Diversity of uranium deposits in China - An introduction to the Special Issue

As one of the top ten countries with important uranium resources, China hosts most of the fifteen types of uranium deposits identified by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), among which the economically most important ones are sandstone-type, granite-type, volcanic-type, and carbonaceous-siliceous-pelitic rock- or carbonate-type. This Special Issue provides an up-to-date perspective of the geological characteristics, metal-logenic environments, ore-forming mechanisms and exploration methods by the Chinese uranium geoscience community, of the more important types of uranium deposits in China. Among the fourteen papers, six are on sandstone-type, two on volcanic-related, two on granite-related, two on intrusive-type, one on carbonaceous-siliceous-pelitic rock-type or carbonate-type, and one on IOCG or polymetallic iron oxide breccia complex-type. These papers provide useful references for comparison between the Chinese uranium deposits and their counterparts in other parts of the world, and will contribute to further advancement of the global uranium geoscience and resource exploration.

Automated summary

China, as one of the top ten countries with important uranium resources, hosts most of the fifteen types of uranium deposits identified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with sandstone-type, granite-type, volcanic-type, and carbonaceous-siliceous-pelitic rock- or carbonate-type being the most economically important. Research provided by the Chinese uranium geoscience community in this Special Issue offers an up-to-date perspective on the geological characteristics, metal-logenic environments, ore-forming mechanisms, and exploration methods of these important types of uranium deposits in China. The papers in this issue provide valuable references for comparing Chinese uranium deposits with those in other parts of the world, contributing to the global advancement of uranium geoscience and resource exploration.