The Relationship Between Structural and Tectonic Evolution and Mineralization at the Coles Hill Uranium Deposit, Pittsylvania County, Virginia

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dc.contributor.authorWyatt, John Guthrieen
dc.contributor.committeecochairBodnar, Robert J.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairLaw, Richard D.en
dc.contributor.committeememberAylor, Joseph G.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHenika, William S.en
dc.contributor.departmentGeosciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:46:52Zen
dc.date.adate2009-10-22en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:46:52Zen
dc.date.issued2009-10-07en
dc.date.rdate2009-10-22en
dc.date.sdate2009-10-20en
dc.description.abstractThe role of structure and tectonics in the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits and the localization of high-grade mineralization associated with fractures is well documented. In this study we have characterized the structural setting associated with uranium mineralization in the Coles Hill uranium deposit by relating the observed metamorphic and structural features (mylonitic foliation and fractures) to regional tectonic activity. Drill cores and outcrops observed in this study show that NE/SW oriented fractures appear to be related to Mesozoic movement along the Chatham Fault. NW/SE oriented fractures cross cut and offset the NE/SW oriented fractures by1 to 2 cm and therefore post-date the NE/SW oriented fractures. NW/SE fracture orientations and parallel to the NW/SE regional cross faults and are suggested to relate to the formation of the cross faults during post Triassic basin inversion. Uranium mineralization is located within horizontal to shallowly dipping fractures suggesting uplift and erosion to form possible tension veins. The cross faults with NW/SE orientations created pathways in which uranium bearing hydrothermal fluids could migrate from the Triassic basin shales westward into the adjacent highly fractured crystalline rocks, precipitating uranium due to oxidation-reduction reactions.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-10202009-145346en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-10202009-145346/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/35446en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartWyatt_Masters_Thesis.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectstructureen
dc.subjecttectonicsen
dc.subjectColes Hillen
dc.subjecturanium depositen
dc.titleThe Relationship Between Structural and Tectonic Evolution and Mineralization at the Coles Hill Uranium Deposit, Pittsylvania County, Virginiaen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineGeosciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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