Mineralization Characteristics and Metallogenic Mechanism of Bashibulake Uranium-bearing Asphalt Uranium Deposit

Based on field investigation and microscopic observations, sampling, analysis and testing, this paper focused on studying the intrinsic relationship between the Bashibulake uranium deposits and the bituminous uranium deposits in oil-producing areas.The mineralization characteristics and metallogenic mechanism of asphalt were discussed by using amounts of data obtained. The authors hold that Bashibulake asphalt uranium deposit, related to petroleum,is a complex type with both the interlayer oxidation of confined water and the phreatic oxidation. The process is especially connected with thermal evolution of petroleum, asphalt from oil-gas damage, oil-gas reduction(H₂, CH₄), hydrothermal (water) alteration, and carbonate washing, leaking and diffusing, etc. Petroleum contains uranium and polymetals,which are related to the increasing adsorption of uranium for its oxidation to asphalt and strong capability of the reducing gas to reduce uranium. Asphalt adsorbs uranium in acidic media, and also reduces uranium in weak alkaline medium.