Integrated numerical investigation of hydrothermal fluid flow in sedimentary basins: implications for the formation of unconformity-type uranium deposits

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Fluids are strategically associated with both the formation and preservation of most types of economic ore deposit, especially those in sedimentary basins. Numerical modeling has proven to be an efficient tool for testing, comparing and contrasting various hypotheses regarding subsurface fluid flow and the resulting ore-forming processes. The proposed research program is aimed at developing and applying 'geologically realistic' numerical models for quantifying ore genesis, in particular in unconformity-type uranium mineralization in sedimentary basins. The research will concentrate on two ancient basins of different ages, the eastern Paleoproterozoic Thelon Basin (Canada) and the Mesozoic Zhongfeng Basin (China). An integrated computational modeling approach will be employed to advance our understanding of unconformity-type ore genesis. The proposed research will support the training of two Ph.D. students, and it will also result in a theoretical framework to quantify the nature, pathways and timespan of hydrothermal fluid flow during ore genesis and establish a range of effective exploration criteria to target new major deposits in the selected sedimentary basins and in other similar basins elsewhere in the world.