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


DEPNO COUNTRY LOCATION ALLNAMES COMMODITIES
40021 Canada (Saskatchewan) 57.24.59 N -- 105.08.01 W Maverick Zone; Moore Lake Prospect; Moore Lake Project; Moore Lakes Property U; Ni; Co; Cu; Zn; Ag; REE

Database name: Uranium Deposits, Athabasca Basin
Custodial agency: Geological Survey of Canada
Compilers: Sunil S. Gandhi
Release date: 2007-03-02
   
Deposit name(s): Maverick Zone (occurrence name); Moore Lake Prospect (claim name); Moore Lake Project (claim name); Moore Lakes Property (claim name)
Political location(s): Canada; Province or state: Saskatchewan; Nearest community: Key Lake mine-mill complex (45 km 050°)
NTS map data: 074H06 (Russell Lake)
Deposit clan (type): Unconformity-associated
Deposit (sub) types: Unconformity-associated - Proterozoic - clay-bound; polymetallic mineralization straddles the sub-Athabasca Group unconformity with graphitic metapelite about 270 m below the surface; strong illitic alteration halo; reactivated faulting along the zone; Reference: Billard, D., 2006: Moore Lake Prospect (Maverick Zone); In Field Trip 2: McArthur River, Key Lake, Millennium, and Moore Lake Deposits; September 13-14; 2006 CIM Field Conference; Uranium: Athabasca Deposits & Analogues, Edited by Perkins, T.; Brisbin, D.; Roy, C.; Halaburda, J.; Billard, D., Field Trip Guidebook, Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, CIM Geogolical Society, Saskatoon Section, 85 p., p. 65 - 69
Deposit status: drilled showing; Size category: unknown; Status comments: the main Maverick zone is tested with closely spaced holes that confirm a length of 350 m along ENE strike and at depth of about 270 m; other zones are also found along the strike and to the northeast
Geologic province: Churchill - Hearne Craton
Geologic subprovince: Wollaston Domain (Fold Belt)
Geologic district: Eastern Athabasca Basin
Deposit object located: deposit centre (surface proj.)
Commodities: U; Ni; Co; Cu; Zn; Ag; REE
Mineralization styles: high grade core and low grade envelope (unconformity)
Geological ages: Late Paleoproterozoic - Early Mesoproterozoic (host rocks)
Middle Mesoproterozoic - Late Mesoproterozoic (mineralization)
Tectonic setting: epicontinental deformation zone-folding and thrusting; transpressive; Formal name: Wollaston Fold Belt (host rocks)
epicontinental deformation zone-basement reactivation; transpressive; Formal name: Granite gneiss domes (host rocks)
continental craton-paleoweathering; stable; Formal name: Paleoregolith (host rocks)
continental basin-intracratonic; stable; Formal name: Athabasca Basin (host rocks)
Coincident features: lithology (mineralization distributed mainly along the graphitic metapelite at the sub-Athabasca unconformity); Coincident feature name: Pelitic gneiss
unconformity (mineralization straddles the unconformity; extends deeper into the basement); Coincident feature name: Sub-Athabasca unconformity
Regional tectonic structure: graphitic mylonitic zone (probable post-Athabasca reactivation of movement along graphitic metapelite in the basement) Tectonic structure name: Maverick zone
Host rocks: (1) metamorphic; graphitic schist (graphitic metapelite; EM conductor; trend ENE, dip steep to the south); Depositional setting: platform-shelf; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite - upper
External host rock forms:beds and lenses
Host rock protoliths:carbonaceous shale-siltstone (interbedded with sandstones; deposited in Hudsonian foreland basin; deformed and metamosrphosed during Hudsonian orogeny); Host rock protolith name: unit of Lower Wollaston Supergroup
Internal host rock structures:gneissic to schistose
Individual lithologies:garnetiferous aluminous gneiss (the main host rock; biotite-plagioclaseągarnetącordierite-quartz gneiss, with some layers rich in chlorite/hornblende and pyroxene)
graphite schist

(2) 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 (peneplaned basement; relatively deeper paleoweathering along faults and shear zones ); Host rock protolith name: Wollaston Supergroup
Internal host rock structures:weathered fragile mass
Individual lithologies:graphitic metapelite (clay minerals and hematite as the main minerals formed during Early Mesoproterozoic weathering)
Host rock stratigraphy:Wollaston Supergroup

(3) sedimentary; sandstone-siltstone-conglomerate (basal unit of the Athabasca Group; includes fanglomerate; overlies crystalline basement); Depositional setting: fluviatile; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed
External host rock forms:thin to thick bedded, flat lying
Host rock protoliths:quartz arenites (diagenetically altered continental siliciclastic sediments at the base of 1.6 km thick Athabasca Group); Host rock protolith name: Bird Member, Manitou Falls Formation
Internal host rock structures:fine to very coarse grained
Country rocks: (1) pelite-semipelite; (basal unit of metasediments); Country rock name: Wollaston Group; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite - upper
Country rock protoliths:graphitic shale-siltstone (unit commonly in contact with or close to granitic basement dome formed during Trans-Hudson orogeny); Country rock protolith name: unit of Lower Wollaston Group
Individual lithologies:paragneisses and paraschists (includes graphitic metapelite horizons that are commonly sheared and schistose)

(2) meta-arkose; (overlies pelite-semipelite unit); Country rock name: unit of Lower Wollaston Group ; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite - upper
Country rock protoliths:arkosic sandstone (deposited in foreland basin of the Trans-Hudson orogen as part of the lower pelite-psammite sequence); Country rock protolith name: unit of Lower Wollaston Group
Individual lithologies:quartzo-feldspathic gneiss (generally massive; folded during the Trans-Hudson orogeny ca. 1880-1850 Ma)

(3) calc-silicate; (interbedded with pelites and psammites); Country rock name: unit of Lower Wollaston Group ; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite - upper
Country rock protoliths:calcareous sediments (limestone, marl and calcareous clastic sediments; occur as beds and lenses in pelites and psammites); Country rock protolith name: unit of Lower Wollaston Group
Individual lithologies:calc-silicate (fine to medium grained; well bedded)

(4) granitic gneisses; (reactivated Archean granites); Country rock name: basement of the Wollaston Group; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite (upper) - granulite
Country rock protoliths:granitic plutons (part of the Archean Hearne Province on which the Paleoproterozoic Wollaston Group was deposited); Country rock protolith name: remobilized Archean granites
Individual lithologies:gneissic granitoids (medium to coarse grained; tonalitic to granitic in composition)

(5) paleo-regolith; (up to 50 m thick lateritic profile); Country rock name: sub-Athabasca regolith; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed
Country rock protoliths:granitic gneisses & metasediments (nearly peneplaned basement exposed to lateritic weathering during the Early Mesoproterozoic); Country rock protolith name: sub-Athabasca basement
Individual lithologies:Lateritic (kaolinite-hematite rich; grades downward to illite-chlorite rich; pre-weathering textures preserved)

(6) conglomerate-sandstone; (preserved thickness: 50-250 m or more); Country rock name: Manitou Falls Fm. / Athabasca Group; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed
Country rock protoliths:arenites (fluvial; usually poor in feldspars; deposited on variably eroded and locally redeposited paleoregolith); Country rock protolith name: Manitou Falls B and C Formations
Individual lithologies:quartzose sandstone and gritstones (subordinate amount of conglomerate at the base; intercalated with red siltstone and shale)

(7) gabbroic intrusion; (lopoliths); Country rock name: Moore Lakes mafic intrusive complex; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed
Country rock protoliths:olivine diabase-gabbro (an intrusive complex dated at 1.11 Ga at the southeastern corner of the Athabasca basin ); Country rock protolith name: Moore Lakes mafic intrusive complex
Individual lithologies:olivine gabbro (medium to coarse; typical gabbroic texture; contains zircon and baddeleyite, which have been dated)
Metallogenic signatures: U-Ni-Co-Cu-As
Alteration signatures: chlorite alteration: green colouration due to chlorite; What was altered: mafic silicates in basement rocks; Component: alteration halo
sericite/muscovite alteration: micaceous minerals; What was altered: feldspars; Component: alteration halo
kaolinization: clay minerals, hematite coating, secondary silica; What was altered: feldspars
silicic alteration: quartz, replacive and open space filling; What was altered: host rocks, mainly sandstones; Component: above unconformity
hematization: hematite, limonite (goethite); What was altered: mafic silicates and mangetite; Component: alteration halo
tourmalinization: tourmaline; What was altered: sandstone matrix
Mineralogy: (oxide-arsenide-sulphide ore): uraninite, pitchblende, Ni-Co sulpharsenide, chalcopyrite, sphalerite
Radiometric ages: Object dated: Country Rocks(7); Age - Ma: 1,108.8; +2.4; -2.4; Dating method: U-Pb; Concentrate: baddeleyite and zircon; Source rock: olivine gabbro; Formal name: Moore Lakes intrusive complex; Event dated: country rock (intrusion); Interpretive comment: 2 baddeleyite fractions more concordant than 2 zircon fractions; age of Midcontinent Rift magmatism; Reference: French, J. E.; Chacko, T.; Heaman, L. M., 2001: Chemical U-Th-total Pb Dating of Baddeleyite by Electron Microprobe; Section Abstracts, In Eleventh Annual V. M. Goldschmidt Conference, Edited by Anonymous, Abstracts (CD-ROM), Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston
Deposit shape: cigar-shaped; Component: main mineralized zone
Deposit dimensions:length: 350 metre
width: 25 metre
height: 15 metre
Qualified comments: (Applies to: discovery and development) First notable intersection: 0.375 % U/9.2 m is in hole ML-03 drilled in 2000 on the Maverick zone along an ENE conductor; hole ML-25 135 m to the east returned 0.526 % U/9.1 m including 10.176 % U/0.4 m. Hole ML-29 was drilled in winter of 2003-2004 at 50 m WSW of ML-25 intersected 1.10 % U/7.5 m including 0.5 m grading 6.71 % U/0.5 m with 3.65 % Ni, 1.61 % Cu, 0.9 % Co, 0.7 % Zn, 0.35 % REE and 0.5 g/t Ag. Hole ML-35 between ML-03 and ML-29, intersected 11.1 m of low grade mineralization including 1.5 m grading 4.49 % U; exploratory holes indicate continuation of mineralized zone 500 m to the ENE. The Puka Puka, Venice and Rarotonga zones are located about 4.5, 7 and 10.5 km ENE of the Maverick zone, respectively; exploratory drilling on them showed anomalous metal values at the unconformity.
Geophysical-chemical signature: Signature type: Airborne Magnetometer; Response type: positive (moderate)
Signature type: Airborne EM; Response type: positive (strong)
Signature type: Ground Magnetometer; Response type: positive (moderate)
Signature type: Ground EM; Response type: positive (strong)
Signature type: Ground Gravity; Response type: positive
References:
Annesley, I. R.; McCready, R.; Holston, A.; Kusmirski, R.; Billard, D.; Hochstein, R., 2005
Lead Isotopes from Moore Lakes, Saskatchewan: New Insights into Paleofluid Flow in the Athabasca Basin
Topic: Uranium Geology & Deposits, In Symposium on Uranium Production and Raw Materials for Nuclear Fuel Cycle - Supply and Demand, Economics, the Environment and Energy Security (IAEA-CN-128): Extended Synopses, Edited by Anonymous, International Atomic Energy Agency Conference (International Symposium), IAEA in co-operation with OECD/NEA, WNA, NEI and UN-ECE, International Atomic Energy Agency, CN-128, 344 p., p. 48 - 51

Billard, D., 2006
Moore Lake Prospect (Maverick Zone)
In Field Trip 2: McArthur River, Key Lake, Millennium, and Moore Lake Deposits; September 13-14; 2006 CIM Field Conference; Uranium: Athabasca Deposits & Analogues, Edited by Perkins, T.; Brisbin, D.; Roy, C.; Halaburda, J.; Billard, D., Field Trip Guidebook, Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, CIM Geogolical Society, Saskatoon Section, 85 p., p. 65 - 69

Collier, B.; Yeo, G., 2001
Stratigraphy of the Paleoproterozoic Manitou Falls B Member at the Deilmann Pit, Key Lake, Saskatchewan
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. 297 - 305

Dahlkamp, F. J., 1978
Geologic Appraisal of the Key Lake U-Ni Deposits, Northern Saskatchewan
Economic Geology, Volume 73, p. 1430 - 1449

Earle, S. A. M.; Sopuck, V. J., 1989
Regional Lithogeochemistry of the Eastern Athabasca Basin Uranium Province, Saskatchewan, Canada
In Uranium Resources and Geology of North America, Edited by Anonymous, TECDOC, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, 500, 529 p., p. 263 - 296

French, J. E.; Chacko, T.; Heaman, L. M., 2001
Chemical U-Th-total Pb Dating of Baddeleyite by Electron Microprobe
Section Abstracts, In Eleventh Annual V. M. Goldschmidt Conference, Edited by Anonymous, Abstracts (CD-ROM), Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston

Gatzweiler, R.; Lehnert-Thiel, K.; Clasen, D.; Tan, B.; Voultsidis, V.; Strnad, J. G.; Rich, J., 1979
The Key Lake U-Ni Deposits
Bulletin of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Volume 72, p. 73 - 79

Hoeve, J.; Quirt, D., 1987
A Stationary Redox Front as a Critical Factor in the Formation of High-Grade, Unconformity Type Uranium Ores in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada
Bulletin de Mineralogie, Volume 110, p. 157 - 171

MacDougall, D. G.; Williams, D. H., 1993
The Moore Lakes Complex, Neohelikian Olivine Diabase Lopoliths in the Athabasca Group (Part of NTS 74H-6 and 7)
In Summary of Investigations 1993, Edited by Anonymous, Miscellaneous Report, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Department of Mines and Energy, 93-4, p. 86 - 91

McGill, B. D., 1996
McArthur River Deposit - A Geological Update
In Advances in Saskatchewan Geology and Mineral Exploration: Proceedings of a Symposium held in Saskatoon, November 21 and 22, 1996 (MinExpo '96 Symposium), Edited by Ashton, K. E.; Harper, C. T., Special Publication, Saskatchewan Geological Society, Saskatchewan Geological Society, 14, 163 p., p. 95 - 96

Rainbird, R. H.; Stern, R. A.; Jefferson, C. W., 2002
Summary of Detrital Zircon Geochronology of the Athabasca Group, Northern Saskatchewan and Alberta
D, Section EXTECH IV Athabasca Uranium, In Summary of Investigations 2002, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey (CD-ROM), Edited by Anonymous, Miscellaneous Report, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, 2002-4.2, 371 p., 1 disks, p. 352 - 354

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

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.

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

Thomas, D. J.; Jefferson, C. W.; Card, C.; Yeo, G.; Sopuck, V., 2002
Introduction: the Eastern Athabasca Basin and its Uranium Deposits
Chapter 1, In Field Trip A1: the Eastern Athabasca Basin and its Uranium Deposits, May 24-26, 2002, GAC-MAC Saskatoon 2002, Edited by Andrade, N; Breton, G.; Jefferson, C. W.; Thomas, D. J.; Tourigny, G.; Wilson, S.; Yeo, G. M., Field Guide Book, Geological Association of Canada - Mineralogical Associationof Canada, Geological Association of Canada, 102 p., p. 1 - 22


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