| Title | Reconnaissance molybdenum isotope study of vent-distal SEDEX zinc-lead mineralization and host rocks in the Howard's Pass district, Selwyn Basin, Yukon: potential application to paleoredox
determinations |
| Download | Download (whole publication) |
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| Licence | Please note the adoption of the Open Government Licence - Canada
supersedes any previous licences. |
| Author | Peter, J M ; Gadd,
M G; Layton-Matthews, D; Voinot, A |
| Source | Targeted Geoscience Initiative: 2018 report of activities; by Rogers, N (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8549, 2019 p. 105-123, https://doi.org/10.4095/313645  Open Access |
| Year | 2019 |
| Publisher | Natural Resources Canada |
| Document | open file |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | on-line; digital |
| Related | This publication is contained in Targeted Geoscience
Initiative: 2018 report of activities |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Yukon |
| NTS | 105I |
| Area | Howard's Pass |
| Lat/Long WENS | -130.0000 -128.0000 63.0000 62.0000 |
| Subjects | economic geology; geochemistry; stratigraphy; mineral deposits; zinc; lead; sedimentary ore deposits; volcanic exhalitive zone; volcano-sedimentary ore deposits; hydrothermal deposits; mineral
exploration; mineral potential; ore mineral genesis; mineralization; ore controls; hydrothermal systems; marine environments; bulk composition; geochemical analyses; isotopic studies; stable isotope studies; molybdenum geochemistry; bedrock geology;
lithology; sedimentary rocks; mudstones; shales; sandstones; cherts; carbonates; dolomites; limestones; igneous rocks; volcanic rocks; volcano-sedimentary strata; sulphides; intrusive rocks; monzonites; granites; host rocks; mass spectrometer
analysis; drill core analyses; Selwyn Basin; Road River Group; Duo Lake Formation; Earn Group; Mackenzie Platform; Anniv East Deposit; Phanerozoic; Mesozoic; Cretaceous; Triassic; Paleozoic; Carboniferous; Devonian; Silurian; Ordovician; Cambrian;
Precambrian; Proterozoic |
| Illustrations | schematic models; bar graphs; geoscientific sketch maps; stratigraphic charts; photographs; tables; geochemical plots; geochemical profiles |
| Program | Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI-5) Knowledge Management Coordination |
| Program | Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI-5) Volcanogenic massive sulphide ore systems - deposition - time and space |
| Released | 2019 03 01 |
| Abstract | Recent work on the largest sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) district in Canada, the Howard's Pass district (HPD) in Selwyn Basin, Yukon, has shown that a persistently euxinic water column was not the
source of sulphur in the mineralization, and that the redox conditions of the water column (and shallow subsurface) varied from anoxic to suboxic to euxinic. We have conducted a bulk geochemical and molybdenum isotopic traverse through a mineralized
intersection in a single drill hole from the Anniv East vent-distal lead-zinc SEDEX deposit in the HPD. Bulk geochemical redox proxies generally show that redox conditions varied between (intermittently to permanently) suboxic, dysoxic, anoxic and
euxinic. Herein we present new molybdenum isotope data for these same samples, and evaluate the efficacy of the application of this isotopic system to determining redox conditions of the water column and shallow subsurface, and examine the utility of
molybdenum isotopes in providing genetic information for SEDEX deposits.
Molybdenum isotope values range from delta-98Mo -0.29 to 2.27 permille. There is good general agreement between the molybdenum isotope values and certain redox sensitive
elements and established redox indicators for the unmineralized and mineralized host rocks; these relationships reflect suboxic or oxic conditions for the most negative values, and anoxic and euxinic conditions for the most positive values. This
indicates that the application of molybdenum isotopes as a redox indicator in seafloor hydrothermal deposits in sedimentary (or volcano-sedimentary) settings shows great promise. Unlike thallium isotopes, molybdenum isotopes do not appear to be of
use in fingerprinting SEDEX mineralization. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
The Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI) is directed towards providing next generation knowledge and methods to facilitate more effective targeting of
buried mineral deposits. The program aims to enhance the effectiveness of exploration for Canada's major mineral systems by resolving foundational geoscience problems that constrain the geological processes responsible for the liberation metals from
their source region, transportation of these ore metals and control their eventual deposition. TGI supports projects on gold, Ni-Cr-PGE, porphyry-style mineralization, uranium and volcanic- and sedimentary-hosted base metal mineralization ore
systems, with each project divided into subprojects focused on resolving specific knowledge gaps by integrating data and studies from multiple sites across Canada. Herein, we present interim results and interpretations from a selection of the
research activities currently being conducted under the auspices of TGI. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 313645 |
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