Lithostratigraphic setting and structural controls of uranium mineralization in the Main, Central and East zone deposits, ARC Kiggavik Property, Thelon Basin region, Nunavut

Kiggavik矿床和勘探营地位于努纳武特贝克湖以西约80公里处，是加拿大地盾这一偏远地区首批重大铀发现之一。自发现以来，主要运营商AREVA Resources Canada (ARC) Inc.在Kiggavik地区发现了许多其他有前景的铀矿床和前景，目前储量估计约为51,000吨（1.33亿磅U3O8），平均铀品位为0.46%。虽然这些矿床的一般背景已经知道一段时间了，但涉及铀矿成因的更具体的地质因素仍然不确定。本研究旨在更好地了解铀形成的控制和机制，特别是确定各种岩石结构（如断层、裂缝）是否以及如何控制成矿过程。这将分别由硕士和学士级别的学生研究项目完成，该项目将使用地下（钻芯）和地表测绘相结合的方法研究主要矿床附近的岩石类型和结构。然后将这两项研究的结果与区域尺度的观测相结合和综合，以便在更大尺度上确定含矿构造的机制和时间。这项研究的一个重要的相关目标是发展一套地质分析方法，可用于探测/预测经济铀浓度的出现。这些方法的技能和专门知识将在大学和工业界人员之间开发和分享，并将直接协助未来的短期和长期探索。这将有助于在邻近地区划定新的资源，因为它是如此偏远，需要这些资源来加强其经济可行性。这将提高这些资源在未来可持续开发的可能性，这将通过提供高薪工作和经济稳定极大地惠及贝克湖当地的村庄。

The Kiggavik deposit and exploration camp is located ~80 km west of Baker Lake, Nunavut and represents one of the first significant uranium discoveries in this remote part of the Canadian Shield. Since its discovery, work undertaken by the principal operator, AREVA Resources Canada (ARC) Inc., has identified numerous other promising uranium deposits and prospects in the Kiggavik region, with current reserves estimated as ~51,000 tonnes (133 million lbs U3O8) at an average grade of 0.46% uranium. While the general setting of these deposits has been known for some time, the more specific geological factors involved in uranium ore genesis remain uncertain. This research aims to better understand the controls and mechanisms of uranium formation, and in particular, to determine if and how various rock structures (e.g., faults, fractures) controlled the ore-forming process. This will be accomplished by student research projects at the Masters and Bachelors levels, respectively, that will investigate rocks types and structures proximal to the main deposits using a combination of sub-surface (drill-core) and surface mapping. Results from the two studies will then be integrated and synthesized with regional-scale observations to establish both the mechanisms and timing of ore-hosting structures at the larger scale. An important, related objective of this research is to develop a set of methodologies in geological analysis that can be used to detect/predict occurrences of economic concentrations of uranium. Skills and know-how in these methodologies will be developed and shared between university and industry personnel and will directly assist in future short- and long-term exploration. This will help to delineate new resources in the immediate area, which, because it is so remote, are needed to strengthen its economic viability. This will improve the likelihood that these resources will be sustainably developed in the future, which will greatly benefit the local hamlet of Baker Lake by providing high-paying jobs and economic stability.