Ore characteristics of the sandstone-type Daying uranium deposit in the Ordos Basin, northwestern China

Abstract

The Ordos Basin is one of the top oil-, gas-, and coal-producing basins in China and is increasingly recognized as an important uranium mineralization province. Uranium deposits occur near the margin of the basin and are mainly hosted in the sandstones of the Jurassic Zhiluo Formation. The Daying uranium deposit in the Ordos Basin is one of the most important large sandstone-type uranium deposits in China. Based on thin section analysis and electron microprobe measurements, we used analytical chemical data to study the characteristics of the Daying uranium deposit, including the type, structure, particle size, material composition, chemical composition, form, and valence state of the uranium. The uranium mainly exists in three forms: an absorbed form, independent minerals, and uranium-bearing minerals. Most of the uranium in the ore is U4+, and the proportion of U6+ ranges from 18% to 55%, with an average of 33%. The proportion of U6+ is relatively high in the cores containing low-grade ore. This study provides a reference for determining the best smelting technology with which to further develop this deposit.