Mineral chemistry as a vector to orogenic gold mineralisation

变质地体造山带金矿在加拿大苏必利尔省等太古宙克拉通中广泛存在，并与主要的地壳构造密切相关。随着“容易”的发现已经取得，有必要开发新技术来帮助勘探下一代矿床。本研究数据将用于建立造山带金矿蚀变足迹的新模型。利用过去10年为斑岩矿床开发的矿物化学工具，我们将利用蚀变矿物的微量元素地球化学方法来开发造山带金矿的远景和肥力评估方法以及成矿载体。Hemlo金矿床是安大略省西北部的一个复杂造山带金矿床，其蚀变晕与成矿有关。我们将研究石英、黄铁矿、碳酸盐、绿帘石、放光石、长石和白色云母的微量元素化学，以测试我们是否可以扩大已知晕的大小，作为矿产勘探的工具。对成矿近端和远端矢量的识别将导致对造山带金矿更有效的勘探策略，这是至关重要的，因为下一代的发现很可能来自埋藏的矿床。此外，该项目将大大有助于我们了解造山带金矿的形成过程，特别是复杂而神秘的Hemlo金矿。该项目还将培养年轻的研究人员，使他们在学术界、政府部门或工业界在地球科学领域取得成功。

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.