La formation des gisements métallogéniques en général et uranifères en particulier, dans les bassins paléoprotérozoïques, dépend de la migration des fluides riches en divers éléments (U, Cu, Fe, etc.). L’objet de cette thèse a été de définir le contexte tectonique, sédimentologique et diagénétique associées aux gisements bitume--‐uranium du bassin de Franceville. L’étude tectonique réalisée met en évidence des failles de transfert N180--‐170, héritées de la tectonique archéenne et des failles normales longitudinales N110--‐120. Ces deux familles de failles compartimentent le bassin de Franceville en plusieurs sous--‐bassins de subsidence variable. Les failles longitudinales N110--‐120° contrôlent la mise en place d’anticlinaux de mur et des synclinaux de toit synsédimentaires (i.e. discordances progressives). Les gisements d’uranium du bassin de Franceville, se localisent au niveau des anticlinaux de mur des failles normales. L’étude sédimentologique du bassin caractérise la distribution spatiale des paléoenvironnements de dépôt. Quatre grands environnements de dépôts sont respectivement mis en évidence : fluviatile (formation FA inferieur), deltaïque (formation FA moyen), tidal (formation FA Supérieur) et marin profond (formation FB). La distribution des facies sédimentaires à la transition FA--‐FB est responsable de la mise en place de barrières de perméabilité. Les barrières de perméabilité sont responsables de l’augmentation de la pression fluide, qui favorise la mise en place des structures de surpression fluide (dykes, stylolites, veines de quartz), au voisinage des anticlinaux de mur contrôlés par les failles normales. Les différences de pression dans le bassin favorisent la migration des fluides uranifères et des hydrocarbures, des zones profondes du bassin vers les anticlinaux de mur. Les structures de fracturation hydraulique vont contrôler la mise en place des bitumes et des minéralisations d’uranium associées. / Metallogenic deposits within paleproterozoic basins depend on generation and migration of fluids. The aim of this study is to provide a better understanding of tectonic, sedimentological and diagenetic setting of the uranium deposits in the Franceville basin and to characterize hydraulic fracturing impact on fluid migration processes in sandstone reservoirs.Tectonic study define the N180-170° transfer faults, associated with Archean tectonic and the N110-120° longitudinal normal faults. These two fault directions split the Franceville basin into small sub-basins. The longitudinal normal faults are associated with footwall anticlines and hanging wall synclines. The uranium deposits of Franceville basin are located in footwall anticlines of longitudinal normal faults.Sedimentological analysis allows to describe four depositional environments: Fluvial (lower FA), deltaic (middle FA), tidal (upper FA), and open marine environments (FB). Facies distribution in the FA-FB transition promotes the establishment of permeability barriers. These latter are responsible of the increase in fluid pressure and of the formation of fluid pressure structures (dykes, stylolites, quartz veins), in footwall anticlines of longitudinal normal faults. Increase in fluid pressure allows the migration of uranium-fluids, and hydrocarbon from the deep basin to the footwall anticline. Hydraulic fracturing processes lead the precipitation of uranium mineralization, associated with bitumen, in microfractures.

The Paleoproterozoic Transvaal Supergroup in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa is host to high-grade BIF-hosted hematite iron-ore deposits and is the country’s most important source of iron to date. Previous work has failed to provide a robust and all-inclusive genetic model for such deposits in the Transvaal Supergroup; in particular, the role of hydrothermal processes in ore-genesis has not been adequately clarified. Recent studies by the author have produced evidence for hydrothermal alteration in shales (Olifantshoek Supergroup) stratigraphically overlying the iron-ore intervals; this has highlighted the need to reassess current ore-forming models which place residual supergene processes at the core of oregenesis. This thesis focuses on providing new insights into the processes responsible for the genesis of hematite iron ores in the Maremane anticline through the use of newly available exploration drill-core material from the centre of the anticline. The study involved standard mineralogical investigations using transmitted/reflected light microscopy as well as instrumental techniques (XRD, EPMA); and the employment of traditional whole-rock geochemical analysis on samples collected from two boreholes drilled in the centre of the Maremane anticline, Northern Cape Province. Rare earth element analysis (via ICP-MS) and oxygen isotope data from hematite separates complement the whole-rock data. Iron-ore mineralisation examined in this thesis is typified by the dominance of Fe-oxide (as hematite), which reaches whole-rock abundances of up to 98 wt. % Fe₂O₃. Textural and whole-rock geochemical variations in the ores likely reflect a variable protolith, from BIF to Fe-bearing shale. A standard supergene model invoking immobility and residual enrichment of iron is called into question on the basis of the relative degrees of enrichment recorded in the ores with respect to other, traditionally immobile elements during chemical weathering, such as Al₂O₃ and TiO₂. Furthermore, the apparently conservative behaviour of REE in the Fe ore (i.e. low-grade and high-grade iron ore) further emphasises the variable protolith theory. Hydrothermally-induced ferruginisation is suggested to post-date the deposition of the post-Transvaal Olifantshoek shales, and is likely to be linked to a sub-surface transgressive hydrothermal event which indiscriminately transforms both shale and BIF into Fe-ore. A revised, hydrothermal model for the formation of BIF-hosted high-grade hematite iron ore deposits in the central part of the Maremane anticline is proposed, and some ideas of the author for further follow-up research are presented.