ORE DEPOSITS 9101 - Part 9 - Uranium

The major primary ore mineral is uraninite (basically UO2) or pitchblende (U2O5.UO3, better known as U3O8), though a range of other uranium minerals are found in particular deposits. These include carnotite (uranium potassium vanadate), the davidite-brannerite-absite type uranium titanates, and the euxenite-fergusonite-samarskite group (niobates of uranium and rare earths).

Uranium deposits worldwide are grouped into 15 major types based on their geological setting. Some categories have several sub-types. The most recent geological classification has been defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2013 and has been adopted in the Red Book since 2014. The deposit types have fundamental characteristics and recognition criteria, and in that respect, while mainly named by host rock, the types are essentially empirical models, based on observable characteristics.
1. Intrusive
2. Granite-relatedTwo sub-types: Endogranitic and Perigranitic.
3. Polymetallic iron-oxide breccia complex
4. Volcanic-related
5. Metasomatite
6. Metamorphite
7. Proterozoic unconformity
8. Collapse breccia pipe
9. Sandstone
10. Palaeo-quartz-pebble conglomerate
11. Surficial

12. Lignite-coalUranium deposits are characterized by their extreme diversity in size, grade, shape, geological environment, mineralogy, etc. They form at conditions ranging from deep high-grade metamorphic to surficial environments and from Neoarchean times to the Quaternary Period.
13. Carbonate
14. Phosphate
15. Black shale