Geology of the Shea Creek uranium deposits: an expanding uranium district in the western Athabasca Basin
1. Shea Creek deposits
Geology of the Shea Creek uranium
G l f h Sh C k i
deposits: an expanding uranium district in
the Western Athabasca Basin
David Rhys, Sierd Eriks and Luke van der Meer
UEX Corporation
Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House, Nov. 29, 2010
2. Shea Creek deposits
Forward-Looking Statements
This presentation contains “forward-looking statements” that are based on UEX’s current
expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. These forward-looking statements
include statements regarding UEX’s resource estimates, outlook for our future operations,
plans and timing for the commencement or advancement of exploration activities on our
properties, and other expectations, intention and plans that are not historical fact. The
words “estimates”, “projects”, “expects”, “intends”, “believes”, “plans”, or their negatives or
other comparable words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
forward looking
Such forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions and are
subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from UEX’s expectations
include
i l d uncertainties relating t i t
t i ti l ti to interpretation of d ill results and geology, additional d illi
t ti f drill lt d l dditi l drilling
results, continuity and grade of deposits, public acceptance of uranium as an energy source,
fluctuations in uranium prices and currency exchange rates, changes in environmental and
other laws affecting uranium exploration and mining, and other risks and uncertainties
disclosed in UEX’s Annual Information Form and other filings with the securities commission
g
on SEDAR. Many of these factors are beyond the control of UEX. Consequently, all forward-
looking statements made in this presentation are qualified by this cautionary statement and
there can be no assurance that actual results or developments anticipated by UEX will be
realized. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements.
forward looking statements Except as required by applicable law UEX disclaims any
law,
intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.
3. Location and setting Shea Creek deposits
Shea Creek
Located in the western Athabasca Basin just south of the former Cluff
Lake mine site
Most advanced of ten western Athabasca projects that are jointly owned
by UEX Corp. (49%) and AREVA Resources Canada
4. Shea Creek deposits
Cluff Location and infrastructure
Lake
deposits
Project is 13 km south of
AREVA’s past producing Cluff
James Lake mine complex, which
Douglas River Creek produced 64 million pounds of
Project Project U3O8 between 1980 and 2002
Erica Exploration operated by
Project AREVA and run out of the Cluff
Shea Lake Camp
Creek Contiguous with the UEX-
Project
AREVA (49%-51% owned)
Douglas River and Erica
g
projects
Road accessible with all
weather highway 955 running
Nikita through center of property;
Project airstrip at Cluff Lake
5. Shea Creek deposits
History
Project first systematically explored during the early 1990’s by Amok
and COGEMA (predecessors to AREVA) with airborne and ground EM
surveys,
surveys identifying the NNW trending Saskatoon Lake Conductor
(SLC)
In 1992, second drill hole to test the SLC intersected low grade
uranium mineralization SE of th A
i i li ti f the Anne d
deposit. F ll
it Follow up d illi t
drilling to
the northwest intersected the Anne deposit and subsequently Colette.
Between 1994 and 2000, COGEMA drilled 156 holes mainly at Anne
and Colette. No drilling between 2001 and 2003 due to low U price.
In 2004, UEX signed an option agreement to earn 49% from AREVA
by funding $30 million in exploration. Between 2004 and 2010, more
y g p
than 200 drill holes were completed which defined additional
mineralization, and led to the discovery and ongoing definition of the
Kianna and 58B deposits.
UEX fully earned its 49% interest in the project in December, 2007
6. Shea Creek deposits
Resources based on drilling to Dec. 31, 2009
May, 2010 N.I. 43-101 complaint resources for the Kianna, Anne and
Colette deposits estimated by K. Palmer, P. Geo. of Golder Associates:
At a cut-off grade of 0.30% U3O8 :
Indicated = 1,872,600 tonnes at 1.54% U3O8 (63.57 million pounds U3O8
Inferred = 1,068,900 tonnes at 1.04% U3O8 (24.53 million p
, , ( pounds U3O8)
- At this cutoff, this is the largest pre-development resource in the Athabasca
Basin
At a higher cut-off grade of 1.50% U3O8 :
Indicated = 509,500 tonnes at 3.78% U3O8 (42.57 million pounds U3O8
Inferred = 188,700 tonnes at 2.83% U3O8 (11.77 million pounds U3O8)
The resources exclude results of the 2010 drilling that include expansion of
the Kianna deposit and identification of the 58B deposit. Mineralization is
still open in many areas – resources are growing and exploration potential is
exceptional
7. Shea Creek deposits
Geological setting
Property underlain by 400
to 800 m of Athabasca
sandstone cover
Underlying basement is
Archean to Proterozoic
Lloyd Domain granitic and
Careen Lake pelitic gneiss
Deposits lie immediately
58B
south of the Carswell
meteorite impact structure;
no local effects
Beatty River shear zone
dominant structure in area;
pre-Athabasca mylonite
with second and third order
structures to north;
t t t th
probable Hudsonian age
8. Shea Creek deposits
North property geology
Deposits associated with the
NNW trending, moderate
WSW dipping Saskatoon
Lake Conductor
L k C d t (“SLC”) that th t
is surrounded by felsic
granitic gneiss
Th SLC i 30 t 60 m thi k
The is to thick
and comprises pelitic
gneisses which are graphite-
rich and faulted (R3) in lower
portions, as well as
interlayered garnetiferous
granitic gneiss
Granitic gneiss in SLC dated
at 1930-1910 Ma (Brouand
et al 2002)
al.,
SLC offset by NE trending
pre-Athabasca mylonites
9. Shea Creek deposits
Saskatoon Lake
conductor cross section,
view north
Granitic gneiss SHE-095-3, 788 to 791.5 m
Graphitic, pyritic
p , py
pelitic gneiss
Hole SHE-061A,
766.3 to 764.7 m
Garnetite : SHE-038A, 742.2 m - 752.1 m
10. Pre-Athabasca Deformation Shea Creek deposits
F2 folds SHE-121-2, 800 to 803.3 m
history
Syn-metamorphic deformation during the
1950-1900 Ma Taltson orogeny comprises
southwest di i S1 gneissosity,
th t dipping i it
overprinted down-dip verging minor F2 folds
and S2. May lie on the overturned lower limb
of a regional D2 anticline Mylonite in felsic
M l it i f l i gneiss
i
SHE-122-1, 898.5
Retrograde steeply dipping, northeast
trending mylonitic shear zones (D3) up to
several meters wide associated with right
l t id i t d ith i ht
lateral displacements of the SLC.
These are pre-Athabasca shear zones
subsidiary to the Beatty River Shear zone
Spatially associated with sheeted EW
trending q
g quartz veinlets +/- dravite, and
,
locally remobilized by late faults, clay
alteration associated with uranium
Mylonite cuts S2: SHE-114-5, 960.6 m
11. Shea Creek deposits
Graphitic, concordant faults
Concordant, west-southwest dipping shear zones with pressure solution
fabrics, carbonaceous cataclastic breccia and late clay gouge developed
along lower, most graphitic portions of the SLC forming the R3 fault.
Reverse shear sense indicators; probable both pre-Athabasca and post-
Athabasca displacements. Early displacement may have been coeval
with mylonites.
y
Fluid flow and sericite-clay alteration coeval with shear zone activity
Oblique fabrics imply reverse kinematics
R3 shear zone, SHE-114-2, 738.5 to 740.3 m SHE-123-6, 771.4 m
12. Shea Creek deposits
Reverse displacement along
R3 structure + remobilized
mylonites offsets unconformity
approximately 30 to 50 m
Interaction of reverse faults
re erse fa lts
and earlier NE trending
mylonites where they
intersect: sites for uranium
Unconformity elevation map
13. Shea Creek deposits
Uranium mineralization
Mi
Mineralization outlined t
li ti tli d to
date along a 3 km strike
length of the Saskatoon Lake
conductor
Four deposits currently
known: Anne, Kianna, 58B
and Colette
Mineralization comprises
unconformity, basement and
perched mineralization styles
Unconformity mineralization
traced continuously over >1
km from SE Anne to Kianna
Many areas open, gaps in
testing between Kianna, 58B
and Colette
Open to NW (Douglas
Project) and SE
14. Shea Creek deposits
Shea Creek deposits display
the full range of stacked
mineralization styles seen in
the Athabasca Basin:
Unconformity
mineralization (UC) is
developed along and east of
the Saskatoon Lake
th S k t L k
Conductor
Basement mineralization
(UB) d developed mainly i
l d i l in
footwall of conductor
Alteration plume developed
above: may contain multiple
alteration fronts and perched
mineralization (UP)
Low concentrations of Ni As
Ni-As-
Shea Creek schematic cross section Co : “basement signature”,
looking NNW showing typical features local high Au (up to 56 g/t Au)
15. Shea Creek deposits
Unconformity mineralization
Most extensive style, pancake-like zone
straddle the unconformity, replacing basal
SHE-115-3, 744-746 m: Kianna deposit sandstone and upper basement
In highest grade areas occurs as nodules and
massive pitchblende +/- coffinite aggregates
in red-orange hematite-clay matrix
Fragments and also matrix replacement in
chlorite-dravite-clay matrix sandstone breccia
SHE-95-3, 721 m: Anne deposit Syn-faulting timing suggested by textures
y g g gg y
SHE-114-3, 749.2 to 749.4 m:
pressure solution fabrics along R3
fault overprint mineralized chlorite-
dravite breccia
SHE-102-01, samples from 718-721 m
17. Shea Creek deposits
Basement mineralization
Developed mainly in granitic gneiss in the
footwall of the SLC in areas of intense clay-
chlorite alteration, may exploit earlier faults
Intercepts so far up to 200 m below the
unconformity
SHE-096-03, 761 -764 m Mineralization in east-west to ENE trending,
steep to moderate north dipping veins, and in
WSW dipping concordant zones along faults,
lithologies: intercepts form W plunging oreshoots
Pitchblende + hematite +/- coffinite veins and
disseminations
SHE-115-11, 862.2-865.3 m Equal Area
(
(Schmidt)
)
N
SHE-123-02, 786.7 m,
Kianna South SHE-115-06, 877.5 m, Kianna Axial N = 96
18. Shea Creek deposits
Perched mineralization
Flat-lying lenses of mineralization in
Athabasca sandstone “perched” up to
60 m above th unconformity; l
b the f it least t
voluminous style of mineralization but
may be very high grade
Often stacked above areas of basement
mineralization and thickest unconformity
SHE-114-5, 680 .1 to 687.7 m = 27.7% U3O8
mineralization
Occur in clay-chlorite alteration often
above chlorite breccias, alternate with
hematite and pyrite redox fronts in
sandstone
Often occur along up dip projection of
basement-hosted faults into the
Pyrite replacing hematite in redox sandstone column
front spatially associated with
perched mineralization
19. Shea Creek deposits
Anne and Kianna
deposits:
plan map showing
l h i
deposit setting
and unconformity y
grade-thickness
contours
20. Shea Creek deposits
Anne section 6750N
looking NNW
Unconformity
mineralization with
basement zone “roots” of
concordant mineralization
Fragments of sandstone
locally occur in basement
breccia mineralization up to
50 m below unconformity:
faults open and permeable
into basement
Perched mineralization at
up dip projection of R3 fault
21. Shea Creek deposits
Anne section 6875N
looking NNW
Thick, high grade zones
of discordant basement
mineralization extend
downward from the
unconformity
mineralization and join
j
concordant basement
mineralization below in
granite gneiss
22. Shea Creek deposits
Kianna section
looking
l ki west t
Stacked
mineralization –
perched,
unconformity and
basement
EW trending, steeply
dipping basement
mineralization
exploits corridor of
pre-mineral mylonites
to depths of >200 m
below unconformity
b l f it
Additional
mineralization
recently indentified in
new zones to the
north
24. Colette south section Shea Creek deposits
8670N, view NNW Area shows stacking o
ea s o s stac g of
unconformity, perched and open
basement mineralization
25. Shea Creek deposits
Exploration potential: North Colette-Douglas River
Vertical
exagerration
x2.5
Athabasca sandstone
DGS-10 intercept
DGS 10 i t t Colette 58B
0.53% eU3O8/3.7 m
Basement
Kianna
1 to >10 ppm U >20% chlorite (modal XRD in
clay-sized fraction)
y )
Long section looking NE along Shea Creek trend: Plan map: little drilling north
Chlorite + anomalous U plume extends to >500 m of Colette Deposit on
above Colette and Douglas projects (Robbins, 1997) Douglas project
26. Shea Creek deposits
Property scale targets
58B
Outside immediate area of
deposits, SLC is untested or only
very sparsely tested, with only 23
widely spaced holes along >20 km
of strike length
Anomalous radioactivity and
prospective alteration in several
drill holes
Parallel conductors to west and
east
Near deposit upside: e.g.
Geotechnical holes 100 m west
G
and 150 m east of Kianna
intersected unconformity
mineralization (0 63% eU3O8/0 7
(0.63% /0.7
m) and 3 m of dravite-rich breccia,
respectively
27. Warning: forward looking statements! Shea Creek deposits
Conclusions: a growing district
Cluff Lake and Shea Creek form a significant and growing western
Athabasca uranium district
Most production historically at Cluff from basement style mineralization –
suggests further potential at Shea
Mineralization open in many areas, both in basement and at
p y
unconformity, including new zones in the basement north of Kianna, and
open basement mineralization down dip in south Colette from 2007
intercepts such as 3.23% U3O8 over 8.0 metres in drill hole SHE-111-06.
5+ km of Shea Creek trend along the SLC on Douglas River property
nearly completely untested, 400 m of strike length between Kianna and
58B tested by only one drill hole, and >10 km south southeast of Anne
y y
tested by only a few drill holes (including the Shea “discovery hole” SHE-
02 = 0.73% U3O8/0.7 m) : significant exploration upside
Parallel conductors with alteration, resistivity lows (e.g. Klark Lake)
$7.9 million budget for 2011 exploration at Shea and $9.7 million total for
West Athabasca – should be an exciting year
28. Shea Creek deposits
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the AREVA team for its ongoing
discoveries, discussions and contributions.
In particular John Robbins Sheldon
Robbins,
Modeland, Erwin Koning and Jeff Carroll
Leo Horn, Kevin Palmer and Dan Bald in
Horn Ke in Baldwin
also have contributed significantly
We also thank the management and
directors of both companies for their
continued support of the project