Hydrothermal alteration records fluid–rock interactions and can therefore be used to constrain element migrations during mineralization. Although hydrothermal alteration is widely developed in hydrothermal vein-type uranium deposits in South China, consideration of elemental mass changes during alteration has not been examined. The Egongtang uranium deposit in the central Nanling Range is mainly hosted by the Qingzhangshan granite in South China, and was strongly altered by K-feldspar, quartz, chlorite, illite, haematite, pyrite and carbonates. The alteration section can be divided into five horizontal zones: fresh granite (Zone V), a distal alkaline alteration zone (Zone IV), a chlorite-rich zone (Zone III), a close-to-ore sericite/illite alteration zone (Zone II) and a central mineralization zone with strong haematitization (Zone I). Whole-rock geochemistry of the altered samples indicates that from Zone IV to Zone I, the content of SiO₂ and U increases significantly. The mass gains of SiO₂, MgO and Fe₂O₃ were proportional to the concentration of U. The content of trace elements (such as Ba, K, La, Ce, Pr, Sr, P, Eu, etc.) gradually decreases from Zone V to Zone I. The rare earth elements manifest a decrease in light rare earth elements and a slight increase in heavy rare earth elements accordingly from Zone V to Zone I. This study shows that the ore materials of the Egongtang deposit were mainly derived from the Qingzhangshan granites. In the early alkali alterations, large amounts of U were partitioned into the fluids. In the ore-forming stage, ores precipitated accompanied by acid metasomatism such as chloritization, haematitization and carbonation.

The Changjiang U ore field developed typical granite-related U mineralization in the Zhuguangshan complex, China. Pitchblende is the most important ore mineral in these mineralizations. In this study, the mineralogy and geochemistry of pitchblende were investigated by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) to identify the genesis of the Changjiang U ore field. Pitchblende exhibits colloidal, fragmented, spherulitic and fine-grained crystals in U ores. Its geochemical compositions are similar to those of other granite-related U deposits in South China, which have elevated contents of U, Sr, As and W; low contents of Pb, Th, Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Co, Ni and rare earth elements (REEs); and variable amounts of Ca, Si, Bi, Y, V and Zn. These geochemical signatures suggest that mineralization occurred through hydrothermal genesis and that the hosting Youdong and Changjiang granites acted as the dominant U sources. The uraninite in these granites might be the major U source mineral. Uranium mineralization occurred under the following conditions: low temperature (<250°C), low oxygen fugacity (log fO2=-29.5 - -25.5), weakly acidic (pH=5.3-5.9), high CO32- and F- contents and a silicon-saturated solution. Rapid changes in the physicochemical conditions of the ore-forming fluid are responsible for the precipitation of pitchblende. Combined with previous studies, we propose that U-rich granites, Cretaceous-Tertiary crustal extensions, regional faults and hydrothermal alterations were the critical factors for U formation in the Changjiang ore field.

The shape and structural development of the box-like Parrabel Dome (PD) within the Hastings Block is poorly understood because it has only been weakly cleaved, complexly folded and extensively faulted in comparison to the adjoining blocks. Better characterising this block will provide important controls on the tectonics of the southern New England Orogen. The structural development of the PD and southern Hastings Block (SHB) provides evidence of the degree of rotation, translation and deformation of the Hastings Block, a key terrane within the southern New England Orogen. A major decollement under the Hastings Block–Nambucca Block was suggested to facilitate south-directed deformation caused by the developing Coffs Harbour Orocline. The orientation of bedding and the stratigraphic facing of some fault blocks within the northern Hastings Block (NHB) are consistent with development of the PD, while other fault blocks indicate significant disruption of the NHB prior to, during and after dome development. A deep-seated fault is suggested by the gravity worm analysis consistent with the boundary zone between the PD, NHB-Yarrowitch Block and the east-dipping and younging sequences in the SHB. The eastern limb of the PD underwent clockwise rotation after formation. Fault blocks have been rotated and translated within a restraining bend as the NHB moved post-PD formation northwest along the interface between the NHB and SHB.

The Devonian–Carboniferous sandstones in the Hastings Block, southern New England Orogen have a predominantly arc-like provenance based on ternary QFL or QmFLt ternary diagrams and have a lower quartz content than Permian sandstones. Stratigraphically correlated formations show similar QFL components but not the same patterns of sandstone compositional variability for formations that outcrop over a wide area such as the Mingaletta and Pappinbarra formations. It is possible to correlate most of the petrological intervals in the Tamworth Belt with the Hastings Block. The trend of petrofacies from Devonian to Permian for the southern Tamworth Belt, Tamworth Belt overall and Hastings Block, is towards sandstone with more monocrystalline quartz and less feldspar and lithics. The areal pattern of sandstone compositions within individual formations shows similarities in the percentage of quartz, feldspar or lithics. This suggests areal continuity of sandstone compositions within a formation during deposition and that the faulting did not substantially change the formations continuity at the time of deposition. The arc-like provenance of Devonian to Permian sandstones within the Hastings Block indicates that the block was likely an along-strike continuation of the Tamworth Belt.