| Title | Geological mapping and resource evaluation of the Koonark carving stone deposit, northern Baffin Island, Nunavut |
| Author | Steenkamp, H M; Elgin, R A; Therriault, I |
| Source | Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office, Summary of Activities 2017, 2017 p. 139-149 (Open Access) |
| Links | Online - En ligne (pdf)
|
| Year | 2017 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20170263 |
| Publisher | Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Nunavut |
| NTS | 37C/09; 37C/10; 37C/11; 37C/12; 37C/13; 37C/14; 37C/15; 37C/16; 37D/09; 37D/10; 37D/11; 37D/12; 37D/13; 37D/14; 37D/15; 37D/16; 37E; 37F; 37G; 37H; 38A/03; 38A/04; 38B/01; 38B/02; 38B/03; 38B/04 |
| Area | Baffin Island; Qikiqtaaluk; Grant-Suttie Inlet; Eqe Bay; Conn Lake; Bieler Lake; Isortoq River; Freshney River; Steensby Inlet; Angijurjuk; Barnes Ice Cap |
| Lat/Long WENS | -80.0000 -72.0000 72.2500 69.5000 |
| Subjects | economic geology; regional geology; igneous and metamorphic petrology; geochronology; mineral deposits; carving stone, commodity; soapstone; resource estimation; mining; quarries; bedrock geology;
lithology; metamorphic rocks; metasedimentary rocks; quartzites; metavolcanic rocks; metabasites; metamorphic facies; greenschist facies; sedimentary rocks; carbonate rocks; sandstones; iron formations; igneous rocks; intrusive rocks; granites;
lherzolites; pyroxenites; granodiorites; tonalites; structural features; faults; faults, normal; faults, thrust; textural analyses; mineral assemblages; geological history; petrogenesis; hydrothermal alteration; alteration; orthopyroxene; radiometric
dating; zircon dates; metamorphism; fabric analyses; foliation; Archean; Koonark carving stone deposit; Mary River Group; Central Borden Fault; Piling Group; Dexterity Granulite Belt; geological mapping; metaplutonic rocks; infrastructures;
accessibility; dextral faults; Paleozoic; Precambrian; Proterozoic |
| Illustrations | location maps; geoscientific sketch maps; photographs |
| Program | Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office, Funding Program |
| Released | 2017 01 01 |
| Abstract | Geological mapping was conducted by the Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office and Qikiqtani Inuit Association at the undeveloped Koonark deposit on northern Baffin Island to better constrain the volume and
characteristics of potential carving stone resources in the Qikiqtaaluk Region. The mapped area is dominated by greenschist-facies metasedimentary, metavolcanic and ultramafic metaplutonic rocks of the Archean Mary River Group that are adjacent to
the Central Borden Fault, which juxtaposes them with Paleozoic carbonate rocks. Four areas were recognized to have considerable volumes of potential carving stone: the 'Koonark mountain', 'Valley Side', 'Upper Koonark' and 'Scree Slope' sites. The
stone from each site has a unique texture, mineral assemblage and/or proportions, and polished finish. In total, an estimated 80 240 tonnes of surface-accessible carving stone is present at these four sites, while more subsurface resources are
probable.
Based on the mapping and regional geological history, a preliminary interpretation of the carving stone petrogenesis involves a (generally) lherzolite protolith that may have undergone hydrothermal alteration as early as the
Mesoproterozoic during the development of the Central Borden Fault. Possible further alteration via carbonation reactions may have taken place during and/or after the deposition of Paleozoic carbonate sediments.
Potential development of a quarry
at the Koonark deposit has a major advantage over other carving stone sites due to the existing road and port infrastructure of the nearby Mary River mine; however, there are also challenges with topography and seasonal accessibility at the site.
Future exploration for similar carving stone deposits in this area should focus on where ultramafic rocks, brittle faults and Paleozoic carbonates are closely associated. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
The Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office and Qikiqtani Inuit Association mapped the geology of the Koonark carving stone deposit on northern Baffin Island to
assess the volume and characteristics of the raw carving stone. The mapped area includes Mary River Group volcanic rocks that are situated along the Central Borden Fault, which places them next to younger sedimentary rocks. In total, 80 240 tonnes of
surface-accessible carving stone was found at four sites: the Koonark Mountain, Valley Side, Upper Koonark and Scree Slope sites. It is thought that the carving stone formed when hot, mineral-rich fluids percolated through and altered some of the
volcanic rocks, possibly during the development of the Central Borden Fault. Major advantages for possible development of a carving stone quarry at the Koonark deposit are the existing road and port facility of the nearby Mary River mine. However,
there would also be challenges, such as steep topography and seasonal accessibility at the site. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 306186 |
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