Athabasca Basin: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Region of the Canadian Shield in Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada}} |
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{{About-distinguish2|the uranium mining region near Lake Athabasca|the drainage basin of the [[Athabasca River]]}} |
{{About-distinguish2|the uranium mining region near Lake Athabasca|the drainage basin of the [[Athabasca River]]}} |
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{{center|<small>Location of the Athabasca Basin in the Canadian Shield</small>}} |
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The basin is located just to the south of [[Lake Athabasca]], west of [[Wollaston Lake]], and encloses almost all of [[Cree Lake]]. It covers about {{convert|100,000|km2}} in Saskatchewan and a small portion of Alberta. The surface of the basin consists of main [[sandstone]] sediment varying from {{convert|100|to|1000|metres}} in depth. The [[uranium ore]] is mostly found at the base of this sandstone, at the point where it meets the [[basement (geology)|basement]]. |
The basin is located just to the south of [[Lake Athabasca]], west of [[Wollaston Lake]], and encloses almost all of [[Cree Lake]]. It covers about {{convert|100,000|km2}} in Saskatchewan and a small portion of Alberta. The surface of the basin consists of main [[sandstone]] sediment varying from {{convert|100|to|1000|metres}} in depth. The [[uranium ore]] is mostly found at the base of this sandstone, at the point where it meets the [[basement (geology)|basement]]. |
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On the northern and eastern edges are the communities of [[Fort Chipewyan, Alberta|Fort Chipewyan]] in Alberta and [[Camsell Portage, Saskatchewan|Camsell Portage]], [[Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan|Stony Rapids]], [[Fond-du-Lac, Saskatchewan|Fond du Lac]], [[Black Lake, Saskatchewan|Black Lake]] and [[Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan|Wollaston Lake]] in Saskatchewan. Much of the Athabasca Basin is within the migratory range of the Beverly [[Barren-ground caribou|caribou]] herd <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taiga.net/projectcaribou/pdf/casestudies/beverly_study.PDF |title=The Beverly Caribou Herd: Continental Wilderness Travellers |publisher=taiga.net |access-date=2013-07-19 |url-status= |
On the northern and eastern edges are the communities of [[Fort Chipewyan, Alberta|Fort Chipewyan]] in Alberta and [[Camsell Portage, Saskatchewan|Camsell Portage]], [[Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan|Stony Rapids]], [[Fond-du-Lac, Saskatchewan|Fond du Lac]], [[Black Lake, Saskatchewan|Black Lake]] and [[Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan|Wollaston Lake]] in Saskatchewan. Much of the Athabasca Basin is within the migratory range of the Beverly [[Barren-ground caribou|caribou]] herd <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taiga.net/projectcaribou/pdf/casestudies/beverly_study.PDF |title=The Beverly Caribou Herd: Continental Wilderness Travellers |publisher=taiga.net |access-date=2013-07-19 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609143934/http://www.taiga.net/projectcaribou/pdf/casestudies/beverly_study.PDF |archive-date=2013-06-09 }}</ref> a major source of sustenance for the [[Chipewyan people|Denesuline]] communities. |
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Within the basin are the [[Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park]] on the south shore of Lake Athabasca and the [[Carswell crater]]. The Cluff Lake mine site is located in the crater area. |
Within the basin are the [[Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park]] on the south shore of Lake Athabasca and the [[Carswell crater]]. The Cluff Lake mine site is located in the crater area. |
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==Uranium mines== |
==Uranium mines== |
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[[File:McArthur River Uranium Mine.jpg|thumb|300px|left|McArthur River |
[[File:McArthur River Uranium Mine.jpg|thumb|300px|left|[[McArthur River uranium mine]] aerial view]] |
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[[File:Claude Lake near the Cluff Lake uranium mine.jpg|thumb|right|Claude Lake near the [[Cluff Lake mine]]]] |
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Uranium was discovered in the region in the 1940s. The first mine in the area was the [[Rabbit Lake mine|Rabbit Lake Mine]], which was discovered in 1968 by Gulf Mineral Resources and opened in 1975. The most important current mine is [[Cameco]]'s [[McArthur River uranium mine|McArthur River mine]], the world's largest high-grade uranium mine. |
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Other uranium mines in the Athabasca Basin include the [[Cigar Lake Mine]], the [[ |
Other uranium mines in the Athabasca Basin include the [[Cigar Lake Mine]], the [[Key Lake mine]] and the [[McClean Lake mine]]. Former mines include the [[Cluff Lake mine]] and [[Gunnar Mine|Gunnar mine]]. |
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[[Dike (geology)|Dike]]s in the Athabasca Basin are related to the giant [[Mackenzie dike swarm]].<ref>[http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/info/gmna/comparisons1.html Comparisons of the 2005 Geologic Map of North America with the 1965 Map, Areas 1-4] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914105749/http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/info/gmna/comparisons1.html |date=September 14, 2007 }}</ref> |
[[Dike (geology)|Dike]]s in the Athabasca Basin are related to the giant [[Mackenzie dike swarm]].<ref>[http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/info/gmna/comparisons1.html Comparisons of the 2005 Geologic Map of North America with the 1965 Map, Areas 1-4] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914105749/http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/info/gmna/comparisons1.html |date=September 14, 2007 }}</ref> |
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*[http://www.investcom.com/moneyshow/uranium_athabasca.htm Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan] |
*[http://www.investcom.com/moneyshow/uranium_athabasca.htm Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan] |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090708075953/http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/minerals/uranium/uranium.html Uranium in Alberta] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090708075953/http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/minerals/uranium/uranium.html Uranium in Alberta] |
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*[http://www.dmec.ca/ex07-dvd/E07/pdfs/51.pdf Overview of Athabascan Unconformity Uranium deposits] |
*[http://www.dmec.ca/ex07-dvd/E07/pdfs/51.pdf Overview of Athabascan Unconformity Uranium deposits] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127204126/http://www.dmec.ca/ex07-dvd/E07/pdfs/51.pdf |date=2022-01-27 }} |
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Latest revision as of 22:12, 20 December 2024
The Athabasca Basin is a region in the Canadian Shield of northern Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. It is best known as the world's leading source of high-grade uranium and currently supplies about 20% of the world's uranium.[1]
The basin is located just to the south of Lake Athabasca, west of Wollaston Lake, and encloses almost all of Cree Lake. It covers about 100,000 square kilometres (39,000 sq mi) in Saskatchewan and a small portion of Alberta. The surface of the basin consists of main sandstone sediment varying from 100 to 1,000 metres (330 to 3,280 ft) in depth. The uranium ore is mostly found at the base of this sandstone, at the point where it meets the basement.
On the northern and eastern edges are the communities of Fort Chipewyan in Alberta and Camsell Portage, Stony Rapids, Fond du Lac, Black Lake and Wollaston Lake in Saskatchewan. Much of the Athabasca Basin is within the migratory range of the Beverly caribou herd [2] a major source of sustenance for the Denesuline communities.
Within the basin are the Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park on the south shore of Lake Athabasca and the Carswell crater. The Cluff Lake mine site is located in the crater area.
Points North Landing, a permanent supply depot and camp, serves the eastern area of the basin.
Road access to the area is provided by Saskatchewan Highway 955 from the village of La Loche on the west side and Saskatchewan Highway 914 and Saskatchewan Highway 905 north of the town of La Ronge on the east side.
Uranium mines
[edit]
Uranium was discovered in the region in the 1940s. The first mine in the area was the Rabbit Lake Mine, which was discovered in 1968 by Gulf Mineral Resources and opened in 1975. The most important current mine is Cameco's McArthur River mine, the world's largest high-grade uranium mine. Other uranium mines in the Athabasca Basin include the Cigar Lake Mine, the Key Lake mine and the McClean Lake mine. Former mines include the Cluff Lake mine and Gunnar mine.
Dikes in the Athabasca Basin are related to the giant Mackenzie dike swarm.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "World Uranium Mining". World Nuclear Association. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ^ "The Beverly Caribou Herd: Continental Wilderness Travellers" (PDF). taiga.net. Archived from the original on 2013-06-09. Retrieved 2013-07-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Comparisons of the 2005 Geologic Map of North America with the 1965 Map, Areas 1-4 Archived September 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
