A comparison of uranium exploration methods at the South March uranium-copper occurrence

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 74, No. 828, 1981

R.H. McCORKELL, J.W.M. PORRITT and M.P. BRAMELD, Bondar-Clegg and Co. Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario

Soil-gas Rn was measured by two types of alpha-particle-track detectors, by emanometry and by counting alpha-activity on Rn-decay-product collectors. Soil samples were analyzed for U by fluorimetric and fission-track methods, their Rn-emanation by decay-product collectors and their total alpha activities with track detectors. The same uranium anomalies were revealed by each method. Fission-track analysis of leaves for U showed only random variations with sampling site, and the Rn emanation of trees and leaves removed from them was barely detectable. The agreement among the other methods is significant, total alpha and collector methods are simple, rapid and useful, and a combination of methods at a site would reveal disequilibrium in the U-decay series if present. Track-Rn measurements are highly reproducible and insensitive to apparatus design and their sensitivity is not enhanced by covering the detectors with thin foil or placing them in large containers.

Keywords: Exploration, Geochemical exploration, Uranium, Copper, South March deposit, Soil sampling, Radon measurements, Biogeo-chemistry, Etched-track methods, Alpha particles, Emanometry, Fission-track analysis.