Characteristics of Uranium Mineralization in Red Clastic Formations in the Southwestern Margin of the Ordos Basin

Abstract

AbstractIn the southwestern margin of the Ordos Basin, uranium mineralization is primarily hosted by predominantly oxidative red clastic formations in the Lower Cretaceous. The main target layers for uranium exploration are the Madongshan and Liwaxia formations of the Liupanshan Group, followed by the Jingchuan Formation of the Zhidan Group. The host rocks (medium‐fine feldspar quartz sandstone), which are bleached to a light grayish white color, contain a minor organic matter component and pyrite. Uranium mineralization changes from surficial infiltration or phreatic oxidation in the upper part to interlayer oxidation in the lower part. Uranium ore bodies are mostly lenticular or tabular in shape, locally shaped like crescent rolls. Individual ore bodies are typically small and shallow. Uranium predominantly manifests as pitchblende and coffinite. Coffinite is usually short and columnar or granular in habit, whereas pitchblende occurs as an irregular colloidal covering on the surface or in fissures of ferric oxide, silicate, clay or carbonate. Secondary uranium minerals are torbernite, uranophane, and uranopilite. Minerals associated with uranium are mainly pyrite, chalcopyrite and, to a minor extent, arsenopyrite and fluorite. The associated elements are Mo, V, Se, Co, Ni, and Mn, the host sandstone being high in Cu and Ba. Overall, the red clastic formations in the southwestern margin of the Ordos Basin are characterized by ‘five multiples but one low’ which means multiple target layers, multiple stages of mineralization, multiple ore body shapes, multiple kinds of uranium minerals, multiple associated elements, but low organic matter. This implies an overall complex uranium metallogenic environment and mineralization process. It is recommended that future uranium exploration should take into consideration regional metallogenic conditions and mineralization features, with target layers in the wide‐smooth synclinal slope being focused on. Most uranium deposits are small to medium in size, and the main type of uranium mineralization can vary by target layer.