Chemostratigraphy at the Brunswick No. 6 Volcanic-Sediment-Hosted Massive Sulfide Deposit, New Brunswick: Resolving Geometry from Drill Core in Deformed Felsic Volcanic Rocks

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2006 Chemostratigraphy at the Brunswick No. 6 Volcanic-Sediment-Hosted Massive Sulfide Deposit, New Brunswick: Resolving Geometry from Drill Core in Deformed Felsic Volcanic Rocks A.O. WILLS; A.O. WILLS 1Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5A3. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D.R. LENTZ; D.R. LENTZ 1Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5A3. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G. ROY G. ROY 2Xstrata Zinc plc., Exploration, Box 899 Matagami, Quebec J0Y 2A0. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Exploration and Mining Geology (2006) 15 (3-4): 35–51. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsemg.15.3-4.35 Article history received: 31 Mar 2003 accepted: 02 Dec 2006 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation A.O. WILLS, D.R. LENTZ, G. ROY; Chemostratigraphy at the Brunswick No. 6 Volcanic-Sediment-Hosted Massive Sulfide Deposit, New Brunswick: Resolving Geometry from Drill Core in Deformed Felsic Volcanic Rocks. Exploration and Mining Geology 2006;; 15 (3-4): 35–51. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gsemg.15.3-4.35 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentBy SocietyExploration and Mining Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract Diamond-drill hole DDH-B357, located 1.5 km north of the Brunswick No. 6 Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag volcanic-sediment-hosted massive sulfide (VSHMS) deposit, intersects three exhalative horizons within variably altered felsic volcanic rocks of the Nepisiguit Falls and Flat Landing Brook formations. These three petrographically indistinguishable iron formation intervals (Fe2O3T ≥ 21.4 wt.%) likely represent cogenetic hydrothermal sedimentary units because they display a common geochemical signature: Fe2O3T = 42.9 ± 10.5 wt.%, MnO = 5.4 ± 3.1 wt.%, elevated base metal values (Zn+Pb = 1999 ± 1091 ppm), strong enrichment in additional exhalative components (CaO = 5.3 ± 3.9 wt.%; P2O5 = 1.43 ± 1.00 wt.%), oxidized signature (Fe/Mn = 10 ± 6), as well as a common immobile element signature (Zr/TiO2 = 0.025 ± 0.007) representative of a pelagic source. The calc-alkaline to transitional host volcanic rocks can be discriminated by Zr/TiO2, and to a lesser extent by Th/Nb: Nepisiguit Falls Formation: Zr/TiO2 = 0.053 ± 0.004, Th/Nb = 1.08 ± 0.37; Flat Landing Brook Formation: Zr/TiO2 = 0.107 ± 0.043, Th/Nb = 0.86 ± 0.17. A symmetrical repetition of the footwall–iron formation–hanging wall stratigraphic sequence is observed in DDH-B357, with distinct felsic volcanic rock domains separated by the three iron formations. This is best explained by parasitic F2 folds on the west flank of the south-plunging Brunswick antiform, similar to the fold closures known to host massive sulfide accumulations in the Brunswick No. 6 and No. 12 mines. Iron formation geochemistry and felsic volcanic rock chemostratigraphy from drill core sampling can provide an effective mineral exploration tool for the structurally complex rocks of the Bathurst Mining Camp. You do not currently have access to this article.