Metallogenic Age of the Qianjiadian Uranium Deposit—Evidence from Fluid Inclusions and (U-Th)/He

Abstract

The metallogenic age of sandstone-type uranium deposits has always been a scientific problem to be solved in uranium exploration. This paper proposes a method combining the homogenization temperature of secondary fluid inclusions with the apatite (U-Th)/He dating method to determine the metallogenic age related to fluid trapping. The dates of apatite (U-Th)/He can be used as the lower limit of the metallogenic age when the closure temperature of apatite (U-Th)/He is less than the homogenization temperature of the secondary fluid. The samples of the uranium deposits in the Qianjiadian sag show that the homogenization temperatures of secondary fluid inclusions in the ore-bearing horizon are about 83–204 °C with a peak of 110–115 °C, and the apatite (U-Th)/He dates in the same horizon vary between 29.0 ± 1.5–41.8 ± 2.7 Ma. Because the homogenization temperatures of secondary fluid are greater than the closure temperature of apatite (U-Th)/He (75 ± 5 °C), the dates of apatite (U-Th)/He (29.0 ± 1.5–41.8 ± 2.7 Ma) are considered as the lower limit of the metallogenic age.

Keywords

Apatite (U-Th)/He / secondary fluid inclusion / sandstone-type uranium deposit / metallogenic age / geochemistry / mineral deposits

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