Methods for verifying the relationship between weak uranium information and uranium-rich geological bodies in the covered areas of Erlian Basin, Inner Mongolia

Abstract The Erlian Basin, being an inportant base for sandstone-type uranium deposit exploration in Chin, is affected by overburden layers, resulting in indistinct characteristics of uranium anomalies in airborne gamma-ray spectrometry(AGS). To harness the potential of AGS, it is imperative to develop effective verification methods that can identify the spatial relationship between weak uranium information and deep uranium-rich geological bodies. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of geophysical and geochemical measurements conducted in four distinct areas. There is a significant positive correlation between the ground gamma spectrometry equivalent uranium(eUGGS) content, soil radon concentration(CRn), geoelectrochemical uranium(UGEC) and metal activity state uranium(UMAS) content directly above and at the edges of the uranium-rich geological bodies. When the buried depth of the uranium-rich geological body is more than 100 m, the eUGGS content and CRn above it mainly show locally weak increases with low values, while sharp anomalies and high-value zones are more likely to appear at its edges. Meanwhile, UGEC and UMAS content show sawtooth-like uranium peak anomalies on the profile. The verification methods and corresponding interpretation indicators, namely GGS, CRn, GEC or MAS measurements, can quickly reveal the spatial relationship and provide reliable basis for concealed uranium deposits exploration.