2014 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc. Economic Geology, v. 109, pp.

6188

Using Physical Volcanology, Chemical Stratigraphy, and Pyrite Geochemistry for Volcanogenic Massive Sulde Exploration: An Example from the Blake River Group, Abitibi Greenstone Belt*,**
RUSSELL ROGErS,1 PIErrE-SIMON ROSS,1, JEAN GOUTIEr,2 AND PATrICK MErCIEr-LANGEVIN3
1Institut

national de la recherche scientique, centre Eau Terre Environnement, 490 rue de la Couronne, Qubec, QC, Canada G1K 9A9 des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (Qubec), 70 avenue Qubec, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada J9X 6R1
3Geological

2Ministre

Survey of Canada, 490 rue de la Couronne, Qubec, QC, Canada G1K 9A9

Abstract
An innovative approach to enhance volcanogenic massive sulde (VMS) exploration in regions outside of mining camps is to rst use physical volcanology with litho- and chemostratigraphy to establish the location of effusive centers in the volcanic units and use pyrite geochemistry in sulde-bearing stratied intervals with whole-rock geochemistry in the underlying volcanic units to identify hydrothermal upow zones. This methodology is illustrated by this study in the Archean Blake River Group within the Abitibi greenstone belt of Quebec and Ontario. The Blake River Group contains numerous VMS deposits, yet large segments remain underexplored, including the Hbcourt Formation which contains four tholeiitic units that range from basalt to rhyolite in composition. Effusive centers are located for three felsic units and subunits: (1) low Ti (porphyritic) subunit of the main rhyolite, (2) high Ti (aphyric) subunit of the main rhyolite, and (3) the upper rhyolite, and for a basaltic andesite unit. Stringer and disseminated Zn-Cu mineralization occurs within the ank breccia of the low Ti rhyolite dome. An inferred vent area for an overlying basaltic andesitic unit has also been identied in this area, illustrating the coincidence of hydrothermal upow zones with volcanic vents. LA-ICP-MS analysis of pyrite grains from several sulde-bearing stratied intervals indicates two broad areas of higher Cu, Zn, Au, and Ag contents. The eastern region corresponds to known volcanic vents and mineralization. The western region also indicates upow of Cu-bearing hydrothermal uids and corresponds to a possible effusive center for the high Ti subunit. The western region does not contain known mineralization at lower stratigraphic positions, but it has not been thoroughly explored.

Introduction VOLCANOGENIC massive sulde (VMS) deposits typically form polymetallic sulde lenses at or near the sea oor in submarine volcanic successions (Franklin et al., 2005; Galley et al., 2007). Worldwide, VMS deposits are major sources of Zn, Cu, Pb, Ag, and Au, and signicant sources for Co, Sn, Se, Mn, Cd, In, Bi, Te, Ga, and Ge (Galley et al., 2007). At a regional scale, the exploration for VMS deposits uses criteria such as the presence of submarine volcanic rocks, large synvolcanic intrusions (thought to drive hydrothermal convection), and bimodal volcanic sequences (thought to indicate extension). At a more local scale, features such as texturally destructive alteration of volcanic rocks to chlorite and sericite (indicating intense water-rock interaction in greenschist facies terranes), broader Na-depletion haloes (again supporting hydrothermal alteration), synvolcanic faults (to provide uid conduits), the presence of rhyolite domes and dome alignments, and exhalites (indicating a hiatus in volcanism and venting of hydrothermal uids at the sea oor; see nomenclature below) are considered favorable (Franklin et al., 2005; Galley et al., 2007). Within a given volcanic succession, VMS deposits tend to be associated with specic stratigraphic levels (e.g., Gibson and Watkinson, 1990; Pich et al., 1993). Therefore, relatively
author: e-mail, rossps@ete.inrs.ca *Ministre des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Qubec, Contribution 8439-2011-2012-5. **Geological Survey of Canada, Contribution 20110204. 0361-0128/14/4180/61-28 61
Corresponding

detailed geologic mapping, core logging, and chemical stratigraphy can help VMS exploration, especially in the absence of traceable exhalites (e.g., Mercier-Langevin et al., 2009). Where exhalites, iron formations, tuftes, or metal-rich sediments, such as argillites are present, approaches that can be useful in providing a vector to ores in VMS and SEDEX systems include geochemical ratios derived from whole-rock analyses (e.g., Scott et al., 1983; Liaghat and MacLean, 1992; Spry et al., 2000; Peter, 2003; Barrie et al., 2005), analyses of sulde separates (e.g., Hannington et al., 1999), and elemental analysis of specic minerals such as chlorites or suldes (e.g., Kalogeropoulos and Scott, 1989; Peter et al., 2003a, b; Chapman et al., 2008). So far the literature describing the use of such techniques seems to be limited to districts where the deposits have already been found (e.g., Liaghat and MacLean, 1992; Peter et al., 2003a, b; Barrie et al., 2005); in other words, they are not applied outside of mining camps (at least not in the literature). The study area, representing a very small portion of the Archean Abitibi greenstone belt, does not contain a known VMS deposit and is located outside of a mining camp. However, it displays many of the favorable features described within the VMS model: bimodal submarine volcanism including rhyolite domes; Zn-Cu mineralization and hydrothermal alteration zones; and metal-bearing stratied intervals. We have used a combination of techniques to improve the understanding of the volcanological and hydrothermal evolution of this area, and to facilitate future VMS exploration. This combination of eld-based and advanced laboratory techniques

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ROGERS ET AL.

provides an example of a methodology applicable to other prospective areas, including those outside of established mining camps, in Archean or younger volcanic successions. The objectives of this paper are (1) to present a chemical stratigraphy framework for the volcanic rocks in the study area (Figs. 13), integrating data from this study with data obtained in previous regional studies; (2) to document the volcanic facies within each unit including lateral and vertical variations in order to determine the vent areas; (3) to use the trace element geochemistry of pyrite, from sulde-bearing stratied intervals, in combination with geochemical and mineralogical studies of alteration in the underlying volcanic rocks, in order to identify high-temperature, VMS-related hydrothermal upow zones. We also make preliminary comments on the possible petrogenesis and tectonic settings of the studied rocks using a uniformitarian approach. Geologic Context and Nomenclature Regional geology The Archean Abitibi greenstone belt is the worlds largest greenstone belt (Goodwin, 1982; Fig. 1). The Blake River Group is the youngest subalkaline volcanic succession in the belt (Thurston et al., 2008) and is dominated by submarine mac to intermediate lavas with lesser felsic volcanic rocks and mac to intermediate volcaniclastic rocks (Mercier-Langevin et al., 2008; Goutier et al., 2009, 2012; McNicoll et al., 2014, and references therein). The Blake River Group is intruded by felsic to mac synvolcanic and syntectonic dikes, sills, and plutons (Piercey et al., 2008; Pearson and Daigneault, 2009; Kuiper, 2011, Kuiper et al., unpub. data, 2012). It is structurally juxtaposed against and overlain stratigraphically by Archean to Proterozoic sedimentary units (Dimroth et al., 1982; Ploquin et al., 1990). The Blake River Group is well known for its mineral deposits, particularly VMS deposits (e.g., Spence and de RosenSpence, 1975; Gibson and Watkinson, 1990; Kerr and Gibson, 1993; Gibson et al., 2001; Dub et al., 2007a, b; Gibson and Galley, 2007; Mercier-Langevin et al., 2007a, b, 2011). In the upper (i.e., younger) part of the Blake River Group, VMS deposits are mostly found in two areas: (1) Cu-Zn deposits in the Noranda mining camp north of Rouyn-Noranda (Gibson and Watkinson, 1990; Goutier et al., 2012; McNicoll et al., 2014); and (2) Au-rich VMS deposits of the Doyon-BousquetLaRonde mining camp, east of Rouyn-Noranda (Lafrance et al., 2003; Dub et al., 2007a; Mercier-Langevin et al., 2007a, b, 2011; Wright-Holfeld et al., 2010). However, the spatially extensive lower Blake River Group stratigraphy is now considered highly prospective since new U-Pb zircon ages for volcanic rocks that host the Horne and Quemont Au-rich VMS deposits indicate they are lower Blake River Group in age (Goutier et al., 2012; McNicoll et al., 2014). Improved geologic understanding of the geology and hydrothermal history of the lower Blake River Group, including the study area, is needed to provide exploration focus. This area (Fig. 2) consists of the largely tholeiitic basaltic Hbcourt Formation (e.g., Lafrance et al., 2003; Legault et al., 2005), and the overlying basaltic to rhyolitic ReneaultDufresnoy formation (e.g., Goutier, 1997; Lache et al., 1992; Lafrance and Dion, 2004) of variable magmatic afnity.

In general, lavas dominate the two formations, and volcaniclastic rocks are more abundant in the Reneault-Dufresnoy formation. The Hbcourt Formation (Goutier, 1997) is considered a formal stratigraphic unit in the Blake River Group, whereas the Reneault-Dufresnoy formation is not yet a formal unit. Geologic summary of the study area and chemostratigraphic methods In the study area, the Hbcourt and Reneault-Dufresnoy formations form a steeply south dipping, south younging homocline (Figs. 2, 3). The stratigraphy illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and discussed below is based on a compilation of previous studies (including an unpublished map from Cogitore Resources, Inc.), new mapping, and core logging by the senior author over two eld seasons, and over 100 new geochemical analyses of major and trace elements. Chemostratigraphic units are dened based on rock classications diagrams such as those of Winchester and Floyd (1977), magmatic afnity diagrams as reviewed by Ross and Bdard (2009), extended trace element plots using only immobile elements following Jenner (1996), and additional binary diagrams in some cases. The chemostratigraphic units were checked for spatial consistency on downhole plots for the seven drill holes studied, as well as on cross sections and on the surface map. Once these units were dened, volcanic facies and thickness variations were compiled and interpreted for each unit in order to determine emplacement mechanisms and locate volcanic vent areas. Without the mapping, core logging, and detailed chemostratigraphy, the volcanological interpretations would not have been possible. In summary, the Hbcourt Formation contains four tholeiitic volcanic units (Rogers, 2010; Rogers et al., 2010a, b; Figs. 2, 3, Table 1). The oldest unit is a voluminous basalt, intercalated with variably variolitic basaltic andesite. The main mac unit is overlain by a 495 m thick rhyolite. This main rhyolite is locally overlain by a thin basalt and a 210 m thick unit of basaltic andesite in the eastern part only. The 45 to 75m thick, upper rhyolite overlies the basaltic andesite. U-Pb zircon ages for the two rhyolite units are 2703.0 0.9Ma for the main rhyolite and 2702.0 1.0Ma for the upper rhyolite (Fig. 2; McNicoll et al, 2014). There are minor intercalations of extrusive calc-alkaline volcanic rocks, occurring above the main rhyolite unit and within the youngest basaltic andesite unit in the Hbcourt Formation (Fig. 3). The mac to intermediate lavas at the base of the Reneault-Dufresnoy formation conformably overlie the Hbcourt Formation. The chemical stratigraphy and physical volcanology of all these rocks will be described in detail below. Nomenclature In this paper, volcaniclastic nomenclature follows White and Houghton (2006) and references therein. Stratication thickness in bedded rocks (e.g., thinly laminated) is after Ingram (1954). For Archean volcanic rocks that have experienced metamorphism and hydrothermal alteration, magmatic afnities cannot be reliably determined using major elements. Therefore, ratios of immobile trace elements such as Zr/Y, La/ Yb, or Th/Yb are used to assign magmatic afnities (Pearce and Norry, 1979; Barrett and MacLean, 1999; Ross and Bdard,

VMS EXPLORATION: BLAKE RIVER GROUP, ABITIBI GREENSTONE BELT

63
76o 74oW

80o Qubec Ontario

78o

50 km

Chibougamau Matagami

50o

49o Timmins
Fr t on

Rouyn-Noranda Fig 1c Val-dOr 48 N

o

Qubec

Kirkland Lake

re

ille nv

ABITIBI
Ontario

PROTEROZOIC
Sedimentary rocks

ARCHEAN
Granitoids Stratiform intrusions Volcanic rocks

Fault zones

ARCHEAN
Sedimentary rocks

5 380 000 mN

580 000

600 000

620 000

640 000

660 000

680 000 mE

Manneville Rapide-Danseur

101

388
Duparquet

Fig 2
Ontario

Reneault

Destor

Preissac

5 360 000

Quebec

BOUCHARDHBERT
Mont-Brun DAlembert Clricy

LARONDE PENNA
vain

HORNE

Rouyn-Noranda
5 340 000
Arntfield Granada King Kirkland Kearns

117

117
391
Sainte-Agns-de-Bellecombe

Larder Lake

66 Virginiatown

10

20 km

Mine (selected) Village or town Road Minor road (selected) Fault (selected) Lithological contact

PROTEROZOIC ( not in stratigraphic order)

Diabase Cobalt Group (sedimentary rocks)

ARCHEAN ( not in stratigraphic order)

Felsic and intermediate intrusions (undifferentiated) Undifferentiated volcanic rocks (diorite, gabbro, and ultramafic intrusions not shown) Blake River Group volcanic rocks (diorite and gabbro not shown)

ARCHEAN ( not in stratigraphic order)

Timiskaming volcanic rocks Undifferentiated sedimentary rocks

FIG. 1. Location maps showing (A) the location of the Abitibi greenstone belt within eastern Canada, (B) the location of the Blake River Group on a map of the Abitibi greenstone belt (courtesy of Marc Legault), and (C) a simplied geologic map of the Blake River Group showing the location of the study area.

64

5 376 000 m N
75

To Duparquet

89

388

Ontario Border

2703.0 0.9 Ma
HEB 05
86

Ch in em

HEB 06 HEB 07

de la in M e

5 374 000

N
Lake Hbcourt

86

HEB 03 HEB 01 HEB 02

2702.0 1.0 Ma

HEB 08 HEB 04 HEB 09

70

5 372 000
70 74

ROGERS ET AL.

Monsabrais pluton

5 370 000 612 000

Hbcourt Formation
Hbcourt upper rhyolite

610 000

614 000

616 000
Other

618 000

620 000 m E

Intrusions

Proterozoic intrusion

Diamond drill hole (DDH)

74

Intermediate to felsic intrusion

Hbcourt main rhyolite (High Ti) Hbcourt main rhyolite (Low-Ti) Hbcourt basaltic andesite Hbcourt basalt Dip

Way-up and dip Overturned strata

Mafic to intermediate intrusion

Reneault-Dufresnoy formation

Intermediate to mafic volcaniclastic rocks Undifferentiated felsic volcanics

Faults Road

Basalt and basaltic andesite

FIG. 2. Map of the top of the Hbcourt Formation and the base of the Reneault-Dufresnoy formation west of Lake Hbcourt. The geology is based on Ministre des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (Quebec) 1:20000 scale maps, an unpublished compilation by Cogitore Resources Inc., and new mapping by the rst author. Outcrop locations and some drill hole traces are omitted for clarity, but these are available on maps provided by the Ministre des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (Quebec).

VMS EXPLORATION: BLAKE RIVER GROUP, ABITIBI GREENSTONE BELT

65

A
400

SSE
HEB-02 Overburden

NNW

200

Elevation (m. a.s.l.)

?
0

10

0m 20 0m 30 0m 40 0m 50 0m 60 0m

?
Legend
Hbcourt Formation Upper rhyolite Basaltic andesite Main rhyolite (high-Ti)
HEB-02 640 m

Reneault-Dufresnoy formation Intrusions Field station

-200

Main rhyolite (low-Ti) Basalt

0 200 mN 400 mN 600 mN

100 m
800 mN

No vertical exaggeration
1000 mN

-400

400 mS

200 mS

350

HEB 09 HEB 04

Additional legend
Sulfide-bearing stratified interval Hbcourt Formation HEB 08 Undifferentiated mafics Calc-alkaline intercalations Undifferentiated rhyolite HEB 02 HEB 01

True thickess (m)

50

100

150

200

250

300

HEB 03

A`

A`

FIG. 3. A. Vertical cross section looking WSW, though the trace of diamond drill hole HEB-02. B. Stratigraphic correlation panel showing most of the diamond drill holes studied. The location of sulde-bearing stratied intervals is highlighted. A and A' are two intervals found approximately at the top of the Hbcourt Formation.

-400

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

66

ROGERS ET AL. TABLE 1. Stratigraphic and Volcanological Summary of the Study Area

Stratigraphic unit Thickness

Distribution of unit in the formation

Facies

Geochemistry1 Four new samples (3 from upper 770 m of mac units below main rhyolite, 1 from above main rhyolite); Basalt to basaltic andesite, tholeiitic; Extended multielement diagrams show at proles, small negative Ti anomalies, and Th, Nb, and Ta are slightly depleted relative to other elements; somewhat MORB-like or BABB-like 20 new samples (5 from surface, 15 from core); two were taken below main rhyolite, remainder above; Basaltic andesite to andesite, tholeiitic; Extended multielement diagram: like the basalt, but more enriched

Interpretation Submarine lava plain

Hbcourt Formation Dominant Mostly pillowed and Basalt >3km2 massive lavas (Table 2), probably forming laterally extensive ows; Minor volcaniclastic facies3 Basaltic At least four Several occurrences, Massive lava, pillow lava, andesite units 50 mostly toward pillow breccia and 700m thick4 the top hyaloclastite (Table 2; Figs. 4, 5) Main rhyolite 495m5 One occurrence Massive or lobate toward the top (locally ow-banded) to volcaniclastic (Table 3; Figs. 8, 9) Low Ti subunit 490m5 Domal feature High Ti subunit Unknown High Ti subunit is thinner where low Ti subunit is thickest Massive core and base, volcaniclastic top and anks Two massive zones surrounded by volcaniclastic rocks Massive to volcaniclastic (Table 3; Fig. 12); Contains intercalations of nely laminated mac tuffs and argillite

Part of submarine lava plain

29 new samples; See subunits Rhyolite, tholeiitic ( transitional); Separated in two subunits based on Ti contents, Zr/Y ratios, and quartz phenocrysts; Extended multielement plots for two subunits have relatively at proles, with signicant negative Ti anomalies TiO2 0.16%, mostly tholeiitic Zr/Y (with quartz phenocrysts) TiO2 0.16%, mostly transitional Zr/Y (no quartz phenocrysts) 19 new samples; Rhyolite ( rhyodacite), tholeiitic ( transitional); Richer in TiO2 than main rhyolite, but similar extended trace element pattern Five samples; Dacite/rhyodacite, calc-alkaline; Extended multielement proles show steeper slopes than those of the tholeiitic rhyolites, with higher Th, Nb-Ta troughs, Zr-Hf plateaus and negative Ti anomalies One sample; Similar to Group 2 in the Reneault-Dufresnoy formation Submarine lava dome Submarine lavas or domes Submarine domes or lavas, including remobilized debris Mixture of submarine lavas and density current deposits

Upper rhyolite 75m5 Uppermost unit

Calc-alkaline 37m in total Three occurrences, Massive to volcaniclastic intercalations (HEB-03) between main and (Table 4) rhyodacite 27m in upper rhyolite, in 5 HEB-01 DDH HEB-03; one occurrence in HEB-01 Calc-alkaline 12 m One occurrence in Pillow breccia intercalation HEB-03 andesite Reneault-Dufresnoy formation Reneault- The rst Not applicable Mostly pillowed and Dufresnoy 300m were massive lavas, minor formation studied volcaniclastic facies (Table 4)
1 2

Fragmental lava

28 new samples; Submarine lavas, Basalt to andesite, tholeiitic to calc-alkaline; possibly part of a Divided into two geochemical groups; with shield volcano group 1 older than group 2; Group 1: tholeiitic to transitional; on extended trace element diagrams: gentle to moderate overall slopes, shallow negative Nb-Ta anomalies, small Zr-Hf plateaus, small negative (sometime positive) Ti anomalies; Group 2: transitional to calc-alkaline; trace element proles are more steeply inclined, have pronounced Nb-Ta troughs, more pronounced Zr-Hf plateaus and pronounced negative Ti anomalies

See Figures 6, 7, 10, and 11 for details; the summary in this table is based on new analyses only The Hbcourt basalt has not been mapped in detail; the thickness listed here assumes no folding, no intrusions, and incorporates intercalations of basaltic andesite 3 For example, diamond drill hole HEB-01 intersected 36 m of basaltic pillow breccia above the main rhyolite 4 Intrusions not removed from thickness calculation 5 Intrusions removed from thickness calculation

VMS EXPLORATION: BLAKE RIVER GROUP, ABITIBI GREENSTONE BELT

67

2009). Transitional is employed to describe rocks that plot between tholeiitic and calc-alkaline elds. The term exhalite (Ridler, 1971) is commonly used in VMS exploration and research. True exhalites must have an exhalative component (e.g., Knuckey et al., 1982; Kalogeropoulos and Scott, 1989) and this is typically difcult to prove since postdepositional uid circulation in a sediment or tuff can introduce components such as silica and suldes. Herein, we use the descriptive expression sulde-bearing stratied intervals, which has no genetic connotation, instead of exhalites. Mac Tholeiitic Rocks in the Hbcourt Formation Description In the study area (Fig. 2), the Hbcourt Formation is divided into two intercalated aphyric units: (1) the volumetrically dominant Hbcourt basalt, and (2) the variably variolitic Hbcourt basaltic andesite. The volcanological and geochemical characteristics of these units are summarized in Tables 1 and 2. Figure 4 shows the typical facies, Figure 5 shows the facies variation in one well-studied basaltic andesite unit, and geochemistry is presented in Figures 6 and 7. Further details are available from Rogers (2010), and Rogers et al. (2010a, b). Mapping focused on a 132m thick basaltic andesite interval located between the main and upper rhyolites (Figs. 4, 5). Based on eld and core observations in four separate drill holes, this unit thins westward, from 132to 56m, until it eventually pinches beyond hole HEB-08 (Fig. 5). The pillow facies dominates, with average pillow size decreasing from 90 to 100cm in the east (DDHs HEB-01, HEB-02, and HEB03) to 40cm in the west (DDH HEB-08). The proportion of volcaniclastic rocks within the unit increases westward, from

0% in DDH HEB-03 to 30% in DDH HEB-08 (Fig. 5). The massive facies, by contrast, is absent in DDH HEB-08 and is thickest in DDH HEB-03. Interpretation The Hbcourt basalt and the Hbcourt basaltic andesite consist of submarine mac lavas displaying the facies typical of such ows (e.g., Dimroth et al., 1978; Gibson et al., 1999). In the equivalent lower Blake River strata of Ontario, the airborne magnetic patterns suggest laterally extensive subunits, which may represent individual ows or packages of ows, possibly with intercalated mac sills. The Hbcourt Formation has been interpreted a submarine lava plain (Dimroth et al., 1982). A comparison of our observed facies variations with typical facies variations in mac to intermediate lavas suggests that the vent area for the uppermost basaltic andesite is located in the eastern part of the unit, near DDH HEB-03. Massive rocks are more abundant in HEB-03 and from here the unit thins westward, pillow size decreases westward, and the proportion of volcaniclastic rocks within the unit increases westward. Geochemically, data from the Hbcourt basalt and the Hbcourt basaltic andesite plot along the same trends on binary diagrams displaying incompatible elements (e.g., Fig. 6D); further, their extended trace element proles are very similar (Fig. 7). This geochemical similarity and their stratigraphic relationships suggest that the two units are comagmatic where the Hbcourt basaltic andesite may be a slightly differentiated version of the Hbcourt basalt. The trace elements patterns for the Hbcourt basalt, with depletions of Th, Nb, and Ta relative to the rest of the proles, are similar to those of modern back-arc basin basalts (BABB,

TABLE 2. Summary Facies Descriptions of the Mac Tholeiitic Rocks in the Hbcourt Formation Stratigraphic unit Facies Thickness/ distribution Characteristics Coherent volcanic rock, ne-grained to aphanitic, medium gray in fresh surface, generally nonvesicular Pillows are ne grained, medium to dark gray in fresh surface and 6080cm across on average, with 25mm thick chilled margins; quartz amygdales 2mm; interstitial hyaloclastite shards 1cm; rare pale-colored varioles 1cm Coherent volcanic rock, ne-grained, aphyric, medium gray to green in fresh surface with variable abundances (12% but up to 20% locally) of 23 mm quartz, chlorite, or calcite amygdales; locally 10 to 90% varioles, circular and 5 mm to 1 cm across (Fig. 4a) Pillows are aphyric, ne grained and medium to dark gray in fresh surface (Fig. 4b, c); 12%, 12 mm, quartz, calcite or chlorite amygdales, which increase in abundance (5%) toward the margins; 90% varioles at margins which decrease in size and abundance inward; interstitial chloritized hyaloclastite clasts, 12 cm, with common jigsaw t texture Monomictic breccia contains round to uidal pillow clasts, 510 cm diam, max 25 cm, locally variolitic; chilled margins in some cases; also contains angular hyaloclastite clasts, 23 cm across, with common jigsaw t texture, between the pillow fragments (Fig. 4d) Chloritized angular (former glass) shards 4 cm, jigsaw-t aspect, quartz cement (Fig. 4e-f) Emplacement mechanisms Submarine lavas Submarine lavas

Hbcourt basalt Massive Not mapped Pillowed Not mapped Hbcourt Massive Figure 5: minor, basaltic andesite mostly near the base of unit Pillowed Figure 5: dominant Pillow breccia Figure 5 Pillow-free Figure 5 hyaloclastite

Submarine lavas

Submarine lavas

Submarine lavas

Submarine lavas

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ROGERS ET AL.

8 cm

Var

Hy

A
15 cm

Var

D C

F E
FIG. 4. The uppermost occurrence of the Hbcourt basaltic andesite. A. Massive facies displaying a high concentration of varioles. Scale is graduated centimeters. B. Triple junction in the pillow facies with interstitial hyaloclastite (Hy). Varioles (Var) are abundant in the pillow margins. C. A complete pillow with an increase in concentration of varioles and vesicles toward the margin. D. Pillow breccia facies in drill core, comprising in situ fragmented hyaloclastite and larger clasts most likely representing pillow fragments. The ruler is graduated in centimeters and millimeters. E. and F. Hyaloclastite facies in drill core, displaying in situ fragmentation and small, chloritized clasts. In both cases the scale is a 15 cm plastic ruler.

Fig. 7F) or to a lesser extent, normal mid-ocean ridge basalts (N-MORB, Fig. 7E). In a tectonic classication diagram, the Hbcourt basalts and basaltic andesites plot in the MORB eld but not far from the island-arc basalt (IAB) eld (Fig. 7G). Finally, in the Th/Yb versus Nb/Yb diagram, the samples plot near the present-day MORB-OIB array, indicating only minor contributions of a subduction component or limited crustal contamination (Pearce, 2008; Fig. 7H).

Felsic Tholeiitic Rocks in the Hbcourt Formation Description There are two main tholeiitic felsic units in the Hbcourt Formation within the study area: the main rhyolite (separated into two subunits) and the thinner upper rhyolite. Their volcanological and geochemical characteristics are summarized in Tables 1 and 3. Figure 8 shows the map distribution of facies

VMS EXPLORATION: BLAKE RIVER GROUP, ABITIBI GREENSTONE BELT

69

Stratigraphic columns from drill core observations

Top of basaltic andesite 250 P
P

Basaltic andesite facies Hyaloclastite (F) 200

P M M P P M F

Pillows (P) Massive (M)

200 True thickness including intrusions (m)

Pillow breccia (F) Other

150

150

150
P

Other units (mostly intrusive) Field station

100
M

100
P

100
M F M
P

50
P M

50
P

50
P
P

50
P

P P F F P

0 Base of basaltic andesite

M F

Map projection
HEB-02
Che de la

HEB-08
mine

min

HEB-03

HEB-01

Younging

500 m

FIG. 5. Volcanic facies variations in the uppermost occurrence of the Hbcourt basaltic andesite. Top: Graphic logs of the four diamond drill holes (DDHs) examined for this unit. All logs are at the same scale, which represents the true thickness of the units including intrusions. Thicknesses with intrusions removed are: HEB-03,127 m; HEB-01,132m; HEB-02, 85m; and HEB-08, 56m. Pie charts summarize the proportion of each volcanic facies within each DDH (see legend). Bottom: A map displaying the facies variations, integrating surface observations and drill core observations projected along the inferred 72S bedding plane. The map has been rotated to show the correct way-up and does not have the same orientation as Figure 2.

in the main rhyolite, whereas Figure 9 illustrates typical textures in these submarine felsic rocks. Figures 10 and 11 display the geochemistry of our samples compared to previous studies. Figure 12 shows the variations in thickness and facies in the upper rhyolite using drill hole information, since this unit does not crop out well. Interpretation The main rhyolite can be divided in two subunits based on quartz crystals abundance, Zr/Y ratios, and Ti contents. This is important because without the separation into two subunits, the facies variations would have been interpreted differently. Facies variations in the low Ti (quartz-phyric) subunit suggest that it was emplaced as a dome with a massive core, thick ank breccias, and a thin carapace (e.g., Yamagishi and Dimroth, 1985; McPhie et al., 1993). The low Ti lava dome was presumably emplaced on a paleohorizontal surface formed by mac lavas. The location of the massive core of the dome gives

the general location of the effusive center (volcanic vent), just east of the Chemin de la Mine (Fig. 8B). The high Ti (aphyric) subunit of the main rhyolite is also interpreted as submarine lava ows or domes. It has more complex facies variations than the low Ti subunit. Massive facies are not located near the proposed volcanic vent area of the underlying low Ti rhyolite, suggesting that the two subunits do not share the same vent. Given the location of the massive facies and the thickness variations within the high Ti subunit, we propose it erupted from two separate vents, one on either side of the Chemin de la Mine (Fig. 8C). The upper rhyolite, although thinner than the subunits of the main rhyolite, is more complex; it is interpreted to have been produced by two distinct effusive episodes. The oldest episode produced the thickest products and these thin westward, from 70 to 75 m in DDHs HEB-01 and HEB-03 to 40 m in DDHs HEB-02 and HEB-08 (Fig. 12). The upper rhyolite in DDH HEB-01 consists entirely of the massive facies with

70

ROGERS ET AL.

80
rhyolite

C
Zr ppm

250 200 150 100 50

Calc-alkaline
Z

Y r/

4.

/ Zr

Y=

2.8

70

Tra

iti ns

a on

rhyodacite dacite andesite basaltic andesite

c/p

Tholeiitic

SiO2 (wt%)

trachyte Tr/An

60

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Y ppm

D
phonolite

La ppm

La

/Y

AB

b=

50

basanite trachybasanite nephelinite

5.3

basalt

40 0.001 0.01 Zr / TiO 2 0.1 0.3

20 Calc-alkaline 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 2 0

Transitional
La b /Y = 2.

Tholeiitic

6
Yb ppm

10

12

1
comendite/ pantellerite rhyolite

0.5 0.25

Zr / TiO2

rhyodacite dacite andesite andesite/ basalt

Tr/An

Log 10 Th/Yb

0.1

0 -0.25 -0.5 -0.75

Tholeiitic Transitional

Calc-alkaline

0.001 0.03

sub-alkaline basalt

alkali-basalt

0.01

0.1

Nb / Y

-1 0.25

0.5

0.75 Log 10 Zr/Y

1.25

Hbcourt Formation
Hbcourt basalt Hbcourt basaltic andesite

Reneault-Dufresnoy formation
Group 1

Basalt previous data Basaltic andesite previous data

Group 2

previous data

Calc-alkaline andesite

FIG. 6. Geochemistry of mac to intermediate volcanic rocks in the study area. A. and B. Classication diagrams from Winchester and Floyd (1977). C. to E. Magmatic afnity diagrams from Ross and Bdard (2009). Analyses illustrated by symbols on all diagrams were obtained from Activation Laboratories Ltd. in Ancaster, Ontario, using fusion ICP-AES for major elements, and fusion ICP-MS for the trace element shown. The compiled data plotted as elds here and in Figure 10 were provided by Cogitore Resources Inc., with additional unpublished data from the Geological Survey of Canada (courtesy of E. Grunsky). In addition the Reneault-Dufresnoy eld in (E) includes lavas from locations S of the study area (from Ross et al., 2008a).


A
Rock/primitive mantle
100

VMS EXPLORATION: BLAKE RIVER GROUP, ABITIBI GREENSTONE BELT

71

B
Hbcourt basalt Rock/primitive mantle

100

Hbcourt basaltic andesite

10

10

Th Nb Ta La Ce Pr NdSm Zr Hf Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Er Yb Lu

Th Nb Ta La Ce Pr Nd Sm Zr Hf Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Er Yb Lu

C
Rock/primitive mantle

100

Rock/primitive mantle

Reneault-Dufresnoy formation (Group 1)

100

Reneault-Dufresnoy fm ( Group 2) and calc-alkaline andesite in Hbcourt Fm

10

10

Th Nb Ta La Ce Pr NdSm Zr Hf Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Er Yb Lu

Th Nb Ta La Ce Pr NdSm Zr Hf Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Er Yb Lu

E
Rock/primitive mantle

100

Rock/primitive mantle

Non-arc basalts
OIB E-MORB

100

Arc basalts
Med-K CAB

10

10

BABB IAT

N-MORB
1 Th Nb Ta La Ce Pr NdSm Zr Hf Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Er Yb Lu

Th Nb Ta La Ce Pr NdSm Zr Hf Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Er Yb Lu

H
MORB

10

ar

ca

4
Vo lca

Archean crust Deep crustal recycling BRG OIB

B ar ra y

DF2

-4

IAB

Th/Yb

CRB + OIB

E-MORB
.1

-8 -8 -4 0 DF1
Hbcourt Formation Basalt Basalt, previous data Basaltic andesite Calc-alkaline andesite Reneault-Dufresnoy formation Group 1 Group 2

8
N-MORB

.01 .1 1 10 100

Nb/Yb

FIG. 7. Geochemistry of mac to intermediate volcanic rocks in the study area and comparison with archetypical basalts from known tectonic environments. A.-D. Extended multielement plots based on our data. Two unpublished analyses of the Hbcourt basalt (Ta not determined) were supplied by E. Grunsky. Archetypal modern basalts: (E) from nonarc environments from Sun and McDonough (1989): N-MORB = normal mid-ocean ridge basalt, E-MORB = enriched MORB; OIB = ocean island basalt; (F) from arc environments: BABB = back-arc basin basalt (avg of sites 834-839 in the Lau basin from Ewart et al., 1994); IAT = island-arc tholeiite (avg of samples 482-8-1, 482-8-8, 482-8-11, and 482-8-12 from Ata island, Tonga arc, after Turner et al., 1997); Med K CAB = medium K calc-alkaline basalt (avg of samples 67150 and 67154, island of Flores, Sunda arc, after Stolz et al., 1990). In (A) to (F), primitive mantle normalization values are from Sun and McDonough (1989). G. Tectonic discrimination diagram from Agrawal et al. (2008). IAB = island-arc basalt; CRB = continental rift basalt. Discriminant factors (DF1, DF2) are functions combining Th, La, Sm, Yb, and Nb in log ratio format. H. Th/Yb vs. Nb/Yb diagram from Pearce (2008), useful for identifying crustal inputs in oceanic basalts. BRG = other Blake River Group lavas with SiO2 <60%, from Ross et al. (2008a, b, 2009).

M OR

BOI

nic

Magmacrust interaction

rra

72

ROGERS ET AL. TABLE 3. Summary Facies Descriptions of the Felsic Tholeiitic Rocks in the Hbcourt Formation

Stratigraphic unit Facies

Thickness/ distribution Characteristics

Emplacement mechanisms Interior of submarine rhyolite domes and ows

Main rhyolite Massive Figure 8 Coherent volcanic rock, medium to ne grained, locally ow (both low and banded and medium gray in fresh surface (Fig. 9a); 3% high Ti subunits) amygdales 12 mm (quartz, calcite, or chlorite); 190% white, gray, or beige, circular to irregular spherules, 1 cm across; sericite, chlorite, and epidote alteration locally, from moderate to intense; In low Ti subunit: 12% quartz phenocrysts 12mm and rare smaller feldspar phenocrysts; 15% quartz microphenocrysts Volcaniclastic Figure 8 Monomictic tuff breccias, lapilli tuffs and tuffs, typically not bedded; wide range in rhyolite clast sizes, from 1 mm to 35 cm (Fig. 9b-c); normal grading seen locally in rocks with clasts less than 2 cm in size; typically matrix supported, with a quartz cement; angular to subangular clasts, generally equant in shape and randomly oriented Upper rhyolite Massive Figure 12 Angular Figure 12 fragment lapilli tuff Rounded Figure 12 fragment lapilli tuffs and tuffs
1

Flank and summit breccias on submarine rhyolite domes and ows; hyaloclastic fragmentation,1 in situ or resedimented slightly Interior of submarine rhyolite domes and ows

Coherent volcanic rock, ne grained and medium gray in fresh surface (Fig. 9d); 23% quartz or chlorite amygdales, 12mm and circular to irregular in shape; two spherulitic textures: (1) discrete white spherules, 2mm across, circular to slightly irregular in shape; (2) impinging spherules 12cm across with intervals of completely merged spherules; groundmass chloritized, epidote altered or silicied Monomictic lapilli tuff (by composition), nonbedded; typically matrix supported, with a ne-grained matrix (Fig. 9e); locally clast supported; 12 cm angular fragments, max 5 cm; spherulitic texture visible within larger clasts, white spherules up to 1 cm in size Can be stratied (medium thickness); rounded to subrounded clasts, 2 mm across, max 12 cm; normal grading locally; green or white color in fresh surface (epidote-altered rhyolite; siliceous rhyolite)

Related to felsic lavas or domes (ank breccias?)

Resedimented material (density currents) from lava or dome

See White and Houghton (2006) for a complete denition of hyaloclastite

increasing amounts of volcaniclastic facies in other drill holes. Bedded fragmental rocks with rounded rhyolite clasts are observed in DDH HEB-03, suggesting transport of rhyolitic debris on the ank of a dome or lava. Facies variations suggest that the vent was located near DDH HEB-01 for this episode. Products from the younger episode are only evident in DDH HEB-08 and little can be said about its origin or vent area. The tholeiitic rhyolites in the Hbcourt Formation have trace element proles that are similar in form to those of the mac tholeiitic rocks in the same formation, except for negative Eu and Ti anomalies (relative to the rest of the elements). Rare earth element (REE) modeling by Robidoux (2008) suggested that the magma for the main rhyolite can be derived from a magma that produced the Hbcourt basalt lava ows following 70 to 80% plagioclase-dominated fractionation. If this model is correct, then all of the tholeiitic rocks of the Hbcourt Formation may ultimately have been derived from the same magma. However, this interpretation would require that the inferred intermediate differentiation products between the Hbcourt basaltic andesite and the Hbcourt main rhyolite were not erupted on the sea oor, because the Hbcourt Formation is strongly bimodal. The alternative is that the tholeiitic rhyolites were formed by crustal melting of hydrated basalt at shallow crustal depths (e.g., Hart et al., 2004; Leclerc et al., 2011). The tholeiitic rhyolites in the Hbcourt Formation have an FIIIb-like signature in the diagrams of Lesher et al. (1986)

and Hart et al. (2004), although they do not plot entirely within the predened elds (Fig. 11E, F). FIIIb rhyolites are associated with VMS deposits at Matagami and Kidd Creek, for example (Hart et al., 2004). This type of rhyolite is formed at shallow crustal depths (<10 km) in the absence of residual garnet or amphibole and the magmas were possibly emplaced in an oceanic rift setting (Hart et al., 2004). Calc-Alkaline Intercalations in the Hbcourt Formation Description Although the Hbcourt Formation is dominantly tholeiitic, minor intercalations of calc-alkaline rocks occur in the easternmost part of the study area (DDH HEB-03 and HEB01). These mostly felsic intercalations are summarized in Tables 1 and 4, and their geochemistry is shown in Figures 10 and 11. Rogers (2010) provided a more detailed description of the units. Interpretation Intervals of calc-alkaline rocks within the Hbcourt Formation were not anticipated. Rocks with transitional to calcalkaline afnities were previously interpreted to have been restricted to the stratigraphically overlying Reneault-Dufresnoy formation (Goutier, 1997). The possibility that the rhyodacitic calc-alkaline rocks in the Hbcourt Formation are


Legend Porphyritic Aphyric Diamond drill hole Fault

VMS EXPLORATION: BLAKE RIVER GROUP, ABITIBI GREENSTONE BELT

5 375 000 High Ti subunit Low Ti subunit Other rocks
de

73

Ch la

em in e

HB 97-01 HEB-05 HB 97-02

HB 97-03 SC-16

M in

SC-15 HB-94-02

5 374 000

?
SC-12 77738-0 77745-0 SC-11 HEB-08 HEB-02 SC 13 77739-0 77746-0 77740-0

SC-14 HB-94-01 HEB-01

HEB-03

5 373 000

N
616 000 5 372 000 mN 617 000 mE

A
611 000 612 000

HEB-04

613 000

614 000

615 000

Field and projected DDH observations Massive Fragmental Massive Fragmental

SC-12 77738-0 77745-0 SC-11 HEB-08 HEB-02 SC 13 SC-14 HB-94-01 HEB-01 HEB-03

Ch de la

em in e

HB 97-01 HEB-05 HB 97-02

HB 97-03 SC-16

M in

SC-15 HB-94-02

77739-0 77746-0 77740-0

HEB-04

Low-Ti subunit

Ch de la

em in e

HB 97-01 HEB-05 HB 97-02

HB 97-03 SC-16

M in

SC-15 HB-94-02

SC-12 77738-0 77745-0 SC-11 HEB-08

SC 13

SC-14 HB-94-01 HEB-01

HEB-03

77739-0 77746-0

?
77740-0

HEB-02

HEB-04

High-Ti subunit

FIG. 8. A. Map of the main rhyolite in the Hbcourt Formation, showing the subunits distinguished by the high and low Ti content, and the observations of porphyritic and aphyric rocks. Where samples and observations are from drill core, they have been projected to the surface using the regional dip of 72S and a strike perpendicular to S0. B. Map showing the distribution of facies in the low Ti subunit based on our drill core and surface observations, plus historic drill core logs from the Ministre des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (Quebec) mining exploration les. The shape of the breccia above the central massive region is schematic as it is dened from drill core and three outcrops. Only the compiled DDHs are shown in the gure. C. Map showing the distribution of facies in the high Ti subunit, based on the same data sources.

74
10 cm

ROGERS ET AL.

10 cm

A
5 cm

E F
FIG. 9. Felsic rocks in the Hbcourt Formation. A. Massive facies in the low Ti subunit in the main rhyolite, with hairline sericite veins and 1 to 2mm quartz eye phenocrysts. B. Volcaniclastic facies of the low Ti rhyolite, clearly matrix supported with large clasts. C. Volcaniclastic facies of the high Ti rhyolite. D. Massive facies of the upper rhyolite, with impinging, irregularly shaped spherules. E. Lapilli-tuff facies of the upper rhyolite, with angular fragments. The smaller clasts are epidote altered and the larger clasts display a microspherulitic texture. F. Interbedded nely laminated tuff and argillite from the boundary between the rst and second volcanic episodes of the upper rhyolite.

intrusive (as thought by some previous workers) is not consistent with the large proportion of volcaniclastic facies that display multiple graded beds and rounded fragments requiring lateral transport by density currents, and a calc-alkaline andesite facies that consists of pillow breccias (formed on the sea oor). Therefore, near simultaneous extrusion of abundant tholeiitic and minor calc-alkaline magmas is required

during Hbcourt Formation volcanism. It is likely that the volcanic vents for each magma type were separate. The vent for calc-alkaline volcanism may have been located to the east of where these rocks were encountered as there is a higher proportion of calc-alkaline rhyodacite toward the east in the observed drill holes. Also, clasts size in the volcaniclastic strata is larger to the east.

VMS EXPLORATION: BLAKE RIVER GROUP, ABITIBI GREENSTONE BELT

75
4. 5

A 80
rhyolite 70
SiO2 (wt %)

C
Zr ppm

comp/par rhyodacite/dacite trachite

60

andesite

900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0

Calc-alkaline
Z Y r/

al .8 tion nsi Y = 2 a r / T Zr

Tholeiitic

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Tr/An phonolite

Y ppm

50

AB

basalt/ trach./neph.

Zr ppm

sub-alkaline basalt

40 0.001 0.01 Zr / TiO2 0.1 1 2

900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0

Calc-alkaline
Zr /Y

4.

si ran

Zr

al tion 2.8 =
/Y

Tholeiitic

50

100

150 200 Y ppm

250

300

350

1
rhyolite comendite/ pantellerite

E
TiO2 wt%

0.1 Zr / TiO2

rhyodacite dacite Tr/An andesite andesite / basalt alkali-basalt

0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0 200 400 600 Zr ppm 800 1000 1200

0.01

0.5 0.25

0.001 0.03

sub-alkaline basalt

0.1 Nb / Y

Log 10 Th/Yb

0 -0.25 -0.5 -0.75

Tholeiitic Transitional

Legend Upper rhyolite Calc-alkaline rhyodacite Main rhyolite Low-Ti subunit High-Ti subunit Previous Data Previous Data Previous Data Previous Data

Calc-alkaline

-1 0.25

0.5

0.75 Log 10 Zr/Y

1.25

FIG. 10. Geochemistry of felsic volcanic rocks from the Hbcourt Formation in the study area. A. and B. Classication diagrams from Winchester and Floyd (1977) for all units. C. D. and F. Magmatic afnity diagrams from Ross and Bdard (2009): (C) for the two subunits of the main rhyolite; (D) for the upper rhyolite and the calc-alkaline rhyodacite; (F) for all units. (E) Plot of TiO2 vs. Zr for all units.

76

ROGERS ET AL.

A
Rock/primitive mantle

1000

B 1000
Rock/primitive mantle Low-Ti subunit High-Ti subunit
100

100

10

10

0.1

Th Nb Ta La Ce Pr NdSm Zr Hf Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Er Yb Lu

0.1

Th Nb Ta La Ce Pr NdSm Zr Hf Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Er Yb Lu

C
Rock/primitive mantle

1000

D
Rock/primitive mantle Hbcourt upper rhyolite

1000

Calc-alkaline rhyodacite
100

100

10

10

0.1

0.1

Th Nb Ta La Ce Pr NdSm Zr Hf Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Er Yb Lu

Th Nb Ta La Ce Pr NdSm Zr Hf Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Er Yb Lu

E
25

F
100

Hbcourt Formation
20

FI
15 Zr/Y

Hbcourt upper rhyolite Calc-alkaline rhyodacite

FI
(La/Yb) cn 10

Main rhyolite Low-Ti subunit High-Ti subunit

FII FIIIb

10

FII FIIIa FIIIb

FIV

FIIIa

50

100 Y

150

200

.1

50

100 Yb cn

150

200

FIG. 11. Geochemistry of felsic volcanic rocks from the Hbcourt Formation in the study area. A. to D. Extended multielement plots. Primitive mantle normalization values are from Sun and McDonough (1989). E. and F. Rhyolite classication diagrams after Lesher et al. (1986) and Hart et al. (2004). FI to FIII elds in (E) after Piercey (2010). Normalization values in (F) from Nakamura (1974): average of 10 chondrites.

Reneault-Dufresnoy Formation The Reneault-Dufresnoy formation is the youngest stratigraphic unit in the study area (Rogers, 2010). It consists mostly of massive to pillowed submarine lavas in the rst few hundred meters (Tables 1, 4). The Reneault-Dufresnoy rocks are geochemically variable (Figs. 6, 7), as also noted by Ross et al. (2011a, b) and Goutier et al. (2012). The whole of this formation west of Lake Duparquet (including the study area and units farther south) was interpreted as a now-tilted

submarine shield volcano built on the Hbcourt lava plain (Dimroth et al., 1985; Ross et al., 2011a). Trace element proles of Group 2 lavas (Fig. 7D) resemble those of modern oceanic arc magmas (e.g., Fig 7F: medium K calc-alkaline basalts). On a tectonic discrimination diagram, the Reneault-Dufresnoy lavas straddle the MORB-IAB boundary (Fig. 7G), with most Group 2 samples plotting in the IAB region. Finally, on the Th/Yb versus Nb/Yb diagram (Fig. 7H), Reneault-Dufresnoy samples dene a trend away

HEB-08

HEB-02

HEB-01

HEB-03

Reneault-Dufresnoy formation

120

Hbcourt upper rhyolite

100 90 80

50

50

50

50

True thickness (excluding intrusions): 70 m 67% Fragmental

43% Fragmental

True thickness including intrusions (m) 0

m >1c m c 1 < h se As Coar Ash m >1c m < 1 c e A sh s Coar Ash

Hbcourt upper rhyolite

VMS EXPLORATION: BLAKE RIVER GROUP, ABITIBI GREENSTONE BELT

FIG. 12. Thickness and volcanic facies variations in the Hbcourt upper rhyolite, shown by graphic logs from DDH HEB-03, HEB-01, HEB-02, and HEB-08, all plotted at the same vertical scale. The horizontal axis is a grain-size scale. The red line is interpreted to represent the boundary between two volcanic episodes in the Hbcourt upper rhyolite, marked by nely laminated tuff and argillite, and in HEB-08 by a thicker unit of mac tuff.

m >1c m < 1 c e Ash s Coar Ash

m >1c m < 1 c e Ash s Coar Ash

Hbcourt basaltic andesite

800 m True thickness (excluding intrusions): 45 m

615 m True thickness (excluding intrusions): 70 m 0% Fragmental

615 m True thickness (excluding intrusions): 75 m 49% Fragmental

Boundary between volcanic episodes Other rock types Mafic tuff Intrusion Laminated tuff and argillite

Hbcourt upper rhyolite Massive

Fragmental

77

78

ROGERS ET AL. TABLE 4. Summary Facies Descriptions for the Reneault-Dufresnoy Formation and the Calc-Alkaline Rocks of the Hbcourt Formation

Stratigraphic unit Facies

Thickness/ distribution Characteristics

Emplacement mechanisms Submarine lava ow or dome Variable Part of a submarine lava ow, hyaloclastic fragmentation Submarine lavas Submarine lavas

Hbcourt Formation Calc-alkaline Massive 20 m thick Coherent volcanic rock, ne grained to aphanitic, medium to dark gray rhyodacite in fresh surface; 12% white spherules, 2 cm across; 12% quartz amygdales 23 mm across; locally 12% feldspar phenocrysts, 2 mm across Volcaniclastic ? Variable (see Rogers, 2010). Lapilli-tuff to tuff; includes graded beds 23m thick; angular to rounded clasts Calc-alkaline Pillow breccia 12 m 0.51 cm hyaloclastite shards, angular, chloritized and jigsaw-t; andesite larger aphyric, nonvesicular, pillow fragments with uidal shapes, 15 cm across, with chilled margins; beige-whitish varioles (in fresh surface) in some pillow fragments, 1cm in size Reneault-Dufresnoy formation (Groups 1 and 2), rst 300m Massive Not mapped Coherent volcanic rock, medium to very ne grained, green to medium gray in fresh surface; 2% carbonate or chlorite lled vesicles 2 mm Pillowed Not mapped Pillows are aphyric, ne grained, 7080 cm across, max 2 m; they contain 23% (although locally 20%) quartz and chlorite amygdales which are 13 mm in diameter; varioles at margins, <0.5 cm across; interstitial hyaloclastite, chlorite- and epidote-altered, angular fragments, 34 mm with local jigsaw-t textures Volcaniclastic Not mapped Pillow breccia and tuff; hyaloclastite with angular, chloritized, jigsaw-t fragments, 24 mm across; 10% pillow fragments, >15 cm, uidal shapes and chilled margins

Submarine lavas

from the MORB-OIB array, suggesting signicant involvement of a subduction component or crustal contamination. The calc-alkaline andesite intercalated in the Hbcourt Formation plots with Group 2 samples from the ReneaultDufresnoy formation in all geochemical diagrams shown. Figure 3 illustrates that the thin calc-alkaline intercalations (andesite and rhyodacite) occur at several stratigraphic levels. The Hbcourt Formation is a product of near contemporaneous tholeiitic and minor calc-alkaline volcanism with magmas erupted from different vents located in the same general area. This spatial and temporal coincidence favors crustal contamination o f the tholeiitic magmanot variable degrees of subduction involvementas the easiest mechanism to produce arc-like calc-alkaline trace element signatures in the Reneault-Dufrenoy formation (and in the calc-alkaline intercalations in the Hbcourt Formation). This conclusion may extend to most of the Blake River Group, for which many samples plot between the MORB-OIB array and the pole for Archean crust in Figure 7H. Mineralization and Alteration The top of the Hbcourt Formation in the area between the Ontario-Quebec border and Lake Hbcourt, including the two tholeiitic rhyolites described above, has historically been recognized as a prospective area for VMS-type mineralization since the discovery of Zn in this area in the 1970s (Cloutier, 1975; Cashin and Fraser, 1992). Since then, exploration has focused mainly on the main rhyolite east of the Chemin de la Mine (Fig. 2). Alteration The Ishikawa alteration index (AI; Ishikawa et al., 1976) is a good indicator of chlorite and sericite alteration commonly

associated with metamorphosed VMS deposits (e.g., Paulick et al., 2001; van Ruitenbeek et al., 2011). Values below 20 are indicative of diagenetic trends, fresh rocks have AI values between 20 and 60 to 65, and rocks with higher values are more altered (e.g., Large et al., 2001; Gifkins et al., 2005). AI values were calculated for compiled datasets of historic and new surface samples (Fig. 13A) and drill core samples (Fig. 13B). Figure 13A shows that the low Ti rhyolite is much more altered than the overlying high Ti rhyolite near the Chemin de la Mine. Differing degrees of alteration of the main rhyolite subunits was also observed in drill cores farther east (Fraser, 1991; Martin, 1994; Bambic, 1998), as shown in Figure 13B. The low AI values for the high Ti rhyolite are indicative of diagenetic trends, as shown by the alteration box plot for felsic volcanic rocks (Fig. 13D). However, many samples of felsic volcanic rocks show evidence of VMS-related hydrothermal alteration as dened by chlorite pyrite sericite and sericite + chlorite pyrite trends in Figure 13D. The alteration box plot indicates that the mac volcanic rocks are predominantly unaltered (Fig. 13C), perhaps with some carbonate alteration and minor chlorite alteration. Mineralization in the main rhyolite Assay data (compiled by Cogitore Ressources Inc.) indicate that sulde mineralization and anomalously high metal concentrations dene two zones, informally called zone A (Fig. 14A) and zone B (Fig. 14B). Zone A is located in the central region of the main rhyolite (mostly within the high Ti subunit) and is characterized by anomalously high Zn, with almost no Cu. The highest assays for Zn (e.g., 6.17 wt % over 0.1 m) are in DDH SC-13 and are represented by semimassive bands or stringers of pyrite and sphalerite (Cloutier, 1975; Martin, 1994; Bambic 1998). Lesser Zn values occur to the east and

A
500 m
90
753-05 HEB-05 HB 97-02 753-03 SC-15 HB 94-02 HEB-06 HEB-07

Legend (for a and b) 100 Tremolite Chlorite

C
Epidote Calcite Ankerite Dolomite Actinolite

N
20 10 0 0 10 20 Albite Ishikawa surface samples (no projection) 615 000 616 000 617 000 mE

HEB-04

Chlorite-Carbonate-Pytite index (CCPI) 80 70 60 50 40 30

HEB-08

Fig. 14a

Chlorite-Carbonate-Pytite index (CCPI)

5 375 000 mN
SC-13 HB-94-01 HEB-01 HEB-02 HEB-03

Intrusive unit

Volcanic unit

5 374 000
HEB-08

Diamond drill hole

Chemin de la Mine

SC-12

5 373 000

Sericite (phengite) Mafic rock samples (this study) Least altered boxes Basalt (ridges) Basalt (arcs) Andesite (arcs) 30 40 50 60 70 80 Ishikawa alteration index (AI) 90

77746

Muscovite K-feldspar 100

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5 372 000

HEB-09

611 000

612 000

613 000

614 000

D
100
Diagenesis 20
HEB-05 HB 97-02 753-03 SC-15 HB 94-02 HEB-06 HEB-07

B
500 m
0
753-05

Ishikawa index (for a and b)

90 80 70 60

Epidote Calcite Ankerite Dolomite Actinolite

Tremolite

Chlorite

5 375 000 mN
40

Altered

Fresh

100

80

60

5 374 000

ep + cc ab

chl py (ser) ser + chl + py 50 40 30 20 ab + chl sericite

Fig. 14b
SC-13 HB-94-01 HEB-01 HEB-02 HEB-03

5 373 000
HEB-04

SC-12

Sericite (phengite)

77746

N
Ishikawa DDH samples (vertical projection) 616 000 617 000 mE

10 0 Albite 0 10 20

Felsic rock samples (this study) Least altered boxes Dacite (arcs) Rhyolite (arcs) 90 30 40 50 60 70 80 Ishikawa alteration index (AI)

Muscovite K-feldspar 100

5 372 000

HEB-09

611 000

612 000

613 000

614 000

615 000

FIG. 13. Hydrothermal alteration in the study area. A. and B. Maps of the Ishikawa alteration index (AI; Ishikawa et al., 1976) for surface and drill core samples, respectively. Geologic boundaries are provided for reference. Note that for simplicity, core samples are projected vertically from variable depths and likely do not project to the correct geologic unit at surface (recall the 72S dip of strata). The 10m AI grids were produced by interpolation between samples with a search radius of 100 m and a minimum of two samples per grid point. C. and D. Alteration box plots of AI vs. chlorite-carbonate-pyrite index (CCPI; Large et al., 2001) for mac and felsic samples, respectively. The geochemical analyses used are from this study and a compiled data set supplied by Cogitore Resources Inc. The box of unaltered basalts from young submarine ridges has been compiled from the GEOROC database (http://georoc.mpch-mainz.gwdg.de/georoc/, 274 samples with outliers excluded), whereas the four other boxes for unaltered young arc rocks are taken from Gifkins et al. (2005).

79

80

5 374 500 mN

A
HB 97-01 753-06 753-04 753-05 753-07

5 373 500 mE

SC-14 SC-13 753-08

753-02 753-01 753-03 753-10 SC-15 HEB-05 HB 97-02 HB 97-03
5 374 000

SC-16

HB 94-01 HEB-01

5 373 000

H-4-71

77739 HEB-02

77738

250 m 250 m
615 500 616 000 614 000 mE

HB 94-02
616 500 mE

77745
614 500

614 000

Ishikawa index (for a and b)

Intrusive unit Fresh Volcanic unit 0 Diamond drill hole Chemin de la mine 60 40 20 Diagenesis

Legend

Historical assay data (for a and b)

0.1% Zn contour 0.5% Zn contour 0.1% Cu contour

Altered

ROGERS ET AL.

100

80

C
b
HEB-05 HEB-06

Cu in pyrite from sulfide-bearing stratified horizons

Zn in pyrite from sulfide-bearing stratified horizons

HEB-05 HEB-06 0 - 0.01 % 0.01 - 0.1 % 0.1 - 1 % 1 % - 6.1%

5 374 000 mN 5 373 000

5 374 000 mN

0 - 0.01 % 0.01 - 0.1 % 0.1 - 1 % 1 % - 6.1%

a
HEB-03 HEB-01 HEB-02 HEB-08

HEB-03 HEB-01 HEB-02 HEB-08 HEB-04

5 373 000

HEB-04

5 372 000

5 372 000 614 000 615 000 616 000

HEB-09

500 m

HEB-09

500 m
617 000 mE 611 000 612 000 613 000 614 000 615 000 616 000 617 000 mE

611 000

612 000

613 000

FIG. 14. Base metal mineralization and pyrite geochemistry for samples in the study area. A. and B. Copper and zinc contours representing mineralized zones A and B, respectively (see text for descriptions), superimposed on a grid of the Ishikawa alteration index (AI; Ishikawa et al., 1976) for drill core samples, prepared as in Figure 13. The Cu and Zn contours are based on 5m grids of drill core assays using interpolation between samples with a search radius of 50 m and a minimum of two samples per grid point. Samples were projected vertically from various depths to the surface for both alteration and assays, so the geologic boundaries are provided for reference only. C. and D. Thematic maps for Cu and Zn values in pyrite from sulde-bearing stratied intervals in drill core, based on LA-ICP-MS measurements. The samples are projected to the surface using the regional dip of 72S, so they plot at the correct stratigraphic position.

VMS EXPLORATION: BLAKE RIVER GROUP, ABITIBI GREENSTONE BELT

81

west. To the west, in DDH 77738, Zn occurs in pyrite-rich sulde disseminations and thin, fracture-controlled stringers. In DDH SC-14 to the east, the mineralization consists of pyrite and sphalerite stringers associated with quartz. Zone B, with higher Cu and Zn values than zone A, is located in the northeast corner of the study area (Fig. 14B). It consists of up to 40m long mineralized DDH intersections within a zone of chlorite and sericite alteration (Cloutier, 1975; Bambic, 1998), with both disseminated and stringer sulde mineralization (Cloutier, 1975). Disseminated pyrite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite occur mostly in the westernmost part of zone B, whereas pyrite-dominated stringers occur in the eastern part (Cloutier, 1975). The highest Cu grades (0.19 wt % Cu over 1.9 m) and the most altered rocks (AI = 8095) occur in DDH 753-07, where mineralization occupies the matrix of a low Ti rhyolite breccia containing angular fragments with an average size of 3 to 4 cm (Cloutier, 1975). This breccia is part of the east ank of the low Ti rhyolite dome. Much lower Cu and Zn values occur higher up in the high Ti rhyolite. The highest Zn intersection in zone B is 11.6 wt % Zn over 1.1 m in DDH 753-01 (Cloutier, 1975). Interpretation Known alteration and mineralization in the study area is typical of Cu-Zn VMS systems, but an economic deposit is yet to be discovered. Mineralization occurs as sulde stringers and disseminations within chlorite and/or sericite altered rocks, consistent with formation below the sea oor by replacement processes (Doyle and Allen, 2003), for example, in permeable breccias along the anks of rhyolites domes. Large portions of the study area remain underexplored. In the following section, we discuss the use of sulde-bearing stratied intervals, in particular the mineral chemistry of pyrite from these intervals, as an aid for VMS exploration. Sulde-Bearing Stratied Intervals, and Their Use in Targeting Hydrothermal Upow Zones Two sulde-bearing stratied intervals, historically termed exhalites, were previously identied at the contact between the main rhyolite and the youngest basaltic andesite in the Hbcourt Formation, and at the contact between the Hbcourt upper rhyolite and the Reneault-Dufresnoy formation (Fraser, 1991; Carignan and Lafrance, 2008). Cogitore Resources Inc. intersected Zn values up to 1.2 wt % over core lengths of several decimeters within these intervals (Carignan and Lafrance, 2008). During the examination and sampling of these intervals it was noted that they did not always occur at the contacts mentioned above (see Fig. 3B), and that the number of these intervals in a DDH could range from one to three. In addition, a few sulde stratied intervals were found in the Reneault-Dufresnoy formation, especially in the western portion of the study area (Rogers, 2010). General description of sulde-bearing stratied intervals Sulde-bearing stratied intervals include: (1) thinly laminated to thinly bedded intervals, 20cm thick on average (locally up to 5060 cm thick) consisting of alternating negrained tuff, chlorite, argillite, and very ne grained pyrite (Fig. 15A, B); and (2) generally thicker tuffaceous intervals, 60 to 70cm thick on average, which typically lack internal

stratication. In the thinly laminated to thinly bedded portions, individual layers range from 1 to 2mm to 3 to 4cm in thickness. Laminae containing ne-grained (1mm) pyrite are commonly the thinnest, <1to 2mm in thickness, and in many cases the pyrite is hosted by argillite. Chlorite veinlets were also observed. The thicker tuffaceous portions consist of tuff and lapilli tuff. The larger clasts in these units are typically 2 to 3cm in size and are mostly angular. Grading is not commonly observed. Microscopic grains of chalcopyrite and sphalerite are minor to trace phases in the sulde-bearing stratied intervals, but the dominant sulde mineral that occurs in all samples is pyrite. Pyrite occurrences and textures in the thinly laminated to thinly bedded portions Pyrite is most common in the thinly laminated to thinly bedded portions. Pyrite is typically ne grained (<2mm) and is associated with specic laminations (Fig. 15C). In some examples the abundance of pyrite is high enough to produce apparent massive sulde laminations. Disseminations of pyrite dispersed evenly through several laminations are rare. Locally pyrite forms coarse blebs within a lamination or at the contact between laminations. Discordant pyrite veinlets were observed in most of the samples (e.g., Fig. 15A). In these veinlets, pyrite is typically associated with quartz, although in some cases the veinlets are entirely pyrite. The pyrite grains are typically coarser (Fig. 15D) than those within laminations, and better formed. Veinlets cut the laminations or connect with them, suggesting that at least some of the concordant pyrite may have been introduced after sediment deposition. Small inclusions of other sulde and silicate minerals within the pyrite are very common. However, euhedral coarser grained pyrite (>2mm) contain far fewer inclusions, probably as a result of metamorphic recrystallization (Tomkins et al., 2007). Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses of pyrite Samples: Thick sections (~100 m thickness) were prepared for 19 representative samples of the thinly laminated to thinly bedded intervals within the sulde-bearing stratied intervals. Each sulde-bearing stratied interval is represented by one or two thick sections. Sections were made in areas of abundant pyrite, irrespective of the type of occurrence (e.g., pyrite veinlets vs. pyrite-rich laminations, ne or coarse grains, etc.). Methods: LA-ICP-MS spot analyses were performed on pyrite grains at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, using an ultraviolet laser beam from a NewWave Research 213 nm probe coupled with a Thermo-Fisher XSeries 2 ICPMS. Spots to be analyzed were rst cleaned of possible surface impurities using a 2s preablation with a 55m wide beam, and the actual analysis used a stationary 40m wide beam for 25s. In ve of the thick sections, the pyrite grains were too small and a 25 m wide beam had to be used (same ablation time, following cleaning with a 2s preablation using a 30 m wide beam). Between 10 and 20 spots were analyzed per thick section. Most pyrite grains are represented by one spot, although in larger grains there may be two or more points to detect

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0.1 mm

0.1 mm

FIG. 15. Photographs (A, B) and reected light photomicrographs (C, D) of the sulde-bearing stratied intervals. A. Thinly laminated to very thinly bedded interval containing tuff and argillite. Pyrite is present in veinlets and in blebs between and within layers. B. Thinly to thickly laminated tuffaceous interval showing synsedimentary deformation. Fine-grained concordant pyrite is associated with some laminations. C. Fine-grained concordant pyrite. D. Coarser veinlet-associated pyrite. Pits in the surface resulting from laser ablation are circled in red.

possible metal zonation. Analyzed spots were chosen to obtain information on all pyrite types within the samples (concordant vs. discordant pyrite, with or without inclusions, etc.). When selecting the integration interval for trace element calculations from the raw spectra, inclusions of other minerals in the pyrite grains, visible by spikes of elements such as Cu, Au, and Zn in the spectra, could not be avoided due to their small size, their relative abundance, and their presence at depth within the analyzed grains. Due to the metamorphic recrystallization, inclusions in the pyrite contain the bulk of the trace metals of interest. As these metals do not reside in the pyrite lattice they are interpreted to have been derived from primary, trace metal-enriched pyrite during regional metamorphism as this is common for metamorphosed suldes (Huston et al., 1995; Abraitis et al., 2004). Thus, the trace elements values reported were obtained from mixtures of pyrite and tiny inclusions of other minerals within the pyrite grains. The external standards used were the MASS1 synthetic polymetallic sulde standard from the U.S. Geological Survey for most trace elements (Ag, As, Au, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Sb, Sn, V, Zn) and Standard Reference Material 612, a glass from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), for Ni, Pb, Sc, Ti, Tl, Th, and U.

Results: The determined trace element content of pyrite is extremely variable between samples and within samples, as found in similar studies (e.g., Peter et al., 2003a, b, using electron microprobe; Chenery et al., 1995; Chapman et al., 2008; Maslennikov et al., 2009, using LA-ICP-MS). The spatial distribution of Cu and Zn values are shown as thematic maps in Figure 14C, D. The distribution of values for four economically signicant elements within pyrite grains is portrayed on a graph of metal content versus DDH lateral position (Fig. 16). Based on variations in the median and 90th percentile curves for Cu, two peaks are observed: a western one centered on HEB-04, and an eastern one in the region of HEB-02 to HEB-03, with an intervening gap clearly illustrated by a sharp decrease in the median and 90th percentile curves (Fig. 16A). A similar pattern was observed for Zn, although the western peak is only distinguished on the median curve and the eastern Zn peak contains a sharp decrease at HEB-01 (Fig. 16B). Gold and Ag values also display eastern and western peaks that coincide with those for Cu and Zn, and a gap illustrated by a sharp decrease in the median and 90th percentile curves for Au and Ag relative to neighboring drill holes at HEB-08 (Fig. 16C, D). Similar patterns exist for As, Bi, Cd, Hg, Mn, Pb, Sb, and Tl (not shown).

VMS EXPLORATION: BLAKE RIVER GROUP, ABITIBI GREENSTONE BELT

83

A
100000

Cu

C
4 49 29 20 47 67 95 9 n 10

Au

30

17

42 37 50

10000 1 ppm 1000 ppm 0.10 100 0.01 D.L. 0.001 MD 03 HEB: 09 04 08 03 02 01 & 05 47 67 90 06 Hole # D.L. MD 03 HEB: 09 04 08 03 02 01 & 05 47 75 101 06 Ho e l #

10

B
100000 10000

Zn
2 48 29 22 9 n

D
1000 100
ppm

Ag

48

28

17

ppm

1000

10 1

100

0.10
10 D.L. 1 MD 03 HEB: 09 04 08 03 02 01 & 05

0.01
D.L.

0.001
06 Hole # MD 03 HEB: 09 04 08

03 02 01 & 05

06

Hole #

Detection limit (D.L.) n number of samples above D.L. 90th percentile Median

FIG. 16. Geochemical variations in pyrite from sulde-bearing stratied intervals based on LA-ICM-MS analyses. Metal contents for individual analyses are plotted against the DDH in which the samples were taken, as a representation of lateral variations: A. Copper. B. Zinc. C. Gold. D. Silver.

Interpretation Sulde-bearing stratied intervals consist of tuff, argillite, chlorite, and suldes. The tuff and argillite component in these intervals represent a hiatus in effusive volcanic activity and these hiatuses may indicate favorable periods for VMS formation. The presence of chlorite veinlets suggests that the chlorite laminations were formed by replacement of tuff laminations; in the same way, discordant sulde veinlets connected to sulde laminations indicate that at least a portion of the suldes were introduced postdeposition. Therefore, the sulde-bearing stratied intervals are not true exhalites, as the suldes were not exclusively deposited by precipitation and sedimentation from a hydrothermal plume in the water column. However, these intervals can still be used to identify possible hydrothermal upow zones. High metal values in the sulde-bearing stratied intervals may indicate mineralized zones at deeper (or even possibly higher) stratigraphic levels, as the metal-bearing uids which introduced the suldes were

likely moving in a mostly vertical direction as is generally the case for ow-dominated VMS systems (Franklin et al., 2005). Lateral, spatial variations of precious and base metals in pyrite from sulde-bearing stratied intervals suggest the existence of two distinct broad hydrothermal upow zones in the upper part of the Hbcourt Formation: a western one in the HEB-09 to HEB-04 region, and an eastern one in the HEB-02 to HEB-03 region. These ndings have implications for exploration as discussed in the next section. Hydrothermal uids also likely traversed the lower levels of the ReneaultDufresnoy formation, as shown by high Cu and Zn values in this formation within DDH HEB-09 (Fig. 14C, D). Discussion and Conclusions Chemical stratigraphy and identication of volcanic vents The Hbcourt Formation has been divided into four tholeiitic volcanic units: basalt; basaltic andesite; main rhyolite (comprising both a low and a high Ti subunit); and the upper

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rhyolite. As shown in Figure 2, the bimodal Hbcourt Formation consists of two tholeiitic mac-felsic cycles, the second being signicantly thinner than the rst. The low Ti main rhyolite subunit was initially erupted from a vent located just east of the Chemin de la Mine (Fig. 17A). For the high Ti subunit two distinct felsic volcanic vents were probably active, one on each side of the low Ti dome (Fig. 17B). The overlying basaltic andesite was extruded from the east and owed westward (Fig. 17C). Utilization of the eastern effusive center by both felsic and mac magmas suggests a control by synvolcanic structure (e.g., Settereld et al., 1995; DeWolfe et al., 2009). The effusive center probably shifted slightly westward (toward HEB-01) to produce the main part of the upper rhyolite (Fig. 17D). Facies variations allow reconstruction of the volcanic vent systems for the various units, but this is only a two-dimensional image of a three-dimensional system. Feeder dikes were not observed in this study, thus the exact positions of the vents in the third dimension are unknown. Possible tectonic setting and rhyolite fertility Regionally, the Hbcourt Formation consists largely of monotonous tholeiitic basaltic lavas that were interpreted as a lava plain by Dimroth et al. (1982). Trace element patterns determined in this study are compatible with a back-arc basin tectonic setting for these basalts (and basaltic andesites). Felsic complexes within the Hbcourt Formation are uncommon regionally, and calc-alkaline intercalations have not been reported outside of the study area. There is no obvious explanation in our data to account for the greater volume of rhyolite in the study area; perhaps it may be related to the development of a local, high-level magma chamber, and/ or to local crustal extension generating a thermal anomaly (Franklin et al., 2005; Galley et al., 2007). Regardless of the mechanism of formation (e.g., differentiation from a tholeiitic basaltic magma or partial melting of a mac source), the tholeiitic rhyolites must have been generated at relatively shallow crustal depth based on their at REE patterns (Hart et al., 2004), which would have created enhanced heat ow and favored hydrothermal activity. FIII rhyolites, like those of the Hbcourt Formation, are commonly associated with VMS deposits in the Archean (Lesher et al., 1986; Hart et al., 2004). Following the emplacement of the Hbcourt Formation, magmas were repeatedly extruded from the same general areas and this led to the construction of a large shield volcano now exposed farther south in the Reneault-Dufresnoy formation (Ross et al., 2011a). The tholeiitic to calc-alkaline magmas that produced the Reneault-Dufresnoy formation had a greater inuence from a subduction component relative to those that created the Hbcourt Formation, or else they were more contaminated by existing crust. Mineralization and hydrothermal upow In the study area, there is a spatial coincidence between the identied effusive centers, hydrothermal alteration zones, base metal mineralization, and metal concentrations in pyrite from the sulde-bearing stratied intervals (Fig. 17). Specically, the proposed effusive center for the Hbcourt basaltic andesite is located immediately south of the zone B stringertype mineralization, an area of most intense sericite-chlorite alteration within breccias of the main rhyolite that is located

lower in the stratigraphic succession. This suggests that the basaltic andesite magmas used the same or nearby synvolcanic structures as the hydrothermal uids which altered and mineralized the main rhyolite. This implies the continued existence of synvolcanic extension, which is critically important to provide access to the near-surface environment for mineralizing uids. Synvolcanic faults are likely to have been active elsewhere in the area and to have controlled pathways for both magmas and hydrothermal uids, although such faults are difcult to locate precisely. Other studies in VMS-hosting volcanic successions, including in the Noranda mining camp, have showed the importance of long-lived and reactivated synvolcanic structures, which are responsible for the observed coincidence between volcanic and hydrothermal vents (Gibson et al., 1999, and references therein; Galley et al., 2007). Pyrites in sulde-bearing stratied intervals from multiple stratigraphic levels in the study area contain appreciable Ag, Au, Cu, and Zn, among other elements. The interest here is not necessarily the high trace element values themselves (this is typical of VMS settings; Huston et al., 1995) but rather their spatial distribution. The high metal values dene a broad zone east of the Chemin de la Mine (Figs. 14, 17) and therefore correspond to an area also containing the effusive center for the low Ti dome, the main volcanic vent for the upper rhyolite, and one of the vents for the high Ti rhyolite, as well as the weak Zn mineralization in zone A. The high metal contents of pyrite from sulde-bearing stratied intervals located west of the Chemin de la Mine metal values comparable to those in eastare not explained by known base metal mineralization and hydrothermal alteration within the underlying strata. This may be the result of the limited exploration in this area as compared to the area farther to the east, especially in the main rhyolite, rather than to a lack of alteration and mineralization. The western metal anomaly indicated by elevated pyrite metal contents could potentially be associated with a proposed high Ti rhyolite western effusive center (centered on DDH HEB-04, see Figs. 8, 14, 15, 17), or with other undened volcanic vents and associated hydrothermal upow zones. This proposition has obvious implications for exploration and demonstrates the usefulness of eld mapping of volcanic facies and chemical stratigraphy in parallel with the trace element analysis of pyrite within stratied intervals to target new mineralized areas within volcanic terranes. Implications for VMS exploration elsewhere The combination of techniques used in this study represents a new approach outside VMS mining camps and could be applied elsewhere. Previous published investigations of sulde-bearing stratied intervals, iron formations, etc., were done in established mining camps, with a known stratigraphy and structure, and the VMS deposits had already been found. If exhalite studies are to be applied outside of VMS camps, however, it is of prime importance to combine them with an understanding of the volcanic architecture of the investigated area. This requires establishing a litho- and chemostratigraphy to constrain volcanic facies mapping and facies analysis in order to locate coincident effusive and hydrothermal centers (Gibson et al., 1999). For example, our interpretation of the facies variations in the main rhyolite would have been


HEB-09

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C hem in d e la m ine

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HEB-06

HEB-04

HEB-08

HEB-02

HEB-01

HEB-03

A
Low-Ti rhyolite

2703.0 0.9 Ma

Hbcourt basalt

B
High-Ti rhyolite Low-Ti rhyolite Zone A Zone B

Hbcourt basalt

C
High-Ti rhyolite Low-Ti rhyolite

Basaltic andesite

Hbcourt basalt

D
other rhyolite High-Ti rhyolite Low-Ti rhyolite

2702.0 1.0 Ma Upper rhyolite Basaltic andesite

Hbcourt basalt

Hydrothermal up-flow

Hydrothermal up-flow

FIG. 17. Geologic history of the study area, focusing on the top part of the Hbcourt Formation, illustrated by pretilting schematic sections (not to scale). Hydrothermal upow within volcanic units probably occurred more or less continuously during the time period shown. A. Deposition of the low Ti subunit of the main rhyolite. Triangles represent the volcaniclastic facies and randomly orientated dashes represent the massive facies. B. Eruption of the high Ti subunit of the main rhyolite, from two separate vents. Also shown are the zones A and B alteration and mineralization. Thick red lines represent the location of known sulde-bearing laminated intervals (some may be more continuous than shown). C. Eruption of the youngest interval of the Hbcourt basaltic andesite. Filled triangles represent hyaloclastite and the pillows decrease in size to the west. D. Eruption of the upper rhyolite from the easternmost vent, as the western vent is unknown. Calc-alkaline intercalations in the Hbcourt Formation and eruption of the Reneault-Dufresnoy formation not shown.

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very different without its division into two subunits. Further, combining these data with trace element variations in suldes from laminated intervals may help to identify hydrothermal upow zones, which can correspond to volcanic effusive centers. In many ancient volcanic sequences, deformation and metamorphism may strongly hinder recognition of primary features, and the use of combined approaches in dening a VMS-prospective environment becomes critical. Exhalites The term exhalite is sometimes overused in mineral exploration, with laminated sulde-bearing intervals automatically assumed to represent laterally extensive markers formed by sulde precipitation and sedimentation in seawater, following venting of a hydrothermal uid into the water column (e.g., Kalogeropoulos and Scott, 1989; Liaghat and MacLean, 1992; Peter et al., 2003a, b; Chapman et al., 2008). While true exhalites undoubtedly exist in many VMS camps, explorationists have to be careful about using the term exhalite too quickly. This study has shown that careful examination of laminated sulde-bearing intervals indicates that they do not always form one or several laterally extensive units but can instead form several discontinuous and unconnected units (Fig. 3B). In such units, the suldes can be truly exhalative and deposited with the enclosing sediment, or they can also be introduced later by replacement, from hydrothermal uids moving mostly upward in the crust (e.g., Knuckey and Watkins, 1982, show chalcopyrite veinlets crosscutting laminated suldebearing intervals at the Corbet mine). Nevertheless, even if they are not classic exhalites, the sulde minerals within these intervals can still contain useful information on the location of hydrothermal upow zones that can aid in VMS exploration. Conclusions Detailed physical volcanology, mapping, and chemical stratigraphy in the Hbcourt Formation and the overlying Reneault-Dufresnoy formation in the northern part of the Archean Blake River Group were instrumental in locating effusive centers (volcanic vent areas). In addition, LA-ICPMS analyses of pyrite from sulde-bearing stratied intervals intercalated with the volcanic units, combined with the mapping of hydrothermal alteration zones using lithogeochemistry, allowed us to locate hydrothermal upow zones associated in some cases with areas of known mineralization. This approach helped to dene areas with potential to host VMS mineralization. Acknowledgments Benoit Lafrance and Tony Brisson, formerly at Cogitore Resources Inc., shared their knowledge of the Hbcourt property and supplied unpublished geologic compilations and databases. We also thank Grald Riverin of Cogitore Resources Inc. for his interest in the project. This study was funded in part by the Geological Survey of Canadas Targeted Geoscience Initiative program, phase 3, Abitibi project, led by Benot Dub, whom we thank for support. We also acknowledge nancial and logistical support from the Ministre des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (Quebec); in particular we thank Sylvain Lacroix. INRS-ETE provided an international fee-exemption scholarship to the rst author. Balz Kamber

organized the use of the Laurentian University LA-ICP-MS lab, and Thomas Ulrich was the analyst. Jan Peter and Jean Bdard are thanked for discussions on the sulde-bearing layered intervals and Archean petrogenesis. P. Robidoux and E. Giroux served as eld assistants. V. Bcu, P. Thurston, guest editor H. Gibson and an anonymous journal reviewer provided useful comments which helped improve the paper.
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