Uranium ore-forming systems of the - Geoscience Australia

Uranium ore-forming systems of the Lake Frome region7.2.1 Objectives of the study .................................................................................................807.2.2 Geological constraints ..................................................................................................807.2.3 Building simplified 2D geological models for fluid flow modelling ..........................847.2.4 Representation of results – fluid flow modelling ........................................................857.3 Results and discussion – fluid flow modelling ....................................................................867.3.1 Fluid flow scenarios in the Beverley – Four Mile district ...........................................867.3.2 Uranium mass balance calculations – Four Mile East deposit ....................................887.4 Geochemical modelling of Frome uranium systems............................................................967.4.1 Methodology and model setup ....................................................................................967.4.2 Granite-water interaction (modelling Paralana Hot Springs) ......................................977.4.3 Modelling granite-water-sandstone interaction (formation of sandstone-hosteduranium mineralisation)..............................................................................................................997.4.4 Summary of geochemical modelling results..............................................................1007.5 Conclusions – numerical modelling...................................................................................1018. Synthesis, and implications for exploration.................................................................................1028.1 Essential components of basin-related uranium mineral systems of the Lake Frome region..................................................................................................................................................1028.1.1 Sources of ore constituents and fluids .......................................................................1028.1.2 Energy and timing .....................................................................................................1048.1.3 Permeability architecture and fluid flow ...................................................................1048.1.4 Depositional gradients for uranium mineralisation ...................................................1078.2 Paleogeographic and uranium mineral system evolution...................................................1088.3 Exploration criteria ............................................................................................................1118.3 Recommendations for further work ...................................................................................111References.........................................................................................................................................114Appendix 1: Field guide to the Proterozoic Mt Painter Inlier and Mesozoic to Cenozoic basins of theLake Frome region....................................................................................................................120Appendix 2: Metadata for 3D geological maps, Figures 3.3-3.7. ....................................................140Page iv of 151