Bruno

Lafrance:
Bruno
Lafrance:
Bruno
BrunoLafrance:
Lafrance:

Structural controls on
lode gold deposits

Bruno Lafrance
Mineral Exploration Research Centre
Laurentian University
Manitoba Open House Gold Workshop 2008

Outline
1. Definitionoflodegolddeposits
2. Formationoffracturesandveins
3. Evolutionoffaultzones
4. Structuralcontrolsonmineralization
5. SummaryandConclusions

Outline
1. Definitionoflodegolddeposits
2. Formationoffracturesandveins
3. Evolutionoffaultzones
4. Structuralcontrolsonmineralization
5. SummaryandConclusions

Outline
1. Definitionoflodegolddeposits

2. Formationoffracturesand
veins
3. Evolutionoffaultzones
4. Structuralcontrolsonmineralization
5. SummaryandConclusions

Outline
1. Definitionoflodegolddeposits
2. Formationoffracturesandveins

3. Evolutionoffaultzones
4. Structuralcontrolsonmineralization
5. SummaryandConclusions

Multiple fault reactivation events

Magnitude

Average

Rupture

Rupture

Relative

slip

length

area

frequency

M8

4 m

100 km

104 km2

N yr-1

M7

1 m

30 km

103 km2

10 N yr-1

M6

40 cm

10 km

102 km2

102 N yr-1

M5

10 cm

3 km

10 km2

103 N yr-1

M4

4 cm

1 km

1 km2

104 N yr-1

M3

1 cm

300 m

105 m2

105 N yr-1

M2

4 mm

100 m

104 m2

106 N yr-1

M1

1 mm

30 m

103 m2

107 N yr-1

from van der Pluijm and Marshak (1997)

Flin Flon, Manitoba

Amisk basalt

Missi
Conglomerate

Chloritic laminae
ein
v
z
t
uar
q
d
e

Thi
ck q

uar
t

z ve
in

-fold
Z
row
r
a
N

Clockwise dextral rotation of stretching

lineation in Missi conglomerate

Chloritic lamina in thick quartz vein

Slickenline

in

ar v
ein

ve
l
a
on
i
s
n
xte

She

Outline
1. Definitionoflodegolddeposits
2. Formationoffracturesandveins
3. Evolutionoffaultzones

4. Structuralcontrolson
mineralization
5. SummaryandConclusions

4. Common structural controls on

mineralization
I.

Dilational and contractional jogs along faults/shear

zones

II.

Intersection of two syn-mineralization structures

III. Intersection of faults/shear zones with highly

competent and/or chemically reactive rocks
IV. In faults/shear zones along lithological contacts
between competent and less competent rocks
V.

Zones that plunge parallel to a stretching lineation

VI. Fold hinge zones and limbs

I. Dilational and contractional jogs along faults/shear zones

Modified after Cox (2005)

I. Dilational and contractional jogs along faults/shear zones

II. Intersection of two syn-mineralization structures

Robert and Poulsen (2001)

Ore shoots are parallel to the intersection between the extensional veins and
shear veins.

II. Intersection of two syn-mineralization structures

II. Intersection of two syn-mineralization structures

III. Intersection of faults/shear zones with highly

competent and/or chemically reactive rocks

Feet

100

Diabase

Iron Formation

Sulphide-quartz vein

Metasedimentary
Rocks

Diorite

Plan of the North Zone, 250-foot level, Hard Rock Mine

III. Intersection of faults/shear zones with highly

competent and/or chemically reactive rocks

Komis Mine, La Ronge Domain, Saskatchewan

IV. In faults/shear zones along lithological contacts

between competent and less competent rocks

F4 Folded carbonate-rich gold-bearing domain parallel to S2

Field of view is 4mm.

V. Zones that plunge parallel to a stretching lineation

Upper Canada mine Cross-section

Timiskaming conglomerate

ng
Stretchi
lineation

VI.

Fold hinge zones and limbs

Nova Scotia Geology

Gold District
Avalon Terrane
Cobequid

Chedabucto Fault
100 km

Meguma Terrane

Halifax
Triassic to Jurassic
Late Carboniferous
Early Carboniferous

Cambrian to Early Carboniferous

Cambrian to Ordovician

Halifax Formation
Goldenville Formation
Precambrian

Precambrian to Carboniferous:
undifferentiated intrusive rocks

Courtesy of D. Kontak and R. Horne

MegumaVeinArray
Flexural folding:
bedding-parallel
Bedding
Concordant
veins
slip hinge dilation

Saddle Reefs
Laminated veins
En echelon arrays
Massive veins
Cross veins
Angular veins
Courtesy of D. Kontak and R. Horne

Saddle Reefs represent hinge dilation product

of flexural folding late in fold development

Ovens

Dufferin

Courtesy of D. Kontak and R. Horne

En echelon beddingconcordant veins

Courtesy of D. Kontak and R. Horne

en

ec

he
lo

La m

ina
te

Mo

v em

en
t

dv

ho

nv
ein
s

e in

rizo

Courtesy of D. Kontak and R. Horne

Conclusions
1.

The siting of lode gold deposits is controlled by the

geometry, orientation, and nature of the host
structures and host rocks.

2.

Lode gold deposits typically form along host

structures, such as faults, which acted as channels
for the flow of large volumes of hydrothermal fluids.

3.

The deposits occurs in zones of high permeability

such as:
(I) Fractured damage zones: including contractional
jogs, intersection between syn-mineralization
structures, competent host rocks intersected or
hosted by syn-mineralization structures, lithological
contacts, fold limbs
(II) dilational zones: including dilational jogs and
saddle reef

Click to return to menu