11 th SGA Biennial Meeting

Lets Talk Ore Deposits

26-29th September 2011 Antofagasta, Chile

Fluid inclusions in minerals from some U deposits in the Lagoa Real Uranium Province, Bahia Brazil
Lucilia Aparecida Ramos de Oliveira SETEM CDTN/CNEN, P.O.Box 941, Belo Horizonte, Brazil / IGC, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Aurlio da Silva de Souza Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Francisco Javier Rios, Lucas Eustquio Dias Amorim, Mnica Elizetti Freitas SETEM CDTN/CNEN, P.O.Box 941, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Alexandre de Oliveira Chaves IGC, UFMG, Av. Presidente Antonio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Bruce Yardley, David Banks School of Earth Sciences and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK Evando Carele de Matos INB - Industrias Nucleares do Brasil, Caetit, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract. Fluid inclusions (FI) in main minerals

associated with uranium mineralization had been studied in three important deposits in the Lagoa Real Uranium Province (Bahia State, Brazil). Considering the different proposals for the uranium mineralization origin, the data presented may improve the knowledge of the PULR metallogenesis, checking reliable compositional trends in the fluids found in the albitites and in the host gneissic rocks minerals.

inclusions of uraninite. It is often observed the presence of a strong anisotropy into a metamorphic foliation generated during shear zone development.

Keywords. fluid inclusions, uranium metallogenesis, Lagoa Real

1 Introduction and mineralogy

The Lagoa Real Uranium Province (PURL), located in central-southern Bahia State (Brazil), has 34 known uranium anomalies and deposits spread along an helicoidal structure, north-south with an extension of 33 km approximately (Fig. 1). The AN13 (Cachoeira Mine) is the northern deposit here most studied. The AN09 (Engenho Deposit) is in the center northern part and AN03 (Lagoa da Rabicha Deposit) is in the center-southern part of the Province. In all areas the main lithology includes gneisses, albitites, epidosites and amphibolites. The uranium mineralization is associated with albitites in which the plagioclase (albite to oligoclase) is usually over 60-70% in volume. The essential minerals in the albitites are plagioclase, pyroxene, garnet (andradite), amphibole and biotite. In AN09 mineralized epidosites (60% or more in epidote) also occur. Therefore, the predominant texture in albitites is granoblastic type (named as metamorphic stage) and dominated by plagioclase, no zoned aegirine-augite, amphiboles and garnet. In this granoblasticmetamorphic stage these minerals have frequently

Figure 1. Lagoa Real Geological Map.

Micropetrographic studies by Chaves et al. (2007) in the AN13 show remains of a preserved texture and mineralogy of a primary stage (named as a magmatic stage), including antiperthites, titanite (with U) and zoned Fe rich pyroxenes augites (without uraninite inclusions). Seldom zones mix magmatic and metamorphic textures indicating the transformation of magmatic stage minerals during the ductile shear development (metamorphism) up to their complete

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11 th SGA Biennial Meeting

Lets Talk Ore Deposits

26-29th September 2011 Antofagasta, Chile

recrystallization. In preserved magmatic stage areas, both quartz and features formed resembling silica dissolution has not been found. According to Chaves et al. (2007), in portions that preserve the magmatic stage, albite, ironrich augite, some microcline, dark brown uraniferous titanite, allanite-Ce, magnetite, fluor-apatite, zircon, fluorite, and apophyllite are found as essential accessory members. This composition classifies the rock as syenites. Magmatic calcite is sometimes present, which can be found inside undeformed augite crystals. Magmatic stage minerals have not been found in AN03 and AN09 because the albitites of these areas were supported a stronger shear deformation, when compared with AN13. Previous studies in PULR (Cruz 2004; Lobato 1985; Maruejol 1989; Lobato and Fyfe 1990) suggest that the mineralized albitites bodies and gneissic host rocks were derived from the deformation of granitoid rocks (So Timteo Granite). These rocks would be the final products generated by metassomatism. The origin of the uranium mineralization related to magmatic sources is considered to be associated with fluid temperature exceeding 300C, which can originate uraniferous anomalies in different rock types. However, Chaves et al. (2007) claim that exist albitites in Lagoa Real with pre-deformational minerals that preserve features of a magmatic syenitic rock, which may have been the protolites of albitite. According to this proposal, albitites would be deformed syenites, and would not have a genetic link to the gneisses nor to the So Timteo granite. Considering the different proposals for the uranium mineralization origin, the data presented may improve the knowledge of the PULR metallogenesis, checking reliable compositional trends in the fluids found in the albitites and gneissic rocks minerals. Fluid inclusions (FI) studies in main minerals associated with uranium in AN13, AN09 and AN03, and also in the gneissic host rocks from AN03 are presented.

Zn, As, Sb, Sr, Ba and Pb in the solutions. The dispersion in plagioclase Th is explained by Fuzikawa and Alves (1984) as a result of dilatation overheating processes due to repeated heating during microthermometry.
Table 1. Comparative microthermometric data from pyroxenes, garnets and plagioclase in AN13, AN09 and AN03 albitites. Te: eutectic Temperature, Th : homogeneization temperature, Tm: ice melting temperature. Pyroxene from preserved magmatic stage Salinity Area Te (C) T h (C) T m (C) (NaCl) AN13 -62 to -70 -11 to -3 16% Pyroxene from metamorphic (granoblastic) stage Salinity Area Te (C) T h (C) T m (C) (NaCl) AN13 -50 to -55 -11 to -15 17% AN09 -52 to -54 240 to 330 -9 to -16 16% AN03 -48 to -52 224 to 288 -6 to -9 13% Garnet from metamorphic (granoblastic) stage Salinity Area Te (C) T h (C) T m (C) (NaCl) AN13 -51 to -54 -9 to -14 15% AN09 -52 to -53 200 to 230 -7 to 10 13% AN03 -54 to -48 200 to 240 -7 to -11 12% Plagioclase from metamorphic (granoblastic) stage Salinity Area Te (C) T h (C) T m (C) (NaCl) AN13 AN09 200 to 320 -0,4 to -4 3% AN03 -33 to -54 223 to 383 -0,3 to -4 3%

The microcline gneiss host of the albitites have early plagioclase crystals with primary aqueous-carbonic FI (pure CO2), with medium to high salinity (13% NaCl) and low CO2 density (0,3 g/cm). A late polygonal albite present an aqueous-saline fluids (without CO2) and variable salinity (0,3 to 10% NaCl). The differences in salinities and compositions clearly indicate different solutions.

2 Fluid evolution in studied deposits

Table 1 indicates the microthermometric data from pyroxene, garnet and late plagioclase in albitites from anomalies AN3, AN09 and AN03. Primary FI assemblages in pyroxene and garnet, from metamorphic stage albitites, in the deposits studied show not only similar eutectic (Te) and homogenization (Th) temperatures but salinity as well. However, the primary fluids in magmatic pyroxene from AN13 showed lower Te (down to -70 C) (Table 1). LA-ICP-MS studies in metamorphic pyroxene from AN09 indicated the presence of Ca, Fe and Mg which should indicate the composition of the host mineral. Chaves et al. (2009a) analysed FI in early (magmatic) pyroxene from AN13 detecting Na, Rb and Ba. In garnet they detected Na, Mg, U, Rb, Ba, Sr and Pb. The results from AN09 garnets were slightly different and presented Cu and Zn in addition. The plagioclase from metamorphic stage is formed from less saline fluid. The LA-ICP-MS analysis confirmed the presence of Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu,

3 Uraninite in the metamorphic stage albitites

In a metamorphic stage, pyroxene and andradite (Ca and Fe3+ garnet) resulting from magmatic iron-rich augite transformation appeared. A chemical mechanism for the precipitation of uraninite, which would have oxi-redution control in some steps, was suggest by Chaves et al. (2007): magmatic uraniferous titanite was the source for the uraninite present. And, simultaneously with the metamorphic stage, occurred the remobilization and precipitation of uraninite into metamorphic pyroxene, garnet, amphiboles and plagioclase. According to Chaves et al. (2009b) multiple uranium and lead mobilization promoted by hydrothermal events were detected in the albitites.

4 Conclusions
Considering the fluids in the deposits AN13, AN09 and

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11 th SGA Biennial Meeting

Lets Talk Ore Deposits

26-29th September 2011 Antofagasta, Chile

AN03, and comparing them with data from several authors in other deposits and prospects from Lagoa Real, a general framework can be elaborated in order to try interpreting the solutions evolution during the uraninite precipitation (Fig. 2).

Probably, at least in the Lagoa Real area, this event had not been fluids associated. Otherwise this fluid should be present throughout the mineral paragenesis and, in this case, probably all uranium would have been removed. After 30 years of research in PULR new data is still appearing indicating that the geological evolution of uraniferous albitites and their host rocks was very complex and cannot be restricted to only one model among those already presented by experts who have studied the sector. We are conscious that the data presented in this paper, although large in number of measurements, show trends in punctual places of PULR, and need to be complemented by comprehensive studies on micro-chemistry, fluid inclusions and melt inclusions in all rocks representing PULR.

Acknowledgements
Figure 2. Framework showing Pre-Brasiliano structures and associated fluids.

Fluids associated to the magmatic stage have been found only in preserved pyroxenes from AN13. Solutions consist of an intermediate salinity aqueous fluid (without CO2) presenting very low Te and Na, Rb and Ba (Chaves et al. 2009a). Metamorphic stage albitites presenting two different fluids. One can be seen in pyroxene and garnet representing an aqueous phase of intermediate salinity, no CO2, and Na, Mg, U, Rb, Ba, Sr and Pb content. The precipitation of late plagioclase occurred after a less saline fluid. The solutions consist of H2O + Na + K + Mg + Ca + Fe + Mn + Cu + Zn + As + Sb + Sr + Ba + Pb. A stage of remobilization and precipitation of uranium would also be associated with this phase. It is evident a dilution existence of fluids in pyroxene and garnet (Table 1), in samples from N towards S (AN13AN09 AN03). It was also found that the amphiboles increase towards the center-north of the Province. Fuzikawa et al. (1988) studied quartz veins (without U) cutting the albitites with large quantity of aqueouscarbonic FI. The veins minerals (quartz, calcite and biotite) were completely barren and show tectonism signature (rolling extinction, recrystallization and curved twings) indicating the metamorphism as the latest event. There are at least two or three generations of aqueous-carbonic fluid in albitites and host rocks in Lagoa Real. A first generation is related to the primary fluids found in plagioclase of microcline gneiss. A second generation is present in quartz veins that cut the rocks of region. The CO2 presence was observed systematically in the late quartz veins that cut gneisses and albitites, indicating oxidizing conditions for the later stages of vein formation. Fuzikawa et al. (1988) observed the absence of CO2 in albitite and gneiss FI and suggested a decrepitation during metamorphism as the reason for this. The presenting data suggest that the Brasiliano Event, occurring after the albitite formation has not obliterated completely the signature of fluids in minerals.

Financial support and infrastructure for this study was provided by CNEN/CDTN, FAPEMIG PPM, and CNPq. Thanks to Dr. Kazuo Fuzikawa and Msc. Snia Pinto Prates corrections.

References
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