Targeted U-Pb dating of mafic-ultramafic intrusions, particularly those of economic interest, and characterizing their links with Large Igneous Provinces

岩浆硫化物矿床是一种与大量涌出物有关的特殊矿床

Magmatic sulphide deposits are a specific kind of ore deposit that is associated with voluminous outpourings of volcanic rocks known as Large Igneous Provinces, or LIPs. These Provinces can be millions of cubic kilometres in volume, and can be significant sources of nickel, cobalt, titanium, vanadium, copper, and platinum group elements - the mining of which contributes billions of dollars annually to the Canadian economy. However, as the most accessible of these ore deposits have already been discovered and mines have limited lifetimes, new discoveries are essential for Canada's resource sector and are to be found in more challenging locations or hidden deeper underground. Furthermore, the rocks that make up LIPs (volcanic rocks and their deeper equivalents) are not all capable of hosting ore, and there can be a great deal of variability within a single LIP's rocks despite their having a common source. This project aims to make the exploration for these ore deposits easier and more accurate though high-precision measurements of the isotopes of uranium and lead in specific minerals found in LIP rocks. This will enable their ages to be calculated to high precision, such that distinct phases of igneous activity can be identified and assessed as to their prospectivity without engaging in lengthy and expensive drilling campaigns to collect and test what could be millions of dollars' worth of worthless samples. Our industry partners will identify appropriate suites of samples for dating analysis, and state-of-the-art radio-isotopic analyses will be carried out, thereby bringing together industry experience with mineral resources and world-class academic researchers.