The Longshoushan Metallogenic Belt (northwestern China) is known for its word-class Jinchuan Ni-Cu sulfide (Pt) deposit and is also an important uranium metallogenic belt. The Jiling uranium deposit in this belt is a typical Na-metasomatic uranium deposit, which rarely occurs in China. Mineralization in the Jiling uranium deposit is hosted in granitoids that have suffered a Na-metasomatic alteration. There are three kinds of uranium minerals, including uraninite, pitchblende, and coffinite in the Jiling uranium deposit. Pitchblende is the predominant uranium mineral. Integrating the mineralogy and geochemistry of uranium minerals, and in situ electron microprobe analyzer (EMPA) U-Th-Pb chemical dating, we aimed to unravel the age and nature of the mineralization, to decipher the characteristics of the hydrothermal alteration and the U mineralization process. Based on the microtextural features and compositional variations, primary uraninite was altered to uraninite A and B, and fresh pitchblende was altered to pitchblende A and B. The best-preserved uraninite crystals displayed a euhedral-shape with high Pb and low SiO₂, CaO, FeO, and Al₂O₃ contents, and was interpreted as primary uraninite. The EMPA U-Th-Pb chemical ages revealed that uraninite may have formed at 435.9 ± 3.3 Ma. High ThO₂ + ΣREE₂O₃ + Y₂O₃ contents illustrated that the best preserved uraninite crystallized at a high temperature. Altered pitchblende A showed a relatively brighter gray color in backscattered electron (BSE) images and with a lower SiO₂ content than B. Three analysis spots of the fresh pitchblende showed low contents of ΣSiO₂ + CaO, indicating no obvious alteration. EMPA U-Th-Pb chemical dating gave a mean chemical age of 361 Ma. The low Th + ΣREE₂O₃ contents indicated that this pitchblende formed at a relatively low temperature. According to the different characteristics of occurrence and chemical composition, the coffinite in the Jiling uranium deposit can be divided into coffinite A and B, respectively. The compositional variation of the fresh and altered uraninite and pitchblende indicated that both uraninite and pitchblende underwent at least two discrete hydrothermal fluid alterations. The U mineralization was divided into two stages; uraninite was formed at a high temperature and possibly from a magmatic-hydrothermal fluid during ore stage I. Then, pitchblende was formed at a low temperature, during ore stage II. According to the petrographic observations and their chemical compositions, coffinite A and B resulted from the alterations of uraninite and pitchblende, respectively.

The Zhuguangshan complex hosts the main uranium production area in South China. We report (U-Th)/He and fission track thermochronological data from Triassic–Jurassic mineralized and non-mineralized granites and overlying Cambrian and Cretaceous sandstone units from the Lujing uranium ore field (LUOF) to constrain the upper crustal tectono-thermal evolution of the central Zhuguangshan complex. Two Cambrian sandstones yield reproducible zircon (U-Th)/He (ZHe) ages of 133–106 Ma and low effective uranium (eU) content (270–776 ppm). One Upper Cretaceous sandstone and seven Mesozoic granites are characterized by significant variability in ZHe ages (154–83 Ma and 167–36 Ma, respectively), which show a negative relationship with eU content (244–1098 ppm and 402–4615 ppm), suggesting that the observed age dispersion can be attributed to the effect of radiation damage accumulation on ⁴He diffusion. Correspondence between ZHe ages from sandstones and granites indicates that surrounding sedimentary rocks and igneous intrusions supplied sediment to the Cretaceous–Paleogene Fengzhou Basin lying adjacent to the LUOF. The concordance of apatite fission track (AFT) central ages (61–54 Ma) and unimodal distributions of confined track lengths of five samples from different rock units suggest that both sandstone and granite samples experienced a similar cooling history throughout the entire apatite partial annealing zone (~110–60 °C). Apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He (AHe) ages from six non-mineralized samples range from 67 to 19 Ma, with no apparent correlation to eU content (2–78 ppm). Thermal history modeling of data suggests that the LUOF experienced relatively rapid Early Cretaceous cooling. In most samples, this was followed by the latest Early Cretaceous–Late Cretaceous reheating and subsequent latest Late Cretaceous–Recent cooling to surface temperatures. This history is considered as a response to the transmission of far-field stresses, involving alternating periods of regional compression and extension, related to paleo-Pacific plate subduction and subsequent rollback followed by Late Paleogene–Recent India–Asia collision and associated uplift and eastward extrusion of the Tibetan Plateau. Thermal history models are consistent with the Fengzhou Basin having been significantly more extensive in the Late Cretaceous–Early Paleogene, covering much of the LUOF. Uranium ore bodies which may have formed prior to the Late Cretaceous may have been eroded by as much as ~1.2 to 4.8 km during the latest Late Cretaceous–Recent denudation.

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.