Origin and nature of the aluminium phosphate-sulfate minerals (APS) associated with uranium mineralization in triassic red-beds (Iberian Range, Spain)

This study focuses on the mineralogical and chemical study of an Aluminium–phosphate–sulphate (APS) mineralization that occurs in a clastic sequence from the Triassic (Buntsandstein) of the Iberian Range. The deposit is constituted by sandstones, mudstones, and conglomerates with arenaceous matrix,...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Marfil Pérez, Rafaela, La Iglesia, Á., Estupiñán Letamendi, Jenny
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2013
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/34670
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/34670
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:549
553.4(460)
(460)553.4
551.761(234.1)
(234.1)551.761
APS minerals
U-bearing sandstones
Diagenesis
Triassic Buntsandstein
Iberian Range
Spain
minerals APS minerals
areniscas uraníferas
Diagénesis
Triasico Buntsandstein
Cadena Ibérica
España
Mineralogía (Geología)
2506.11 Mineralogía
Descripción
Sumario:This study focuses on the mineralogical and chemical study of an Aluminium–phosphate–sulphate (APS) mineralization that occurs in a clastic sequence from the Triassic (Buntsandstein) of the Iberian Range. The deposit is constituted by sandstones, mudstones, and conglomerates with arenaceous matrix, which were deposited in fluvial to shallow-marine environments. In addition to APS minerals, the following diagenetic minerals are present in the clastic sequence: quartz, K-feldspar, kaolinite group minerals, illite, Fe-oxides-hidroxides, carbonate-sulphate cement-replacements and secondary uraniferous minerals. APS minerals were identified and characterized by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and electron microprobe. Microcrystalline APS crystals occur replacing uraniferous minerals, associated with kaolinite, mica and filling pores, in distal fluvial-to-tidal arkoses-subarkoses. Given their Ca, Sr, and Ba contents, the APS minerals can be defined as a solid solution of crandallite-goyacite-gorceixite (0.53 Ca, 0.46 Sr and 0.01 Ba). The chemical composition, low LREE concentration and Sr > S suggest that the APS mineral were originated during the supergene alteration of the Buntsandstein sandstones due to the presence of the mineralizing fluids which causes the development of Ubearing sandstones in a distal alteration area precipitating from partially dissolved and altered detrital minerals. Besides, the occurrence of dickite associated with APS minerals indicates they were precipitated at diagenetic temperatures (higher than 80ºC), related to the uplifting occurred during the late Cretaceous post-rift thermal stage.