Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization of The Galore Creek Alkalic Cu Au Porphyry Deposit

©2014 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc.
Economic Geology, v. 109, pp. 891–914
Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization of the Galore Creek Alkalic

Cu-Au Porphyry Deposit, Northwestern British Columbia, Canada
JANINA MICKO,1,†,* RICHARD M. TOSDAL,1 THOMAS BISSIG,1 CLAIRE M. CHAMBERLAIN,2 AND KIRSTIE A. SIMPSON3
1 Mineral Deposit Research Unit, University of British Columbia, 6339 Stores Road, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
2 Teck Resources Limited, 550 Burrard Street, Suite 3300, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B3, Canada
3 Geoscience BC, 890 W. Pender Street, Suite 440, Vancouver, BC V6C 1J9, Canada
Abstract
The Late Triassic Galore Creek porphyry district is the largest accumulation of Cu-Au prospects in British
Columbia, Canada, in terms of contained metal. The principal economic resource is the Central zone deposit.
It comprises three high-grade centers: the Au-rich North and South gold lenses and the Cu-dominated Cen-
tral replacement zone. Alteration footprints, ore shells, and porphyry intrusions in these centers dip 45° to 60°
to the west in the North gold lens and southwest in the South gold lens and Central replacement zone, in-
dicative of significant postmineral tilting. This inclination created an oblique vertical expression of the Central
zone at surface and at depth, providing a +700-m depth profile through the deposit.
Galore Creek is considered to be the end-member of the silica-undersaturated class of alkalic porphyry Cu-
Au deposits. It displays a unique hydrothermal alteration footprint, generally devoid of quartz veining. Despite
the lack of crosscutting veins, a paragenetic sequence of several discrete potassic and calcic alteration events
has been established. During main-stage alteration, two mineralization events occurred that formed the eco-
nomic resource in the Central zone. Highly oxidizing fluids derived from porphyritic syenite to monzonite
intrusions produced initial potassic alteration and sulfide mineralization in the North gold lens and South gold
lens. Cu-Au ore shells are characterized by a gold-rich core dominated by bornite associated with hematite-
dusted orthoclase, specular hematite, and anhydrite. The second period of hydrothermal activity caused brec-
ciation and calcic alteration in the Central replacement zone. The calcic fluids formed hydrothermal cement
grading from Ti-rich andraditic to grossularitic garnet in the core of the breccia to a diopside and magnetite-
dominated assemblage at the margins. Calcic alteration also formed in the surrounding host rock. This alter-
ation event was followed by potassic alteration and mineralization, characterized by biotite, anhydrite, and chal-
copyrite in the Cu-rich ore shell of the Central replacement zone.
Most of the Au is hosted in bornite that is spatially associated with oxidized (reddened) rock units dominated
by an alteration assemblage of orthoclase ± hematite ± specular hematite ± garnet ± anhydrite. High-grade Cu
in the Central zone is related to abundant chalcopyrite that has commonly replaced an assemblage of biotite ±
magnetite ± diopside. This distinct spatial separation strongly suggests that the local redox environment within
the wall rocks governed sulfide and gold distributions.
The switch from early Au-rich mineralization to late-stage Cu-dominated mineralization appears to have
been controlled by varying redox conditions within the magma. The change from more oxidized alteration
assemblages (Fe3+ > Fe2+) to more reduced assemblages (Fe3+ ≤ Fe2+) is indicative of a change in oxidation
potential that may have propelled sulfide saturation in the magma and, thus, the subsequent depletion of most
of the Au.
Introduction with silica-saturated alkalic complexes (e.g., Baker et al.,

MANY gold-rich porphyry Cu deposits are associated with in- 1999; Cooke et al., 2007), but notably absent or, at best, very
trusions of alkalic or shoshonitic magmatic affinity (Barr et al., sparse in porphyry Cu-Au systems associated with silica-un-
1976; Jensen and Barton, 2000; Sillitoe, 2000; Wilson et al., dersaturated intrusive complexes (Lang et al., 1995a, b). The
2003, 2007; Wolfe and Cooke, 2011). As a class, some alkalic deposits of the Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Quesnel or
porphyry Cu-Au deposits contain metal accumulations that Stikine terranes of British Columbia, Canada, are commonly
equal those of their calc-alkalic cousins. As a family, the alka- silica undersaturated. The Galore Creek district in north-
lic porphyry Cu-Au systems are more poorly understood than western British Columbia, about 100 km northeast of
the calc-alkaline systems. Alkalic porphyry deposits can be Wrangell, Alaska (Fig. 1), arguably presents the end-member
subdivided into two broad petrologic families based on their of the silica-undersaturated subcategory of deposits (Barr et
association with silica-saturated or silica-undersaturated alka- al., 1976; Lang et al., 1995a, b).
lic intrusive complexes (Lang et al., 1995a). The most notable Galore Creek is one of three undeveloped porphyry Cu-Au
difference between them is the presence or absence of quartz districts in the Stikine terrane. Discovered based on aero-
veins, which are common in the porphyry systems associated magnetic surveys in the late 1950s, Galore Creek is now
owned by the Galore Creek Mining Corporation (GCMC) as
a 50-50 joint venture between NovaGold Resources Inc. and
† Corresponding author: e-mail, janina.micko@gmail.com
Teck Resources Limited. The district contains five thoroughly
*Present address: ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits, University
of Tasmania, Geography-Geology Bld., Private Bag 126, Hobart, TAS 7001, explored prospects and six other mineralized centers with
Australia. only limited exploration. The prospects define a 5-km-long,
0361-0128/14/4215/891-24 891
Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
892 MICKO ET AL.
140° 135° 130° 125° 120°
A aU
SA B Taku River
132
Ca
ch Qu
esn
130
eC elli
sk
ree a
Quesnellia k
Ala
65°
60° Stikinia
Cities
Stikine River
Bri ska
Alkalic
Ala
tish
porphyry deposits 58
Telegraph
140° Yuk
Co
o n Creek
lum
bia
Red Chris
Co mple
Co
ast x
mbia
Alberta 60°
Galore Creek
Pu
57
Colu
ton
Galore
ic
55° Bowser
Creek N Basin
British
Iskut River
Lorraine 50km
Mount Milligan Sloko Group, Edziza

and Spectrum Ranges
135° Continental arc volcanic rocks,
post-orogenic plateau basalts
55°
(Upper Cretaceous to Tertiary to recent)
Bowser Lake Group

Basinal sedimentary rocks (Middle Jurassic to Upper
Mount Cretaceous)
50°
Polley
Williams Halzelton Group
Lake (Lower to Middle Jurassic)
Island arc
Stuhini Group volcanics,
Afton/Ajax (Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic) plutonic and
sedimentary rocks
Stikine Assemblage
Vancouver Copper Mt 50° (Devonian to Lower Triassic)
Rivers
Other terranes (undifferentiated) Cities
130° 125° 120° 115°
FIG. 1. A) Generalized distribution of the Stikine and Quesnel terranes in northwestern British Columbia showing loca-
tion of the Galore Creek Copper porphyry Au-Cu district and other porphyry Cu centers. Red box outlines the area shown
in B. B) Regional geology of the northwestern Stikine terrane in the vicinity of Galore Creek. Modified after Logan and Koy-
anagi (1994).
northwesterly trending corridor. The largest prospect at Ga- cross sections and allows a three-dimensional view of the
lore Creek is the Central zone—the focus of this paper. It Central zone’s geology. This newly generated information is
contains three adjacent and overlapping higher-grade centers: integrated into an ore deposit model for Galore Creek.
the North gold lens, the Central replacement zone, and the
South gold lens (Fig. 2). Another mineralized center, the Regional Geology and Tectonic Setting
Bountiful zone (Fig. 2), underlies the South gold lens, but was The Cordilleran tectonic collage of British Columbia boasts
not included in the current study. As of July 2011, the Galore a large number of alkalic porphyry Cu-Au deposits scattered
Creek deposits have, inclusive of reserves, a combined mea- over the 1,500-km strike length of the Late Triassic and Early
sured and indicated mineral resource of 814.7 Mt grading Jurassic Quesnellia and Stikinia terranes (Fig. 1A; Logan and
0.50% Cu, 0.31 g/t Au, and 5.21 g/t Ag, and an inferred re- Mihalynuk, 2014). Currently, two terrane evolution models
source of 346.6 Mt grading 0.42% Cu, 0.24 g/t Au, and 4.28 are proposed. The widely accepted, but unconfirmed, model
g/t Ag (NovaGold Resources Inc., 2011). is that Quesnellia and Stikinia formed from a single marine is-
In this paper, we document the geology, hydrothermal al- land arc that experienced oroclinal bending accompanied by
teration assemblages, and sulfide zonation patterns of the progressive amalgamation to North America in the Early
Central zone. Three subparallel E-oriented vertical sections Jurassic (Mihalynuk et al., 1994; Colpron et al., 2007; Nelson
crossing the dominant ore-bearing regions have been logged and Colpron, 2007). Three metallogenic groups can be dis-
(Fig. 2) using 24 diamond drill holes, totaling 12,495 m of cerned in these terranes. These are (1) the Late Triassic calc-
core. These data have been augmented by the GCMC explo- alkaline plutonic complexes that have associated porphyry
ration database, which also provided geologic information for Cu-Mo (± Au) deposits (Schaft Creek, Highland Valley, and
an N-oriented, vertical long section that connects the three Gibraltar), (2) the Late Triassic alkalic diorite to monzonitic
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 892

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
ALTERATION AND MINERALIZATION, GALORE CREEK ALKALIC Cu-Au PORPHYRY DEPOSIT, BC, CANADA 893
A 351000 352000 B 351000 352000

6336500
Central Zone N
Long-
section
6335500
6335500
NGL 6335550
CRZ 6334840
6334500
6334500
SGL 6334100
BZ
500m
Galore Creek district geology

Upper Triassic Stuhini Group rocks Structural and lithologic key Alteration assemblages
Megacrystic orthoclase and plagioclase-phyric Contact relationship inferred Bornite - chalcopyrite
monzonites Location of logged DDHs
Chalcopyrite - pyrite
Polymictic hydrothermal breccias Resource-outline (inferred)
Pyrite
Orthoclase (and pseudoleucite) - phyric syenites Bountiful Zone - BZ (inferred)
Orthoclase - biotite - magnetite - hematite
Orthoclase-phyric trachytes Faults (inferred)
Garnet - biotite - anhydrite
Pseudoleucite-phyric trachyte derived rock units Thrust or reverse fault
Diopside - magnetite
Augite-phyric basalts Synform
Sericite - anhydrite - carbonate
Sedimentary and volcaniclastic rocks Cu-Au grade
0.35 g/t Au Chlorite - epidote - carbonate
Undifferentiated volcanic rocks
0.5 % Cu Alteration not mapped
FIG. 2. A) Interpreted surface bedrock geology of the Central zone showing the locations of three E-oriented cross sec-
tions and one N-oriented long section that crosscut the three principal mineralized centers of the North gold lens (NGL),
Central replacement zone (CRZ), and the South gold lens (SGL). Also shown is the location of the deep Bountiful zone (BZ).
Geology modified after NovaGold Resources Inc. (2011). B) Surface alteration and sulfide mineral distribution of the Cen-
tral zone. Geologic contacts in panel A reproduced as gray lines for reference. Map modified from Schwab et al. (2008).
DDHs = diamond drill holes.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 893

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
894 MICKO ET AL.
intrusive complexes associated with porphyry Cu-Au de- mediate lavas, volcaniclastic units, and Middle Triassic silt-
posits (Galore Creek, Red Chris, Afton/Ajax, Copper Moun- stones, sandstones, and cherts (Monger, 1977; Enns et al.,
tain, and Mt. Polley), and (3) the Middle Jurassic alkalic 1995; Logan, 2005). Unmetamorphosed rocks of the Upper
intrusive complexes with associated porphyry Au-Cu deposits Triassic Stuhini Group in the Galore Creek valley are subdi-
(Barr et al., 1976; Lang et al., 1995a; Mortensen et al., 1995; vided into a lower unit of basaltic to andesitic volcanic rocks
Logan, 2005; Scott et al., 2008; Logan and Mihalynuk, 2014; intercalated with volcanic-derived sandstones and siltstones
Pass et al., 2014). Most of the silica-undersaturated alkalic (Allen et al., 1976) and an upper unit of compositionally dis-
porphyry Cu-Au deposits were emplaced in several discrete tinct alkali-enriched volcanic and volcanogenic sedimentary
events between 210 and 200 Ma, after the end of widespread rocks (Fig. 3). The Stuhini Group rocks host the Late Triassic
tholeiitic to transitional calc-alkaline magmatic activity (Mor- alkalic intrusive complex and have undergone hydrothermal
timer, 1987; Mortensen et al., 1995; Logan et al., 2007; this alteration and mineralization.
study). After a hiatus of 10 to 15 m.y., which corresponds to a The Galore Creek district lies in the footwall of a W-di-
major Cordilleran-long shortening and deformation event rected brittle thrust fault that juxtaposes tightly folded and
(Monger et al., 1992; Mortensen et al., 1995), Early Jurassic weakly metamorphosed rocks of the Stuhini Group over
(180–190 Ma) alkalic porphyry Cu-Au deposits such as Lor- petrologically similar rocks in the footwall that host the por-
raine and Mt. Milligan were emplaced in north-central phyry Cu-Au deposits (Logan, 2005; Schwab et al., 2008).
British Columbia (Mortensen et al., 1995; Jago, 2008; Bath et Small-displacement reverse faults have cut the Stuhini Group
al., 2014; Devine et al, 2014; Jago et al., 2014). rocks, the syenite and monzonite intrusions, and the porphyry
Cu-Au centers (Fig. 2A; Schwab et al., 2008; Byrne and Tos-
District Geology dal, 2014).
The Galore Creek district, located at the northwestern Sedimentary rocks equivalent to the Lower Jurassic Hazelton
margin of the Stikine terrane (Fig. 1A), is hosted within the Group, which postdates mineralization, are preserved north
Lower Devonian to Upper Permian Stikine assemblage and and east of Galore Creek, as are the Lower Jurassic to Lower
the Lower to Upper Triassic Stuhini Group (Fig. 1B). The Tertiary successor basin sedimentary rocks of the Bowser Lake
oldest rocks of the Stikine assemblage crop out northeast of and Sustut Groups (Fig. 1B; Allen et al., 1976; Logan and
Galore Creek (Fig. 1B). These are strongly deformed Devon- Koyanagi, 1989; Logan et al., 1989; Enns et al., 1995). Post-
ian to Permian limestones, interbedded with mafic and inter- mineralization Eocene quartz monzonite and diorite stocks,
Proximal facies Distal facies

Pseudoleucite (a) and
Volcaniclastic
orthoclase-phryic (b) trachyte:
siltstone to
Norian
sub-volcanic intrusions and lavas

HA ZELTON
180 Emergent island arc

Jurassic
conglomerate
Wide range of sedimentary rocks
Lower
as well as intrusion of the Hickman

Augite-phyric basalt: sub-
batholith granodiorite
volcanic intrusions and lavas
206
Carnian
Supracrustal hostrocks to the Hornblende and plagioclase

Galore Creek hydrothermal phyric basaltic andesite: sub-
systems and associated volcanic intrusions and lavas
Upper
STUHINI GROUP
mineralized centers
Triassic
Tectonic break Ladinian

(Tahltan Orogeny)
Anisian Ribbon chert
227
Lower Middle
Erosional disconformity and phyllite

Lower T.
242
Central Zone
volcanic facies
distribution
248
Island arc depositional
Devonian - Permian
environment
STIKINE A SSEMBLA GE
Fossiliferous limestone
Felsic to mafic volcanic rocks
Thickly bedded conglomerate and

siltstone overlying thick limestone
paraconformably
Penetrative foliated limestone,

phyllite, mafic and felsic volcanic
417 flows and tuffs
FIG. 3. Regional stratigraphy and volcanic to volcaniclastic facies interpretation of the Galore Creek Upper Triassic suc-
cessions in the Central zone. Modified after Logan and Koyanagi (1994).
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 894

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
as well as mafic to felsic dikes of unknown age, intruded the 2010). Concordant sills emanate from the stock into the host
Triassic rocks throughout the Central zone. These young supracrustal stratigraphy and the Central zone orebody (Fig.
dikes are concentrated in W- and N-striking zones that pre- 2A). Based on petrology and crosscutting relationships, four
sumably exploited a fault or fracture mesh (Enns et al., 1995). principal intrusion types have been defined in the composite
stock by previous workers (Lang et al., 1995a, b) and in the
Central Zone Geology current study. Each type has several textural variants charac-
The three mineralized centers of the Central zone—the terized by minor mineralogical differences such as phenocryst
North gold lens, Central replacement zone, and South gold type, size, and abundance.
lens (Fig. 2A)—are up to 350 to 500 m wide, 400 m to 700 m The oldest intrusions in the composite syenite-monzonite
deep (current exploration depth), and covered by 10 to 80 m stock are orthoclase and pseudoleucite-phyric syenites. These
of glacial overburden. The upper 10 to 100 m of bedrock is are characterized by a bimodal phenocryst population of or-
fragmented due to the hydration and dissolution of anhydrite- thoclase and pseudoleucite in a “salt and pepper”-textured
filled fractures. groundmass that consists of fine-grained orthoclase and bi-
otite (Fig. 6E, F). They were intruded by orthoclase-phyric
Supracrustal Host Rocks syenites that are very similar in composition, but lack
Volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of the Middle to Upper pseudoleucite phenocrysts. Whereas crosscutting relation-
Triassic Stuhini Group generally strike west-northwesterly and ships between the syenite units were not observed during this
dip 45° to 60° south-southwest throughout the Central zone study, field mapping, particularly in the South gold lens, and
(Figs. 2A, 4, 5). The oldest units are only intersected at depth core logging by company geologists have established the or-
in the North gold lens (Figs. 4A, 5), and comprise fine-grained thoclase-phyric syenite as the younger unit (Figs. 4, 5).
sandstone, siltstone, and ribbon chert (Fig. 6A). Texturally Megacrystic orthoclase and plagioclase-phyric monzonite is
destructive hydrothermal alteration typically obscures these volumetrically the most abundant intrusive unit. It has cross-
rocks, precluding more detailed recognition of their protolith. cut the orthoclase and pseudoleucite-phyric syenites in the
The sedimentary rocks are overlain conformably by sub- western and southern parts of the Central zone (Figs. 2A, 4,
alkaline hornblende and plagioclase-phyric basaltic andesite 5). The unit is characterized by large tabular orthoclase phe-
rocks (Figs. 3–5) that include both coherent and clastic facies. nocrysts and a secondary and smaller population of plagio-
Lithic volcanic conglomerate is dominated by basaltic an- clase phenocrysts in a coarse-grained groundmass of feldspar,
desite clasts, but also contains sparse orthoclase-phyric and biotite, hornblende, and magnetite (Fig. 6G).
granitic clasts in a fine-grained matrix. Subalkaline to alkaline Orthoclase-phyric monzonites are the youngest intrusive
augite-phyric basaltic rocks conformably overlie the horn- units, and are localized in the South gold lens, where they
blende-phyric volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. Subvolcanic have crosscut megacrystic orthoclase and plagioclase-phyric
intrusions dominate, but volcanic conglomerates were also monzonite (Figs. 5C, 6H). These monzonites are character-
recognized locally (Fig. 6B). ized by a fine- to medium-grained groundmass of dominantly
Pseudoleucite-phyric trachyte and derivative clastic rocks are plagioclase, biotite, and magnetite. Locally, the monzonite in-
volumetrically the most significant component of the Stuhini trusions contain abundant orthoclase-phyric syenite xenoliths
Group at Galore Creek (Figs. 4, 5), and host most of the Cu and (Fig. 6H). Texturally, they are similar to but finer grained than
Au. The trachytic rocks, which conformably overlie the mafic the megacrystic orthoclase and plagioclase-phyric mon-
volcanic rocks, include volcanogenic siltstones, sandstones, zonites, and may be genetically related.
conglomerates, and breccias. Syenitic intrusions have crosscut Mortensen et al. (1995) provided chronological constraints
the trachyte-derived clastic rocks. Extensive hydrothermal al- on the Central zone intrusive complex. They reported a U-Pb
teration generally masked the primary mineralogy of the tra- zircon age of 210.0 ± 1 Ma for the orthoclase and
chyte; however, pseudoleucite phenocrysts are diagnostic pseudoleucite-phyric syenites. The megacrystic orthoclase
(Fig. 6C). Fluidal-shaped clasts in a sedimentary matrix imply and plagioclase-phyric monzonite yielded a 205.0 ± 2.3 Ma
that these lavas or sills were emplaced into unconsolidated age for zircon and a 205.0 ± 1.8 Ma titanite-K-feldspar U-Pb
sediments at the time of magmatism (McPhie et al., 1993). isochron age. Titanite from the same rock unit gave a U-Pb
Orthoclase-phyric trachyte and associated syenite intrusions age of 200.0 ± 1.2 Ma, which may reflect resetting of the iso-
in the North gold lens and South gold lens (Figs. 4, 5) com- topic system due to late-stage intrusive activity. The lowest in-
prise flow-oriented, tabular orthoclase phenocrysts in a gray, ferred Pb retention temperature for titanite is ~500°C (Cher-
fine-grained to aphanitic orthoclase groundmass (Fig. 6D). niak, 1993; Frost et al., 2000; Schoene and Bowring, 2007). A
Multiple intrusive phases were associated with the hydro- late-stage intrusion that crosscut mineralization in the Central
thermal alteration and mineralization throughout the Galore zone has a titanite-K-feldspar U-Pb isochron age of 197.2 ±
Creek district (Barr et al., 1976; Lang et al., 1995a). The tab- 1.2 Ma (Mortensen et al., 1995). Based on these findings, at
ular-shaped intrusions strike north-northwest and dip 45° to least three ages of intrusive activity occurred, with a mini-
60° west-southwest. The intrusions in the Central zone gen- mum timeframe for intrusive and associated hydrothermal
erally appear subparallel to the stratigraphy in the E-oriented activity from 205.0 ± 2.3 to 197.2 ± 1.2 Ma.
sections (Fig. 4), but at high angles to stratigraphy in the N-
oriented long section (Fig. 5). Fringing the Central zone on Breccias
the west and forming the host rock to the Southwest zone Four breccia bodies have been identified in the Central
mineralization is a megacrystic orthoclase and plagioclase- zone. The smallest breccia body, located in the center of the
phyric composite monzonite stock (Fig. 2A; Byrne et al., South gold lens (Fig. 4C), is a polymictic matrix-rich breccia
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 895

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
896 MICKO ET AL.
A 350850E B
351450E
352000E
351750E
351150E
350700E
351000E
351300E
351600E
34
-07 1
900m 06 50 58 900m
8
-0 -05 549 73
3
73
C 4 68
73
92
G
C0 05 -0 05
32
C0 -0 8
-0
G 4-0 684
7
05
05 497
G 5 48
5-
-0
04
7
53
1
G GC 05
06
2
07
61
-
72
70
06
0
70
C0 0
05
4-
-0
C
GC
G 04-
6-
-0
C
-0
-0
C0
-0
05
GC
G G C
05
C0
06
05
C
G
G
C
G
C
G
G
C
C
G
G
600m
600m
300m
300m
Section 6335550 Section 6335100

0m 0m
300m 300m
C Quaternary
Overburden, glacial till
350700E
351000E
351300E
350400E
Upper Triassic rocks of the Stuhini Group

Felsic syenite
Intermediate monzodiorite
5
49 Mafic diorite
-0 36
7
5
1
06 447
0 63
44
72
900m 4-
03 7
-0 8
C -0
0
06 044
0
-0
5-
GC 4-0
Plagioclase-phyric monzodiorite
72
GC
G 06
C0
GC 04-
C
0
G
GC
G Polymictic, diopside-magnetite-biotite-cemented breccia

GC
Orthoclase-phyric monzonite
Megacrystic orthoclase and plagioclase-phyric monzonite
Polymictic, garnet-diopside-cemented breccia
600m Orthoclase (and pseudoleucite)-phyric syenite
Polymictic, matrix-rich breccia
Pseudoleucite-phyric syenite
Orthoclase-phyric trachyte
Pseudoleucite-phyric trachyte derived volcaniclastic rocks,
300m siltstone, sandstones and conglomerate
South Fault Augite-phyric basalt
Hornblende and plagioclase-phyric basaltic andesite
Section 6334100 Monomictic siltstone to sandstone or altered chert
300m
Fault line *45-60°W*

Diamond drill-hole trace
FIG. 4. Distribution of rocks in A) the North gold lens (section 6335550), B) the Central replacement zone (section
6335100), and C) the South gold lens (section 6334100). Section location is in Figure 2A.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 896

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
6334500N
6333500N
6335500N
6334000N
6335000N
6336000N
1000m
South Gold Lens Central Replacement Zone North Gold Lens
500m
0m
Section 351000
500m
Quaternary
Pseudoleucite-phyric syenite
Overburden, glacial till
Pseudoleucite-phyric trachyte derived volcaniclastic rocks,
siltstone, sandstones and conglomerate
Upper Triassic rocks of the Stuhini Group
Augite-phyric basalt
Orthoclase-phyric monzonite Hornblende and plagioclase-phyric basaltic andesite
Megacrystic orthoclase and plagioclase-phyric monzonite Monomictic siltstone to sandstone or altered chert
Polymictic, hydrothermal breccia body (Bountiful zone)
Polymictic, garnet-diopside-cemented breccia Fault line *45-60°W*
Orthoclase (and pseudoleucite)-phyric syenite Diamond drill-hole trace
Orthoclase-phyric trachyte Contact relationship unknown
FIG. 5. Distribution of rocks along a vertical N-oriented long section (351000) through the three mineralized zones com-
posing the Central zone. Section location is in Figure 2A.
characterized by subangular to subrounded clasts of ortho- be juvenile magmatic clasts, and were most likely sourced
clase and pseudoleucite-phyric syenite and volcanogenic sed- from a magma associated with brecciation (e.g., Davies et al.,
imentary rock (60%) in a sand- to granule-sized matrix (Fig. 2008). The garnet-cemented breccia is internally zoned with
6I). The overall shape and orientation of this breccia body has a more polymictic, finer-grained core and a monomictic jig-
not been defined by drilling. saw-fit facies on the eastern and upper margins.
The western portions of the North gold lens, Central re- The breccias of the North gold lens and South gold lens are
placement zone, and South gold lens contain three texturally polymictic, pyroxene-biotite-magnetite-anhydrite–cemented
similar but compositionally distinct hydrothermally cemented bodies (Figs. 4A, 5). Clast types include pseudoleucite-phyric
breccia bodies. These breccia bodies have inclined, pipe-like trachyte, orthoclase and pseudoleucite-phyric syenites, ortho-
geometry and consist of variable proportions of clast, matrix, clase-phyric syenite, augite-phyric basalt, and igneous-
and cement. A polymictic garnet-biotite-anhydrite–cemented cemented breccia (Davies et al., 2008). The breccia body in
breccia occurs in the western portion of the Central replace- the North gold lens is internally zoned with a more polymic-
ment zone and is the largest of the breccia bodies (Figs. 4, 5). tic, finer-grained core and monomictic jigsaw-fit facies along
Clast types are pseudoleucite-phyric trachyte, volcaniclastic the margins, whereas the South gold lens breccia is composed
rocks, and orthoclase- and pseudoleucite-phyric syenites. In of angular and jigsaw-fit clasts only (Fig. 6J). The shape and
the deep western portion of this garnet-cemented breccia, size of both breccia bodies in the west are undefined by
black aphanitic clasts with wispy margins are interpreted to drilling.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 897

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
898 MICKO ET AL.
A B
Aug
Bn
Gar
Cp
2cm 2cm
C D
Cp
Bio
Ps
Py +Cp 2cm 2cm
E F
Gar + Cp Bio
Ps
3cm 2cm
G H
Gar
3cm 1cm
I J Diop
Cut off
or-crystal Gar
Epi
Anh
2cm 3cm
FIG. 6. Late Triassic Stuhini Group and intrusive units in the Central zone. A) Lower to Middle Triassic phyllite and rib-
bon chert with disseminated bornite and chalcopyrite distributed along bedding planes. GC06-0734 (795.00 m), North gold
lens. B) Augite-phyric basaltic conglomerate. GC05-0702 (205.33 m), North gold lens. C) Fluidally shaped pseudoleucite-
phyric clasts in volcaniclastic sandstone (peperite); pseudoleucite phenocrysts are locally replaced by biotite, chalcopyrite,
and pyrite. GC04-0448 (537.50 m), South gold lens. D) Orthoclase-phyric trachyte (subvolcanic intrusion). GC05-0734
(590.00 m), North gold lens. E) Orthoclase and pseudoleucite-phyric syenite crosscut by a garnet and chalcopyrite vein.
GC06-0732 (297.36 m). F) Orthoclase-phyric syenite. GC03-0441 (319.13 m), South gold lens. G) Megacrystic orthoclase
and plagioclase-phyric monzonite locally replaced by late garnet. GC05-0537 (395.45 m), North gold lens. H) Orthoclase-
phyric monzonite crosscut by microfractures with orthoclase selvages. GC06-0721 (277.70 m). South gold lens. I) Polymic-
tic mud matrix breccia (South gold lens). GC04-0448 (275.00 m). J) Polymictic, pyroxene-anhydrite–cemented breccia
(South gold lens). GC06-0721 (158.60 m). Mineral abbreviations: anh = anhydrite, aug = augite, bio = biotite, bn = bornite,
cp = chalcopyrite, diop = diopside, epi = epidote, gar = garnet, or = orthoclase, ps = pseudoleucite, py = pyrite.
Hydrothermal Alteration characteristic mineralogy, texture, and crosscutting relation-

ships of each alteration assemblage observed at Galore Creek
Hydrothermal minerals identified in the Central zone are are described below in order from oldest to youngest. The
grouped into five main assemblages (Table 1) in accordance complex alteration history and the spatial overlap of individ-
with alteration types defined by Lowell and Guilbert (1970), ual alteration and mineralized zones prohibit the construction
Titley (1982), Seedorff et al. (2005), and Sillitoe (2010). The of maps that show the distribution of individual alteration
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 898

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
TABLE 1. Hydrothermal Alteration Assemblages Observed in Creek. These were followed by a number of additional, spa-
the Central Zone tially discrete potassic alteration events that overprinted older
Alteration assemblages.
assemblage Dominant minerals Subordinate minerals The earliest main-stage hydrothermal event formed potas-
sic alteration assemblage (stage 2a) that occurs in the west
Potassic Orthoclase, biotite, Anhydrite, apatite and center of the Central zone (Figs. 7, 8B-D, 9A, B). This
magnetite, hematite
texturally destructive, pervasive alteration assemblage is char-
Calcic Garnet, pyroxene Anhydrite, titanite, rutile, acterized by light gray to pink (hematite-dusted) orthoclase,
apatite, barite, celestite coarse black biotite, disseminated magnetite, specular hematite,
Sodic Albite anhydrite, and apatite. It is associated with veins that have the
Phyllic or SAC1 Sericite, anhydrite, Pyrite same mineralogy (Fig. 8B-D). Where present, disseminated
calcite chalcopyrite and bornite have partially replaced biotite and
Propylitic Epidote, chlorite Anhydrite, pyrite, siderite, magnetite. Bornite has also replaced specular hematite. A
ankerite common observation of main-stage and later mineralization
features is that sulfides appear to form last in the precipita-
Note: Both dominant and subordinate minerals were defined on the basis tion sequence. The replacement of biotite or magnetite by
of macroscopic and microscopic observations backed up by the scanning chalcopyrite is a particularly common feature that has also
electron microscope and the electron microprobe
1SAC = sericite-anhydrite-calcite; SAC is a field term used by the local been documented at the Lorraine alkalic Cu-Au porphyry de-
exploration team at Galore Creek posit (Fig. 8B; Bath et al., 2014). The potassic assemblage has
affected the pseudoleucite-phyric syenites (Fig. 8C), but did
not alter the orthoclase- and pseudoleucite-phyric syenites,
implying that the later intrusions and brecciation postdate the
substages. Thus, composite sections have been created that earliest main-stage alteration event (2a).
show only the principal alteration assemblages (Table 1), sul- Main-stage calc-potassic alteration (2b) is spatially associ-
fide minerals, and Cu-Au distribution. ated with the breccia bodies in the Central zone and mineral-
ized fractures in the immediate wall rocks, which have calc-
Summary of the Hydrothermal Paragenesis potassic infill (Figs. 5, 7, 9A-C). The calc-potassic alteration
Five hydrothermal alteration assemblages have overprinted stage is separated into two closely associated, but distinct,
the host supracrustal rocks and some of the intrusive rocks. substages. The earlier assemblage (stage 2b_1) is composed
Crosscutting relationships, textural characteristics, and rela- of garnet, diopside, and anhydrite (Figs. 8A, C, 9A-C). Gar-
tionship to intrusive units have been used to establish a para- net and pyroxene occur as fine crystalline aggregates or well-
genetic sequence that is divided into early, main, and late developed, oscillatory-zoned crystals. The overprinting as-
stages, each with several distinguishable substages (Fig. 7). semblage is characterized by abundant, large crystals of
Each substage was intrinsically associated with a particular in- biotite, magnetite, and rare orthoclase (stage 2b_2) that lo-
trusive or brecciation event that ultimately controlled the spa- cally replaced diopside and garnet. A second mineralization
tial extent and distribution of the associated alteration and event that introduced chalcopyrite and minor bornite is asso-
mineralization assemblage. The distribution and intensity of ciated with substage 2b_2. The sulfides preferentially re-
the alteration and sulfide mineral assemblages vary between placed biotite and magnetite, and also formed the youngest
the mineralized centers, yet a similar sequence of events has hydrothermal cement in the breccia bodies and, to a lesser ex-
been recognized for all of them, as summarized in Figure 7. tent, infilled the fractured margins. In the North gold lens
and Central replacement zone the calc-potassic alteration as-
Hydrothermal Paragenesis semblages have overprinted the supracrustal rocks and the
orthoclase- and pseudoleucite-phyric syenites that were al-
Early-stage alteration tered during earlier events (Fig. 8C).
Early-stage potassic alteration (stage 1) is rarely observed in Several more barren potassic alteration events occurred in
the core of the Central zone. It is most easily recognized in the Central zone after the cessation of the calc-potassic stage
the easternmost portion of the North gold lens, where (2b; Fig. 7). In the North gold lens distinct, pegmatite-like
younger alteration assemblages are only weakly developed. veins of coarse crystalline orthoclase and biotite (stage 2c)
Orthoclase and black, fine-grained, shreddy biotite are either have crosscut previous alteration assemblages (Fig. 8E).
pervasively developed or form selvages to irregularly oriented The minor unmineralized potassic stage (2c) was crosscut
microfractures (Figs. 7, 8A). No sulfides have been observed by megacrystic orthoclase and plagioclase-phyric intrusions
in this assemblage. Early-stage potassic alteration is distin- that introduced yet another potassic alteration assemblage
guished from main-stage potassic alteration by the lack of (2d) that consists of orthoclase (locally hematite dusted), bi-
hematite dusting in orthoclase and the preservation of pri- otite, magnetite, anhydrite, trace chalcopyrite, and pyrite.
mary textures. Stage 2d is distributed throughout the Central zone (Fig. 8F).
An orthoclase and plagioclase-phyric monzonite intruded the
Main-stage alteration South gold lens (Figs. 5, 10), crosscutting all previous intru-
Main-stage alteration is separated here into an early potas- sions. The monzonite was altered by a locally pervasive potas-
sic and a later calc-potassic event. Both events introduced sic assemblage (stage 3a) of orthoclase, biotite, magnetite, an-
economically significant Cu-Au mineralization at Galore hydrite, and trace pyrite (Figs. 7, 11A). The orthoclase-phyric
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 899

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
900 MICKO ET AL.
North Gold Lens & South Gold Lens

Central Replacement Zone
Stage Rock Alteration Rock Alteration Events
units mineralogy units mineralogy
4d Propylitic Epidote ± chlorite Epidote ± chlorite

± anhydrite ± pyrite ± siderite or ankerite
± anhydrite ± pyrite
4c Phyllic (sericite- Sericite + anhydrite Sericite + anhydrite

Late
anhydrite- + calcite + calcite

calcite)
4b Calcic Garnet Garnet Sodic alteration is localized

along a fault within
in the SGL; may have
4a Sodic n/a Albite ± specular introduced additional sulfides
hematite (bornite and chalcopyrite)
3c Potassic n/a Orthoclase, biotite Third, minor

± chalcopyrite mineralization stage
(bornite and chalcopyrite);
3b Potassic n/a Biotite, magnetite, recognized exclusively
± anhydrite ± bornite in the SGL
+ ± chalcopyrite
Polymictic, magnetite ±
Calcic n/a Diopside ± anhydrite biotite ± diopside cemented
± titanite ± rutile hydrothermal breccia
3a Potassic n/a Orthoclase, biotite

± magnetite ± anhydrite
± pyrite
Main
2d Potassic Orthoclase, biotite Orthoclase, biotite Megacrystic ortho and

± magnetite ± anhydrite ± magnetite ± anhydrite plag-phyric monzonite =
± chalcopyrite ± pyrite ± chalcopyrite ± pyrite onset of the postmineral
activity in the NGL & CRZ
2c Potassic Orthoclase, biotite n/a
2b Potassic Biotite ± magnetite n/a Second, minor

± orthoclase ± anhydrite mineralization stage
+ ± chalcopyrite ± bornite (chalcopyrite and pyrite)
Calcic Diopside, garnet n/a Polymictic, garnet ± biotite

± anhydrite ± titanite ± anhydrite cemented
± rutile ± celestite hydrothermal breccia;
± barite ± apatite contains juvenile
clasts of unknown origin
2a Potassic Orthoclase, biotite Orthoclase, biotite, Earliest and main

± magnetite ± specular ± magnetite ± specular mineralization stage
hematite ± anhydrite hematite ± anhydrite (bornite and chalcopyrite);
± apatite ± bornite ± apatite ± bornite causative intrusion
± chalcopyrite ± chalcopyrite is unknown
Early
1 Potassic Orthoclase, biotite Orthoclase, biotite First intrusive activity

associated with early stages
of the hydrothermal system
Legend
Orthoclase- and pseudoleucite-phyric Orthoclase-phyric monzonite Polymictic, magnetite-biotite-diopside
syenite cemented hydrothermal breccia
Polymictic,orthoclase-phyric trachyte Megacrystic orthoclase and plagio- Polymictic, orthoclase-phyric

cemented breccia clase-phyric monzonite monzonite cemented breccia
Orthoclase-phyric trachyte Orthoclase-phyric syenite

Lithological units shown
from oldest to youngest
Pseudoleucite-phyric trachyte derived Polymictic, garnet-biotite-anhydrite
rock units cemented hydrothermal breccia
FIG. 7. Paragenetic summary of hydrothermal alteration and mineralization events within the three mineralized centers
of the Central zone. Note that the timing and intensity of events vary between the three centers. Abbreviations: CRZ = Cen-
tral replacement zone, NGL = North gold lens, plag = plagioclase, SGL = South gold lens.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 900

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
A B Bio+cp-veins
and repl.(pot 2a)
Or-veins
(pot 1) ps-pheno
Gar-vein (calc 2b) 2cm 2cm
C Bio+or+cp-repl. D Or+bio-vein.
clast (pot 2a) and repl. (pot 2a) Or+bio-
repl.
Gar+bio+anh- (pot 1)
cement (calc-pot 2b) ps-pheno Or+bio-
2cm vein (pot 2c) 2cm
E F
Or+bio+anh-
Or+bio+anh
vein (pot 2c)
vein and repl
Diop+bio+mag (pot 2d)
repl. (calc-pot 2b) 2cm 2cm
FIG. 8. Hydrothermal alteration assemblages and associated textures in the Central zone with focus on the early stage (1)
and main stage (2). Galore Creek is a silica-undersaturated magmatic-hydrothermal system that lacks quartz veins and stock-
works. The figure highlights crosscutting relationships between individual alteration assemblages. Several alteration stages,
however, have in part been defined on the basis of crosscutting and timing relationships between the rock units, i.e., intru-
sions and breccias, in which they occur. The presence or absence of a specific alteration assemblage in one unit provides a
relative paragenetic sequence despite the lack of distinct overprinting relationships. A) Fresh orthoclase-phyric trachyte
crosscut by orthoclase-bearing veins of the early potassic event (stage 1). GC05-0568 (179.50 m), North gold lens. B)
Pseudoleucite-phyric syenite pervasively altered by orthoclase of the early potassic event (stage 1), crosscut by biotite- and
chalcopyrite-bearing veins of the main potassic event (stage 2a). Pseudoleucite phenocrysts are replaced by biotite and fi-
nally by chalcopyrite, preserving the original crystal shape. GC05-0514 (238.50 m), North gold lens. C) Central replacement
zone breccia: Pseudoleucite-phyric syenite-derived clast pervasively altered by the early (stage 1) and main potassic event
(stage 2a), cemented by garnet, biotite, and anhydrite of the main calc-potassic event (stage 2b). GC06-0732 (294.00 m),
Central replacement zone. D) Orthoclase-phyric trachyte replaced by texturally nondestructive orthoclase of the early potas-
sic event (stage 1), overprinted by orthoclase- and biotite-bearing alteration of the main potassic event (2a), crosscut by
coarse, pegmatitic orthoclase- and biotite-bearing vein of the late potassic event (stage 2c). GC06-0734 (363.70 m), North
gold lens. E) Hornblende and plagioclase-phyric basaltic andesite replaced by finely disseminated diopside, biotite, and mag-
netite of the main calc-potassic event (stage 2b), crosscut by coarse, pegmatitic orthoclase-, biotite-, and anhydrite-bearing
vein of the late potassic event (stage 2c). GC06-0734 (314.00 m), North gold lens. F) Megacrystic orthoclase and plagioclase-
phyric monzonite is crosscut and pervasively altered by texturally destructive orthoclase of the late potassic event (stage 2d).
GC05-0637 (469.00 m), South gold lens. Mineral abbreviations: anh = anhydrite; bio = biotite; calc, calc-pot = calc-potassic;
cp = chalcopyrite; diop = diopside; gar = garnet; mag = magnetite; or = orthoclase; pheno = phenocryst; pot = potassic; ps =
pseudoleucite; repl = replacement.
monzonites were subsequently affected by hydrothermal brec- bodies is difficult, especially where no veins or alteration
ciation in the west of the South gold lens (Fig. 10). This brec- fronts are visible.
ciation event was intrinsically associated with a calc-potassic
assemblage (stage 3b; Figs. 7, 11A, B). Stage 3b is separated Late-stage alteration
into two closely associated but distinct substages. The earlier Late-stage alteration can be separated into four individual
assemblage is composed of diopside, anhydrite, titanite, and substages that have crosscut or overprinted all main-stage al-
rutile (stage 3b_1), whereas the overprinting assemblage is teration assemblages. Sodic alteration (stage 4a) was the ear-
characterized by coarse crystals of biotite and magnetite (stage liest formed and is spatially confined within 50 m of the South
3b_2). A third mineralization event that introduced chalcopy- fault in the South gold lens (Fig. 10D). Stage 4a is dominated
rite and minor bornite is associated with substage 3b_2. by texturally destructive albite (Figs. 7, 11C). Chalcopyrite and
After the cessation of hydrothermal brecciation and associ- bornite form large clusters within the shallow central portion
ated calc-potassic alteration in the South gold lens, a final of the sodic-altered area; however, it is unclear whether the
potassic alteration event (stage 3c) occurred (Fig. 7). Stage 3c sulfides were introduced during the early main-stage potassic
is associated with a pervasive alteration assemblage of white- event and recrystallized during sodic alteration, or whether
to pale pink-colored orthoclase, fine-grained (shreddy) to the sodic alteration event added new sulfides to the system.
coarse crystalline biotite, grains of magnetite, and, in very few A late-stage calcic assemblage (stage 4b) is spatially re-
cases, coarse hydrothermal titanite, and trace chalcopyrite stricted to the eastern portion of the Central zone, where it
and pyrite (Fig. 11B). Locally, this mineral and sulfide assem- has preferentially overprinted late monzonites and mafic vol-
blage infilled veins. canic units (Figs. 5, 7, 9C). Red-brown garnet occurs as round
Due to the mineralogical similarities of each potassic alter- clots (0.5–1cm) referred to locally as “oatmeal” texture (Fig.
ation assemblage, distinguishing them outside of the intrusive 11D), and in irregularly oriented microveinlets.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 901

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
by Willy Lopez
902
on 04 June 2019
A B
6334500N
6334500N
6333500N
6333500N
6335500N
6335500N
6334000N
6335000N
6336000N
6334000N
6335000N
6336000N
1000m
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
500m
0m
500m 500m
Potassic alteration assemblage (1) Potassic alteration assemblage (2)
>30% orthoclase >10% orthoclase >30% biotite >10% biotite
>20% orthoclase > 5% orthoclase >20% biotite < 5% magnetite
C D
1000m
902
MICKO ET AL.

500m
0m
500m 500m
Calcic alteration assemblage Phyllic (sericite-anhydrite-calcite), propylitic and sodic alteration

>30% garnet >20% diopside Phyllic (sericite-anhydrite-calcite) Propylitic
> 5% calcite > 5% epidote
>10% garnet > 5% diopside
> 5% sericite (+anhydrite) > 5% chlorite
> 5% garnet (late stage garnet)
FIG. 9. Distribution of alteration mineral assemblages in the Central zone along the vertical long section 351000. View represents an oblique cut through the east-
ward tilted hydrothermal systems. A) Orthoclase and specular hematite distribution. B) Biotite and magnetite distribution. C) Calcic alteration. D) Phyllic or sericite-
anhydrite-calcite, and propylitic alteration assemblages. Data for the completion of this long section beyond the individually logged zones was derived from the GCMC
database.
Late-stage phyllic or sericite-anhydrite-calcite alteration microfractures in the garnets formed during late-stage calcic
(stage 4c) occurs in the western and eastern portion of the alteration (4c).
Central zone (Figs. 7, 9D, 11E, F,) and is spatially associated Late-stage propylitic alteration (4d) has overprinted calcic
with monzonites. The assemblage is composed of sericite, an- and phyllic alteration assemblages (Figs. 7, 11F). It is composed
hydrite, and carbonate. Pale green sericite has commonly re- of chlorite, epidote, and pyrite. Chlorite is particularly abun-
placed plagioclase phenocrysts of the megacrystic mon- dant in mafic volcanic rocks and megacrystic monzonites,
zonites. Small (mm-sized) veinlets of calcite and anhydrite where it replaced biotite and hornblende (Fig. 11F). Minor
that crosscut the host rock (Fig. 11F) and have infilled epidote has preferentially replaced plagioclase and garnet.
A B
350700E
350700E
351000E
351000E
351300E
351300E
350400E
350400E
900m 900m
600m 600m
300m 300m
>30% orthoclase (strongly hematite- >30% biotite
Section 6334100 dusted) and specular hematite Section 6334100
>20% biotite
300m 300m
>20% orthoclase (lightly hematite-
dusted) and specular hematite >10% biotite
>10% orthoclase (typically white) and < 5% magnetite

little specular hematite
> 5% orthoclase (lightly hematite-

dusted), typically no specular hematite
C D
900m 900m
600m 600m
300m 300m
Calcic alteration assemblage Phyllic (sericite-anhydrite-calcite), sodic and
>30% garnet propylitic alteration assemblages
Phyllic/sericite-anhydrite-calcite Sodic
>10% garnet > 5% calcite > 5% albite
> 5% garnet (late stage garnet) > 5% sericite (+anhydrite)
>20% diopside Propylitic

> 5% epidote
> 5% diopside
> 5% chlorite
FIG. 10. Distribution maps of the five alteration types and associated assemblages in the South gold lens along section
6334100 (Fig. 2A). Only the dominant minerals are shown. Geology in Fig. 4A is shown as gray lines for reference. A) Ortho-
clase and specular hematite distribution. B) Biotite and magnetite distribution. C) Calcic alteration. D) Sodic, phyllic, or
sericite-anhydrite-calcite, and propylitic alteration assemblages. E) Metal zonation based on the distribution of copper
(>0.5–1.5% Cu) and gold (>1.0–2.0 g/t Au). Evidence for the deeper Bountiful zone is present in the deeper eastern parts
of the section. F) Potassic, calcic, and propylitic alteration assemblages and sulfide distribution.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 903

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
904 MICKO ET AL.
E F
900m 900m
bn>cp
cp>bn cp>py
600m 600m py>cp
cp>py
cp>bn
300m 300m
Metal zonation in the South Gold Lens Alteration assemblages and sulfide distribution
> 2.0 g/t Au (bn > cp) bn > cp Potassic alteration assemblage (orthoclase,
cp > bn specular hematite, biotite, magnetite)
> 1.0 g/t Au (bn = cp) cp > py
Calcic alteration assemblage (garnet, diopside)
> 1.5% Cu (cp >py)
Propylitic (epidote, chlorite) and phyllic (sericite-
> 0.5% Cu (py > cp) anhydrite-calcite) alteration assemblages
FIG. 10. (Cont.)
A Diop+anh- B Mag+bio+cp-
cement cemented bx
(calc 3b) Or-repl- (pot 3b)
Sid-vein
front (pro 4d)
Or-repl
(pot 3c)
(pot 3a) 1cm 2cm
C Alb-repl D Gar-repl
(sod 4a) (calc 4b)
Cp+bn Or+bio+repl
(stage unknown) (pot 2d) 2cm
1cm
E F Calc-ser-vein
Or-repl Chl (pro 4d) (SAC 4c)
Ser (mus+fuch)
(SAC 4c)
1cm 1cm
FIG. 11. Hydrothermal alteration assemblages and associated textures in the Central zone with focus on the main (3) and
late stages (4). A) South gold lens breccia: Orthoclase-phyric monzonite clasts pervasively altered by texturally nondestruc-
tive orthoclase and minor biotite of the main potassic event (pot 3a) and cemented by diopside and anhydrite of the main
calc-potassic event (calc 3b). GC05-0637 (158.60 m), South gold lens. B) South gold lens breccia cemented by alteration as-
semblages of the main calc-potassic event (pot 3b), overprinted by pervasive, texturally destructive orthoclase of the late
potassic event (pot 3c), and crosscut by thin, siderite-filled veins of the late propylitic event (pro 4d). GC05-0637 (216.15 m),
South gold lens. C) Orthoclase-phyric syenite replaced by texturally destructive late sodic assemblage (sod 4a). Chalcopyrite
and bornite may have been deposited prior to or during sodic alteration. GC06-0721 (447.40 m), South gold lens. D)
Megacrystic orthoclase and plagioclase-phyric monzonite pervasively altered by texturally nondestructive orthoclase and bi-
otite of the late potassic event (pot 2d) as well as small accumulations of garnet of the late calcic event (calc 4b). GC05-0637
(395.45 m), South gold lens. E) Strongly altered host rock in the vicinity of the South fault, texturally obliterated by coarse
crystalline orthoclase and overprinted by sericite that is composed of white muscovite and fuchsite associated with the late
phyllic event (SAC 4c). GC05-0637 (398.40 m), South gold lens. F) Augite-phyric basalt crosscut by sericite and calcite veins
of late phyllic event (SAC 4c) and overprinted by pervasive chlorite alteration of the late propylitic event (pro 4d). GC05-
0702 (267.10 m), North gold lens. Abbreviations: alb = albite, an = anhydrite, bio = biotite, bn = bornite, bx = breccia, chl =
chlorite, cp = chalcopyrite, diop = diopside, fuch = fuchsite, gar = garnet, mag = magnetite, mus = muscovite, or = ortho-
clase, repl = replacement, ser = sericite, sid = siderite.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 904

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
Pyrite occurs as large, disseminated cubes (0.2–0.7 cm) that the North gold lens the core of the orebody is defined by a
have replaced biotite or magnetite, and in 0.5- to 1-cm-wide, roughly ellipsoidal shell of Cu (>0.5–1.5% Cu) and Au
irregularly distributed veins that have crosscut all previous al- (>1.0–2.0 g/t Au; Figs. 12A, 13E). The ore shell is 350 m wide
teration assemblages. and 500 m in length on the section plane (Fig. 13E), parallel
to the apparent dip of the supracrustal host rocks and intru-
Sulfide mineral zonation sions. The copper- and gold-rich core of the mineralized shell
Each ore zone in the Central zone is characterized by dis- is characterized by bornite + chalcopyrite, flanked by a me-
tinctive metal and sulfide distribution or zonation patterns. In dial chalcopyrite domain that passes outward to a chalcopyrite
6334500N
6333500N
6335500N
6334000N
6335000N
6336000N
1000m
500m
0m
Section 351000
Metal zonation in the North Gold Lens 500m
< 2.0 g/t Au (bn > cp) > 1.5% Cu (cp >py)
< 1.0 g/t Au (bn = cp) > 0.5% Cu (py > cp)
B 1000m
cp>bn
py>cp
500m py>cp
bn>cp
cp>
bn
0m
Section 351000
Alteration assemblages and sulfide distribution 500m
Potassic alteration assemblage Propylitic (epidote and chlorite) and bn > cp

(includes orthoclase, specular phyllic (sericite-anhydrite-calcite cp > bn
hematite, biotite, magnetite) alteration) alteration assemblages
cp > py
Calcic alteration assemblage (garnet,
diopside)
FIG. 12. A) Metal zonation and B) sulfide and alteration assemblage distribution of the Central zone along the vertical
long section 351000. View represents an oblique cut through the eastward-tilted hydrothermal systems.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 905

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
906 MICKO ET AL.
A 350850E B
350850E
351450E
352000E
351450E
351750E
352000E
351750E
351150E
351150E
900m 900m
600m 600m
300m Section 6335550 300m

Section 6335500
300m 300m
>30% orthoclase (strongly hematite- >30% biotite
dusted) and specular hematite
>20% biotite
0m 0m
>20% orthoclase (lightly hematite-dusted)
and specular hematite >10% biotite
>10% orthoclase (typically white) and little < 5% magnetite

specular hematite
> 5% orthoclase (lightly hematite-dusted),

typically no specular hematite
C D
900m 900m
600m 600m
300m 300m
Calcic alteration assemblage Phyllic (sericite-anhydrite-calcite)

and propylitic alteration assemblages
>30% garnet
Phyllic (sericite-anhydrite-calcite)
>10% garnet > 5% calcite
0m 0m

> 5% epidote
> 5% diopside
> 5% chlorite
FIG. 13. Spatial distribution of the four alteration types and associated assemblages in the North gold lens along section
6335550 (Fig. 2A). Only the dominant minerals are shown. Geology in Fig. 4A is shown as gray lines for reference. A) Or-
thoclase and specular hematite distribution. B) Biotite and magnetite distribution. C) Calcic alteration. D) Phyllic or sericite-
anhydrite-calcite, and propylitic alteration assemblages. E) Metal zonation based on the distribution of copper (>0.5–1.5%
Cu) and gold (>1.0–2.0 g/t Au). F) Potassic, calcic, and propylitic alteration assemblages and sulfide distribution.
+ pyrite zone (Fig. 13F). The margins are dominated by in the North gold lens are recognized. Early disseminated
pyrite. Gold is principally associated with bornite, as is the bornite and chalcopyrite formed at the end of stage 2a and
case in many porphyry Cu-Au deposits (e.g., Kesler et al., contributed the bulk of the Cu and Au. The lower western ex-
2002; Seedorff et al., 2005). Two stages of sulfide precipitation tension of the ore shell correlates with the hydrothermal
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 906

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
E F
900m 900m
py>cp
cp>py cp>bn
600m 600m cp>py
py>cp
cp> bn>cp
py>cp bn
py>cp
300m 300m
Metal zonation in the North Gold Lens Alteration assemblages and sulfide
distribution
> 2.0 g/t Au (bn > cp)
cp>py Potassic alteration assemblage
> 1.0 g/t Au (bn = cp) (orthoclase, specular hematite,
0m 0m biotite, magnetite)
> 1.5% Cu (cp >py)
Calcic alteration assemblage
> 0.5% Cu (py > cp) (garnet, diopside)
bn > cp Propylitic (epidote and chlorite)
cp > bn and phyllic (sericite-anhydrite-
cp > py calcite) alteration assemblages
FIG. 13. (Cont.)
breccia body where a second generation of sulfides formed earlier event, it introduced most of the Cu in the Central re-
during stage 2b is related to the main-stage calc-potassic placement zone. The Cu (%)/Au (g/t) ratio of 5:1 differs
event (Figs. 4, 5, 13C). This sulfide event was subordinate to markedly from the 2:1 ratio characteristic of both the North
stage 2a. The overall Cu (%)/Au (g/t) ratio observed in the and South gold lenses.
North gold lens is 2:1 (Schwab et al., 2008). The South gold lens has a Cu-Au–enriched core, which ex-
A wedge-shaped, Cu-enriched, high-grade ore zone about tends to the west, across the South fault (Figs. 4, 10E). It is
300 m in width and 400 to 450 m in length defines the Cen- up to 300 m wide and about 300 m long. A 45° to 60° SW-dip-
tral replacement zone (Figs. 12A, 14E). The high-grade zone ping, orthoclase-phyric-sheeted monzonite dike complex
forms a westerly inclined wedge that parallels the 45° to 60° bounds the ore zone on the east. The overall orebody geo-
west-southwesterly dipping syenite intrusions and the in- metry is wedge shaped, with a westerly inclination similar to
ferred orientation of the hydrothermal breccia body. A poorly the North gold lens and Central replacement zone (Fig. 10F).
developed sulfide zonation characterizes the ore zone. Chal- The high-grade core of the South gold lens is dominated by
copyrite with accessory bornite defines restricted, high-grade bornite + chalcopyrite, and is localized east of the South fault
centers that are located near the upper eastern section of the (Figs. 4, 10F). A chalcopyrite shell surrounds the core and ex-
ore zone (Fig. 14F). Zones of higher Cu grade are sur- tends west across the South fault. Toward the east, a chal-
rounded by a chalcopyrite-dominated shell in the Central re- copyrite-pyrite shell grades into a pyrite-dominated periph-
placement zone core. Chalcopyrite and pyrite are the domi- eral zone. Toward the west, the chalcopyrite shell has been
nant sulfides outward from the high-grade centers, where a crosscut by a younger chalcopyrite + bornite assemblage as-
gradual transition occurs into a sulfide-poor peripheral zone. sociated with a hydrothermal breccia. Thus, as in the North
A pyrite shell is not evident, possibly due to limited drill core gold lens and the Central replacement zone, the high-grade
coverage. zone of the South gold lens is composite, interpreted to have
As in the North gold lens, sulfide deposition in the Central formed as a result of two mineralization events, with the older
replacement zone occurred in two stages, which combined to event (stage 2a) contributing the bulk of copper and gold to
form the ore shell (Figs. 14F). Early disseminated chalcopy- the South gold lens. The overall Cu (%)/Au (g/t) ratio is 2:1,
rite and subordinate bornite were deposited during the early comparable with the North gold lens.
main-stage 2a potassic event, contributing Cu and Au to the
shallow eastern part of the Central replacement zone. The Discussion
stage 2b hydrothermal breccia body then cut the early Cu- A model for the genesis of the Central zone deposit re-
and Au-rich shell. Chalcopyrite and pyrite that precipitated in quires the integration of the geologic architecture of all three
the calc-potassic stage were then concentrated on the central high-grade centers. Assessing any postmineral history that
and eastern margin of the breccia body, forming the lower, might affect the geometry of the centers is of particular im-
western extension of the composite ore shell. Although the portance as it impacts the exploration strategies in the Galore
second mineralizing event is spatially more restricted than the Creek district.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 907

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
908 MICKO ET AL.
A B
350700E
351000E
351300E
351600E
350700E
351000E
351300E
351600E
900m 900m

300m 300m
600m 600m
300m 300m

0m >30% orthoclase (strongly hematite- 0m >30% biotite
dusted) and specular hematite
>20% biotite
>20% orthoclase (lightly hematite-
dusted) and specular hematite >10% biotite
>10% orthoclase (typically white) and < 5% magnetite

little specular hematite
> 5% orthoclase (lightly hematite-

dusted), typically no specular hematite
C D
900m 900m
600m 600m
300m 300m
Calcic alteration assemblage Phyllic (sericite-anhydrite-calcite)

and propylitic alteration
>30% garnet
Phyllic (sericite-anhydriite-calcite)
0m >10% garnet 0m > 5% calcite

> 5% epidote
> 5% diopside
> 5% chlorite
FIG. 14. Distribution maps of the four alteration types and associated assemblages in the Central replacement zone along
section 6335100 (Fig. 2A). Only the dominant minerals are shown. Geology in Fig. 4A is shown as gray lines for reference.
A) Orthoclase and specular hematite distribution. B) Biotite and magnetite distribution. C) Calcic alteration. D) Phyllic or
sericite-anhydrite-calcite, and propylitic alteration assemblages. E) Metal zonation based on the distribution of copper
(>0.5–1.5% Cu) and gold (>1.0–2.0 g/t Au). F) Potassic, calcic, and propylitic alteration assemblages and sulfide distribution.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 908

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
E F
900m 900m
600m 600m cp>bn

pyrite only
bn>cp
cp>py
cp>py
300m 300m
py>cp
cp>py
cp>py
Metal zonation in the
Central replacement Zone Alteration assemblages and sulfide
py>cp distribution
> 2.0 g/t Au (bn > cp)
0m 0m Potassic alteration assemblage
> 1.0 g/t Au (bn = cp) (orthoclase, specular hematite, biotite,
magnetite)
> 1.5% Cu (cp > py)
bn > cp Calcic alteration assemblage (garnet,
> 0.5% Cu (py > cp) cp > bn diopside)
cp > py
Propylitic (epidote, chlorite) and phyllic
py > cp
(sericite-anhydrite-calcite) alteration
assemblages
FIG. 14. (Cont.)
Hydrothermal Evolution is interpreted to have resulted from the oxidation of ferrous

Widespread potassic alteration was related to most of the iron by hydrothermal fluids, leading to submicron-sized
Cu and Au deposition in the Central zone (Allen et al., 1976; hematite inclusions in secondary K-feldspar (Wilson et al.,
Enns et al., 1995; this study). In plan view, the potassic alter- 2007). Copper and Au coincide partly with the distribution of
the more oxidized, reddened rock units. Bornite introduced
ation zone forms an NE-elongated footprint that envelops the
during early main-stage potassic alteration has preferentially
three mineralized centers as well as the calcic alteration zones
replaced specular hematite that coincides with the reddened
(Fig. 2B). The intensely developed potassic alteration assem-
rock. The positive correlation between bornite abundance
blages and high Cu-Au grade centers correlate spatially with
and Au concentrations in the North and South gold lenses is
the porphyry intrusions, suggesting a genetic link between common in the cores of many porphyry Cu deposits (Gam-
the intrusions, alteration, and mineralization, as is common to mons and Williams-Jones, 1997; Kesler et al., 2002; Wilson et
porphyry deposits globally (Seedorff et al., 2005). al., 2003), as it reflects precipitation of auriferous Cu-Fe sul-
Potassic alteration is typically associated with the highest- fides at high temperature. Bornite can contain one order of
temperature (550°–350°C) hydrothermal fluids characterized magnitude more Au than coexisting chalcopyrite (Kesler et
by high aK+/aH+ exsolved from porphyry stocks and their under- al., 2002), but more Au is recovered from chalcopyrite-domi-
lying plutonic complex (Beane and Titley, 1981; Dilles et al., nated portions of porphyry Cu deposits, simply because of the
2000; Ulrich et al., 2001; Seedorff et al., 2005). In the case of greater abundances of sulfides (Sillitoe, 2000). High-grade
the Central zone, the alkalic silica-undersaturated syenites and Cu in the Central zone is related to the abundance of chal-
monzonites are inferred to be the source of fluids, although the copyrite. The chalcopyrite halo that surrounds the bornite-
genetic ties to any of the main complexes remain equivocal due rich cores is most prominent in the shallow portion of the Cen-
largely to the complexity of the Central zone and lack of geo- tral replacement zone where it envelops the hydrothermal
logic features that typically provide time markers in the por- breccia body and associated calcic alteration zone (Figs. 9, 12,
phyry environment. Nonetheless, within the potassic alteration 14). Here, chalcopyrite has commonly replaced hydrothermal
encompassing the Central zone at Galore Creek, the distribu- biotite and magnetite that formed during earlier potassic al-
tion and general abundances of sulfides were controlled by sev- teration and represent a more reduced mineral assemblage.
eral parameters, including the ferromagnesian mineral content The NE-elongated calcic alteration zone in plan view ap-
of the host rocks and the oxidation state of wall rocks and fluid. pears centered on the Central replacement zone hydrother-
The Central zone is partly characterized by wall-rock red- mal breccia body (Fig. 2B). It encompasses the deep portions
dening of the monzonite and syenite intrusions as well as the of the entire Central zone, but also extends north and south,
felsic volcanosedimentary rock units. The reddening is not ev- incorporating the breccia bodies of the North gold lens and
ident in the more reduced environment of the mafic-rich host the Bountiful zone (Fig. 2A). It parallels the westerly dip of
rocks that lack significant amounts of K-feldspar alteration. It the breccias, as well as the general orientation of the intrusive
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 909

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
910 MICKO ET AL.
rocks. Garnet occurs within or proximal to the core of the Cen- alteration is broadly analogous to phyllic alteration in por-
tral zone, whereas peripheral diopside and magnetite envelop phyry Cu-Mo systems, but with a variable component of car-
the northern, central, and southern margins of the breccia bod- bonate that suggests the fluid is buffered to higher pH condi-
ies. This zonation suggests a genetic link between calcic alter- tions (Titley and Beane, 1981; Lang et al., 1995a). In the case
ation, hydrothermal brecciation, and porphyry intrusions. It is of Galore Creek, much of the sericite-anhydrite-calcite alter-
comparable to the zonal patterns observed in porphyry Cu-re- ation zone has been removed by erosion.
lated skarns (Einaudi, 1982; Meinert, 1997). Garnet and pyrox-
ene stability suggests 700º to 400°C hydrothermal fluids, which Deformation of the Hydrothermal System
is consistent with the limited fluid inclusion data obtained from The hydrothermal alteration and sulfide zonation patterns
Galore Creek garnets (Lang et al., 1993; Dunne et al., 1994). imply that the ore zones are inclined at 45° to 60°, westerly in
The inferred temperature range is typical of that inferred for the North gold lens and southwesterly in the Central replace-
potassic fluids (e.g., Ulrich et al., 2000; Seedorff et al., 2005). In ment zone and South gold lens. The spatial distribution and ori-
the center of the calcic alteration zone, garnet is dominantly entation of rocks in the E-W cross sections (Fig. 4) suggest that
dark brown, whereas in the more marginal regions garnet is the hydrothermal system formed subparallel to the dip of the
dominantly pale beige. The color variations are interpreted to host stratigraphy and subparallel to dike and intrusive contacts.
relate to changes in composition from Ti-rich andradite to fer- However, surface geologic maps show that stratigraphy and in-
ric iron-rich andradite to grossular (Russell et al., 1999), and re- trusions are not subparallel, and that the megacrystic ortho-
flect the availability of ferric iron for substitution of aluminum clase-phyric monzonite intruded across bedding and strati-
within the oxidized core of the calcic alteration system. How- graphic units (Fig. 2A). Apophyses emanated from the larger
ever, unlike many porphyry-skarn systems (Meinert et al., pluton along the stratigraphy (Fig. 2A), giving them sill-like
2005), calcic alteration in the Central zone is not directly asso- morphology on the E-W cross sections. Field relations suggest
ciated with Cu-bearing sulfides. Hydrothermal fluids associated that the host stratigraphy was tilted prior to intrusion of at least
with calcic alteration appear genetically associated with one or the megacrystic orthoclase-phyric monzonite, and presumably
several large breccia systems that were subsequently cemented prior to the older orthoclase- and pseudoleucite-phyric syenites.
by a calc-silicate assemblage. Superimposed on the calcic alter- Porphyry Cu deposits and hydrothermal breccias generally
ation, particularly at the breccia margins, is a younger potassic form with a subvertical axis (e.g., Gustafson and Hunt, 1975;
alteration assemblage dominated by biotite and magnetite. This Seedorff et al., 2005). At Galore Creek, the inclined mineralized
generation of biotite and magnetite was subsequently replaced zones indicate significant postmineral deformation. Moreover,
and mantled by chalcopyrite, pyrite, and very rare bornite. No the inclination for the three mineralized centers appears to dif-
intergrowth textures between sulfide and potassic minerals with fer slightly, with the North gold lens dipping 45° to 60° west-
calcic alteration minerals are observed, suggesting that potas- erly, and the Central replacement zone and South gold lens
sic alteration and a second stage of sulfide mineralization were dipping 45° to 60° to the southwest. The potentially different
caused by a fresh influx of mineralized potassic fluids exsolved inclinations argue that the axis of rotation is not simply parallel
from an intrusive source at depth and trapped in the moder- to the orebodies or the stratigraphy, but must have been some-
ately reducing environment of the carapace of the breccia. what oblique. A similar magnitude of postmineral tilting and
Most of the late alteration assemblages formed marginal to sense of inclination are proposed for the nearby Southwest
the Central zone, enveloping the potassic and calcic alteration zone (Byrne and Tosdal, 2014). The timing of tilting of ore-
zones, and are therefore not well represented on the long sec- bodies is uncertain, other than that it was postmineralization.
tion through the core of the deposit (Fig. 9). Nevertheless, the Logan and Koyanagi (1994) and Logan (2005) described
late calcic alteration domain is mostly parallel to and spatially four deformation events within the Stikine-Iskut River region
overlaps with the monzonitic intrusions. Elsewhere, late albite (Fig. 1B), three of which are recognized within the Galore
has overprinted part of the Cu-bearing South gold lens. A Creek valley (Schwab et al., 2008). Deformation caused pre-
couple of mechanisms are possible to explain the late influx of mineral folding of the supracrustal rocks prior to intrusion of
Ca and Na into the hydrothermal system. It may be that exter- the Late Triassic syenite and monzonite complex. Shortening
nal Ca and Na carried by circulating thermally driven connate during the Late Triassic collapse of the marine arc and onset
fluids entered the hydrothermal system, as is common in many of amalgamation of the offshore island arc to North America
porphyry Cu systems (Dilles et al., 1995; Jago, 2008; Seedorff (Colpron et al., 2007; Nelson and Colpron, 2007) probably ac-
et al., 2008). Alternatively, Lang et al. (1995b) suggest that the counts for that deformation. Postmineral tilting of the Galore
Na and Ca alteration reflects magmatic-derived hydrothermal Creek district may reflect Early Jurassic E-W shortening,
alteration. Regardless of the mechanism, the presence of Na which would also have tectonically buried the porphyry Cu-
and Ca alteration late in the hydrothermal evolution is char- Au district under thrust faults (Logan and Koyanagi, 1989,
acteristic of alkalic porphyry Cu systems (Lang et al., 1995b). 1994; Logan et al., 1989; Schwab et al., 2008), thereby pre-
Sericite-anhydrite-calcite alteration in the Central zone is serving the deposit from erosion.
scarce. It is restricted to the eastern side and is interpreted to
have formed at relatively shallow levels of the hydrothermal sys- Conclusions and Exploration Implications
tem (Figs. 9, 10, 13, 14). Weakly developed sericite-anhydrite- The high-grade ore zones in the Central zone were formed
calcite alteration is a common characteristic in the alkalic por- by two mineralization events that were spatially and temporally
phyry deposits of British Columbia (Lang et al., 1995a; Baker et related to the emplacement of a sheeted syenite to monzonite
al., 1999; Jago, 2008) and New South Wales (Wilson et al., 2003; dike complex and a hydrothermal breccia body (Fig. 15).
Holliday and Cooke, 2007). The sericite-anhydrite-calcite Gold-rich mineralization is associated with early main-stage
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 910

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
Central Zone Geology Central Zone

Hydrothermal system
Main stage (1)

Potassic alteration &
Early orthoclase- (and early Au-Cu mineralization
NW pseudoleucite-) phyric intrusions
NW
SE
North Gold Lens SE
Central Zone Central Replacement

Zone
South Gold Lens
Central Replacement Zone, Widespread calc-potassic alteration &

garnet-diopside-anhydrite cemented breccia minor Cu mineralization
N
N
S
North Gold Lens S North Gold Lens
Central Replacement
Central Replacement
Zone
Zone South Gold Lens
South Gold Lens
Main stage (2) South Gold Lens, Calc-potassic alteration associated with
magnetite-biotite-diopside-cemented breccia brecciation & minor Au-Cu mineralization
N
N
S
S North Gold Lens
North Gold Lens
Central Replacement
Central Replacement Zone
Zone South Gold Lens
South Gold Lens
Late stage
Albitization in the
vicinity of the
South Fault
North Gold Lens S

Central Replacement
Zone
South Gold Lens
FIG. 15. The geologic and hydrothermal evolution of the Central zone. Main stage (1): Formation of one or multiple
potassic alteration cells and mineralization in the Central zone with emphasis on the North gold lens and South gold lens.
Emplacement of a hydrothermal breccia body in the Central replacement zone. Hydrothermal cementation led to wide-
spread calc-potassic alteration and mineralization. Main stage (2): Monzonite intrusion followed by emplacement of a hydro-
thermal breccia body in the South gold lens and, potentially, the development of the South fault. Hydrothermal cementation
led to widespread calc-potassic alteration and minor mineralization. Late stage: Intrusive activity and brecciation ceased in
the Central zone. Onset of the waning stage of the hydrothermal system and development of a sodic alteration assemblage
in the South gold lens and a widespread propylitic, calcic alteration assemblage, possibly due to the mixing of unknown flu-
ids with magmatic water.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 911

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
912 MICKO ET AL.
potassic alteration stage (2a), which dominates the North and traps can be identified by detailed alteration mapping and
South gold lenses but is more weakly developed in the Cen- core logging, strongly aided by geophysics. Postmineral de-
tral replacement zone. Copper-rich mineralization is affiliated formation in the district has led to the 45° to 60° tilt of the
with main-stage calc-potassic alteration stage (2b) and hydro- Central zone’s geology. It is likely that the remainder of the
thermal brecciation focused in the Central replacement zone district has undergone similar deformation and thus warrants
(Fig. 15). In both cases, sulfides have overprinted previous a detailed structural study.
potassic and calc-potassic alteration assemblages to form
zoned orebodies that contain a bornite-rich core surrounded Acknowledgments
by a chalcopyrite halo with pyrite in the periphery. The dom- This manuscript represents a portion of a Ph.D. thesis by
inant portion of the ore occurs in a disseminated fashion, the senior author and a part of the joint MDRU-CODES-in-
which is characteristic for alkalic porphyry deposits associated dustry alkalic systems project, MDRU contribution no. 294.
with silica-undersaturated magmatism (Lang et al., 1995a, b; Financial support for the project was graciously provided by
Jensen and Barton, 2000; Wilson et al., 2003). Sulfides within Anglo Gold Ashanti, Barrick Gold, Placer Dome (now part of
the breccia bodies occur as hydrothermal cement. The main Barrick Gold), Newmont Mining, Imperial Metals, NovaGold
ore-forming events were followed by another calc-potassic al- Resources Inc., Newcrest Mining, Lysander Resources, and
teration event associated with hydrothermal brecciation and Teck Resources Limited, with additional support provided by
minor mineralization in the South gold lens. Fault-related the Collaborative Research and Development program of the
phyllic or sericite-anhydrite-calcite alteration in the South Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of
gold lens then crosscuts earlier-formed alteration assemblages Canada and Geoscience BC. NovaGold Resources Inc. pro-
(Fig. 15). The lack of pervasive and widespread phyllic alter- vided logistical support in the field and necessary geological
ation is a common feature in alkalic porphyry deposits (Lang data to complete the long section presented above. Scott Pet-
et al., 1995a; Wilson et al., 2003). Outboard of the potassic and sel, Stuart Morris, and Erin Workman as well as the remain-
calc-potassic core is a halo of calcic and propylitic alteration ing staff members of the Galore Creek exploration team are
that extends beyond the limits of the studied area (Fig. 15). thanked for their outstanding professional and personal sup-
The distribution of high-grade Cu and Au in the Central port during the field seasons 2006 and 2007.
zone appears to have been at least in part controlled by the Warmest thanks are also directed to the great team of the
redox gradient between the mineralizing fluids and the wall alkalic research group at both the Mineral Deposit Research
rocks. The early main-stage potassic alteration assemblage Unit (MDRU, UBC) and the ARC Centre of Excellence in
consists of hematite-dusted K-feldspar + specular hematite Ore Deposits (CODES, UTAS). Their dedication and invalu-
and has particularly affected the intrusive complex and felsic able advice in the field and lab as well as continuous support
volcanosedimentary rocks. This mineral assemblage is repre- during the write-up has made this paper possible. Thank you
sentative of an oxidizing environment. In comparison, the very much to David Cooke, Anthony Harris, Kevin Byrne,
later main-stage (calc)-potassic alteration assemblage is char- Meghan Jackson, Amber Henry, Paul Jago, Jacqueline Black-
acterized by a more reduced assemblage of garnet, diopside, well, Heidi Pass, Wojtek Zukowski, and Adam Bath for your
biotite, and magnetite within the mafic volcanic rocks and enthusiasm, encouragement, and informative discussions.
breccia bodies. The Au is most likely hosted by bornite, which Warmest thanks are also extended to the reviewers of this
coincides spatially with the distribution of the oxidized, red- manuscript, David Cooke, Anthony Harris, and John Thomp-
dened rock units. High-grade Cu in the Central zone is re- son. Their valuable advice and continuous guidance made this
lated to the abundance of chalcopyrite that commonly re- paper possible.
placed the more reduced alteration assemblages.
There is no simple explanation for the switch from early Au- REFERENCES
rich mineralization to a later-stage Cu-dominated mineraliza- Allen, D.G., Panteleyev, A., and Armstrong, A.T., 1976, Porphyry copper de-
tion. One suggestion is that the highly oxidizing magmatic posits of the alkalic suite: Galore Creek: Canadian Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy, Special Volume 15, p. 402–414.
fluid and associated magmas were undersaturated with mag- Baker, T., Ash, C.H., and Thompson, J.F.H., 1999, Geological setting and
matic sulfide, thereby enabling gold to concentrate (Sillitoe, characteristics of Red Chris porphyry copper-gold deposits, northwestern
1979, 1998; Cygan and Candela, 1995; Wilson et al., 2003). British Columbia: Exploration and Mining Geology, v. 6, p. 297–316.
The change from a more oxidized potassic alteration assem- Barr, D.A, Fox, P.E., Northcote, K.E., and Preto, V.A., 1976, The alkaline
blage to a more reduced assemblage may imply a change in suite porphyry deposits; a summary: Canadian Institute of Mining and Met-
allurgy, Special Volume 15, p. 359–367.
oxygen fugacity in the magma that may have propelled sulfide Bath, A.B., Cooke, D.R., Friedman, R.M., Faure, K., Kamenetsky, V.S., Tos-
saturation and, thus, the subsequent removal of the dominant dal, R.M., and Berry, R.F., 2014, Mineralization, U-Pb geochronology, and
portion of available Au from the hydrothermal fluid. stable isotope geochemistry of the Lower Main zone of the Lorraine de-
Based on our findings, the implications for exploration in posit, north-central British Columbia: A replacement-style alkalic Cu-Au
porphyry: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 109, p. 979–1004.
the greater Galore district are as follows: copper and gold Beane, R.E., and Titley, S.R., 1981, Porphyry copper deposits; part II:
mineralization occurred in several discrete potassic and calcic Hydrothermal alteration and mineralization: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY 75TH AN-
fluid events associated with small-scale multiphase porphyry NIVERSARY VOLUME, p. 235–269.
intrusions and hydrothermal breccias. Thus, it is essential to Byrne, K., and Tosdal, R.M., 2014, Genesis of the Late Triassic Southwest
take a system approach to exploration, rather than to focus on zone breccia-hosted alkalic porphyry Cu-Au deposit, Galore Creek, British
Columbia, Canada: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 109, p. 915–938.
a singular causative intrusion or hydrothermal event. The Byrne, K., Tosdal, R.M., and Simpson, K.A., 2010, Coherent and clastic rocks
distribution of high-grade ore is controlled by changes in the in the Southwest zone alkalic porphyry Cu-Au system, Galore Creek,
redox environment and wall-rock permeability. These potential Canada (NTS 104G): Geoscience BC Report 2010-1, p. 87–104.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 912

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
Cherniak, D.J., 1993, Lead diffusion in titanite and preliminary results on the Lang, J.R., Stanley, C.R., Thompson, J.F.H., and Dunne, K.P.E., 1995b, Na-
effects of radiation damage on Pb transport: Chemical Geology, v. 110, p. K-Ca magmatic hydrothermal alteration in alkalic porphyry copper gold
177–194. deposits, British Columbia: Mineralogical Association of Canada Short
Colpron, M., Nelson, J.L., and Murphy, D.C., 2007, Northern Cordilleran Course Series, v. 23, p. 339–366.
terranes and their interactions through time: GSA Today, v. 17, p. 4–9. Logan, J.M., 2005, Alkaline magmatism and porphyry Cu-Au deposits at Ga-
Cooke, D.R., Wilson, A.J., House, M.J., Wolfe, R.C., Walshe, J.L., Lickfold, lore Creek, northwestern British Columbia: B.C. Ministry of Energy,
V., and Crawford, A.J., 2007, Alkalic porphyry Au-Cu and associated min- Mines and Petroleum Resources, Paper 2005-1, p. 237–248.
eral deposits of the Ordovician to Early Silurian Macquarie Arc, New South ——2007, The progression from damage to localization of displacement ob-
Wales: Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 54, p. 445–463. served in laboratory testing of porous rocks: Geological Society Special
Cygan, G.L., and Candela, P.A., 1995, Preliminary study of gold partitioning Publication, v. 289, p. 75–87.
among pyrrhotite, pyrite, magnetite, and chalcopyrite in gold-saturated Logan, J.M., and Koyanagi, V.M., 1989, Preliminary geology and mineral de-
chloride solutions at 600 to 700 degrees C, 140 MPa (1400 bars): Miner- posits of the Galore Creek area, northwestern British Columbia
alogical Association of Canada Short Course, v. 23, p. 129–137. (104G/7W): B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources,
Davies, A.G.S., Cooke, D.R., Gemmell, J.B., and Simpson, K.A., 2008, Dia- Paper 1989-1, p. 269–284.
treme breccias at the Kelian gold mine, Kalimantan, Indonesia: Precursors ——1994, Geology and mineral deposits of the Galore Creek area, north-
to epithermal gold mineralization: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 103, p. 689–716. western British Columbia (104G/3 and 4): BC Ministry of Energy, Mines,
Devine, F.A.M., Chamberlain, C.M., Davies, A.G.S., Friedman, R., and Bax- and Petroleum Resources, Bulletin 92, 96 p.
ter, P., 2014, Geology and district-scale setting of tilted alkalic porphyry Cu- Logan, J.M., and Mihalynuk, M.G., 2014, Tectonic controls on early Meso-
Au mineralization at the Lorraine deposit, British Columbia: ECONOMIC zoic paired alkaline porphyry deposit belts (Cu-Au ± Ag-Pt-Pd-Mo) within
GEOLOGY, v. 109, p. 939–977. the Canadian Cordillera: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 109, p. 827–858.
Dilles, J.H., Farmer, G.L., and Field, C.W., 1995, Sodium-calcium alteration Logan, J.M., Koyanagi, V.M., and Rhys, D.A., 1989, Geology and mineral oc-
by non-magmatic saline fluids in porphyry copper deposits: Results from currences of the Galore Creek area (104A and B): B.C. Ministry of Energy,
Yerington, Nevada: Mineralogical Association of Canada Short Course, v. Mines and Petroleum Resources, Open File 1989-8, 2 p.
23, p. 309–338. Lowell, J.D., and Guilbert, J.M., 1970, Lateral and vertical alteration-miner-
Dilles, J.H., Einaudi, M.T., Proffett, J.M., and Barton, M.D., 2000, Overview alization zoning in porphyry ore deposits: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 65, p.
of the Yerington porphyry copper district: Magmatic to non-magmatic 373–408.
sources of hydrothermal fluids: Their flow paths and alteration effects on McPhie, J., Doyle, M., and Allen, R., 1993, Volcanic texture: A guide to in-
rocks and Cu-Mo-Fe-Au ores: Society of Economic Geologists, Guidebook terpretation of textures in volcanic rocks: Hobart, CODES Key Centre,
32, p. 55–66. University of Tasmania, 196 p.
Dunne, K.P.E., Lang, J.R., and Thompson, J.F.H., 1994, Fluid inclusion Meinert, L.D., 1997, Application of skarn deposit zonation models to mineral
studies of zoned hydrothermal garnet at the Galore Creek Cu-Au porphyry exploration: Exploration and Mining Geology, v. 6, p. 185–208.
deposit, northwestern British Columbia: Geological Association of Canada- Meinert, L.D., Dipple, G.M., and Nicolescu, S., 2005, World skarn deposits:
Mineralogical Association of Canada, Program with Abstracts, v. 19, p. A31. ECONOMIC GEOLOGY 100TH ANNIVERSARY VOLUME, p. 299–336.
Einaudi, M.T., 1982, General features and origin of skarns associated with Mihalynuk, M.G., Nelson, J., and Diakow, L.J., 1994, Cache Creek terrane
porphyry copper plutons, southwestern North America, in Titley, S.R., ed., entrapment; oroclinal paradox within the Canadian Cordillera: Tectonics, v.
Advances in geology of the porphyry copper deposits, southwestern U.S.: 13, p. 575–595.
Tucson, University of Arizona Press, p. 185–209. Monger, J.W.H., 1977, Upper Palaeozoic rocks of the western Canadian
Enns, S.G., Thompson, J.F.H., Stanley, C.R., and Yarrow, E.W., 1995, The Cordillera and their bearing on Cordilleran evolution: Canadian Journal of
Galore Creek porphyry copper-gold deposits, northwestern British Colum- Earth Sciences, v. 14, p. 1832–1859.
bia: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallugy, and Petroleum, Special Vol- Monger, J.W.H, Wheeler, J.O, and Tipper, H.W., 1992, Upper Devonian to
ume 46, p. 640–644. Middle Jurassic assemblages: Cordilleran terranes (modified), in Geology
Frost, B.R., Chamberlain, K.R., and Schumacher, J.C., 2000, Sphene (titan- of the Cordilleran Orogen in Canada, Decade of North American Geology
ite): Phase relations and role as a geochronometer: Chemical Geology, v. (DNAG), v. G-2: Ottawa, Geological Survey of Canada, p. 281–317.
172, p. 131–148. Mortensen, J.K., Ghosh, D., and Ferri, F., 1995, U-Pb age constraints of in-
Gammons, C.H., and Williams-Jones, A.E., 1997, Chemical mobility of gold in trusive rocks associated with copper-gold porphyry deposits in the Cana-
the porphyry-epithermal environment: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 92, p. 45–59. dian Cordillera: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallugy, and Petroleum,
Gustafson, L.B., and Hunt, J.P., 1975, The porphyry deposit at El Salvador, Special Volume 46, p. 142–158.
Chile: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 70, p. 857–912. Mortimer, N., 1987, Late Triassic and Early Jurassic subduction-related vol-
Holliday, J.R., and Cooke, D.R., 2007, Advances in geological models and ex- canism in British Columbia: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 24, p.
ploration methods for copper ± gold porphyry deposits, in Ore deposits and 2521–2536.
exploration geology, Proceedings of Exploration 07: Fifth Decennial Inter- Nelson, J., and Colpron, M., 2007, Tectonics and metallogeny of the British Co-
national Conference on Mineral Exploration: Toronto, Ontario, Decennial lumbia, Yukon and Alaskan Cordillera, 1.8 Ga to present: Mineral Deposits
Mineral Exploration Conferences, p. 791–809. Division, Geological Association of Canada, Special Publication 5, p. 755–791.
Jago, P., 2008, Metal- and alteration-zoning, and geochemical dispersion NovaGold Resources Inc., 2011, Galore Creek Project British Columbia NI
halos in the context of Cu-Au mineralization at the silica-saturated Mt. Mil- 43-101 technical report on pre-feasibility study: AMEC project no. 166824,
ligan alkalic porphyry deposit: Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, Vancouver, July 27, 2011, 380 p., http://www.novagold.com/upload/technical_reports/
Canada, University of British Columbia, 210 p. Galore_Creek_NI_43-101_2011_Final.pdf.
Jago, C.P., Tosdal, R.M., Cooke, D.R., and Harris, A.C., 2014, Vertical and Pass, H.E., Cooke, D.R., Davidson, G., Maas, R., Dipple, G., Rees, C., Fer-
lateral variation of mineralogy and chemistry in the Early Jurassic Mt. Mil- reira, L., Taylor, C., and Deyell, C.L., 2014, Isotope geochemistry of the
ligan alkalic porphyry Au-Cu deposit, British Columbia, Canada: ECO- Northeast zone, Mount Polley alkalic Cu-Au-Ag porphyry deposit, British
NOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 109, p. 1005–1033. Columbia: A case for carbonate assimilation: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 109,
Jensen, E.P., and Barton, M.D., 2000, Gold deposits related to alkaline mag- p. 859–890.
matism: Reviews in Economic Geology, v. 13, p. 279–314. Russell, J., Dipple, G.M., Lang, J.R., and Lueck, B., 1999, Major-element
Kesler, S.E., and Chryssoulis, S.L, and Simon, G., 2002, Gold in porphyry cop- discrimination of titanium andradite from magmatic and hydrothermal en-
per deposits: Its abundance and fate: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 21, p. 103–124. vironments; an example from the Canadian Cordillera: European Journal
Lang, J.R., Thompson, J.F.H., and Dunne, K.P.E., 1993, Hydrothermal gar- of Mineralogy, v. 11, p. 915–935.
net from the Galore Creek Cu-Au porphyry deposit, B.C., Canada: Impli- Schoene, B., and Bowring, S.A., 2007, Determining accurate temperature-time
cations of geochemical and fluid inclusion zoning patterns: Geological So- paths from U-Pb thermochronology: An example from the Kaapvaal craton,
ciety of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 25, p. A-402. southern Africa: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 71, p. 165–185.
Lang, J.R., Lueck, B., Mortensen, J.K., Russell, J.K., Stanley, C.R., and Schwab, D.L, Petsel, S., Otto, B.R., Morris, S.K., Workman, E., and Tosdal,
Thompson, J.F.H., 1995a, Triassic-Jurassic silica-undersaturated and silica- R.M., 2008, Overview of the Late Triassic Galore Creek copper-gold-silver
saturated alkalic intrusions in the Cordillera of British Columbia: Implica- porphyry system: Tucson, Arizona Geological Society Digest 22, p.
tions for arc magmatism: Geology, v. 23, p. 451–454. 471–484.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 913

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019
914 MICKO ET AL.
Scott, J.E., Richards, J.P., Heaman, L.M., Creaser, R.A., and Salazar, G.S., Titley, S.R., and Beane, R.E., 1981, Porphyry copper deposits, Part I: Geo-
2008, The Schaft Creek porphyry Cu-Mo (-Au) deposit, northwestern logical settings, petrology, tectogenesis: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY 75TH AN-
British Columbia: Exploration and Mining Geology, v. 17, p. 163–196. NIVERSARY VOLUME, p. 214–269.
Seedorff, E., Dilles, J.H., Proffett, Jr., J.M., Einaudi, M.T., Zurcher, L., Ulrich, T., Günther, D., and Heinrich, C.A., 2001, The evolution of a por-
Stavast, W.J.A., Johnson, D.A., and Barton, M.D., 2005, Porphyry deposits: phyry Cu-Au deposit, based on LA-ICP-MS analysis of fluid inclusions of
Characteristics and origin of hypogene features: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY 100TH fluid inclusions: Bajo de la Alumbrera, Argentina: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v.
ANNIVERSARY VOLUME, p. 251–298. 96, p. 1743–1774.
Seedorff, E., Barton, M.D., Stavast, W.J.A., and Maher, D.J., 2008, Root Wilson, A.J., Cooke, D.R., and Harper, B.L., 2003, The Ridgeway gold-cop-
zones of porphyry systems: Extending the porphyry model to depth: ECO- per deposit: A high-grade alkalic porphyry deposit in the Lachlan fold belt,
NOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 103, p. 939–956. New South Wales, Australia: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 98, p. 1637–1666.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1979, Some thoughts on gold-rich porphyry copper deposits: Wilson, A.J., Cooke, D.R., Harper, B.J., and Deyell, C.L., 2007, Sulfur iso-
Mineralium Deposita, v. 14, pp. 161–174. topic zonation in the Cadia district, NSW: Exploration significance and im-
——1998, Major regional factors favouring large size, high hypogene grade, plication for the genesis of alkalic porphyry gold-copper deposits: Mineral-
elevated gold content and supergene oxidation and enrichment of porphyry ium Deposita, v. 42, p. 465–487.
copper deposits, in Porphyry and hydrothermal copper and gold deposits— Wolfe, R.C., and Cooke, D.R., 2011, Geology of the Didipio region and gen-
a global perspective: Glenside, Australian Mineral Foundation, p. 21–34. esis of the Dinkidi alkalic porphyry Cu-Au deposit and related pegmatites,
——2000, Gold-rich porphyry deposits: Descriptive and genetic models and northern Luzon, Philippines: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 106, p. 1279–1315.
their role in exploration and discovery: Reviews in Economic Geology, v.
13, p. 315–345.
——2010, Porphyry copper systems: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 105, p. 3–41.
Titley, S.R., 1982, The style and progress of mineralization and alteration in
porphyry copper systems: American Southwest, in Titley, S.R., ed., Ad-
vances in geology of the porphyry copper deposits, southwestern North
America: Tuscon, University of Arizona Press, p. 93–116.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 914

by Willy Lopez
on 04 June 2019

Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization of The Galore Creek Alkalic Cu Au Porphyry Deposit

Transféré par

Informations du document

Titre original

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization of The Galore Creek Alkalic Cu Au Porphyry Deposit

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

©2014 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc.

Economic Geology, v. 109, pp. 891–914

Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization of the Galore Creek Alkalic

Introduction with silica-saturated alkalic complexes (e.g., Baker et al.,

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

140° 135° 130° 125° 120°

Mount Milligan Sloko Group, Edziza

Bowser Lake Group

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 892

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

A 351000 352000 B 351000 352000

Galore Creek district geology

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 893

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

Proximal facies Distal facies

sub-volcanic intrusions and lavas

180 Emergent island arc

as well as intrusion of the Hickman

Supracrustal hostrocks to the Hornblende and plagioclase

Tectonic break Ladinian

Erosional disconformity and phyllite

Felsic to mafic volcanic rocks

Thickly bedded conglomerate and

Penetrative foliated limestone,

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 894

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 895

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

Section 6335550 Section 6335100

Upper Triassic rocks of the Stuhini Group

G Polymictic, diopside-magnetite-biotite-cemented breccia

Fault line *45-60°W*

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 896

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

South Gold Lens Central Replacement Zone North Gold Lens

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 897

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

Hydrothermal Alteration characteristic mineralogy, texture, and crosscutting relation-

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 898

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 899

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

North Gold Lens & South Gold Lens

4d Propylitic Epidote ± chlorite Epidote ± chlorite

4c Phyllic (sericite- Sericite + anhydrite Sericite + anhydrite

anhydrite- + calcite + calcite

4b Calcic Garnet Garnet Sodic alteration is localized

3c Potassic n/a Orthoclase, biotite Third, minor

3a Potassic n/a Orthoclase, biotite

2d Potassic Orthoclase, biotite Orthoclase, biotite Megacrystic ortho and

2c Potassic Orthoclase, biotite n/a

2b Potassic Biotite ± magnetite n/a Second, minor

Calcic Diopside, garnet n/a Polymictic, garnet ± biotite

2a Potassic Orthoclase, biotite Orthoclase, biotite, Earliest and main

1 Potassic Orthoclase, biotite Orthoclase, biotite First intrusive activity

Polymictic,orthoclase-phyric trachyte Megacrystic orthoclase and plagio- Polymictic, orthoclase-phyric

Orthoclase-phyric trachyte Orthoclase-phyric syenite

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 900

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 901

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

>20% orthoclase > 5% orthoclase >20% biotite < 5% magnetite

Downloaded from https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/segweb/economicgeology/article-pdf/109/4/891/3471459/891-914.pdf

Fault line 45-60°W