Description

Core from a stratigraphic study drillhole, which was collared adjacent to the K4B kimberlite in the Buffalo Head Hills field of north-central Alberta, was tested by downhole gamma-ray geophysics, whole-rock geochemistry and petrography. A combined uranium- and thorium-log gamma-ray anomaly and a coincident kimberlite geochemical affinity suggest that sedimentary rocks cored at this horizon have been augmented either by syndepositional kimberlite volcanism or by kimberlitic fluids moving intrusively through the sedimentary strata. In contrast, a uranium-log gamma-ray anomaly coinciding with elevated total organic carbon and sulphide- and hematite-replaced organic material suggests reduction and accumulation of uranium and other metallic minerals and pathfinder elements (Mo, Zn, Ba, Hg, Sb, Se) as fluids moved through an organic-rich sedimentary rock horizon.

These observations are particularly important when the more than 500 000 oil and gas exploration wells drilled in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin are considered. Interpretation and correlation of analytical techniques, such as those presented in this study, may lead to methods that utilize wireline-log information to assess the regional potential for diamondiferous kimberlite and metalliferous deposits in Alberta.