Abstract:Deep-seated fluid activity and the recently proposed “exudative” metallogenic model for sandstone-type uranium deposits are closely
associated with reducing geological environments. Therefore, a systematic
understanding of uranium speciation, mobility, and controlling mechanisms under
reducing conditions is essential for clarifying uranium transport in deep
fluids and for improving genetic interpretations of uranium mineralization. In
this study, the occurrence forms and migration potential of uranium in several
representative reducing systems enriched in organic ligands, silica, sulfur,
halogens, and carbonate are comprehensively reviewed. The results indicate that
uranium in reducing environments does not necessarily occur exclusively as insoluble
mineral phases. Instead, its speciation is strongly controlled by pH, redox
conditions, ligand composition, ligand concentration, temperature, and
colloidal interactions. Under acidic reducing conditions, uranium may occur as
U(IV) -SO42- complexes, U(IV) -F- complexes,
U(IV) -Cl- complexes, and U(IV) -organic ligand complexes. In
contrast, under neutral to alkaline reducing conditions, uranium is more likely
to exist as uranyl carbonate complexes, Ca2+-U(VI) -CO32- complexes, U(IV) -Si colloids, UO2 colloids, or as uranium adsorbed
onto organic matter-related carriers. The mobility of these uranium species
varies markedly among different geochemical systems. Under ambient geological
conditions, uranyl carbonate complexes, Ca2+-U(VI) - CO32- complexes, UF3+, UF32+ , UF40 (aq), U(IV)-Cit33- complexes, and U(IV)-Si colloids may
exhibit relatively strong mobility. Among them, carbonate and
calcium-uranyl-carbonate complexes can significantly enhance uranium solubility
under weakly alkaline conditions, whereas U(IV)-Si colloids may remain
dispersed and mobile owing to their nanoscale particle size and favorable
surface charge characteristics. Under high-temperature geological conditions,
UCl04 (aq) may become an important mobile uranium species, particularly in
acidic, high-salinity reducing fluids. Ligand concentration is a key factor
governing the stability and migration capacity of complexed uranium species,
and it also influences the formation and persistence of U(IV)-Si colloids.
Meanwhile, positively charged mineral colloids may restrict the migration of
U(IV) -Si colloids through colloid-colloid interactions, thereby reducing
uranium mobility. The effect of temperature on uranium speciation and mobility
has been investigated only in a limited number of systems, and its role remains
insufficiently constrained. Overall, previous studies have mainly focused on
room-temperature and atmospheric-pressure systems, or on single hightemperature
experimental conditions. However, the geochemical behavior of uranium species
under coupled lowto medium-temperature and medium- to high-pressure conditions,
as well as under medium- to high-temperature and medium- to high-pressure
conditions, remains poorly understood. Future research should therefore
emphasize laboratory simulations of reducing environments under low- to
medium-temperature and medium- to highpressure conditions, and progressively
extend such investigations to medium- to high-temperature and mediumto high-pressure
systems. These efforts will provide important constraints on the occurrence
forms, migration mechanisms, and evolutionary behavior of uranium species in
deep reducing ore-forming environments.