Deciphering Microbial-Mediated Uranium Mineralization via FIB-TEM Nanotomography: A Case Study from the Hailijin Deposit, Songliao Basin

doi:10.19657/j.geoscience.1000-8527.2024.133

Abstract

Abstract:

Resolving the evidentiary gap in microbe-mineral interactions within sandstone-hosted uranium systems, this study presents nanoscale evidence elucidating the biogeochemical controls on uranium mobilization.Focusing on uranium-bearing monazite in the Lower Yaojia Formation of the Hailijin deposit, we integrate FIB-TEM nanotomography with EPMA geochemical mapping to decode dissolution-uranium release coupling mechanisms.Three pivotal findings emerge: (1) Quartz-encapsulated monazite preserves pristine surfaces, whereas exposed grains exhibit 75% uranium depletion with intense dissolution features; (2) FIB-TEM nanotomography reveals epitaxial overgrowths of chernikovite and uraninite nanoparticles along dissolution fronts, forming characteristic U-P biogeochemical halos; (3) The established biofilm catalytic kinetics model shows that the microbe-mediated interfacial reaction activates uranium to precipitation.This study not only provides critical microscopic-scale evidence elucidating synergistic mineralization mechanisms between microorganisms and nano-minerals, but also holds significant implications for advancing uranium deposit geology research into refined microscopic domains.

Key words: Hailijin uranium deposit, monazite dissolution kinetics, microbial uranium mineralization, FIB-TEM nanotomography, nanoscale mineral

CLC Number:

P619.14

JIN Weiguo, YIN Shuo, WANG Qingfei, PAN Jiayong. Deciphering Microbial-Mediated Uranium Mineralization via FIB-TEM Nanotomography: A Case Study from the Hailijin Deposit, Songliao Basin[J]. Geoscience, 2025, 39(02): 248-262.

Figures/Tables 14

References 55

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主量元素 (%)	样品编号					最大值	最小值	平均值
主量元素 (%)	1-1	1-2	1-3	1-4	1-5	最大值	最小值	平均值
SiO₂	0.27	0.26	0.31	-	-	0.31	0.26	0.27
ThO₂	3.87	3.18	3.43	4.18	3.72	4.18	3.`18	3.72
UO₂	0.32	0.30	0.36	0.26	0.25	0.36	0.25	0.30
P₂O₅	29.00	29.05	29.38	28.84	29.00	29.38	28.84	29.00
La₂O₃	11.45	11.20	10.73	10.34	10.70	11.45	10.34	10.73
Ce₂O₃	33.56	32.53	34.30	38.64	37.82	38.64	32.53	34.30
Pr₂O₃	4.06	3.20	3.87	3.36	3.75	4.06	3.20	3.75
Nd₂O₃	11.87	11.50	12.95	11.53	11.22	12.95	11.22	11.53
Sm₂O₃	2.36	2.06	2.60	1.58	1.73	2.60	1.58	2.06
Eu₂O₃	0.62	0.81	0.54	0.69	0.76	0.81	0.54	0.69
Gd₂O₃	1.29	2.30	1.36	0.73	0.70	2.30	0.70	1.29
Dy₂O₃	0.78	0.82	0.09	0.05	0.23	0.82	0.05	0.23
Y₂O₃	1.11	1.32	0.21	0.16	0.12	1.32	0.12	0.21
Lu₂O₃	-	0.05	0.14	0.19	0.20	0.20	0.05	0.17
SO₃	0.03	0.03	-	0.01	0.02	0.03	0.01	0.03
CaO	0.80	0.81	0.80	0.04	-	0.81	0.04	0.80
Total	101.39	99.44	101.50	100.59	100.20	101.50	99.44	100.59
Th/U	12.01	10.50	9.60	16.14	15.11	16.14	9.60	12.01
主量元素 (%)	样品编号					最大值	最小值	平均值
主量元素 (%)	2-1	2-2	2-3	2-4	2-5	最大值	最小值	平均值
SiO₂	0.28	0.26	0.24	0.29	0.19	0.29	0.19	0.26
ThO₂	4.00	4.08	4.03	4.21	4.09	4.21	4.00	4.08
UO₂	0.06	0.05	0.10	0.05	0.10	0.10	0.05	0.06
P₂O₅	28.85	28.84	28.75	28.51	28.67	28.85	28.51	28.75
La₂O₃	11.15	10.82	11.09	11.22	12.82	12.82	10.82	11.15
Ce₂O₃	31.15	32.10	31.35	32.24	33.79	33.79	31.15	32.10
Pr₂O₃	3.97	4.05	3.87	3.60	4.03	4.05	3.60	3.97
Nd₂O₃	12.51	12.52	11.61	12.26	11.29	12.52	11.29	12.26
Sm₂O₃	2.32	2.11	2.43	2.25	1.88	2.43	1.88	2.25
Eu₂O₃	0.66	0.44	0.80	0.61	0.62	0.80	0.44	0.62
Gd₂O₃	1.75	1.62	2.14	1.50	1.95	2.14	1.50	1.75
Dy₂O₃	0.35	0.42	-	0.67	0.18	0.67	0.18	0.39
Y₂O₃	1.67	1.85	2.06	1.69	1.31	2.06	1.31	1.69
Lu₂O₃	0.20	0.10	0.10	-	-	0.20	0.10	0.10
SO₃	-	-	-	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01
CaO	0.80	0.77	0.91	0.79	0.51	0.91	0.51	0.79
Total	99.73	100.03	99.47	99.90	100.45	100.45	99.47	99.90
Th/U	64.52	75.46	41.52	84.26	42.65	84.26	41.52	64.52

主量元素 (%)	样品编号					最大值	最小值	平均值
主量元素 (%)	1-1	1-2	1-3	1-4	1-5	最大值	最小值	平均值
SiO₂	0.27	0.26	0.31	-	-	0.31	0.26	0.27
ThO₂	3.87	3.18	3.43	4.18	3.72	4.18	3.`18	3.72
UO₂	0.32	0.30	0.36	0.26	0.25	0.36	0.25	0.30
P₂O₅	29.00	29.05	29.38	28.84	29.00	29.38	28.84	29.00
La₂O₃	11.45	11.20	10.73	10.34	10.70	11.45	10.34	10.73
Ce₂O₃	33.56	32.53	34.30	38.64	37.82	38.64	32.53	34.30
Pr₂O₃	4.06	3.20	3.87	3.36	3.75	4.06	3.20	3.75
Nd₂O₃	11.87	11.50	12.95	11.53	11.22	12.95	11.22	11.53
Sm₂O₃	2.36	2.06	2.60	1.58	1.73	2.60	1.58	2.06
Eu₂O₃	0.62	0.81	0.54	0.69	0.76	0.81	0.54	0.69
Gd₂O₃	1.29	2.30	1.36	0.73	0.70	2.30	0.70	1.29
Dy₂O₃	0.78	0.82	0.09	0.05	0.23	0.82	0.05	0.23
Y₂O₃	1.11	1.32	0.21	0.16	0.12	1.32	0.12	0.21
Lu₂O₃	-	0.05	0.14	0.19	0.20	0.20	0.05	0.17
SO₃	0.03	0.03	-	0.01	0.02	0.03	0.01	0.03
CaO	0.80	0.81	0.80	0.04	-	0.81	0.04	0.80
Total	101.39	99.44	101.50	100.59	100.20	101.50	99.44	100.59
Th/U	12.01	10.50	9.60	16.14	15.11	16.14	9.60	12.01
主量元素 (%)	样品编号					最大值	最小值	平均值
主量元素 (%)	2-1	2-2	2-3	2-4	2-5	最大值	最小值	平均值
SiO₂	0.28	0.26	0.24	0.29	0.19	0.29	0.19	0.26
ThO₂	4.00	4.08	4.03	4.21	4.09	4.21	4.00	4.08
UO₂	0.06	0.05	0.10	0.05	0.10	0.10	0.05	0.06
P₂O₅	28.85	28.84	28.75	28.51	28.67	28.85	28.51	28.75
La₂O₃	11.15	10.82	11.09	11.22	12.82	12.82	10.82	11.15
Ce₂O₃	31.15	32.10	31.35	32.24	33.79	33.79	31.15	32.10
Pr₂O₃	3.97	4.05	3.87	3.60	4.03	4.05	3.60	3.97
Nd₂O₃	12.51	12.52	11.61	12.26	11.29	12.52	11.29	12.26
Sm₂O₃	2.32	2.11	2.43	2.25	1.88	2.43	1.88	2.25
Eu₂O₃	0.66	0.44	0.80	0.61	0.62	0.80	0.44	0.62
Gd₂O₃	1.75	1.62	2.14	1.50	1.95	2.14	1.50	1.75
Dy₂O₃	0.35	0.42	-	0.67	0.18	0.67	0.18	0.39
Y₂O₃	1.67	1.85	2.06	1.69	1.31	2.06	1.31	1.69
Lu₂O₃	0.20	0.10	0.10	-	-	0.20	0.10	0.10
SO₃	-	-	-	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01
CaO	0.80	0.77	0.91	0.79	0.51	0.91	0.51	0.79
Total	99.73	100.03	99.47	99.90	100.45	100.45	99.47	99.90
Th/U	64.52	75.46	41.52	84.26	42.65	84.26	41.52	64.52