Title
The Tim Mersoï Basin uranium deposits (Northern Niger): Geochronology and genetic model
Date Issued
01 June 2022
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Mamane Mamadou M.
Cathelineau M.
Deloule E.
Reisberg L.
Cardon O.
Brouand M.
Universidad de Lorena
Publisher(s)
Elsevier
Abstract
The Tim Mersoï uranium province in northern Niger is one of the world's largest uranium reserves and fourth-highest uranium producer. The main uranium deposits (Arlit, Akouta, and Imouraren) are located in continental siliciclastic formations. The regional north–south-trending fault (the Arlit Fault) strongly controls them, as well as secondary discontinuity networks oriented NNE-SSW, ENE-WSW, and WNW-ESE. The Arlit and Akouta uranium-ores are hosted in reduced Carboniferous formations and occur as reduced U4+ phase mineralizations. Besides, the Imouraren deposit is hosted by an oxidized Jurassic formation with a predominance of U6+ silicate and vanadate minerals and relics of reduced mineralization. New U-Pb SIMS data have been obtained on the three deposits, and the results reveal two main stages of uranium deposition and ore metallogenesis. (i) the 90–145 Ma Lower Cretaceous mineralization is related to a significant tectonothermal event, synchronous with the Atlantic rifting that induced the deformation and brine migration from Triassic formations. Primary uraninite and chalcocite are formed by fluid mixing in a reduced environment at that stage at a depth of 1 km at less at a temperature 115–150 °C, hotter than that of the reservoir. (ii) During later Cenozoic exhumation of the basin, a series of remobilizations of primary uranium stock resulted in the formation of much younger uraninites under reduced conditions at Arlit-Akouta around 50 Ma. At Imouraren, younger uraninites formed between 34 and 8 Ma under locally reduced conditions, and were followed by secondary U-minerals from 21 Ma up to 3–1.6 Ma during supergene events. These ages are close or superimposed with the main oxidation stages, affecting West Africa during the Cenozoic, and attest of water table oscillations.
Volume
145
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Geotecnia
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85129299002
Source
Ore Geology Reviews
ISSN of the container
01691368
Sponsor(s)
Reviews and edits by M. Guiraud and anonymous reviewers have significantly improved this manuscript, and are very much appreciated. In addition the review of F. Pirajno, editor of the Ore Geology Reviews, significantly improved the manuscript. We would also like to thank the GeoRessources and CRPG staff for providing analytical support during the SEM & EMP, SIMS & TIMS, campaigns. This work has benefited from access to the analytical platforms co-funded by Labex “Ressources for the 21 st century”, supported by the French National Research Agency through the national program “Investissements d'avenir” with reference ANR – 10 – LABX 21 – LABEX RESSOURCES 21. ORANO is thanked for providing financial and scientific support for this study, which formed part of the PhD Thesis of Marah Mamane Mamadou at CREGU, and for permission to publish this paper. Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge the stimulating discussions with Dr Denis Virlogeux from DGS ORANO on the geology of Tim Merso? for manuscript improvement. Reviews and edits by M. Guiraud and anonymous reviewers have significantly improved this manuscript, and are very much appreciated. In addition the review of F. Pirajno, editor of the Ore Geology Reviews, significantly improved the manuscript. We would also like to thank the GeoRessources and CRPG staff for providing analytical support during the SEM & EMP, SIMS & TIMS, campaigns. This work has benefited from access to the analytical platforms co-funded by Labex ?Ressources for the 21st century?, supported by the French National Research Agency through the national program ?Investissements d'avenir? with reference ANR ? 10 ? LABX 21 ? LABEX RESSOURCES 21.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus