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（铁地层）中。在深埋之后，富含金属的热流体穿过铁地层，产生了一个富含金的中心区和一个较大的金属含量较少的蚀变晕。本项目研究金存款和周围的晕内的铁形成的化学，以确定金存款和蚀变晕中的铁形成的化学如何不同于周围的铁形成。未来寻找新矿的工作就可以不再寻找微小的富金矿中心，而是寻找更大的蚀变足迹。该项目将采用一种新方法，分析铁的形成过程中的微量元素，如稀土元素，这些元素的含量直到最近才被检测到。 重要性：了解含铁建造型金矿周围蚀变晕的化学特征，为寻找新的金矿提供了更大的靶点。改变的铁形成的化学有助于我们了解金属被运输到铁形成的过程，这有助于未来寻找黄金。 预期成果：这项研究将确定铁矿床周围的蚀变化学，为这些矿床提供一种新的搜索技术。该项目将向全世界的商业实验室部门转让新的分析技术。 对地质和地球化学的好处：该项目将提高加拿大和其他地方这类金矿存款的勘探效率。 对加拿大的好处：铁矿中的黄金矿床主要在加拿大北方，在那里开采低价值商品是不经济的。因此，北方安大略和魁北克、努纳武特和西北地区严重依赖金矿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.