II Saskatchewan Energy and Mines

Saskatchewan Geological Survey

Miscellaneous Report 91-4

Summary of Investigations 1991, Saskatchewan Geological Survey

Printed under the authority of the Minister of Energy and Mines

Although the Department of Energy and Mines has exercised all reasonable care in the compilation, interpretation and production of this report, it is not possible to ensure total ac­curacy, and all persons who rely on the informalion contained herein do so at their own risk. The Department of Energy and Mines and the Government of Saskatchewan do not accept liability for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies that may be included in, or derived from, this report.

Editors

R. Macdonald T.I.I. Sibbald C.T. Harper O.F. Paterson P. Guliov

Production Editors:

C.T. Harper C.L. Brown

Production Assistants:

J. Bilkhu V. Zeigler R.P. Kydd K.G. Jones

ISSN 0228 5657 Printed by Printco Graphics Inc.

ii Summary of Investigations 1991

Foreword

This summary report presents preliminary results of the geoscience program of Saskatchewan Energy and Mines conducted by staff of the Saskatchewan Geological Survey and its contractors. Also in­cluded are a number of contributions from outside agencies including the Geological Survey of Canada, Saskatchewan Research Council and the geology departments of the Universities of Regina and Saskatchewan.

Operational funds of the Saskatchewan Geological Survey are provided largely through a new five-year Canada-Saskatchewan Partnership Agreement on Mineral Development (known as "MDA2") which was signed in May 1991 , retroactive to April 1, 1990. Expenditures under the 1990-91 Saskatchewan Mineral Industry Diversification Program are eligible as the provincial contribution in year one of the agreement. The federal part of the program is being implerr.ented in the four years 1991-95, with provision for wind up and final reporting in fiscal year 1995-96. Total funding for the five-year program is $ 10 million, equally cost-shared between Canada and Saskatchewan 0n a parallel delivery basis. MDA2 is primarily oriented to geoscience with a total of $7.35 million allocated to geological mapping, geophysical and geochemical surveys, mineral deposit investigations and related studies. Other com­ponents of the agreement include research and development in mineral processing, market and other economic studies, and public information.

In 1991-92, approximately 60 percent of provincial MDA2 funds were directed to northern geoscience field projects, 20 percent to southern geoscience and the remainder to compilation and data-base projects as well as prospector training and public information.

In the northern program, emphasis switched from the La Ronge Belt to the southeastern part of the Shield around Flin Flon, Hanson l ake and portions of the Glennie and Kisseynew Domains. In this region, revision geological mapping and geochemical studies are being carried out in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the geological sett ing and control of gold and base-metal deposits, as well as to identify areas worthy of detailed exploration.

An important feature of the 1991 geoscience program is a higher degree of integration of federal and provincial projects than had been attempted in previous federal-provincial parallel delivery programs. For example, provincial projects in the Flin Flon-Hanson lake area (Project Seagull) form a component of the broader Geological Survey of Canada's Shield Margin Project of the National Mapping Program (NatMap). This program involves data acquisition in digital format and GIS-generated bedrock geology maps, and will serve as a useful test case for further development of computerized mapping in the provincial survey. The multidisciplinary nature of the Shield Margin Project is being enhanced by the Lit'1oprobe Transect of the Trans-Hudson Orogen which crosses the Project Seagull area.

In the south, a number of projects started under MDA 1 and the Saskatchewan Mineral Industry Diver­sification Program are being continued under MDA2 funding. These include studies on brines and building stones, lignite reserve estimates, and an investigation of the regional distribution of kimberlites and their geophysical and geochemical signatures. During the year the Geological Survey of Canada, Saskatchewan Geological Survey and several industry members initiated a joint program of aeromag­netic surveys intended to complete coverage of the Sedimentary Basin in four years. The new aeromagnetic data will be invaluable for kimberlite prospecting as well as for studies on potash and hydrocarbons.

I wish to thank all of the authors who contributed papers to Summary of Investigations 1991 and grate­fully acknowledge the diligence of the editorial, cartographic and stenographic staff in maintaining the high standard of publication.

L.S. Beck Executive Director Geologv and Mines Division

October 1991

Saskatchewan Geological Survey iii

iv Summa,y of Investigations 1991

Contents

Page

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Location Map, Northern Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

A. Northern Projects Under the Canada-Saskatchewan Partnership Agreement on Mineral Develop­ment 1990-95, in Year 1991·92

* Revision Bedrock Geological Mapping, Bootleg Lake-Birch Lake Area (Parts of NTS 63K-12 and 63L-9) .. .. .. ...... . .... . . . . . . . ... . . . .. .. . ..... . ... .. . ... . O.J. Thomas 2

* Revision Bedrock Geological Mapping, Mystic-Kaminis Lakes Area (Parts of NTS 63K-12 and 63l-9) ... . ... . .... . .. .. .. . .. . . . ........ . .... ....... . . .... . . B.A. Reilly 9

* Revision Bedrock Geological Mapping, Table Lake Area (Part of NTS 63L-09) .. . ....... .. .. W.L. Slimmon 16

Lithogeochemical Studies, East Amisk lake Area ........ .. . .... . .. ..... .... . .. .... ... . B.R. Watters 21

The NatMap Shield Margin Project and Project Seagull in Saskatchewan: An Integrated Geoscience Program Incorporating GIS ..... .... . R. Macdonald, S. Lucas, O.J. Thomas and B. Czornobay 28

* Revision Bedrock Geological Mapping, Wildnest-Attitti Lakes Area (Parts of NTS 63M-1 and -2) . . . . ... .. .. . .. . .... . . . .. . . . . . ........ . .. . .. . K. Ashton and A.O. Leclair 29

Metamorphic P-T Investigations in the Southern Part of Kisseynew and Western Part of Flin Flon Domains . ... .. ..... . .......... . .. . . ..... S. Diegel, K. Ashton and K. Wilcox 41

* Revision Bedrock Geological Mapping, Deschambault-Oskikebuk l akes Area (Parts of NTS 731-16, 63l-11, -1 2, -13 and -14) . . .. . . . .. .. . . ... . .... . .. . .. . . . . ... . ... .. . G.D. Delaney 47

* Revision Bedrock Geological Mapping, Southeast Arm, Deshambault Lake-Northern Lights Area (Part of NTS 63L-10, -11 and -14) . .. . .. . .. ... .. .. ... . .. . . . .. . J.F. Lewry, T.f.l. Sibbald and N. Hayward 57

Glennie-Kisseynew P-T Study 1991 : Fieldwork and Preliminary Results . .. ... .. .. . . . .. . .. . .... 0 . Perkins 66

Metamorphic P-T Studies in the Jan Lake Area, Hanson l ake Block .. . . .. . .. . .. ... ...... . . .. . .. . ... .. . S. Abbas-Hasanie, J.F. Lewry and D. Perkins 69

Lithogeochemical Studies, Wildnest-Attitti Lakes Area . .. . .. . .. .. . . .................... . . G.R. Parslow 72

U-Pb Geochronological Investigations in the Trans-Hudson Orogen, Saskatchewan: Preliminary Results by the ROM l aboratory in 1990-91 .. . ...... L.M. Heaman, S.L. Kamo, G.D. Delaney, C.T. Harper, B.A. Reilly, W.L. Slimmon and D.J. Thomas 74

The Age of the Mine Granites, Goldfields Area . .... . ... . .... . . . 0 . O'Hanley, T.K. Kyser and T.I. Sibbald 76

Deformation in the Star Lake-Mclennan Lake Area, La Ronge Domain .. . ..... . A.G. Roberts and He Chei 81

Alteration Halos Associated with Gold-bearing Shear Zones in the Star Lake and Island l ake Plutons .... . . .. . ... . .. ... .. ... . . .. . . . .... ....... . .... ..... . .... . E.G. Appleyard 85

Field Observations on the Broken Hammer Gold Occurrence and NIKO Gold Deposit . .. ... . . . P. Schwann 93

Structural Controls and Geochemical Character of the Seabee Gold Mine, laonil Lake, Glennie Domain ........ . .. . .. . ... .. . ......... ... ..... .... O.J. Schultz and R. Kerrich 101

Mineralization and Associated Alteration in the Hanson lake Area . ....... A.O. Maxeiner and B.A. Watters 109

Saskatchewan Geological Survey v

*

*

vi

Rare Element Pegmatites in the Hanson Lake Pegmatite Field .. . .... ... .. . .. .. .. . . .. D.G. MacOouga/1 118

Mineralized Core Collection .. .... . ...... . .... ... . .. ... .. . ...... .. . ... . .. ..... . . . . . .. A.J. Gracie 127

B. Northern Projects Under the Canada-Saskatchewan Partnership Agreement on Mineral Develop­ment 1990-95, from Year 1990-91

Geochemistry and Tectonic Setting of Metabasaltic Rocks from the Snake Rapids Area, Flin Flan Domain ... .. . .. .. . ..... . .......... . .. .. . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . ... B.R. Watters and K.E. Ashton 130

Geological Relationships in the Wood Lake Area, Tabbernor Fault Zone, Saskatchewan . ... . .. ...... . .. ...... . ... ........ . .. . .. ....... . K.H. Wilcox 135

A Reconnaissance Petrographic and Isotopic Study of Fluid History in the Tabbernor Fault Zone, Saskatchewan . .. . ... .. . .. .. . .. . .... . . ... . . .. . M.P. Field and R. Kerrich 144

C. Contributed Papers, Northern Studies

The lithoprobe Trans-Hudson Orogen Transect (THOT): Status Report .. ... ..... J.F. Lewry and Z. Hajnal 154

Detrital Zircons from Missi Metasedimentary Rocks, Flin Flon Basin: Constraints on Age and Provenance ..... ............ ... . . ... . K.M. Ansdell, T.K. Kyser, M.R. Stauffer and G. Edwards 157

Chemical Signatures of Igneous and Metasedimentary Rocks from the Pelican Slide Area: Implications for their Sources and Tectonic environments . . ... . .. .. . . .. .. .... .... .. . .. . M.Sun, M.R. Stauffer, J.F. Lewry, G. Edwards, R. Kerrich and T.K. Kyser 162

Origin and Kinematic History of Highly Strained Gneisses in the Jan Lake East Area ... . .. ... ...... .. ...... .. . ... . .. ........ .......... . Shi Rupan and J.F. Lewry 169

Petrography, Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotope Data from the Bakos Lode Gold Deposit, La Range Domain . . .. .. . . . .. .. . .. .... .. .. . ............ .. . M. Fayek, T.K. Kyser and R. T. Kusmirski 175

Mineral Parageneses, Fluid Characteristics and Radiogenic Isotopic Data from the Proterozoic Jasper Gold Zone, La Ronge Domain .. . . . ... . . .... . . .. . .. . . ... F. Hrdy, T.K. Kyser and R. T, Kusmirski 178

Tourmaline, Phosphate Minerals, Zircon and Pitchblende in the Athabasca Group: Maw Zone and McArthur River areas, Saskatchewan . .. .. . ... . .. .. . ... D. Quirt, T. Kotzer and T.K. Kyser 181

The East Athabasca Mylonite Zone: An Archean Segment of the Snowbird Tectonic Zone in Northern Saskatchewan . . ...... . ... . . ...... .. .. ...... ........ S. Hanmer, C. Kopf and M. Oarrach 192

D. Southern Projects Under the Canada-Saskatchewan Partnership Agreement on Mineral Develop­ment 1990-95, in Year 1991-92

Review of Industrial Minerals Investigations 1991-92 .. . .......... . .. .. .. . . ... . .. P. Guliov and M. Gent 198

Industry-Government Aeromagnetic Survey of Southern Saskatchewan . .. . . . . . ...... .. . .. ....... .......... 0. Teskey, M.R. Gent and P.E. Stone 201

E. Other Southern Studies

Projects Supported by Petroleum Geology Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

Note on the Ordovician-Silurian Boundary in Southeastern Saskatchewan . .. .. . ... .. . .. . ... . . F.M. Haid/ 205

Preliminary Palynological Investigations of Upper Cretaceous Strata, Southwestern Saskatchewan .. . ... . . ...... ...... . . . .. . . . .. .. ..... . C.F. Gilboy and E.M. V. Nambudiri 208

Summary of Investigations 1991

F. Appendices

Titles and Abstracts o f Recent Saskatchewan Energy and Mines Publications and Papers by Staff of the Saskatchewan Geological Survey.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

Acknowledgments

Organization Chart

219

222

Staff List . ......... .. . . . . . .. . . . .. .... . . .. .. . .. . . ... . .. .. . .. . ..... . . . . . . . .. . . .... inside back cover

• Asterisked repor1s are accompanied by maps, as listed in full on the accompanying map package.

Saskatchewan Geological SuNey vii

57·

1cr:· r, ............ ~ ...... ~"'T ...... :.:;.:..-,,, ............ ~ ...... _,.. ...... ~1J~r ............ ~~...-,-~..::;::.~r--,r--...... ----.,«r

CARSWELL

@ STRUCTUREAT

'

MUDJATIK (SOUTH)

59'

56'

!,5" - - - .• • ·- - ---· · - !._ - ·- -r - - - -- - -·---- -- ' ·· ----- -- -

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·-·- ' !

, A.114 ---· - ····-\ ·-- -- --· · _ A..US' .

A.111 A.112 A.113

Figure 1 - Location of projects or reports in hand 1991-92 in northern Saskatchewan (excluding compilation maps). Numbers on map refer to the project number of the Canada-Saskatchewan Partnership Agreement on Mineral Development program (PAMD or generally known as MDA2) listed in the first column opposite. The base map shows in abbreviated form the location of the main lithostructural domains in northern Saskatchewan.

viii Summary of Investigations 1991

Proj. No.

Data No.•

Short Title of Paper or Project Author(s)

Outputs from PAMD 1990-5 Projects in 1991-92:

A. 1 11 9112

A.1 12 9123

A.11 3 9 130

A.1 14 9137

A.1 15 9150

A121a 9147

A1 2 1b 9147

A.122 9122

A. 123 9 117 A.147 9106

A 124 0136

A. 125 9 15 1

A 125 9 115

A. 13 ! 9 128

A.1 32 '9104

A. 141 9134

A.142 9!29

A 143 9138

A. 144 9135

A.14 5 9149

Revision Oedrock Mapping, Bootleg Lake-Birch Lake Area Thomas, D.J. (F,M)

flevlsion Bedrock Mapping, Mysllc· Kaminis Lakes Area Reilly, B.A. (F,M)

Revision Ocdrock Mapping, Table Lake Area Slimmon, W.L. (F.M)

Lilhogeoch0rn1ca1 Sludies. East Amisk lake Area

Watters, 8.R. (F,C)

Shield Marg in Pro1ect (NatMap), Pro jecl Seagull aml GIS Macdonald, fl. et al.

Revision Bedrock Mapping. Wildnest-Allilll Lakes Area

(G)

Ashton, K.E. & Leclair, A.O. (F.M)

Metamorph ic P-T Investigations. Kisseynew and Flin Flon Domains Diegel, S. et al. (W,C)

Revision Oedrock Mapping, Oeschambaull­Osklkebuk Lakes Area DelanCJy, G.D. (F.M)

Revision Bedrock Mapping, Soulheast Arm, Deschambault Lake-Northern Lighls Aroa Lewry, J.F. et al.

(F, M,C)

Glenn ie-K1sseynew P-T Sludy 1991 Perkins, D. (F,C,W)

Metamorpnic P-T Studies, Jan Lake Area Abbas-Hasanie, S. et al . (F.C)

Uthogcocl1emical Studies. Wildnest-At!itl Lakes Arca Pw~~G.R. ~C)

U-Pb Geochronological lnvesligations in Northern Saskatchewan: Prelim inary Results by ROM in 1991-92 Haaman, L .M. CJt al . (F,C.W)

Review of Recent Jsotopic/ Geochronological Work £3icktord, M.E. et al. (F,C,W,N)

Age o f the Mine Granites, Goldfields Area o uanley, o. et al. (F?.C)

Deformation in the Star-Mclennan Lakes Area Jie, H. & Roberts, R.G. (F,C)

Alteration Halos, Star and Island Lake Plutons Appleyard, E. C. (F, C)

rlcld Observations or the Broken Hammer Gold Showing and the NIKO Gold Deposit Schwann, P. (F)

Structural Conlrols and Geochemical Characler. Seabee Gold Mine Schultz, D .J. et al. (F?.C)

Saskatchewan Geological S urvey

Proj. No.

A.146

A.148

A.321

Data No.•

91 52

91 33

9 105

Short Title of Paper or Project Author(s)

Mineralization and Associated Alleration in the Hanson Lake Area Maxelnor, R.O. & Watters, 8.R. (F,C)

Rare Element Pegmatites In the Hanson Lake Pegmatite Fie ld MacDouga/1, D.G. (F,M)

Mineralized Core Collecllon Gracie, A.J. (W)

Outputs from PAMD 1990-5 in 1990-91 and extension:

B.107 9037

B.205 9040

B.209 9048

Geochemistry and Tectonic Setting of Meta­basaltic Rocks from the Snake Rapids Area Watters, £.1.R. & Ashton, K. (C)

Geological Relationships in the Wood Lake Area. Tabbernor Fault Zone Wilcox, K.H. (F,G)

Reconnaissance Petrographic and Isotopic Study of the Fluid History in the Tabbernor Fault Zone Field, M.P. & Kerr/ch, R. (C)

Contributed Papers:

C.1

C.2

C.3

C.4

C.5

C.6

C.7

C.B

F w c M G N

lt1e Lithoprobe Trans-Hudson Transect (THOT): Status Report Lewry, J.F. & Ha;nal Z. (W)

Delrital Zircons from Missl Metasedimentary flocks, nin Flon Basin: Constraints on Age and Provenance Ansde/1, K.M. et al.

cnemical Signatures of Igneous and Meta­sedirnen tary RockS from the Pelican Slide Area: Implications for thei r Sources and Tectonic environm ents sun, M . et al.

Orig in and Klnemalic lllstory of lllghly Stra ined Gneisses in !he Eastern Jan Lake Area Shi, R. & Lewry, J.F. (F,M)

Pel rography, Fluid Inc lusions and Stable Isotope Dnla from the Bakos Lode Gold Deposit Fayek, M. CJI al .

Mmeml Parageneses. Fluid Characteristics and Radiogenic Isotope Data from the Proterozoic Gold Zone. La Range Domain l!rdy, F. el al.

Tourmaline, Phosphate Minerals, Zircon and Pitchblende in the Atnabasca Group: Maw Zone and McArthur River areas, Saskalchewan Quirt, D. et al.

The East Athabasca Mylonite Zone: An Archean Segmenl of the Snowllird Tecton ic Zone Hanmer, S. et al.

Database Number (formerly project number. used for samples etc.) Field componen t in 1991 Project covered wide area (not shown on map) Contract project in 199 I Map(s) or chart (s) in accompany ing package Federal (Geological Survey ot Canada) componenl Report not included In this publication

ix