Essai de corrélation stratigraphique et structurale à l'est de Val-d'Or: implication pour la prospection aurifère du secteur

Stratigraphic and structural relationships show that the Trivio and Garden Island sedimentary groups could be lateral equivalents. The ubiquitous presence of shear zones between the sedimentary (Trivio and Garden Island) and volcanic (Kinojévis and Malartic) groups indicates that these contacts are tectonic and not stratigraphic. Moreover, the shearing along the Malartic–Trivio contact is located along the extension of the Larder Lake – Cadillac fault zone and could be its equivalent east of Val-d'Or, Quebec.Three major periods of deformation have been recognized in the field. The main east–west deformation, D2, has produced isoclinal folds inclined to the southwest and plunging 60° to the northeast. The axial-plane schistosity associated with D2 is responsible for the regional tectonic grain. Its orientation, 290°/70°, closely parallels the shearing direction along the major volcanic–sedimentary contacts. At Chimo mine, on a mesoscopic scale, the isoclinal D2 folds refold D1 structures, producing interference patterns intermediate between types 2 and 3. On a regional scale the D1 folds do not affect the lithologic pattern.A late deformation, D3, becomes progressively more noticeable toward the Grenville Front. Folds related to this third phase are inclined toward the northwest and plunge to the northeast. The orientation of the fracture cleavage associated with this deformation is 040°/60°. The proximity of the Grenville Front, north of Lake Matchi-Manitou, is shown by strike faults oriented northeast–southwest. The sinistral movement of these faults was determined using a banded iron formation as marker horizon.All gold exploration criteria suggest that the study area is a favourable target for gold exploration.