Mineral chemistry as a vector to orogenic gold mineralisation

变质地体中的造山型金矿床广泛分布于包括加拿大苏必利尔省在内的太古代克拉通地区，并与主要地壳构造密切相关。随着“容易”的发现已经完成，有必要开发新的技术来帮助勘探下一代矿床。这项研究产生的数据将被用来开发造山带金矿床周围蚀变足迹的新模型。我们将利用过去10年为斑岩矿床开发的矿物化学工具，利用蚀变矿物的微量元素地球化学，开发评价造山带金矿床的远景和丰度以及成矿载体的方法。海姆洛金矿是位于安大略省西北部的一个复杂的造山型金矿床，与矿化有关的蚀变晕有很好的记载。我们将研究石英、黄铁矿、碳酸盐、绿帘石、阳起石、长石和白云母的微量元素化学，以测试我们是否可以扩大已知的晕的大小，作为矿产勘探的工具。识别成矿的近端和远端载体将导致更有效的造山型金矿勘探战略，这一点至关重要，因为下一代发现很可能来自埋藏矿床。此外，该项目还将有助于我们了解造山金矿床的形成过程，特别是复杂、神秘的赫姆洛金矿床。该项目还将培训年轻的研究人员，使其在地学领域取得成功，无论是在学术界、政府部门还是工业界。

Orogenic gold deposits in metamorphic terranes are widespread in Archean cratons, including the Superior Province of Canada, and are widely associated with major crustal structures. With the 'easy' discoveries having been made there is a need to develop new techniques to aid in the exploration for the next generation of deposits. The data generated in this study will be used to develop new models for the alteration footprints around orogenic gold deposits. By utilizing mineral chemistry tools that have been developed over the past 10 years for porphyry deposits, we will use the trace element geochemistry of alteration minerals to develop methods to assess the prospectivity and fertility of orogenic gold deposits as well as vectors towards mineralization. The Hemlo deposit is a complex orogenic gold deposit in Northwestern Ontario that has a well documented alteration halo associated with the mineralization. We will investigate the trace element chemistry of quartz, pyrite, carbonate, epidote, actinolite, feldspar and white mica in order to test whether or not we can extend the size of the known halo as a tool for mineral exploration. The recognition of the proximal and distal vectors towards mineralization will lead to more efficient exploration strategies for orogenic gold deposits, which is critical given that the next generation of discoveries are likely going to come from buried deposits. In addition the project will contribute significantly to our understanding of the processes that generate orogenic gold deposits in general and the complex, enigmatic Hemlo deposit in particular.This project will also train young researchers for a successful career in the geosciences whether in academia, government or industry.