Petrography of the uranium-bearing minerals of the Liberty Hill pluton, South Carolina: phase assemblages and migration of uranium in granitoid rocks

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Econ. Geol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.76.8.2162· OSTI ID:5210638

Speer, J A; Solberg, T N; Becker, S W

Optical petrography, fission track U mapping, and electron microprobe analysis of granitoid rocks from the Liberty Hill pluton, South Carolina, show a nonuniform distribution of U in the rocks. In order of abundance, U occurs: in accessory minerals, with U concentrations decreasing in the order: uraninite, coffinite, uranoan thorite, zircon, monazite, titanite, allanite, apatite, zeolites; on altered sulfaces of Fe/sup +2/- and S-bearing minerals; at microcracks filled with carbonate, zeolite, and Fe-Mn oxyhydroxide minerals; on clay minerals of altered feldspars; and in major minerals as a widely dispersed minor component. Thorium has been identified in the accessory minerals thorite, thoroan uraninite, coffinite, allanite, and monazite. Uranium and Th distribution is believed to be of magmatic origin within the major U-Th-Zr phase assemblage: uranoan thorite +zircon /plus or minus/ uraninite. The mechanisms of U retention are similar to those found in sedimentary U deposits. The U-Th-Pb isotope studies of the Liberty Hill pluton show that these mechanisms are effective in retaining the initial concentrations of U. Refs.

• Research Organization: Va Polytech Inst and State Univ, Blacksburg, USA
• OSTI ID: 5210638
• Journal Information: Econ. Geol.; (United States), Journal Name: Econ. Geol.; (United States) Vol. 76:8; ISSN ECGLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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