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Minerals
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Genesis of Uranium Deposit: Geology, Geochemistry, and Geochronology
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Genesis of Uranium Deposit: Geology, Geochemistry, and Geochronology

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Deposits".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 2624

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jincheng Luo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
Interests: mineral chemistry; uranium deposits; geochronology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yinhang Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Tianjin Center, China Geological Survey (North China Center for Geoscience Innovation), Tianjin 300170, China
2. Key Laboratory of Uranium Geology, China Geological Survey, Tianjin 300170, China
Interests: uranium deposits; tectonics and metallogeny; mineral resource prospecting and exploration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Shuiyuan Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: magmatic–hydrothermal evolution; genesis of hydrothermal metallic deposits
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the demand for clean energy expands with technological development, nuclear power is set to become an indispensable component of a sustainable energy future. In this context, successful uranium exploration is critical for addressing potential supply shortages. This evolution demands innovative approaches integrating advances in metallogenic theory, mineral systems, and uranium deposit models.

This Special Issue addresses these challenges by focusing on the processes of uranium concentration and the formation of uranium deposits. We invite contributions that elucidate geological settings, geochemical behaviors, and mineralization mechanisms. Specific topics include paragenetic mineralogy and uranium mineral evolution; high-precision geochronology of ore-forming events; novel applications of stable and radiogenic isotopes; fluid inclusion analysis of uranium-transporting fluids; source-to-trap reconstruction of ore-forming systems; tectonic triggers for uranium enrichment; and data-driven exploration methods integrating geophysics, remote sensing, and machine learning.

We welcome original research, reviews, and case studies that advance the understanding of uranium deposit genesis and improve exploration efficacy. This collection aims to synthesize current insights and guide future uranium research, supporting global efforts toward energy security and a low-carbon future.

Dr. Jincheng Luo
Dr. Yinhang Cheng
Prof. Dr. Shuiyuan Yang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • uranium ore minerals
  • geology of uranium deposits
  • geochemistry and geochronology
  • sources and evolution of hydrothermal fluids
  • tectonic evolution of uranium mineralization
  • exploitation methods in uranium resources

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 11013 KB  
Article
Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of the Lower Xishanyao Formation in the Mengqiguer Uranium Deposit, Yili Basin, NW China
by Gui Wang, Hu-Jun Zhang, Hao-Hao Zhang and Yang-Quan Jiao
Minerals 2026, 16(5), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16050448 - 25 Apr 2026
Viewed by 321
Abstract
The interlayer oxidation zone-type Mengqiguer uranium deposit in the southern Yili Basin is a typical sandstone-hosted uranium deposit in northwest China, and the lower member of the Jurassic Xishanyao Formation is its main ore-hosting stratum. However, mineralogical and geochemical responses to redox evolution [...] Read more.
The interlayer oxidation zone-type Mengqiguer uranium deposit in the southern Yili Basin is a typical sandstone-hosted uranium deposit in northwest China, and the lower member of the Jurassic Xishanyao Formation is its main ore-hosting stratum. However, mineralogical and geochemical responses to redox evolution in the deposit have not been systematically constrained. In this study, we carried out detailed petrographic observation, X-ray diffraction analysis, electron probe microanalysis, and whole-rock geochemical analyses on samples from the interlayer oxidation zone in the lower member of the Xishanyao Formation. Kaolinite and illite are the dominant clay minerals in the deposit, with higher contents in oxidation zones than in transition and unaltered zones, while the illite–smectite mixed-layer content shows the opposite trend. The main uranium minerals are uranium oxides and coffinite. U, S and organic carbon are enriched in the transition zone, while the Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio increases with the oxidation degree. Comprehensive analysis on clay minerals shows that the ore-forming fluids evolved from acidic oxidized meteoric fluids to weakly alkaline reduced fluids; the uranium was mainly derived from the leaching of uraniferous sandstone. The formation of the deposit is controlled by sedimentary facies, tectonic uplift, organic–inorganic fluid interaction and redox reaction. This study provides detailed mineralogical and geochemical evidence for the metallogenic mechanism of interlayer oxidation zone-type uranium deposits, and has important guiding significance for uranium prospecting in the Yili Basin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genesis of Uranium Deposit: Geology, Geochemistry, and Geochronology)
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31 pages, 169044 KB  
Article
Uranium Sources and Depositional Environments in Southeastern Mongolia: Case Studies from the Han Bogd Granite Massif, Ail Bayan Coal Deposit, Suujin Tal Structural System, Zuunbayan Depression, and Naarst Structural Complex
by Boris Vakanjac, Marko Simić, Siniša Drobnjak, Rastko Petrović, Radoje Banković, Saša Bakrač and Miodrag Kostić
Minerals 2026, 16(5), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16050447 - 25 Apr 2026
Viewed by 407
Abstract
Uranium exploration in southeastern Mongolia remains constrained by fragmented Soviet-era datasets and limited modern synthesis. This study addresses the problem of integrating historical geological records with contemporary exploration methods to evaluate uranium mineralization potential. A comprehensive GIS-based database was compiled from Soviet reports [...] Read more.
Uranium exploration in southeastern Mongolia remains constrained by fragmented Soviet-era datasets and limited modern synthesis. This study addresses the problem of integrating historical geological records with contemporary exploration methods to evaluate uranium mineralization potential. A comprehensive GIS-based database was compiled from Soviet reports legally acquired from the Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia and expanded with geological, geophysical, and drilling data collected between 2006 and 2011. Methodological advances included remote sensing detection of anomalous radioactivity in arid environments, stratigraphic modeling, and hydrogeochemical surveys. The dataset encompasses more than 1100 radioactive anomalies and approximately 300 mineralized zones, with emphasis on the Han Bogd granite massif, Ail Bayan coal deposit, Suujin Tal structural system, Zuunbayan depression, and Naarst structural complex. Results indicate that most anomalous zones are sub-economic, commonly associated with organic-rich facies such as coal seams, while the continuity of mineralized bodies remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the dual consideration of granitic source terrains and coal-bearing sedimentary traps provides new insights into uranium mobility and deposition. The significance of this work lies in its systematic integration of historical and modern data, offering a refined geological framework and highlighting key areas for future investigation, thereby contributing to ongoing discussions on sedimentary uranium resources in Mongolia. Results indicate that most anomalous zones are sub-economic, commonly associated with organic-rich facies such as coal seams, while the continuity of mineralized bodies remains uncertain. Importantly, the study highlights granitic intrusions and volcanic complexes as the primary uranium sources, with coal-bearing and sedimentary basins acting as secondary depositional environments. The dual consideration of source terrains and depositional traps provides new insights into uranium mobility and deposition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genesis of Uranium Deposit: Geology, Geochemistry, and Geochronology)
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17 pages, 43298 KB  
Article
Characteristics of Alkali Metasomatism and Implications for Uranium Mineralization in the Xiangshan Volcanic-Related Uranium Ore Field
by Yizhe Hu, Teng Deng, Lin Cai, Huirao Sun, Hongmei Tang, Xin Wei, Longyue Zhou, Weizheng Su, Lingdong Xu and Miao Zheng
Minerals 2026, 16(5), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16050432 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 456
Abstract
The Xiangshan ore field is characterized by extensive alkali metasomatism, which represents the early-stage hydrothermal event before the acidic metasomatism during major U mineralization. However, the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of alkali metasomatism, as well as its association with uranium mineralization, remain poorly [...] Read more.
The Xiangshan ore field is characterized by extensive alkali metasomatism, which represents the early-stage hydrothermal event before the acidic metasomatism during major U mineralization. However, the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of alkali metasomatism, as well as its association with uranium mineralization, remain poorly understood. This study evaluates these scientific problems by conducting petrographic and geochemical analyses on feldspar, together with thermodynamic modeling. Hydrothermal feldspars are present as veinlets, differing from the magmatic ones with granular and subhedral structures. Hydrothermal albites have lower Na but higher K content than magmatic ones, while hydrothermal K-feldspars have lower K but higher Na content than magmatic ones. In addition, hydrothermal feldspars are significantly depleted in Ca and Sr, likely associated with the consumption of Ca in fluids by fluorite and calcite precipitation. Furthermore, alkali metasomatism is accompanied by intense hematitization, indicating the oxidized properties of ore fluids that are favorable for uranium transport. Thermodynamic modeling further demonstrates that continuous K+ consumption during fluid–rock interaction leads to a pH increase in the fluid, which is buffered by quartz–muscovite–K-feldspar (QMF). Given that quartz solubility is positively correlated with pH, this process induces extensive quartz dissolution in the host rocks. Such dissolution significantly enhances the porosity and permeability of the host rocks, creating ideal physical traps for the subsequent accumulation of uranium-bearing fluids. Consequently, alkali-metasomatized rocks associated with quartz dissolution and hematitization serve as critical indicators for regional uranium exploration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genesis of Uranium Deposit: Geology, Geochemistry, and Geochronology)
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23 pages, 22995 KB  
Article
How Faults Shape Uranium and Polymetallic Mineralization: Evidence from the Paleozoic Succession of Southwestern Sinai, Egypt
by Salama M. Bahr, Ahmed E. Shata, Ahmed M. El Mezayen, Ali M. Abd-Allah, Abdalla S. Alshami, Hasan Arman, Osman Abdelghany, Alaa Ahmed and Ahmed Gad
Minerals 2026, 16(4), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16040396 - 13 Apr 2026
Viewed by 392
Abstract
A structurally complex Paleozoic succession in southwestern Sinai hosts uranium and associated metals, and brittle deformation controls fluid flow and ore localization. The study integrates structural mapping with mineralogical, geochemical, and radiometric data to evaluate how fault architecture controls uranium and polymetallic mineral [...] Read more.
A structurally complex Paleozoic succession in southwestern Sinai hosts uranium and associated metals, and brittle deformation controls fluid flow and ore localization. The study integrates structural mapping with mineralogical, geochemical, and radiometric data to evaluate how fault architecture controls uranium and polymetallic mineral occurrences in the east Abu Zeneima area. Eleven representative samples were collected from major fault zones and host lithofacies, and 652 ground gamma-ray spectrometric measurements were acquired across mineralized localities and Paleozoic stratigraphic units. Heavy mineral separation, SEM–BSE/EDX, X-ray diffraction, and whole-rock geochemistry were used to identify ore and accessory phases and quantify their elemental composition. The middle carbonate member of the Um Bogma Formation is the primary host lithology and contains primary U dispersed within carbonaceous sandy dolostone and locally abundant secondary U phases coexisting with Cu–Fe–Mn phases and REE-bearing silicates and phosphates. Uranium enrichment (locally >2900 ppm eU) in the targeted anomalous samples shows a positive association with P2O5 and a weaker positive association with ΣREEs. Together with SEM–BSE/EDX and XRD identification of uranyl phosphates and REE-bearing accessory minerals, these observations suggest that phosphate-bearing secondary phases and REE-rich accessories locally contributed to uranium hosting. Seventy-four radioactive anomalies are predominantly associated with normal faults and are concentrated along fault cores and highly fractured downthrown blocks, especially along a NW–SE trend that forms the main mineralized corridor. The study findings emphasize the importance of fault zone architecture for targeting new uranium resources in Paleozoic basins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genesis of Uranium Deposit: Geology, Geochemistry, and Geochronology)
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23 pages, 12467 KB  
Article
Key Ore-Controlling Factors and Genetic Model of the Tamusu Super-Large Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposit, Bayingobi Basin
by Chao Lu, Zhongyue Zhang, Yangquan Jiao, Zhao Li, Xiaoyi Yuwen, Yinan Zhuang, Chengyuan Jin, Chengcheng Zhang, Weihui Zhong and Qilin Wang
Minerals 2026, 16(4), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16040357 - 27 Mar 2026
Viewed by 433
Abstract
Tamusu, the only identified super-large sandstone-hosted uranium deposit in the Bayingobi Basin, provides an important natural laboratory for evaluating ore-controlling factors and genetic models of sandstone-type uranium mineralization. Based on core descriptions from more than 200 boreholes, log facies analysis and geochemical environmental [...] Read more.
Tamusu, the only identified super-large sandstone-hosted uranium deposit in the Bayingobi Basin, provides an important natural laboratory for evaluating ore-controlling factors and genetic models of sandstone-type uranium mineralization. Based on core descriptions from more than 200 boreholes, log facies analysis and geochemical environmental proxies, this study constrains the sedimentary–mineralization architecture and key controlling factors of the deposit. Uranium orebodies are mainly hosted in the upper member of the Lower Cretaceous Bayingobi Formation (Sq2) within a gravity flow-dominated fan-delta–lacustrine system. Braided distributary channel sands on the fan-delta plain and subaqueous distributary channel sands on the delta front constitute the principal uranium reservoirs, controlling both the migration pathways and storage space for U-bearing fluids. Mineralization is jointly governed by fan-delta architecture, interlayer oxidation zonation and reducing agents. The interlayer oxidation zone displays a north-thick–south-thin geometry, and uranium orebodies are concentrated at redox transition positions, with grades of 0.01–0.33 wt%. The metallogenic evolution can be summarized in three stages: syndepositional uranium pre-enrichment, interlayer oxidation mineralization, and a late hydrothermal/diagenetic overprint that mainly modified reservoir properties, favored ore preservation, and did not contribute to the primary uranium budget. Accordingly, a genetic model of “fan-delta architecture + interlayer oxidation control + late overprint and preservation” is proposed to guide exploration in the Bayingobi Basin and analogous sandstone-type uranium systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genesis of Uranium Deposit: Geology, Geochemistry, and Geochronology)
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