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.

南天山中、新生代造山作用与萨瓦甫齐铀矿床叠加富集效应

天山造山带中、新生代陆内造山过程对天山山间盆地和两侧盆地内的砂岩型铀矿有明显的控制作用。本文系统采集萨瓦甫齐铀矿床矿石样品,通过薄片镜下观察、α径迹放射性照相、电子探针和扫描电镜等多种技术手段,识别出萨瓦甫齐铀矿床三种矿化类型:含铀碎屑原生沉积型铀矿化、层间氧化带型铀矿化和由低温热液脉型铀矿化。三种铀矿化具有明显的先后形成顺序,原生沉积型铀矿化形成了矿区早期铀预富集,层间氧化带铀矿化构成了本区主要铀矿体,而晚期低温热液脉型铀矿化则是对前期铀矿体的叠加富集。结合南天山中、新生代造山作用指出,三叠纪隆升作用形成了萨瓦甫齐铀矿床原生沉积型铀矿化;始新世-渐新世相对稳定的构造环境形成了层间氧化带型铀矿化;中新世开始,伴随天山强烈褶皱造山,来自深部的造山热液改造了前期铀矿体,形成了低温热液脉型铀矿化叠加富集。

萨瓦甫齐铀矿床成矿古水文地质分析

萨瓦甫齐铀矿床地处南天山褶皱带狭长的库尔干山间盆地内。根据区域构造、古地理和古气候等资料,将山间盆地划分为3个大的古水文地质旋回;从古水文地质条件演化的角度,分析了各旋回与铀成矿的关系,并建立了强构造背景下砂岩型铀矿古水文地质成矿模式。

萨瓦甫齐铀矿床岩石浸出液水化学对古流体的指示作用

萨瓦甫齐铀矿床位于新疆维吾尔自治区阿克苏地区。新构造运动使盆地盖层变得陡直甚至倒转,承压含水层中的地下水不断被疏干,现今在垂深475 m以上已无地下水活动,铀矿体主要残留在古层间氧化还原过渡带中。根据水-岩相互作用的原理,试图通过研究岩样浸出液的水化学来获取古地下流体的一些基本特征。

萨瓦甫齐铀矿床层间氧化带地球化学特征

萨瓦甫齐铀矿床不同地段层间氧化带的氧化还原程度是不同的。利用诸如w(Fe3+)/w(Fe2+)、w(Ra)/w(U)和有机炭等地球化学参数探讨了萨瓦甫齐铀矿床层间氧化带的地球化学特征,即矿床西南部层间氧化带氧化程度较弱,表现为全硫(∑S)、总铁(TFe)和矿石的铀质量分数低;而矿床中部及东北部层间氧化带氧化程度较强,尤其以东北部突出,它们的全硫、总铁和矿石的铀质量分数均高。铀矿化强弱明显与层间氧化带的氧化还原程度有关,层间氧化带的氧化程度越强,铀矿化则愈强;反之,则弱。

萨瓦甫齐铀矿床成矿地质条件及找矿前景

萨瓦甫齐铀矿床位于塔里木地台与天山造山带接合部位的库尔干山间盆地内,铀矿化以砂岩型为主,主要产铀层位为中下侏罗统克拉苏群铁米尔苏组的II-4、II-5铀矿化层,铀成矿作用严格受岩性-岩相、层间氧化带发育程度、后生氧化淋滤及构造运动等因素控制。通过分析铀成矿地质条件,认为本矿区成矿地质条件优越,具有较好的找矿前景,其中矿区深部及东西两侧的侏罗系为下一步找矿的远景区。