scholarly journals Structural Evolution of the Rio das Velhas Greenstone Belt, Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Brazil: Influence of Proterozoic Orogenies on Its Western Archean Gold Deposits

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 983
Author(s):  
Orivaldo Ferreira Baltazar ◽  
Lydia Maria Lobato
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Structural Evolution ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Normal Faults ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Crenulation Cleavage ◽  
Quadrilátero Ferrífero ◽  
Tectonic Transport

The Quadrilátero Ferrífero region is located in the extreme southeast of the Brasiliano São Francisco craton, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. It is composed of (i) Archean TTG granite-gneaissic terranes; (ii) the Archean Rio das Velhas greenstone belt; (iii) the Proterozoic metasedimentary and metavolcano-sedimentary covers. The Rio das Velhas rocks were deposited in the synformal NW–SE-directed Nova Lima basin. The Archean deformation converted the Nova Lima basin into an ample synclinorium with an eastern inverted flank. Archean orogenic gold mineralization within the Rio das Velhas greenstone belt rocks is controlled by NNW–SSE-directed, Archean regional shear zones subparallel to the strata of the Nova Lima synclinorium borders. Transamazonian and Brasiliano orogenies are superposed onto the Archean structures that control gold mineralization. In the eastern domain, Brasiliano fold-and-fault belts prevail, whereas in the western domain Archean and Transamazonian structures abound. The present study focus mainly is the western domain where the Cuiabá, Morro Velho, Raposos, Lamego and Faria deposits are located. Gold orebodies plunge to the E–NE and are tectonically controlled by the Archean D1–D2 deformation. The D3 Transamazonian compression—Which had a SE–NW vector sub-parallel to the regional mineralized Archean foliation/bedding—Buckled these structures, resulting in commonly open, synformal and antiformal regional folds. These are well documented near the gold deposits, with NE–SW axial traces and fold axes plunging to E–NE. Such folds are normal to inverted, NW-verging, with an axial planar foliation dipping moderately to the SE. The Transamazonian compression has only been responsible for the reorientation of the mineralized Archean gold ores, due to coaxial refolding characterized by an opposite tectonic transport. It has therefore not caused any other significant changes. Thrust shear zones, sub-parallel to the strong Transamazonian foliation, have given rise to localized metric segmentation and to the dislocation of gold orebodies. Throughout the region, along the towns of Nova Lima to Sabará, structures pertaining to the Brasiliano Araçuaí orogeny are represented only by gentle folding and by a discrete, non-pervasive crenulation cleavage. Thrust-shear zones and small-scale normal faults have caused, at most, metric dislocations along N–S-oriented planes.

scholarly journals CLASSIFICAÇÃO DOS VEIOS QUARTZO-CARBONÁTICOS DE DEPÓSITOS AURÍFEROS NO LINEAMENTO CÓRREGO DO SÍTIO, QF, MG

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Aurélio Sequetto Pereira ◽  
Lydia Maria Lobato ◽  
Carlos Alberto Rosière ◽  
Rosaline C. Figueiredo e Silva
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Mineralogical Composition ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Lode Gold ◽  
Free Gold ◽  
Quadrilátero Ferrífero ◽  
Lode Gold Deposits ◽  
Mineral Replacement

Os depósitos tipo lode-gold orogênicos Cachorro Bravo, Laranjeiras e Carvoaria, associados ao lineamento regional Córrego doSítio (CdS), estão localizados na porção leste do Quadrilátero Ferrífero, sudeste do cráton São Francisco. São hospedados em rochasmetassedimentares turbidíticas arqueanas do greenstone belt Rio das Velhas e controlados por zonas de cisalhamento NE-SW. Diques esoleiras metamáficos pré- a pós-deformacionais ocorrem intimamente associados à mineralização aurífera e constituem excelentes guiasprospectivos em lineamentos regionais como CdS. Cinco sistemas de veios, V1 a V5, são classificados de acordo com a composiçãomineralógica, textura, orientação, distribuição espacial e geometria. Dois tipos de quartzo ocorrem nestes veios, sendo o tipo 1predominantemente fumê, cedo-hidrotermal, e o tipo 2 leitoso, recristalizado. Apenas os veios V1 (fault-fill veins) são relacionados àmineralização aurífera através da paragênese arsenopirita+pirita+pirrotita+berthierita+ ouro livre; se desenvolvem concordantes à foliaçãomilonítica, S1m, e estão deformados. Veios V2 (oblique-extension veins) são associados temporalmente aos V1 e, embora não estejammineralizados nos depósitos estudados, são contemporâneos ao estágio mineralizador. Estes dois sistemas foram formados em regimedúctil-rúptil. Veios V3 (extension e breccia veins) são tardios à mineralização e representam um estágio posterior do fluido em regimedúctil-rúptil a rúptil; podem estar relacionados à mudança do campo de tensão regional e colocação dos diques tardios Db1. Os veios V4(extension veins) possuem reações de substituição mineral que marcam a hidratação do sistema e podem se associar ao relaxamento dasforças compressivas. Já os veios V5 (vein stockworks) ocorrem apenas em diques e soleiras metamáficos Db1 e estudos de inclusões fluidasindicam que esses contêm fluido diferente dos outros sistemas.Palavras Chave: Classificação de veios quartzo-carbonáticos, ouro orogênico, zonas de cisalhamento, diques e soleiras. ABSTRACTQUARTZ-CARBONATE VEIN CLASSIFICATION OF AURIFEROUS DEPOSITS IN CÓRREGO DO SÍTIO LINEAMENT, QF, MG. Theorogenic-type, lode-gold deposits Cachorro Bravo, Laranjeiras and Carvoaria, associated with the Córrego do Sítio (CdS) regional lineamentare located in the eastern portion of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region, southern São Francisco craton, Brazil. They are hosted in Archeanmetaturbiditic rocks of the Rio das Velhas greenstone belt and controlled by NE-SW shear zones. Pre- to post-deformational dikes/sills areclosely related to gold mineralization and constitute excellent prospective guides in these regional lineaments such as CdS. Five veinsystems have been classified, V1 to V5, in accordance to their mineralogical composition, texture, orientation, spatial distribution andgeometry. Two types of quartz occur in these veins, with type 1 being predominantly smoky, early hydrothermal, and type 2 a milky,recrystallized quartz. Only V1 veins (fault-fill vein) are related to gold and have a paragenesis with arsenopyrite+pyrite+pyrrhotite+berthierite+ free gold; they develop along the mylonitic foliation S1m, and have been deformed. The V2 veins (oblique-extension veins) areassociated temporally with V1 and although non-mineralized, in the studied deposits they are contemporaneous to the gold stage. Thesetwo systems are formed under a ductile-brittle regime. The V3 veins (extension and breccias veins) are post gold and represent a late-stagehydrothermal fluid under ductile-brittle to brittle regime; they may be related to changes in the stress field and to the emplacement oflate-stage Db1 dikes. The V4 veins (extension veins) have mineral replacement reactions that represent hydration of the system associatedwith the relaxation of the compressive field. The V5 veins (stockwork style) are limited to metamafic Db1 dykes/sills and fluid inclusionstudies indicate that they contain a different fluid from the others systems.Keywords: Quartz-carbonate vein classification, orogenic gold, shear zones, dikes/sills

Source requirements for the Golden Mile, Kalgoorlie: significance to the metamorphic replacement model for Archean gold deposits

1987 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1643-1651 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Neil Phillips ◽  
David I. Groves ◽  
Isobel J. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Critical Parameters ◽  
Alteration Zones ◽  
Replacement Model ◽  
Golden Mile

The Golden Mile at Kalgoorlie represents a giant Archean hydrothermal gold system localized by ductile shear zones and hosted mainly by a differentiated tholeiitic sill. Chlorite, carbonate, and pyrite alteration zones cover the whole mineralized area (1 km × 3 km), and calculations suggest that for the Golden Mile (production around 1200 t Au), the amounts of components added to these alteration zones are 340 Mt CO2, 20 Mt K, and 5 Mt S. If one adopts a metamorphic-replacement model for gold mineralization in which all ore components derive from devolatilization of greenstones at amphibolite facies or above, these data suggest that a source area involving a 5 km thick greenstone slab of area 8 km × 8 km could produce the necessary CO2, K, S, H2O, and Au. This is considered a reasonable volume of greenstone belt, and under such a model the minimum spacing of large gold deposits would be approximately 20 km along strike.Neither special Au-enriched source rocks nor unreasonably large volumes of greenstone belt are required to produce a giant gold deposit. Instead, the most critical parameters are suitable structural environments providing focussing of fluids and multiple channelways through specific Fe-rich, low-tensile-strength host rocks to ensure efficient depositional mechanisms.

scholarly journals Oxygen Fugacity and Volatile Content of Syntectonic Magmatism in the Neoarchean Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Superior Province, Canada

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 966
Author(s):  
Baptiste Madon ◽  
Lucie Mathieu ◽  
Jeffrey H. Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Fugacity ◽  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Hydrothermal Systems ◽  
Chemical Diversity ◽  
Temporal Association ◽  
Volatile Content ◽  
Abitibi Subprovince

Neoarchean syntectonic intrusions from the Chibougamau area, northeastern Abitibi Subprovince (greenstone belt), may be genetically related to intrusion related gold mineralization. These magmatic-hydrothermal systems share common features with orogenic gold deposits, such as spatial and temporal association with syntectonic magmatism. Genetic association with magmatism, however, remains controversial for many greenstone belt hosted Au deposits. To precisely identify the link between syntectonic magmas and gold mineralization in the Abitibi Subprovince, major and trace-element compositions of whole rock, zircon, apatite, and amphibole grains were measured for five intrusions in the Chibougamau area; the Anville, Saussure, Chevrillon, Opémisca, and Lac Line Plutons. The selected intrusions are representative of the chemical diversity of synvolcanic (TTG suite) and syntectonic (e.g., sanukitoid, alkaline intrusion) magmatism. Chemical data enable calculation of oxygen fugacity and volatile content, and these parameters were interpreted using data collected by electron microprobe and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The zircon and apatite data and associated oxygen fugacity values in magma indicate that the youngest magmas are the most oxidized. Moreover, similar oxygen fugacity and high volatile content for both the Saussure Pluton and the mineralized Lac Line intrusion may indicate a possible prospective mineralized system associated with the syntectonic Saussure intrusion.

Gold-bismuth-telluride-sulphide assemblages at the Viceroy Mine, Harare-Bindura-Shamva greenstone belt, Zimbabwe

2008 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 953-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Oberthür ◽  
T. W. Weiser
Keyword(s):  
Native Gold ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Main Stage ◽  
Melting Temperatures ◽  
Native Bismuth ◽  
Gold Bearing

AbstractGold mineralization at the Viceroy Mine is hosted in extensional veins in steep shear zones that transect metabasalts of the Archaean Arcturus Formation. The gold mineralization is generally made up of banded or massive quartz carrying abundant coarse arsenopyrite. However, most striking is a distinct suite of Au-Bi-Te-S minerals, namely joseite-A (Bi4TeS2), joseite-B (Bi4Te2S), hedleyite (Bi7Te3), ikunolite (Bi4S3), ‘protojoseite’ (Bi3TeS), an unnamed mineral (Bi6Te2S), bismuthinite (Bi2S3), native Bi, native gold, maldonite (Au2Bi), and jonassonite (AuBi5S4). The majority of the Bi-Te-S phases is characterized by Bi/(Se+Te) ratios of >1. Accordingly, this assemblage formed at reduced conditions at relatively low fS2 and fTe2. Fluid-inclusion thermometry indicates depositional temperatures of the main stage of mineralization of up to 342°C, in the normal range of mesothermal, orogenic gold deposits worldwide. However, melting temperatures of Au-Bi-Te phases down to at least 235°C (assemblage (Au2Bi + Bi + Bi7Te3)) imply that the Au-Bi-Te phases have been present as liquids or melt droplets. Furthermore, the close association of native gold, native bismuth and other Bi-Te-S phases suggests that gold was scavenged from the hydrothermal fluids by Bi-Te-S liquids or melts. It is concluded that a liquid/melt-collecting mechanism was probably active at Viceroy Mine, where the distinct Au-Bi-Te-S assemblage either formed late as part of the main, arsenopyrite-dominated mineralization, or it represents a different mineralization event, related to rejuvenation of the shear system. In either case, some of the gold may have been extracted from pre-existing, gold-bearing arsenopyrite by Bi-Te-S melts, thus leading to an upgrade of the gold ores at Viceroy. The Au-Bi-Te-S assemblage represents an epithermal-style mineralization overprinted on an otherwise mesothermal (orogenic) gold mineralization.

Neogene and active brittle deformation on Amorgos Island (Greece)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Behrmann ◽  
Jakob Schneider ◽  
Benjamin Zitzow
Keyword(s):  
Moment Tensor ◽  
Spatial Relationship ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Normal Faults ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Past Century ◽  
Fault Plane Solutions ◽  
Moment Tensor Solution ◽  
Late Neogene

<p>Amorgos is the south-eastern outpost of the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea, which forms part of the Neogene-Quaternary zone of crustal and lithospheric N-S upper plate extension northward of the Hellenic subduction zone and deep sea trench. Apart from subduction-related earthquakes further south, the southern Aegean is affected by frequent earthquakes sourced in the upper plate. The twin earthquakes of 9 July 1956, followed by a strong tsunami, were the strongest events of this kind in the past Century. Hypocenters are related to a NE-SW oriented normal fault bounding the Amorgos-Santorini Graben System. There are questions in the literature regarding the seismic source and fault plane solutions, especially the contribution of a transcurrent faulting component.</p><p>We have analyzed the kinematics of brittle faults exposed on Amorgos Island itself that could be related to Neogene and active extensional and/or transcurrent deformation. Seismic slip often occurs on previously existing faults. Thus, their orientations and kinematics may help shed light on the structure of seismic sources at depth. We present evidence for a complex history of faulting. Early normal detachment faults and shear zones overprint older (rare) reverse faults, and are themselves overprinted by several sets of dominantly dextral NE and SE trending strike slip faults. Youngest is a conjugate set of NE trending high-angle normal faults. These are especially frequent along the SE coast of the island, suggesting a clear spatial relationship with the 1956 rupture. They can be fitted to a moment tensor solution similar to the published solutions for the 1956 Amorgos earthquake. The kinematic solution for the population of early normal faults suggests that the whole of Amorgos Island may have experienced a 15° NNW tilt during later extension, which lets us suspect that the island could be a tilted block of a much larger fault system. Regarding long-term late Neogene to Quaternary kinematics, dextrally transtensive fault slip is required to fit the regional pattern of extensional deformation in the Aegean, and this is reflected by small-scale brittle faulting on Amorgos.</p>

Brazil's premier gold province. Part II: geology and genesis of gold deposits in the Archean Rio das Velhas greenstone belt, Quadrilátero Ferrífero

2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 249-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Maria Lobato ◽  
Luiz Cláudio Ribeiro-Rodrigues ◽  
Frederico Wallace Reis Vieira
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Quadrilátero Ferrífero

Structural evolution of the Hemlo greenstone belt in the vicinity of the world-class Hemlo gold deposit

2003 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
T L Muir
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Structural Evolution ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Shear Sense ◽  
History Of ◽  
Brittle Fractures ◽  
World Class ◽  
Dextral Shear

A complex history of volcano-sedimentary deposition, polyphase strain, multiple intrusive events, and various stages of porphyroblastesis is indicated for the Hemlo gold deposit area within the Hemlo greenstone belt. Structural elements can be assigned to at least six stages of development (D1–D6). D1 generated small-scale folds and low-angle faults (thrusts?) with no planar fabric, except within strain aureoles around the earliest intrusions. D2 was a progressive event resulting from northeast-directed compression, which generated regional, predominantly S-shaped folds (early D2); penetrative planar and linear fabrics, overturned stratigraphy, and formation of an inflection in the strike of the greenstone belt (mid-D2); and development of high-strain zones with dominant sinistral and local dextral shear sense (late D2). D3 was a distinctly separate progressive event resulting from northwest-directed transpression, which generated variably penetrative east- to northeast-striking foliation (S3), ductile dextral shear fabrics, and small-scale Z-shaped folds (early D3), followed by brittle–ductile to brittle development of cataclasite and pseudotachylite in layer-parallel zones (late D3). D4 resulted in contractional kinks and brittle fractures, locally in conjugate sets. D5 and D6 are represented by brittle to brittle–ductile faults, which overprint Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic dikes, respectively. Four granitoid magmatic events span the interval 2720–2677 Ma, with emplacement mainly during D2, between ca. 2690 and ca. 2684 Ma. A protracted period of regional medium-grade metamorphism likely spanned the D2–D3 stages. The Hemlo gold deposit was emplaced during mid-D2 and was largely controlled by D2 structural elements and competency contrast between rock units.

Gold distribution in the Val-d'Or Formation and a model for the formation of the Lamaque–Sigma mines, Val-d'Or, Quebec

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 706-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet F. Taner ◽  
Pierre Trudel
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Mining District ◽  
Volcanic Complex ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Gold Mines ◽  
Geothermal Activity

Recent lithogeochemical studies by accurate analytical techniques (e.g., instrumental and radiochemical neutron-activation analyses) have been used to explore the possibility of using gold distribution in the research for new gold deposits; these show that anomalous gold distribution occurs in some parts of the Val-d'Or Formation in the Val-d'Or mining district of Quebec. Gold lithogeochemistry in the Val-d'Or Formation has shown that it is possible to distinguish: (i) background values (1.4–3.5 ppb Au); (ii) zones of primarily anomalous gold values around the Lamaque–Sigma mines (median: 15 ppb Au); (iii) enrichment halos around gold orebodies (median: 70 ppb Au); and (iv) secondary gold enrichment in shear zones. We conclude that the Val-d'Or Formation is auriferous, i.e., anomalously rich in gold at least in some of its parts and contains the Lamaque – Sigma gold mines, representing 68% of the total gold production in the district. The Val-d'Or Formation is part of a central volcanic complex within an island-arc system. The centre of this complex is located in the main Lamaque plug, and this environment may be compared to high-temperature active geothermal systems that are commonly responsible for the formation of epithermal gold deposits. Gold mineralization at Sigma and Lamaque is considered to be related to a late hydrothermal phase or a retrograde phase of regional metamorphism. For the formation of the gold deposits, two distinct and successive events are postulated: (i) a gold-rich synvolcanic geothermal activity and (ii) a late remobilisation from the host rocks followed by deposition of gold ore within favourable structures.

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