An appraisal of the potential for volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) deposits in the Archean Rice Lake greenstone belt,
southeastern Manitoba.
An appraisal of the potential for volcanicAn appraisal of the potential for volcanic--hosted massive hosted massive sulphidesulphide (VHMS) deposits (VHMS) deposits in the in the ArcheanArchean Rice Lake greenstone belt, Rice Lake greenstone belt,
southeastern Manitoba.southeastern Manitoba.
Manitoba Mining & Minerals Convention 2005
Manitoba Mining & Minerals Convention 2005
Scott AndersonManitoba Geological SurveyScott AndersonScott Anderson
Manitoba Geological SurveyManitoba Geological Survey
C. Chamale, U of M summer student
OutlineOutline
VHMS deposits:• exploration criteria
VHMS deposits:• exploration criteria
Rice Lake greenstone belt:• regional setting• geology and stratigraphy• geochemistry• paleotectonic setting
Rice Lake greenstone belt:• regional setting• geology and stratigraphy• geochemistry• paleotectonic setting
VHMS potential:• Rice Lake area• Gem Lake area
VHMS potential:• Rice Lake area• Gem Lake area
A. Carlson, U of M summer student
VHMS deposits:exploration criteriaVHMS deposits:
exploration criteria
(Franklin, 1993)
• VHMS-style mineral occurrences• VHMS-style mineral occurrences
Alan Galley, GSC
Regional scale:Regional scale:
Local scale:Local scale:
• proximal footwall alteration ‘pipes’;Mg- and Fe-chlorite, sericite-quartz
• proximal footwall alteration ‘pipes’;Mg- and Fe-chlorite, sericite-quartz
• Intraoceanic- or continental-arcs• Extensional geodynamic settings (arc-rift or
mature back-arc spreading centre)• bimodal volcanic succession; submarine
depositional environment
• Intraoceanic- or continental-arcs• Extensional geodynamic settings (arc-rift or
mature back-arc spreading centre)• bimodal volcanic succession; submarine
depositional environment• subvolcanic intrusions (heat source)• subvolcanic intrusions (heat source)• high-T rhyolitic volcanism;
proximal felsic flow-complexes• high-T rhyolitic volcanism;
proximal felsic flow-complexes• regional semi-concordant alteration
zones; silica-epidote• regional semi-concordant alteration
zones; silica-epidote
• synvolcanic faults (discordant alteration,facies changes, dike swarms)
• synvolcanic faults (discordant alteration,facies changes, dike swarms)
• laterally extensive exhalite horizons• laterally extensive exhalite horizons
Manito
baOntar
io
Wabigoon
Uchi
Winnipeg R.
Berens River
Oxford-Stull
LakeWinnipeg
Northern Superior
English R.
Quetico
WawaLake
pSu erior
Island L.
Munro
3.5- 2.81 Ga Northern Superior superterrane
3.0 - 2.87 Ga North Caribou terrane3.17 - 2.81 Ga Winnipeg River terrane
Mainly oceanic affinity
Mainly continental affinity
Meta-sedimentary belt
Granitoid rocks
> 2.8 Ga continental terranes and isotopic influence
Greenstone belts
200 km
Manito
baOntar
io
Wabigoon
Uchi
Winnipeg R.
Berens River
Oxford-Stull
LakeWinnipeg
Northern Superior
English R.
Quetico
WawaLake
pSu erior
Island L.
Munro
3.5- 2.81 Ga Northern Superior superterrane
3.0 - 2.87 Ga North Caribou terrane3.17 - 2.81 Ga Winnipeg River terrane
Mainly oceanic affinity
Mainly continental affinity
Meta-sedimentary belt
Granitoid rocks
> 2.8 Ga continental terranes and isotopic influence
Greenstone belts
200 km
Western SuperiorProvince
Western SuperiorProvince
• Prolific host toOLG deposits
• Prolific host toOLG deposits
• Few known VHMSoccurrences
• Few known VHMSoccurrences
NCTNCT
Rice Lake beltRice Lake belt
Red Lake beltRed Lake belt
VHMS deposit /district
Central RLB:geology
Central RLB:geology
* PMAP2005-1
F6 foldF6 fold
D2 thrustD2 thrust
Angular unconformity (D1)Angular unconformity (D1)
F3 foldsF3 folds
D4-D5 high-strain zonesD4-D5 high-strain zones
SAA
RRP
WSZ
Southeast RLB:geology
Southeast RLB:geology
BLA (D3)BLA (D3)
BL-WGSZ(D4-D5)
BL-WGSZ(D4-D5)
RRPRRP
BidouBidou
GemGem
EdmundsEdmunds
GarnerGarner
F6 foldF6 fold
Lower Bidou:ca. 2.73 Ga ocean-floor basalt
Lower Bidou:ca. 2.73 Ga ocean-floor basalt
Pillowed basalt flowHalfway LakePillowed basalt flowHalfway Lake
Bedded greywacke and chertin pillowed basaltHalfway Lake
Bedded greywacke and chertin pillowed basaltHalfway Lake
* Unpublished data from Bailes (1998) and Anderson (2004-2005)* Unpublished data from Bailes (1998) and Anderson (2004-2005)
ENd 2.73 Ga 0.48 & 2.13 (Tomlinson et al., unpub.)ENd 2.73 Ga 0.48 & 2.13 (Tomlinson et al., unpub.)
ENd 2.73 Ga 1.4 (this study)ENd 2.73 Ga 1.4 (this study)
Upper Bidou:ca. 2.73-2.72 Ga arc dacite-andesite
Upper Bidou:ca. 2.73-2.72 Ga arc dacite-andesite
Andesite-dacite brecciaRice LakeAndesite-dacite brecciaRice Lake
Dacite brecciaRice LakeDacite brecciaRice Lake
*Unpublished data from Bailes (1998), Corkery (1995, 1999) and Anderson (2002-2005)*Unpublished data from Bailes (1998), Corkery (1995, 1999) and Anderson (2002-2005)
ENd 0.3 & 1.1
TDM 3.03 & 2.94 Ga
ENd 0.3 & 1.1
TDM 3.03 & 2.94 Ga
Upper Bidou:ca. 2.73-2.72 Ga arc basalt-andesite
Upper Bidou:ca. 2.73-2.72 Ga arc basalt-andesite
Pillowed basalt flowRice LakePillowed basalt flowRice Lake
Contorted magmatic layeringIn leucogabbro (SAM unit)Rice Lake
Contorted magmatic layeringIn leucogabbro (SAM unit)Rice Lake
ENd 1.2
TDM 2.91 Ga
ENd 1.2
TDM 2.91 Ga
* Unpublished data from Bailes (1998) and Anderson (2004-2005)* Unpublished data from Bailes (1998) and Anderson (2004-2005)
Gem assemblage:ca. 2.72 Ga arc-rift rhyolite
Gem assemblage:ca. 2.72 Ga arc-rift rhyolite
Altered rhyolite brecciaAltered rhyolite breccia
Flow-banded rhyoliteFlow-banded rhyolite
ENd 0.3 & 0.9
TDM 3.10 & 2.99 Ga
ENd 0.3 & 0.9
TDM 3.10 & 2.99 Ga
*Unpublished data from Corkery (1995, 1999) and Anderson (2002-2005)*Unpublished data from Corkery (1995, 1999) and Anderson (2002-2005)
Gem assemblage:ca. 2.72 Ga arc-rift basalt
Gem assemblage:ca. 2.72 Ga arc-rift basalt
Pillowed basalt flowPillowed basalt flow
Mafic breccia withamygdaloidal basalt clastsMafic breccia withamygdaloidal basalt clasts
ENd - 0.4 (at 2.72 Ga)ENd - 0.4 (at 2.72 Ga)
*Unpublished data from Corkery (1995, 1999) and Anderson (2002-2005)*Unpublished data from Corkery (1995, 1999) and Anderson (2002-2005)
Rice Lake belt:paleotectonic setting
Rice Lake belt:paleotectonic setting
ca. 2.73 Gacontinental-arc / marginal-arcca. 2.73 Gacontinental-arc / marginal-arc
continental crustback-arc crustmantlewedge
back-arc ridge
riftedcontinental
arc
trench
slab
back-arcbasin
ca. 2.73-2.72 Gaarc-extension
back-arc basin / arc-rift
ca. 2.73-2.72 Gaarc-extension
back-arc basin / arc-rift
Bimodal VHMS systemsBimodal VHMS systems
Dacite brecciaDacite breccia
Pillowed basaltPillowed basalt
Greywacke-mudstoneturbidites
Greywacke-mudstoneturbidites
Water-lain felsic tuffWater-lain felsic tuff
Heterolithic debris flowHeterolithic debris flow
Dacite lapilli tuff cut bygabbro dikesDacite lapilli tuff cut bygabbro dikes
Rainy Lake Road section:stratigraphyRainy Lake Road section:stratigraphy
500 m
Ross River Pluton Bt-Hb quartz diorite
Calcalkaline-arc Dacite tuff breccia, breccia, tuff Heterolithic conglomerate, sandstone Abundant gabbro dikes/sills
Epiclastic rocks Greywacke-mudstone turbidites Heterolithic debris flows Gabbro sills Pillowed basalt flows Water-lain felsic tuff
Tholeiitic back-arc Massive and pillowed basalt flows Gabbro sills Flow-breccias
Arc extensionSubsidence
Arc / back-arc trans.
Semiconcordantchlorite alterationSemiconcordantchlorite alteration
Solid-sulphide (po-cpy)clasts in debris flow
Solid-sulphide (po-cpy)clasts in debris flow
• Arc extension• Basin subsidence• Arc / back-arc transition
• Arc extension• Basin subsidence• Arc / back-arc transition
ca. 2730 Ma
ca. 2728 Ma
Debris flow withsulphide clasts
Chlorite alteration
500 m
Ross River Plutonsubvolcanic intrusion (heat source)
Rainy Lake Road section:VHMS potential
Rainy Lake Road section:VHMS potential
Southeast RLB:geology
Southeast RLB:geology
Back-arcBack-arc
ArcArc
Arc-riftArc-rift
Arc-riftArc-rift
ArcArc
* Compiled from Stockwell(1945), Weber (1971),Seneshen and Owens (1985),and Anderson (2003)
* Compiled from Stockwell(1945), Weber (1971),Seneshen and Owens (1985),and Anderson (2003)
Gem assemblage VHMS potential:rhyolitic volcanic unit
Gem assemblage VHMS potential:rhyolitic volcanic unit
Pillowed felsic flowPillowed felsic flow Collapsed pumice lapilliin QFP rhyolite brecciaCollapsed pumice lapilliin QFP rhyolite breccia
Collapsed pumice lapilliIn rhyolite tuffCollapsed pumice lapilliIn rhyolite tuff
Flow-banded rhyolitebrecciaFlow-banded rhyolitebreccia
Rhyolite brecciaRhyolite breccia
Flow-banded rhyoliteFlow-banded rhyolite
• flow complexes• proximal volcaniclastic• pumeceous pyroclastic
= subaerial and subaqueous volcanism
• flow complexes• proximal volcaniclastic• pumeceous pyroclastic
= subaerial and subaqueous volcanism
Gem assemblage VHMS potential:FII - FIII rhyoliteGem assemblage VHMS potential:FII - FIII rhyolite
500Kilometres
South Bay
Mattabi
Geco
Kidd CreekLouvicort
Detour
Noranda
Mattagami
McFauld’sLake
Horne
Superior ProvinceVHMS deposits
Superior ProvinceVHMS deposits
Gem assemblage VHMS potential:hydrothermal activity
Gem assemblage VHMS potential:hydrothermal activity
Rhyolitic sandstone with black chert interbedsRhyolitic sandstone with black chert interbeds
Sericite alteration in rhyoliticsandstoneSericite alteration in rhyoliticsandstone
‘Exhalative’ horizons?‘Exhalative’ horizons?
SyngeneticalterationSyngeneticalteration
Sulphide occurrencesSulphide occurrencesChlorite-garnet alterationChlorite-garnet alteration
Gossanous qtz-ser-pyalteration in rhyolite brecciaGossanous qtz-ser-pyalteration in rhyolite breccia
Altered (ser-py) clasts inheterolithic conglomerateAltered (ser-py) clasts inheterolithic conglomerate
Pyritic clastPyritic clast
Near-solid pyrite lensNear-solid pyrite lens
ConclusionsConclusions
• continental-arc / marginal oceanic-arc to back-arc setting• continental-arc / marginal oceanic-arc to back-arc setting
• extensional geodynamic settings (arc-rift)• extensional geodynamic settings (arc-rift)
• hydrothermal activity• hydrothermal activity
• subvolcanic intrusions• subvolcanic intrusions
• base-metal sulphide occurrences• base-metal sulphide occurrences
• bimodal submarine volcanism• bimodal submarine volcanism
• FII – FIII rhyolitic flow-complexes• FII – FIII rhyolitic flow-complexes
Favourable indications of VHMS potential:Favourable indications of VHMS potential:
P. Kremer, U of M summer student