Uranium Distribution in Uranium Ores and Source Rocks
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BEPORT NO. IAEA-R-1866-F mü TITLE Uranium distribution in uranium ores and source rocks PIKAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD r 7"V-". ' 1976-10-01 - 1981-09-30 9 AUTHOR(S) G. Kurat INSTITUTE Naturhistorisches Museum Mineralogisch-Petragraphische Abteilung Vienna, Austria INTERNATIONAL ATONIC ENERGY ACQfCT November 1981 f FINAL REPORT Contract Number : 1866/R3/RB Title of Project : URANIUM DISTRIBUTION IN URANIUM ORES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SOURCE ROCKS. Institute Where Research is Being Carried Out : Mineralogisch-Petrographische Abteilung, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Austria. Chief Scientific Investigators : Univ.-Doz. Dr. Gero Kurat Co-Investigators : Dr.F.Brandstatter Lisa Pabst Time Period Covered : January 16 - October 15, 1981 n -2- Description of Research Carried Out : A variety of uranium ore samples from different localities was processed in the usual way : samples were cut and auto- radiographed. On the basis of these pictures areas were se- lected for thin sections. These polished thin sections were investigated microscopically in transmitted and reflected light and the most typical or most important areas were photographically documented. Selected portions have then been routinely analyzed using an ARL-SEMQ electron microprobe under standard conditions (15 kV accelleration, 15 nA sample current) Most of the analyzed areas have also been documented by secon- dary electron scanning images and X-ray scans for the most imporant elements present. In this report we deal with the following samples : A : Saskatchewan, Canada. Karin Lake (72-a), Charlebois Lake (682-c and 730-b), Cup Lake (374-b), Wollaston Lake (1010-c), and Black Lake (796-a). B : Argentina. La Estela Mine, San Luis (Arg-2). C : Peru. Macujani, Carabaya (U-Peru-4). Following are brief descriptions and documentations of the above-mentioned samples : 1 -3- A Saskatchewan Six samples of uraniferous pegmatoids were recieved from the University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan (Prof.G.Parslow, Mr.D.Thomas) for microprobe analysis of the uranium phases. The geological field work and petrological studies have been done by David Thomas and have been published in his thesis in 1978 at the university of Regina and in several reports to the Saskatchewan D.M.R.Geological Survey. A publication of the combined data of his and our work is under preparation. Therefore we will concentrate in this report on our work and include only brief descriptions of the samples without dis- cussing the geological occurrence. Locations of samples are shown on the geological sketch map (Fig.1) taken from Thomas (1979). Sample 72-a Locality : Karin Lake Pegmatite unit in lower pelite horizon overlying older (Archean ?) granite gneisses. Preliminary thinsection examination : Abundant small euhedral uraninite ? within or in contact with biotite. Molybdenite present. Electron microprobe analyses : Six areas within sample 72-a were studied in detail : Area 1 (Figure 2) shows altered ura- ninite (light-grey) and monazite (dark-grey) in silicate ma- trix (black). The monazite contains ~15 wt.% ThO2 and ^4% UO2. The rim of the monazite crystal is slightly enriched in U. Area 2 shows a large uraninite aggregate of uniform composi- tion in silicate matrix. Area 3 (Figure 3) shows uraninite (medium grey), silicate matrix (black, mainly quartz) and a veinlet (dark-grey) which consists of apatite (?), pyrite (?), and of a secondary U-phase. Area 4 (Figure 4) shows an irregu- lar intergrowth of three U-phases : (1) a Pb-rich uraninite (light-grey), a thorian Si-poor U silicate (medium grey), and coffinite (dark-grey). The Pb-rich uraninite is apparently -4- the primary U-phase, while the U-Th silicates are alteration products. Both area 5 and 6 show large unaltered uraninite aggregates. Typical analyses are given in Table 1. Sample 682-c Locality : Charlebois Lake Quartz-rich end phase (quartzolite) of pegmatite unit in basal pelitic assemblage overlying older (Archean ?) granite gneisses. Preliminary thinsection analysis : Small euhedral crystals (0.1 - 0.25 mm) associated with biotite clusters. Idenification not possible, but presumably a silicate. Electron microprobe analysis : The euhedral crystals mostly enclosed in biotite are an unknown Th-Fe silicate. A typical example is shown in Figure 5, where a large Th-Fe silicate shows uranium and lead mobilizations. Uranium in the main part is always below 10% by weight but is enriched at the rim and in lamellae to over 30%. Lead segregated into (mostly euhedral) PbS crystals. There is abundant molybdenite and rutile associated with the Th-Fe silicate. Typical analyses are given in Table 2. Sample 730-b Locality : Charlebois Lake Migmatite; tonalitic-granodioritic neosomal material Preliminary thinsection examination : Altered uraninite (?) associated with biotite seams. Electron microprobe analysis : Primary uranium minerals are desintegrated and altered to fine-grained complex intergrowths of U-Th oxides-hydroxides and silicates. They occur in nodules within biotites. There is also abundant uranophane present which is partly associated with the Th-U nodules and partly fills cracks within the biotite. A typical situation is shown in Fi- gure 6. Analyses are given in Table 2. Except for the uranophane, which occurs in fresh crystals and which is apparently very young, the analyses all have very low sums which is probably due to ex- tensive oxidation and hydratization. -18- Figure 7 Secondary electron scanning image (SE) and X-ray scans fn-r n. 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