Polygenic uranium-thorium-rare earth mineralization of the Nether-Polar Urals: discovery history and genesis

Abstract

The research relevance is determined by the need to analyze various sources and author's observations to form ideas about the genesis of an unusual polygenic uranium-thorium-rare earth mineralization of the Nether-Polar Urals to assess the prospects and directions for subsequent mining and processing. The research results will aid in a more rational and efficient geological research. The research objective is to interpret the results, determine mineralization genesis features and show its future prospects against the background of the discovery history and using data from a complex analysis of uranium-thorium-rare-earth mineralization in conglomerates of the regional structural-stratigraphic unconformity zone. Results. The geological position of rare-metal conglomerates has been clarified, their belonging not to the Precambrian, but to the Early Paleozoic era has been determined. The absence is considered of a genetic connection between the gold mineralization recorded in the zone of structural-stratigraphic unconformity and polygenic uranium-thorium-rare earth mineralization. The shortage of rare earth elements determines the industrial significance of uranium-rare-earth complex ores, the extraction of which is possible using modern heap leaching technologies. Conclusions. The history of the study of uranium-thorium-rare-earth mineralization of the NetherPolar Urals is considered. According to the authors, it has a polygenic genesis and forms into the successive stages of sedimentary, metamorphogenic and hydrothermal processes. A hypothesis of hydrogenous hydrothermal ore formation under regional metamorphism is proposed as an alternative to the magmatogenic origin of hydrothermal ore melts. It determines the need for new approaches to mineralization assessment. The industrial value of mineralization lies in the presence of metamict, hydrated, easily soluble minerals, carriers of uranium and rare earth elements, which implies the possibility of using modern mining technologies.