Basinal fluid flow systems and their relationships with mineralization

许多矿床，包括世界上最重要的铀矿床和铅锌矿床，都是由沉积盆地的流体（盆地流体）形成的。这些矿床的形成需要大量携带金属的流体流过矿化位点，并结合有利的条件从局部区域内的流体中沉淀金属。认识这种流体流动系统并了解其控制机制，对于预测寻找新矿产资源的有利地质位置具有重要意义。与某些地质流体流动系统不同，例如与岩浆侵入体相关的流体流动系统，其中流体流动路径以突出的蚀变特征为标志，并且流体流动的驱动力相当好地理解，与沉积盆地中的矿化相关的流体流动系统在热液蚀变方面可能是神秘的，并且驱动力通常更难以确定。我的研究计划的长期目标是提高我们识别这种流体流动系统的能力，确定控制它们的机制，并帮助预测潜在的矿化位置。短期目标是破译与沉积盆地铀矿化有关的流体流动系统，重点是萨斯喀彻温省北方的阿萨巴斯卡盆地，该盆地拥有世界上最大的高品位铀矿。铀是一种重要的能源，铀矿开采在萨斯喀彻温省的经济中占有重要地位。我的研究将帮助勘探公司在加拿大和世界其他地方找到更多的铀资源。

Many mineral deposits, including the most important uranium and lead-zinc deposits in the world were formed from fluids derived from sedimentary basins (basinal fluids). The formation of these mineral deposits requires that large amounts of fluids carrying metals flowed through the sites of mineralization, in conjunction with favorable conditions to precipitate metals from the fluids within localized areas. The recognition of such fluid flow systems and an understanding of their controlling mechanisms are important in predicting favorable geologic locations to find new mineral resources. Unlike some geologic fluid flow systems such as those associated with magmatic intrusions, where fluid flow paths are marked by prominent alteration features and the driving forces of fluid flow are fairly well understood, fluid flow systems associated with mineralization in sedimentary basins may be cryptic in terms of hydrothermal alterations and the driving forces are typically more difficult to determine. The long-term objectives of my research program are to increase our ability to recognize such fluid flow systems, to determine the mechanisms that control them, and to help predict potential mineralization locations. The short-term objectives are to decipher the fluid flow systems associated with uranium mineralization in sedimentary basins, with emphasis on the Athabasca basin in northern Saskatchewan, which hosts the largest high-grade uranium deposits in the world. Uranium is an important energy source, and uranium mining plays an important role in Saskatchewan's economy. My research will help exploration companies to find more uranium resources in Canada and elsewhere in the world.