Alteration and mineralization in the Uravan mineral belt, Colorado

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6928873

Rohl, A N

Uranium deposits occur in a zone in southwestern Colorado known as the Uravan mineral belt. There is a consistent, and close association between coalified wood, pyrite, primary black ore and ore-bearing clay. Where coalified wood is not present, pyrite and ore are rarely found. In a number of ore bodies, zinc, and to a lesser extent, molybdenum occur in a zone extending generally several meters above, as well as in the ore zone. The association of primary ore with coalified wood, pyrite and other sulfide minerals in a sandstone that has been altered by reduction of iron oxides and the development of kaolinite indicates a genetic relationship that is consistent with observed physical-chemical principles. An acidic and reducing environment, created by the decomposition of organic material, at moderately elevated temperatures reduced the ferric oxide content of the sandstone. Uranium and vanadium were introduced into the sandstones by neutral, moderately reducing solutions. Determinations of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ and V/sub 2/O/sub 5/ which were made on samples of ore taken from all mining districts were tabulated and statistically analyzed. The ratio ranges from a high of 8.4:1 in a district where almost complete oxidation of the ores has taken place to a low of 3:1 in a district of reduced, primary ores. Frequency distributions of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/% and V/sub 2/O/sub 5/% analyses of ore are unimodal and positively skewed. The ratios of the logarithmic values of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/% and V/sub 2/O/sub 5/% are constant and independent of concentration. This strongly suggests that uniform physical-chemical conditions were present during the emplacement of the ores.

• Research Organization: Columbia Univ., New York (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6928873
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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