| Title | Lithogeochemical and sulphur isotope indicators of environment of formation and genesis of the Moss hyper-enriched black shale showing, Yukon |
| Download | Download (whole publication) |
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| Licence | Please note the adoption of the Open Government Licence - Canada
supersedes any previous licences. |
| Author | Gadd, M G ; Peter,
J M; Fraser, T A; Layton-Matthews, D |
| Source | Targeted Geoscience Initiative: 2018 report of activities; by Rogers, N (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8549, 2019 p. 163-178, https://doi.org/10.4095/313648  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 | 106E/09; 106E/10; 106E/11; 106E/12; 106E/13; 106E/14; 106E/15; 106E/16; 106F/11; 106F/12; 106F/13; 106F/14; 106K/03; 106K/04; 106K/05; 106K/06; 106K/11; 106K/12; 106K/13; 106K/14; 106L; 116H/09; 116H/10;
116H/11; 116H/12; 116H/13; 116H/14; 116H/15; 116H/16; 116I |
| Area | Richardson Mountains |
| Lat/Long WENS | -138.0000 -133.0000 67.0000 65.5000 |
| Subjects | economic geology; geochemistry; stratigraphy; mineral deposits; nickel; molybdenum; zinc; platinum; palladium; gold; iron; sulphides; sedimentary ore deposits; strata-bound deposits; mineral
exploration; mineral potential; ore mineral genesis; mineralization; ore controls; lithogeochemistry; isotopic studies; stable isotope studies; sulphur isotope ratios; sulphur geochemistry; sedimentary basins; bedrock geology; lithology; sedimentary
rocks; black shales; cherts; shales; silts; structural features; faults; paleoenvironment; sedimentary environments; marine environments; sea water geochemistry; depositional environment; sedimentation; clastics; precipitation; whole rock analyses;
geochemical analyses; bulk composition; spectrometric analyses; organic geochemistry; organic carbon analyses; paleogeography; Richardson Trough; Moss showing; Yukon Stable Block; Imperial Formation; Canol Formation; Road River Group; platinum group
elements; Phanerozoic; Paleozoic; Devonian |
| Illustrations | geoscientific sketch maps; schematic sections; 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 | The Moss Ni-Mo-Zn-Pt-Pd-Re-Au hyper-enriched black shale (HEBS) showing is located in the western Richardson Mountains and is one of several in northern Yukon. The mineralization consists of a thin,
stratiform semi-massive Fe-Ni-Mo-Zn sulphide horizon that occurs at the stratigraphic contact between the Road River Group and Canol Formation. This study evaluates the ambient paleoenvironmental conditions using several robust lithogeochemical
proxies. Prior to HEBS formation, terrigenous clastic sedimentation predominated, whereas chemical sedimentation pre-dominated during and immediately after HEBS formation. Rare earth element-Y data indicate that the water column was (weakly)
oxygenated (Ce/Ce*SN < 1), that hydrothermal activity was absent (Eu/Eu*SN almost equal to 1), and that there was a significant seawater influence on the sedimentary environment (Y/Ho > 28) throughout the deposition interval, even during HEBS
mineralization.
High (>10) authigenic Mo/U ratios suggest that a ferromanganese particulate shuttle delivered metals sourced from seawater to the seafloor. Negative bulk delta-34S values (-19.3 to -23 permille) in the HEBS indicate that
microbially reduced seawater sulphate was the source of reduced sulphur for the mineralization. Collectively, these data signify a basinal environment that experienced varying degrees of restriction and stratification, but fresh (i.e. unfractionated)
marine waters delivered metals, metalloids, and sulphur. This type of geological setting is considered critical for the formation and preservation of HEBS 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 | 313648 |
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