SHRIMP U–Pb ages of diagenetic and hydrothermal xenotime from the Archaean Witwatersrand Supergroup of South Africa

SHRIMP dating of xenotime overgrowths on detrital zircon grains can constrain maximum durations since diagenesis and therefore provide minimum dates of sediment deposition. Thus, xenotime dating has significant economic application to Precambrian sediment-hosted ore deposits, such as Witwatersrand Au–U, for which there are no precise depositional ages. The growth history of xenotime in the Witwatersrand Supergroup is texturally complex, with several phases evident. The oldest authigenic xenotime ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age obtained in sandstone underlying the Vaal Reef is 2764 ± 5 Myr (1 σ), and most likely represents a mixture of diagenetic and hydrothermal growth. Nevertheless, this represents the oldest authigenic mineral age yet recorded in the sequence and provides a minimum age of deposition. Other xenotime data record a spread of ages that correspond to numerous post-diagenetic thermotectonic events (including a Ventersdorp event at ≈ 2720 Ma) up to the ≈2020 Ma Vredefort event.     

塔木素铀矿床下白垩统巴音戈壁组含铀砂岩成岩特征及其与铀矿化关系研究

位于巴音戈壁盆地南部的塔木素铀矿床为典型的硬砂岩型铀矿床,这种特殊硬砂岩型铀矿与我国北方其他典型砂岩铀矿床最主要的不同就是表现在成岩特征上。运用岩石学、岩相学、岩石地球化学、阴极发光、扫描电子显微镜等对塔木素铀矿床下白垩统巴音戈壁组上段（K₁b2）含铀砂岩成岩特征及其与铀矿化的关系进行了研究。结果表明含铀砂岩碎屑物主要有石英（平均含量12.38%）、长石（平均含量50.33%）,胶结物主要有石膏（平均含量12.57%）、铁白云石（平均含量3.20%）、含铁白云石（平均含量9.33%）、白云石（平均含量9.76%）及少量杂基（平均含量2.62%）,以孔隙式和基底式胶结为主。含铀砂岩具有盐湖盆地早成岩阶段B期和晚成岩阶段A期的成岩特征,成岩的水介质条件为高矿化度（35.4 g/L）的碱性水（pH=7.52）。在早成岩阶段B期形成了以化学胶结作用、水岩作用、溶蚀作用及交代作用为主的成岩特征。胶结物具有由铁白云石—含铁白云石—白云石—石膏的生成顺序,碳酸盐胶结物由中心到边缘依次为自形铁白云石、半自形—自形的含铁白云石、最外面为他形—半自形的白云石。石膏形成最晚,并可见石膏交代石英、长石及白云石现象。在此过程中,高矿化度水中的Na+替换了斜长石中的Ca2+,使斜长石全部转化为钠长石,并在斜长石表面形成了溶蚀微孔洞并沿解理形成微裂隙。受碱性地下水影响,基本无自生胶结作用及黏土矿物生成。晚成岩阶段A期以溶解作用为特征,酸性的地表水溶解了砂岩中的碳酸盐胶结物并形成了溶洞。含铀砂岩整体具有孔隙度低及渗透率低等特征,不利于层间氧化作用的形成。根据含铀砂岩成岩特征及其与铀矿化关系的研究发现,塔木素地区铀矿化具有沉积成岩及层间氧化双重成因特征。     

Fluvial architecture and diagenesis of the Mt Eclipse Sandstone,northern Ngalia Basin,Australia

The Upper Devonian to Carboniferous Mt Eclipse Sandstone is a basin-wide host to uranium mineralisation in the Ngalia Basin, NT. The fluvial depositional architecture and diagenesis of the Mt Eclipse Sandstone at the Bigrlyi uranium deposit on the northern margin of the basin are deduced from hyperspectral mineral results captured from 200 drill holes, combined with core and outcrop observations across a ~10 km strike length. The succession hosting the uranium mineralisation is interpreted to be deposited in the lower parts of a mature alluvial fan system with low slope angle and dominated by immature, kaolinised, medium-grained subarkosic sandstones and patchy calcite cement. This study reveals the fluvial channel sequence is estimated to be 3 km wide, 100–200 m thick and sourced from the north. This multidisciplinary study also uncovers the complex interaction and codependencies between fluvial/groundwater activity, evaporation, oxidation, fluctuating pH and detrital mineralogy controlling early diagenetic processes in the alluvial fan sediments. Carbon isotope data identify calcite cements as groundwater calcrete, while strontium isotope data suggest limited prolonged water–rock interaction prior and during calcite cementation. The petrographic data reveal the importance of early calcite cement occluding all pore space and preserving detrital minerals from later diagenetic processes. The hyperspectral results highlight the intermittent distribution of the calcite cement and the commonly repetitive mineralogical zonation throughout the 200 drill holes, including the inverse spatial correlation between kaolinite ± goethite ± gypsum vs white mica ± hematite dominated zones. X-ray diffraction and the hyperspectral data reveal the scarcity of early diagenetic clay minerals such as montmorillonite. This paper is the first to report on a systematic mineralogical and sedimentological study for the Mt Eclipse Sandstone. By focusing on the diagenesis and fluvial architecture of this stratigraphic unit, a framework to support exploration for sediment-hosted uranium deposits is established.     

Advances in understanding the Kombolgie Subgroup and unconformity-related uranium deposits in the Alligator Rivers Uranium Field and how to explore for them using lithogeochemical principles

The Alligator Rivers Uranium Field (ARUF) includes the mined and unmined Jabiluka, Ranger, Koongarra and Nabarlek unconformity-related uranium deposits and several small prospects including the newly discovered King River prospect. Uranium mineralisation is hosted by a variety of metamorphosed Nimbuwah Domain lithologies that are unconformably overlain by the Kombolgie Subgroup, a basin package of unmetamorphosed arenites and mafic volcanics. All of the uranium deposits and prospects preserve an identical alteration assemblage that is subdivided into a distal and proximal alteration zone. The distal alteration zone comprises an assemblage of sericite and chlorite that replace albite and amphibole. In some cases, this alteration can be traced >1000 m from the proximal alteration zone that is dominated by uraninite, hematite, chlorite and sericite. Uranium precipitated in the basement as uraninite at 1680 Ma at around 200°C from a fluid having δ¹⁸O_fluid values of 3.0±2.8‰ and δD_fluid values of ?28±13‰ VSMOW reflecting an evolved marine source. These geochemical properties are indistinguishable from those recorded by diagenetic illite and chlorite that were collected from the Kombolgie Subgroup sandstones across the ARUF. The illite and chlorite formed in diagenetic aquifers, and where these aquifers intersected favourable basement rocks, such as those containing graphite or other reductants, U was precipitated as uraninite. Therefore, it is proposed that the Kombolgie Subgroup is the source for fluids that formed the deposits. A post-ore alteration assemblage dominated by chlorite, but also comprising quartz±dolomite±sulfide veins cut the uranium mineralisation at all deposits and has historically been recorded as part of the syn-ore mineralisation event. However, these minerals formed anywhere between 1500 to 630 Ma from fluids that have distinctly lower δ¹⁸O_fluid values around 1.5‰ and lower δD_fluid values around ?45‰ reflecting a meteoric water origin. Despite unconformity-related uranium deposits having a large alteration halo, they remain difficult to find. The subtle alteration of albite to sericite several hundred metres from mineralisation occurs in isolation of any increase in trace elements such as U and radiogenic Pb and can be difficult or impossible to identify in hand specimen. Whole rock geochemical data indicate that Pearce Element Ratio (PER) analysis and General Element Ratio (GER) analysis may vector into this subtle alteration because it does not rely on an increase in trace elements to identify proximity to ore. PER and GER plots, Al/Ti vs (2Ca + Na + K)/Ti, Na/Al vs (Na + K)/Al, K/Al vs (Na + K)/Al and (Fe + Mg)/Al vs (Na + K)/Al provide a visual guide that readily distinguish unaltered from altered samples. A plot of (Na + K)/Al and (Fe + Mg)/Al on the x-axis against the concentration of trace elements on the y-axis reveals that U, Pb, Mo, Cu, B, Br, Ce, Y, Li, Ni, V and Nd are associated with the most intensely altered samples. The lithogeochemical vectors should aid explorers searching for uranium mineralisation in a prospective basin environment, but exploration must first focus on the characteristics of the basin to assess its mineralisation potential. A holistic model that describes the evolution of the Kombolgie Subgroup from deposition through diagenesis to formation of the uranium deposits in the underlying basement rocks is presented and has application to other basins that are considered prospective for unconformity-related uranium deposits. The model outlines that explorers will need to consider the thickness of the sedimentary pile, its lithological composition relative to depositional setting, the depth to which the sediments were buried during diagenesis and the degree of diagenesis achieved, which may be time dependant, before deciding on the prospectivity of the basin.     

Microtextures, geochemistry and geochronology of authigenic xenotime: constraining the cementation history of a Palaeoproterozoic metasedimentary sequence

An ≈ 26 m thick unit of phosphatic sandstone and black shale (the Phosphatic Unit) in the Palaeoproterozoic Mount Barren Group of south-western Australia contains abundant authigenic xenotime crystals showing well-preserved diagenetic textures. Despite extensive regional deformation and thermal metamorphism, the peak of which occurred at ≈ 1205 Ma, the Phosphatic Unit was preserved as a low-strain envelope because of its pre-compaction carbonate and phosphate cementation. In situ U–Pb geochronology of xenotime reveals four discrete age populations at 1693 ± 4, 1645 ± 3, 1578 ± 10 and 1481 ± 21 Ma. When integrated with petrography, the age data place a timeframe on: (i) sediment deposition; (ii) phosphogenesis; (iii) diagenetic cement infilling; (iv) diagenetic pyrite formation; (v) secondary porosity generation; (vi) hydrocarbon migration; (vii) burial compaction; and (viii) hydrothermal alteration, up until peak thermal metamorphism. Xenotime growth at ≈ 1693 Ma occurred prior to compaction, whereas xenotime growth at ≈ 1645 Ma occurred during burial. Xenotime growth at ≈ 1580 Ma and at ≈ 1480 Ma appears to be the far-field record of thermotectonic events associated with intracontinental extension and magmatism recorded elsewhere in Australia. Geochemical analysis, integrated with geochronology, shows a systematic increase in MREE/HREE in xenotime crystals with decreasing age and with increasing stratigraphic depth. Coupled with a decrease in xenotime abundance and age with depth, it suggests that: (i) the main focus of porosity infilling was at the top of the Phosphatic Unit and progressed downwards over the > 200 Myr period of porosity infilling, and (ii) the changes in xenotime REE chemistry may be due to an influx of MREE from increasing amounts of dissolved apatite or changes, with respect to REE solubility, in the physiochemical nature of the fluids with burial depth.     

伊犁盆地砂岩型铀成矿同位素地质特征

本对伊犁盆地可地浸砂岩型铀矿及其蚀源区进行了同位素地质特征研究，结果表明：伊犁盆地砂岩型铀矿具有多时期成矿的特点，其成矿年龄分别为82.4,60,11.4,7.1,3.5Ma，而主要成矿期集中在第三纪的中、上新世。伊犁盆地南侧蚀源区发育有以海西期为主的花岗岩和火山岩，前为293－316Ma，后为235－259Ma，从含矿砂体精选出的锆石，其U－Pb同位素年龄为308Ma，与蚀源区花岗岩，火山岩的时代一致，从而肯定了含矿砂体的物质来源，此外，通过对含矿砂体和蚀源区岩石U-Pb同位素体系演化特征的研究，指伊犁盆地砂岩型铀矿具有多铀源富集的特点，这些铀源分别是：地层沉积时形成的富铀砂体（主要的）和富铀的蚀源区岩石的近代风化淋滤释出的铀。     

鄂尔多斯盆地北部砂岩型铀矿直罗组物源分析及其铀成矿意义

鄂尔多斯盆地北部直罗组原生灰色砂岩具有高铀背景值的特征,在层间氧化阶段砂岩同沉积期富集的铀元素遭受氧化迁出构成该区铀成矿的重要铀源。本文对鄂尔多斯盆地北部铀矿区直罗组砂岩进行了碎屑锆石U-Pb定年、重矿物和古水流分析,深入分析了该区直罗组的沉积物源,并探讨了富铀砂岩的成因。结果显示:矿区直罗组砂岩碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄主要集中在251~308Ma,322~354Ma,1529~2182Ma,2200~2632Ma四个年龄区间;富Mn钛铁矿、锆石、磷灰石和榍石的重矿物组合指示物源主要为中酸性岩浆岩;通过与源区对比分析认为铀矿区直罗组物源主要来自盆地之北的乌拉山—大青山地区和狼山东部地区的新太古代、古元古代和晚古生代中酸性岩浆岩及新太古代、古元古代变质岩。结合源区岩体铀含量特征分析,发现晚古生代中酸性岩浆岩相对于源区其它岩体强烈富集铀元素,是研究区直罗组高铀背景值砂岩形成发育的主要原因。晚古生代中酸性岩浆岩的形成与古亚洲洋的演化密切相关,其分布特征可以作为中东亚成矿域内盆地铀资源远景预测的重要依据。     

Reconnaissance-style EPMA chemical U–Th–Pb dating of uraninite

EPMA chemical U-Th-Pb uraninite analysis has been used to constrain the age of the granite-related, Rössing South uranium prospect in Namibia and the Kintyre unconformity-related uranium deposit in Western Australia. Uraninite from the Rössing South prospect has an age of 496.1 ± 4.1 Ma, which is similar to the age of other uranium deposits in the region at Rössing and Goanikontes. Uraninite grains analysed from the Kintyre deposit have an age of 837 +35/-31 Ma suggesting that the uranium mineralisation occurred during or after the latest period of sedimentation in the Yeneena Basin during the ca 850 to ca 800 Ma Miles Orogeny.     

Basin-related uranium mineral systems in Australia: A review of critical features

This paper reviews critical features of basin-related uranium mineral systems in Australia. These mineral systems include Proterozoic unconformity-related uranium systems formed predominantly from diagenetic fluids expelled from sandstones overlying the unconformity, sandstone-hosted uranium systems formed from the influx of oxidised groundwaters through sandstone aquifers, and calcrete uranium systems formed from oxidised groundwaters flowing through palaeochannel aquifers (sand and calcrete). The review uses the so-called ‘source-pathway-trap’ paradigm to summarise critical features of fertile mineral systems. However, the scheme is expanded to include information on the geological setting, age and relative timing of mineralisation, and preservation of mineral systems. The critical features are also summarised in three separate tables. These features can provide the basis to conduct mineral potential and prospectivity analysis in an area. Such analysis requires identification of mappable signatures of above-mentioned critical features in geological, geophysical and geochemical datasets. The review of fertile basin-related systems shows that these systems require the presence of at least four ingredients: a source of leachable uranium (and vanadium and potassium for calcrete-uranium deposits); suitable hydrological architecture enabling connection between the source and the sink (site of accumulation); physical and chemical sinks or traps; and a post-mineralisation setting favourable for preservation. The review also discusses factors that may control the efficiency of mineral systems, assuming that world-class deposits result from more efficient mineral systems. The review presents a brief discussion of factors which may have controlled the formation of large deposits in the Lake Frome region in South Australia, the Chu-Sarysu and Syrdarya Basins in Kazakhstan and calcrete uranium deposits in the Yilgarn region, Western Australia.     

40Ar/39Ar evidence for the timing of Paleoproterozoic gold mineralisation at the Sandpiper Deposit,Tanami region,northern Australia

At the Sandpiper gold deposit in the Tanami region of northern Australia sericite is intimately intergrown with arsenopyrite in gold-bearing quartz veins and breccias, suggesting sericite crystallisation synchronous with gold-bearing fluid flow. This ore-stage sericite yields a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 1785 ± 32 Ma (2σ including both analytical and systematic uncertainties). Recalculation using revised and more precise values for the ⁴⁰K decay constants and the age of the Fish Canyon Sanidine standard shifts the age to 1794 ±12 Ma (2σ including all known uncertainties). Given the possibility of post-mineralisation isotopic resetting this age can be conservatively interpreted as a minimum constraint on the timing of gold deposition although, given local geological relationships and estimates for the argon retentivity of white mica, we consider complete isotopic resetting to be unlikely. The preferred interpretation is, therefore, that the sericite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age indicates the timing of gold mineralisation. Thesericite age accords with a limited dataset of ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb xenotime ages of ca 1800 Ma from other gold deposits in the Tanami region, interpreted as mineralisation ages. The agreement between independently derived ages from several gold deposits lends support for a widespread gold-mineralising event at ca 1800 Ma in the Tanami region.     

Sulphide mineralisation in the Olary Block,South Australia

The South Australian portion of the Willyama Inliers hosts a diversity of small sulphide and uranium deposits and numerous outcropping gossans. This fact, together with geological similarities to the adjacent Broken Hill Block has led to extensive exploration. A broad classification distinguishes two main types of sulphide mineralisation: 1) stratiform iron sulphide-dominated (±Cu, Zn, Co) deposits which occur widespread within specific stratigraphic intervals, and stratabound occurrences of syn-depositional to diagenetic origin which show some structural control; 2) syn-tectonic to post-peak metamorphic replacement and vein-type deposits (Fe-Cu-Au and Cu-Zn-Pb), which are hosted by fractures and within faults and shear zones. These occurrences show no stratigraphic control and are not spatially related to type 1 mineralisation. Late-stage deposits also differ from stratiform/stratabound mineralisation in their texture, mineral assemblage and geochemical composition. Much of the sulphide mineralisation in the Olary Block has been interpreted as resulting from rift-associated syn- to diagenetic processes, such as hot spring exhalations and base metal precipitation along reduction-oxidation interfaces. Subsequent granitic intrusive, high grade metamorphic and multiphase deformation events would have induced remobilisation and redeposition of sulphides in a variety of epigenetic modes. However, a detailed petrographic and geochemical study of sulphide mineralisation in the Olary Block demonstrates that due to the lack of abundant pervasive fluids, translocation and modification of preexisting sulphides were restricted to less than a few centimetres. Instead, widespread syn-tectonic to epigenetic (i.e., post-peak metamorphic) mobilisation of ore constituents occurred to form retrograde sulphide mineralisation as well as multiple generations of late-stage vein deposits. These epigenetic deposits are genetically unrelated to synsedimentary and diagenetic occurrences, an aspect of significance for exploration in the Olary Block. Temporal separation of peak metamorphism in deeper crustal levels from its occurrence in shallow levels, periodic tectonic disturbances and repeated seismic pumping are processes believed to have resulted in intermittent mobilisation of ore constituents from a deep-seated metasedimentary reservoir.     

A Rapid In Situ Method for Determining the Ages of Uranium Oxide Minerals: Evolution of the Cigar Lake Deposit,Athabasca Basin

We present a rapid and accurate technique for making in situ U-Pb isotopic measurements of uranium oxide minerals that utilizes both electron and ion microprobes. U and Pb concentrations are determined using an electron microprobe, whereas the isotopic composition of Pb for the same area is measured using a high-resolution ion microprobe. The advantages of this approach are: mineral separation and chemical digestion are unnecessary; homogenous uranium oxide standards, which are difficult to obtain, are not required; and precise and accurate U-Pb ages on ～10 μm spots can be obtained in a matter of hours. We have applied our method to study the distribution of U-Pb ages in complexly intergrown uranium oxides from the unconformity-type Cigar Lake uranium deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada. In situ U-Pb results from early formed uraninite define a well-correlated array on concordia with upper and lower intercepts of 1467 ± 63 Ma and 443 ± 96 Ma (±lσ), respectively. The 1467 Ma age is interpreted as the minimum age of mineralization and is consistent with the age of clay-mineral alteration (～1477 Ma) and magnetization of diagenetic hematite (1650 to 1450 Ma) that is associated with these unconformity-type uranium deposits and early diagenesis of the Athabasca Basin sediments. In situ U-Pb isotopic analyses of uraninite and coffinite can document the Pb?/U heterogeneities that can occur on a scale of 15 to 30 μm, thus providing relatively accurate information regarding the timing of fluid interactions associated with the evolution of these deposits.     

论华南含铀沉积建造

本文以华南含铀沉积建造的形成和分类,阐述该区内铀成矿前地质分布和铀成矿背景,提出在华南存在三类含铀沉积建造,即震旦-寒武纪地槽型陆源碎屑-火山沉积含铀建造(I)、上古生界地台型陆源碎属沉积含铀建造(Ⅱ)和中、新生界地台型陆源碎屑-火山沉积含铀建造(Ⅲ),它们制约了华南绝大部分铀矿床的空间分布。最后,本文概括了华南含铀沉积建造的主要特征及与区内各类铀矿床的成因联系。     

碎屑沉积岩沉积作用的高精度定年——自生磷钇矿离子探针UPb年龄测定

沉积岩沉积作用准确时间的厘定是目前同位素年代学研究中的一大难题 ,尽管目前可采用多种方法对成岩过程中的自生矿物进行定年 ,但由于技术上的原因 ,这项研究一直发展很慢。文中详细介绍了近年来发展起来的运用高精度离子探针 (SHRIMP)技术确定自生磷钇矿形成年龄 ,进而确定沉积作用年代的新方法。如 ,澳大利亚西北部Kimberley盆地中未变质的古元古代砂岩中自生磷钇矿的SHRIMP定年将成岩作用限定在 7Ma的误差范围之内。相比之下 ,对非洲南部太古宙Witwa tersrand超群和澳大利亚西南部MountBarren群绿片岩相变质砂岩中磷钇矿的研究 ,不仅确定了所研究岩石的成岩作用时代 ,而且恢复了该区后期的复杂热演化历史。研究还表明 ,这种方法同样适用于显生宙岩石。这些实例表明 ,磷钇矿的SHRIMP定年不仅可以测定从太古宙到第四系所有年代碎屑沉积岩的沉积时代 ,而且可以实现极小尺度上的微区定年 ,从而可以研究岩石自沉积成岩以后的演化历史 ,显示这一方法在沉积作用及相关热事件问题研究上的巨大潜力。     

Age and origin of uranium mineralization in the Camie River deposit (Otish Basin,Québec,Canada)

The Camie River uranium deposit is located in the southeastern part of the Paleoproterozoic Otish Basin (Québec). The uranium mineralization consists of disseminated and vein uraninite and brannerite precipitated close to the unconformity between Paleoproterozoic fluviatile, pervasively altered, sandstones and conglomerates of the Matoush Formation and the underlying sulfide-bearing graphitic schists of the Archean Hippocampe greenstone belt. Diagenetic orange/pink feldspathic alteration of the Matoush Formation consists of authigenic albite cement partly replaced by later orthoclase cement, with the Na₂O content of clastic rocks increasing with depth. Basin-wide green muscovite alteration affected both the Matoush Formation and the top of the basement Tichegami Group. Uraninite with minor brannerite is mainly hosted by subvertical reverse faults in basement graphitic metapelites ± sulfides and overlying sandstones and conglomerates. Uranium mineralization is associated with chlorite veins and alteration with temperatures near 320 °C, that are paragenetically late relative to the diagenetic feldspathic and muscovite alterations. Re-Os geochronology of molybdenite intergrown with uraninite yields an age of 1724.0 ± 4.9 Ma, whereas uraninite yields an identical, although slightly discordant, 1724 ± 29 Ma SIMS U-Pb age. Uraninite has high concentrations in REE with flat REE spectra resembling those of uraninite formed from metamorphic fluids, rather than the bell-shaped patterns typical of unconformity-related uraninite. Paragenesis and geochronology therefore show that the uranium mineralization formed approximately 440 million years after intrusion of the Otish Gabbro dykes and sills at ∼2176 Ma, which constrains the minimum age for the sedimentary host rocks. The post-diagenetic stage of uraninite after feldspathic and muscovite alterations, the paragenetic sequence and the brannerite-uraninite assemblage, the relatively high temperature for the mineralizing event (∼320 °C) following the diagenetic Na- and K-dominated alteration, lack of evidence for brines typical of unconformity-related U deposits, the older age of the Otish Basin compared to worldwide basins hosting unconformity-related uranium deposits, the large age difference between basin fill and mineralization, the older age of the uranium oxide compared to ages for worldwide unconformity-related U deposits, and the flat REE spectra of uraninite do not support the previous interpretation that the Camie River deposit is an unconformity-associated uranium deposit. Rather, the evidence is more consistent with a PaleoProterozoic, higher-temperature hydrothermal event at 1724 Ma, whose origin remains speculative.     

Chronostratigraphic basin framework for Palaeoproterozoic rocks (1730–1575 Ma) in northern Australia and implications for base‐metal mineralisation

Sequence‐stratigraphic interpretations of outcrop, drillcore, wireline and seismic datasets are integrated with SHRIMP zircon and palaeomagnetic determinations to provide a detailed chrono‐stratigraphic basin framework for the base‐metal‐rich Palaeoproterozoic rocks of the southern McArthur, Lawn Hill and Mt Isa regions. The analysis forms a basis for future correlations across northern Australia. Nine second‐order unconformity‐bounded supersequences are identified. Supersequences have a duration of 10–20 million years; some hitherto‐unrecognised unconformity surfaces record up to 25 million years of missing rock record. The second‐order supersequences contain a series of nested third‐, fourth‐ and fifth‐order sequences many of which can be correlated across the Mt Isa, Lawn Hill and southern McArthur regions. The analysis relates accommodation history to major intraplate tectonic events evident on the apparent polar wander path for northern Australia. Major tectonic events at approximately 1735 Ma, 1700 Ma, 1670 Ma, 1650 Ma, 1640 Ma, 1615 Ma, 1600 Ma and 1575 Ma impacted on accommodation rates and basin shape in northern Australia. Sub‐basin depocentres, the hosts for major sulfide mineralisation, are attributed to reactivated faults that controlled local subsidence. Pb/Pb model ages of 1653 Ma, 1640 Ma and 1575 Ma for the Mt Isa, McArthur River and Century Pb–Zn–Ag deposits, suggest that changes to intraplate stresses at tectonic events of like age resulted in the migration of metal‐bearing fluids into the sub‐basins. A Pb/Pb model age of 1675 for the Broken Hill deposit suggests that intraplate stresses manifest in northern Australia also affected rocks of similar age further south. Magmatic events close to 1700 Ma (Weberra Granite) and 1675 Ma (Sybella Granite) coincide with times of regional incision and the formation of supersequence‐bounding unconformity surfaces.     

Mesoproterozoic rift sedimentation,fluid events and uranium prospectivity in the Cariewerloo Basin,Gawler Craton,South Australia

The Cariewerloo Basin formed in the Mesoproterozoic following assembly of the Gawler Craton, South Australia, and was filled by arenaceous redbeds of the Pandurra Formation. While previous regional-scale work reveals a basin with similar size and sedimentary fill to the Proterozoic Athabasca and Kombolgie basins that host unconformity-related uranium deposits, few details of the Cariewerloo Basin are known. In this study, stratigraphy, petrography, lithogeochemistry, stable isotope geochemistry and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology are integrated to clarify the depositional history of the Pandurra Formation, and to assess fluid events in the basin that could be linked to the formation of uranium deposits. In the study area, the Pandurra Formation was deposited in two eastward-thickening packages that terminate at faulted basement uplifts, interpreted as half-grabens that formed in a continental rift system as the eastern Gawler Craton underwent extension. Deposition occurred between 1575 Ma (latest Hiltaba Suite age) and ca 1490 Ma, the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of diagenetic illite in the basal Pandurra. Diagenesis involving fluids having δ¹⁸O and δ²H values between –2.1 and 3.6‰, and between –66 and –8‰, respectively, occurred at around 150°C. Protracted diagenesis preferentially occurred in the upper Pandurra Formation based on petrography and Pearce Element Ratios that show complete replacement of detrital lithic and feldspathic grains by diagenetic phyllosilicates, and younger ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages between ca 1330 and 1200 Ma that record fluid events later into basin history. Conversely, the basal Pandurra Formation shows better preservation of detrital grains, and older ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages around 1450 Ma that suggest these strata became closed to fluid flow earlier in basin history. Although, based on O-isotope ratios, fluid–rock interaction did not occur in the Cariewerloo Basin to the same extent as that in the Athabasca or Kombolgie basins, it is possible that a uranium deposit formed where the upper Pandurra Formation was in contact with metasedimentary basement units outside the present basin margins.     

Petrography and geochemistry of uranium mineralised Precambrian granitic-pegmatitic rocks of Mawlait, West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya

During radiometric investigation at Mawlait, significant uranium mineralisation (0.024–0.22%U₃O₈) was located mainly within the small pegmatite (garnet bearing quartzofeldspathic rock), which are locally segregated within migmatite at Umiang River section. Pink granite and granite gneisses are the dominant lithounits of the study area showing fertile character and spotty radioactivity at several places. Radioactivity in these rocks is mainly contributed by discrete uraninite grains along with some zircon and xenotime. Granites are peraluminous, low-Ca in nature and their geochemical signatures suggest derivation from a felsic source. Discriminant diagrams using Rb, Nb and Y indicate ‘within plate’ to ‘volcanic arc’ nature of the rock. The uraniferous pegmatitic veins within migmatite appear to have formed due to localised metamorphic segregation during late stage of anatexis. Petromineralogical and geochemical studies suggest that the uranium mineralisation in granitic-pegmatitic rocks of the area is mainly syn-magmatic type.     

SHRIMP U–Pb geochronology of authigenic xenotime and its potential for dating sedimentary basins

SHRIMP (Sensitive High‐Resolution Ion MicroProbe) analytical procedures have been developed to enable dating of the small, early diagenetic xenotime overgrowths that commonly occur on zircons in siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. The method will be particularly useful in Precambrian terranes, where diagenetic xenotime dating could play a role equivalent to biostratigraphic dating in the Phanerozoic. Reliable ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb data are more readily obtained than ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U, which also favours application to the Precambrian. However, it is demonstrated that ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U dating of larger overgrowths (>10 μm) is also viable and applicable to Phanerozoic samples. SHRIMP Pb/Pb geochronology of authigenic xenotime in an unmetamorphosed Palaeoproterozoic sandstone in the Kimberley Basin has constrained diagenesis to a precision of ± 7 Ma. In contrast, greenschist‐facies metasediments of the Archaean Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa, contain both authigenic and alteration xenotime that record a complex history of growth from early diagenesis to the last major thermal event to affect the basin.     

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.