| Title | Assessment of the Amaruq gold deposit signature in glacial sediments using multivariate geochemical data analysis and indicator minerals |
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| Author | de Bronac de Vazelhes, V; McMartin, I ; Côté-Mantha, O; Boulianne-Verschelden, N |
| Source | Journal of Geochemical Exploration vol. 228, 106800, 2021 p. 1-17, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2021.106800 |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2021 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20200684 |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Manitoba; Nunavut |
| NTS | 56; 55I; 55J; 55K; 55L; 55M; 55N; 55O; 55P |
| Lat/Long WENS | -96.0000 -88.0000 68.0000 62.0000 |
| Subjects | geochemistry; sedimentology; till geochemistry; indicator elements; minerals; drift prospecting |
| Illustrations | location maps; tables; plots; magnetic maps; graphs; histograms |
| Program | GEM2: Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals Rae Province, Synthesis of glacial history |
| Released | 2021 05 07 |
| Abstract | The varying nature and thickness of glacial sediments affect the characteristics of glacial transport in the Amaruq gold deposit area in Nunavut, Canada. To help evaluate the deposit signature, glacial
sediments were collected in frost boils along transects parallel to the main ice flow direction. A complementary detailed geochemical drift exploration dataset and a new Quaternary map were also used to define the geometry of the mineralized debris
dispersal trains. Principal Component Analysis identifies a gold mineralization signature associating As, Ag, Au, Cu, Pb, Sb, W, S, Fe and Zn and its mafic-BIF host rock. This signature, similar to lode gold geochemical signatures, follows a general
NNW dispersal trend, in agreement with the predominant regional and local ice-flow indicators. In a zone covered by thick till within streamlined landforms and characterized by distal provenance, the dispersal train shows a significant distance for
the first indicator to appear at surface down-ice of the known mineralization (~1 km lag). Results from this area also show a lower intensity of deposit signature compared to other mineralized dispersal trains located in thin till forming small
transverse moraine ridges and characterized by a local provenance and a ~300 m lag. High counts of scheelite and pristine-shaped gold grains are found down-ice of mineralization and their distribution are in general agreement with the nature of the
dispersal trains defined by the till geochemistry. Our results strengthen the use of PCA and indicator minerals combined with an understanding of ice flow dynamics to map deposit signatures and efficiently guide mineral exploration during glacial
sediment surveys at local scales. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
This paper presents the results of a detailed till geochemical and indicator mineral survey completed in 2015-16 on the Amaruq gold exploration project
in central mainland Nunavut. The interpretation of this survey formed part of an MSc thesis research project to develop practical methods for gold exploration in areas underlain by permafrost. The Geological Survey of Canada was involved in
co-supervising the student within the Chaire de recherche industrielle CRSNG-Agnico Eagle en exploration minérale at Laval University. The study area is part of the GEM-2 Glacial Synthesis Rae Project and the work will contribute to improve mineral
exploration methods in glaciated terrain in the Rae Province. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 327972 |
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