Paleoproterozoic U Mineralization in Huayangchuan Deposit, Xiaoqinling Area: Evidence from the U–Rich Granitic Pegmatite
The Huayangchuan uranium deposit, located in the west of the Xiaoqinling belt on the southern margin of the North China Craton, is a large U–Nb–Pb deposit accompanied with rare–earth elements. The Huayangchuan uranium deposit, discovered in the 1950s, has long been known as a carbonatite–type uraniu...
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| author | Putao Li Yongjun Li Pingyang Gu Shiping He Yujun Zhuang Ruiming Chen |
| author_facet | Putao Li Yongjun Li Pingyang Gu Shiping He Yujun Zhuang Ruiming Chen |
| author_sort | Putao Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Huayangchuan uranium deposit, located in the west of the Xiaoqinling belt on the southern margin of the North China Craton, is a large U–Nb–Pb deposit accompanied with rare–earth elements. The Huayangchuan uranium deposit, discovered in the 1950s, has long been known as a carbonatite–type uranium deposit. Recently, new geological work has found uranium mineralization in many granitic pegmatite veins in the Huayangchuan deposit and adjacent areas. Here, we report a systematic investigation of the petrography, whole–rock geochemistry, zircon U–Pb ages, and in situ Lu–Hf isotopic characteristics of newly discovered U–rich granitic pegmatite veins in the west of Huayangchuan deposit. The petrological results showed that the lithology of the samples is granite pegmatite. The U–Pb ages of zircon were 1826.3 ± 7.9 and 1829 ± 11 Ma. Microscopically, the paragenetic characteristics of zircon, betafite, and uraninite exist in the intergranular fissures of K–feldspar and quartz, reflecting metallogenic phenomena in the rock formation process. Almost all whole–rock samples were rich in SiO<sub>2</sub> (64.37−70.69 wt.%), total alkalis (K<sub>2</sub>O + Na<sub>2</sub>O = 8.50–10.30 wt.%), and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (12.20–14.41 wt.%) but poor in TiO<sub>2</sub> (0.23–0.73 wt.%), MgO (0.38–0.90 wt.%), CaO (1.23–2.22 wt.%), P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> (0.14–0.83 wt.%), and MnO (0.04–0.57 wt.%). Additionally, they showed enrichment of LILEs (such as Rb, Ba, Th, U, and K), depletion of HFSEs (such as Ta, P, Ti, and Hf), and no alkaline dark minerals, and the characteristics are intraplate A<sub>1</sub>–type granite. The A<sub>1</sub>–type granite displayed low zircon ε<sub>Hf</sub>(<i>t</i>) values (−19.42–−15.02) with zircon two–stage Hf model aged 3.10–2.76 Ga, indicating that the U–rich granitic pegmatite was derived predominantly from partial melting of the ancient continental crust (such as the early Taihua group formed in Archean–Neoarchean). Combined with the above results and regional geological data, the U–rich granitic pegmatite discovered in the Huayangchuan deposit was formed in a post–collisional regime after the Luliang movement in the late Paleoproterozoic. This study suggests that future uranium prospecting work in this area should focus on late Paleoproterozoic U–rich granitic pegmatites. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-0c3c7c0b4d014e4d9a84c0e29033866d2023-11-18T20:39:07ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-07-0113793610.3390/min13070936Paleoproterozoic U Mineralization in Huayangchuan Deposit, Xiaoqinling Area: Evidence from the U–Rich Granitic PegmatitePutao Li0Yongjun Li1Pingyang Gu2Shiping He3Yujun Zhuang4Ruiming Chen5School of Earth Science and Resources, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, ChinaSchool of Earth Science and Resources, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, ChinaXi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710119, ChinaXi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710119, ChinaXi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710119, ChinaXi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710119, ChinaThe Huayangchuan uranium deposit, located in the west of the Xiaoqinling belt on the southern margin of the North China Craton, is a large U–Nb–Pb deposit accompanied with rare–earth elements. The Huayangchuan uranium deposit, discovered in the 1950s, has long been known as a carbonatite–type uranium deposit. Recently, new geological work has found uranium mineralization in many granitic pegmatite veins in the Huayangchuan deposit and adjacent areas. Here, we report a systematic investigation of the petrography, whole–rock geochemistry, zircon U–Pb ages, and in situ Lu–Hf isotopic characteristics of newly discovered U–rich granitic pegmatite veins in the west of Huayangchuan deposit. The petrological results showed that the lithology of the samples is granite pegmatite. The U–Pb ages of zircon were 1826.3 ± 7.9 and 1829 ± 11 Ma. Microscopically, the paragenetic characteristics of zircon, betafite, and uraninite exist in the intergranular fissures of K–feldspar and quartz, reflecting metallogenic phenomena in the rock formation process. Almost all whole–rock samples were rich in SiO<sub>2</sub> (64.37−70.69 wt.%), total alkalis (K<sub>2</sub>O + Na<sub>2</sub>O = 8.50–10.30 wt.%), and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (12.20–14.41 wt.%) but poor in TiO<sub>2</sub> (0.23–0.73 wt.%), MgO (0.38–0.90 wt.%), CaO (1.23–2.22 wt.%), P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> (0.14–0.83 wt.%), and MnO (0.04–0.57 wt.%). Additionally, they showed enrichment of LILEs (such as Rb, Ba, Th, U, and K), depletion of HFSEs (such as Ta, P, Ti, and Hf), and no alkaline dark minerals, and the characteristics are intraplate A<sub>1</sub>–type granite. The A<sub>1</sub>–type granite displayed low zircon ε<sub>Hf</sub>(<i>t</i>) values (−19.42–−15.02) with zircon two–stage Hf model aged 3.10–2.76 Ga, indicating that the U–rich granitic pegmatite was derived predominantly from partial melting of the ancient continental crust (such as the early Taihua group formed in Archean–Neoarchean). Combined with the above results and regional geological data, the U–rich granitic pegmatite discovered in the Huayangchuan deposit was formed in a post–collisional regime after the Luliang movement in the late Paleoproterozoic. This study suggests that future uranium prospecting work in this area should focus on late Paleoproterozoic U–rich granitic pegmatites.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/7/936southern margin of north China cratonXiaoqinlingHuayangchuanuraniumpegmatitePaleoproterozoic |
| spellingShingle | Putao Li Yongjun Li Pingyang Gu Shiping He Yujun Zhuang Ruiming Chen Paleoproterozoic U Mineralization in Huayangchuan Deposit, Xiaoqinling Area: Evidence from the U–Rich Granitic Pegmatite Minerals southern margin of north China craton Xiaoqinling Huayangchuan uranium pegmatite Paleoproterozoic |
| title | Paleoproterozoic U Mineralization in Huayangchuan Deposit, Xiaoqinling Area: Evidence from the U–Rich Granitic Pegmatite |
| title_full | Paleoproterozoic U Mineralization in Huayangchuan Deposit, Xiaoqinling Area: Evidence from the U–Rich Granitic Pegmatite |
| title_fullStr | Paleoproterozoic U Mineralization in Huayangchuan Deposit, Xiaoqinling Area: Evidence from the U–Rich Granitic Pegmatite |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paleoproterozoic U Mineralization in Huayangchuan Deposit, Xiaoqinling Area: Evidence from the U–Rich Granitic Pegmatite |
| title_short | Paleoproterozoic U Mineralization in Huayangchuan Deposit, Xiaoqinling Area: Evidence from the U–Rich Granitic Pegmatite |
| title_sort | paleoproterozoic u mineralization in huayangchuan deposit xiaoqinling area evidence from the u rich granitic pegmatite |
| topic | southern margin of north China craton Xiaoqinling Huayangchuan uranium pegmatite Paleoproterozoic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/7/936 |
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