Mz. Min et al., An excellent fossil wood cell texture with primary uranium minerals at a sandstone-hosted roll-type uranium deposit, NW China, ORE GEOL R, 17(4), 2001, pp. 233-239
A fossil wood cell texture with pitchblende and coffinite found at a sandst
one-hosted roll-type uranium deposit, Xinjiang, NW China, is first reported
here for the country. In the mineralized sandstone, detrital grains consis
ting of quartz, feldspar. rock fragments, carbonaceous trashes, mica and ac
cessory minerals were deposited in early Turassic time and were cemented by
clays and minor authigenic calcite and quartz. Pitchblende and minor coffi
nite are principal ore minerals at the deposit, and selectively replaced ca
rbonized fossil wood remnants or filled fossil wood cells. An excellent fos
sil wood cell texture with primary uranium minerals formed. Replacement of
organic debris by primer?; uranium minerals may be due to a local reducing
environment resulting from the production of CH4, H2S or H2SO3 in its decom
position. and a biochemical reaction indicated by the common presence of fr
amboidal pyrite. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.