Age and origin of uraninite in the Elliot Lake, Ontario uranium ores
There is a strong, positive linear correlation between the /sup 204/Pb//sup 206/Pb and /sup 207/Pb//sup 206/Pb ratios and between the /sup 208/Pb//sup 206/Pb and /sup 207/Pb//sup 206/Pb ratios in the galenas. The linear relation is interpreted to be the result of ''mixing'' of isotopically distinct Pb produced during two uraninite Pb loss episodes. A complete mixing of crustal Pb and radiogenic Pb released from the associated uraninite at a time T/sub 1/ formed one end member of the observed trends. The other end member consists of radiogenic Pb released from the uraninite at a later time T/sub 2/. The galena Pb isotope data indicate that T/sub 0/, the inital age of the uraninite in the Elliot Lake ores, is 2200-3300 Ma, T/sub 1/ is less than 2200 Ma, and T/sub 2/ is less than 1350 Ma. Upper concordia intercepts for most uraninite grains range from 2210 +/- 430 Ma to 2575 +/- 180 Ma; lower concordia intercepts range from 1200 +/- 120 Ma to 1705 +/- 30 Ma. During the first Pb loss episode, at time T/sub 1/, the centers of most uraninite grains released 45-90% of the accumulated Pb and the outer 5 ..mu..m region of the grains released 95-100% of the accumulated Pb. During the second Pb loss episode, at time T/sub 2/, the grain exteriors released 2-6 times more Pb than the grain centers. A few highly fractured grains appear to have been ''reset'' at T/sub 1/. The uraninite U-Pb data indicate that T/sub 0/ greater than or equal to 1700 Ma. Together, the galena Pb isotope and uraninite U-Pb data require that T/sub 0/ = 2560 +/- 50 Ma, T/sub 1/, = 1700 +/- 50 Ma, and T/sub 2/ = 500 +/- 180 Ma, if the 2350 +/- 100 Ma estimated age of deposition of the Huronian rocks (Roscoe, 1973) is correct, the 2560 +/- Ma obtained for the uraninite requires that the uraninite in the Elliot Lake ores is of detrital derivation.
- OSTI ID:
- 6937946
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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