Assessing the geochronology,geochemistry and regional tectonic setting of uranium deposits as drivers for exploration

评估铀矿床的地质年代学、地球化学和区域构造环境作为勘探的驱动因素

• 批准号: 508255-2016
• 负责人: Fayek, Mostafa
• 金额: $ 4.06万
• 依托单位: University of Manitoba
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=690656
• 关键词: Assessing; geochronology; geochemistry; regional; tectonic

Worldwide, there will be ~500 nuclear reactors operating by 2030, which will result in a 66% increase in global nuclear power generation. As global appetite for energy and commodities expands with the world's population, Canada's rich natural resources will continue to enjoy international prominence. This is particularly true for uranium (U) where demand will outstrip supplies in 10-20 years. To remain at the forefront of an ever-competitive mining and energy exploration market, Canada and its industries need to adopt a leadership position in the development of strategies for innovative and sustainable resource extraction. Sedimentary basins are host to some of the largest and richest U resources in the world, and there are tens of underexplored basins in Canada and the world. How can we distinguish between prospective and barren structures? One possible method is to quantitatively compare mineralized and barren tectonic structures, and the source of mineralizing and barren fluids. Uranium mineralizing processes are generally associated with complex hydrothermal systems that involved repeated fault slip and fluid flow along major structures. Consequently, understanding fluid movement through structures within these terrains and the source of U is of great importance for mineral exploration. It is necessary to use different isotopic methods because host rocks, fluid composition and possibly temperature are different, thus, precipitating different types of minerals. Therefore, we propose to use different isotopic systems to determine the age of faults and fluid compositions from different minerals. This proposal brings together academic researchers in partnership with industry members (AREVA) to develop improved exploration criteria for U deposits. The expected outcome is to train 4 HQP, and provide the U and mineral industry with a method that will allow them to distinguish between barren and mineralized faults and fractures, thus reducing drilling costs and impact on the environment by targeting only prospective structures.

到2030年，全球将有约500座核反应堆在运行，这将导致全球核能发电量增加66%。随着全球对能源和商品的需求随着世界人口的增长而扩大，加拿大丰富的自然资源将继续享有国际地位。对于铀（U）来说尤其如此，10-20年后铀的需求将超过供应。为了在竞争日益激烈的采矿和能源勘探市场中保持领先地位，加拿大及其行业需要在制定创新和可持续资源开采战略方面占据领导地位。沉积盆地是世界上一些最大和最丰富的铀资源的所在地，在加拿大和世界上还有数十个未勘探的盆地。我们如何区分有前景的结构和无前景的结构？一种可能的方法是定量地比较成矿构造与非成矿构造、成矿流体与非成矿流体的来源。铀矿化过程通常与复杂的热液系统有关，其中涉及重复的断层滑动和流体沿沿着主要构造流动。因此，了解流体在这些地形中通过构造的运动以及铀的来源对于矿产勘探具有重要意义。由于不同的围岩、流体成分和可能的温度不同，从而沉淀出不同类型的矿物，因此必须采用不同的同位素方法。因此，我们建议用不同的同位素体系来确定断层的年龄和不同矿物的流体成分。该提案将学术研究人员与行业成员（阿海珐）合作，共同制定铀矿床的改进勘探标准。预期的结果是培训4名HQP，并为U和矿业提供一种方法，使他们能够区分贫瘠和矿化的断层和裂缝，从而通过仅针对潜在结构来降低钻井成本和对环境的影响。