| Title | Dispersal trains in eskers |
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| Author | Cummings, D I; Russell, H A J ; Sharpe, D R |
| Source | Proceedings of the GAC - MAC - SEG - SGA Join Annual Meeting, 2011; Geological Association of Canada-Mineralogical Association of Canada, Joint Annual Meeting, Abstracts Volume 2011.  Open Access |
| Links | Online - En ligne
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| Image |  |
| Year | 2011 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20100443 |
| Publisher | Geological Association of Canada |
| Meeting | GAC/MAC/SEG/SGA annual meeting; Ottawa; CA; May 25-27, 2011 |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | PDF |
| Area | Keewatin area; Canada |
| Subjects | economic geology; general geology; surficial geology/geomorphology; eskers; drift deposits; drift prospecting; indicator elements; tills; sediment dispersal; mineral exploration |
| Program | GEM: Geo-mapping for Energy
and Minerals Diamonds |
| Released | 2011 01 01 |
| Abstract | Eskers are commonly sampled for indicator minerals during drift prospecting campaigns on the Precambrian Shield. Esker sampling is a proven method: it has led to the discovery of several kimberlites,
including the Lac de Gras kimberlite field, home to Canada's first diamond mine. Although commonly associated with diamond exploration, it can be used to locate any mineral deposit type that yields a characteristic suite of indicator minerals (e.g.,
Ni-Cu-PGE deposits). However, a literature review reveals that indicator-mineral dispersal in esker sedimentary systems is a poorly understood phenomenon. Beyond basic concepts established almost a century ago 'most eskers are derived from till and
contain dispersal trains that extend roughly parallel to those in the till' exploration companies lacking their own proprietary knowledge are left with little basis for understanding how to sample eskers or interpret esker data. What parts of eskers
should be targeted when sampling for indicator minerals? How long are indicator-mineral dispersal trains in eskers, typically? Tens of meters? Tens of kilometers? Hundreds of kilometers? What about pebble dispersal trains? Are they typically
shorter? Based on the literature review and on recently collected data from the Keewatin, and drawing insights from a broader body of literature on modern glaciers, lab experiments, and gravel-bed streams, a preliminary conceptual framework for
esker sedimentary systems is established to address these issues. A research strategy is then outlined, one whose objective is to fill knowledge gaps and, in doing so, improve the effectiveness of mineral exploration in glaciated terrain. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 287922 |
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