Open AccessMetasomatic iron and alkali calcic (MIAC) system frameworks: a TGI-6 task force to help de-risk exploration for IOCG, IOA and affiliated primary critical metal deposits
Author(s) -
Louise Corriveau,
Jean-François Montreuil,
Olivier Blein,
E G Potter,
Mohammad Reza Ansari,
J A Craven,
R J Enkin,
R Fortin,
B J A Harvey,
N Hayward,
Dawn A. Kellett,
M Ouellet,
Suzanne Paradis,
Daniele Regis,
A A Sappin,
V Tschirhart,
Shirley A. Peloquin,
R. M. Easton,
Barun Maity,
James Conliffe,
Abdelali Moukhsil,
G. J. Baldwin,
Kevin Neyedley,
C. Wade,
Anthony Reid,
Adrian Fabris,
S. B. Hore,
Kate Robertson,
Vladimir Lisitsin,
Courteney Dhnaram,
P Acosta-Góngora,
Eduardo T. Mansur,
R. Quentin de Gromard,
D Kesley,
Fawna J. Korhonen,
Paul Duuring,
Tim J. Ivanic,
R Goad,
Erin Adlakha,
Fahranaz Daliran,
Sarah A. S. Dare,
Félix Gervais,
Xiaowei Huang,
M Kiefer,
Nicolas Piette-Lauzière,
Denis Savard,
X. Zhao
Publication year - 2021
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.4095/329093
Subject(s) - iron oxide copper gold ore deposits , metasomatism , geochemistry , geology , mantle (geology) , paleontology , fluid inclusions , quartz
Australia's and China's resources (e.g. Olympic Dam Cu-U-Au-Ag and Bayan Obo REE deposits) highlight how discovery and mining of iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG), iron oxide±apatite (IOA) and affiliated primary critical metal deposits in metasomatic iron andalkali-calcic (MIAC) mineral systems can secure a long-term supply of critical metals for Canada and its partners. In Canada, MIAC systems comprise a wide range of undeveloped primary critical metal deposits (e.g. NWT NICO Au-Co-Bi-Cu and Québec HREE-rich Josette deposits). Underexploredsettings are parts of metallogenic belts that extend into Australia and the USA. Some settings, such as the Camsell River district explored by the Dene First Nations in the NWT, have infrastructures and 100s of km of historic drill cores. Yet vocabularies for mapping MIAC systems are scanty. Abilityto identify metasomatic vectors to ore is fledging. Deposit models based on host rock types, structural controls or metal associations underpin the identification of MIAC-affinities, assessment of systems' full mineral potential and development of robust mineral exploration strategies.This workshop presentation reviews public geoscience research and tools developed by the Targeted Geoscience Initiative to establish the MIAC frameworks of prospective Canadian settings and global mining districts and help de-risk exploration for IOCG, IOA and affiliated primary critical metaldeposits. The knowledge also supports fundamental research, environmental baseline assessment and societal decisions. It fulfills objectives of the Canadian Mineral and Metal Plan and the Critical Mineral Mapping Initiative among others.The GSC-led MIAC research team comprises members of the academic, private and public sectors from Canada, Australia, Europe, USA, China and Dene First Nations. The team's novel alteration mapping protocols, geological, mineralogical, geochemical and geophysical framework tools, and holistic mineralsystems and petrophysics models mitigate and solve some of the exploration and geosciences challenges posed by the intricacies of MIAC systems. The group pioneers the use of discriminant alteration diagrams and barcodes, the assembly of a vocab for mapping and core logging, and the provision offield short courses, atlas, photo collections and system-scale field, geochemical, rock physical properties and geophysical datasets are in progress to synthesize shared signatures of Canadian settings and global MIAC mining districts. Research on a metamorphosed MIAC system and metamorphic phaseequilibria modelling of alteration facies will provide a foundation for framework mapping and exploration of high-grade metamorphic terranes where surface and near surface resources are still to be discovered and mined as are those of non-metamorphosed MIAC systems.