High-resolution 2D And 3D Seismic Imaging of Structurally Complex Hardrock Environments Hosting High-grade Uranium Ore, Athabasca Basin, Canada

Hardrock environments occur in various geological settings, from modern orogenic systems to Precambrian shields. They are dominated generally by diverse and often strongly deformed assemblages of igneous and metamorphic rocks (Eaton et al. 2003). These rocks are hosting important quantities of mineral resources at variable depth, accordingly there is a growing interest to better constrain their subsurface geology. Seismic mapping of such environments is extremely challenging, because they differ radically from sedimentary environments. These differences are reflected in data acquisition through processing and interpretation. The purpose of the present study is to assess the applicability of seismic methods in mapping subtle subsurface structural and stratigraphic features associated with the McArthur River ore body.