Lithogeochemistry as a guide to identifying favourable areas for the discovery of volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 73, No. 823, 1980

V.J. SOPUCK, Saskatchewan Research Council Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, O.P. LAVIN and IAN NICHOL, Department of Geological Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario

A major challenge of contemporary exploration geochemistry is the development of procedures that can locate blind mineralization or mineralization that sub-crops below a cover of transported overburden, the composition of which bears no relation to the underlying mineralization. Over the past few years, the possible existence of diagnostic geochemical features in the country rock associated with volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits has attracted increasing attention both on the local mine scale and on the regional scale. In the present investigation, the nature of the geochemistry of a number ofAr-chean greenstone belts of the Canadian Shield is examined to determine the feasibility of distinguishing productive from non-productive areas of copper-zinc mineralization. The results indicate that productive areas are distinguishable from non-productive areas providing consideration is given to the effects of igneous differentiation on rock composition.

Keywords: Exploration, Geochemistry, Lithogeochemistry, Sulphides, Massive sulphides, Volcanogenic deposits, Noranda, Normetal, Sturgeon Lake, Uchi Lake, Ben Nevis, Kakagi Lake, Joutel-Poirier, Halliday, Knee Lake, Lake St. Joseph, Steep Rock, Michipicoten, Confederation Lake, Amisk, Flin Flon.