Genesis of the tabular-type vanadium-uranium deposits of the Henry Basin, Utah

Economic Geology
By: , and 

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Abstract

Tabular-type vanadium-uranium deposits occur in fluvial sandstones of the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation of Late Jurassic age The mineralized intervals and the weakly mineralized lateral extensions are bounded both above and below by zones rich in dolomite cement. Carbon isotope values of dolomite cements indicate that at least two sources of carbon existed. One source appears to be the same as that which formed the bedded carbonates in the evaporites in the Tidwell Member of the Morrison Formation stratigraphically below the mineralized interval. The second carbon source is typical of terrestrially deposited carbonates generally associated with meteoric water-dominated environments. Oxygen isotope values of these dolomites show the same trend of isotopically light values above the mineralized interval and isotopically heavier values in and below that interval; they indicate that two isotopically distinct fluids were involved in the mineralizing process. Some aspects of the origin of gangue and ore phases are explainable on the basis of processes which occurred solely within the saline fluid, but key aspects of ore genesis involved the interaction of the saline and meteoric waters. It is postulated that the solution interface migrated vertically within the stratigraphic section. -from Authors

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Genesis of the tabular-type vanadium-uranium deposits of the Henry Basin, Utah
Series title Economic Geology
DOI 10.2113/gsecongeo.85.2.215
Volume 85
Issue 2
Year Published 1990
Language English
Publisher Society of Economic Geologists
Contributing office(s) Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Description 55 p.
First page 215
Last page 269
Country United States
State Utah
Other Geospatial Henry Basin
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