The Occurrence of Uranium in Association with Cassiterite, Wolframite, and Sulphide Mineralization in South-West England

P. K. Swart* and F. Moore
Department of Geology, King's College, University of London, London WC2R 2LS
*Present address: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge.
Present address: Department of Geology, University of Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract: The U content of cassiterite (SnO2), wolframite (Fe,Mn)WO4, and various sulphides from two localities in the Cornubian batholiths of south-west England has been investigated. Cassiterites showed concentrations of U between 0 and 6 ppm with the higher concentrations corresponding to the darker colour bands. Sulphides contained no detectable U using the fissiontrack method, but high concentrations relate to micro- veining. This veining was also evident in associated wolframite and appeared to have a composition similar to an iron-arsenate mineral associated with the alteration of arsenopyrite. Wolframite exhibited a wide range of U concentrations with sharp zonation and several generations of ore deposition within one crystal. The U was not, however, associated with either the iron- or manganese-rich phases.

Mineralogical Magazine; June 1982 v. 46; no. 339; p. 211-215; DOI: 10.1180/minmag.1982.046.339.07
© 1982, The Mineralogical Society
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