Mineralogical variations across Mariano Lake roll-type uranium deposits, McKinley County

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Mem. - N.M. Bur. Mines Miner. Resour.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6189105

Sachdev, S C

Mineralogy of core samples from the Mariano orebody was determined. The data obtained were used to develop exploration tools for roll-type uranium deposits. Preliminary interpretations of the physical and chemical conditions of ore deposition were made on the basis of paragenetic relationships. The host sandstones occur between the bentonitic rock units and contain scattered intercalations of detrital montmorillonitic material in the form of clay galls, stringers, and lenses derived from these bentonites. Authigenic clay minerals identified in the host rocks include cellular montmorillonite, platy chlorite, and pseudohexagonal books of kaolinite. The cellular montmorillonite is concentrated in the oxidized zone and appears to have formed prior to ore deposition. Authigenic chlorite is most abundant in the ore zone and has formed at the expense of cellular montmorillonite; its formation is interpreted as being related to the ore-forming processes. Kaolinite in sandstones is the last clay mineral to form and is enriched in the reduced zone. Calcite, considered typical of such deposits, is not found in this orebody. Iron-titanium oxides and their alteration products are the most abundant heavy-mineral species in the host rocks. In addition to anatase and rutile, the alteration products include hematite in the oxidized zone and pyrite in the ore and reduced zones. Carbonaceous material introudced later into the potential ore zone appears to have been responsible for the decomposition of Fe-Ti oxides and the formation of pyrite. The paragenetic relationship indicates oxidation of pyrite by mineralizing solutions, resulting in reduction and subsequent deposition of uranium. The positive correlation between organic carbon and uranium suggests that carbonaceous material also acted as a reductant for uranium.

• Research Organization: Gulf Research and Development Co., Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 6189105
• Report Number(s): CONF-7905120-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Mem. - N.M. Bur. Mines Miner. Resour.; (United States) Journal Volume: 38
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050100* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Reserves
Exploration
& Mining
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SILICATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORITE MINERALS
CLAYS
DRILL CORES
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HEMATITE
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON ORES
IRON OXIDES
IRON SULFIDES
KAOLINITE
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERALOGY
MINERALS
MONTMORILLONITE
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
ORES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PYRITE
PYRITES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE MINERALS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
RUTILE
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOUTHWEST REGION
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ORES
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DEPOSITS
URANIUM ORES
USA