Development characteristics of interlayer oxidation zone type of sandstone uranium deposits in the southwestern Turfan-Hami basin

The known uranium ore and anomaly occur-rences are distributed mainly in the southwestern part of the Turfan-Hami basin. The focus of current explo-ration is placed on the leachable interlayered oxidation zone type of sandstone uranium deposits. Uranium deposits in the sedimentary basin can be classified into three types in accordance with their host rock types, i.e. the sandstone-type uranium deposits, the coal rock-type uranium deposits and the mud-stone-type uranium deposits. The sandstone…

Development characteristics of interlayer oxidation zone type of sandstone uranium deposits in the southwestern Turfan-Hami basin

The Turfan-Hami basin is the key area for the exploration of sandstone uranium deposits of the leachable interlayered oxidation zone type. The aim of this study is to shed light on the development characteristics of this type of uranium deposits and provide new clues to further exploration. Detailed study led to the following conclusions: (1) uranium orebodies are hosted mainly in the lower Middle Jurassic Xishanyao Formation and the lower Lower Jurassic Badaowan Formation; (2) the formation of uranium orebodies is closely related to organic matter; (3) the front of the interlayered oxidation zone is snake-shaped in plane and imbricated in the section; the more the interlayered oxidation zone and zonation are developed, the better the uranium mineralization will be; according to lithological and geochemical characteristics, the oxidation zone, the oxidation-reduction transitional zone and the reduction zone can be distinguished; (4) the development of interlayered oxidation zone is controlled by geological structure, underground water, sandstone permeability and other factors; (5) sandstone uranium orebodies hosted in the interlayered oxidation zone are very complicated in spatial distribution, of which some are rolled and plated in shape and some are highly variable in shape.