Phreatic uranium mineralisation hosted by Neogene sediments from the Taunsa area, Dera Ghazi Khan, Eastern Sulaiman Range, Pakistan: unique exploration targets in a deformed geological setting

The Taunsa uranium mineralisation is hosted by the upper Miocene–Pliocene Litra Formation, part of molasse sediments (Siwalik Group) deposited in Himalayan foreland basin eastern Sulaiman Range, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan. Formation only rock unit hosting economic-grade occurrences stratigraphic record Surface radioactivity mainly associated with cemented layers host sandstone, known as hard-bands, whereas weakly sandstone non-radioactive. outcropping dominantly whitish grey owing to bleaching, which probably related hydrocarbon migration from underlying marine black shales. main sandstone-type phreatic its parallelism water-table, concordantly oriented tabular (roll-type) ore subordinate. have high dips ranging 70 85°E indicating a deformed geological setting that makes unique. Uranium trapped mostly scant organic matter, hydrocarbons, and also Fe–Ti-oxide phases, phyllosilicates (chlorite biotite), graphitic schist shale clasts sandstone. minerals are coffinite, pitchblende minor brannerite. phases accompanied contents Ca, Fe, Ti, Si Al. Radiometric disequilibrium strongly positive, (roll-front) moderately turn suggests former younger than latter. coexistence two ore-types, characterised different intensities radiometric within same deposit, has possibly resulted remobilisation tectonically uplifted reprecipitation at horizontally redox interface following water-table aquifers.KEY POINTSThe resource oxidation earlier mineralisation.The very young, indicated low positive comparison ore.Uranium pitchblende, coffinite brannerite, matter origin, phases.Outcrop area pervasively bleached marked flat topography.