| Title | Mineral control on the geochemistry of the Rock Canyon Creek REE-F-Ba deposit, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Author | Simandl, G J; Paradis, S; Savard, J; Miller, D; D'souza, R; Araoka, D; Akam, C; Hoshino, M; Kon, Y |
| Source | Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis vol. 21, issue 2, 2020-010, 2021 p. 1-20, https://doi.org/10.1144/geochem2020-010 |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2021 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20210169 |
| Publisher | Geological Society of London |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf; html |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Area | Canada |
| Lat/Long WENS | -115.8344 -114.7661 50.4669 49.8025 |
| Subjects | geochemistry; Science and Technology; monazite; fluorite; Minerals; Control |
| Illustrations | location maps; diagrams; photographs; charts; tables |
| Program | Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI-6) Hydrothermal Ore Systems |
| Released | 2021 04 08 |
| Abstract | The Rock Canyon Creek carbonate-hosted REE-F-Ba deposit has tectonic, stratigraphic and structural similarities with Mississippi Valley-type and sparry magnesite deposits in the SE Rocky Mountains. The
main REE-fluorite zone is a steeply dipping body, extending 1100 m along-strike, 50 m wide and 100 m deep. It spatially coincides with pre-existing crackle breccias in carbonate rocks, and consists of dolomite, fluorite, barite, pyrite, quartz,
K-feldspar, calcite, porous apatite, REE-fluorocarbonates and REE-phosphates. The main fluorocarbonates are bastnaesite, parisite and synchysite. Monazite, crandallite group minerals and apatite are the main phosphates. Fluorite content varies from
less than 1 to 13.5% (by weight) and REE+Y concentrations vary from trace to 1.95% (by weight). The mineralized zone is heterogeneous on the deposit scale, as indicated by three-dimensional geochemical modelling combined with a geochemical assessment
based on 89 mineralized samples and detailed downhole mineral and geochemical profiles of a key borehole. Chemical heterogeneity and key elemental co-variations are explained by strong mineralogical control and have implications for the design of
exploration and development programmes for this type of deposit. The chondrite-normalized REE pattern of samples from the mineralized zone shows enrichment in LREE, similar to typical carbonatite-related mineralization; however, no carbonatite is
exposed nearby. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
The Rock Canyon Creek carbonate-hosted REE-F-Ba deposit has tectonic, stratigraphic and structural similarities with Mississippi Valley-type and sparry
magnesite deposits in the SE Rocky Mountains. The main REE-fluorite zone is a steeply dipping body, extending 1100 m along-strike, 50 m wide and 100 m deep. It spatially coincides with pre-existing crackle breccias in carbonate rocks, and consists of
dolomite, fluorite, barite, pyrite, quartz, K-feldspar, calcite, porous apatite, REE-fluorocarbonates and REE-phosphates. The main fluorocarbonates are bastnaesite, parisite and synchysite. Monazite, crandallite group minerals and apatite are the
main phosphates. Fluorite content varies from less than 1 to 13.5% (by weight) and ?REE + Y concentrations vary from trace to 1.95% (by weight). The mineralized zone is heterogeneous on the deposit scale, as indicated by three-dimensional geochemical
modelling combined with a geochemical assessment based on 89 mineralized samples and detailed downhole mineral and geochemical profiles of a key borehole. Chemical heterogeneity and key elemental co-variations are explained by strong mineralogical
control and have implications for the design of exploration and development programmes for this type of deposit. The chondrite-normalized REE pattern of samples from the mineralized zone shows enrichment in LREE, similar to typical
carbonatite-related mineralization; however, no carbonatite is exposed nearby. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 328608 |
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