Distribution of Radiation-Induced Defects in Quartz at the ACKIO Uranium Prospect, Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan: Tracing Uranium-Bearing Fluids

This thesis presents the results of an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic study of quartz from the Baselode Energy Corp.’s ACKIO uranium prospect in the Athabasca Basin, northern Saskatchewan. The study included samples taken from both the Athabasca Supergroup sandstones and basement rocks from 16 diamond drillholes. Detailed EPR analyses revealed that quartz from both sandstones and basement rocks host a suite of silicon-vacancy hole centers, formed by the bombardment of alpha particles emitted from the radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and their unstable daughter isotopes. The differences in EPR signal intensities of these hole centers indicate that quartz grains received different accumulative doses of alpha-particle irradiation in different locations within the ACKIO prospect. A three-dimensional distribution model of the EPR signal intensities of these radiation-induced defects in quartz has been constructed. This model shows that quartz in a mineralized sample has the highest EPR signal intensity due to the presence of disseminated uraninite. For quartz sampled away from uranium mineralization, the elevated EPR intensities of the silicon-vacancy hole centers most likely indicate a temporary source of radiation, such as ancient uranium-bearing fluids. Along the sandstone-basement contact at the ACKIO project, the EPR signal intensities vary greatly and differ by approximately two orders of magnitude. Anomalously high EPR intensities recorded in fault gouges and brecciated areas suggest that these fractures served as the conduits for the migration of ancient uranium-bearing fluids and that there was limited migration of uranium-bearing fluids along the sandstone-basement contact at the ACKIO prospect. Moreover, the defined conduits for the migration of uranium-bearing fluids potentially point to new targets toward the south of the ACKIO area for further exploration. This thesis demonstrates the power of the systematic study of radiation-induced defects in quartz to reveal ancient pathways of uranium-bearing fluid vectors to explore potential mineralization targets.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geology

Grantor

University of Saskatchewan

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Cheung, Ka Long

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Butler, Samuel
• Chen, Ning
• Pan, Yuanming
• Thomas, David

• Radiation-induced Defects, EPR Spectroscopy

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/14947

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/14947