scholarly journals Metallogenic Evolution of the Mackenzie and Eastern Selwyn Mountains of Canada’s Northern Cordillera, Northwest Territories: A Compilation and Review

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Ootes ◽  
Sarah A. Gleeson ◽  
Elizabeth Turner ◽  
Kirsten Rasmussen ◽  
Steve Gordey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Mineral Deposit ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Base Metals ◽  
Geologic History ◽  
Coal Deposits ◽  
Mackenzie Mountains

The Mackenzie and eastern Selwyn Mountains, Northwest Territories, Canada, are the northeast expression of the Cordilleran orogen and have a geologic history that spans the last one billion years. The region has undergone a diverse tectonic evolution, which is reflected in an equally diverse collection of mineral deposits and prospects. More than 300 of these deposits and prospects have been documented in this area of the Northwest Territories and here they are categorized into mineral deposit types and their mode of formation evaluated and highlighted. Stratiform/stratabound Cu-Ag occurrences are hosted in the Neoproterozoic Coates Lake Group, generally preserved in the hanging wall of the Cretaceous Plateau fault, and define a belt through the central part of the Mackenzie Mountains. Low-grade phosphatic stratiform iron (47.5% Fe) occurs as iron formation in the Neoproterozoic Rapitan Group in the very northwest of the Mackenzie Mountains. Sedimentary exhalative Zn-Pb (± Ba) deposits are preserved in Cambrian through Devonian strata of the Selwyn Basin in the eastern Selwyn Mountains. Numerous carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb (± base-metals) occurrences are located in the Paleozoic strata of the Mackenzie Platform in the Mackenzie Mountains. Cretaceous felsic-intermediate plutons, which occur throughout the eastern Selwyn Mountains, are associated with tungsten skarn (proximal to intrusions), base-metal skarn (distal from intrusions), rare metals, semi-precious tourmaline related to pegmatites, and vein-hosted emeralds. Other resources of potential interest include coal deposits, placer gold, and possible Carlin-type gold deposits that have recently been identified farther west in the Yukon.SOMMAIRELes monts Mackenzie et ceux de la chaîne orientale de Selwyn, dans les Territoires du Nord-Ouest, au Canada, sont l'expression au nord-est de l'orogène de la Cordillère, et leur histoire géologique s’étale sur le dernier milliard d’années. La région a été l’hôte d’une évolution tectonique diversifiée, et cela se reflète par une suite tout aussi diversifiée de gisements minéraux et d’indices prometteurs. Plus de 300 de ces dépôts et indices prometteurs ont été documentées dans cette région des Territoires du Nord-Ouest, et le présent article ils sont classés en types de gîtes minéraux, et l’attention est portée sur leur mode de formation. Les gisements de Cu-Ag stratiformes ou stratoïdes sont encaissés dans le Groupe néoprotérozoïque de Coates Lake, et ils sont généralement préservés dans l'éponte supérieure de la faille du plateau crétacé, et ils forment une bande qui traverse la partie centrale des monts Mackenzie. Le fer se retrouve dans des gisements phosphatées stratiformes à faible teneur (47,5% Fe) qui provient de formations de fer dans le Groupe néoprotérozoïque de Rapitan situé dans la pointe nord-ouest des monts Mackenzie. Des gisements sédimentaires exhalatifs de Zn-Pb (± Ba) sont préservés dans des strates cambriennes à dévoniennes du bassin de Selwyn dans la portion est des monts Selwyn. De nombreux indices de Zn-Pb (± métaux communs) dans des roches carbonatées des strates paléozoïques de la plate-forme de Mackenzie, des monts Mackenzie. Des plutons felsiques intermédiaires crétacés, qui pointent tout au long de la chaîne est de Selwyn, sont associées à des skarns de tungstène (proximaux), à des skarns de métaux communs (distaux), à des concentrations de métaux rares, de tourmaline semi-précieuses liés aux pegmatites, et à des émeraudes filoniennes. Parmi d’autres ressources d'intérêt, on retrouve des gisements de charbon, d'or alluvionnaire, et d’éventuels gisements d'or de type Carlin qui ont été découverts récemment plus à l'ouest au Yukon.

Geology of the shear-hosted Brookbank gold prospect in the Beardmore–Geraldton belt, Wabigoon subprovince, Ontario

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 925-946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry C DeWolfe ◽  
Bruno Lafrance ◽  
Greg M Stott
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Alteration Zone ◽  
Gold Deposition ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
Polymictic Conglomerate

The Beardmore–Geraldton belt consists of steeply dipping, intercalated panels of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks along the southern margin of the granite–greenstone Wabigoon subprovince in the Archean Superior Province, Ontario. It is an important past-producing gold belt that includes classic epigenetic iron-formation-hosted deposits near Geraldton and turbidite-hosted deposits, north of Beardmore. The Brookbank gold prospect belongs to a third group of related gold deposits that formed along dextral shear zones localized at contacts between panels of metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks. The Brookbank prospect occurs along a steeply dipping shear zone at the contact between footwall polymictic conglomerate and hanging-wall calc-alkaline arc basalt. Early during shearing the basalt acted as a structural and chemical trap that localized brittle deformation, veining, and gold deposition, ankerite–sericite–chlorite–epidote–pyrite alteration, and the replacement of metamorphic magnetite and ilmenite by gold-bearing pyrite. This produced a low grade (≤5 g/t Au) ankerite-rich alteration zone that extends up to 20 m into the hanging-wall basalt. Later during shearing, gold was deposited within higher grade (≤20 g/t Au) quartz–orthoclase–pyrite alteration zones superimposed on the wider ankerite-rich alteration zone. Auriferous quartz–carbonate veins oriented clockwise and counter-clockwise to the shear zone walls are folded and boudinaged, respectively, consistent with dextral slip along the shear zone. A key finding of the study is that different groups of gold deposits in the belt, including epigenetic iron formation gold deposits near Geraldton, formed during post-2690 Ma regional dextral transpression across the belt.

A synopsis of mineral deposits in the Archean and Proterozoic rocks of the Lake Nipigon Region, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 1041-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C Smyk ◽  
James M Franklin
Keyword(s):  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Hydrothermal Systems ◽  
Mineral Deposit ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Banded Iron Formation ◽  
Midcontinent Rift ◽  
Copper Nickel ◽  
Ultramafic Intrusion ◽  
Lode Gold Deposits

A variety of metallic and non-metallic mineral deposit types occur within Archean and Proterozoic rocks in the area encompassing the Lake Nipigon Region Geoscience Initiative. Archean deposit types include Algoma-type banded iron formation-hosted iron (e.g., Lake Nipigon iron range); volcanogenic massive sulphide copper–zinc (e.g., Onaman–Tashota belt); ultramafic intrusion-hosted chromium (e.g., Puddy–Chrome lakes); mafic to ultramafic intrusion-hosted copper–nickel – platinum group element (PGE) (e.g., Lac des Iles); and pegmatite-hosted deposits of rare metals (Li, Ta, Be), uranium, and molybdenum (e.g., Georgia Lake field, Black Sturgeon Lake, and Anderson Lake, respectively). Mesothermal lode gold deposits are prominent in the Beardmore–Geraldton camp. Superior-type iron formation occurs in Paleoproterozoic Gunflint Formation. "Red-bed" copper occurs in Mesoproterozoic Midcontinent Rift-related Osler Group volcanic and interflow sedimentary rocks. Native copper and copper sulphides occur in Mesoproterozoic Sibley Group sedimentary rocks, adjacent to ultramafic intrusions. These mafic to ultramafic intrusions, associated with Midcontinent Rift magmatism, host copper–nickel–PGE deposits (e.g., Seagull, Great Lakes Nickel). Silver-bearing veins occur in Paleoproterozoic Animikie Group sedimentary rocks in proximity to Midcontinent Rift-related mafic intrusions (e.g., Silver Islet, Silver Mountain). Lead–zinc–barite veins, uranium-bearing veins, and amethyst vein and replacement-type deposits may be cogenetic and formed at or near the unconformity between Sibley Group basal sandstone and underlying Archean granitic basement (e.g., Dorion, Black Sturgeon Lake, McTavish Township). The hydrothermal systems that produced all of these veins were probably driven by heat associated with Midcontinent rifting. Many occur in structures related to rift-bounding faults. Iron oxide – copper–gold deposits may occur near the English Bay intrusion.

Potassium–argon ages of intrusion and scheelite mineralization, Cantung, Tungsten, Northwest Territories

1978 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 1205-1207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Archibald ◽  
Alan H. Clark ◽  
Edward Farrar ◽  
U Khin Zaw
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Upper Cretaceous ◽  
Quartz Monzonite ◽  
Mackenzie Mountains ◽  
Tungsten Mineralization

K–Ar dating of magmatic biotite, and of hydrothermal biotite and muscovite, demonstrates that quartz monzonite intrusion and exoskarn scheelite mineralization at Cantung, N.W.T., took place over a brief interval in the Upper Cretaceous (ca. 91 Ma). The regional age relationships of magmatic and ore-forming activity in the Logan–Mackenzie Mountains are poorly defined, but it is tentatively inferred that tungsten mineralization may have been related to a late stage in the plutonic development of the area.

Demography of Dall's Sheep in the Mackenzie Mountains, Northwest Territories

1984 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 156 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. M. Simmons ◽  
M. B. Bayer ◽  
L. O. Sinkey
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Mackenzie Mountains ◽  
Dall’S Sheep

A reassessment of transport mechanisms of some rock avalanches in the Mackenzie Mountains, Yukon and Northwest Territories, Canada

1990 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Kaiser ◽  
J. V. Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Valley Bottom ◽  
Flow Simulations ◽  
Rock Avalanches ◽  
Field Evidence ◽  
Debris Transport ◽  
Glacier Ice ◽  
Mackenzie Mountains ◽  
New Hypothesis

The transport mechanism of some rock avalanches of the Mackenzie Mountains in the Yukon and Northwest Territories of Canada is reassessed on the basis of evidence collected during fieldwork and by comparison with results from numerical simulations of the debris flow mechanism. A new hypothesis of glaciation-related transport is advanced as an alternate explanation of apparently very mobile rock avalanches with anomalous travel distances. By the example of the Avalanche Lake slide, it is demonstrated that the debris was most likely not deposited on the current topography but on valley glacier ice at an elevation of about 400–500 m above the valley bottom. This conclusion is supported by field evidence, an empirical runup relationship, and the results from numerical flow simulations. A qualitative interpretation of other debris deposits suggests that several events in the Mackenzie Mountains can be interpreted in the same manner. Key words: rock avalanches, rock slides, debris transport, debris flow modelling, Mackenzie Mountains, Northwest Territories.

The sequence and correlation of Early Ordovician (Arenig) graptolite faunas in the Richardson Trough and Misty Creek Embayment, Yukon Territory and District of Mackenzie, Canada

2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 1791-1820 ◽  
Author(s):  
D E Jackson ◽  
A C Lenz
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Yukon Territory ◽  
Early Ordovician ◽  
The Road ◽  
Bedded Chert ◽  
First Occurrence ◽  
Mackenzie Mountains ◽  
First Time

Four graptolite biozones are recorded from the Arenig portion of the Road River Group in the Richardson and Mackenzie mountains in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. In ascending order, these zones are Tetragraptus approximatus, Pendeograptus fruticosus, Didymograptus bifidus, and Parisograptus caduceus australis (new). The Castlemainian stage may be represented by nongraptolitic massive bedded chert. The Arenig–Llanvirn boundary is drawn below the first occurrence of Undulograptus austrodentatus. Fifty-four graptolite taxa are present, and 16 of these species and subspecies are recorded for the first time in this deep-water biotope, namely, Didymograptus? cf. adamantinus, D. asperus, D. dilatans, D. cf. kurcki, D. validus communis, Holmograptus aff. leptograptoides, H. sp. A, Isograptus? sp. nov. A, I. ? dilemma, Keblograptus geminus, Pseudisograptus manubriatus harrisi, Ps. m. koi, Ps. m. janus, Ps. cf. tau, Xiphograptus lofuensis, and Zygograptus cf. abnormis.

scholarly journals Gold Deposits in Chile

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
José Cabello
Keyword(s):  
Porphyry Copper ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Gold Content ◽  
Base Metals ◽  
Porphyry Copper Deposits ◽  
Copper Deposits ◽  
Mineralization Age ◽  
Low Sulfidation ◽  
Gold Bearing

A review of gold and gold bearing base metals deposits in Chile, indicate the existence of at least six different type of ore deposits, most largely formed during the Cenozoic with predominance in the Miocene. Mesozoic deposits are common but less relevant regarding their size and gold content. These hydrothermal ore deposits are genetically associated with subduction related Andean arc magmatism. Due to its relationship with episodic magmatism migrating eastward, there is a tendency for the deposits to be in distinct, north-south trending, belts with a progressive west to east decrease in mineralization age. After analysing 82 cases in total, main gold concentration can be assigned to high-sulfidation epithermal and porphyry type deposits. Low-sulfidation epithermal, IOCG and mesothermal type appears as less relevant. Gold bearing copper deposits constitute an important part of Chile’s total gold production. Both IOCG type but especially porphyry copper deposits are and will remain as a substantial source to supplement the future output of the gold in the country. The 82 deposits with their tonnage and grade studied, represent a total gold content of 11,662 t equivalent to 375 Moz, excluding past production for those exploited. A number of probable gold bearing base metals high tonnage deposits (IOCG and porphyry copper) do not include their gold content in public format, hence the number delivered could be estimated conservative. Methodical geochronological, ore types and zonation studies are required to better appreciate this metallogenic setting widening current understanding and future exploration results.

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