Genesis of green sandstone/mudstone from Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation in the Dongsheng Uranium Orefield, Ordos Basin and its enlightenment for uranium mineralization

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• Sandstone-type uranium deposit
• Green sandstone/mudstone
• Diagenesis
• Zhiluo Formation
• Minerral exploration engineering
• Ordos Basin