| Title | Field observations, mineralogy and geochemistry of Middle Devonian Ni-Zn-Mo-PGE hyper-enriched black shale deposits, Yukon |
| Download | Download (whole publication) |
| Author | Gadd, M G; Peter, J M |
| Source | Targeted Geoscience Initiative: 2017 report of activities, volume 1; by Rogers, N (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8358, 2018 p. 193-206, https://doi.org/10.4095/306475 (Open Access) |
| Year | 2018 |
| Publisher | Natural Resources Canada |
| Document | open file |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | on-line; digital |
| Related | This publication is contained in Rogers, N; (2018). Targeted
Geoscience Initiative: 2017 report of activities, volume 1, Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8358 |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Yukon; Northwest Territories |
| NTS | 106D/11; 106D/12; 106D/13; 106D/14; 106E/03; 106E/04; 106E/05; 106E/06; 106E/11; 106E/12; 106E/13; 106E/14; 116C/09; 116C/10; 116C/15; 116C/16 |
| Area | Peel River |
| Lat/Long WENS | -141.0000 -135.0000 66.0000 64.5000 |
| Subjects | economic geology; geochemistry; mineralogy; stratigraphy; paleontology; Nature and Environment; mineral deposits; mineral exploration; mineral potential; metals; nickel; zinc; molybdenum; sulphides;
sedimentary ore deposits; strata-bound deposits; stratiform deposits; ore mineral genesis; mineralization; ore controls; host rocks; pyrite; bedrock geology; lithology; sedimentary rocks; shales; black shales; carbonates; limestones; cherts;
concretions; barite; calcite; mass spectrometer analysis; field work; micropaleontology; microfossils; conodonts; biostratigraphy; fossil plants; paleogeography; paleoenvironment; marine environments; continental margins; depositional history;
sedimentation rates; organic materials; modelling; bedding planes; diagenesis; Richardson Trough; Mackenzie Platform; Nick Deposit; Peel River Deposit; Eagle Plains Deposit; Monster River Deposit; Canol Formation; Road River Group; Selwyn Basin; ore
systems approach; hyper-enriched black shale (HEBS) deposits; platinum group elements (PGE); hyper enrichment; vaesite; x-ray microcomputed tomography; remineralization; plants; Phanerozoic; Paleozoic; Devonian |
| Illustrations | geoscientific sketch maps; stratigraphic charts; lithologic sections; geochemical profiles; tables; photomicrographs; 3-D models; photographs; geochemical plots |
| Program | Knowledge Management Coordination, Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI-5) |
| Program | Volcanic and sedimentary systems, Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI-5) |
| Program | Polar Continental Shelf
Program |
| Released | 2018 01 19 |
| Abstract | Hyper-enriched black shale (HEBS) deposits are a globally significant repository of base, strategic and precious metals. Some of the best examples of this deposit type are hosted within Devonian shales
in northern Yukon. Hyper-accumulations of Ni-Zn-Mo-platinum group elements (PGE) occur in a thin (<10 cm) stratiform and stratabound layer that is widespread geographically (10 000s km2). Despite decades of research, basic questions surrounding the
precious metal mineral host(s), age and process(es) responsible for hyper enrichment remain unresolved.
Preliminary laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry data for the various base metal sulphide minerals within the HEBS
mineralization reveal that vaesite is the principal PGE host (up to 10 ppm Pd, Pt) at the Nick deposit, whereas the fine-grained pyritic matrix hosts PGE (up to 3 ppm Pd and 10 ppm Pt) at the Peel River locality. Conodont biostratigraphy, determined
using x-ray microcomputed tomography, gives a Givetian (late Middle Devonian) age that compares well with the regional stratigraphic framework, and is the first ever reported for the HEBS mineralization in Yukon. Finally, recent fieldwork has
revealed the occurrence of up to three discrete stacked stratigraphic HEBS layers.
Collectively, these data indicate an ambient paleoenvironment in which highly efficient scavenging of metals and metalloids from seawater operated in tandem with
extremely low rates of clastic sedimentation and highly efficient organic matter remineralization. Similar topologies between continental crust-normalized PGE patterns for seawater and HEBS layers support the conclusion that metals and metalloids
predominantly originated from ambient seawater. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 306475 |
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