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The uranium-hosting Paleoproterozoic Amer Group, central Nunavut, comprises four dominantly sedimentary sequences (Ps1 through Ps4) deposited unconformably on Archean basement of the Rae sub-province. Ps1 is characterized by Ayagaq fm. quartzites formed in a stable cratonic and/or marine setting, with minor conglomerate and/or a distinctive schist at its base. PS2 is a sharply transgressive sequence of graphitic siltstone (Resort Lake fm.) shallowing up to dolostone (Aluminium River fm.) and intercalated to overlying porphyritic basalt (Five Mile Lake fm.). Ps3 comprises three units recording an overall coarsening- then shallowing-upward sequence involving siltstone to feldspathic arenite (Three Lakes, Oora Lake and Showing Lake formations). Ps3 is the primary host of U-mineralization in this region. Ps4 arkose (Itza Lake fm.) is preserved as isolated occurrences above a profound unconformity. The Amer Group is intensely deformed. D1 produced multiple transposition (three fold generations) and displacement along discrete detachments resulting in sub-horizontal axial surfaces and tectono-stratigraphy. D2 generated the regional, generally upright synclinoria, and is separated from D1 by the Ps3-Ps4 unconformity. Late D3 folds with sub-horizontal axial surfaces are rare. The region is transected by arrays of ENE- and NW- trending faults. Elucidation of the structure of Ps3 units is central to determining the distribution of U-mineralization in the Amer Group. The difficulties of dealing with a polydeformed terrane are exacerbated by the absence of exposure in critical areas. This problem has been overcome by integrating detailed outcrop examination with high-resolution aeromagnetic data, and legacy drill hole data. The analysis is dependent on the strong, but distinct magnetic responses of the euhedral disseminated magnetite-bearing fine siliciclastic Three Lakes and Showing Lakes formations that, in preserved stratigraphic sequences, are separated by the Oora Lake fm. The aforesaid approach has enabled identification of a consistent, yet distinctly different geometry for the Amer Group "basins". In contrast to the apparent straightforward structure of the regional D2 synclinoria, it is demonstrated that the D1 tectono-stratigraphy forms large, regional recumbent structures masked by the lack of outcrop, but for which evidence occurs at all scales and within separate data sets i.e. field, geophysics, drill hole. The occurrence in some areas of elongate "cigar-shaped" mineralized zones reflects U-concentration within D1 hinge zones coaxially overprinted by D2. The success of this study in integrating diverse data bases, especially high-resolution geophysics and detailed outcrop mapping, argues for the future extension of such approaches.

The Amer Lake area is located within the Churchill Structural Province in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, approximately 160 km north‐west of Baker Lake. Two distinct geophysical‐geological entities are structurally intercalated: an Archean mixed granitoid gneiss – metasedimentary‐metavolcanic basement and the unconformably overlying Paleoproterozoic Amer Group metasediments. From east of Amer Lake stretching toward the south‐west, these two entities form the Amer fold and thrust belt. At the north‐east end of this belt, high‐resolution aeromagnetic data define a distinctive oval shape that has been interpreted as a south‐west trending doubly plunging synform. The outcrop within the interior of this structure is sparse resulting in limited structural data and speculative geological interpretations with multiple geometries possible. The high‐resolution aeromagnetic data compiled through an industry‐government consortium and newly acquired detailed gravity profiles were modelled to provide constraints on the geometry of this synform. We document a geophysical‐geological feedback process whereby the available geological and geophysical data were used to derive constraints on inversion models for the synform. Starting with available limited litho‐structural data the presence of a double plunging synform was directly inferred from the aeromagnetic data. Segments of the aeromagnetic data have 2D morphology and so can be modelled using a simple parametric 2D dipping slab inversion approach. Models of profiles extracted from the aeromagnetic data were used to provide preliminary dip and magnetic susceptibility constraints for the Three Lakes mudstone with iron formation and the Five Mile Lake basalt. Landsat imagery outlined the spatial limits of the stratigraphically underlying, non‐magnetic Ayagaq quartzite. Incorporating these outputs as bounds in the input / reference model for a UBC‐GIF 3D magnetic inversion helped to accentuate the geological structure in the output mesh: an enhanced inversion that incorporates both geological and geophysical constraints. The validity of the resulting inversion model was tested by computing 2D forward models of the gravity profile data. The inversion model generated by this study emphasizes the importance of integrating information from as many knowledge sources as one can find. More trust can be placed on forward and inversion models where there is agreement among all data sets and a coherency of structural style.

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