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


DEPNO COUNTRY LOCATION ALLNAMES COMMODITIES
40002 Canada (Saskatchewan) 58.17.02 N -- 103.37.39 W Collins Bay A Uranium Deposit U; Ni; Co; As; Au; Ag; Gf; Pb; Fe

Database name: Uranium Deposits, Athabasca Basin
Custodial agency: Geological Survey of Canada
Compilers: Sunil S. Gandhi
Release date: 2007-03-02
   
Deposit name(s): Collins Bay A Uranium Deposit (mine name)
Political location(s): Canada; Province or state: Saskatchewan; Nearest community: Rabbit Lake mine-mill complex (10.5 km N 26° E)
NTS map data: 064L05 (Cunning Bay)
Deposit clan (type): Unconformity-associated
Deposit (sub) types: Unconformity-associated - Proterozoic - clay-bound; Polymetallic deposit containing significant amounts of Ni, Co and As; hosted by clay altered paleoregolith under a remnant of Athabasca sandstone on the hanging wall of NE-trending Collins Bay thrust ; 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: past producer; Size category: medium; Status comments: Open pit; ore body mined out during 1995-'97.
Geologic province: Churchill - Hearne Craton
Geologic subprovince: Wollaston Domain (Fold Belt)
Geologic district: Eastern Athabasca Basin
Deposit object located: outcrop
Commodities: U; Ni; Co; As; Au; Ag; Gf; Pb; Fe
Mineralization styles: massive mineralization (main mineralized zone); disseminated; nodular; irregular aggregation; veins and stringers
Geological ages: Middle Mesoproterozoic (mineralization)
Tectonic setting: continental marginal deformation zone-fold belt; convergent; Formal name: Wollaston Fold Belt (host rocks)
continental basin-unconformity; stable; Formal name: sub-Athabasca regolith (alteration)
continental basin-intracratonic; stable; Formal name: Athabasca Basin (host rocks)
continental fault zone-reverse faulting; transpressive; Formal name: Collins Bay thrust fault (mineralization)
Coincident features: unconformity (mineralization straddles the unconformity; mainly within paleoregolith; extends into basement); Coincident feature name: Sub-Athabasca unconformity
fault zone (post-Athabasca thrust; 030° trend; dip 30-50° to SE; vertical displacement 15-20 m; edges of ore zone in footwall sandstone); Coincident feature name: Collins Bay Fault
Regional tectonic structure: thrust zone(s) (a thrust fault dipping moderately to the east-southeast; with a small displacement post-dating the Athabasca Group, localized the mineralization ) Tectonic structure name: Collins Bay Fault Zone
Host rocks: (1) metamorphic; metasedimentary schist (graphitic metapelite); Depositional setting: shallow marine; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite (upper) - granulite; Component: basement at unconformity
External host rock forms:beds and lenses
Host rock protoliths:pelite and semipelite (in fault contact with Collins Bay granitoid dome to the west; elsewhere disconformably overlies granitoid basement); Host rock protolith name: unit of Upper Wollaston Supergroup
semipelite
Internal host rock structures:foliated
Individual lithologies:biotitic gneiss (biotitic quartzo-feldspathic gneiss on the hangingwall of the Collins Bay thrust; includes small pegmatitic bodies)
graphitic metapelite (graphite-rich biotite-quartz-feldspar gneiss and schist; base approximately 25 m above the Collins Bay thrust)
Host rock stratigraphy:Upper Wollaston Supergroup

(2) surficial; laterite (weathered basement; profile ~30 m deep); Host series: paleoregolith; Depositional setting: subaerial; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed; Component: basement at unconformity
External host rock forms:lateritic profile
Host rock protoliths:metasedimentary schist and gneiss (paleoweathered zone overprinted by strong clay alteration related to uranium mineralization ); Host rock protolith name: Wollaston Supergroup
Internal host rock structures:lateritic zonation
Individual lithologies:laterite (paleoregolith well developed on paragneiss; granitoid gneiss shows little paleoweathering)
Host rock stratigraphy:Sub-Athabasca Group Paleosol

(3) sedimentary; sandstone (unconformably overlying crystalline basement); Depositional setting: fluviatile; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed; Component: above unconformity
External host rock forms:thin to thick bedded, flat lying
Host rock protoliths:quartz arenites (basal unit of Athabasca Group; sandstone and pebbly sandstone with conglomerate at base); Host rock protolith name: Manitou Falls Formation
Internal host rock structures:mainly medium-grained to granule; cross-bedded
Individual lithologies:quartz arenite (minor quartz and clay matrix; up to 25 m thickn on footwall side of Collins Bay thrust; a small remnant to the east above ore zone )
Host rock stratigraphy:Athabasca
Country rocks: (1) granitoid gneiss; (reactivated Archean granites); Country rock name: Collins Bay Granitoid Dome; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite - upper
Country rock protoliths:granitic plutons (Archean granitic plutons; in fault contact with paragneisses to the east in northeast-trending tight folds); Country rock protolith name: Collins Bay Granitoid Dome
Individual lithologies:granitoids (mainly granite to granodiorite)

(2) metasedimentary rocks; (folded and metamorphosed sediments; deposited in late foreland basin of the Trans-Hudson orogen; Hidden Bay assemblage of earlier literature); Country rock name: Upper Wollaston Supergroup ; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite (upper) - granulite
Country rock protoliths:sandstone-mudstone-carbonate (deposited in shallow, marine, near-shore environment of late foreland basin of Trans-Hudson orogen); Country rock protolith name: Upper Wollaston Supergroup
siltstone; Country rock protolith name: Lower Wollaston Supergroup
Individual lithologies:quartzitic, pelitic, mafic gneisses (includes graphitic meta-pelites)

(3) sandstone-conglomerate; (continental siliciclastic sediments ); Country rock name: Athabasca Group; Metamorphic grade: unmetamorphosed
Country rock protoliths:conglomerate-sandstone (basal conglomerate and sandstone units; deposited on lateritic paleosol); Country rock protolith name: Manitou Falls Formation
Individual lithologies:sandstone (basal conglomerate, overlain by massive conglomerate with sandy layers and shale partings)
Metallogenic signatures: U-Ni-As-Au-Ag
Alteration signatures: argillic alteration: multi-colored illitic clay-rich mass, graphitic; What was altered: sub-Athabasca regolith; Component: mineralization zone
hematization: disseminated fine hematite; red colouration; What was altered: metasediments, paleoregolith, sandstone; Component: mineralization zone
chlorite alteration: green coloration due to chlorite; What was altered: metasediments
Mineralogy: (disseminated mineralization): pitchblende - sooty, coffinite
(irregular aggregation): pitchblende - massive
(massive ore): pitchblende - massive, pitchblende - sooty, coffinite, kasolite, niccolite, rammelsbergite, pararammelsbergite, galena, sphalerite
(nodular ore): pitchblende - massive, coffinite
(veins and stringers / late stage mineralization): pitchblende - late stage
Radiometric ages: Object dated: Mineralogy(1); Age - Ma: 1,379; +6; -6; Dating method: U-Pb; Concentrate: pitchblende; Source rock: uranium ore; Formal name: initial mineralization event; Event dated: mineralization (early); Interpretive comment: 4 fractions from one sample area; 5 from another area gave 1349±15 Ma; lower intecepts 550-650 Ma; Reference: Cumming, G. L.; Krstic, D., 1992: The Age of Unconformity-Related Uranium Mineralization in the Athabasca Basin, Northern Saskatchewan; Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, Volume 29, p. 1623 - 1639

Object dated: Alteration Signature(1); Age - Ma: 1,266; +39; -39; Dating method: K-Ar; Concentrate: whole rock; Source rock: clay-hematite alteration zone; Formal name: main mineralization event; Event dated: alteration (hypogene); Interpretive comment: illitic (sericitic) and chloritic clay associated with high grade zone; age close to pitchblende age; 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 shape: lensoid; Component: main mineralized zone
Deposit dimensions:long axis: 50 metre
short axis: 34 metre
thickness: 13 metre
Qualified comments: (Applies to: discovery and development) During 1970 exploration crews of Gulf Minerals Canada Limited carried out followe-up work on an airborne EM anomay that led to the discovery of a well-defined train of mineralized boulders. This 2.4 km long and 45 m wide train was traced north to the waters of Collins Bay of Wollaston Lake. Ground geophysical surveys early in 1971 defined the drill targets under water. Diamond drilling later in the year located the deposit under 14 m of water and 7 m of glacial till. The core recovery was poor due to high clay content. Hence in 1976 reverse circulation drilling was done at 7.6 m grid pattern to delineate the orebody. Dykes were built in 1994 for open pit mining, which was carried out during 1995-'96. The high grade boulders in the glacial train constituted the overburden ore.

(Applies to: mineralization) The mineralized zone comprises a high grade core and a low grade envelope. The orebody is enclosed in illitic clay, which contains large amounts of graphite. The deposit is located at the sub-Athabasca Group unconformity in a zone of imbricate faulting associated with the north-northeast trending Collins Bay thrust fault. Boundaries of the clay zone are fault controlled, with basement paragneisses on the southeast side and the Athabasca sandstone on the other side. The core zone has grades up to 70.6 % U over 2.3 m. The nickel assays are up to 20 % over 1.5 m. The nickel high values occur below the massive uranium mineralization. The deposit also contains significant amounts of cobalt, silver and gold.
Links to other databases: SMDI; Key value: 0617
Geophysical-chemical signature: Signature type: Airborne Radiometrics; Response type: positive (moderate)
Signature type: Ground EM; Response type: positive (strong)
References:
Bennett, R. W., 2002
Geological Atlas of Saskatchewan, Version 5 (2002)
Government of Saskatchewan, CD-ROM

Jones, B., 1980
Geology of the Collins Bay Uranium Deposits
Bulletin of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Volume 73, p. 84 - 90

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

Renaud, A., 2006
Unconformity and Basement-hosted Uranium deposits at the Rabbit Lake Operations, Collins Bay, Saskatchewan
C, Section Athabasca Basin Uranium Deposits, In Abstracts Volume for the 2006 CIM Uranium Field Conference, September 11-12, Saskatoon; Uranium: Athabasca Deposits & Analogues, Edited by Quirt, D., Abstracts Volume, Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Saskatoon Section, CIM Geological Society, 164 p., p. 1 - 3

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

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

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

Production data: Report period: from 1995 until 1997; 134,600 metric ton ore; Provisional entry?: yes; Yearly or summary?: S
Grade-commodity information:U: 4.83 percent
weight-commodity information:U: 6,500 metric ton
Reference: 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
Percent weights allocated to deposit: 0.0%
Associated mine(s): Collins Bay A Zone Uranium Mine (40002)

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