Modelling the 3D Architecture of Rocks and Structures of the Athabasca Basin: How Saskatchewan is Tackling the Challenge from Down Under

SUMMARY The Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan hosts the highest grade uranium deposits in the world and is one of the world’s most prolific uranium producing districts. The deposits are focussed near the unconformity between the flat-lying Athabasca Group and highly deformed and metamorphosed basement rocks. South Australia is also one of the world’s largest uranium producers, largely due to production from the giant Olympic Dam deposit. In addition, the basement rocks beneath the Pandurra Formation make it prospective for unconformity-related deposits. Three dimensional structural analysis and GIS modelling techniques are providing a framework to compare the Athabasca Group and Pandurra Formation, and their basement rocks. This work is being undertaken under the auspices of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Saskatchewan and South Australia geological surveys. A key goal of the MOU is to provide enhanced insight into the uranium mineral systems of both jurisdictions.