Publication Type:

Miscellaneous

Authors:

Pehrsson, Sally J.; Gibson, Harold L.; Gilmore, Kelly

Source:

A special issue on volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits of the Trans-Hudson Orogen, Economic Geology Publishing Company, Lancaster, PA, United States, Volume 111, p.803-816 (2016)

ISBN:

0361-0128

Keywords:

Canada, Canadian Shield, copper ores, Flin Flon Belt, geodynamics, gold ores, Greenstone Belts, Hudsonian Orogeny, Laurentia, lead ores, massive deposits, massive sulfide deposits, metal ores, metamorphic belts, mineral deposits, genesis, Mineral exploration, models, North America, Paleoproterozoic, Precambrian, processes, proterozoic, Reindeer Zone, silver ores, supercontinents, tectonostratigraphic units, tonnage, upper Precambrian, VOLCANISM, Western Canada, zinc ores

Abstract:

Paleoproterozoic volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits are hosted in greenstone belts that formed during assembly of Earth's first supercontinent, Nuna, at 2.1 to 1.7 Ga. These deposits account for a significant component of the world's VMS tonnage and, thus, are an important global exploration target. Among these Paleoproterozoic belts, the 1.92 to 1.80 Ga Trans-Hudson orogen of Canada is the largest and best endowed in Laurentia, with over 29 deposits totaling 320 Mt of Cu-Zn (+ or -Au, Ag, Pb) ore. Study of its deposits, districts, and tectonostratigraphic evolution enables greater understanding of metallogenic and geodynamic processes during the Paleoproterozoic. We briefly overview the Trans-Hudson orogen, its VMS deposits, and their exploration history, and illustrate that various distinct types of volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits form in predictive tectonostratigraphic sequences associated with both pre- and postaccretion volcanism. We present results from a four-year program to investigate the deposits and evolution of the Trans-Hudson orogen, highlighting various approaches at district and belt scales to improve exploration models for other structurally complex and covered Precambrian terranes.

Notes:

GeoRef, Copyright 2018, American Geological Institute.<br/>2016-070924<br/>Nuna