Application of radiation-induced defects in quartz and calcite for uranium exploration at the ACKIO discovery, northern Saskatchewan

萨斯喀彻温省北部的古元古代阿萨巴斯卡盆地拥有世界上最高品位的铀矿床，是研究石英和其他矿物中辐射引起的缺陷的优秀天然实验室。申请人作为前三个NSERC与行业共同赞助的研究项目的首席研究员，证明了石英中的一系列硅空穴中心是由铀和钍的放射性衰变发出的阿尔法粒子轰击形成的，它们是确定含铀流体路径的极佳示踪剂，有助于勘探新的铀矿床。这项申请延续了以前的研究，并在萨斯喀彻温省大学和Baselode Energy Corp之间形成了新的合作研究伙伴关系，以进一步开发石英以及方解石等碳酸盐矿物中的辐射诱发缺陷，作为勘探铀矿的工具。拟议的研究重点是对Baselode的ACKIO发现的石英和方解石进行电子顺磁共振(EPR)光谱研究，目的有三个：1)记录ACKIO的石英中辐射诱导的缺陷，以追踪ACKIO的含铀流体路径；2)利用单晶EPR光谱和其他先进的EPR技术表征石英中的两个动能辐射诱导缺陷；以及3)研究利用方解石中的辐射诱导缺陷来评估ACKIO的盆地和基底衍生流体的混合。这些数据将与工业合作伙伴的勘探计划中的数据整合，以帮助寻找新的铀矿。该项目为萨斯喀彻温省大学的一名本科生和两名硕士研究生提供了极好的培训机会。勘探和随后的采矿活动将在萨斯喀彻温省北部这一与世隔绝的地区引发经济活动，并为北部社区，特别是土著社区带来亟需的就业机会。此外，新铀矿的开发使所有加拿大人受益，并通过采矿和相关服务为萨斯喀彻温省北部的土著人民提供就业机会。

The Paleoproterozoic Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan hosts the world's highest-grade uranium deposits and is an excellent natural laboratory for studying radiation-induced defects in quartz and other minerals. The applicant, as the principal investigator of three previous NSERC-industry co-sponsored research projects, demonstrated that a series of silicon-vacancy hole centers in quartz formed from bombardment of alpha particles emitted from radioactive decays of uranium and thorium and that they are excellent tracers for defining uranium-bearing fluid pathways, useful for the exploration of new uranium deposits. This application follows on these previous studies and forms a new collaborative research partnership between the University of Saskatchewan and the Baselode Energy Corp to further develop radiation-induced defects in quartz as well as those in carbonate minerals such as calcite as a tool for the exploration of uranium deposits. The proposed research focuses on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic study of quartz and calcite from the Baselode's ACKIO discovery with three specific objectives: 1) document radiation-induced defects in quartz to trace uranium-bearing fluid pathways at ACKIO, 2) characterize two engimatic radiation-induced defects in quartz by single-crystal EPR spectroscopy and other advanced EPR techniques, and 3) investigate the use of radiation-induced defects in calcite for assessing mixing of basinal and basement-derived fluids at ACKIO. These data will be integrated with those from the industrial partner's exploration program to help finding new uranium deposits. This project provides excellent training opportunities for one undergraduate graduate student and two MSc graduate students at the University of Saskatchewan. Exploration and subsequent mining activity will spark economic activity in this isolated part of northern Saskatchewan, and lead to much needed job opportunities for northern communities, especially indigenous communities. In addition, development of new uranium deposits benefits all Canadians and provides job opportunities to Indigenous Peoples in northern Saskatchewan, through mining and related services.