Genesis of sandstone-type uranium deposits along the northern margin of the Ordos Basin,China

Sandstone-type U mineral resources are among the important sources for nuclear energy.The U deposits in the Ordos Basin in China form part of the northern segment of the sandstone-hosted Central Asian Uranium MegaProvince.Two types of mineralizations are recognized in this basin:"phreatic permeable type"and"interlayer permeable type",both exhibiting features equivalent to roll-front subtypes.The"interlayer permeable type"is widely accepted as the dominant mineralization type for sandstone-type uranium deposits within large-scale basins,also designated as the"interlayer oxidation zone type",based on the horizontal color zoning model representing changing redox conditions.Here we synthesize data from several drill holes within the Ordos Basin,which suggest that major Mesozoic tectonic movements controlled the evolution of the sedimentary system in the basin.These tectonic movements contributed to the formation of three angular unconformities and four parallel unconformities as inferred from the stratigraphic relationships.In addition,other features such as vertical color zoning,paleo-channel controlled tabular or lentoid ore bodies(without roll-type)and a group interlayer horizontal zoning of altered minerals are also documented.Sequence stratigraphic analysis indicates that the Ordos Basin generally witnessed four cycles of water level variations during Mesozoic.During the variations,three high water level and three low water level events were recorded.Biological characteristics imply that the Ordos Basin went through multiple arid to humid climatic evolutions during Mesozoic.Combining the newly documented features with some novel concepts on the hydrodynamic mechanism for supergene ore-forming fluids,we propose a metallogenic model which invokes the importance of tectonic movements and water level fluctuations to explain the genesis of uranium deposits along the northern margin of the Ordos Basin.

Evaluation of boron isotopes in halite as an indicator of the salinity of Qarhan paleolake water in the eastern Qaidam Basin, western China

In this study, nineteen brine samples from the Qarhan Salt Lake(QSL) in western China were collected and analyzed for boron(B) and chlorine(Cl) concentrations, total dissolved solids(TDS), pH values and stable B isotopic compositions. The B concentrations and δ^(11) B values of brines in the QSL range from 51.6 mg/L to138.4 mg/L, and from +9.32& to +13.08&, respectively. By comparison of B concentrations and TDS of brines in QSL with evaporation paths of brackish water, we found that B enrichment of brines primarily results from strong evaporation and concentration of Qarhan lake water. Combining with comparisons of B concentrations, TDS, p H values and δ^(11) B values of brines, previously elemental ratios(K/Cl, Mg/Cl, Ca/Cl, B/Cl) and δ^(11) B values of halite from a sediment core(ISL1 A), we observe good correlations between B concentrations and TDS, TDS and pH values, pH and δ^(11) B values of brines, which demonstrate that higher B concentrations and more positive δ^(11) B values of halite indicate higher salinity of the Qarhan paleolake water as well as drier paleoclimatic conditions. Based on this interpretation of the δ^(11) B values of halite in core ISL1 A, higher salinity of the Qarhan paleolake occurred during two intervals, around 46-34 ka and26-9 ka, which are almost coincident with the upper and lower halite-dominated salt layers in core ISL1 A,drier climate phases documented from the δ^(18) O record of carbonate in core ISL1 A and the paleomoisture record in monsoonal central Asia, and a higher solar insolation at 30°N. These results demonstrate that the δ^(11) B values of halite in the arid Qaidam Basin could be regarded as a new proxy for reconstructing the salinity record of paleolake water as well as paleoclimate conditions.