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Unconformity‐related uranium (URU) deposits in the Athabasca Basin, Canada, include the highest grade, large tonnage deposits in the world. Recent studies of the Patterson Lake corridor uranium deposits suggest a deep heat source enhances hydrothermal fluid flow and incursion of basinal brines along brittlely reactivated ductile shear zones. However, the spatial extent of the ore systems and lower crustal features capable of driving the hydrothermal cells remained largely unresolved. Three‐dimensional electrical conductivity models derived from inversion of magnetotelluric data and coincident gravity modeling identified a voluminous conductivity anomaly and corresponding gravity low related to a belt of high‐heat producing intrusions that dips below the deposit. Shallow conductive bodies are identified below the deposits and similarly prospective corridors. The volume and location of the intrusive bodies may have provided a source of radiogenic heat that helped drive remobilization of fluids along reactivated structures, redefining the spatial extent of URU systems. Plain Language Summary: The western Athabasca Basin, straddling the border of Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada, is home to some of the highest‐grade, large tonnage uranium deposits in the world. Recent studies have suggested a spatial connection between uranium ore systems that are found near the earth's surface and geological processes occurring deep within the crust. However, the processes connecting the lower crust to these shallow deposits is poorly understood. This study used 3D models created from magnetotelluric data, a passive a geophysical technique that measures the earth's natural electric and magnetic fields, to image the earth from surface to a depth of 40 km. We identified a voluminous igneous intrusion that extends from the surface to great depths in the earth's crust. We propose that this intrusion may have contributed to the uranium endowment of the basin, and that radiogenic heat from the large igneous body helped circulate uranium‐bearing fluids through the shallow crust along reactivated geologic structures. The modeling, when combined with other geoscientific datasets, showcases the role of high‐heat producing granitic intrusions in driving the hydrothermal fluid cells that formed the deposits. Key Points: Integrated resistivity—gravity modeling over the Arrow uranium deposit in CanadaMagnetotelluric inversion images deep‐seated thermal source and fluid pathways that formed some of the highest‐grade uranium depositsHolistic ore system model illustrates relationship between crustal ore system and lower crustal resistivity anomalies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental data on diffusion in olivine [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meteoric sphaerosiderite lines (MSLs), defined by invariant δ18 O and variable δ13 C values, are obtained from ancient wetland palaeosol sphaerosiderites (millimetre-scale FeCO3 nodules), and are a stable isotope proxy record of terrestrial meteoric isotopic compositions. The palaeoclimatic utility of sphaerosiderite has been well tested; however, diagenetically altered horizons that do not yield simple MSLs have been encountered. Well-preserved sphaerosiderites typically exhibit smooth exteriors, spherulitic crystalline microstructures and relatively pure (> 95 mol% FeCO3 ) compositions. Diagenetically altered sphaerosiderites typically exhibit corroded margins, replacement textures and increased crystal lattice substitution of Ca2+ , Mg2+ and Mn2+ for Fe2+ . Examples of diagenetically altered Cretaceous sphaerosiderite-bearing palaeosols from the Dakota Formation (Kansas), the Swan River Formation (Saskatchewan) and the Success S2 Formation (Saskatchewan) were examined in this study to determine the extent to which original, early diagenetic δ18 O and δ13 C values are preserved. All three units contain poikilotopic calcite cements with significantly different δ18 O and δ13 C values from the co-occurring sphaerosiderites. The complete isolation of all carbonate phases is necessary to ensure that inadvertent physical mixing does not affect the isotopic analyses. The Dakota and Swan River samples ultimately yield distinct MSLs for the sphaerosiderites, and MCLs (meteoric calcite lines) for the calcite cements. The Success S2 sample yields a covariant δ18 O vs. δ13 C trend resulting from precipitation in pore fluids that were mixtures between meteoric and modified marine phreatic waters. The calcite cements in the Success S2 Formation yield meteoric δ18 O and δ13 C values. A stable isotope mass balance model was used to produce hyperbolic fluid mixing trends between meteoric and modified marine end-member compositions. Modelled hyperbolic fluid mixing curves for the Success S2 Formation suggest precipitation from fluids that were < 25% sea water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the evolution of an ancient coastal plain in Cenomanian Dunvegan Formation in British Columbia. Response of floodplains to the complex interaction of the controls on fluvial sedimentation; Correlation between local stratigraphic succession and regional sequence framework; Attribution of site-specific differences in palaeosol development.

Two contrasting marine sedimentary facies, the Haida Formation of sandy and argillaceous sediments and the conformably overlying Honna Formation of gravelly sediments were formed within different types of tectonic basins during mid- to Late Cretaceous time. The sediments of both formations were derived from the east. Sandstones from the two formations show characteristics of mature magmatic arc provenance and are classified as lithic and feldspathic arenites. However, the Honna sandstones are more feldspathic and less quartzose than the Haida sandstones. The Honna sandstones have many volcanic rock fragments (VRF) but the Haida sandstones do not. Feldspars of the VRF-rich Honna sandstones, however, do not seem to have been derived from the breakdown of volcanic rocks. The observed petrographic differences between the two formations can be ascribed to a process in which the volcanic cover and the basement rock denudation took place simultaneously in the source area during deposition of the Honna Formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper Ordovician (Caradocian) carbonates of eastern North America were deposited along the Iapetus continental margin and record a transition from warm- to cool-water settings despite this margin having been within the southern hemisphere tropical belt. This event has been documented from Virginia (USA) to southern Québec (Canada) although, not previously from areas close to the palaeoequator. Field, petrographic and major element geochemistry data have been gathered from the poorly-known Upper Ordovician carbonate succession outcropping in the Lac Saint-Jean outlier in central Québec. The succession consists of a lower siliciclastic formation (Tremblay) overlain by three limestone formations (Simard, Shipshaw and Galets) and capped by shales (Pointe-Bleue Shale). From macro- and microfaunal evidence, carbonate sedimentation occurred during the late Caradoc and is younger than the early- to mid-Caradoc carbonate succession present farther south. Relative sea level fluctuations recorded in the sediments suggest an overall sea level rise briefly halted by a minor end-Caradocian sea level fall. The lower limestone formation (Simard) consists of muddy sediments with algal-coral-stromatoporoid boundstones; green algae are abundant. This unit reflects low energy sedimentation on a shallow warm-water carbonate ramp colonized by a diverse chlorozoan fauna. The upper limestone formation (Galets) is typified by coarse-grained bioclastic sediments punctuated by numerous phosphate-rich hardgrounds with evidence for high energy shallow marine conditions. Faunas were dominated by crinoids and bryozoans. This unit represents high energy sedimentation on a cool shallow water carbonate ramp colonized by a brynoderm faunal association. Between both units, a deeper marine (outer shelf) limestone formation (Shipshaw) was developed. In the Lac Saint-Jean area, a transition from warm- to cool-water carbonate ramps occurred in latest Caradoc times and is litho- and bio... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]