Hydrothermal alteration and elemental mass changes of the Xiangyangping uranium deposit in the Miao’ershan ore field, South China

•The Xiangyangping deposit comprises red- and grey-altered zones.•The red-altered zone dominated by conversion of plagioclase to K-mica/illite and K-feldspar.•Abundant K-feldspar gains in the grey-altered zone were altered to K-mica/illite.•Si, Al, K and P gain in the red-altered zone and loss in the grey-altered zone.