Application of Optically Stimulated Luminescence Technique in Exploring a Concealed Sandstone-type Uranium Deposit

Identifying ore-induced geochemical anomalies at the surface that indicate concealed deposits in buried areas remains a significant challenge in geochemical exploration. In this study, in order to trace the source of the geochemical anomalies, systematic luminescence intensity analyses were conducted on quartz grains from the Quaternary regolith at the Hadatu sandstone-type uranium deposit in the Erenhot Basin. The optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages were much older than the depositional ages of the Quaternary regolith. Moreover, quartz OSL ages were closely related to both borehole grades and sampling depths. Thus, the abnormal mineral OSL ages from near-surface sediments were ultimately controlled by the sandstone-type uranium deposits. This is identical to the rapid changes of quartz OSL ages (0.063 ka/cm) and equivalent doses (0.19 Gy/cm) with depths in a given sampling site. The instantaneous soil radon concentration was positively correlated with the quartz OSL apparent age, indicating their ore-induced origin and, as a result, their effectiveness in the exploration of concealed uranium deposits. Other parameters, including mobile-state uranium and Po-210 contents, were poorly correlated with quartz OSL ages and therefore should only be used with caution for geochemical exploration. This is the first time an attempt has been made to discriminate the ore-induced sources for different surface anomaly parameters, including instantaneous soil radon, mobile-state uranium and Po-210 contents for concealed sandstone-type uranium deposits.