Experimental hydrothermal leaching of uranium and associated elements from granitoids

Dynamic experiments with percolating solutions confirm the results of earlier static experiments. When a hot (200C), moderately alkaline sulfide-carbonate solution, typical of fluid inclusions in minerals of endogenetic uranium deposits, reacts with crushed (-0.6 to +0.2 mm) samples of the different types of granitoid rocks constituting the basement of ore-bearing volcanotectonic structures, the solution is enriched (up to 10-4 to 10-3 g/l), in uranium, molybdenum, lead, and titanium, as well as in potassium and silica (up to 10-1 g/l). The extent of enrichment in uranium depends on the original uranium content of the rocks