Geochemistry of banded iron formation hosting gold mineralization

加拿大的几个金矿产于富含铁的沉积岩(铁建造)中。在深埋后，富金属的热液流经铁层，形成了富含金的中心带和较大的蚀变晕，但金属含量较少。该项目研究了金矿床和周围晕中铁的形成化学，以确定金矿和蚀变晕中的铁形成化学如何与周围的铁形成不同。到那时，未来寻找新矿的目标将不再是小的富含金矿的中心，而是更大的蚀变足迹。该项目将使用一种新的方法，包括分析微量元素的铁形成，例如稀土元素，这些元素的存在水平直到最近才被检测到。 重要：了解铁建造中金矿床周围蚀变晕的化学特征为寻找新矿提供了一个更大的目标。蚀变铁形成的化学作用有助于我们了解金属进入铁形成的过程，这有助于未来寻找黄金。 预期结果：这项研究将确定铁建造中金矿周围的蚀变化学，为这些矿床产生一种新的搜索技术。该项目将向世界各地的商业实验室部门转让新的分析技术。 地质和地球化学方面的好处：该项目将提高加拿大和其他地区这类金矿的勘探效率。 对加拿大的好处：铁建造中的黄金矿藏主要位于加拿大北部，在那里开采价值较低的商品并不经济。因此，安大略省北部和魁北克、努纳武特和西北地区严重依赖黄金开采对其国内生产总值的贡献。黄金勘探效率的提高将增加未来的黄金发现。

Several gold mines in Canada occur in iron-rich sedimentary rocks (iron formation). After deep burial, the iron formation had metal-rich hot fluids pass through them, producing a gold-rich central zone and a larger altered halo with a lesser content of metals . This project examines the chemistry of the iron formation within the gold deposit and the surrounding halo to establish how the chemistry of iron formation in the gold deposit and the altered halo differs from the surrounding iron formation. Future search for new mines can then look not for the tiny gold-rich center but for the larger alteration footprint. The project will use a new method involving analysis of the iron formation for trace elements such as the rare earth elements which are present at levels which were not detectable until very recently. Importance: Knowledge of the chemical characteristics of the alteration halo around gold deposits in iron formation provides a larger target in searching for new mines. The chemistry of the altered iron formation helps us understand the processes by which the metals were transported into the iron formation which helps in future searches for gold. Anticipated outcomes: The research will define the chemistry of alteration around gold deposits in iron formation, generating a new search technique for these deposits. The project will transfer new analytical techniques to the commercial laboratory sector worldwide. Benefits to geology and geochemistry: The project will increase exploration effectiveness for this type of gold deposit in Canada and elsewhere. Benefits to Canada: Deposits of gold in iron formation are largely in northern Canada where it is not economic to mine lower value commodities. Therefore, northern Ontario and Quebec, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories depend heavily on the contribution of gold mining to their GDP. Increased effectiveness in gold exploration will increase future discoveries of gold.