| Citation: |
Ruo-shi Jin, Xiao-xi Feng, Xue-ming Teng, Feng-jun Nie, Hai-yang Cao, Hui-qun Hou, Hong-xu Liu, Pei-sen Miao, Hua-lei Zhao, Lu-lu Chen, Qiang Zhu, Xiao-xi Zhou, 2020. Genesis of green sandstone/mudstone from Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation in the Dongsheng Uranium Orefield, Ordos Basin and its enlightenment for uranium mineralization, China Geology, 3, 52-66. doi: 10.31035/cg2020002
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Genesis of green sandstone/mudstone from Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation in the Dongsheng Uranium Orefield, Ordos Basin and its enlightenment for uranium mineralization
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Abstract
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.
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References
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Ruo-shi Jin, Xiao-xi Feng, Xue-ming Teng, Feng-jun Nie, Hai-yang Cao, Hui-qun Hou, Hong-xu Liu, Pei-sen Miao, Hua-lei Zhao, Lu-lu Chen, Qiang Zhu, Xiao-xi Zhou, 2020. Genesis of green sandstone/mudstone from Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation in the Dongsheng Uranium Orefield, Ordos Basin and its enlightenment for uranium mineralization, China Geology, 3, 52-66. doi: 10.31035/cg2020002
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Figure 1.
a–Generalized map showing the position of the Ordos Basin; b–schematic map showing the geology and deposit distribution of the Ordos Basin (modified from Sun LX et al., 2017).
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Figure 2.
Spatial distribution of Zhiluo Formation green rocks from Daying uranimum orefield to Uxin Banner.
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Figure 3.
Longitudinal section of Nalinggou uranium deposit.
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Figure 4.
Representative photograph showing the attitude of the green sandstone in the Zhiluo Formation outcrop (62-km south of Gaotouyao Town along the highway; GPS: N39°59′05″, E109°35′57″).
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Figure 5.
Representative photomicrographs under parallel nicols showing the petrographic characteristics of the grayish-green medium-grained feldspar sandstone (a– sample 15nzk007) and green silty sandstone (b–sample 15ZKN15-40-Ⅲ-001). Bt–Biotite; Chl–Chlorite; Fsp–Feldspar; Ill–Illite; Qtz–Quartz. Note: These areas with red block represent resin filled among fragment.
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Figure 6.
Photomicrographs showing the microtopography of green clay minerals from Zhiluo Formation. a–grains coated by clay mineral membrane in casting section. All clastic grains are surface-coated by a very thin clay mineral membrane; b–biotite altered into chlorite; c–pore-filling of chlorite by EPMA; intruded by a younger calcite; d–SEM observation within the same horizon; e–lamellar kaolinite and cellular chlorite/smectite seen using SEM; f–fine-scaled chlorite attached to surface of quartz grains seen using SEM. Chl–Chlorite; Bt–Biotite; Sp–Sphalerite; Mag–Magnetite; Chu–Clinohumite; Or–Orthoclase; Sme–Smectite; Kln –Kaolinite; Qtz–Quartz. Note: these areas with red block represent resin filled among fragment.
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Figure 7.
Mineral surface scanning map of green sandstone (15ZKN15-40-III-003) from the Zhiluo Formation. a–EDS area; b–spectral profiles of Se, Ti, Si, Fe elements; c–range of Se element; d–range of Si element; e–range of Ti element; f–range of Fe element.
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Figure 8.
Chondrite-normalized REE patterns for (a)–green and red siltstone/mudstone, and (b)–green sandstone and green siltstone/mudstone from Zhiluo Formation.