The group was flown to the mine site on Friday where they were met by Cameco exploration geologists upon arrival. After a brief orientation, the members were given a presentation explaining the regional geology and methods being used to search for Uranium deposits. The afternoon included demonstrations on core logging and the opportunity to examine drill core from the area.
The following day started off with an introduction to the mine geological team. Next, the members were given a presentation involving the geology of the McArthur River mine, the processes involved in ore recovery, and the mining challenges present in the region. Following a visit to the mine geology core shack, the students were given the opportunity to examine core from the mine and received additional information relating to the local geology. Later, the members were treated to an underground tour of the Uranium mine. The tour led the students through many different sites in the mine with the company geologists explaining the mines history, mining methods, machinery, and ore removal process.
Day three involved a trip to a nearby Cameco Uranium exploration camp. Here, the students were able to see and experience the day to day operation of a Uranium exploration project. Project geologists led the students on a tour of the camp before giving a presentation on the regional geology. The members were then shown drill core of the area and were instructed to interpret and log the core and report back their findings. The day also included a trip to a drill rig on a frozen lake, which was a unique experience for the students.
With departure on day four, the members agreed that the weekend was a fantastic experience with a wealth of knowledge gained into the Uranium mining and exploration industry. The sights and experience gained by the students were something that just cannot be taught in the classroom and will go a long way in helping them in their new careers. The SEG extends a huge thank you to Cameco, Alex Aubin, Brian McGill, and the many others who helped make the trip such a great success and for taking the time to pass on a portion of their knowledge to the SEG.