Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology of Granite from the Xiazhuang Uranium Ore Field,South China:Implications for Exhumation History and Ore Preservation

Xiazhuang uranium ore field,located in the southern part of the Nanling Metallogenic Belt,is considered one of the largest granite-related U regions in South China.In this paper,we contribute new apatite fission track data and thermal history modeling to constrain the exhumation history and evaluate preservation potential of the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field.Nine Triassic outcrop granite samples collected from different locations of Xiazhuang Uranium ore field yield AFT ages ranging from 43 to 24 Ma with similar mean confined fission track lengths ranging from 11.8±2.0 to 12.9±1.9μm and Dpar values between 1.01 and 1.51μm.The robustness time-temperature reconstructions of samples from the hanging wall of Huangpi fault show that the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field experienced a time of monotonous and slow cooling starting from middle Paleocene to middle Miocene(~60-10 Ma),followed by relatively rapid exhumation in the late Miocene(~10-5 Ma)and nearly thermal stability in the Pliocene-Quaternary(~5-0 Ma).The amount of exhumation after U mineralization since the Middle Paleogene was estimated as~4.3±1.8 km according to the integrated thermal history model.Previous studies indicate that the ore-forming ages of U deposits in the Xiazhuang ore field are mainly before Middle Paleocene and the mineralization depths are more than 4.4±1.2 km.Therefore,the exhumation history since middle Paleocene plays important roles in the preservation of the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field.

Efficient and selective extraction of uranium from seawater based on a novel pulsed liquid chromatography radionuclide separation method

The novel pulsed liquid chromatography radionuclide separation method presented here provides a new and promising strategy for the extraction of uranium from seawater.In this study,a new chromatographic separation method was proposed,and a pulsed nuclide automated separation device was developed,alongside a new chromatographic column.The length of this chromatographic column was 10 m,with an internal warp of 3 mm and a packing size of 1 mm,while the total separation units of the column reached 12,250.The most favorable conditions for the separation of nuclides were then obtained through optimizing the separation conditions of the device:Sample pH in the column=2,sample injection flow rate=5.698 mL/min,chromatographic column heating temperature=60℃.Separation experiments were also carried out for uranium,europium,and sodium ions in mixed solutions;uranium and sodium ions in water samples from the Ganjiang River;and uranium,sodium,and magnesium ions from seawater samples.The separation factors between the different nuclei were then calculated based on the experimental data,and a formula for the separation level was derived.The experimental results showed that the separation factor in the mixed solution of uranium and europium(1:1)was 1.088,while achieving the initial separation of uranium and europium theoretically required a 47-stage separation.Considering the separation factor of 1.50for the uranium and sodium ions in water samples from the Ganjiang River,achieving the initial separation of uranium and sodium ions would have theoretically required at least a 21-stage separation.Furthermore,for the seawater sample separation experiments,the separation factor of uranium and sodium ions was 1.2885;therefore,more than 28 stages of sample separation would be required to achieve uranium extraction from seawater.The novel pulsed liquid chromatography method proposed in this study was innovative in terms of uranium separation and enrichment,while expanding the possibilities of extracting uranium from seawater through chromatography.

Outline of Uranium Resources Characteristics and Metallogenetic Regularity in China

Uranium,as one of twenty-six kinds of important minerals in China,is strategic resource and energy mineral,which has been thoroughly investigated in the project of National Potential Evaluation of Uranium Resource.During the implementation of this project,the authors summarized the metallogenic regularity of uranium resource in China systematically,through the researches of geological characteristics of uranium resource,uranium deposits type（genetic and prediction type）,temporal and spatial distribution,and metallogenic series.Based on the investigation of present situation and progress in uranium exploration,this paper proposes the uranium deposits in China should be divided into 4 classes,9 types,21 subtypes in genetic,and 50 types in prediction;suggests to divide China into 29 uranium metallogenic belts and 20 uranium prospective area,and constructs 20uranium-polymetallic metallogenic series,through summarizing temporal and spatial distribution characteristics and metallogenic regularity of uranium deposits in China.The above research is beneficial to the comprehensive understanding of regional uranium metallogenic regularity,and will direct the uranium exploration in the future.

Branched fibrous amidoxime adsorbent with ultrafast adsorption rate and high amidoxime utilization for uranium extraction from seawater

Direct collection of uranium from low uranium systems via adsorption remains challenging.Fibrous sorbent materials with amidoxime(AO)groups are promising adsorbents for uranium extraction from seawater.However,low AO adsorption group utilization remains an issue.We herein fabricated a branched structure containing AO groups on polypropylene/polyethylene spun-laced nonwoven(PP/PE SNW)fibers using grafting polymerization induced by radiation(RIGP)to improve AO utilization.The chemical structures,thermal properties,and surface morphologies of the raw and treated PP/PE SNW fibers were studied.The results show that an adsorptive functional layer with a branching structure was successfully anchored to the fiber surface.The adsorption properties were investigated using batch adsorption experiments in simulated seawater with an initial uranium concentration of 500μg·L^(−1)(pH 4,25℃).The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent material was 137.3 mg·g^(−1)within 24 h;moreover,the uranyl removal reached 96%within 240 min.The adsorbent had an AO utilization rate of 1/3.5 and was stable over a pH range of 4–10,with good selectivity and reusability,demonstrating its potential for seawater uranium extraction.

Uranium Provinces in China

Three uranium provinces are recognized in China, the Southeast China uranium province, the Northeast China-Inner Mongolia uranium province and the Northwest China (Xinjiang) uranium province. The latter two promise good potential for uranium resources and are major exploration target areas in recent years. There are two major types of uranium deposits: the Phanerozoic hydrothermal type (vein type) and the Meso-Cenozoic sandstone type in different proportions in the three uranium provinces. The most important reason or prerequisite for the formation of these uranium provinces is that Precambrian uranium-enriched old basement or its broken parts (median massifs) exists or once existed in these regions, and underwent strong tectonomagmatic activation during Phanerozoic time. Uranium was mobilized from the old basement and migrated upwards to the upper structural level together with the acidic magma originating from anatexis and the primary fluids, which were then mixed with meteoric water and resulted in the formation of Phanerozoic hydrothermal uranium deposits under extensional tectonic environments. Erosion of uraniferous rocks and pre-existing uranium deposits during the Meso-Cenozoic brought about the removal of uranium into young sedimentary basins. When those basins were uplifted and slightly deformed by later tectonic activity, roll-type uranium deposits were formed as a result of redox in permeable sandstone strata.

Application of sequential extraction for analyzing source and sink of uranium in Huanghe River sediments,China

Geochemical behaviors of heavy metals are closely related to their chemical state that can be divided by sequential extraction into exchangeable(F1),bound to carbonates(F2),bound to Fe-Mn oxides(F3),bound to organic matter or sulfide(F4),and residual(F5).Uranium in sediment of the Huanghe(Yellow)River,China,in different chemical states was extracted using the five-step procedure of Tessier and the source and sink were analyzed.Results show that more than 70%of the total uranium was immobile residual F5 in abundance,followed in order of F4>F3>F2>F1,indicating that the main source of uranium in the sediments was from weathered rock in the drainage basin.In addition,the uranium in the sediments presents potential exogenous input in the Lanzhou,Baotou,and Tongguan reach.Fe-Mn oxides are main carriers of unstable uranium,especially those of F1 and F3.Calcite and illite are secondary adsorption minerals of unstable uranium in sediments under natural conditions.Human activities can also produce an obvious impact on uranium speciation.This study provides a reference for the application of sequential extraction in analyzing the source and sink of uranium in river sediments.

Site selective 5f electronic correlations inβ-uranium

We investigate the electronic structure ofβ-uranium,which has five nonequivalent atomic sites in its unit cell,by means of the density functional theory plus Hubbard-U correction with U from linear response calculation.It is found that the 5f electronic correlations inβ-uranium are moderate.More interestingly,their strengths are site selective,depending on the local atomic environment of the present uranium atom.As a consequence,the occupation matrices and partial 5f density of states ofβ-uranium manifest site dependence.In addition,the complicate experimental structure ofβ-uranium could be well reproduced within this theoretical framework.

Depleted uranium oxide supported nickel catalyst for autothermal CO_(2)methanation in non-adiabatic reactor under induction heating

Undoped nickel-based catalysts supported on depleted uranium oxide allow one to carry out CO_(2)methanation process under extremely low reaction temperature under atmospheric pressure and powered by a contactless induction heating.By adjusting the reaction conditions,the catalyst is able to perform CO_(2)methanation reaction under autothermal process operated inside a non-adiabatic reactor,without any external energy supply.Such autothermal process is possible thanks to the high apparent density of the UO_x which allows one to confine the reaction heat in a small catalyst volume in order to confine the exothermicity of the reaction inside the catalyst and to operate the reaction at equilibrium heat in-heat out.Such autothermal operation mode allows one to significantly reduce the complexity of the process compared to that operated using adiabatic reactor,where complete insulation is required to prevent heat disequilibrium,in order to reduce as much as possible,the heat exchange with the external medium.The catalyst displays an extremely high stability as a function of time on stream as no apparent deactivation.It is expected that such new catalyst with unprecedented catalytic performance could open new era in the field of heterogeneous catalysis where traditional supports show their limitations to operate catalytic processes under severe reaction conditions.

Effect of Natural Zeolite on Pore Structure of Cemented Uranium Tailings Backfill

The use of some environmental functional minerals as backfill-modified materials may improve the leaching resistance of cemented uranium tailings backfill created from alkali-activated slag(CUTB),but these materials may participate in the hydration reaction of the cementitious materials,which could have a certain impact on the pore structure of the CUTB,thus affecting its mechanical properties and leaching resistance.In this paper,natural zeolite is selected as the backfill-modified material,and it is added to alkali-activated slag paste(AASP)and CUTB in cementitious material proportions of 4%,8%,12%,and 16%to prepare AASP mixtures and CUTB mixtures containing environmental functional minerals.After the addition of natural zeolite,the porosity of the CUTB generally increases,but when the content is 4%,the porosity decreases to 22.30%.The uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)of the CUTB generally decreases,but the decrease is the smallest when the content is 4%,and the UCS is 12.37 MPa.The addition of natural zeolite mainly reduces the number of fine pores in the CUTB,but the pores with relaxation times T_(2)of greater than 10 ms account for about 10%of the total pores,and there are a certain number of large pores in the CUTB.The main product of alkali-activated slag is calcium(alumino)silicate hydrate(C-(A)-S-H gel).When natural zeolite is added,the hydration products develop towards denser products with a high degree of polymerization and the formation of low polymerization products is reduced.This affects the internal fracture pores of the hydration products and the interface pores of the CUTB,has an irregular effect on the pore characteristics of the CUTB,and influences the UCS.

Permeability evolution mechanism and the optimum permeability determination of uranium leaching from low-permeability sandstone treated with low-frequency vibration

Low-frequency vibrations can effectively improve natural sandstone permeability,and higher vibration frequency is associated with larger permeability.However,the optimum permeability and permeability evolution mechanism for uranium leaching and the relationship between permeability and the change of chemical reactive rate affecting uranium leaching have not been determined.To solve the above problems,in this study,identical homogeneous sandstone samples were selected to simulate lowpermeability sandstone;a permeability evolution model considering the combined action of vibration stress,pore water pressure,water flow impact force,and chemical erosion was established;and vibration leaching experiments were performed to test the model accuracy.Both the permeability and chemical reactions were found to simultaneously restrict U6þleaching,and the vibration treatment increased the permeability,causing the U6þleaching reaction to no longer be diffusion-constrained but to be primarily controlled by the reaction rate.Changes of the model calculation parameters were further analyzed to determine the permeability evolution mechanism under the influence of vibration and chemical erosion,to prove the correctness of the mechanism according to the experimental results,and to develop a new method for determining the optimum permeability in uranium leaching.The uranium leaching was found to primarily follow a process consisting of(1)a permeability control stage,(2)achieving the optimum permeability,(3)a chemical reactive rate control stage,and(4)a channel flow stage.The resolution of these problems is of great significance for facilitating the application and promotion of lowfrequency vibration in the CO_(2)+O_(2) leaching process.

An artificial neural network potential for uranium metal at low pressures

Based on machine learning,the high-dimensional fitting of potential energy surfaces under the framework of first principles provides density-functional accuracy of atomic interaction potential for high-precision and large-scale simulation of alloy materials.In this paper,we obtained the high-dimensional neural network(NN)potential function of uranium metal by training a large amount of first-principles calculated data.The lattice constants of uranium metal with different crystal structures,the elastic constants,and the anisotropy of lattice expansion of alpha-uranium obtained based on this potential function are highly consistent with first-principles calculation or experimental data.In addition,the calculated formation energy of vacancies in alpha-and beta-uranium also matches the first-principles calculation.The calculated site of the most stable self-interstitial and its formation energy is in good agreement with the findings from density functional theory(DFT)calculations.These results show that our potential function can be used for further large-scale molecular dynamics simulation studies of uranium metal at low pressures,and provides the basis for further construction of potential model suitable for a wide range of pressures.

Assessment of the Greenhouse Gas Footprint and Environmental Impact of CO_(2)and O_(2)in situ Uranium Leaching

Under the new development philosophy of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality,CO_(2)and O_(2)in situ leaching(ISL)has been identified as a promising technique for uranium mining in China,not only because it solves carbon dioxide utilization and sequestration,but it also alleviates the environmental burden.However,significant challenges exist in assessment of CO_(2)footprint and water-rock interactions,due to complex geochemical processes.Herein this study conducts a three-dimensional,multicomponent reactive transport model(RTM)of a field-scale CO_(2)and O_(2)ISL process at a typical sandstone-hosted uranium deposit in Songliao Basin,China.Numerical simulations are performed to provide new insight into quantitative interpretation of the greenhouse gas(CO_(2))footprint and environmental impact(SO_(4)^(2–))of the CO_(2)and O_(2)ISL,considering the potential chemical reaction network for uranium recovery at the field scale.RTM results demonstrate that the fate of the CO_(2)could be summarized as injected CO_(2)dissolution,dissolved CO_(2)mineralization and storage of CO_(2)as a gas phase during the CO_(2)and O_(2)ISL process.Furthermore,compared to acid ISL,CO_(2)and O_(2)ISL has a potentially smaller environmental footprint,with 20%of SO_(4)^(2–)concentration in the aquifer.The findings improve our fundamental understanding of carbon utilization in a long-term CO_(2)and O_(2)ISL system and provide important environmental implications when considering complex geochemical processes.

Assessment of Modeling Collimator Designs for Gamma-Ray Transmission of Uranium Oxide Spectrometry Using HPGe Detectors

Many scientific domains use gamma-ray spectrometry, but non-destructive gamma scanning and gamma emission tomography of radioactive fuel in particular. In the experimental setting, a collimator is frequently employed to focus on a particular location of interest in the fuel. Predictive models for the transmitted gamma-ray intensity through the collimator are required for both the optimization of instrument design and the planning of measurement campaigns. Gamma-ray transport accuracy is frequently predicted using Monte Carlo radiation transport methods, but using these tools in low-efficiency experimental setups is challenging due to the lengthy computation times needed. This study focused on the full-energy peak intensity that was transmitted through several collimator designs, including rectangle and cylinder. The rate of photons arriving at a detector on the other side of the collimator was calculated for anisotropic source of SNM (U3O8). Some geometrical assumptions that depended on the source-to-collimator distance and collimator dimensions (length, radius or length, height, and width) were applied to achieve precise findings.

The Discovery of Natural Native Uranium and Its Significance

This study analyzed the composition and uranium valence of pitchblendes sampled from the hydrothermal Guidong and Zhuguang uranium deposits of the middle Nanling metallogenic belt, Southern China using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy（XPS）.A revolutionary discovery is that the uranium not only exists in the forms of tetravalent and hexavalent uranium oxides, but also occurs in the form of native uranium.This is the first discovery of the existence of native uranium in nature.It greatly helps to reveal the origin of hydrothermal mineralization of uranium, and also has great significance for studying the thermal energy, formation and evolution of the earth.

Genesis and Uranium Sources of Leucogranite-hosted Uranium Deposits in the Gaudeanmus Area, Central Damara Belt, Namibia: Study of Element and Nd Isotope Geochemistry

This paper presents a systematic study of major and trace elements and Sm-Nd isotopes in leucogranites closely related to uranium mineralization in the Gaudeanmus area, Namibia. The results illustrate that the uraniferous leucogranites possess high SiO2 （68.8wt%-76.0wt%, average 73.1wt%） and K （4.05wt%-7.78wt%, average 5.94wt%） contents, and are sub-alkaline and metaluminous to weakly peraluminous, as reflected by A/CNK values of 0.96-1.07 with an average of 1.01. The leucogranites are rich in light rare earth elements （LREE/HREE = 2.53-7.71; （La/Yb）s = 2.14-10.40）, have moderate Eu depletion and high Rb/Sr ratios （2.03-5.50 with an average of 4.36）; meanwhile, they are enriched in Rb, K, Th, U and Pb, and depleted in Ba, Nb, Ta, and Sr. The tNd（t） values of uraninites range from -14.8 to -16.5, and the two-stage Nd model ages are 2.43-2.56 Ga. Detailed elemental and Sm-Nd isotopic geochemical characteristics suggest that the leucogranites were formed in a post- orogenic extensional environment. The U-rich pre-Damara basement was the main source of uranium during the primary mineralization event, which is disseminated in leucogranites, whereas the uranium mineralization in veins possibly resulted from remobilization of the primary uranium minerals.

Uranium Metabolism Associated with Ontogenetic Growth of Birds—Case Studies with Broilers and Ducks

Cobb broilers and domestic ducks, both one-day-old, were treated using ration doped with 20 ppm of uranyl nitrate. Uranium concentrations in the tibia (μg-U/g-bone) were measured by neutron activation analysis as function of the animals’ age, from the neonatal period to maturity. Results show that Uranium and Calcium qualitatively follow the same metabolic pathway, and that adult ducks incorporate on average ten times more Uranium than broilers. Data interpretation shows that the Uranium clearance rate in broilers is substantially higher than that in ducks, suggesting that metabolic characteristics favoring Calcium retention in bone may hinder the elimination of Uranium in ducks. The need for further comparative biochemistry studies between Galliformes and Anseriformes is addressed.

Elemental Geochemistry of the Interlayer Oxidation Zonein the Shihongtan Sandstone Type Uranium Deposit, Xinjiang

According to the oxidation intensity of ore-hosting sandstone, the interlayer oxidation zone of the Shihongtan sandstone-type uranium deposit in the Turpan-Hami basin can be divided into 4 geochemical subzones, namely, intenselyoxidized, weakly-oxidized, redox and unoxidized primary subzones. The elemental geochemical characteristics of the four subzones have been studied in detail, and the results show that U, together with other elements such as Re, Mo, Se, Sr, S, REE, Corganic etc., is enriched in the redox subzone. Re and U have similar geochemical properties in the reductionoxidation process. The geochemical properties of Mo and Se are similar to those of U in the reduction condition, but different from those of U in the oxidation condition. It is proposed that the ore-hosting layers can provide a curtain mount of uranium for uranium mineralization.

Uranium Metallogenic Regionalization and Resource Potential in China

This paper is comprehensively involved in main types of uranium deposits and their general metallogenic characteristics, metallogenic fields, provinces, regions and belts, and uranium resources potential evaluation. Generally speaking, there are favorable conditions and good uranium resources potential for uranium mineralization in China.

Multistage Enrichment of the Sawafuqi Uranium Deposit: New Insights into Sandstone-hosted Uranium Deposits in the Intramontane Basins of Tian Shan, China

Meso-Cenozoic intracontinental orogenic processes in the Tian Shan orogenic belt have significant effect on the sandstone-hosted uranium deposits in the intramontane basins and those adjacent to the orogen. The Sawafuqi uranium deposit, which is located in the South Tian Shan orogenic belt, is investigated to reveal the relationships between uranium mineralization and orogenies. Recent exploration results show that the Sawafuqi uranium deposit has tabular, stratiform, quasi-stratiform, and lens-like orebodies and various geological characteristics different from typical interlayer oxidation zone sandstone-hosted uranium deposits. Systematic studies of ore samples from the Sawafuqi uranium deposit using a variety of techniques, including thin section observation, a-track radiograph, electron microprobe and scanning electron microscope, suggest that uranium mineralization is closely related to pyrite and organic matter. Mineralization-related alterations in the host rocks are mainly silicification and argillation including kaolinite, illite （and illite-smectite mixed layer） and chlorite. Tree stages of mineralization were identified in the Sawafuqi uranium deposit： （i） uranium-bearing detritus and synsedimentary initial pre-enrichment; （ii） interlayer oxidization zone uranium mineralization; and （iii） vein-type uranium mineralization. The synsedimentary uranium pre-enrichment represents an early uranium enrichment in the Sawafuqi uranium deposit, and interlayer oxidation zone uranium mineralization formed the main orebodies, which are superimposed by the vein-type uranium mineralization. Combining the results of this study with previous studies on the Meso-Cenozoic orogenies of South Tian Shan, it is proposed that the synsedimentary uranium pre-enrichment of the Sawafuqi uranium deposit was caused by Triassic Tian Shan uplift, and the interlayer oxidation zone uranium mineralization occurred during the Eocence-Oligocene period, when tectonism was relatively quiet, whereas the vein-type uranium mineralization took place in relation to the strong orogeny of South Tian Shan since Miocene.

Mineralogy,Fluid Inclusion and H-O-C-S Stable Isotopes of Mengqiguer Uranium Deposit in the Southern Yili Basin,Xinjiang:Implication for Ore Formation

The Mengqiguer deposit in the southern Yili basin Ili Basin is a large interlayer-oxidation-zone type uranium deposit.In this paper,we applied multiple methods including microscopic observation,scanning electron microscope and electronic probe,to analyze the systematical alteration characteristics of the ore-bearing sandstone layer.Fluid inclusion and stable isotope studies on the ore-bearing sandstone have also been carried out to discuss the internal relations between fluid activities,epigenetic alteration and the uranium mineralization.Major epigenetic alteration include clay alteration,carbonatization and pyritization,of which biogenetic pyritization is most closely related to the uranium mineralization.This suggests the existence of microorganism during the uranium mineralization process.The mineralization fluids of low temperature,medium density but varied salinities are suggested to be derived from multi-source,including the meteoric water and organic acidic vapor components from coal-bearing strata.Uranium mineralization,grain-dispersed kaolinite,limonite,colloidal pyrite,and the carbonate cements associated with sulfate-reducing bacteria were formed by meteoric water and vermicular-shaped kaolinite,autologous pyrite,and the carbonate cementation associated with the dehydroxylation of organic matter was formed by organic acidic.Based on these results,we consider that the uranium mineralization and epigenetic alteration both resulted from the reciprocity of organic–inorganic fluid and fluid–rock during the formation of the interlayer oxidation zone.