Vestnik Otdelenia nauk o Zemle RAN VOL. 2, NZ6004, doi:10.2205/2010NZ000022, 2010

Deep structure of the earth's crust in the vicinity of the Streltsovsky uranium ore field (Eastern Transbaikalia) from the data of microseismic sounding

Aleshin A. P., V. I. Velichkin, A. V. Gorbatikov, M. Yu. Stepanova, Vik. B. Komarov, Vl. B. Komarov

Abstract

Microseismic sounding has been used to explore the Earth's crust structure beneath the Streltsovsky caldera which hosts 19 unique on reserves Mo-U deposits. Images of seismic heterogeneities in the Earth's interiors were interpreted as a column of the crust disintegration and magma-fluid permeability (mantle plume) ~5 km wide, rooted down to the depths of more than 50 km. Two levels of magma chambers have been disclosed: the lower-crustal chamber at the depths of 35–40 km and the upper-crustal chamber at the depths of 7–15 km. Subvertical separated fault zones connect the upper-crustal chambers with the zone of ore deposition forming the pathways for acid magma and presumably for uranium-bearing fluids. The results obtained confirm the hypothesis about magmatogeneous (postmagmatic) source of uranium for the deposits of the Streltsovsky ore field.

Received 28 April 2010; published 5 June 2010.