On the formation of the vein-type uranium ?Yellow Ores“ from the Schwarzach Area (NE-Bavaria,Germany) and on the behaviour of P,As, V and Se during supergene processes

Most of the U occurrences situated at the western edge of the Bohemian Massif show in their upper parts secondary U minerals. The immigration (P, V, As and Se) from the country rocks and the ore body, via saprolite and paleosoils into the secondary ore minerals is investigated. The P content is suggested to be closely related to hydromorphic paleosoils. From those intermediate stages it may have been brought into the upper parts of the vein structures. No laterogenic impoverishment in the wall rocks with respect to phosphorus or apatite could be determined. The arsenic distributions is also governed as at other sulfide deposits by underlying sulfides and reducing conditions of a primary hypogene ore zone, whereas vanadium content in U secondary minerals is closely related to the enclosing country rocks. Granites, on account of their low content in mafic minerals, have low V contents in U secondary minerals. Besides the Schwarzach Area, U ore mineralisations from other U occurrences have been investigated. Some of the U deposits are certainly of “per ascensum” origin and their secondary U mineralisation can well be interpreted as having been derived from the underlying primary “black ores”. However, some mineralisations cannot be classified with certainty as being “per ascensum”. They include some properties pointing to “per ascensum” (e. g. sulfide association) as well as characteristics typical for “per descensum” (small depth, large amounts of U-VI minerals). The mode of formation may in some cases be as follows: Variscan or Alpine ore mineralisations of no economic significance may have formed a reducing environment and caused U to be concentrated. Younger redistribution processes influenced by modern tectonics (uplifting) and the fluviatile drainage pattern have taken place and in some cases destroyed the primary deposits or enhanced the ore mineralisation. These processes roughly resemble those described from sandstone — hosted roll front deposits.