Thu
13 Apr 2023PDAC Short Course Presentations
New geophysical and geological insights into how crustal architecture influences the gold and base metal endowment of Precambrian terranes
In March 2023, MERC led a sold-out Short Course at PDAC. The presentation slides are now available for download online.
Course description
The timing and distribution of mineralization in Precambrian Orogens is influenced by crustal architecture, often established long before mineralization occurs. Gold occurrences in such settings are commonly associated with crustal-scale faults. Once established, these faults provide critical pathways for hydrothermal and mineralizing fluids which during repeated fault reactivations can result in remobilization or introduction of new auriferous fluids resulting in overprinting gold events.
This one-day course highlights new results from Laurentian University’s Metal Earth project, which generated more than 1,000 km of reflection seismic, magnetotelluric and gravity surveys that have provided some of the highest resolution imaging across 13 transects with differing mineral endowment in granite-greenstone terranes of the Superior and Southern provinces. The results highlight crustal architecture and metallogeny derived through the integration of geophysical studies at detailed and regional scales integrated with geological, geochemical and geochronological data.
Downloads
- Agenda & Speakers Biographies
- Dr. Mostafa Naghizadeh: The Larder Lake gold transect; Comparison of the results from various seismic prospecting methods
- Dr. Ademola Adetunji: Conductivity footprints of the world-class gold districts in Red Lake and Timmins, Canada
- Dr. Rajesh Vayavur: Upper crustal architecture of the Eastern Sudbury Ni-Cu-PGE camp by 3-D integration of geology and geophysical datasets
- Dr. David Snyder: Cost-benefit analysis for geophysical surveys used in the Metal Earth project
- Dr. Rasmus Haugaard: Crustal variations in metal-endowed versus less-endowed areas of the Abitibi greenstone belt: Insights from the Matheson and Swayze transects
- Dr. John Ayer: Geophysical signatures and crustal architecture of variably endowed greenstone belts: New insights from Rainy River and Timmins (Powerpoint presentation by Dr. Gaetan Launay)
- Dr. Taus R.C. Jørgensen: Crustal architecture and VMS endowment: Insights from the Rouyn-Noranda camp, Abitibi greenstone belt
- Dr. Chong Ma: Crustal architecture of the Sturgeon-Savant Lakes region and implications for VMS endowment
- Dr. Jeff Harris: A study of faults in the Superior Province of Ontario and Quebec using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm: Spatial relationship to Au mines
Metal Earth researchers presenting in the first half of the course focus on the geophysical techniques utilized at regional- and high-resolution scales, including new reflection and passive seismic, magnetotelluric and audio magnetotelluric, gravimetric and magnetic data. Areas of focus include the Larder, Timmins and Red Lake gold camps and the eastern part of the Sudbury Ni-Cu-PGE camp. Cost-benefit and the relative effectiveness of seismic technologies are also discussed.
Researchers leading the second half of the course focus on the crustal architecture and metallogenic comparisons of the endowed gold camps in the Timmins and Matheson areas versus the less-endowed Swayze and Rainy River areas. The crustal architecture of the volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) endowed Noranda and Sturgeon Lake camps is also compared. These contributions emphasize the integration of field and laboratory geological, geochemical and geophysical studies providing new insights into the geological and metallogenic framework of endowed terranes and the architecture of the structural conduits controlling the upward migration of melts and mineralizing hydrothermal fluids. A presentation on mineral potential mapping is included to provide more focused guidance into specific areas of higher mineral potential.
Questions? Contact John Ayer at jayer@laurentian.ca.
Interested in more of the latest research from Metal Earth? Watch research presentations on the Metal Earth YouTube playlist.
