Denison Mine Operation at Elliot Lake

Located in the Elliot Lake mining district of Canada, the Denison mine lies between Sudbury to the east and Sault Ste. Marie to the west. This area is overlain by Huronian sediments filling a basin in the Keewatin basement complex. Subsequent folding of these sediments developed a synclinal structure, known locally as the Quirke Lake Trough, which forms the northern portion of the now famous big Z structure, the geological trademark of this region. Plunging to the west and extending nine miles from the granite outcropping in the north to the Keewatin lava contact to the south, the syncline has dips of 10° to 45° on the north limb and 10° to 20° on the south limb.