Genesis, mineralogy and geochemistry of uranium in the Gortdrum stratiform copper deposit, Ireland

Abstract

The Gortdrum Cu-Ag-As-Sb-Hg-U orebody occurs in Lower Carboniferous strata on the downthrown side of an ENE transcurrent fault system in Southern County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland. The deposit comprises a linear discordant zone of brecciated carbonates and country rocks that are altered and mineralised. Research has indicated anomalous radioelement concentrations associated with the main copper orebody and in particular with the altered breccias within this zone. The metal association (Cu-Ag-As-Sb-Hg-U) is considered unique for Irish Carboniferous carbonate-hosted copper deposits. However, the low temperature mineral assemblage of early uranium-bearing minerals with later sulphide stages is reminiscent of many vein-type hydrothermal ore deposits. The geochemistry of uranium-enriched rocks indicates that the alteration of the basic dykes was a most significant event in the trapping of uranium within the limestones. Propylitization of the early basic dykes by CO2-bearing fluids produced the alteration which led to the development of hematite, leucoxene and clay minerals. The reducing environments attendant with such mineralogy created a favourable environment for uranium precipitation. The reduction of U+6 to U+4 by oxidation of reduced Fe in dolomitized brecciated limestone occurred prior to the main sulphide mineral sequences. The genesis of uranium in the deposit is linked to radioelement remobilization from uranium-bearing heavy minerals in sediments of upper Devonian-Lower Carboniferous age. The uranium became available to low temperature hydrothermal fluids which carried then deposited the uranium along a transcurrent fault system. The source of the heavy minerals is considered to be the Leinster Granite to the east, by which time in the Carboniferous, unroofing of the main pluton had commenced.