The formation of basal-type uranium deposits in south central British Columbia

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Econ. Geol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.77.5.1176· OSTI ID:6063113

Boyle, D R

The basal-type uranium deposits in south central British Columbia occur within unconsolidated, late Miocene fluvial paleochannel sediments that overlie major fault zones within the Okanagan Highlands Intrusive Complex. Five uranium deposits have been outlined to date, of which the Blizzard (4,020 metric tons U) and Tyee (650 metric tons U) are the largest. The basement intrusive complex underlying the deposits varies in age from early Cretaceous to Eocene and is comprised of quartz monzonite, granodiorite, Coryell monzonite, porphyritic granite, and pegmatite. Uranium mineralization is present in the form of uranous (ningyoite) or uranyl (saleeite, autunite) phosphates coating clastic grains and filling voids. Because of very strong reducing conditions related to large concentrations of marcasite and organic material, ningyoite is the only uranium mineral in the Tyee deposit, whereas the Blizzard deposit contains a more complex assemblage of minerals (saleeite, autunite, ningyoite). The observed paragenetic sequence of mineral precipitation in the Blizzard deposit (autunite-saleeite-ningyoite) indicates that the uranyl minerals, saleeite and autunite, are primary. Investigations of the source of the ore-forming elements (U, Ca, Mg, PO/sub 4/) showed the deposits to be formed by the infiltration into fluvial sediments of deep-seated, structurally controlled, ground waters that migrated in a well-developed regional hydrologic system within the Complex. Research indicates that the ore-forming ground waters were cold, slightly bicarbonated (150-400 ppm), highly uraniferous (10-50 ppb), and slightly oxidizing (dissolved oxygen = 2-4 ppm).

• Research Organization: Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A OE8
• OSTI ID: 6063113
• Journal Information: Econ. Geol.; (United States), Journal Name: Econ. Geol.; (United States) Vol. 77:5; ISSN ECGLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
AUTUNITE
BASALT
BRITISH COLUMBIA
CALCIUM
CANADA
CENOZOIC ERA
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ELEMENTS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
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IGNEOUS ROCKS
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MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM PHOSPHATES
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERALIZATION
MINERALS
NINGYOITE
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC MATTER
ORIGIN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARAGENESIS
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE MINERALS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SALEEITE
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEDIMENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TERTIARY PERIOD
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DEPOSITS
URANIUM MINERALS
URANIUM PHOSPHATES
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WATER