Constraints on the geodynamic evolution of the southern Superior Province: U-Pb LA-ICP-MS analysis of detrital zircon in successor basins of the Archean Abitibi and Pontiac subprovinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada

Frieman, Ben M.; Kuiper, Yvette D.; Kelly, Nigel M.; Monecke, Thomas; Kylander‐Clark, Andrew

doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2017.01.027

Cited by 43 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…The younger fault-bounded Timiskaming Group consists, in part, of abundant shallow water to subaerial conglomerates (Card and Poulsen 1998). In contrast, the extensive sedimentary series amongst the Paleoproterozoic terranes of the Baoulé-Mossi Domain (Sunyani-Comoé, Kumasi, Siguiri, Kofi, Dialé-Daléma, Grenhölm et al 2019) and Superior Craton (Pontiac, Quetico, English River, Frieman et al 2017) have no equivalents in the Neoarchean Yilgarn Craton. Sedimentary rocks comparable with the deep water series in the Ashanti and Abitibi subprovinces may be represented in the Kalgoorlie subprovince by the Merougil series (Squires et al 2010).…”

Section: Comparison With the Neoarchean Yilgarn And Superior Cratonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoproterozoic gold events in the southern West African Craton: review and synopsis

Masurel

Eglinger²,

Thébaud³

et al. 2021

Miner Deposita

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The southern part of the West African Craton includes the Baoulé-Mossi Domain, the world's premier Paleoproterozoic gold province (~10,000 metric ton gold endowment). Structural, metamorphic, and geochronological data suggest gold mineralisation occurred during three episodes that span much of the Eoeburnean and Eburnean orogenic cycles. Eoeburnean orogenic and rare skarn-hosted gold deposits formed between ca. 2200 and 2135 Ma during repeated episodes of volcanism, plutonism, and shortening, which thickened the Paleoproterozoic crust. Early Eburnean orogenic and placer gold deposits formed between ca. 2110 and 2095 Ma during inversion, metamorphism, and subsequent oblique shortening of intra-orogenic basins filled after ca. 2135 Ma. This episode of mineralisation terminated when the Baoulé-Mossi Domain docked with the Archean Kénéma-Man Domain at ca. 2095 Ma. Late Eburnean orogenic and less common intrusion-related gold deposits formed between ca. 2095 and 2060 Ma during strike-slip to oblique-slip tectonics, post-collisional high-K plutonism and crustal reworking across the western and southern Baoulé-Mossi Domain. Eoeburnean gold deposits include ca. 10 % of the gold endowment of the Baoulé-Mossi Domain, whereas the Early Eburnean and Late Eburnean deposits include ca. 50-70% and 20-40%, respectively. Here, we highlight the favourable confluence of accretion-collision tectonics, involving juvenile crust formation as well as protracted magmatic, metamorphic, and deformation histories that resulted in diachronous gold events spread over at least 100 myr throughout the Baoulé-Mossi Domain.

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Section: Comparison With the Neoarchean Yilgarn And Superior Cratonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoproterozoic gold events in the southern West African Craton: review and synopsis

Masurel

Eglinger²,

Thébaud³

et al. 2021

Miner Deposita

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“…The former consists of a succession of mafic-ultramafic to felsic volcanic rocks of tholeiitic to calc-alkaline affinity (emplaced from 2750 to 2696 Ma; Ayer et al, 2002;Thurston et al, 2008), which was succeeded by greywacke-mudstone sedimentation between 2690 and 2685 Ma (Ayer et al, 2005;Frieman et al, 2017).…”

Section: Regional Geologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of lithogeochemistry in delineating hydrothermal fluid pathways and vectoring towards gold mineralization in the Malartic district, Québec

Gaillard

Williams‐Jones

Clark

et al. 2020

Ore Geology Reviews

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The Canadian Malartic world-class low grade, large tonnage gold deposit is located in the southeastern Superior Province of Canada. With reserves estimated at 6.38 Moz Au grading 1.10 g/t Au, it is currently the largest open pit mine in the Abitibi gold camp. The deposit is hosted predominantly by Pontiac Group metasedimentary rocks, Piché Group metavolcanic rocks, and quartz monzodiorite porphyritic intrusions. Stockwork-disseminated gold mineralization generally consists of a low-grade envelope of disseminated pyritic ore (0.35 to 1 g/t Au) grading inwards into higher grade (>1 g/t Au) stockwork and breccia zones. Hydrothermal alteration in the metasedimentary rocks displays a consistent zonation with distance from the main fluid pathways. Proximal alteration is characterized by a microcline±albite-quartz replacement-type assemblage, with lesser phlogopite, calcite±Fe-dolomite, pyrite and rutile. The distal alteration assemblage is dominated by biotite, microcline±albite, phengite, quartz, calcite, pyrite and rutile. In this study, a lithogeochemical approach is used to assess the magnitude and distribution of fluid-rock interaction in the metasedimentary rocks of the Malartic district. The metaturbidites are separated into four sub-lithologies according to grain size characteristics to reduce the effects of primary depositional processes on mass change calculations. Despite the variability in protolith compositions, the metasedimentary rocks define a geochemically consistent, cogenetic sequence. The results of the mass transfer calculations indicate progressive gains in C-S-K2O and LOI, as well as Au-Te-W-Ag±(As-Be-Sb-Bi-Mo-Pb) from background, through distal to proximal alteration zones (relative to least altered samples). Molar element ratio analysis (alkali/aluminium) indicates an increase in alkali metasomatism (K and Na) adjacent to the fluid pathways, which is manifested by the progressive stabilization of microcline and albite (at the expense of biotite and white mica). Ore-associated pathfinder elements delineate broad enrichment patterns around the deposit, and can be used to outline hydrothermal fluid circulations in the Malartic district. A statistical approach based on the comparison of the mass balance results with the background composition provides robust constraints on the magnitude and extent of the lithogeochemical haloes. Most alteration envelopes extend along the S2 fabric, and the largest lithogeochemical anomalies (e.g., Au, W, Te and Ag) reach up to 10 kilometers in length, and 2 kilometers in width. These observations demonstrate that whole-rock lithogeochemistry provides a valuable vectoring tool toward gold mineralization in a regional exploration context.

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“…A widely accepted tectonic model for the Superior Province is one of subduction-accretion growth, involving the accretion of numerous microplates, oceanic island arcs, back-arcs, oceanic plateaus and turbidite deposits (Langford and Morin 1976;Devaney and Williams 1989;Card 1990;Williams 1990;Stott 1997;Williams et al 1991;Sutcliffe et al 1993;Calvert and Ludden 1999;Percival et al 2012;Backeberg et al 2014;Frieman et al 2017). Recognition of largescale thrust and strike-slip faults in the Abitibi, Pontiac, Wawa, Wabigoon, Opatica and Quetico subprovinces is consistent with a subduction-driven growth model (Poulsen et al 1980;Dimroth et al 1983;Davis et al 1988;Sleep 1992;Benn et al 1992;Chown et al 1992;Camiré and Burg 1992;Kimura et al 1993;Sawyer and Benn 1993;Mueller et al 1996;Stott 1997;Calvert and Ludden 1999;Percival et al 2006Percival et al , 2012Backeberg et al 2014).…”

Section: Superior Provincementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tectonic accretion models proposed for the Abitibi subprovince in particular and the Superior Province in general, however, have been challenged recently by several studies (Thurston et al 2002;Bédard 2006;Bédard et al 2013;Bédard and Harris 2014). Evidence cited in the literature in support of subductionaccretion models, nonetheless, continues to be overwhelming (Percival et al 2012;Frieman et al 2017). That the details of the geodynamic processes that generated the Superior Province are currently not fully understood is underscored by this controversy.…”

Section: Superior Provincementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous field and geochemical studies (Desrochers et al 1993;Kimura et al 1993;Sutcliffe et al 1993;Jackson et al 1994;Mueller 1996, 1997;Mueller et al 1996;Bédard and Ludden 1997;Lacroix et al 1998;Calvert and Ludden 1999;Wyman 1999Wyman , 2013Chown et al 2002;Wyman et al 2002;Daigneault et al 2002Daigneault et al , 2004Frieman et al 2017) have shown that the geological evolution of the Abitibi and neighbouring Opatica and Pontiac subprovinces can be best explained by subduction-driven accretionary processes similar to those that operate at modern convergent plate margins.…”

Section: Geodynamic Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Petrogenetic and geodynamic origin of the Neoarchean Doré Lake Complex, Abitibi subprovince, Superior Province, Canada

Polat

Longstaffe

Woods

2017

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

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The Neoarchean (ca. 2728 Ma) anorthosite-bearing Doré Lake Complex in the northeastern Abitibi subprovince, Quebec, was emplaced into an association of intra-oceanic tholeiitic basalts and gabbros known as the Obatogamau Formation. The Obatogamau Formation constitutes the lower part of the Roy Group, which is composed of two cycles of tholeiitic to calc-alkaline volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks, siliciclastic and chemical sedimentary rocks, and layered mafic to ultramafic sills. In this study, we report major and trace element results, and Nd, Sr, Pb and O isotope data for anorthosites, leucogabbros, gabbros and mafic dykes from the Doré Lake Complex and spatially associated basalts and gabbros of the Obatogamau Formation to assess their petrogenetic origin and geodynamic setting. Field and petrographic observations indicate that the Doré Lake Complex and associated volcanic rocks underwent extensive metamorphic alteration under greenschist facies conditions, resulting in widespread epidotization (20-40%) and chloritization (10-40%) of many rock types. Plagioclase recrystallized mainly to anorthite and albite endmembers, erasing intermediate compositions. Metamorphic alteration also led to the mobilization of many elements (e.g., LILE and transition metals) and to significant disturbance of the Rb-Sr and U-Pb isotope systems, resulting in 1935±150 Ma and 3326±270 Ma errorchron ages, respectively. The Sm-Nd isotope system was less disturbed, yielding an errorchron age of 2624±160 Ma. On many binary major and trace element diagrams, the least altered anorthosites and leucogabbros, and the gabbros and mafic dykes of the Doré Lake Complex plot in separate fields, signifying the presence of two distinct magma types in the complex. The gabbros and mafic dykes in the Doré Lake Complex share the geochemical characteristics of tholeiitic basalts and gabbros in the Obatogamau Formation, suggesting a possible genetic link between the two rock associations. Initial Nd (+2.6 to +5.0) and  18 O (+6.1 to +7.9‰) values for the Doré Lake Complex and gabbros of the Obatogamau Formation (Nd=+2.8 to +4.0;  18 O=+7.3 to 8.0‰) are consistent with depleted mantle sources. All rock types in the Doré Lake Complex and the Roy Group share the trace element characteristics of modern arc magmas, suggesting a suprasubduction zone setting for these two lithological associations. On the basis of regional geology and geochemical data, we suggest that the Doré Lake Complex and the Obatogamau Formation represent a dismembered fragment of a suture zone, like many Phanerozoic ophiolites, resulting from closure of a backarc basin between 2703-2690 Ma.

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Constraints on the geodynamic evolution of the southern Superior Province: U-Pb LA-ICP-MS analysis of detrital zircon in successor basins of the Archean Abitibi and Pontiac subprovinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada

Cited by 43 publications

References 85 publications

Paleoproterozoic gold events in the southern West African Craton: review and synopsis

Paleoproterozoic gold events in the southern West African Craton: review and synopsis

The use of lithogeochemistry in delineating hydrothermal fluid pathways and vectoring towards gold mineralization in the Malartic district, Québec

Petrogenetic and geodynamic origin of the Neoarchean Doré Lake Complex, Abitibi subprovince, Superior Province, Canada

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