| Title | Mineralogy of a fertile fluid conduit related to unconformity-type uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan |
| Download | Download (whole publication) |
| Author | Adlakha, E E; Hattori, K; Zaluski, G; Kotzer, T G; Davis, W J; Potter, E G |
| Source | Targeted Geoscience Initiative 4: unconformity-related uranium systems; by Potter, E G (ed.); Wright, D M (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 7791, 2015 p. 74-82, https://doi.org/10.4095/295785 (Open Access) |
| Year | 2015 |
| Publisher | Natural Resources Canada |
| Document | open file |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | on-line; digital |
| Related | This publication is contained in Potter, E G; Wright, D M;
(2015). Targeted Geoscience Initiative 4: unconformity-related uranium systems, Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 7791 |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Alberta; Saskatchewan |
| NTS | 64E; 64L; 64M; 74E; 74F; 74G; 74H; 74I; 74J; 74K; 74L; 74M; 74N; 74O; 74P |
| Lat/Long WENS | -112.0000 -102.0000 60.0000 57.0000 |
| Subjects | economic geology; radioactive minerals; mineralogy; unconformity-type deposit; unconformities; uranium deposits; uranium; mineral deposits; mineral occurrences; mineralization; hydrothermal alteration;
hydrothermal deposits; structural features; faults; formation fluids; Athabasca Basin |
| Illustrations | cross-sections; location maps; tables; photographs; photomicrographs; plots |
| Program | Targeted
Geoscience Initiative (TGI-4), Uranium Ore Systems |
| Released | 2015 03 02 (08:30) |
| Abstract | (unpublished)
This report documents the occurrence and chemical variation of hydrothermal alteration minerals along the P2 fault, the structural host for the world-class McArthur River uranium
deposit, in order to identify the mineralogical footprint of ore-forming fluids, define exploration criteria for fertile basement structures associated with this deposit type and infer the nature of the fluids. An assemblage of florencite (LREE-rich
aluminum phosphate-sulphate; APS) and magnesio- foitite (alkali deficient Mg tourmaline) with sudoite and illite formed in the basement rocks along the P2 fault and is distinct relative to the alteration assemblages that formed in the basement rocks
outside the fault. This assemblage occurs along the entire P2 fault, regardless of its proximity to the McArthur River uranium deposit and is interpreted to be the mineralogical footprint of ore-forming fluids. It may be useful when targeting fertile
basement faults during exploration. Compositional zoning in APS minerals indicate that earlier fluids were SO4 2--rich and became P and LREErich through interactions with the basement rocks. The chemical composition of florencite and magnesio-foitite
indicates that mineralizing fluids contained low Na and were enriched in REE, especially in the ore zone. High d11B values in magnesio-foitite are interpreted as being sourced from B dissolution by fluids from evaporitic rocks. The similar chemistry
and occurrence of these minerals along the entire P2 fault, regardless of proximity to ore, indicate that the P2 fault was a conduit for mineralizing fluids and that the precipitation of uranium was selective to the location of the McArthur River
deposit. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 295785 |
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