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Genesis of the South Zhuguang Uranium Ore Field, South China: Pb Isotopic Compositions and Mineralization Ages
Author(s) -
Zhang Chuang,
Cai Yuqi,
Dong Qian,
Xu Hao
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
resource geology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1751-3928
pISSN - 1344-1698
DOI - 10.1111/rge.12184
Subject(s) - isochron , geology , isochron dating , radiogenic nuclide , geochemistry , mineralization (soil science) , uranium , cretaceous , mantle (geology) , mineralogy , paleontology , metallurgy , materials science , soil science , soil water
U–Pb isotopic analyses indicate that ores from the South Zhuguang uranium ore field, south China, have high common (non‐radiogenic) Pb contents, with variable and relatively radiogenic initial Pb contents. The U–Pb isochron method was used to date these ores, with plots of 208 Pb/ 204 Pb and 207 Pb/ 204 Pb versus 206 Pb/ 204 Pb being used to identify sample suites with similar initial Pb isotopic ratios and to normalize variable initial Pb isotopic ratios. The resulting U–Pb isochrons indicate two substages of uranium mineralization at ~57 and 52 Ma, with a later hydrothermal reformation at ~49 Ma, which homogenized Pb isotopic compositions. Initial Pb isotopic systematics indicate that the ore‐forming fluid was characterized by high 206 Pb/ 204 Pb and 207 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios and low 208 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios, suggesting that the ore‐forming fluid was sourced from Cretaceous–Paleogene red‐bed basins, rather than from magma or the mantle, with consideration of mineralization ages.