Massive sulfide deposits of the Noranda area, Quebec. I. The Horne mine

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Barrett ◽  
S. Cattalani ◽  
W. H. MacLean
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Massive Sulfide ◽  
Volcanic Edifice ◽  
Sulfide Deposits ◽  
Massive Sulfides ◽  
The North ◽  
Massive Sulfide Deposits ◽  
Volcaniclastic Rocks ◽  
Lower Temperature ◽  
Low K

The Horne massive sulfide deposits occur within volcanic rocks of the Blake River Group of the Archean Abitibi greenstone belt. The orebodies dip subvertically within rhyolitic flows, breccias, and tuffs that are bounded by the Andesite and the Horne Creek faults. Least-altered rhyolites have low K2O contents and other geochemical features that place them within the FII tholeiitic series. Graded volcaniclastic beds, metal zoning in the orebodies, and locations of chloritized–mineralized rhyolites indicate that the volcanic sequence youngs to the north. The volcanics in the fault wedge are variably silicified and sericitized, and local zones in the orebody sidewalls and footwall are chloritized.The H orebodies formed podiform masses up to 120 m wide, 100 m thick, and 300 m in downplunge extent, consisting of chalcopyrite–pyrrhotite–pyrite Au ore. Between 1927 and 1976, 54 × 106 t of ore were recovered, grading 2.2% Cu, 6.1 g/t Au, and 13.0 g/t Ag (Zn and Pb are &lt0.1% and <0.01%, respectively). A semicontinuous Cu-rich base (up to ~15 m thick) exists above the footwall and adjacent to the sidewalls of the orebodies. The ore changes stratigraphically upwards from a chalcopyrite-rich base, through middle pyrrhotite–pyrite-rich zones, to upper pyrite-rich zones. Au enrichments occur in some of the Cu-rich ores but also in overlying pyritic ores and in adjacent host volcanics. Cu–Au-bearing chloritized rhyolites occur mainly in the western and eastern sidewalls and at downplunge terminations of the H orebodies.The No. 5 zone occurs at lower mine levels and consists of numerous, partly overlapping Zn-bearing pyritic lenses up to 30 m thick, within mineralized rhyolitic breccias and tuffs. The No. 5 zone extends up to 750 m along strike and at least 1500 m downdip, with high-pyrite reserves of ~22 × 106 t between the 21st and 39th levels, grading 1.2% Zn, 0.15% Cu, and 1.4 g/t Au. Massive pyritic lenses are richer in Zn (> 50 ×) and Pb, Ag, As, Cd, and Sb relative to the H orebodies but are low in Cu and Au.The restored stratigraphic level of the H orebodies and No. 5 zone was dominated from south to north by rhyolite flows and breccias, then rhyolite breccias and tuffs. The volcanic rocks are interpreted as proximal to distal facies on a volcanic edifice that was affected by widespread silicification and sericitization. A graben system on the flank of the edifice became the depositional site of the H orebodies. High-temperature fluid discharge occurred along the fault-bounded graben margins, producing zones of chloritization and stringer-type Cu mineralization ± Au in rhyolites, and infilling the grabens with Cu-bearing massive sulfides. Lower on the edifice, in the No. 5 zone, Zn-bearing pyritic sulfide lenses accumulated within broader, breccia-based depressions roughly on strike with the H orebodies. Mineralization in the No. 5 zone may reflect lower temperature, more diffuse fluid discharge through a permeable sequence of volcaniclastic rocks.

Massive sulfide deposits of the Noranda area, Quebec. III. The Ansil mine

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1699-1730 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Barrett ◽  
W. H. MacLean ◽  
S. Cattalani ◽  
L. Hoy ◽  
G. Riverin
Keyword(s):  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Massive Sulfide ◽  
Hydrothermal Activity ◽  
Sulfide Deposit ◽  
Sulfide Deposits ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Host Rocks ◽  
Low K ◽  
General Range

The Ansil massive sulfide deposit occurs at the contact of the underlying Northwest Rhyolite and the overlying Rusty Ridge Andesite, in the lower part of the Central Mine sequence of the Blake River Group. The orebody, which is roughly ellipsoidal in outline and up to 200 m × 150 m across, contained reserves of 1.58 Mt of massive sulfide grading 7.2% Cu, 0.9% Zn, 1.6 g/t Au, and 26.5 g/t Ag. Production began in 1989. Least-altered host rocks are low-K basaltic andesites and low-K rhyolites. These rocks have Zr/Y ratios of ~5 and LaN/YbN ratios of ~2.3, typical of tholeiitic volcanic rocks, although their major-element chemistry is transitional between tholeiitic and calc-alkaline volcanic rocks.The Ansil deposit, which dips ~50° east, is a single orebody comprising two main massive sulfide lenses (up to ~35 m thick) connected laterally via a thinner blanket of massive sulfides, with thin discontinuous but conformable massive magnetite units at the base and top of the orebody. Sulfide ore consists of massive to banded pyrrhotite–chalcopyrite. In the downplunge lens, up to 10 m of massive magnetite are capped by up to 10 m of massive sulfide. Finely banded cherty tuff, with sphalerite–pyrite–chalcopyrite, forms a discontinuous fringe to the deposit.The two main lenses of massive sulfide have the highest contents of Cu, Ag, and Au and are thought to have formed in areas of major hydrothermal input. Altered feeder zones contain either chlorite + chalcopyrite + pyrrhotite ± magnetite, or chlorite + magnetite ± sulfides. Footwall mineralization forms semiconformable zones ~5–10 m thick that directly underlie the orebody and high-angle pipelike zones that extend at least 50 m into the footwall. Ti–Zr–Al plots indicate that almost all altered footwall rocks were derived from a homogeneous rhyolite precursor. Hanging-wall andesites were also altered. Despite some severe alteration, all initial volcanic rock compositions can be readily identified, and thus mass changes can be calculated. Silica has been both significantly added or removed from the footwall, whereas K has been added except in feeder pipes. Oxygen-isotope compositions up to at least 50 m into the hanging wall and footwall are typically depleted in δ18O by 2–6‰. These rocks have gained Fe + Mg and lost Si. Altered samples in general range from light-rare-earth-element (REE) depleted to light-REE enriched, although some samples exhibit little REE modification despite strong alkali depletion. Mineralized volcanic rocks immediately below the orebody are enriched in Eu (as are some Cu-rich sulfides in the orebody).Contact and petrographic relations generally suggest that the main zone of massive magnetite formed by replacement of cp–po-rich sulfides, although local relations are ambiguous. Magnetite formation may reflect waning hydrothermal activity, during which fluids mixed with seawater and became cooler and more oxidized. Cu-rich feeder pipes that cut magnetite-rich footwall indicate a renewal of Cu-sulfide mineralization after magnetite deposition. Chloritic zones with disseminated sulfides occur up to a few hundred metres above the orebody, attesting to continuing hydrothermal activity.

scholarly journals Geologic interpretation of aeromagnetic and chemical data from the Oaks Belt, Wabigoon subprovince, Minnesota: implications for Au-rich VMS deposit exploration

2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Hendrickson
Keyword(s):  
Base Metal ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Massive Sulfide ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Volcanic Complex ◽  
Sulfide Deposits ◽  
Massive Sulfide Deposits ◽  
Subvolcanic Intrusion

The Oaks Belt (OB) is a Neoarchean volcanic complex located in northwestern Minnesota, USA. It is part of the Wabigoon granite–greenstone terrane that hosts the world-class Rainy River gold deposit in nearby Ontario, Canada. Rocks in the OB form a north-dipping homocline in the fault-bounded pressure shadow of a sigma-shaped volcano-plutonic wedge that spans east–west for 220 km across the Minnesota, USA – Ontario, Canada border. Exploration drilling in the area delineated pyrrhotite–pyrite massive sulfide deposits, iron formation, chert, and semi-massive sphalerite mineralized zones. High-resolution aeromagnetic data indicate a large (∼60 km2) composite subvolcanic intrusion underlies these iron-rich strata in the OB. The position of this inferred intrusion elucidates the low base metal content of known massive sulfide deposits, as they were too far away (6–10 km) from a heat source to have been favorable sites for base metal deposition. The relative abundance of Au and Zn in the OB, alongside correlation coefficients between metals in massive sulfide deposits, iron formation, and chert, indicates the rocks were affected by a low-temperature hydrothermal system under relatively shallow water conditions (<1000 m). Negative correlation between Na2O and CaO in basalt, and their mutual moderate positive correlation with immobile corundum (Al2O3), implies alteration in the upper part of the volcanic pile did not result in substantial element mobility in most samples. Geochemical data from mafic and felsic volcanic rocks plot mainly in the calc-alkaline field. Thus, the OB is most prospective for hosting Au-rich VMS deposits and future exploration should focus on paleo-thermal corridors and favorable stratigraphic horizons near the newly inferred composite subvolcanic intrusion.

Isotopic studies of ore-leads of the circum-Kisseynew volcanic belt of Manitoba and Saskatchewan

1978 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 1112-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Sangster
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Volcanic Belt ◽  
Massive Sulfide ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
Lake Area ◽  
Sulfide Deposits ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Isotopic Abundances ◽  
Host Rocks

Volcanic rocks, distributed to the north, west, and south of the Kisseynew gneissic belt in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, define a crescent-shaped belt herein informally referred to as the 'circum-Kisseynew volcanic belt'. Field relationships lead to the conclusion that the flanking volcanics are correlative with, and grade basinward to, greywackes and shales.Nearly 30 volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits, interpreted as coeval with their host rocks, are distributed throughout the circum-Kisseynew volcanic belt. Lead isotopic abundances in a representative number of these deposits are, apart from 204-error, relatively homogeneous in composition and model lead ages determined from these isotopic ratios fall, for the most part, between 1700 and 1900 Ma. This is regarded as good evidence that the circum-Kisseynew volcanic belt, as well as its greywacke equivalent, is largely Aphebian in age.Model lead ages for sulfide deposits from the entire circum-Kisseynew volcanic belt, with one exception, agree well with recent Rb–Sr and U–Pb age determinations from the southern portion of the belt. Reasons for the exception, in the Hanson Lake area, are discussed in some detail.

Massive sulfide deposits of the Noranda area, Quebec. II. The Aldermac mine

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 1301-1327 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Barrett ◽  
S. Cattalani ◽  
F. Chartrand ◽  
P. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Parental Magma ◽  
Mass Gain ◽  
Massive Sulfide ◽  
Sulfide Deposit ◽  
Calc Alkaline ◽  
Sulfide Deposits ◽  
Massive Sulfide Deposits ◽  
Fractionation Trend ◽  
Felsic Volcanic

The original Aldermac mine near Noranda contained several Cu–Zn massive sulfide lenses hosted by felsic to mafic volcanic rocks of the late Archean Blake River Group. The original Nos. 3–6 orebodies, which consisted of massive pyrite, with lesser magnetite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite, contained 1.87 Mt of Cu–Zn ore that averaged 1.47% Cu (Zn was not recovered). The orebodies occurred within felsic breccias and tuffs up to 100 m thick that are stratigraphically overlain by an extensive dome of mainly massive rhyolite and rhyodacite (up to 250 m thick and at least 550 m across). Most of the volcanic rocks that laterally flank and overlie the felsic dome are dacitic to andesitic flows, breccia, and tuff, with minor rhyolites, and associated subvolcanic sills of quartz-feldspar porphyry and gabbro.The new massive sulfide deposit, discovered in 1988, lies 150–200 m east of the mined-out orebodies, at a similar stratigraphic level within altered felsic breccia and tuff. The sulfides are mainly in the No. 8 lens, which contains 1.0 Mt at an average grade of 1.54% Cu, 4.12% Zn, 31.2 g/t Ag, and 0.48 g/t Au. Pyrite forms porphyroblastic megacrysts in a groundmass of pyrrhotite, sphalerite, magnetite, and chalcopyrite. A funnel-shaped, chloritized stockwork zone underlies the No. 8 lens and contains Cu-stringer mineralization. The No. 8 lens appears to be zoned, with overall decreasing Cu:Zn ratios from the core to the fringes of the lens. Massive sulfides in this lens have high Ag, Cd, and Hg contents relative to other massive sulfide deposits near Noranda.Ti versus Zr trends for least-altered Aldermac volcanic rocks indicate a more or less continuous magmatic fractionation trend ranging from high-Ti andesite to andesite, dacite, rhyodacite, and two distinct rhyolites (A and B). Most volcanic rocks were derived from a common parental magma that was transitional between tholeiitic and calc-alkaline compositions, as indicated by Ti–Y–Zr–Nb data and rare-earth-element distributions.Ti versus Zr trends in altered volcanic rocks indicate that silicification (mass gain) has affected some of the andesitic to rhyodacitic rocks, whereas chloritization (mass loss) has affected many of the rhyolitic rocks. Intermediate to mafic volcanic rocks above and lateral to the felsic dome are commonly silicified, possibly the result of hydrothermally remobilized silica derived from underlying felsic volcanic rocks.The orebodies appear to have formed at an eruptive hiatus between mafic → felsic and felsic → mafic cycles, during explosive activity and accumulation of felsic breccia and tuff. Ore was deposited mainly within a felsic fragmental sequence (rhyolite A), but before emplacement of the dome of rhyolite B. In compositionally diverse volcanic terrains, the contact between successive mafic–felsic and felsic–mafic cycles may be a good exploration target, in particular specific geochemical contacts within the felsic stratigraphy.

scholarly journals Geodynamic conditions of massive sulfide formation in the Magnitogorsk megazone

LITOSFERA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 775-804
Author(s):  
A. М. Kosarev ◽  
V. N. Puchkov ◽  
Igor B. Seravkin ◽  
Gulnara T. Shafigullina
Keyword(s):  
Deep Structure ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Massive Sulfide ◽  
Southern Urals ◽  
Island Arcs ◽  
The Southern Urals ◽  
Sulfide Deposits ◽  
Massive Sulfide Deposits ◽  
Deep Wells ◽  
Geodynamic Reconstructions

Research subject. Volcanism, rock geochemistry, geodynamics, and massive sulfide formation in the Magnitogorsk megazone (MMZ) of the Southern Urals in the Middle Paleozoic.Materials and Methods. Across the largest part of the massive sulfide deposits under investigation, the authors conducted route studies, including geological surveys of individual ore fields and quarries of deposits, core samples of deep wells and transparent sections. Representative analyses of petrogenic and microelements were performed using wet chemistry and ICP-MS in analytical centers in Russia and Europe. Along with the authors’ data, analytical materials published by Russian and foreign researchers were used. Geodynamic reconstructions were carried out taking into account regional data on gravics, thermal field, magnetometry, and seismic stu dies, including «Urseis-95».Results. The geodynamic reconstructions established that the main elements of the paleostructure of the Southern Urals in the Devonian were the subduction zone of the eastern dip and asthenospheric diapirs that penetrated into the «slab-window», which determined the type of volcanic belts, the composition and volume of volcanic rocks of pyrite-bearing complexes, and ore matter of pyrite deposits. The following geodynamic zones in the MMZ were identified: 1 – polychronous accretion prism; 2 – frontal and developed island arcs (D1e2–D2ef1); 3 – zone of back-arc spreading (D1e2); 4 – rear island arc (D2ef1).Conclusions. All investigated zones and ore areas are characterized by an autonomous development of volcanism, a special deep structure and a different composition, as well as by a different volume of massive sulfide deposits that vary in the Cu and Zn ratios and Pb, Ba, Au amounts. In the MMZ volcanic complexes, three groups of plume source basalts are distinguished. The results can be used in predictive-estimation and search operations for massive sulfide mineralization.

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