Abstract
Although unconformity-related U deposits constitute a significant
portion of the world's economic uranium mineralization, the role of
the unconformity, until now, has been little understood. High-grade
uranium mineralization in the East Alligator River uranium field is
localized in reverse faults and associated zones of kinking, chevron
folding and brecciation in schistose basement. The reverse faults have
non-planar geometries controlled by the mechanical anisotropy of the
basement schists and their contrast with the unconformably overlying,
gently dipping cover of massive quartz sandstones. Preferentially
following schistose basement units, the faults transform along the
unconformity forming flats, and ramp steeply through the overlying
massive sandstone, forming discrete narrow zones within it.
portion of the world's economic uranium mineralization, the role of
the unconformity, until now, has been little understood. High-grade
uranium mineralization in the East Alligator River uranium field is
localized in reverse faults and associated zones of kinking, chevron
folding and brecciation in schistose basement. The reverse faults have
non-planar geometries controlled by the mechanical anisotropy of the
basement schists and their contrast with the unconformably overlying,
gently dipping cover of massive quartz sandstones. Preferentially
following schistose basement units, the faults transform along the
unconformity forming flats, and ramp steeply through the overlying
massive sandstone, forming discrete narrow zones within it.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 494-494 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Journal of Structural Geology |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 3-4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1985 |
| Externally published | Yes |