Precambrian uranium-bearing quartz-pebble conglomerates: exploration model and United States resource potential
Uranium has been discovered in fluvial quartz-pebble conglomerates in most of the Precambrian shield areas of the world, including the Canadian, African, South American, Indian, Baltic, and Australian shields. Occurrences in these and other areas are shown. Two of these occurrences, the Huronian supergroup of Canada and the Witwatersrand deposit of South Africa contain 20 to 30 percent of the planet's known uranium reserves. Thus it is critical that we understand the origin of these deposits and develop exploration models that can aid in finding new deposits. Inasmuch as these uranium-bearing conglomerates are confined almost entirely to rocks of Precambrian age, Part I of this review begins with a discussion of Precambrian geology as it applies to the conglomerates. This is followed by a discussion of genetic concepts, a discussion of unresolved problems, and finally a suggested exploration model. Part II summarizes known and potential occurrences of Precambrian fossil placers in the world and evaluates them in terms of the suggested exploration model. Part III discusses the potential for important Precambrian fossil-placer uranium deposits in the United States and includes suggestions that may be helpful in establishing an exploration program in this country. Part III also brings together new (1975-1978) data on uranium occurrences in the Precambrian of the Wyoming Province. Part IV is a complete bibliography of Precambrian fossil placers, divided according to geographical areas. In total, this paper is designed to be a comprehensive review of Precambrian uranium-bearing fossil placers which will be of use to uranium explorationists and to students of Precambrian geology.
- Research Organization:
- Wyoming Univ., Laramie (USA). Dept. of Geology
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-13-1664
- OSTI ID:
- 5536990
- Report Number(s):
- GJBX-1(80); TRN: 80-004368
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
URANIUM DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGY
ORIGIN
CONGLOMERATES
GLOBAL ASPECTS
PRECAMBRIAN ERA
QUARTZ
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
USA
CHALCOGENIDES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
050100* - Nuclear Fuels- Reserves
Exploration
& Mining
050200 - Nuclear Fuels- Exploration- (-1987)