Origin of Dispersed Organic Matter within Sandstones and Its Implication for Uranium Mineralization:A Case Study from Dongsheng Uranium Ore Filed in China

Carbonaceous debris(CD),common dispersed organic matter(i.e.,DOM),is widely disseminated in sandstones from uranium-bearing strata from the Dongsheng uranium ore field of the northern Ordos Basin.Compositions of maceral,element and biomarkers of CD were investigated through a series of methods with optical microscope,elemental analyzer and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses(GC-MS)to study origin of CD.The results show that CD,centrally distributed nearby channel erosion surface,decreases with the increased distances to channel erosion surface,which indicates the CD might be related to the coal seam from the upper unit of the J2y Formation or synsedimentary plant from the J2z Formation.Macerals of CD are composed of vitrinite(i.e.,V),inertinite(i.e.,I),and minerals,including that V is primary.Compared with the coals from the J2y Formation classed into vitrinertite-V(V+I>95%,V>I),CD is grouped into vitrite(V>95%).Although,CD and coal are similar in element composition,the former is of lower organic carbon,H,N,and higher S.The(C27+C29)/(C31+C33)ratios of n-alkanes biomarkers indicate that the percentage of woody plants accounting for vegetation composition of CD predominate over that of coal,which is also evidenced by the higher C/N ratios and oleanane contents of CD.The evidence is also supported by plant branch buried in sandstones.The distribution characteristics of CD and differences in vegetation types between CD and coal suggest that CD might be not from the coal seam from J2y.The tissue preservation index,gelification index,ground water level index,and vegetation index reflect that the paleoenvironment of CD is controlled by fluctuating water,which is also supported by the existences of round CD.Compared with peat,sedimentary paleoenvironment where CD deposits is of weaker reducibility,higher salinity by analyzing Pr/Ph ratios and gammacerane index.Distributions of n-alkanes carbon number of CD with the presence of unknown complex mixtures show that microbial activities exist in sand bodies.Differences in hydrodynamic intensity,redox condition,and microbial activity intensity between sedimentary paleoenvironment of CD and peat,show that CD is born in synsedimentary sandstone environment not in peat.Hence,it comprehensively draws conclusions that immature‘non-peatborn’CD is formed from the trunk,stem,branch,root fragments buried in sandstones,depositing in(micro)allochthonous positions by the influences of fluctuating water.The DOM from synsedimentary plant debris might play more roles in adsorption and complexation,and microorganisms may participate in uranium mineralization,which could provide certain guidance for uranium exploration and mining.

Characteristics and dynamic settings of the Central-east Asia multi-energy minerals metallogenetic domain

That more than 82 percent of proved sandstone-type uranium deposits coexist with proved oil-gas or coalfields in the world reflects the fact of coexistence and accumulation of multi-energy minerals including oil,gas,coal and uranium in the same basin.Especially,this phenomenon is most typical in the Central-east Asia energy basins.Across China,Mongolia and some central Asian countries,the giant Central-east Asia metallogenetic domain(CEAMD)stretches more than 6,000 km from Songliao Basin of China in the east to the Caspian Sea in the west.The multi-energy minerals distribution characteristics of the domain include:their spatial distribution is complicated and ordered;the ore-bearing horizon relates closely to the geographical region;the accumulation/mineralization and localization time is the same or close;the occurrence setting and accumulation/mineralization have close correlation;and they have rich provenance for all the minerals.All of these imply that they have close relations between each other under a unified geodynamic background.The exogenetic uranium mineralization process in CEAMD can be divided into five phases using time limits of 100 Ma,(50±2)Ma,20±(2―4)Ma,8―5 Ma.The major mineralization periods and their differences in each primary uranium-bearing basin are identical to the oil-gas accumulation and localization periods and phases in the same basin,and are also in response to regional tectonics and controlled in general by the regional geodynamic environment.For industrial application and commercial exploitation,it is suggested that an important period for coexistence,accumulation and localization of oil,gas,coal and uranium and their interaction mainly occur in the late/last and post basin evolution.Through generalized analysis and comparison of accumulation/mineralization environment of the energy basins in CEAMD,the authors propose that the relatively stable regional tectonic background and moderate(weaker)structural deformation probably are necessary for formation,coexistence and preservation of large and medium-scaled sandstone-type uranium ore deposits,oil-gas fields and coalfields,while basins in favor of coexistence and accumulation are those intracratonal,intermediary massif basins and corresponding reformed basins.

Theoretical System of Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposits in Northern China

Many theoretical results on sandstone-type uranium mineralization in northern China obtained by the uranium research team of the Tianjin Center of Geological Survey in recent years are presented.From the source sink system of uranium-producing basins,sedimentary environment of uranium-bearing rock series,ore-forming fluid information,evolution of tectonic events,basin formation and development,we redefine and classify uranium orebodies,redox zoning,and ore-controlling structural styles.We then systematically propose a theoretical system of sandstone-type uranium deposits in northern China.We conclude that sandstone-type uranium deposits in northern China are mainly found in sedimentary environments such as rivers,deltas,and alluvial fans in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic lowstand systems tract and in gray sandstone layers in the vertical redox zoning.The orebodies are controlled by the tectonic slope belt,which is in the shape of a strip on the plane,and spreads in a layer or plate on the section.Vertical(ups and downs)tectonic movement triggers large-scale phreatic flow in the basin,which is the real driving force for controlling the ore-forming fluid.The theoretical system of sandstone-type uranium deposits in northern China should be based on global tectonic movement and environmental changes and take into account factors such as basins as a unit to study mineralization background,ore concentration areas as objects to study mineralization,and the correlation between regional tectonic movement and metallogenic process as a breakthrough point to study tectonic events and metallogenic events.It should also be based on different basin types to establish metallogenic models.The innovative research results and ideas are summarized with the aim of promoting the continuous improvement of sandstone-type uranium mineralization theory in northern China.

Relations of Uranium Enrichment and Metal Sulfides within the Shuanglong Uranium Deposit,Southern Ordos Basin

Large quantities of metal sulfides are widely distributed in uranium ores from the Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation of the Shuanglong uranium deposit,southern Ordos Basin,providing a convenient condition to study the relationship between metal sulfides and uranium minerals.The morphology and composition of uranium minerals and metal sulfides are illustrated to study uranium mineralization and mechanisms of metallogenesis.Uranium minerals can be broadly categorized as pitchblende,coffinite and brannerite.Metal sulfides associated with uranium minerals are pyrite,sphalerite,chalcopyrite and galena.Some assemblages of various metal sulfides and uranium minerals indicate that they are coeval,but the order of formation is different.Based on mineralogical observations,paragenetic sequences for mineral assemblages are discussed.Alteration of Fe-Ti oxides forms Ti oxides,brannerite and pyrite.The formation of chalcopyrite was later than that of pyrite.Clausthalite(Pb Se)replaces sphalerite or shows isomorphism with galena.There are three genetic types of galena,of which typeⅠis related to tectonic thermal events and can interact with uranyl ions to form uranium oxides and Pb;.When sulfur activity is relatively high,Pb;can form new anhedral galena,that is,typeⅡ.TypeⅢof galena is related to the decay of uranium minerals.The genetic order of the main minerals was determined as follows:Fe-Ti oxides>Ti oxides/sphalerite/pyrite>clausthalite/galenaⅠ/chalcopyrite>galenaⅡ/uranium minerals>galenaⅢduring the diagenetic stage.Hydrogen sulfide(H;S)is a decisive factor in the interaction between metal sulfides and uranium.Metal ions can react with H;S,accompanied by precipitation and enrichment of uranium minerals.