Title | Stratigraphic and structural setting of the Hemlo gold deposit, Ontario, Canada |
Author | Lin, S |
Source | Economic geology and the bulletin of the Society of Economic Geologists vol. 96, 2001 p. 477-507, https://doi.org/10.2113/96.3.477 |
Year | 2001 |
Alt Series | Geological Survey of Canada, Contribution Series 2000016 |
Publisher | Society of Economic Geologists |
Document | serial |
Lang. | English |
Media | paper; on-line; digital |
File format | pdf |
Province | Ontario |
NTS | 42D/16 |
Lat/Long WENS | -86.5000 -86.0000 49.0000 48.7500 |
Subjects | economic geology; geochemistry; igneous and metamorphic petrology; metallic minerals; structural geology; faulting; gold; deformation; ore mineral genesis; mineral deposits; folds; barite; porphyry
deposits; mines; shear zones |
Illustrations | location maps; geological sketch maps; stratigraphic columns; photographs; photomicrographs; schematic diagrams; stereonets; cross-sections, structural; cross-sections, stratigraphic |
Program | Canadian Mining Industry Research Organization (CAMIRO) |
Program | Industrial Partners Program |
Abstract | Results of detailed surface and underground mapping and a compilation of data from the three gold mines in the Hemlo area, Ontario, are presented. In particular, the lithostratigraphy of the area is
established, the nature of the lithologic units spatially closely associated with the ore and the protolith of the ore are determined, and the deformation history and the three-dimensional geometry of the area are elucidated. The genesis of the gold
deposit is discussed in context of these results. Four generations (G1 to G4) of ductile structures, as well as brittle faulting, are recognized. G2 deformation is the strongest and the geometry of the Hemlo camp is dominated by macroscopic
(camp-scale) "S"-shaped F2 folds. The two ore zones at Hemlo, the main and lower ore zones, are spatially associated with the two limbs of a newly recognized camp-scale F2 fold, the Moose Lake fold, and the orebody is folded by F2 at outcrop scale,
mine scale, and possibly camp scale. G2 deformation is most intense in the Hemlo shear zone, interpreted to be a sinistral transpressional zone. The Hemlo gold deposit is hosted in the shear zone, mainly in the segment that trends east-southeasterly
where deformation is stronger. The main gold mineralization at Hemlo occurred before G2 or early during G2 deformation and before peak metamorphism. The latter took place during late G2 to after G2 deformation. The ore and alteration zones are
dominantly, but not exclusively, spatially associated with the stratigraphically lower contact of a volcanic quartz ± feldspar porphyry (the Moose Lake porphyry). A "mafic fragmental" unit (altered felsic fragmental rock) and a barite horizon are
spatially closely associated with the ore zones. The protolith of the ore is mainly the fragmental rock and the barite. The stratigraphically lower contact of the Moose Lake porphyry and the fragmental rock at the contact probably served as
mechanical traps and the barite horizon as a chemical trap. |
GEOSCAN ID | 211395 |
|
|