A study of some radioactive granites and pegmatites in northern Saskatchewan

Abstract

A study was made of the radioactivity and petrology of specimens from nine areas in northern Saskatchewan. The specimens studied ranged in composition from granite and pegmatite to diorite, and represented both areas of radioactive mineralization and areas of no known radioactive mineralization. It was found that structure was the most important control for ractioactivity with the highest radioactivity being confined to the margins of the granitic bodies. In two of the areas studied there is a direct relationship between the radioactivity and the microcline content of the rocks. The explanation suggested for this is that both are deposited by the last phase of the megmatic solutions. A general hypothesis is suggested that the granites from areas of radioactive mineralization are pronouncedly more radioactive than granites from areas of no radioactive mineralization. The study of the composition of plagioclase from radioactive pegmatites of Charlebois Lake with the flame spectrophotometer when compared with the optical determinations gave inconclusive results. Note:This thesis contains maps that have been sized to fit the viewing area. Use the zoom in tool to view the maps in detail or to enlarge the text.