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 ACKIO 发现区在石英和方解石中辐射引起的缺陷在铀矿勘探中的应用

• 批准号: 570418-2021
• 负责人: Pan, Yuanming
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: University of Saskatchewan
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=723654
• 关键词: Application; radiation; induced; defects; quartz

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.

萨斯喀彻温省北部的古元古代盆地盆地拥有世界上最高的铀沉积物，是研究石英和其他矿物质辐射引起的缺陷的绝佳天然实验室。申请人作为前三个Nserc-Industry共同赞助的研究项目的主要研究者，表明，一系列石英中的硅面积孔中心是由爆炸而形成的，该中心是由铀和Thor的放射性衰减发出的α颗粒轰炸，并且它们非常好定义含铀的液体途径的示踪剂，可用于探索新的铀沉积物。该申请遵循这些先前的研究，并形成了萨斯喀彻温大学和Baselode Energy Corp之间的新的合作研究合作伙伴关系，以进一步发展石英的辐射引起的缺陷，以及碳酸盐矿物质（如方解石）作为探索工具的碳酸盐矿物质的缺陷。铀沉积物。拟议的研究重点是对石英的电子顺磁共振（EPR）光谱研究，从基本电极的Ackio发现具有三个特定目标：1）石英中辐射辐射的缺陷以追踪Ackio的铀含量，2）表征两种。通过单晶EPR光谱和其他晚期EPR技术，工程辐射引起的石英引起的缺陷，以及3）研究在方解石中使用辐射诱导的缺陷来评估Ackio在Ackio的盆地和基底衍生的流体的混合。这些数据将与工业合作伙伴勘探计划的数据集成在一起，以帮助寻找新的铀沉积物。该项目为萨斯喀彻温大学的一名本科研究生和两名MSC研究生提供了极好的培训机会。探索和随后的采矿活动将在萨斯喀彻温省北部的这个孤立的部分中引发经济活动，并为北部社区，尤其是土著社区带来急需的工作机会。此外，通过采矿和相关服务，新的铀矿床的发展使所有加拿大人都受益，并为萨斯喀彻温省北部的土著人民提供工作机会。