Application of Optically Stimulated Luminescence Technique in Exploring a Concealed Sandstone-type Uranium Deposit

Identifying ore-induced geochemical anomalies at the surface that indicate concealed deposits in buried areas remains a significant challenge in geochemical exploration. In this study, in order to trace the source of the geochemical anomalies, systematic luminescence intensity analyses were conducted on quartz grains from the Quaternary regolith at the Hadatu sandstone-type uranium deposit in the Erenhot Basin. The optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) ages were much older than the depositional ages of the Quaternary regolith. Moreover, quartz OSL ages were closely related to both borehole grades and sampling depths. Thus, the abnormal mineral OSL ages from near-surface sediments were ultimately controlled by the sandstone-type uranium deposits. This is identical to the rapid changes of quartz OSL ages(0.063 ka/cm) and equivalent doses(0.19 Gy/cm) with depths in a given sampling site. The instantaneous soil radon concentration was positively correlated with the quartz OSL apparent age, indicating their ore-induced origin and, as a result, their effectiveness in the exploration of concealed uranium deposits. Other parameters, including mobile-state uranium and;Po contents, were poorly correlated with quartz OSL ages and therefore should only be used with caution for geochemical exploration. This is the first time an attempt has been made to discriminate the ore-induced sources for different surface anomaly parameters, including instantaneous soil radon, mobile-state uranium and;Po contents for concealed sandstonetype uranium deposits.

Tests on Application of Soil Magnetic and Integrated Gamma Ray TLD and TC Methods to the Exploration of Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposits

This paper introduces the test results of the soil magnetic survey and the integrated gamma-ray TLD and TC methods for sandstone-type uranium exploration and describes the prospecting mechanism. The tests have proved that these approaches have yielded good results on classifying the sedimentary fades, defining the redox transitional zones and reflecting deep mineralization information. They may probably become new methods on searching for sandstone-type uranium deposits.

Research on diagenesis of the sandstone-type uranium deposits in Dongsheng area, Ordos Basin

Synthetic methods of thin section petrography, scanning electron microscope, electron microprobe, energy spectrum analysis, cathodoluminescence, isotopic analysis and temperature measuring for fluid inclusions were used in analyzing sandstone samples collected from the Zhiluo Formation in order to fully understand the diagenesis evolution and the mineralizing response as well as the genesis of the uranium-bearing sandstone in Dongsheng area. The result shows that (1) the sandstone include lithic silicarenite, feldspathic litharenite and litharenite; (2) the authigenic minerals include clay minerals, carbonate minerals, siliceous and ferric minerals; (3) the physical property of sandstone is obviously controlled by diagenesis; and (4) the sandstone with favorable physical property is propitious to migration and storage of ore-forming fluid, and finally, forming the ore deposit. The sandstone of the Zhiluo Formation had undergone the early diagenetic stage (periods A and B) and the epidiagenetic stage. The evolution of diagenetic environment is in the order of acidic oxidation, alkalescent deoxidization, acidity to transitional environment of oxidation-deoxidization and acidity-alkalescence. The uranium exists in forms of pre-enrichment uranyl ion, active uranyl ion, dispersive adsorptive uranium and uranium mineral, respectively. In addition, the authors also hold that the formation of the sandstone-type uranium is not only related to the oxidation-deoxidization environment, but also closely related to the acidic-alkaline transitional environment, which are propitious to uranium mineralization in sandstone.

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.

Association of Sandstone-Type Uranium Mineralization in the Northern China with Tectonic Movements and Hydrocarbons

In the continental basins of Northern China(NC),a series of energy resources commonly co-exist in the same basin.As the three typical superimposed basins of different genesis in the NC,the Junggar,Ordos,and Songliao basins were chosen as the research objects.The favorable uraniumbearing structures are generally shown as a basin-margin slope or transition belt of uplifts with the development of faults,which are conducive to a fluid circulation system.The Hercynian,Indosinian,and Yanshanian movements resulted in the development of uranium-rich intrusions which acted as the significant uranium sources.The main hydrocarbon source rocks are developed in the Carboniferous,Permian,Jurassic and Cretaceous.The mature stage of source rocks is concentrated in the Jurassic–Cretaceous,followed by the multi-stage expulsion events.Influenced by the India-Eurasian collision and the subduction of the Pacific Plate,the tectonic transformation in the Late Yanshanian and Himalayan periods significantly influenced the sandstone-type uranium mineralization.The hydrocarbon reservoirs are spatially consistent with sandstone-type uranium deposits,while the hydrocarbon expulsion events occur in sequence with sandstone-type uranium mineralization.In the periphery of the faults or the uplifts,both fluids met and formed uranium concentration.The regional tectonic movements motivate the migration of hydrocarbon fluids and uranium mineralization,especially the Himalayan movement.

Genesis of Xinzhai Sandstone-Type Copper Deposit in Northern Laos: Geological and Geochemical Evidences

Xinzhai sandstone-type copper deposit located in northern Laos lies in the Jiangcheng-Phongsaly-Phrae Mesozoic basin(JPMB), which is regarded as southern extension of the Lanping-Simao Mesozoic basin in China. The copper deposit belt is bounded by the AilaoshanHeishui River fault and the Dian Bien Phu-Luang Prabang fault at the east and Lancang RiverBannankan faults at the west. Two types of orebodies are identified in the Xinzhai area based on geological investigation. One is lamellar copper orebody hosted by the fine lithic feldspar sandstones and feldspar lithic sandstones; another is vein-type orebody. The sulfur isotopic compositions of the chalcopyrite and tetrahedrite are from -11.6‰ to -1.8‰, indicating that sulfur is derived from bacterial sulfate reduction(BSR). δD values of fluid inclusions in ore-bearing quartz samples are from -99‰ to -78‰. The calculated δ^(18)OH_2O values of ore-forming fluid vary from -2.3‰ to 0.4‰ using the quartz-water fractionation equations and the mineralization temperature. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions show that the ore-forming fluid was derived from basin fluid. Rock-mineral identifications show that both of the mineral grain maturity and the structural maturity are high in the Jurassic Huakaizuo Formation, reflecting a far-source accumulation and lake facies sedimentatary environment. Based on tectonic determination diagram of the Al_2O_3/SiO_2-TFe+MgO, the sandstone samples collected from the Huakaizuo Formation were plotted in the passive continental margin. The collision of the Indian and Eurasian blocks during the Cenozoic formed large-scale strikeslips and thrust nappe structures in margin of the basin. With the tectonic movement, Cu-rich basin fluid from the basement of basin migrated upward along the contemporaneous fault and into the high porosity strata. At the same time, in organic matter-riched condition, bacterial sulfate reduction(BSR) has been triggered, forming a large number of S^(2-) ions, and then precipitation of sulfide started. This mechanism describes the process of copper mineral deposition in the Xinzhai deposit.

Uranium Isotope Variations(234U/238U and 238U/235U)and Behavior of U-Pb Isotope System in the Vershinnoe Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposit,Vitim Uranium Ore District,Russia

The U-Pb isotope system and uranium isotope composition(235U/238U and 234U/238U)were studied in a number of samples from the vertical section of the uranium ore body at the Vershinnoe sandstone-type deposit,Vitim uranium ore district,Russia.These parameters were determined to broadly vary.Deviations of the 234U/238U ratio from the equilibrium value indicate that the uranium ore was not completely conserved during the postore stage,and uranium was determined to continue migrating at the deposit.Comparison of the U-Pb isotope age value and 234U/238U isotope ratio provides an insight into the migrate direction of uranium in the ore body.The broad variations(137.377–137.772)in the 238U/235U ratio over the vertical section of the ore body can be explained by the different settings of the samples relative to the ore deposition front and changes in the redox conditions when this front shifted.The fact that theδ238U and K234/238 values are correlated indicates that the transfer of the 234U isotope into the aqueous phase may have been coupled with isotope fractionation in the 238U-235U system during the postformation uranium migration within the orebody.

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

Genesis of green sandstone/mudstone from Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation in the Dongsheng Uranium Orefield, Ordos Basin and its enlightenment for uranium mineralization

The middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation in the Dongsheng is comprised of a big set of green sandstone/mudstone with most of uranium orebodies occurring in close proximity to its footwall.By synthesizing field observations,region analysis,data collected from previous coal and uranium borehole,a regional north-south geological profile across the entire orefield is conducted.Experiments on sandstone/mudstone including rock mineral identification,clastic micromorphology and element geochemistry were carried out.Information from the geological profile indicates that green sandstone/mudstone is widely present in a stable horizon with clear boundaries to the country rock.Microscopic observations and geochemical data on sandstone/mudstone exhibit similar mineral composition with almost identical slightly flat,minor Eu enriched,Ce depleted chondrite-normalized REE patterns.Furthermore,the green clay membrane of the clasts has a complex composition containing chlorite/smectite,green smectite,chlorite,and green kaolinite,with elements including Fe,Mg,Si,and Al.These above results indicate that the green sandstone/mudstone underwent resemble sedimentary diagenetic processes as the country rock without transformation by large-scale regional fluid,while the existence of Fe2+-rich membrane is the main factor to the green sandstone/mudstone.Further concentration of the pre-enrichment uranium during diagenetic process led to the final formation for uranium deposits.The above studies are conducive to enrich the metallogenic mechanism of sandstone type uranium deposits and could provide certain reference for uranium exploration and deployment.

Factors influencing in-situ leaching of uranium mining in a sandstone deposit in Shihongtan, Northwest China

The Shihongtan uranium deposit in northwest China is a sandstone-type deposit suitable for alkaline in-situ leaching exploitation of uranium. Alkaline leaching tends to result in CaCO3 precipitation there by affecting the porosity of the ore-bearing aquifer. CaCO3 deposits can also block pumping and injection holes if the formulation parameters of the leaching solution are not well controlled. However, controlling these parameters to operate the in-situ leaching process is challenging. Our study demonstrates that the dissolved uranium concentration in the leaching solution increases as HCO3-concentration increases. Therefore, the most suitable HCO3-concentration to use as leaching solution is defined by the boundary value of the HCO3-concentration that controls CaCO3 dissolution-precipitation. That is, the dissolution and precipitation of calcite is closely related to pH, Ca2+ and HCO3-concentration. The pH and Ca2+ concentration are the main factors limiting HCO3-concentration in the leaching solution. The higher the pH and Ca2+ concentration, the lower the boundary value of HCO3-concentration, and therefore the more unfavorable to in-situ leaching of uranium.

Uranium mineralization formed through multi-stage superposition: Case of the Qianjiadian deposit in Songliao Basin, China

The Qianjiadian uranium deposit is located in the Kailu Depression of Songliao Basin.It is a large-scale in-situ leachable uranium deposit of sandstone type and provides a typical case of the uranium deposits in the Songliao Basin.Here we analyze the impact of oil and gas on reduction alteration,and factors including low grade mineralization.The Qianjiadian uranium deposit is characterized as a typical rolltype deposit with interlayers in oxidized zone.The occurrence of reductive low-permeability sandstone in uranium reservoirs controls the morphology of the uranium-rich orebody.We propose a metallogenic model involving multi-stage superposition characterized by“primary sediment enrichment-interlayer oxidation-superimposed transformation”.Our model would be helpful for formulating guidelines in the exploration for sandstone-type uranium deposits in the Songliao Basin.

Geological and Geochemical Characteristics of the Zhiluo Formation in the Bayinqinggeli Uranium Deposit, Northern Ordos Basin: Significance for Uranium Mineralization

The Bayinqinggeli deposit in the northern Ordos Basin, northwestern of China, is a recently discovered sandstone-type uranium deposit. The uranium(U) orebodies are generally hosted in the lower member of the Jurassic Zhiluo Formation(Fm.), and are primarily tabular or irregular in shape. In the study area, 23 sandstone samples were collected from the Zhiluo Fm. and analyzed for major, trace, and rare earth elements(REEs). The geochemical characteristics of these sandstones are used to evaluate the factors controlling U mineralization. The source rocks of the Zhiluo Fm. sandstones are mainly volcanic and felsic magmatic rocks formed in continental arc and active continentalmarginal arc environments, and they provided the material required for the mineralization. The index of compositional variability ranges from 1.02 to 3.29(average1.38), indicating that the Zhiluo Fm. sandstones are immature and composed of first-cycle sediments. The corrected chemical index of alteration averages 56, suggesting that the source rocks underwent weak chemical weathering. The ore host rocks are loose, providing favorable conditions for epigenetic oxidation and U precipitation and enrichment. Ferrous iron in minerals such as chlorite, biotite, ilmenite, and pyrite might have played a role either in adsorbing or reducing the uranium.

Origin of gray-green sandstone in ore bed of sandstone type uranium deposit in north Ordos Basin

Dongsheng sandstone-type uranium deposit is located in the northern part of Ordos Basin, occurring in the transitional zones between gray-green and gray sandstones of Jurassic Zhiluo Formation. Sandstones in oxidized zone of the ore bed look gray-green, being of unique signature and different from one of ordinary inter-layered oxidation zone of sandstone-type uranium deposits. The character and origin of gray-green sandstones are systematically studied through their petrology, mineralogy and geochemistry. It is pointed out that this color of sandstones is originated from secondary oil-gas reduction processes after paleo-oxidation, being due to acicular-leaf chlorite covering surfaces of the sandstone grains. To find out the origin of gray-green sandstone and recognize paleo-oxidation zones in the ore bed are of not only theoretical significance for understanding metallogenesis of this kind of sandstone-type uranium deposit, but also very importantly practical significance for prospecting for similar kind of sandstone-type uranium deposit.

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.

Uranium Metallogeny in Fault-Depression Transition Region:A Case Study of the Tamusu Uranium Deposit in the Bayingobi Basin

Compared to the sandstone-type uranium deposits in the Ordos Basin and the Songliao Basin,the Tamusu uranium deposit in the Bayingobi Basin formed in fault-depression transition region displays distinctive features.First,the uranium-bearing sandstones and their interlayer oxidation zone extend longitudinally no more than ten kilometers.Second,gravity flow sediments are more common in the uranium-bearing strata.Comprehensive facies analysis indicates that the Upper Member(orebearing horizon)of the Bayingobi Formation was largely deposited in fan deltas that prograded into lakes during period of relatively dry paleoclimate.Spatial distribution patterns of five facies associations along with two depositional environments(fan delta,lake)were reconstructed in this study.The results demonstrated that the depositional systems and their inner genetic facies played different roles in uranium reservoir sandstone,confining beds(isolated barrier beds)and reduction geologic bodies during uranium mineralization process.

Markers and Genetic Mechanisms of Primary and Epigenetic Oxidation of an Aeolian Depositional System of the Luohandong Formation,Ordos Basin

Uranium exploration breakthrough was extremely rare in an aeolian depositional system.In order to know the complicate characteristics of oxidation associated closely with uranium mineralization in the aeolian depositional system,petrology and mineralogy markers of the oxidation and its genetic mechanisms are identified and illustrated by fieldwork,thin section analysis and scanning electron microscopy test,based on 2 field outcrops in Zhenyuan County in the southwest of the Tianhuan depression in the Ordos Basin and the core of 2 wells in the north and south of Ordos Basin.The results showed:the typical macroscopic indicator of primary oxidation was the red fine sediments in the aeolian interdune with a thickness of 10-50 cm,and the microscopic characteristics of primary oxidation were the minerals such as hematite,ilmenite,and the irony matrix rich in fine-grained dolomite and biotite;the phreatic oxidation was manifested as the red sandstone with limonite horizontal layer with a thickness of 1-4 cm and a width of 60 cm-1 m,and the circular limonite nodules with a diameter of 3-7 cm,in which there was intergranular limonite cement;the interlayer oxidation was characterized by lenticular tongue and tapered red sandstone with a length of 1-10 m and a width of 10 cm-5m,in which detrital particles are coated with hematite and hematite was distributed inside the rhombus dolomite.The paleoclimate of the sedimentary period,the water-table movement and the pore and permeability conditions of the sand body were the key factors for the formation of different oxidation types in the aeolian depositional system.

Provenance of Uranium Mineralization of the Yuqia Area,Northwest China:Constraints from Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Hf Isotopes

Many sandstone-type uranium mineralization sites have been identified along the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin in North China.Intense tectonism and multistage magmatism that occurred there have restricted the use of conventional techniques(petrogeochemistry)to deduce the sources of detritus and uranium in these sediments,and to further explore the sandstone-type uranium deposits.In this study,U-Pb geochronological and Hf isotopic analyses were conducted on detrital zircon grains collected from Jurassic to Paleogene sandstones exposed in the Yuqia area of the Qaidam Basin.The results indicate that the U-Pb ages of the analyzed zircon grains are clustered into four groups,285–229,498–401,999–806,and 2520–2305 Ma.Theε_(Hf)(t)of the analyzed zircon grains ranges from-21.9 to+10.5,with two-stage Hf model ages(T_(DM2))concentrated between 2.1 and 1.3 Ga.Based on paleocurrent studies and results of petrological,detrital zircon geochronology,and Hf isotopic analyses,the Jurassic sediments in the Yuqia area were likely derived from the tectonic belt along the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin,such as the Qilian Mountains and the Quanji Block.In contrast,the Paleogene sediments were probably sourced from the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin and the Qilian Mountains.The uranium and thorium content and Th/U value of the rock mass and sedimentary strata in the source area show that the Indosinian Early Paleozoic uranium-rich granites and the Middle Jurassic uranium-rich strata of the northern margin of the Qaidam tectonic belt in the source area provide dual uranium sources for the Yuqia sandstone-type uranium mineralization.Therefore,the study area appears to be favorable for sandstone-type uranium mineralization and may have potential for uranium prospecting.