| Title | Graphite-bearing and graphite-depleted basement rocks in the Dufferin Lake zone, south-central Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan |
| Download | Download (whole publication) |
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| Licence | Please note the adoption of the Open Government Licence - Canada
supersedes any previous licences. |
| Author | Pascal, M; Ansdell, K M; Annesley, I R |
| 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. 83-92, https://doi.org/10.4095/295786  Open Access |
| Year | 2015 |
| Publisher | Natural Resources Canada |
| Document | open file |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | on-line; digital |
| Related | This publication is contained in Targeted Geoscience
Initiative 4: unconformity-related uranium systems |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| NTS | 74G/05 |
| Lat/Long WENS | -108.0000 -107.5000 57.5000 57.2500 |
| Subjects | economic geology; radioactive minerals; unconformity-type deposit; unconformities; uranium deposits; uranium; mineral deposits; mineral occurrences; mineralization; basement geology; graphite;
petrography; Athabasca Basin; Dufferin Lake Zone |
| Illustrations | location maps; photographs; cross-sections; plots |
| Program | Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI-4) Uranium Ore Systems |
| Released | 2015 03 02 (08:30) |
| Abstract | Unconformity-type uranium deposits from the Athabasca Basin are interpreted to be the result of mixing between oxidized basinal brines and basement-derived reduced fluids/gases, and/or reduced basement
rocks. Graphite and/or its breakdown products may be responsible for uranium mineralization by acting as a reductant that could trigger deposition of uranium. Also, graphite is considered to be indicative of basement structures as it is often
concentrated along structures which can be identified as electromagnetic conductors. Underlying the sedimentary rocks of the basin in the Dufferin Lake zone (south-central Athabasca Basin) are variably graphitic pelitic schists (VGPS), which are
altered to chlorite and hematite (Red/Green Zone: RGZ), and locally bleached (BZ) near the unconformity. These “graphite-depleted zones” contain rocks which are similar in texture to the VGPS, and are assumed to have contained graphite prior to
alteration. The major element composition of the VGPS and RGZ are similar, but the RGZ and BZ are characterized by lower concentrations of carbon and sulphur. The BZ also has higher concentrations of uranium and boron. Raman analyses indicate that
well-ordered carbon species (graphite to semi-graphite) are present in the VGPS, with both types more common within shear zones. In contrast, only rare low-ordered carbon species (carbonaceous matter) were detected in the graphite-depleted samples
within the RGZ. Secondary fluid inclusions (FI) examined in different quartz vein generations provide an indication of the fluids that have interacted with the basement rocks. Monophase vapor, dominated by CH4 and N2 as identified by Raman, are the
most common type of fluid inclusion in the VGPS, whereas aqueous two-phase (L+V) and three-phase (L+V+Halite) FI occur in the RGZ. The latter are rich in NaCl and CaCl2 and are similar to brines identified elsewhere in the basin.
Overall, several
events are considered to be potentially responsible for graphite consumption. However, the most important processes likely occurred during retrograde metamorphism, and during fluid-rock interactions that ultimately created the RGZ and BZ. CH4 can be
generated by the breakdown of graphite during hydration reactions and/or cooling of C-O-H fluids, and N2 could have been generated by the breakdown of ammonium (NH4 +)-bearing feldspar and micas. Basinal brines that circulated through the RGZ could
also have broken down graphite and sulphides, and released gases/fluids into the sedimentary rocks of the basin. However, the absolute timing of graphite consumption is not known, and so the direct link with uranium deposition remains unclear.
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| GEOSCAN ID | 295786 |
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