Rössing
Erongo (Damara orogen, Central Zone), Namibia
Magmatic (Ni-Cu-PGE, carbonatites)U
- Type
- Intrusive uranium (alaskite, Rössing type)
The largest alaskite-hosted uranium deposit in the world, discovered in 1928 and in production since 1976 (Rio Tinto, then CNUC since 2019). The grade is low (about 0.035% U) but the volume is huge: uranium occurs in late-kinematic pegmatites and alaskites of the Damara orogen, intruded into metasediments (gneiss, schist, quartzite, marble). Mineralisation is about 500 Ma old.
δ238U in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : NBL CRM 112-A
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.16 ‰ | uraninite (intrusive alaskite type) Mean value for the intrusive category in the Brennecka (2010) compilation, where Rössing is among the type examples. A signature close to primary igneous sources (around 0.1 ‰), hence little fractionation between source and ore. Distinct from the Niger sandstones (+0.29 ‰) and the Athabasca unconformity (+0.2 ‰). | Brennecka et al. 2010, Variations in the uranium isotopic compositions of uranium ores fr… |
Deposits of the same type
- Bushveld, Merensky Reef South Africa
- Bushveld, UG2 chromitite South Africa
- Bushveld, Platreef South Africa
- Great Dyke (Main Sulfide Zone) Zimbabwe
- Pechenga Russia
- Jinchuan China
- Voisey's Bay Canada
- Bayan Obo China
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Rössing, isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/rossing/ (accessed 2026-10-06).
@misc{isofind2026rossingisotopesignatures,
title = {Rössing, isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/rossing/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06}
}Updated : 2026-10-06