Metallogenic regionalization, deposit types and ore-search prospect for uranium deposits in Australia

Australia possesses rich uranium resources, and its present uranium reserves occupy the second place in the world. Tectonically, Australia can be divided into the middle-western Precambrian craton and the eastern Phanerozoic orogenic belt. Based on the study of regional geological settings and metallogenic conditions of Australia, this paper summarizes the distribution of uranium deposits in five metallogenic belts, i.e., Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia, Middle Australia and Eastern Australia, and delineates the general geological environments and characteristics of 34 ore fields with considerably different ore types which are located in 15 ore concentration areas such as Pine Creek of Northern Territory, Olympic Dam of South Australia and Yeelirrie of Western Australia. According to the metallogenic geological processes, genetic types of deposits and mineralogical characteristics of uranium deposits in Australia, the authors recognized eight typical types of deposits and, from them, selected Olympic Dame breccia complex type uranium-copper-gold deposit, Ranger unconformity surface type uranium deposit, Beverley sandstone illuvial type uranium deposit, Yeelirrie calcrete type uranium deposit and Maureen stratabound type uranium deposit to analyze and summarize geological settings and characteristics of the deposits. The authors consider that Australia has favorable uranium metallogenic geological conditions, abundant types of deposits and huge uranium resources potentials, and point out that the above-mentioned types of deposits may be regarded as targeted types in the future uranium exploration.