Reconnaissance-style EPMA chemical U–Th–Pb dating of uraninite

Abstract

EPMA chemical U-Th-Pb uraninite analysis has been used to constrain the age of the granite-related, Rössing South uranium prospect in Namibia and the Kintyre unconformity-related uranium deposit in Western Australia. Uraninite from the Rössing South prospect has an age of 496.1 ± 4.1 Ma, which is similar to the age of other uranium deposits in the region at Rössing and Goanikontes. Uraninite grains analysed from the Kintyre deposit have an age of 837 +35/-31 Ma suggesting that the uranium mineralisation occurred during or after the latest period of sedimentation in the Yeneena Basin during the ca 850 to ca 800 Ma Miles Orogeny.