Hydrothermal ore-forming processes in modern and ancient arc-backarc systems

随着加拿大已知矿产资源的枯竭，人们越来越需要改进成矿系统的地质模型，这将有助于在更深的地方和历史勘探有限的地区发现矿藏。随着低碳能源取代不可再生资源，火山弧-弧后系统中形成的热液(如火山成因块状硫化物)和岩浆-热液(如浅成热液、斑岩、与侵入有关的金矿)矿床中的金属(如铜、锌、铅、金)的需求正变得特别重要。满足这些需求将需要一种创新的方法来研究火山矿石系统，将对该地区矿化的控制与矿床规模的理解结合起来。拟议的研究计划将检验这样一种假设，即地球历史上的主要成矿事件是重大构造变化的产物，识别与这些变化相关的关键特征将直接有助于改进岩浆-热液矿床的勘探模型。这项研究将解决几个基本问题：1)构造环境对火山矿系统中金属赋存的作用是什么？2)导致相似火山和构造环境之间金属赋存显著差异的因素是什么？3)在火山地体的构造历史中的什么时间点，地壳规模的断裂是发育的，这些断裂活动多长时间？4)控制成矿的主要火山和构造过程从太古代到现在是如何变化的？在接下来的五年里，这项计划将重点研究地壳规模的断层的发展与它们作为岩浆和流体通道的作用之间的关系，这些断层与现代和古代海底到新兴火山环境中的成矿有关。该计划被细分为三个主要项目，以检验上述假设。这些项目将调查不列颠哥伦比亚省西北部Stikine Terrane的成矿作用，描述西南太平洋现代弧区赋矿环境的火山和构造背景，并比较现代和古代火山环境中与成矿有关的热液、火山和构造过程。这些项目有很强的HQP重点，将在5年内培训13名HQP(3名理科硕士，10名理科学士)现场测绘、数据分析和海底遥感预测测绘。这一研究计划的结果将直接有助于更好地了解全球构造背景下对矿化的大规模控制，并有助于改进加拿大和全球火山矿石系统的勘探模式。

As Canada's known mineral resources are depleted, there is a growing need for improved geological models of ore-forming systems that will contribute to discoveries at greater depths and in regions with limited historical exploration. The demand for metals (e.g., Cu, Zn, Pb, Au) hosted by hydrothermal (e.g., volcanogenic massive sulphide) and magmatic-hydrothermal (e.g., epithermal, porphyry, intrusion-related gold) ore deposits formed in volcanic arc-backarc systems is becoming especially critical as low-carbon energy sources replace non-renewable resources. Meeting these demands will require an innovative approach to studying volcanic ore systems that integrates an understanding of the controls on mineralization at the district to deposit scale. The proposed research program will test the hypothesis that major ore-forming events throughout Earth's history are the product of significant tectonic changes and that identifying key characteristics associated with these changes will directly contribute to improved exploration models for magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits. This research will address several fundamental questions: 1) What is the role of the tectonic environment on metal endowment in volcanic ore systems?; 2) What are the factors responsible for significant variations in metal endowment between similar volcanic and tectonic environments?; 3) At what point in the tectonic history of a volcanic terrane do crustal-scale faults develop, and for how long are these faults active?; and 4) How have the major volcanic and tectonic processes controlling ore deposition changed from the Archean to present? In the next five years, this program will focus on the relationship between the development of crustal-scale faults and their use as magma and fluid conduits associated with ore formation in modern and ancient submarine to emergent volcanic settings. This program is subdivided into three main projects to test the hypothesis outlined above. These projects will investigate the metallogeny of the Stikine Terrane in NW British Columbia, characterize the volcanic and structural setting of ore-hosting environments in modern arcs of the SW Pacific, and compare hydrothermal, volcanic, and tectonic processes associated with ore formation in modern and ancient volcanic environments. These projects have a strong HQP focus and will train 13 HQP (3 MSc, 10 BSc) in field mapping, data analysis, and remote-predictive mapping of the seafloor over a 5-year period. The results of this research program will directly contribute to a better understanding of large-scale controls on mineralization within a global tectonic context and to improved exploration models for volcanic ore systems in Canada and globally.