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.

Constraints on granite-related uranium mineralization in the Sanjiu uranium ore field,SE China provided by pyrite mineralogy,major and trace elements,S-He-Ar isotopes

The Sanjiu uranium ore field,located in the central of Zhuguangshan granitic batholith,is a newly discovered granite-related uranium ore field in South China.The main sulfide in the ore field is pyrite,which is closely related to uranium mineralization.The textures major and trace elements,S-He-Ar isotopes compositions of pyrites in ores of different grade were observed and/or analyzed by optical microscope,scanning electron microscope,electron microprobe,laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,and noble gas mass spectrometer(Helix-SFT).It is observed that these U-related pyrites are generally euhedral-subhedral with dissolution textures,anhedral variety with colloform texture veinlet and fine particles,and the color of the associated minerals is mostly dark hue,such as purple-black fluorite dark-red hematite,and dark-green chlorite,etc.The analytical results show that the average compositions of major elements in pyrite are FeS1.944.Pyrites are characterized by S-deficiency,low content of Co and Th,and Co/Ni>1which indicate that these ores are of low-temperature hydrothermal origin.We found that the higher the grade of ore,the more deficient in S,the more obvious negative δ^34S,and the higher REE content(close to U-rich granitic pluton)of pyrite.The S-He-Ar isotopic compositions of various varieties of pyrites indicate that the ore-forming fluids mainly come from crust-derived fluids and mixed with mantle-derived fluids.

Mass Transfer during Hematitization and Implications for Uranium Mineralization in the Zoujiashan Deposit,Xiangshan Volcanic Basin

The Zoujiashan uranium deposit in the Xiangshan ore field is the largest volcanic-related uranium deposit in China.Hematite-and fluorite-type ores are the predominant mineralization styles.Hematitization in the Xiangshan ore field is closely associated with uranium mineralization,mainly occurring as hematitized rocks enclosing fluorite-type vein ores developed in pre-ore illitized porphyritic lava.Detailed petrographic and mass balance calculation studies were conducted to evaluate the mechanisms for uranium precipitation and mass transfer during hematitization.Petrographic observations suggest that in the hematitized rocks,orthoclase is more altered than plagioclase,and quartz dissolution is common,whereas in the illitized rocks,pyrite commonly occurs within the altered biotite grains,and chlorite grains are locally found.Mass balance calculations indicate that Na2O and U were gained,K2O,Ca O and Si O2were lost,whereas Fe2O3-t remained more or less constant during hematitization.These observations suggest that the hydrothermal fluids were Na-and U-rich and Ca-K-poor,and the Fe2+used for hematitization was locally derived,most likely from biotite,pyrite and chlorite in the host rocks.The Fe2+is inferred to have played the role of reductant to precipitate uranium,and calculation indicates that oxidation of Fe2+provided by host rocks is sufficient to form ores of economic significance.Consequently,the hematite-type ore is interpreted to be generated by the reaction between oxidized ore fluids and reduced components in host rocks.The development of calcite and pyrite in the fluorite ores suggests that perhaps mixing between the U-rich fluid and another fluid carrying reduced sulfur and carbon may have also contributed to uranium mineralization,in addition to temperature and pressure drop associated with the veining.