Enhancing uranium exploration through seismic methods and potential field modeling at the McArthur River mine site, Saskatchewan, Canada

O’Dowd, Clare; Wood, G.; Brisbin, Dan; Powell, Brian F.

doi:10.1190/1.2369748

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…A catalyst for the survey was that previous 2D and pseudo 3D seismic surveys over the McArthur River uranium mine had shown promising results with regards to the location of the unconformity and post-Athabasca fault zones (O'Dowd et al, 2006;Hajnal et al, 2007;White et al, 2007). The primary objectives of the seismic survey over the Millenium deposit were to map the depth to the unconformity and image post-Athabasca structure within the planned mine infrastructure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mineralization lies directly on top of the basement (unconformity hosted) or is located within fault zones below the unconformity (basement hosted). Historically, exploration and production has been focused in the shallower parts of the basin, but more recently, it has moved to deeper levels (Tuncer et al, 2006), with new orebodies targeted as deep as 800 m (O'Dowd et al, 2006). These unconformityrelated deposits have traditionally been explored for using EM methods (Tuncer et al, 2006) based on a graphitic conductor model.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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3D seismic survey at the Millennium uranium deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada: Mapping depth to basement and imaging post-Athabasca structure near the orebody

et al. 2012

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Three-dimensional seismic reflection measurements have been used to assist mine planning at the Millennium uranium deposit, Canada. The deposit is located within the crystalline basement, separated from the overlying Athabasca Basin sediments by an unconformity potentially associated with significant fluid flow. The primary objective of the ∼6.5 km 2 survey was to image the unconformity and possible post-Athabasca deformation structures in and around the deposit. Clear unconformity reflections are observed within most of the survey area, although there are amplitude variations due to complex geology, including intense hydrothermal clay alteration around the deposit. Finite-difference modeling indicates that the wideangle character of the unconformity reflections is due to a gradual velocity increase at the unconformity. The reflections are obscured by large time delays, due to Quaternary sediments covering the area, making refraction static corrections crucial.The seismic interpretation shows large variations in the unconformity depth (from approximately 430 to 650 m), indicating a pronounced basement depression that coincides with a gravity low. Reflections from the unconformity are vague within the depression, especially in the vicinity of the deposit. Although the orebody is not directly visible in the seismic image, there is a lack of reflectivity coincident with the alteration surrounding the mineralization. We also observed reflections which likely originate at the contact between the altered and fresh basement rock located beneath the deposit. The seismic data further indicate post-Athabasca faults in the vicinity of the orebody. Based on the initial seismic interpretation, the depth of the crown pillar was adjusted and the mine infrastructure moved away from areas interpreted to be affected by the intense hydrothermal alteration surrounding the deposit. The capability to image the unconformity, post-Athabasca structure, and hydrothermal alteration also highlights the potential use of seismic surveys in uranium exploration.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

3D seismic survey at the Millennium uranium deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada: Mapping depth to basement and imaging post-Athabasca structure near the orebody

et al. 2012

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“…These features were also identified in other geotechnical work. The lack of any strong reflectors, such as those observed in other surveys completed in the Athabasca Basin (O'Dowd et al, 2006), suggests that the sandstone is competent in the vicinity of the proposed shaft locations. A few of the side-scan reflectors are visible as offsets or discontinuities in the 3D surface cube (Figure 10), and are subparallel and hanging wall to the B 1 conductor trend.…”

Section: Seismic Surveys For Mine Planning Wc209mentioning

confidence: 64%

An interpretation of surface and borehole seismic surveys for mine planning at the Millennium uranium deposit, northern Saskatchewan, Canada

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et al. 2012

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The Millennium uranium deposit is located within the Athabasca Basin, in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The deposit is hosted within moderately dipping Paleoproterozoic gneisses that are unconformably overlain by more than 500 m of flat lying, porous Paleoproterozoic to late Mesoproterozoic Athabasca Group sandstones. The deposit is associated with the sandstone-basement unconformity, post-Athabasca structure, and hydrothermal alteration. These features combine to create a complex 3D hydrogeologic setting that presents challenges with respect to mine development, production, and safety. In 2007, as part of a prefeasibility study for potential mine development, a seismic program consisting of a 3D surface survey, vertical seismic profiling, moving source profiling, and side-scan surveys was undertaken to map the complex geology. The geometry and resolution of these different seismic surveys allowed for direct imaging of the geologic targets of interest, regardless of orientation and size. After integration with drill-defined geology, the program successfully imaged the location and character of the unconformity, the post-Athabasca structural setting at camp and deposit scales, and the alteration around the deposit. This information increased the understanding of geotechnical aspects of the geology hosting the deposit, and is currently being used to help minimize risk and costs associated with mine development. Seismic surveys are now viewed as an integral part of risk reduction associated with mining in the Athabasca Basin.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the current research of sandstone-type uranium deposits, there are some studies based on 3D seismic data [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. Among them, most of the research works focus on tectonic characteristics [25][26][27][28]. Dentith and Randell [29] in 2003 analyzed the geophysical characteristics of the sandstone-type uranium deposits in South Australia and North America.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study on the 3D Sedimentary Characteristics of Sandstone Type Uranium Reservoir Based on 3D Seismic Attribute

et al. 2021

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It is of great significance to quickly obtain the sedimentary characteristics of sandstone type uranium reservoir for guiding prospecting sandstone type uranium deposits. In order to solve this problem, a method based on the extraction and optimization of 3D seismic attributes is proposed. The target stratum of the uranium reservoir is accurately located by using the gamma and acoustic logging data together. The well seismic calibration for the uranium reservoir is carried out by making full use of the logging and seismic data. The high-density fine horizon tracking is implemented for the top, bottom, and obvious adjacent interfaces of the target stratum. Various seismic attributes along the target interface are extracted using stratigraphic slices. Analyzing the consistency between the results obtained by various seismic attributes and drilling data, the one that can best characterize the sedimentary characteristics of the target uranium reservoir is selected as the optimal seismic attribute. The sedimentary and its evolutionary characteristics of the target uranium reservoir are obtained by extracting the above optimal seismic attribute. A case study shows that we can obtain the 3D sedimentary characteristics of the target uranium reservoir fast and efficiently using the method based on the 3D seismic attribute. They can be used for providing important reference information for the exploration of sandstone type uranium deposits.

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Enhancing uranium exploration through seismic methods and potential field modeling at the McArthur River mine site, Saskatchewan, Canada

Cited by 9 publications

References 1 publication

3D seismic survey at the Millennium uranium deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada: Mapping depth to basement and imaging post-Athabasca structure near the orebody

3D seismic survey at the Millennium uranium deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada: Mapping depth to basement and imaging post-Athabasca structure near the orebody

An interpretation of surface and borehole seismic surveys for mine planning at the Millennium uranium deposit, northern Saskatchewan, Canada

Study on the 3D Sedimentary Characteristics of Sandstone Type Uranium Reservoir Based on 3D Seismic Attribute

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