On the origin of Archean vein-type gold deposits with reference to the Larder Lake ‘break’ of Ontario and Quebec

Hinse, G. J.; Hogg, G. M.; Robertson, D. S.

doi:10.1007/bf00199803

Cited by 5 publications

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References 14 publications

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“…Kerrich and Watson (1984) studied the heavy oxygen isotope of quartz from the wall rocks and veins in the Macassa gold deposit and suggested a metamorphic model indicating the origin of the fluid to be largely metamorphic dehydration under conditions of moderate Eh and weak acidity. Hinse et al (1986) proposed a general theory of genesis for the Archaean vein-type mineralizations using the Kirkland Lake -Larder Lake break of northern Ontario and Quebec as a model. They suggested that gold and associated constituents derived as weathering products from mafic-ultramafic volcanics and were concentrated as sols and solutions in muddy surfacial accumulates and as cherty and pyritic evaporite residues.…”

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Ore-microscopic and geochemical characteristics of gold-tellurides-sulfide mineralization in the Macassa Gold Mine, Abitibi Belt, Canada

Tesfaye

1992

Mineral. Deposita

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The Macassa Gold Mine is the only operational mine (Lac-Minerals Ltd., Macassa Division) of seven original gold producers in the Kirkland Lake camp of northern Ontario, Canada. The gold deposit is in Archaean volcanic and sedimentary rocks which have been intruded by a composite syenite stock. The mineralization has taken place in two stages. The first stage is not gold bearing but involves pyritization and concomitant development of titanium phase minerals (leucoxene, rutile) and hematite. It is mainly associated with carbonatization, silicification and hematitization marked by Ba, Sr and Rb enrichment. In contrast to this, the quartz vein-type mineralization is associated mainly with later silicification and enrichment with tellurium, lead, silver, gold and copper. It is relatively depleted in Sr, Ba and Rb. The ore mineralogical assemblages in the second stage include pyrite, chalcopyrite, petzite, altaite and native gold. Geochemical and petrographic evidence indicate that the reddened wall rocks (hematitized) and reddened fragments are neither related with nor contain any gold. Therefore, hematitization and the presence of barium, in this case in K-feldspars, could not be considered as the sole evidence to suggest a magmatic oxidizing fluid model for the genesis of Macassa gold deposit. Regarding the metals transport, tellurides and thiocomplexes are considered as the important carriers of gold and silver. Hence, fugacity of tellurium and sulphur controlled the precipitation of gold in the Macassa gold deposit.The worldwide acceleration of exploration activities for gold accompanying its rise in price has led to increased interest in the understanding of its genesis, mainly on the Archaean vein-type gold deposits. Consequently, various models have been proposed by different geoscientists conforming with the basic postulates: high Au: Ag ratio, low base metals, low salinity, high temperature and structural setting in stabilized cratons (greenstone belts). However, when it comes to a type area, different models are proposed by different researchers. One of the best examples is the Macassa gold deposit.For instance, Ridler (1970) postulated a syngenetic metamorphic origin for the gold deposits of Kirkland Lake-Larder Lake including Macassa. According to the author, the gold was mainly derived from the banded iron-formations where it was originally present as an "exhalite" mineralization of extremely low grade. Kerrich and Watson (1984) studied the heavy oxygen isotope of quartz from the wall rocks and veins in the Macassa gold deposit and suggested a metamorphic model indicating the origin of the fluid to be largely metamorphic dehydration under conditions of moderate Eh and weak acidity. Hinse et al. (1986) proposed a general theory of genesis for the Archaean vein-type mineralizations using the Kirkland Lake -Larder Lake break of northern Ontario and Quebec as a model. They suggested that gold and associated constituents derived as weathering products from mafic-ultramafic volcanics and were concentrated as s...

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