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


DEPNO COUNTRY LOCATION ALLNAMES COMMODITIES
40006 Canada (Saskatchewan) 57.52.32 N -- 104.03.53 W West Bear Uranium Deposit U; Ag; Pb; Ni

Database name: Uranium Deposits, Athabasca Basin
Custodial agency: Geological Survey of Canada
Compilers: Sunil S. Gandhi
Release date: 2007-03-02
   
Deposit name(s): West Bear Uranium Deposit
Political location(s): Canada; Province or state: Saskatchewan; Nearest community: Rabbit Lakemine-mill complex (43 km SSW)
NTS map data: 074H16 (Poulton Lake)
Deposit clan (type): Unconformity-associated
Deposit (sub) types: Unconformity-associated - Proterozoic - clay-bound; deposit straddles the sub-Athabasca unconformity; main part in basement; mineralogy and alteration typical of deposit-type; Reference: 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..
Deposit status: advanced prospect; Size category: small
Geologic province: Churchill - Hearne Craton
Geologic subprovince: Wollaston Domain (Fold Belt)
Geologic district: Eastern Athabasca Basin
Deposit object located: subcrop
Commodities: U; Ag; Pb; Ni
Mineralization styles: aggregations in graphitic clay; disseminations in graphitic clay; dissemination above unconformity; veining in basement at unconformity; dissemination below unconformity
Geological ages: Early Mesoproterozoic - Middle Mesoproterozoic (mineralization)
Tectonic setting: continental marginal deformation zone-fold belt; convergent; Formal name: Wollaston Fold Belt (host rocks)
continental surficial-paleoweathering; stable; Formal name: sub-Athabasca regolith (host rocks)
continental basin-intracratonic; stable; Formal name: Athabasca Group (host rocks)
Coincident features: paleoregolith (mineralization in strongly paleoweathered zone at sub-Athabasca unconformity, and extends several metres below it ); Coincident feature name: pyrite-chlorite-graphite schist
unconformity (along the unconformity paraschist and paragneiss are thoroughly altered to a varicoloured clay zone 3 m thick); Coincident feature name: Sub-Athabasca unconformity
lithology (mineralization extends into altered basal quartz arenites with clay matrix); Coincident feature name: Manitou Falls Formation
Regional tectonic structure: fold belt (paragneisses trend 065° and dip 20° to southeast; insufficient exposures and drill data for structural interpretations) Tectonic structure name: Wollaston fold belt
cross-fault (deposit affected by a set of northwest-trending normal and reverse faults, with horizontal vertical offsets upto 25 and 9 m, respectively) Tectonic structure name: post-ore northwest faults
Host rocks: (1) metamorphic; paragneiss (metapelites-quartzite); Depositional setting: platform-shelf; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite - upper
External host rock forms:thin to thick bedded
thin to thick bedded
thin to thick bedded
Host rock protoliths:carbonaceous shale-siltstone (commonly pyritic; interbedded with siltstone and impure quartz arenite); Host rock protolith name: unit of Wollaston Supergroup
aluminous shale (structurally, and possibly strattigraphically underlies the carbonaceous shale); Host rock protolith name: unit of Wollaston Supergroup
pelite and semipelite (occurs in the southwestern part of the deposit); Host rock protolith name: unit of Wollaston Supergroup
Internal host rock structures:gneissic to schistose
augen gneiss
gneissic to schistose
Individual lithologies:graphite-pyrite gneiss (graphite-pyrite-quartz-chlorite gneiss is the main host unit and associated paragneisses; foliation and layering trend 065° and dip 20° to SE)
sillimanite augen gneiss (structurally, and possibly stratigraphically overlies an impure quartzite unit)
quartz-biotite gneiss (structurally, and possibly stratigraphically overlies the pyritic graphitic metapelite)

(2) metamorphic; migmatite (anatectic and younger pegmatites); Depositional setting: platform-shelf; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite (upper) - granulite
External host rock forms:coarse grained segregations and dyke-like bodies
Host rock protoliths:metasedimentary schist and gneiss (formed during two stages of prograde metamorphism of the Hudsonian orogeny); Host rock protolith name: Wollaston Supergroup
Internal host rock structures:coarse pegmatitic
Individual lithologies:pegmatite (irregularly distributed in the metasedimentary sequence; commonly subparallel to the strata and foliation)
anatectic gneiss

(3) surficial; laterite (weathered basement; profile ~50 m deep); Host series: paleoregolith; Depositional setting: subaerial; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed
External host rock forms:lateritic profile
paleoregolith
Host rock protoliths:metasedimentary schist and gneiss (host graphitic schists are weathered to a relatively deeper level than other metasediments ); Host rock protolith name: Wollaston Supergroup
Internal host rock structures:lateritic zonation
Individual lithologies:laterite (a 3 m zone just beneath the sub-Athabasca unconformity strongly altered to a clayey mass; grading down to less altered zones)

(4) sedimentary; sandstone-conglomerate (basal beds mineralized); Depositional setting: fluviatile; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed
External host rock forms:thin to thick bedded, flat lying
Host rock protoliths:quartz arenites (includes minor mudstones); Host rock protolith name: Manitou Falls Formation
Internal host rock structures:fine to very coarse grained
Individual lithologies:sandstone (typical of fluvial sediments; deposit is 1.5 km west of the present boundary of the Athabasca Group)
conglomerate (typical of fluvial sediments; deposit is 1.5 km west of the present boundary of the Athabasca Group)
mudstone (typical of fluvial sediments; deposit is 1.5 km west of the present boundary of the Athabasca Group)
Country rocks: (1) metasedimentary rocks; (folded and metamorphosed); Country rock name: Wollaston Group; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite (upper) - granulite
Country rock protoliths:pelite and semipelite (interbedded shales and siltstones; includes graphitic beds); Country rock protolith name: unit of Lower Wollaston Group
impure sandstone (interbedded with pelites and semipelites); Country rock protolith name: unit of Lower Wollaston Group
paragneisses and paraschists (quartzo-feldspathic sediments); Country rock protolith name: units of Lower Wollaston Group
Individual lithologies:graphitic paragneiss/migmatite (includes pyritic graphitic horizons, sillimanite augen gneiss and quartz-biotite gneiss)
impure quartzite (thin to thick beds)
pegmatite (anatectic and younger pegmatites; formed during Husonian thermo-tectonic events; semiconcordant layers and dykes)

(2) conglomerate-sandstone; (flat-lying, undeformed); Country rock name: Manitou Falls Fm. / Athabasca Group; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed
Country rock protoliths:quartz arenites (basal siliciclastic units of the Athabasca Group; deposited in fluvial environment over nearly peneplaned basement affected by lateritic weathering); Country rock protolith name: Manitou Falls Formation
Metallogenic signatures: U
U-Pb-Ag-Ni
Alteration signatures: lateritic alteration: upper oxidized zone; lower reduced zone; What was altered: paragneiss and paraschists
illite alteration: illite, up to 60 m below unconformity; What was altered: feldspar; Component: mineralization
chlorite alteration: chlorite; hematite stain; What was altered: mafic silicates in paragneiss; Component: mineralization
argillic alteration: strong clay alteration in and around deposit; What was altered: paleoregolith; Component: mineralization
hematization: hematization, late stage ; What was altered: paleoregolith; Component: mineralization
illite alteration: illite, dominant in and around high grade ore; What was altered: Manitou Falls Formation; Component: mineralization
Mineralogy: (gangue): clay, pyrite, chlorite, graphite, galena
(graphitic clay ore): pitchblende - massive, pitchblende - sooty, pitchblende - disseminated, coffinite, uranoan carbon (Th-free thucolite), galena, pyrite, niccolite
(veins and disseminations): pitchblende, niccolite
Deposit shape: elongate pod
Deposit dimensions:length: 800 metre
width: 61 metre
thickness: 12 metre

lens, high grade core
Deposit dimensions:length: 450 metre
width: 20 metre
thickness: 8 metre
Qualified comments: (Applies to: discovery and development) Discovered in 1977 under a radioactive swamp; tested by 170 diamond and reverse circulation drill holes during 1977-'80; estimated resources: 462 t U in 0.125 Mt of ore at an average grade of 0.37 % U. The deposit is 17 to 40 m below surface; trends ENE and dips 20° to SE; the high grade part of it is 450 m long, averages 20 m in width and is 8 m thick; one 12 m drill section assayed 1.91 % U.

(Applies to: mineralization) Zone of uranium and nickel minerals in Athabasca sandstone and in older, Sub-Athabasa Aphebian rocks.
Links to other databases: SMDI; Key value: 1146
GSC U-Th File (Prasad); Key value: 3791
References:
Bennett, R. W., 2002
Geological Atlas of Saskatchewan, Version 5 (2002)
Government of Saskatchewan, CD-ROM

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

Rhys, D. A., 2002
Geological Report on the Hidden Bay Property, Wollaston Lake Area, Northern Saskatchewan
Report to UEX Corporation, Vancouver, B. C., Panterra Geoservices Inc., Surrey, B. C., Canadian Securities Commission website (www.sedar.com), 89 p..

Ruzicka, V., 1986
Uranium Deposits in the Rabbit Lake - Collins Bay Area, Saskatchewan
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. 144 - 154

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

Thomas, D. J.; Mathews, R. B.; Sopuck, V., 2000
Athabasca Basin (Canada) - Unconformity-type Uranium Deposits: Exploration Model, Current Mine Development and Exploration Directions
In Geology and Ore Deposits 2000: the Great Basin and Beyond; May 15 - 18, 2000 Symposium Proceedings (CD-ROM), Edited by Cluer, J. K.; Price, J. G.; Struhsacker, E. M.; Hardyman, R. F.; Morris, C. L., Symposium Proceedings, Geological Society of Nevada, Geological Society of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, 647 p., p. 103 - 126

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..

Ward, D. M., 1989
Rabbit Lake Project - History of Exploration and General Geology
Bulletin of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Volume 82, p. 40 - 48

Resource data:
Disclaimer - Reserves/Resource Data

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Natural Resources (NRCan) does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of Reserve and Resource information (Data) contained in this database, including whether the Data is compliant with any securities regulations or standards, and NRCan does not assume any liability with respect to any damage or loss incurred as a result of the use made of the Data.

Resource and reserve figures are historical in nature. The Data source provided with each set of figures should be cited if the Data are re-reported.

Estimate date: 2002; 0.1315 million metric tons ore; Combined with production?: no; Provisional entry?: no; Resource category: indicated resource
Grade-commodity information:U: 0.37312 percent
Cutoff grade-commodity:U: 0.03 percent
weight-commodity information:U: 487 metric ton
Reference: Rhys, D. A., 2002: Geological Report on the Hidden Bay Property, Wollaston Lake Area, Northern Saskatchewan; Report to UEX Corporation, Vancouver, B. C., Panterra Geoservices Inc., Surrey, B. C., Canadian Securities Commission website (www.sedar.com), 89 p..
Percent weights allocated to deposit: 100.0%

Generated 2007-03-02 2:36:47 PM with GQuery -- 3.7 ADO (3.19/3.20/3.21 -- 2006-02-24)
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