ECONOMIC GEOLOGY INVESTIGATIONS
- 64 LOCATION MAP
107'
- , 4~160'
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NORT HERN SASKATCHEWAN
URANIUM/GOLD
METALLOGENIC STUDIES
•
GOLD METALLOGENIC
STUDIES
O
BASE METAL STUDIES
Figure 1 - Location of divisional ' Economic Geolggy Projects reported
here. Numbers on map refer to projects listed berow.
Project
No.
Area/Short Title
Uranium/Gold Metallogenlc Studlee:
8309
Nicholson Bay Area
Gold Metallogenlc Studlee:
6214
Flin Flon • Amisk Lake Area
Bne Metal Studlu:
8215
Flin Flon Base Metals Project'
Project
Leader(s)
TJ.I. Sibbald
J.G. Pearson
G.R. Parslow and
J. W. Gaskarth
'Economic geology projects of other institutions not included unless
directly funded.
'Contracted to the University of Regina.
- 65 -
Introduction
by T. I. I. Sibbald
The Economic Geology Section undertook three
field projects of which one was contracted to
the University of Regina (Fig. 1). In
addition office projects and the resident
geologists' programs were maintained. '!he
reduced level of field activities compared to
1982 reflects re-emphasis of the 1983-84
program toward primarY geological mapping.
Uranium - Gold Metallogenic Studies
This project followed up on mapping carried
out in the Nicholson Bay-Goldfields area in
1982 and involved field and geochemical
studies. Ultrarnafic and associated rocks
outcropping to the east of Nicholson Bay were
re-examined and sampled for geochemical
analysis. PreliminarY results suggest the
existance of three rock units approximating
peridotite, pyroxenite and basalt in chemical
composition and distinguished in the field as
ultrarnafic, fine-grained mafic and
medium-grained mafic rocks respectively. 'Ille
ultramafic rocks are possibly of komatiitic
affinity.
A small area north of MacKintosh Bay was also
geologically mapped at 1:20,000 scale to
complete coverage of the CS.MA photomap sheet
6400-65900 of the Nicholson Bay-Goldfields
area. The new work did not add significantly
to geological interpretation of the area.
Selected bedrock samples collected in 1982
were analyzed for a variety of elements
including gold. Some weak gold anomalies
were identified, the most significant of
these occuring in a sulphide-rich zone
underlying the Nicholson Bay ultrarnafic
complex. Samples from pitchblende veins at
Nicholson Bay, Fish Hook Bay and .Murrnac Bay
were also analyzed and found to contain, in
addition to uranium, a wide suite of elements
including nickel, cobalt, copper, lead, zinc,
silver, gold, molybdenum, chromium,
berYllium, yttrium and vanadium.
Gold Metallogenic Studies
The Creighton resident geologist continued
gold studies in the Flin Flon-Amisk Lake area
through mapping and sampling of six gold
prospects (V.M. occurrence, Graham Mine,
Mosher Lake south, Wekach Lake, I.uckY Strike
and Gull Island) and through synthesis of
this and previous work, so that a coherent
picture of gold mineralization in the area
has now emerged. TwO groups of gold
occurrences can be recognized, respectively
in the I:ouglas-Phantom Lake and Amisk Lake
areas. In the first group gold
mineralization is structurally controlled
within supracrustal and plutonic rocks in
fractures ranging in age from early- to
post-tectonic. By contrast the second group
of occurrences in the .Arnisk Lake area, which
is also structurally controlled, occurs only
in supracrustal rocks and subvolcanic
intrusions. Alteration is nore extensive in
the second group and, although quartz and
carbonate veins are nobilized in places into
later structures, JIPSt are clearly early to
pre-tectonic. Qi this basis it is proposed
that the r.ouglas-Phantom Lake mineralization
may have been generated by rnetaIIPrphic
fluids, whereas that in the .Arnisk Lake
occurrences formed from hydrothermal systems
active during or shortly after volcanism.
Base r--etal Studies
Under the Flin Flin base metals project
contracted to the university of Regina some
further bedrock sampling was undertaken in
the Flin Flon area to obtain samples of late
dykes. Most effort however has been spent in
chemical analysis and data processing.
Preliminary results suggest that the
chemistry of the East .Arnisk Lake rocks is
similar to that of mid-oceanic ridge basalts,
whereas that of rocks from the Annabel Lake
and Harnell Lake areas is characteristic of an
island arc association.
Mineralized core collection
The mineralized core collection is housed
primarily at the La Ronge Precambrian
Geological LaboratorY, although small storage
facilities are also established in Creighton
and Uranium City. I.rrportant recent additions
to the collection are submissions by canadian
O::cidental Petroleum Ltd. - Inco Metals Ltd,
(r-t::Clean Lake) and Eldor Mines Ltd. (Ra,bbi t
Lake). Rock suites from several mineral
prospects have also been assembled by the
resident geologists to augment the core
collection. '!he cooperation of conpanies who
sul:Jnitted material is gratefully acknowledged.
- 66 -
Mineral Deposits Index
Resident Geologists' Offices
Work continued in liaison with the Geodata
Section on the Saskatchewan Mineral Deposits
Index with ui;x:lating and verification of
manual and cooputer files and transfer of data
to metric scale base maps. computer programs
were generated for plotting of mineral
deposits maps at any scale by c0ll1ll0dity.
The resident geologists' offices in La Ronge,
Creighton and Uranium City were reduced in
number with the closure of the Uranium City
office on september 15, 1983. '.nle closure
was in response to a much reduced level of
exploration in the Athabasca Mining District
and to the decreasing use of Uranium City,
since termination of Eldorado Nuclear Ltd.'s
Beaverlodge operation. Through the resident
geologists and the staff of the Regina office
the Economic Geology Section services the
mining industry by providing up-to-date
information on exploration and mining
activities and OfPC)rtunities in northern
Saskatchewan. Numerous meetings with
industry representatives were held during the
year and several field visits undertaken.
The resident geologists' offices continue to
maintain files of current mineral claim maps,
aerial photographs and assessment work
sul:missions for their respective districts,
and to sell geological maps and reports.
Mineral Deposits Maps
A new project was initiated, in which a
series of 1:250,000 scale mineral deposit
maps will be generated to augment the
compilation series bedrock geological maps
currently being published. As presently
envisaged, the mineral maps will provide
details of location, metal association,
develoµnent status and type of mineralization
as well as references to all source records.
The 1:250,000 geological maps will be used as
a base for data presentation and marginal
notes will develop metallogenic concepts.