Hematite and goethite from 100 samples collected from various uranium deposits and prospects, associated alteration zones, and overlying Thelon sandstones in the Kiggavik–Andrew Lake structural trend (KALST; Nunavut, Canada) were investigated by EPMA (electron probe micro-analyzer) and LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer) to establish discriminant geochemical features in order to constrain indicator mineral exploration for uranium. Three groups of Fe oxides and hydroxides were identified: (1) pre-mineralization—formed during lateritic weathering mainly by replacement of previous metamorphic minerals. This group is variably enriched in P, Pb, Mo, Nb, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Co. (2) Syn-mineralization hydrothermal hematite and goethite intergrown with illite, quartz, chlorite, and calcite ± siderite constituting the typical alteration assemblage associated with the KALST U mineralization. This group can be discriminated because of its enrichment in U, Ca, Mg, Al, Si, Mn, Y, ∑REE, Zr, K, S, and Sr and depletion in P, Fe, Cr, W, Sn and Ta. The flat and un-fractionated REE patterns in this group are comparable with those reported from Kiggavik U mineralized host rocks and are most likely reflecting the signature of parental uraniferous fluids. (3) Post-mineralization hydrothermal specularite and goethite, infilling the KALST host rocks fractures and dissolution pits, are mostly depleted in Mn, Co, Y, Sr, U, and ∑REE but relatively enriched in Cr, Sn, Ta, Ge, and W. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) of the geochemical data not only differentiates among different groups of Fe oxides and hydroxides in the KALST samples but also demonstrates the evolution of trace element composition of Fe oxides and hydroxides from the basement host rocks to the mineralization. The results suggest a basement source for the U mineralization in the KALST area.

中文翻译：

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赤铁矿和针铁矿中与 Kiggavik-Andrew Lake 构造趋势 U 矿床相关的微量元素特征（加拿大努纳武特）

通过 EPMA（电子探针微分析仪）和 LA 研究了从 Kiggavik-Andrew Lake 构造趋势（KALST；加拿大努纳武特）中的各种铀矿床和勘探区、相关蚀变带和上覆 Thelon 砂岩收集的 100 个样品中的赤铁矿和针铁矿-ICP-MS（激光烧蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱仪）建立判别地球化学特征，以限制铀的指示矿物勘探。确定了三组 Fe 氧化物和氢氧化物：（1）预矿化——在红土风化过程中形成，主要是由先前的变质矿物取代。该组不同程度地富含 P、Pb、Mo、Nb、Cu、Cr、Ni 和 Co。 (2) 同矿化热液赤铁矿和针铁矿与伊利石、石英、绿泥石、和方解石 ± 菱铁矿构成与 KALST U 矿化相关的典型蚀变组合。由于其富含 U、Ca、Mg、Al、Si、Mn、Y、∑REE、Zr、K、S 和 Sr，而缺乏 P、Fe、Cr、W、Sn 和 Ta，因此可以区分该组。该组中平坦且未分馏的 REE 模式与 Kiggavik U 矿化主岩中报告的 REE 模式相当，并且很可能反映了母含铀流体的特征。(3) 后成矿热液镜镁矿和针铁矿，充填在 KALST 主岩裂缝和溶蚀坑中，主要贫 Mn、Co、Y、Sr、U 和 ∑REE，但相对富集 Cr、Sn、Ta、Ge，和 W。地球化学数据的偏最小二乘判别分析 (PLS-DA) 不仅区分了 KALST 样品中不同组的 Fe 氧化物和氢氧化物，而且证明了 Fe 氧化物和氢氧化物的微量元素组成从基底主岩到矿化。结果表明 KALST 地区 U 矿化的基底来源。