Mineralogy and genesis of secondary uranium deposits, Um Ara area, south Eastern Desert, Egypt

Secondary U mineralisation is found in the oxidised zone pervading fractured albitised and alkali-feldspar granites emplaced at the northern boundary of Um Ara Pluton. It occurs as stains along crevices and fracture surfaces and as acicular crystals filling cavities. X-ray diffraction and SEM were used to identify secondary U minerals and the associated alteration products. Uranophane and beta -uranophane are the most abundant U minerals, whereas Ca-montmorillonite and illite represent low temperature alteration products of the host granitic rocks. The genesis of secondary U minerals is mainly attributed to the action of oxic groundwater on previously corroded primary U minerals, These secondary U minerals were deposited near the surface from the circulating groundwater by evaporation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.