EXTECH IV ATHABASCA URANIUM DEPOSIT DATABASE
Geological Survey of Canada, Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, and Alberta Geological Survey


DEPNO COUNTRY LOCATION ALLNAMES COMMODITIES
40031 Canada (Saskatchewan) 58.22.05 N -- 109.31.04 W OP Deposit; Cluff Lake OP Underground Mine; Cluff Lake OP Uranium Deposit U; Au

Database name: Uranium Deposits, Athabasca Basin
Custodial agency: Geological Survey of Canada
Compilers: Sunil S. Gandhi
Release date: 2007-03-02
   
Deposit name(s): OP Deposit (occurrence name); Cluff Lake OP Underground Mine (mine name); Cluff Lake OP Uranium Deposit (occurrence name)
Political location(s): Canada; Province or state: Saskatchewan; Nearest community: La Ronge (555 km NW)
NTS map data: 074K05 (Cluff Lake)
Deposit clan (type): Unconformity-associated
Deposit (sub) types: Unconformity-associated - Proterozoic - fracture-bound; main mineralization localized along a nearly vertical north-trending fault at the boundary of Earl River complex with Peter River gneisses, between two secondary shears dipping about 60° to the west; Reference: Koning, E., 2006: The Cluff Lake Deposits, West Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada; In Field Trip 3: Cluff Lake and Shea Creek Deposits; September 13-14; 2006 CIM Field Conference; Uranium: Athabasca Deposits and Analogues, Edited by Koning, E.; Robbins, J.; Carroll, J., Field Trip Guidebook, Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, CIM Geogolical Society, Saskatoon Section, 48 p., p. 1 - 32
Deposit status: past producer; Size category: small; Status comments: 25500 t ore
Geologic province: Churchill - Rae Craton
Geologic subprovince: Taltson-Thelon Magmatic Zone
Geologic district: Western Athabasca Basin / Carswell Impact Crater
Deposit object located: mine site
Commodities: U; Au
Mineralization styles: vein(s) (quartz-lined oxide-sulphide veins)
Geological ages: Late Paleoproterozoic (host rocks)
Middle Mesoproterozoic - Late Mesoproterozoic (mineralization)
Tectonic setting: continental marginal folds and faults in sub-Athabasca basement-intracratonic; multiple regimes; Formal name: Earl River and Peter River Paragneiss Complex (host rocks)
Coincident features: fault intersection(s) (the 'O' showing occurs in highly sheared zone at the intersection of two thrust faults, below 3 m of overburden, at the west margin of the 'OP' zone); Coincident feature name: unnamed
fold(s) (discontinuous veins occur in steep northerly fractures in core of a broad syncline of the Peter River Gneiss and structurally lower Earl River Gneiss); Coincident feature name: unnamed
faulted fold (the main OP zone is in a steep west-dipping fault 10 m west of the Peter River-Earl River gneiss boundary, and in a shear it displaces at a low angle); Coincident feature name: F1 Fault
breccia(s) (Post-mineralization: the Main zone at F1 faulted fault injected with the Cluff breccias that include fragments of mineralized rocks); Coincident feature name: Cluff breccia
paleoregolith
Regional tectonic structure: thrust fault (mineralization in the Peter River Gneiss beneath an overturned slab of the Athabasca sandstone and regolith, thrust along a 065° fault dipping 40° N) Tectonic structure name: unnamed
thrust fault (the overturned sandstone slab thrust over by the Peter River Gneiss along an E-W fault that dips 30° N and intersects the lower thrust at the deposit) Tectonic structure name: unnamed
brecciation related to meteorite impact (dyke-ike bodies of breccia formed as a result of relaxation after the meteorite impact ca. 450 Ma that formed the Carswell structure) Tectonic structure name: Cluff breccia
Host rocks: (1) metamorphic; paragneiss (hematized and veined); Depositional setting: mesozonal; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite (upper) - granulite; Component: main mineralized zone
External host rock forms:layered gneiss
Host rock protoliths:pelite, semipelite, psammite (feldspathic quartzite, pelites, carbonaceous pelites and minor mafic sediments of Paleoproterozoic age; locally a few beds of iron formation); Host rock protolith name: Peter River Gneiss
Internal host rock structures:fine to medium grained
Individual lithologies:felsic paragneiss (the felspathic metaquartzites are the main host; garnetiferous metapelites are common; associated minor mafic gneisses and granitoids)
mafic paragneiss (the felspathic metaquartzites are the main host; garnetiferous metapelites are common; associated minor mafic gneisses and granitoids)

(2) surficial; laterite (paleoweathered crystalline basement in thrust slices adjacent to Athabasca sandstone); Host series: paleoregolith; Depositional setting: subaerial; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed
External host rock forms:layered gneiss
paleoregolith
Host rock protoliths:metapelite and metasemipelite (high grade aluminous gneisses and associated quartzo-feldspathic layers of the Paleoproterozoic basement of the Mesoproterozoic Athabasca sandstones); Host rock protolith name: Peter River Gneiss
Internal host rock structures:fine to medium grained
Individual lithologies:hematized gneiss (strongly hematized Peter River gneisses are comparable with those in upper part of the sub-Athabasca lateritic profile elsewhere in the basin)
Host rock stratigraphy:Peter River Gneiss

(3) sedimentary; sandstone-siltstone-conglomerate (faulted and trusted basal unit of the Athabasca Group in southwestern part of the Carswell structure); Depositional setting: fluviatile; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed
External host rock forms:thin to thick bedded
Host rock protoliths:sandstone-siltstone-conglomerate (conglomerate, pebbly sandstone, siltstone and mudstones intercalated with medium grained sandstones); Host rock protolith name: Fair Point Formation
Internal host rock structures:fine to very coarse grained
Individual lithologies:sandstone (lithostratigraphy at the deposit poorly known; strata equivalent of the Fair Point Formation or the Shea Creek sequence outside the Carswell structure)
siltstone (lithostratigraphy at the deposit poorly known; strata equivalent of the Fair Point Formation or the Shea Creek sequence outside the Carswell structure)
conglomerate (lithostratigraphy at the deposit poorly known; strata equivalent of the Fair Point Formation or the Shea Creek sequence outside the Carswell structure)
Metallogenic signatures: U-Au
Alteration signatures: chlorite alteration: chlorite; What was altered: all minerals along faults and fractures
illite alteration: illite; What was altered: minor product with chlorite
Mineralogy: (alteration): penninite, clay minerals
(gangue minerals): dravite
(secondary alteration): kasolite, wulfenite
(vein mineralization): quartz, uraninite - ribboned, uraninite - euhedral, coffinite, sphalerite, galena, clausthalite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, tennantite, molybdenite, gold, quartz - secondary
Radiometric ages: Object dated: Mineralogy(2); Age - Ma: 800; Dating method: U-Pb; Concentrate: uraninite; Source rock: uranium ore; Event dated: mineralization; Interpretive comment: 207Pb/206Pb age; regarded as distinct from the main 1050 Ma episode of mineralization at Cluff Lake; Reference: Gancarz, A. J., 1979: Chronology of the Cluff Lake Area Uranium Deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada (Extended Abstract); In Uranium in Pine Creek Geosyncline: Proceedings of Symposium, Sydney, 1979, Edited by Ferguson, J.; Goleby, A. B., Proceedings of International Symposium, Interantional Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Interantional Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, STI/PUB555, 760 p., p. 91 - 94

Object dated: Mineralogy(4); Age - Ma: 892; +5; -5; Dating method: U-Pb; Concentrate: coffinite; Source rock: uranium ore; Event dated: mineralization (early); Interpretive comment: one sample of coffinite-quartz-tourmaline divided into four; age from 3 co-linear discordant points; Reference: Bell, K., 1985: Geochronology of the Carswell Area, Northern Saskatchewan; In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 33 - 46

Object dated: Mineralogy(3); Age - Ma: 890; -70; Dating method: U-Pb; Concentrate: uraninite; Source rock: uranium ore; Event dated: mineralization (early); Interpretive comment: one mainly uraninite sample divided into three; the age range from these and the other four combined; Reference: Bell, K., 1985: Geochronology of the Carswell Area, Northern Saskatchewan; In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 33 - 46
Deposit shape: vein zone
Deposit dimensions:length: 300 metre
width: 200 metre
depth: 100 metre

main zone
Deposit dimensions:length: 200 metre
depth: 100 metre
width: 2 metre
Qualified comments: (Applies to: discovery and development) The D ore body, and 3 other prospects were found in 1970: the 'OP' 500 m to the NNE, 'P' 200 m to the N, and 'O' 600 m to the NNW. All three were tested in mid 1970s by 350 holes to a depth of 100 m. The OP, O and P zones evaluated in 1980-1981 by a decline, drifts and crosscuts totalling 1500 m in length, to 50 m depth. Underground mining on OP in 1984-1985 produced 25500 t of ore grading 0.425 % U for 108.375 t U.

(Applies to: mineralization) The mineralization is characterized by quartz-lined oxide-sulphide veins.
Links to other databases: SMDI; Key value: 1150b
References:
Bell, K., 1985
Geochronology of the Carswell Area, Northern Saskatchewan
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 33 - 46

Bell, K.; Cacciotti, A. D.; Schnessl, J. H., 1985
Petrography and Geochemistry of the Earl River Complex, Carswell Structure, Saskatchewan - A Possible Proterozoic Komatiitic Succession
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 71 - 80

Bennett, R. W., 2002
Geological Atlas of Saskatchewan, Version 5 (2002)
Government of Saskatchewan, CD-ROM

Clauer, N.; Ey, F.; Gauthier-Lafaye, F., 1985
K-Ar Dating of Different Rock Types from the Cluff Lake Uranium Ore Deposits (Saskatchewan-Canada)
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 47 - 53

Currie, K. L., 1969
Geological Notes on the Carswell Circular Structure, Saskatchewan (74K)
Paper, Geological Survey of Canada, Publication code 67-32, 69 p..

Gancarz, A. J., 1979
Chronology of the Cluff Lake Area Uranium Deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada (Extended Abstract)
In Uranium in Pine Creek Geosyncline: Proceedings of Symposium, Sydney, 1979, Edited by Ferguson, J.; Goleby, A. B., Proceedings of International Symposium, Interantional Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Interantional Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, STI/PUB555, 760 p., p. 91 - 94

Harper, C. T., 1978
Geology of the Cluff Lake Uranium Deposits
Bulletin of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Volume 71, p. 68 - 78

Harper, C. T., 1983
The Geology and Uranium Deposits of the Central Part of the Carswell Structure, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Ph. D. Thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, U.S.A., 337 p..

Hendry, H. E.; Wheatly, K. L., 1985
The Carswell Formation, Northern Saskatchewan: Stratigraphy, Sedimentology, and Structure
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 87 - 103

Hoeve, J.; Quirt, D.; Alonso, D., 1985
Clay Mineral stratigraphy of the Athabasca Group: Correlation Inside and Outside the Carswell Structure
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 19 - 31

Koning, E., 2006
The Cluff Lake Deposits, West Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada
In Field Trip 3: Cluff Lake and Shea Creek Deposits; September 13-14; 2006 CIM Field Conference; Uranium: Athabasca Deposits and Analogues, Edited by Koning, E.; Robbins, J.; Carroll, J., Field Trip Guidebook, Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, CIM Geogolical Society, Saskatoon Section, 48 p., p. 1 - 32

Lainé, R., 1985
Conclusion: the Carswell Uranium Deposits - An Example of Not So Unique Unconformity-Related Uranium Mineralization
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 225 - 230

Lainé, R. T., 1986
Uranium Deposits of the Carswell Structure
Chapter 4, Section Saskatchewan Unconformity-associated and Sedimentary-hosted Deposits of Helikian Age, In Uranium Deposits of Canada, Edited by Evans, E. L., Special Volume, The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 33, 323 p., p. 155 - 169

Landais, P.; Dereppe, J. M., 1985
A Chemical Study of the Carbonaceous Material from the Carswell Structure
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 165 - 174

Pacquet, A.; McNamara, S., 1985
The Study of the Basal Athabasca Succession in the D, E, L, F and S Areas of the Carswell Structure
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 81 - 86

Pagel, M.; Svab, M., 1985
Petrographic and Geochemical Variations within the Carswell Structure Metamorphic Core and their Implications with Repsect to Uranium Mineralization
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 55 - 70

Pagel, M.; Ruhlmann, F., 1985
Chemistry of Uranium Minerals in Deposits and Showings of the Carswell Structure (Saskatchewan-Canada)
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 153 - 164

Pagel, M.; Wheatly, K.; Ey, F., 1985
The Origin of the Carswell Circular Structure
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 213 - 223

Powell, B., 1985
Case Histories of the Radon Tube Sampler in the Carswell Structure
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 189 - 199

Powell, B.; Koning, E.; Lainé, R., 1985
Gephysical Mapping of Gneiss Domes in the Carswell Structure and their Relationship to Uranium Mineralization
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 201 - 212

Prasad, N., 2002
Uranium File: Canmindex
Geological Survey of Canada, Canadian Mineral Occurrence Index (Canmindex), CD-ROM

Ramaekers, P., 1981
Hudsonian and Helikian Basins of the Athabasca Region, Northern Saskatchewan
In Proterozoic Basins of Canada, Edited by Campbell, F. H. A., Paper, Geological Survey of Canada, Geological Survey of Canada, 81-10, 444 p., p. 219 - 233

Ramaekers, P.; Yeo, G. M.; Jefferson, C. W., 2001
Preliminary Overview of Regional Stratigraphy in the late Paleoproterozoic Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
In Summary of Investigations 2001, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey; EXTEC IV Athabasca Uranium Multidisciplinary Study, Edited by Anonymous, Miscellaneous Reports, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Department of Energy and Mines, 2001- 4.2b, 1 disks, p. 240 - 251

Rimsaite, J. Y. H., 1977
Occurrences of Rare Secondary U- and Pb-bearing Mineral Aggregates in Uranium Deposits, Northern Saskatchewan
In Report of Activities 1977, Edited by Anonymous, Paper, Geological Survey of Canada, 77-1C, p. 95 - 97

Ruhlmann, F., 1985
Mineralogy and Metallogeny of Uraniferous Occurrences in the Carswell Structure
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 105 - 120

Saskatchewan Geological Survey, 2003
Geology, and Mineral and Petroleum Resources of Saskatchewan
Miscellaneous Report, Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, Publication code 2003-7, 173 p., 4 maps.

Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, 2001
Saskatchewan Mineral Deposits Index
Government of Saskatchewan, Geological Atlas of Saskatchewan, Internet

Tona, F.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., 1985
Geology and Mineralization in the Carswell Structure - A General Approach
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 1 - 18

Tremblay, L. P., 1982
Geology of the Uranium Deposits Related to the Sub-Athabasca Unconformity
Paper, Geological Survey of Canada, Publication code 81-20, 56 p..

Wilson, J. S., 1985
Geochemistry and Glacial Geology - Application to Exploration in the Carswell Structure
In The Carswell Structure Uranium Deposits, Saskatchewan, Edited by Lainé, R.; Alonso, D.; Svab, M., Special Paper, Geological Association of Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 29, 230 p., p. 175 - 188

Production data: Report period: from 1984 until 2000; 47,701 metric ton ore; Provisional entry?: yes; Yearly or summary?: S
Grade-commodity information:U: 0.36 percent
weight-commodity information:U: 108 metric ton
Reference: Koning, E., 2006: The Cluff Lake Deposits, West Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada; In Field Trip 3: Cluff Lake and Shea Creek Deposits; September 13-14; 2006 CIM Field Conference; Uranium: Athabasca Deposits and Analogues, Edited by Koning, E.; Robbins, J.; Carroll, J., Field Trip Guidebook, Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, CIM Geogolical Society, Saskatoon Section, 48 p., p. 1 - 32
Percent weights allocated to deposit: 0.0%
Associated mine(s): Cluff Lake OP Uranium Mine (40015)
Associated group(s): Cluff Lake deposits (40002)

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