The Athabasca Basin is a region of Northern Saskatchewan and Alberta Canada that is best known as the world's leading source of uranium. It currently supplies about 30% of the world's uranium. Jump to: navigation, search Motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (From many peoples, strength) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Regina Largest city Saskatoon Lieutenant Governor Lynda M. Haverstock Premier Lorne Calvert (NDP) Area 651,036 km² (7th) • Land 591,670 km² • Water 59,366 km² (9. ... Jump to: navigation, search Motto: Fortis et Liber (Strong and free) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong Premier Ralph Klein (PC) Area 661,848 km² (6th) • Land 642,317 km² • Water 19,531 km² (2. ... Jump to: navigation, search General Name, Symbol, Number uranium, U, 92 Chemical series actinides Group, Period, Block ?, 7, f Appearance silvery gray metallic Atomic mass 238. ...

The basin is located just to the south of Lake Athabasca. The basin covers about 100,000 square kilometres in Saskatchewan and a small portion of Alberta. The surface of the basin consists of main sandstone sediment varying from 100 to 1000 metres in depth. The uranium is mostly found at the base of this sandstone, at the point where it meets the basement. Lake Athabasca, Canada Lake Athabasca is located in the Northwest corner of Saskatchewan and the Northeast corner of Alberta between the 58° and 60° latitudes. ... Jump to: navigation, search Sandstone near Stadtroda, Germany Sandstone is an sedimentary rock composed mainly of feldspar and quartz and varies in colour (in a similar way to sand), through grey, yellow, red, and white. ...

Uranium was discovered in the region in the 1940s. The first mine in the area was the Rabbit Lake Mine, which opened in 1968. The most important current mine is Cameco's McArthur River Mine, the world's largest high-grade uranium mine. For several decades the price of uranium has been quite low, and there was little activity in the Basin. Since 2003, however, the price of uranium has increased considerably and the Basin is once again a focus of attention. Much of the best regions are controlled by Cameco, though smaller firms have in recent years found deposits in areas that had previously been overlooked. Cameco is the worlds largest publicly traded uranium company, based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. ...

External links

• JNR Resources - Athabaska Overview
• Casey Research - The Athabasca Uranium Rush
• Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan
• Uranium Potential of the Athabasca Basin in Northeastern Alberta