Track etch orientation survey in the Cluff Lake area, northern Saskatchewan

Track etch uses small pieces of special plastic film to detect the presence of radon gas emitted by buried uranium deposits. By using a sampling time of at least 25 days, the track etch technique eliminates the problems of sensitivity and fluctuations in background values normally present with other radon detection methods. An orientation survey was carried out in the Cluff Lake area of northwestern Saskatchewan. This was the first test of the method in an area of glacial overburden and the results have been encouraging. The mineralized zones have been outlined by drilling and occur at depths ranging from 10 to 100 metres. The mineralized area is covered by sandy till and outwash ranging from a few metres to 20 metres in thickness. Approximately 160 track etch sample cups were placed in shallow holes at the surface at roughly 70-metre centres. Sampling extended well beyond the boundaries of the known ore zone. High track etch values were obtained over the deposit, with a peak anomaly of more than 50 times the background value measured for the surrounding area. (author)