Gunnar Mine

The Gunnar Mine was a uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, located around 25 kilometres (16 mi) southwest of the community of Uranium City, and approximately 600 km north of Saskatoon.[1] The mine was situated on the Crackingstone Peninsula on the north shore of Lake Athabasca in the Beaverlodge Uranium District.

Gunnar Mine
The headframe at the Gunnar Mine
Location
Gunnar Mine is located in Saskatchewan
Gunnar Mine
Gunnar Mine
Location in Saskatchewan
LocationAthabasca Basin
ProvinceSaskatchewan
CountryCanada
Coordinates59°23′06″N 108°53′13″W
Production
ProductsUranium
History
Discovered1952
Opened1955
Closed1963
Owner
CompanyGunnar Mines Ltd

The Gunnar deposit was discovered in July 1952, and the mine operated as both an open pit (1955–1961) and underground (1957–1963).[2] The mine ceased production in 1963.[1]

The Gunnar Mine headframe was demolished on August 4, 2011[3] but not decommissioning in any meaningful way.[1]

As of 2020, the mine was being decommissioned by the Saskatchewan Research Council who have a license to operate the site until 2024.[1]

In 2019, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission inspection found overall good performance, but some errors with regards to controlling radioactive zones and labeling radioactive materials. These non-compliant acts were descried as having "low safety significance," but issued enforcement notices[1]

Geology
Gunnar Mine geologic map and cross section

The Gunnar uranium deposit occurred in Precambrian altered granitic gneiss. Pitchblende was mined to a depth of 425 metres (1,394 ft) between 1955 and 1963.[4][5]

See also

References
  1. "Regulatory Oversight Report for Uranium Mines, Mills, Historic, and Decommissioned Sites in Canada: 2020" (PDF). Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
  2. Saskatchewan Research Council (April 2007), Former Gunnar Mining Limited Site Rehabilitation Project Proposal (PDF), SRC, p. 1, retrieved 2009-10-25
  3. "Gunnar Mine headframe safely taken down". Cleans. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  4. Nash, J. Thomas (1981). Geology and genesis of major world hardrock uranium deposits: An overview, USGS Open-File Report 81-166. US Government. pp. 61, 72, 74–75.
  5. Lang, A.H. (1956). Record of Proceedings of Session 6B, Panel Discussion on Uranium and Thorium Occurrences, Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, Vol. 6, Geology of Uranium and Thorium. New York: United Nations. pp. 646–647.
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