This paper is the result of mineral exploration engineering. Objective Uranium resources are China's important strategic resources and energy minerals. The thorough understanding of geological characteristics and metallogenic models of sandstone–type uranium deposits in the northern Sichuan Basin is to the benefit of exploration and development. Methods The petrological characteristics of sandstone–type uranium deposits are studied through field investigation, rock and mineral identification and geochemical analysis, and the mineralization process is analyzed. Results The ore–bearing rocks are mainly the calcareous cementation medium–fine–grained sandstone and conglomerate of the Lower Cretaceous Cangxi Formation. Uranium exists in the form of authigenic uranium minerals. Uranium minerals are mainly coffinite, which are in xenomorphic, euhedral and hypautomorphic granular. Conclusions The metamorphic acidic volcanic rocks and granites of the Tiechuanshan Formation in Micangshan provided the initial uranium source for the formation of sandstone–type uranium deposits in the basin. Uranium migrates in the form of carbonic acid containing uranyl ions in the aqueous solution. The reductive environment of swamps and stagnant water rich in organic matter and pyrite destroys the carbonic acid containing uranyl ions, causing uranium to precipitate and accumulate in the primary diagenesis stage and secondary epigenesis stage.