Radiogenic lead mobility in the Shea Creek unconformity-related uranium deposit (Saskatchewan, Canada): migration pathways and Pb loss quantification

Abstract

The average Pb/U ratio of the Shea Creek unconformity-type uranium deposit has been estimated at 0.071±0.015. The calculation was performed on a volume enclosing the orebody to take into account the possible radiogenic lead migration within the ore zone. Despite this precaution, this ratio is significantly lower than the expected ratio (0.211) assuming a main U deposition around 1315 Ma, as suggested by previous UPb isotopic dating. Although part of the radiogenic lead can be trapped as galena within the orebody, about 60% of Pb have migrated more than 700 m away from the orebody, preferentially along the unconformity.