Geology and recognition criteria for sandstone uranium deposits in mixed fluvial-shallow marine sedimentary sequences, South Texas. Final report
Uranium deposits in the South Texas Uranium Region are classical roll-type deposits that formed at the margin of tongues of altered sandstone by the encroachment of oxidizing, uraniferous solutions into reduced aquifers containing pyrite and, in a few cases, carbonaceous plant material. Many of the uranium deposits in South Texas are dissimilar from the roll fronts of the Wyoming basins. The host sands for many of the deposits contain essentially no carbonaceous plant material, only abundant disseminated pyrite. Many of the deposits do not occur at the margin of altered (ferric oxide-bearing) sandstone tongues but rather occur entirely within reduced, pyurite-bearing sandstone. The abundance of pyrite within the sands probably reflects the introduction of H/sub 2/S up along faults from hydrocarbon accumulations at depth. Such introductions before ore formation prepared the sands for roll-front development, whereas post-ore introductions produced re-reduction of portions of the altered tongue, leaving the deposit suspended in reduced sandstone. Evidence from three deposits suggests that ore formation was not accompanied by the introduction of significant amounts of H/sub 2/S.
- Research Organization:
- Adams (Samuel S.) and Associates, Boulder, CO (USA); Smith (R.B.) and Associates, Austin, TX (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC13-76GJ01664
- OSTI ID:
- 6554832
- Report Number(s):
- GJBX-4(81); TRN: 81-009083
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
TEXAS
URANIUM DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
PYRITE
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTS
STRATIGRAPHY
CHALCOGENIDES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORES
PYRITES
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SOUTHWEST REGION
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ORES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
USA
050100* - Nuclear Fuels- Reserves
Exploration
& Mining