Towards a Mineral Systems Model for Surficial Uranium Mineralization Based on Deposits in the Erongo District of Namibia

Abstract

Surficial deposits in Namibia’s Erongo district contain substantial but low-grade resources of uranium and vanadium (nearly 500 Mlb U3O8), hosted in palaeochannels. This review attempts to develop a mineral systems model for the deposit type, but it is emphasised that research into this important class of deposit has been minimal since the nineteen eighties, largely as a result of a limited investment in uranium exploration. The deposits are the result of groundwater movement in aquifers developed within Cenozoic palaeochannels. The source of uranium was probably granitic rocks traversed by these palaeodrainages, particularly black-quartz rich pegmatites similar to those that make up the hard-rock alaskite deposits of the region. Transport of uranium is generally assumed to have occurred in aqueous uranium species after palaeochannels became filled with sediment. U-enriched clasts within the palaeochannels have yet to be investigated as a local source of uranium. The localised deposition of uranium occurred after regionally extensive carbonate cementation of the palaeochannel sediments, which was the result of climate change (aridification). Pre-uranium calcite may have acted as a chemical buffer (pH) and probably influenced palaeochannel hydrology, restricting groundwater flow to the deeper portions. Uranium is paragenetically related to Mg clays and dolomite, suggesting that the groundwater evolved to a more Mg-rich composition during uranium deposition, probably as a result of more extreme evaporation. The controls on the localisation of mineralisation remain unclear and unpredictable, as are the controls on uranium grade—the fundamental determinant of economic viability. There are few absolute age determinations for any of the deposits, but none occur in rocks likely to be older than the Miocene. This reflects low preservation potential. For example, the Langer Heinrich deposit is incised by active drainage with attendant erosion and probable removal of mineralised material.