Uranium in Northern Saskatchewan dominates exploration activity for another year

A large portion of the mineral exploration activity in Canada in 1979 was concentrated in the Athabasca Basin area of northern Saskatchewan. Some 120 companies were involved, and their expenditure probably exceeded 80 million dollars. It is estimated that Saskatchewan probably has half the known uranium reserves in Canada. The major discovery of 1979 was probably McLean Lake deposit, although reliable estimation of overall tonnage and grade is not possible yet. Esso Minerals plans to bring its Midwest Lake property into production in the mid eighties, although indicated reserves were reduced to 56 million pounds of U3O8. Production is expected to be about 4.4 million pounds of U3O8 a year. Startup of the Cluff Lake open pit mine is scheduled for April 1980, and the mill, with a capacity of 75 tons/day, for the last quarter of 1980. The activities of Gulf Minerals, Asamera, Eldorado Nuclear, and Uranerz are also reviewed. Exploration in 1980 is expected to continue at the same level. (LL)