Classification of Sandstone-Related Uranium Deposits

Cuney, Michel; Bonnetti, Christophe

doi:10.1007/s12583-021-1532-x

Cited by 25 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 102 publications

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“…The NE‐trending thorough groundwater dynamic system that was controlled by the local discharge source of the Baixingtu erosion skylight (Figure 9c) facilitated the regional interlayer oxidation and redox uranium mineralization in the southwestern of the Songliao Basin (Luo et al, 2012). Massive external soluble uranium released from acidic volcanic rocks in the southwestern erosion source area of the Songliao basin will be dissolved into surficial oxygen‐containing water (Cuney et al, 2022; Rong et al, 2021). As uranium‐ and oxygen‐containing groundwater continuously infiltrated into the permeable sandstone reservoir, internal pre‐enriched uranium sources were also oxidized and dissolved into the fluid (Vinokurov, 2021; Xiang et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sandstone‐type uranium deposits in sedimentary basins are typically controlled by several major metallogenic factors, including uranium source, structure, lithology–lithofacies, epigenetic alteration, hydrogeology, and so on (Cuney et al, 2022; Hall et al, 2023; Jin et al, 2022; Kochkin, 2021). Extensive borehole data from past decades of uranium exploration in the southwest Songliao Basin have revealed that the uranium sources of the Quantou‐Yaojia Formation are relatively abundant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatiotemporal relationship between hydrocarbon fluid and sandstone‐hosted uranium deposits in the Qianjiadian area, Songliao Basin

Huang,

Qin,

Liu

et al. 2023

Geological Journal

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The spatiotemporal coupling relationship between deep hydrocarbon fluid and sandstone uranium mineralization within the shallow buried red‐variegated clastic rocks in the Qianjiadian area of the Songliao Basin remains a topic of controversy. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the source, nature and exudative age of deep exotic hydrocarbon, as well as the interaction mechanism and alteration process between hydrocarbon fluid and clastic rock. To achieve this, various methods were employed, including acidolysis hydrocarbon test (AHT), clay x‐ray diffraction (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), carbon isotope analysis (CIA) and LA‐ICP‐MS U–Pb isotopic dating. The results indicate that some tight sandstones from the Qingshankou Formation in Dalin uranium deposit exhibit high acidolysis hydrocarbon content (AHC), reaching n × 104 μL/kg, and predominantly consisting of low mature oil‐type gas. Local microscopic observations reveal pore fluorescence and hydrocarbon‐bearing inclusions with nattier blue tone. Furthermore, the kaolinites present in the ore area's sand‐bodies show a significantly higher content anomaly, commonly exceeding >50%, compared to the same layer in peripheral regions. Extensive dissolutions of lithic grains and feldspars are observed, along with the widespread occurrence of ferro‐dolomites and colloidal pyrites. Additionally, exotic asphaltenes are sporadically developed in localized areas. These findings provide evidence that the sand‐bodies experienced a significant exfiltration event of external gaseous fluids. The light carbon isotopes (δ13CV‐PDB ranging from −33.26‰ to −30.06‰) of group components and n‐Alkane suggest that the hydrocarbon originates from the source rock of the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation. A detailed two‐stage alteration sequence caused by acidic and reducing hydrocarbon is clarified, encompassing acidic corrosion, kaolinization, pyritization, silification and asphaltization during the exudation stage, followed by ferro‐dolomitization in the later cessation stage. Notably, vermicular secondary kaolinites, formed through the interaction between acidic hydrocarbon fluid and low‐temperature meteoric groundwater, serve as significant markers for the exfiltration of deep hydrocarbon fluid. In‐situ U–Pb dating of hydrocarbon‐bearing ferro‐dolomite yielded absolute exfiltration ages of 63.54 ± 4.13 and 65.93 ± 3.35 Ma. By integrating the tectonic–sedimentary–fluid evolution history and uranium mineralization characteristics in the study area, a three‐stage superimposed metallogenic model is proposed for the Upper Cretaceous red‐variegated layers: (1) the sedimentary and diagenetic stage of the target layer during the Late Cretaceous, (2) the predominant hydrocarbon exudation stage at the end of the Late Cretaceous, and (3) the main uranium mineralization stage since the Paleogene. This study enhances our understanding of coupled‐genetic sandstone‐type uranium deposit in a sedimentary basin and provides valuable guidance for prospecting similar red‐variegated beds in the Songliao Basin and other sedimentary basins worldwide.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal relationship between hydrocarbon fluid and sandstone‐hosted uranium deposits in the Qianjiadian area, Songliao Basin

Huang,

Qin,

Liu

et al. 2023

Geological Journal

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“…The formation of uranium deposits is influenced by various factors such as geological structures, sedimentary processes, rock types, and fluid interactions [20,22,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49]. The combined effect of these factors may lead to significant variations in the burial depth of uranium deposits, ranging from near-surface locations to several hundred meters or more underground.…”

Section: Overview Of Uranium Mining Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of In Situ Leaching (ISL) for Uranium Mining

Li,

Yao

2024

Mining

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Uranium, a cornerstone for nuclear energy, facilitates a clean and efficient energy conversion. In the era of global clean energy initiatives, uranium resources have emerged as a vital component for achieving sustainability and clean power. To fulfill the escalating demand for clean energy, continual advancements in uranium mining technologies are imperative. Currently, established uranium mining methods encompass open-pit mining, underground mining, and in situ leaching (ISL). Notably, in situ leaching stands out due to its environmental friendliness, efficient extraction, and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, it unlocks the potential of extracting uranium from previously challenging low-grade sandstone-hosted deposits, presenting novel opportunities for uranium mining. This comprehensive review systematically classifies and analyzes various in situ leaching techniques, exploring their core principles, suitability, technological advancements, and practical implementations. Building on this foundation, it identifies the challenges faced by in situ leaching and proposes future improvement strategies. This study offers valuable insights into the sustainable advancement of in situ leaching technologies in uranium mining, propelling scientific research and practical applications in the field.

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“…which is obviously different from those of roll-front form orebodies in sandstone-type uranium deposits of interlayer oxidation zone origin (such as the Mengqiguer uranium deposit in the Yili Basin, the Shihongtan uranium deposit in the Turpan-Hami Basin, the Dongsheng uranium deposit in the Ordos Basin, and the Bayinwula uranium deposit in the Erlian Basin) [9][10][11][12][13]. In addition, normally, kaolinite is rich in ore-bearing sandstones, especially in less oxidized sandstones of interlayer oxidation origin sandstone-type uranium deposits (such as the Mengqiguer and Shihongtan uranium deposits).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Genetic Mechanism of Tabular-Shaped Orebody of the Hailijin Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposit in the Songliao Basin: Constraints on the Clay Mineralogy of Ore-Bearing Sandstone

Tian,

Li,

Zhang

et al. 2023

Minerals

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The Hailijin (HLJ) sandstone-type uranium deposit was newly discovered in the southwestern Songliao Basin in recent years. Different from the roll-front orebody of the sandstone-type uranium deposits with (phreatic oxidation) interlayer redox origin (or phreatic oxidation), the orebody of the HLJ uranium deposit is tabular-shaped and multi-stratiform. The kaolinite content in ore-controlling gray sandstones is significantly higher than that in oxidized sandstones, which have the highest kaolinite content in the less oxidized zone of sandstone-type uranium deposits in the basins of western China (such as Yili Basin and Turpan-Hami Basin). In order to identify the properties of ore-forming fluids and the genesis of the tabular-shaped orebody of the HLJ uranium deposit, trace element, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and uranium mineral electron probe (EPMA) analyses of different geochemical zone sandstones in ore-bearing strata were carried out. As a result, kaolinite, illite, and illite/smectite formation (I/S) appear to alternate with one another in ore-controlling gray sandstones, and the content of kaolinite is the highest in ores. SEM analysis also suggests that uranium minerals are commonly adsorbed on the surface of foliated and vermicular kaolinite or trapped within micropores of kaolinite. In this case, it is inferred that kaolinite in ore-controlling gray sandstones is of epigenetic origin, and the ore-bearing sandstones have undergone at least one transformation of acidic fluids. Combined with the regional paleoclimate, regional tectonics, and regional burial history, it is concluded that the acidic fluid originated from the uranium-rich source rocks of the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation, and the tabular-shaped orebody of the HLJ uranium deposit was formed by exudative metallogeny. When the uranium-rich acidic organic fluids exuded upward from deep levels along the faults to the target strata, the solubility of uranium and other polymetallic elements decreased because of the decrease in temperature and pressure, and uranium eventually precipitated and accumulated in sandstones with suitable permeability and porosity. However, it cannot be ruled out that the superimposition and transformation of uranium mineralization was caused by phreatic oxidation or local interlayer redox during the interval of exudative metallogeny.

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Classification of Sandstone-Related Uranium Deposits

Cited by 25 publications

References 102 publications

Spatiotemporal relationship between hydrocarbon fluid and sandstone‐hosted uranium deposits in the Qianjiadian area, Songliao Basin

Spatiotemporal relationship between hydrocarbon fluid and sandstone‐hosted uranium deposits in the Qianjiadian area, Songliao Basin

A Review of In Situ Leaching (ISL) for Uranium Mining

Genetic Mechanism of Tabular-Shaped Orebody of the Hailijin Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposit in the Songliao Basin: Constraints on the Clay Mineralogy of Ore-Bearing Sandstone

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