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Large-Scale Aerial Gamma Spectroscopy for Exploring Sandstone-type Uranium Deposits: A Case Study of Gexi Area, Inner Mongolia

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Abstract

The surface mineral exploration information of uranium deposits in sedimentary basins is often weak and unidentifiable. To study the rapid, efficient, and economical method, we conducted large-scale and high-precision aerial gamma energy spectrometry measurements using an unmanned helicopter in the Gexi area of the Erlian Basin, Inner Mongolia. The distribution characteristics and enrichment patterns of radioactive elements like uranium, thorium and potassium were analyzed through data processing and interpretation. In this paper, we compare these findings with the tectonic and sedimentary characteristics to explore the relationships among the energy spectrum anomaly features, radon gas anomaly features, and known uranium mineralization features. The results show that airborne gamma spectrometry information serves as a reliable indicator of the distribution of sandstone-type uranium ore bodies. Furthermore, it also helps in determining the redox zoning and uranium mineralization in the sedimentary basin.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the support of the Chengdu University of Technology and the Tianyu Aviation Technology team, as well as the guidance of our editorial staff in the preparation of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Carbon Neutrality, General Prospecting and Research Institute of China National Administration of Coal Geology, Beijing, 100039, China

    Zhe Jiang, XiaoZhong Han, Zhongyue Lin, Hang Hu, Qiang Lai, Yi Gu, ZhaoJian Wu & Xin Zhao

  2. School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Zhe Jiang, XiaoZhong Han, Zhongyue Lin, Hang Hu, Qiang Lai, Yi Gu, ZhaoJian Wu & Xin Zhao

  3. China Coal Geology Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100040, China

    Zhe Jiang, XiaoZhong Han, Zhongyue Lin, Hang Hu, Qiang Lai, Yi Gu, ZhaoJian Wu & Xin Zhao

  4. Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Zhe Jiang, XiaoZhong Han, Zhongyue Lin, Hang Hu, Qiang Lai, Yi Gu, ZhaoJian Wu & Xin Zhao

Authors
  1. Zhe Jiang
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  2. XiaoZhong Han
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  3. Zhongyue Lin
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  4. Hang Hu
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  6. Yi Gu
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  7. ZhaoJian Wu
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  8. Xin Zhao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to XiaoZhong Han.

Additional information

Jiang Zhe, graduated from Hebei Geo University with a M.Eng. in structural geology, is pursuing his PhD at China University of Mining and Technology. He is currently working at China National Coal Geological Administration as an engineer. His research interests include mineral geological exploration, metallogeny and geothermal development.

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Project of China General Administration of Coal and Geology (ZMKJ-2018-18-ZMKJ-2021-ZX02) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42141012)

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Jiang, Z., Han, X., Lin, Z. et al. Large-Scale Aerial Gamma Spectroscopy for Exploring Sandstone-type Uranium Deposits: A Case Study of Gexi Area, Inner Mongolia. Appl. Geophys. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-023-1016-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-023-1016-0

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