Uranium ore-forming systems of the - Geoscience Australia
Uranium ore-forming systems of the - Geoscience Australia
Uranium ore-forming systems of the - Geoscience Australia
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<strong>Uranium</strong> <strong>ore</strong>-<strong>forming</strong> <strong>systems</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lake Frome regionLocality 12 (349930E ; 6660790N) Paralana Hot SpringsThe Paralana Hot Springs is on <strong>the</strong> Paralana Fault near where Hot Springs Creek crosses <strong>the</strong>rangefront consisting <strong>of</strong> predominately Mesoproterozoic basement containing uraniferousgranites and gneisses. The Paralana Hot Springs result from meteoric water circulating throughhot rocks, and are <strong>the</strong> surface expression <strong>of</strong> a cyclic, low-temperature, non-volcanichydro<strong>the</strong>rmal system (Brugger et al., 2005).The springs flow continuously from <strong>the</strong> fault zone <strong>forming</strong> two pools <strong>of</strong> water adjacent tobrecciated and jasperized basement boulders. The temperature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> water is around 60ºC,flowing around 16,000 L/s, has a pH <strong>of</strong> 7-8, total dissolved salts <strong>of</strong> 1144 mg/L and contains~0.07ppb U (Brugger et al., 2005).This section <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> creek is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most vegetated in <strong>the</strong> region, dominated by river red gums(Eucalyptus camaldulensis), inland teatrees (Melaleuca glomerata) and bulrush (Typhadomingensis). Large algal blooms are within <strong>the</strong> hot spring pools and pools within <strong>the</strong> adjacentstream channel (McKelson, 2000).Analysis by McKelson (2000) has shown that river gums contain ~1ppm U, <strong>the</strong> bulrushes~1ppm U, <strong>the</strong> inland teatrees ~2-8 ppm U but interestingly <strong>the</strong> algal mat contains ~24ppm U.Results show that <strong>the</strong> levels <strong>of</strong> thorium and lead within <strong>the</strong> algae are also significantly higherthan those <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> spring water and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r plant species.Page 137 <strong>of</strong> 151