The geochemistry and geochronology of the Bong uranium deposit, Thelon basin, Nunavut, Canada
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Date
2013-04-04
Authors
Sharpe, Ryan
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Abstract
The Thelon basin, Nunavut, is similar to the uranium-producing Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan; however, the uranium deposits associated with the Thelon Basin are poorly understood. The objective of this research is to develop a genetic model for the Bong uranium deposit, located in the Northeast Thelon region on the Kiggavik project of AREVA Resources Canada Inc. The Bong deposit formed in four stages. The first stage involved silicification of the host rocks. Stage 2 is characterized by pervasive argillization of the host rock and the formation of Stage A uraninite in veins and coating graphite (~1120 Ma). This stage is characterized by ~225°C fluids with calculated δ18O and δD values of -7.9‰ and -100.9‰, respectively. During Stage 3, organic matter formed, along fractures in permeable clay-rich alteration zones. At ~1040 Ma, an oxidizing fluid event (Stage 4) reconcentrated uraninite into redox fronts (Stage B) and altered Stage A uraninite to uranophane.
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Keywords
uranium, geochemistry, geochronology, Thelon