Sandstone-type uranium deposits

Sandstone-type uranium deposits account for 27% of the uranium reserves and 49% of uranium supplies worldwide. These uranium deposits are sizable, easy to mine, of high economical value, and relatively environment-friendly. The deposits are developed extensively in sandstones of Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary basins within 20~50° both North and South of the equator. The metallogenic process is similar globally but differs in detail regionally.

The project will focus on training young geologists from developing countries, in particular, through an analysis of mineralisation and global sandstone-type uranium deposits, and on developing new mining technologies for ore exploration.

Benefits to society

• This project will allow for a rich exchange of expertise, further understanding of different approaches, and the enhancement of international cooperation.
• The exchange of research ideas, methods, and knowledge between scientists from diverse social and political environments will promote and encourage future collaborations on earth systems research.
• This project will improve the capacity-building of graduate students and particularly young, female scientists in the cooperating countries.

Key focuses

• A comparative analysis of mineralisation and geological background of worldwide sandstone-type uranium deposits.
• The application and dissemination of new technologies and new approaches to mining, development of guidance for global ore exploration, and training of young geologists, especially those from developing countries.
• The utilisation of uranium resources to facilitate global energy saving and carbon emission reduction.

"Two phases and five stages" model

IGCP 675 put forward the tectonic induced "two phases and five stages" model to better explain the control of tectonic-climatic-sedimentary evolution on sandstone-type uranium mineralization.

Taking the basin as the unit to study the metallogenic background of sandstone-type uranium deposits, and taking the ore concentration area as the unit to study the mineralization, the "two phases and five stages" metallogenic model reveals that tectonic movement and basin dry and wet variations are the key dynamic mechanism controlling the formation of sandstone-type uranium deposits and the main metallogenic environment background.