The Karku unconformity-type uranium deposit is located in the Proterozoic Pasha-Ladoga Basin in western Russia. The deposit is located in basinal sandstones near a reverse fault that offsets the unconformable contact with underlying graphite-bearing biotite schist basement rocks. Meteoric water-sourced diagenetic fluids altered sandstones outside mineralized zones, producing clay assemblages of interstratified illite-smectite with minor dickite and Fe-rich chlorite, and fluid isotopic compositions of d18O = 3.3‰ to 6.0‰ and dD = -55‰ to -44‰ at 130°C. Altered sandstones within zones of mineralization include a clay mineral assemblage of Fe-rich chlorite with minor illite, and fluid isotopic compositions of d18O = 6.0‰ to 12.7‰ and dD = -8‰ to -4‰ at 210°C, caused by seawater-derived fluids related to ore formation. In addition, a Mg-chlorite occurring with uraninite in the mineralized lenses was identified. Dating of Karku uraninite using U/Pb isotope systematics from LA-MC-ICP-MS, LA-HR-ICP-MS, and SIMS gave upper-intercept ages of 1467 ± 39 Ma, 1459 ± 74 Ma, and 1302 ± 150 Ma respectively. The lower-intercept age of all methods was around 300 Ma.
A formation model for the Karku uranium deposit is proposed based on the results of this study and incorporating previously published. Early, low-temperature diagenesis resulted in cementation of distal, basin-marginal sandstones by mixed-layer illite-smectite clays, preventing later, higher-temperature diagenetic alteration in this unit. Sandstones towards the centre of the basin allowed the circulation of higher-temperature basinal fluids that later flowed along the unconformity to the graphitic schist unit. A fault intersecting this unit facilitated the mixing of basement and basinal fluids, causing uraninite to precipitate at the unconformity. / Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-09-12 17:10:28.124
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OKQ.1974/7459 |
| Date | 12 September 2012 |
| Creators | Rice-Bredin, Sarah |
| Contributors | Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.). Theses (Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.)) |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner. |
| Relation | Canadian theses |
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