Volcanic, structural, and tectonic controls on volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits: Archean to present

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Modern and ancient mineral deposits: Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits are ancient copper-, zinc-, lead-, silver-, and gold-rich mineral deposits that form at or just below the seafloor. They form from seafloor hydrothermal venting along mid-ocean ridges, within island arcs, or in back-arc basins, which are areas of rifting that form behind island arcs. These deposits are hosted by ancient to recent volcanic sequences that formed during periods of major ocean closure and associated terrane collision, including the Late Archean (2.8-2.69 Ga), Paleoproterozoic (1.92-1.87 Ga), Cambro-Ordovician (500-450 Ma), Devono-Mississippian (370-340 Ma), and Early Jurassic (200-180 Ma) times. The intra-continental back-arc environment within Archean volcanic sequences of the Northwest Territories (NWT) hosts multiple VMS deposits and features areas of high mineral potential in Canada. Seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits are modern-day equivalents of VMS deposits. SMS deposits associated with active/inactive hydrothermal vent sites have been discovered along the mid-ocean ridge (Central Indian Ridge) of the Indian Ocean. Objectives and scientific approach: My long-term objectives are to determine the relationship between VMS and SMS systems; why a specific volcanic succession contains VMS-type mineralization or is barren; and the role of tectonic setting, volcanic architecture, and facies distribution in both VMS and SMS formation. My short-term objectives are to reconstruct the volcanic, magmatic, hydrothermal, and structural evolution of VMS deposits and their host volcanic sequences in the Arctic of the NWT, and define the volcanic and structural settings of SMS deposits including lithofacies, hydrothermal alteration, and mineralization of the Central Indian Ridge. Impact: This research program will advance understanding of the metallogenesis of VMS and SMS deposits, aid in Earth scientists' understanding of ancient and modern plate tectonic settings, where these deposits are concentrated, and bring multiple benefits: 1) it will facilitate the training of HQP, thereby providing the Canadian mining and mineral exploration industry with highly skilled geoscientists, with the goal of providing training to typically underrepresented groups in Canadian mineral exploration, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous Peoples, people with diverse gender identities, and people with disabilities; 2) it will generate new knowledge that will directly impact the Canadian mining and mineral exploration industry responsible for VMS deposit exploration (which historically accounts for considerable Canadian base metal (~30% Cu, ~50% Zn, ~20% Pb) and precious metal (~40% Ag, ~3% Au) production); and 3) it will aid in sustaining northern communities, whose economies are largely dependent on mineral exploration and mining