Uranium Transport in F-Cl-Bearing Fluids and Hydrothermal Upgrading of U-Cu Ores in IOCG Deposits

Figure 9

Results of the step-flow-through reactor model. (a-b) Ore mineralogy after 500 waves and 1000 waves, which represent the fluid/rock ratio at 10 : 1 and 20 : 1, respectively. The direction of the reaction front of magnetite replaced by hematite is indicated by the arrows in (a) and (b). Uraninites and Cu sulfides (Ccp and Bn) are precipitated at the reaction front, accompanied by fluorite coprecipitation. Fluorites are enriched in the fully reacted ores (hematite > 95%). Zonation is found at the reaction front, with chalcopyrite and fluorite enriched near the magnetite side and bornite (±chalcocite) and uraninite enriched at the hematite side. (c-d) Main aqueous U species.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)