The chemical composition of uraninite in Variscan granites of the Erzgebirge, Germany

Abstract

AbstractUraninite is widespread as an accessory mineral in the Erzgebirge granites. It occurs throughout the entire comagmatic series of strongly peraluminous S-type Li-mica granites and has been discovered in more evolved transitional I-S type biotite and two-mica granites, but is rare in those of A-type affinity. Textural relationships and chemical ages imply that uraninite is of magmatic origin. Its composition is variable with a proportion of U plus radiogenic Pb between 71 and 99 mol.%. Uraninite has incorporated Th, Y, and the REE in total amounts between 1 and 29 mol.%. Elements such as P, Si, Al, Ca, and Fe are subordinate. Uraninite from two-mica and Li-mica granites is low in ThO2 (0.8–6.5 wt.%), Y2O3 (0–0.8 wt.%) and REE2O3 (0.1–0.6 wt.%). In contrast, biotite granites from the Kirchberg pluton contain uraninite which is enriched in these components (in wt.%) (ThO2 = 5.6–11.0, Y2O3 = 0.6–5.5, Ce2O3 = 0.1–0.6, Dy2O3 = 0.2–1.1). Commonly, the lanthanide and actinide contents in uraninite correlate poorly with those in the host granite. In S-type Li-mica granites as well as fractionated two-mica and biotite granites, uraninite is the dominant contributor to the bulk-rock U content. Here the proportion of U approaches 80–90%.