Metallogeny and Mineral Deposits
Description
The Northwest Territories has one of the most diverse geological environments of any jurisdiction in Canada, spanning the oldest rocks in the world to geological features that have resulted from modern and ongoing processes. The NWT has a large number of metallic mineralization styles associated with its diverse geological evolution and studying these provides clues of how these deposits formed and also informs where to look for similar deposits elsewhere. As such, regional metallogeny encompasses a broad range of geological investigations, some tied to regional bedrock mapping projects, some independent, and some purely academic in order to help understand the geological and mineral deposit evolution (and endowment) of the territory.
Location
Ongoing projects include, but are not limited to:
- Banded Iron Formation – Slave craton, East Arm basin, northern Mackenzie Mountains
- Cantung tungsten, Mackenzie Mountains
- Sedimentary-hosted copper, Mackenzie Mountains
- Base-metal zinc-lead, Mackenzie Mountains
- Evolution of gold deposits, Slave craton
- Volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, Slave craton
- Pegmatite-hosted rare-metal mineralization, Slave craton
- Blatchford Lake intrusive suite and associated base- and rare-metal and rare-earth mineralization, Slave craton
- Iron oxide copper-gold and uranium mineralization in Wopmay orogen
- 5-element vein style mineralization, East Arm basin and Wopmay orogen
- Native copper occurrences in the Natkusiak basalts, Victoria Island
- Gemstones and diamonds, NWT-wide
Justification
The exploration for and development of natural resources are a main contributor to the economy of the Northwest Territories. Understanding the controls on mineral deposits allows us to communicate and encourage our clients in the realm of mineral exploration and assist with informed land use decision making.
Approach
Metallogeny and mineral deposits studies include both field and laboratory investigations on mineral occurrences, bedrock geology, and regional tectonics. With our project partners, we apply new and proven techniques in the field and laboratory in order to aid in the understanding of the relationship between mineral deposit formation and geological
Keywords
Metallogeny, Mineral deposits, gemstones, industrial minerals, tectonics, bedrock mapping, geochemistry, geochronology, tectonics, geological provinces