite in the regionally metamorphosed rocks of Mary Kathleen,Queensland, Australia

Scapolite at Mary Kathleen (North-Western Queensland) occurs in calcareous and non-calcareous metapelites, acid and basic metavolcanics and metadolerites. Graphical treatment of the relationship between scapolite composition (Me%) and the host rock oxide ratios CaO/Na₂O and Al₂O₃/(CaO + Na₂O) reveals the following points:

1. The calcareous metapelites are also very sodic.
2. Scapolite in calcareous metapelites is more marialitic than that in low-calcium equivalents.
3. In graphs of Me% against CaO/Na₂O and Al₂O₃/(CaO + Na₂O) the metasediments and the metaigneous rocks show markedly different trends.

It is concluded that scapolite in the metasediments originated by isochemical metamorphism of shales and marls containing evaporitic halite. The local abundance of halite was the main control on the composition and distribution of the scapolite, but the relative abundance of CaO and Na₂O was a modifying factor. In the metaigneous rocks scapolite formed metasomatically during regional metamorphism by the introduction of volatile-rich fluids derived from the adjacent evaporitic sediments. The relative availability of CO₂ and Cl₂ again appears to have been the primary control on scapolite composition and may in turn have been controlled by bulk rock composition.     

High-Temperature Fluid-Rock Interaction and Scapolitization in an Extension-Related Hydrothermal System, Mary Kathleen, Australia

In the polymetamorphic Mary Kathleen Fold Belt, at the centreof the Proterozoic Mount Isa Inlier, Queensland, an early phaseof extension (1760–1730 Ma) resulted in intrusion of voluminousgranitic and doleritic magmas into the carbonate-evaporite-dominatedCorella Formation at 5–10 km depths. Widespread high-temperaturemetasomatism ensued, involving scapolitization in dolerite,formation of albite-scapolite shear zones in granite, exo- andendoskarn formation, and a zone of K–Na–Ca alterationin the lowermost Corella Formation. Granites and dolerites werealtered to an unusual Na–Ca-rich bulk composition, reflectinghigh-temperature infiltration of highly saline, chemically reactiveexternally derived fluid. The alteration products and theirdistribution suggest not only reaction of magmatic/aqueous fluidswith the country rocks but also extensive halite dissolutionand recirculation of saline fluids back into the intrusive bodies.The bulk of fluid flow occurred at high temperatures (500–700C), and major element and isotopic fronts were generally notsmoothed out by the effects of temperature gradients, with theexception of one part of the system which shows evidence forup-temperature fluid flow. Analysis of oxygen isotopic dataand the position of isotopic and geochemical fronts revealstime-integrated fluid fluxes of up to 2 10⁴ m³/m² for themetasomatism. Although very high salinities (up to 50 mol% NaCl)were attained by evaporite dissolution, ¹⁸O values of most alterationproducts are in the range 7–12%, reflecting a predominanceof oxygen derived from an igneous fluid. The position and interrelationshipsof metasomatic and isotopic fronts indicate an earlier stageof infiltration dominated by fluid released from crystallizinggranite (with ¹⁸O 10–12%), and a later stage (¹⁸O 7–9%)in which fluid had already interacted with halite and a mixedmafic-felsic igneous source or was repeatedly circulated betweenthese rock types during alteration. The data reflect only aminimal contribution from fluids produced by devolatilizationof the abundant carbonate-bearing rocks in the Corella Formation,and there are substantial areas of Corella Formation rocks thathave escaped metasomatism during this phase of intrusion-relatedhydrothermal activity and during the subsequent regional metamorphicoverprint. Along with the requirement that the fluids dissolvedlarge amounts of halite from the same sequence, and the structuralobservations, we favour a model where fluid was preferentiallychannelled along specific permeable conduits, including formerevaporite layers, before interaction with the now exposed alteredrocks. Fluid was probably driven by both convective circulationand dilatancy-related deformation accompanying emplacement ofmagmas into a major crustal extensional dcollement.     

The stable isotope signature of kilometre-scale fracturedominated metamorphic fluid pathways, Mary Kathleen, Australia

Abstract Large calcite veins and pods in the Proterozoic Corella Formation of the Mount Isa Inlier provide evidence for kilometre-scale fluid transport during amphibolite facies metamorphism. These 10- to 100-m-scale podiform veins and their surrounding alteration zones have similar oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios throughout the 200 × 10-km Mary Kathleen Fold Belt, despite the isotopic heterogeneity of the surrounding wallrocks. The fluids that formed the pods and veins were not in isotopic equilibrium with the immediately adjacent rocks. The pods have δ¹³C_calcite values of –2 to –7% and δ¹⁸O_calcite values of 10.5 to 12.5%. Away from the pods, metadolerite wallrocks have δ¹⁸O_whole-rock values of 3.5 to 7%. and unaltered banded calc-silicate and marble wallrocks have δ¹³C_calcite of –1.6 to –0.6%, and δ¹⁸O_calcite of 18 to 21%. In the alteration zones adjacent to the pods, the δ¹⁸O values of both metadolerite and calc-silicate rocks approach those of the pods. Large calcite pods hosted entirely in calc-silicates show little difference in isotopic composition from pods hosted entirely in metadolerite. Thus, 100- to 500-m-scale isotopic exchange with the surrounding metadolerites and calc-silicates does not explain the observation that the δ¹⁸O values of the pods are intermediate between these two rock types. Pods hosted in felsic metavolcanics and metasiltstones are also isotopically indistinguishable from those hosted in the dominant metadolerites and calc-silicates. These data suggest the veins are the product of infiltration of isotopically homogeneous fluids that were not derived from within the Corella Formation at the presently exposed crustal level, although some of the spread in the data may be due to a relatively small contribution from devolatilization reactions in the calc-silicates, or thermal fluctuations attending deformation and metamorphism. The overall L-shaped trend of the data on plots of δ¹³C vs. δ¹⁸O is most consistent with mixing of large volumes of externally derived fluids with small volumes of locally derived fluid produced by devolatilization of calc-silicate rocks. Localization of the vein systems in dilatant sites around metadolerite/calc-silicate boundaries indicates a strong structural control on fluid flow, and the stable isotope data suggest fluid migration must have occurred at scales greater than at least 1 km. The ultimate source for the external fluid is uncertain, but is probably fluid released from crystallizing melts derived from the lower crust or upper mantle. Intrusion of magmas below the exposed crustal level would also explain the high geothermal gradient calculated for the regional metamorphism.     

Structural and stratigraphic problems of the Argylla Formation near Mary Kathleen,Queensland

Rocks formerly mapped as Lower Proterozoic Argylla Formation near Mary Kathleen in northwest Queensland consist of parallel lenses of very deformed schist, quartzite and various types of metaporphyry. Completely intermingled with these are bands of amphibolite and lenses of the adjacent Wonga Granite. Finite ductile strains of 65–80% maximum shortening have been measured; these have produced transposition on both a mesoscopic and macroscopic scale. It is shown that the major stratigraphic boundaries are much shallower than the steeply dipping, constantly oriented unit boundaries. Intrusive relationships and structural criteria indicate that all the lithologies found within the mapped boundaries of the Argylla Formation are chronologically separate. This is confirmed by mapping in the much less deformed area near Winston Churchill Mine to the north. It is concluded that an original sedimentary pile was intruded first by dolerite dyke swarms and then by acid porphyry sills followed by granitic sill‐like instrusions of the Wonga Granite. Subsequent deformation and macroscopic transposition produced the present parallel‐layered structure.

These conclusions differ from currently accepted relationships of the Argylla Formation. Various possibilities are suggested; we favour the view that none of these rock types is equivalent to the defined Argylla Formation, and that the acid porphyries are younger than at Jeast some of the metasediments of the Mary Kathleen Group and may be a precursor of the Wonga Granite intrusion.     

On the age of uranium mineralisation at Nabarlek,northern territory,Australia

Discordant uranium‐lead isotope measurements are reported for a sample of Nabarlek pitchblende. These are compared with earlier measurements on uranium minerals from the South Alligator River area. New interpretations suggest that regional uranium mineralisation took place either 710 or 815 m.y. ago; the lower of these calculations is based on the assumption of modern episodic lead loss, and the higher assumes lead loss by continuous diffusion.     

The effect of heterogeneous stress and strain on metamorphic fluid flow,Mary Kathleen,Australia, and a model for large-scale fluid circulation *

In the Proterozoic Mary Kathleen Fold Belt, northern Australia, infiltration of large volumes of externally derived fluid occurred synchronously with regional amphibolite-facies metamorphism and deformation. This paper develops a model of structurally controlled fluid migration by comparing the distribution of fossil fluid pathways with the inferred stress and strain patterns during the deformation. Intense fluid flow was localized within strong, relatively brittle meta-intrusive bodies, and in discrete, veined, brecciated and altered zones around their margins. In metasediments folded in a ductile manner outside these areas, fluid infiltration was negligible. The direct correlation between structural styles and the magnitude of veining and metasomatism suggests control of permeability enhancement, and hence fluid flow, by deformation. Finite difference modelling of a strong body in a weaker matrix has been used to evaluate the variation of stresses during the deformation, from which it is clear that stress and strain heterogeneities have systematically influenced the development and maintenance of metamorphic fluid pathways. Particular regions in which mean stress may be significantly lower than the average lithostatic pressures include the ‘strain shadow’zones adjacent to the strong bodies, other dilatant zones around the bodies, and the bodies themselves. This geometry is favourable not only for localized brittle deformation under amphilobite facies conditions, but also for focused fluid flow in the low mean stress regions, as evidenced by the abundance of veins. Fluid access through these metamorphic aquifers occurred during tensile failure episodes, with particularly large dilations and decimetre-scale veining in areas of strain incompatibility. It appears likely that fluid circulated many times through the Fold Belt, with flow concentrated in the metamorphic aquifers. A model is developed that explains both the structurally focused fluid flow and the postulated multi-pass recirculation by dilatancy pumping, the ‘pump engines’comprising the low mean stress zones.     

Uranium series disequilibria in the sedimentary uranium deposit at Yeelirrie,Western Australia

The weighted mean values of the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U and the ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U ratios in ore samples collected above the modern water table of the Yeelirrie uranium deposit in Western Australia are 1.38 ± 0.10 and 0.83 ± 0.28, respectively. The relatively larger variability in the latter ratio is evidence for the translocation of uranium subsequent to deposition. Daughter product separation is due to differences in the mobilities of the thorium and uranium species. Factors involved in interpreting the observed ratios, in terms of the dynamics of the accumulation of the deposit, are assessed in terms of an open system model. The observed disequilibria provide a quantitative basis for the evaluation of hypotheses developed from geological and other considerations.     

Discussion: Structural and stratigraphic problems of the Argylla Formation near Mary Kathleen,Queensland

Circumstantial evidence indicates that Gaussberg, an isolated, 370 m high volcanic cone on the Antarctic coast at 57°S, 89°E, is the product of subglacial eruption. The vesicular, highly potassic leucitite, of which Gaussberg is composed, has been dated by K‐Ar and fission‐track methods, the former being applied to leucite concentrates, the latter to glassy leucitite from the ropy‐textured, outer rind of a pillow‐like structure. The K‐Ar geochronology yields an average date of 56 000 ± 5000 years, jwhich is interpreted as defining the time of Gaussberg's formation. The fission‐track work yields a less precise date, which supports the K‐Ar age estimate. These new age determinations indicate that previously published K‐Ar age determinations of 20 Ma and 9 Ma for Gaussberg should be rejected.     

澳大利亚兰杰一号铀矿之生命周期：地质、资源、生产与修复

兰杰一号铀矿及其所属的鳄鱼河铀矿田产于北澳太古宙克拉通内古元古代裂谷背景下发展起来的松溪造山带,矿体产于新太古代—古元古代结晶-变质基底/晚古元古代—中元古代康博尔吉红层建造不整合界面之下,铀矿化分3个时代,U_1为1720～1680Ma,U_2为1420～1040Ma,U_3为474±6Ma,U1是主矿化时代。该矿床于1969年后期通过航空放射性测量被发现,1970’s经勘探圈定了No.1和No.3两个铀矿体,总计资源储量124681t@0.23%U_3O_8。1980年10月正式露采,至2018年12月,总计生产了128739t U_3O_8。1985财年开始,ERA(澳大利亚能源资源有限责任公司)向世界核能市场共计销售了产于兰杰铀矿的119882t U_3O_8。2009年,发现了No.3深部矿,探明资源储量为43857t@0.22%U_3O_8,这部分资源将以地下开采方式利用。预计到2026年,采区地貌景观和生态环境将得到恢复。进一步讨论了澳北元古宙不整合面型铀矿找矿的方向,持续稳定的铀矿开采与生产的意义,以及投资澳大利亚铀矿业需要注意的政治与法律问题。这些内容可以为国内矿业企业及地勘单位合理部署澳洲铀矿勘查与开发提供参考。     

Thrust-controlled, gold quartz-vein mineralisation at the Tom's Gully mine, Northern Territory, Australia

Metasedimentary and minor metavolcanic rocks of the Early Proterozoic Pine Creek Inlier rest unconformably on Late Archaean granitic basement. Three basin-wide, regional deformation events at ca.1885–1870 Ma are recognised: I) W- to NW-verging thrusts and recumbent folds (D₂), II) upright, open to tight, doubly-plunging, NNE- to NNW-trending folds (D₃), and III) open, upright, E-trending folds (D₄). In the centre of the Pine Creek Inlier, post-tectonic granites (1835–1820 Ma) are spatially, temporally and probably genetically associated with mesothermal gold-quartz vein deposits. The Tom's Gully deposit consists of a shallowly S-dipping quartz reef in graphitic shale and siltstone within the thermal aureole of the post-tectonic (1831 ± 6 Ma) Mt Bundey pluton. Gold mineralisation comprises two(?) SSW-plunging sulphidic ore-shoots which are intimately associated with brecciation and recrystallisation of early barren quartz. Where early quartz is absent from the thrust, gold mineralisation is not developed, indicating that this secondary brittle fracturing was essential to sulphide and gold deposition. The ore-shoots plunge parallel to the trend of D₃ fold axes. The reef is hosted by a D₂ thrust fault with transport to the NW. D₃ folds in the hangingwall and footwall decrease in amplitude toward the reef indicating that, during continued E-W compression, the thrust acted as a décollement zone. Field relationships and microstructural studies suggest that quartz and sulphide were deposited in a reactivated thrust during wrench shear along several NNE-trending faults associated with emplacement of the Mt Bundey pluton.     

Magnetotelluric soundings and crustal architecture at Century mine,northern Australia

Magnetotelluric soundings were obtained along two traverse lines to the north and west of the Century mine in northwest Queensland. The survey was designed to cross the Termite Range Fault, a major structure on the Lawn Hill Platform, and to provide insights into the crustal-scale architecture that may have controlled the location of this world-class zinc deposit. The projected surface trace of the Termite Range Fault is coincident with a major change in resistivity character that extends to a significant depth. A relatively flat-lying, stacked series of resistive/conductive layers occurs on the northeastern side of the fault , while on the southwestern side the resistive/conductive layers are much less evident. The major contrast in resistivity is interpreted as due to a steep northeast-dipping Termite Range Fault that may extend to 20 km depth. To the southwest of the Termite Range Fault, a second major fault, the Riversleigh Lineament, is inferred from geology and gravity data, although there is no corresponding resistivity contrast seen across this fault in the magnetotelluric-derived model. This fault is interpreted as a buried structure, as distinct from the reactivated Termite Range Fault, and the two faults together may have created a wide damage zone (with an associated strike change) in the crust. A regional-scale 3D geological model of the Lawn Hill Platform provides a basis for correlating the resistive/conductive layers with major lithological units in the area. The stacked layers in the 2D resistivity inversion model of the Termite Range Fault hangingwall are reasonably well correlated with lithological units, particularly in the near-surface. A key point is that although similar geological units occur on either side of the Termite Range Fault, the contrasting electrical properties of these units are pronounced and their source is not well constrained; increased carbonaceous material in the Termite Range Fault hangingwall units is implied. In addition, there is a strong gradient in the Bouguer gravity field in the region of the Termite Range Fault and Riversleigh Lineament structures. This gradient provides supporting evidence for a northeast-facing fault structure in the basement and cover architecture. Newly acquired seismic data in the area has yet to be evaluated and compared with the magnetotelluric model. These results demonstrate an important role for magnetotelluric soundings in determining resistivity contrasts relating to the configuration of geological units and the architecture of deep-seated mineralising faults.     

龙凤山水库土石坝渗流混水现象研究

龙凤山土石坝在运行的很长一段时期内,坝后排水沟出现严重的混水现象,该现象白天呈周期性变化。利用原子吸收法和X-荧光光谱分析法,对坝后排水沟中的水及析出物进行化学成分分析,研究坝基析出物化学成分的演变规律。研究表明,水质中富含Ca,析出物中富含Fe和Mn。在坝基地下水渗流过程中,地下水与坝基岩石产生物理化学作用,从而导致化学潜蚀。地下渗流水的化学潜蚀作用与坝基岩石性质密切相关。在基性类岩石中,由于富含铁、锰等深色元素,在酸性环境中很容易迁移,因而排水沟中出现Fe2O3和MnO2絮凝状沉淀物,导致排水沟出现混水现象。     

Age and paragenesis of mineralisation at Coronation Hill uranium deposit,Northern Territory,Australia

Coronation Hill is a U?+?Au?+?platinum group elements deposit in the South Alligator Valley (SAV) field in northern Australia, south of the better known unconformity-style U East Alligator Rivers (EAR) field. The SAV field differs from the EAR by having a more complex basin-basement architecture. A volcanically active fault trough (Jawoyn Sub-basin) developed on older basement and then was disrupted by renewed faulting, before being buried beneath regional McArthur Basin sandstones that are also the main hanging wall to the EAR deposits. Primary mineralisation at Coronation Hill formed at 1607?±?26 Ma (rather than 600–900 Ma as previously thought), and so it is likely that the SAV was part of a single west McArthur Basin dilational event. Most ore is hosted in sub-vertical faults and breccias in the competent volcanic cover sequence. This favoured fluid mixing, acid buffering (forming illite) and oxidation of Fe²⁺ and reduced C-rich assemblages as important uranium depositional mechanisms. However, reduction of U in fractured older pyrite (Pb model age of 1833?±?67 Ma) is an important trap in diorite. Some primary ore was remobilised at 675?±?21 Ma to form coarse uraninite?+?Ni-Co pyrite networks containing radiogenic Pb. Coronation Hill is polymetallic, and in this respect resembles the ‘egress’-style U deposits in the Athabascan Basin (Canada). However, these are all cover-hosted. A hypothesis for further testing is that Coronation Hill is also egress-style, with ores formed by fluids rising through basement-hosted fault networks (U reduction by diorite pyrite and carbonaceous shale), and into veins and breccias in the overlying Jawoyn Sub-basin volcano-sedimentary succession.     

Cl/Br of scapolite as a fluid tracer in the earth's crust: insights into fluid sources in the Mary Kathleen Fold Belt,Mt. Isa Inlier,Australia

A combination of analytical methods, including trace element analysis of Br in scapolite by LA‐ICP‐MS, was employed to unravel the fluid–rock interaction history of the Mary Kathleen Fold Belt of northern Australia. Halogen ratios in the metamorphic and hydrothermally derived scapolite from a range of rock‐types record interaction between the host rocks and magmatic‐hydrothermal fluids derived from granite plutons and regional metamorphism. The results show that halite‐dissolution supplied at best only minor chlorine to fluids in the Fold Belt. Chlorine/bromine ratios in metamorphic scapolite indicate that fluids were dominantly derived from basinal brines formed from sub‐aerial evaporation of seawater beyond the point of halite saturation. This bittern fluid infiltrated the underlying sedimentary sequences prior to regional metamorphism. Zoned scapolite in a major late metamorphic mineralized shear‐zone records three discrete pulses of magmatic and metamorphic fluid, and it is suggested that fluid mixing may have assisted mineralization along and around this shear‐zone. As a crucial prerequisite for halogen fluid tracer studies using scapolite, we find in our samples that Cl and Br do not fractionate when incorporated in scapolite. Furthermore, unaltered rims of heavily retrogressed scapolite show indistinguishable Cl/Br signatures compared with fresh grains from the same sample indicating retrograde metamorphism did not significantly affect Cl and Br signatures in scapolite group minerals.