Stratigraphy, spatial distribution and uranium potential of Phanerozoic rocks in
the Patterson Lake regionSean Bosman
November 28, 2017
GSC Map 1860A; 1996
Norris; 1963
Paterson et al.; 1978
Scott and Slimmon; 1986Kohlruss; 2012
Study Area
GSC Map 1860A; 1996
Norris; 1963
Paterson et al.; 1978
Scott and Slimmon; 1986Kohlruss; 2012
Study Area
Phanerozoic
Athabasca supergroup
Crystalline basement
Mafic dykes
Patterson Lake
Modified after Kohlruss, 2012 and Alberta Geological Survey, 2015
Devonian strata (0‐42 m)
Poorly sorted green to red, fine‐ to coarse‐grained sandstone and conglomeratic sandstones with carbonate cement (La Loche Formation (AB); AshernFormation (SK))
Grey to green, argillaceous dolomite and dolomitic shale, grading to red at the base (Contact Rapids (AB); Ashern (SK))
Light brown to grey, vuggy in part,resistant, irregularly thick bedded to massive dolomite containing allochems(Keg River/Methy/Winnipegosis (AB); Winnipegosis (SK))
La Loche (AB) – Ashern (SK)
La Loche (AB) – Ashern (SK)
La Loche (AB) – Ashern (SK)
La Loche (AB) – Ashern (SK)
Contact Rapids (AB) – Ashern (SK)
Contact Rapids (AB) – Ashern (SK)
Contact Rapids (AB) – Ashern (SK)
Contact Rapids (AB) – Ashern (SK)
Winnipegosis/Methy/Keg River(AB) – Winnipegosis (SK)
Winnipegosis/Methy/Keg River(AB) – Winnipegosis (SK)
Winnipegosis/Methy/Keg River(AB) – Winnipegosis (SK)
Modified after Kohlruss, 2012 and Alberta Geological Survey, 2015
??
Cretaceous Strata (0‐78 m)
Fine‐ to coarse‐grained, cross‐bedded beige sandstone with minimal mudstone; commonly saturated with bitumen and may contain centimetre‐to decimetre‐scale coal beds (McMurray (AB); Cantuar (Dina) (SK))
Cretaceous Strata (0‐78 m)
Fine‐ to coarse‐grained, cross‐bedded beige sandstone with minimal mudstone; commonly saturated with bitumen and may contain centimetre‐to decimetre‐scale coal beds (McMurray (AB); Cantuar (Dina) (SK))
Green to grey to black, very fine‐ to medium‐grained sandstone, interbedded with fissile mudstones (Clearwater (AB); Cantuar (SK)) ??
McMurray (AB) – Cantuar [Dina] (SK)
McMurray (AB) – Cantuar [Dina] (SK)
McMurray (AB) – Cantuar [Dina] (SK)
McMurray (AB) – Cantuar [Dina] (SK)
Clearwater (AB) – Cantuar (SK)
Clearwater (AB) – Cantuar (SK)
Clearwater (AB) – Cantuar (SK)
Clearwater (AB) – Cantuar (SK)
Modified after Kohlruss et al., 2012
? ?
Diamictite (0‐55 m)Poorly‐sorted grey mud to sand with matrix‐supported clasts.
Diamictite (0‐55 m)Poorly‐sorted grey mud to sand with matrix‐supported clasts.
Contains fractures.
Diamictite (0‐55 m)Poorly‐sorted grey mud to sand with matrix‐supported clasts.
Contains fractures.
Clasts of Athabasca supergroup sandstone, crystalline basement, rare Cretaceous oil‐stained sandstone.
Diamictite (0‐55 m)Poorly‐sorted grey mud to sand with matrix‐supported clasts.
Contains fractures.
Clasts of Athabasca supergroupsandstone, crystalline basement, rare Cretaceous oil‐stained sandstone.
Massive and moderately consolidated.
Modified after Kohlruss et al., 2012
Quaternary Till (10‐125 m)Cored pebbles through to boulders, of various lithology.
Quaternary Till (10‐125 m)Cored pebbles through to boulders, of various lithology.
Includes clasts of diamictite.
Devonian
Cretaceous
Diamictite
Altered Phanerozoic
Altered Phanerozoic
Altered Phanerozoic
Altered Phanerozoic
DevonianCretaceous
Quaternary
Radioactive Clasts
Basement
Athabasca
Altered Rocks
Organic Material
DevonianCretaceous
Quaternary
Radioactive Clasts
Basement
Athabasca
Altered Rocks
Organic Material
DevonianCretaceous
Quaternary
Radioactive Clasts
Basement
Athabasca
Altered Rocks
Possible sandstone‐hosted uranium
Organic Material
DevonianCretaceous
Quaternary
Radioactive Clasts
Basement
Athabasca
Altered Rocks
Possible sandstone‐hosted uranium
Organic Material
Skirrow, 2009
Conclusions• Improved map of the Phanerozoic rocks in the Patterson Lake
region (Devonian, Cretaceous, diamictite, Quaternary)• Distribution of Devonian rocks are spatially correlated to bedrock
lows. Along the Patterson Lake corridor, the Devonian strata seem to be spatially associated with Arrow and Triple R deposits.
• Economic potential of sandstone‐hosted uranium:1) elevated uranium values in the Devonian rocks2) young (<115 Ma) alteration in the Cretaceous rocks3) appropriate sandstone host rocks for uranium‐bearing fluids4) potential redox traps in the form organic matter5) high‐grade source areas
Acknowledgements• Students: Jared Noll, Derek Johnson, Brody Strocen, Dylan Deck
• Industry: AREVA Resources Canada; CanAlaskaUranium Ltd.; Fission Uranium Corp.; Forum Uranium Corp.; NexGen Energy Ltd.; Purepoint Uranium Group
• Partners: GSC and U of R• Staff of the Regina Subsurface Geological Laboratory• Michelle Hanson, Dan Kohlruss, Colin Card, Omid Mahmoodi for technical discussions