Database name: |
Uranium Deposits, Athabasca Basin |
Custodial agency: |
Geological Survey of Canada |
Compilers: |
Sunil S. Gandhi |
Release date: |
2007-03-02 |
|
|
Deposit name(s): |
Kiggavik East Zone; Lone Gull East Zone |
Political location(s): |
Canada; Province or state: Nunavut; Nearest community: Baker Lake settlement (78.5 km 280°) |
NTS map data: |
066A05 (Judge Sissons Lake) |
Deposit clan (type): |
Unconformity-associated |
Deposit (sub) types: |
Unconformity-associated - Proterozoic - fracture-bound; fracture-bound Proterozoic unconformity-related deposit in crystalline basement rocks; uncovered by erosion of the Thelon Formation; graphite absent; geologically similar to the Kiggavik Centre zone; Reference: Fuchs, H.; Hilger, W.; Prosser, E., 1986: Geology and Exploration History of the Lone Gull Property; 5, Section Other Helikian Unconformity-associated and Sedimentary-hosted Deposits, 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. 286 - 292 |
Deposit status: |
advanced prospect; Size category: small; Status comments: 0.99 Mt |
Geologic province: |
Churchill - Rae Craton |
Geologic subprovince: |
Amer Fold Belt |
Geologic district: |
Eastern Thelon Basin |
Deposit object located: |
drill hole |
Commodities: |
U |
Mineralization styles: |
foliation seams; vein(s); disseminated |
Geological ages: |
Late Paleoproterozoic (host rocks) Middle Mesoproterozoic (mineralization) |
Tectonic setting: |
continental deformation zone-fore-arc; transpressive; Formal name: Amer Fold Belt (host rocks) continental basin-paleoweathering; stable; Formal name: Thelon Paleosol (host rocks) continental fault-controlled volcano-sedimentary basins-grabens; divergent; Formal name: Dubawnt Group (country rocks) continental basin-intracratonic; stable; Formal name: Thelon Formation (country rocks) |
Coincident features: |
shear zone(s) (mineralization disseminated mainly along sheared contact zone of the feldspathic quartzites with the competent orthoquartzite, as in the Centre zone); Coincident feature name: Bedding parallel shears unconformity (the Thelon Formation eroded in the deposit area; proximity to the unconformity indicated by effects of lateritic paleoweathering in its basement rocks); Coincident feature name: Sub-Thelon unconformity fault(s) (located about 500 m east of the Centre zone on a fault parallel to and 250 m south of the projected ENE fault zone that hosts the Main and Centre zone); Coincident feature name: East Zone Fault |
Regional tectonic structure: |
linear feature (fault-controlled 20 km linear trend hosting 7 uranium deposits, striking NE and gently convex to the NW, between the Thelon and Sissons Lake faults) Tectonic structure name: Kiggavik Trend fault (ENE-trending normal fault with downfaulted Thelon Formation on the north side against the basement on the south side; parallels the Sissons Lake fault) Tectonic structure name: Thelon fault fault zone Tectonic structure name: Kiggavik Fault Zone |
Host rocks: |
(1) metamorphic; metasedimentary schist (immature clastic sequence; dipping 10° to the NW); Depositional setting: shallow marine; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite - lower; Component: mineralization zoneIndividual lithologies: | feldspathic sandstone metagreywacke |
(2) sedimentary; quartzite; Metamorphic grade: greenschist - upper; Component: wall rock |
Country rocks: |
(1) paragneiss-orthogneiss; (older paragneisses; SW of the Kiggavik zones); Country rock name: Archean Basement Complex; Metamorphic grade: amphiboliteCountry rock protoliths: | platform-shelf sediments (highly deformed and metamorphosed Archean supracrustal sequence of the Rae craton, associated with mafic and felsic orthogneisses) | Individual lithologies: | quartzofeldspathic gneiss (foliated and schistose biotite and/or hornblende bearing felsic gneisses, may include metavolanic rocks; in part migmatized) mafic gneiss |
(2) metasedimentary schist; (Paleoproterozoic sedimentary sequence; informal name); Country rock name: Judge Sissons Lake sequence; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite - lowerCountry rock protoliths: | feldspathic wackes, pelites (probably equivalent of the Lower Hurwitz Group to the south deposited on the Rae craton before intrusion of gabbro sills at 2110 Ma ) | Individual lithologies: | meta-arkoses and metapelites (mainly drab green sulphide-bearing biotite-muscovite feldspathic wackes; metapelites and metasemipelites with minor lean oxide facies iron formation) |
(3) orthoquartzite; (overlies the feldspathic wacke strata); Country rock name: Amer Group equivalent; Metamorphic grade: greenschist (upper) - amphibolite (lower)Country rock protoliths: | supermature sandstone (similar to the basal orthoquartzite of the late Paleoproterozoic Amer Group to the north and northeast; possible unconformity with feldspathic wackes ) | Individual lithologies: | orthoquartzite (exposed in a zone between the deposit and a NNE-trending fault with the Thelon Formation 2 km to the north; affected by sub-Thelon paleoweathering) |
(4) granite; (intrusions in the metasedimentary strata); Country rock name: Hudsonian Granites; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosedCountry rock protoliths: | granite-granodiorite (intrusive into the deformed and metamorphosed Paleoproterozoic strata of the Rae craton; probably equivalents of the 1.86-1.76 Ga Hudsonian granites) | Individual lithologies: | granite-granodiorite-monzonite (massive to gneissic; includes some diorite, syenite and porphyries of uncertain age) |
(5) clastic sediments and potassic volcanics; (sedimentary-volcanic sequence deposited in the post-Hudsonian fault-controlled Baker Lake basin); Country rock name: Dubawnt Group; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosedCountry rock protoliths: | clastic red beds & K-rich volcanics (basal red conglomerate-arkose-siltstone beds; subaerial potassic mafic-intermediate flows; upper dacite-rhyolite flows; related subvolcanic intrusions) | Individual lithologies: | red sandstone (deposited 1.84-1.75 Ga; alluvial fan-braided stream sediments; extensive subaerial trachytic basalt and andesite, trachyte; rhyolite with minor dacite) basalt (trachytic, potassic) andesite (trachytic, potassic) |
(6) paleo-regolith; (lateritic weathering); Country rock name: Thelon Paleosol; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosedCountry rock protoliths: | gneisses, granites and supracrustal strata (profile up to 50 m thick; deeper along faults; weathering effects vary on different rock types); Country rock protolith name: sub-Thelon basement | Individual lithologies: | Lateritic (hematization in the upper part of weathered zone; locally bleached; kaolinite is abundant in the zone and occurs as clay-clasts in the sandstone above) |
(7) conglomerate-sandstone; (siliciclastic sediments; undeformed; present area 85000 sq km and thickness 1.3 km); Country rock name: Thelon Formation; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosedCountry rock protoliths: | conglomerate-pebbly sandstone-siltstone (basal conglomerate unit with pebbly sandstone and siltstone beds; succeeded by mature sandstone, quartz arenite and lithic subarenite-siltstone units); Country rock protolith name: Thelon Formation | Individual lithologies: | conglomerate-sandstone-siltstone (basal unit with matrix of quartz, authigenic clay, diagenetic illite and fluorapatite; overall fining upward sequence; fluvial transport west to east) |
(8) diabase dykes; (northwest-trending, vertical or very steep dykes); Country rock name: Mackenzie diabase dyke swarm; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosedCountry rock protoliths: | gabbroic magma (part of the largest dyke swarm in the world, related to the 1.27 Ga Mackenzie magmatic events); Country rock protolith name: Mackenzie diabase dyke swarm | Individual lithologies: | diabase (medium to coarse grained gabbro-quartz gabbro; chilled at dyke margins; unaltered or little altered) |
|
Metallogenic signatures: |
U |
Alteration signatures: |
illite alteration: illite; strong chalk white; density reduced to 2.3; What was altered: metagreywacke sericitization: sericite; with illite; density reduced 2.7 to 2.3; What was altered: metagreywacke chlorite alteration: chlorite; pale greenish colouration; What was altered: mafic silicates in host rocks hematization: hematite, limonite (goethite); mark solution front; What was altered: mafic minerals in host rocks and Thelon paleosol desilication: removal of silica by mineralizing solution; What was altered: metagreywacke secondary uranium alteration: uranophane near surface; rare at depth; What was altered: pitchblende and coffinite |
Mineralogy: |
(alteration): chlorite, illite, uranophane, hematite, limonite (goethite) (veins and disseminations): pitchblende, coffinite, pyrite, marcasite |
Deposit shape: |
stacked lensesDeposit dimensions: | length: 180 metre width: 50 metre depth: 50 metre |
|
Qualified comments: |
(Applies to: discovery and development) This deposit was discovered in 1978. Drilling done until 1990 indicated resources of 0.99 Mt averaging 0.05 % U. It is geologically similar to the Kiggavik Centre zone but lower in grade; hence it was excluded from the 1989 feasibility study. Only a small part of the deposit is preserved from erosion; it extends no more than 50 below the present surface. The North-Northwest Fault occured after the mineralization: one of the major NNW-trending fault offsets the deposit with a sinistral displacement of about 100 m.
(Applies to: property geology) The Thelon Formation was eroded in the deposit area; proximity to the unconformity is indicated by effects of lateritic paleoweathering in its basement rocks. Mineralization coincides with shear zones and faults. Some of the mineralization is disseminated mainly along sheared contact zone of the feldspathic quartzites with the competent orthoquartzite, as in the Centre zone. One fault (East Zone Fault) is located about 500 m east of the Centre zone on a fault parallel to and 250 m south of the projected ENE fault zone that hosts the Main and Centre zone. |
Links to other databases: |
GSC U-Th File (Prasad); Key value: 1604 NUMIN; Key value: 066ASW0017 |
Geophysical-chemical signature: |
Signature type: Geochemistry Soil / Till; Response type: positive (moderate) Signature type: Ground Radiometrics; Response type: positive (moderate) |
References: |
Bundrock, G., 1981 |
From Armchair Geology to a Deposit in a New Uranium Province |
In Uranium Exploration Case Histories: Proceedings of an Advisory Group Meeting, Vienna, 26-29 November 1979, Edited by Anonymous, Proceedings Series (STI/PUB), International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 584, 407 p., p. 243 - 277 |
Fuchs, H.; Hilger, W.; Prosser, E., 1986 |
Geology and Exploration History of the Lone Gull Property |
5, Section Other Helikian Unconformity-associated and Sedimentary-hosted Deposits, 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. 286 - 292 |
Fuchs, H. D.; Hilger, W., 1989 |
Kiggavik (Lone Gull): An Unconformity Related Uranium Deposit in the Thelon Basin, Northwest Territories, 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. 429 - 454 |
Gandhi, S. S., 1989 |
Geology and Uranium Potential of the Thelon Basin and Adjacent Basement in Comparison with the Athabasca Basin Region |
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. 411 - 428 |
Gandhi, S. S., 1995 |
An Overview of the Exploration History and Genesis of Proterozoic Uranium Deposits in the Canadian Shield |
Exploration and Research for Atomic Minerals, Department of Atomic Energy, India, Volume 8, p. 1 - 48 |
Goff, S. P. Editor(s)), 1994 |
Exploration Overview 1994 |
Annual Exploration Overview, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Yellowknife, Canada |
LeCheminant, A. N.; Heaman, L. M., 1989 |
Mackenzie Igneous Events, Canada: Middle Proterozoic Hotspot Magmatism Associated with Ocean Opening |
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 96, p. 38 |
Miller, A. R.; Blackwell, J. D.; Curtis, L.; Hilger, W.; McMillan, R. H.; Nutter, E., 1984 |
Geology and Discovery of Proterozoic Uranium Deposits, Central District of Keewatin, Northwest Territories, Canada |
Section Unconformity-related Types, In Proterozoic Unconformity and Stratabound Uranium Deposits, Edited by Ferguson, J., TECDOC, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, 315, 338 p., p. 285 - 312 |
Miller, A. R.; LeCheminant, A. N., 1985 |
Geology and Uranium Metallogeny of Proterozoic Supracrustal Successions, Central District of Keewatin, N.W. T. with Comparisons to Northern Saskatchewan |
Chapter 3, Section Other Canadian Deposits, In Geology of Uranium Deposits, Edited by Sibbald, T. I. I.; Petruk, W., Special Volume, The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 32, 268 p., p. 167 - 185 |
Miller, A. R.; Cumming, G. L.; Krstic, D., 1989 |
U-Pb, Pb-Pb, and K-Ar Isotopic Study and Petrography of Uraniferous Phosphate-bearing Rocks in the Thelon Formation, Dubawnt Group, Northwest Territories, Canada |
Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, Volume 26, p. 867 - 880 |
Wallenberg, P., 1994 |
Update on the Uranium Exploration in the Thelon Basin |
In Exploration Overview 1994, Edited by Goff, S. P., Annual Exploration Overview, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Yellowknife, Canada, p. 154 - 155 |
|
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: 1986; 0.99 million metric tons ore; Combined with production?: no; Provisional entry?: no; Resource category: prognosticatedGrade-commodity information: | U: 0.05 percent | weight-commodity information: | U: 495 metric ton | Reference: Fuchs, H.; Hilger, W.; Prosser, E., 1986: Geology and Exploration History of the Lone Gull Property; 5, Section Other Helikian Unconformity-associated and Sedimentary-hosted Deposits, 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. 286 - 292 Percent weights allocated to deposit: 100.0%
Generated 2007-03-02 2:35:43 PM with GQuery -- 3.7 ADO (3.19/3.20/3.21 -- 2006-02-24) GlobalDB System, Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada
|