An analysis of metallogenic conditions and resource of the Zoige uranium deposit

Abstract：The Zoige uranium deposit is located in the west sector of southern Qinling ore belt. The ore deposit occurs in a set of epimetamorphic siliceous limestones in Lower Silurian Yangchanggou Formation (S1y), Ta’er Formation (S1t) and Laqlong Formation (S1l), and the ore deposit is strictly controlled by lithologic character, structure, deep hot water and geochemical environment. On the basis of previous research results, the authors studied characteristics of major elements, trace elements, rare-earth elements, sulfur isotope and hydrogen, oxygen, carbon isotopes of siliceous limestone in the ore field, and reached the conclusion that siliceous rock closely related to uranium mineralization was formed in a hot water sedimentation environment, extensive ore-forming source was formed during early sedimentation and metamorphism, and the low temperature mineralization fluid was a very important factor for uranium concentration and mineralization extension towards the depth. U-Pb isotopic ages demonstrate that this area has over ten uranium metallogenic periods, thus increasing the field uranium mineralization probability in the ore district. It is held that the uranium resources are so rich that there exists a good developmental prospect in this area.