Cooperative exploration methods of coal and uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata

WEI Yingchun; ZHANG Yun; LI Xin; CAO Daiyong; WANG Anmin; JIN Liangliang; NING Shuzheng

doi:10.12438/cst.2024-1615

Abstract：The cooperative exploration of coal and uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata has become a significant direction in the re-search for mineral resources,in order to improve the exploration efficiency,and save the exploration cost,the basic characteristics of coal and uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata production and occurrence are analyzed,the selection of technical means and the layout of co-operative exploration are discussed,and the cooperative exploration model of coal and uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata is construc-ted.The research indicates that:①The basic characteristics of uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata are analyzed,in coal-bearing strata,the spatial distribution of coal seams and uranium deposits is characterized by uranium deposits overlying coal seams(sandstone-type uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata)or alternating coal and uranium deposits(coal-rock type uranium deposits).The primary form of uranium occurrence in coal is through organic chelation or binding,whereas in sandstone,uranium mainly exists as uranium minerals,ad-sorbed uranium,or uranium-containing minerals.②According to the effectiveness of coal-bearing strata uranium deposits exploration technology means,coal and uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata exploration technology means can be divided into two situations.In the completed coal exploration area,utilize the coal exploration data effectively to identify high-anomaly strata and regions based on the natur-al gamma logging curve,verify the uranium mineralization information of the coal measures using γ energy spectrum logging,delineate the survey area for coal measures uranium deposits,and select appropriate technical methods in phases in accordance with the technical re-quirements for coal measures uranium exploration.In the new area of coal and uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata exploration,the co-operative exploration technology of coal and uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata has added the effective response of radioactive tech-nology(γ-energy spectrum logging,radon and its daughter measurement),core cataloging,penetrating geochemistry and other technical methods.③The layout of cooperative exploration of coal and uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata is discussed,in accordance with the standards of coal and uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata exploration and the principle of"cooperative design,cooperative deployment and cooperative construction",the cooperative exploration of coal and uranium deposits is carried out in two situations.In the area where the coal exploration work has been completed,the high abnormal strata of natural gamma logging curves and the regional deployment of construction verification holes are selected,the survey areas of coal measure uranium deposits are delineated,and the exploration engineer-ing is arranged in stages according to the coal measure uranium exploration standard.In the new exploration area of coal and uranium de-posits in coal-bearing strata,cooperative exploration of coal and coal-bearing uranium deposits should be carried out.First,coal resources should be sought in the whole exploration area,coal exploration engineering should be arranged,and coal bearing uranium targets should be delineated in the high abnormal intervals and regions of natural gamma logging curves.Secondly,in the target area of uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata,the exploration project of uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata is mainly carried out to find uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata.④Based on the effectiveness of cooperative exploration technical means and the economy of cooperative exploration cost,a cooperative exploration model of coal and uranium deposits in coal-bearing strata is constructed from the aspects of cooperative ex-ploration technical means and cooperative exploration engineering layout,which provides theoretical and methodological basis for cooper-ative exploration of coal and coal-measure uranium ore production.