Open AccessTill geochemical signatures of the Pine Point Pb-Zn Mississippi Valley-type district, Northwest Territories
Author(s) -
N M Oviatt,
M B McClenaghan,
R C Paulen,
Sarah Gleeson
Publication year - 2013
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.4095/292906
Subject(s) - geology , glacial period , geochemistry , physical geography , geomorphology , hydrology (agriculture) , geography , geotechnical engineering
Exploration for base metal deposits using till geochemistry and indicator mineral methods has been the focus of many studies initiated in recent years. The University of Alberta, Geological Survey of Canada, Tamerlane Ventures Incorporated, and Teck ResourcesLimited are examining the indicator minerals and till geochemistry that characterize glacial dispersal from the Pine Point Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) district, Northwest Territories. This case study documents the clastic glacial dispersal down-ice from the O-28 formeropen pit mine. Aqua regia digestion/ICP-MS analysis of the <0.063 mm fraction of till identify Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe, Tl, S, and Se as the pathfinder elements associated with Pit O-28 in the Pine Point MVT district. Concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd are highest directly down-ice of the subcroppingmineralization in the direction of the earliest recorded ice-flow trajectory (~230°). This geochemical signature does not appear detectable at the surface. This may be due to extensive till cover and dilution by multiple ice-flow trajectories, or due to theextensive winnowing and reworking of the till surface by glacial Lake McConnell that inundated the region during deglaciation.