Abstract The Nautanen deformation zone in the Gällivare area of northern Sweden is a highly Cu-mineralized, magnetite-rich, large-scale shear zone with a long-lived (~100 m.y.) deformation, hydrothermal alteration, and mineralization history. This composite structure hosts the Aitik porphyry Cu-Au-Ag ± Mo deposit and several Cu-Au ± Fe ± Ag ± Mo occurrences assigned to the iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposit class. The Nautanen deformation zone was a locus for polyphase deformation and intermittent metasomatic-hydrothermal activity that overprinted middle Orosirian (ca. 1.90–1.88 Ga) continental arc-related volcanic-plutonic rocks. The deformation zone is characterized by intense shearing fabrics that form a series of subvertical to moderately W-dipping, NNW-SSE–trending, first-order shear zones with oblique reverse kinematics and related NNE-SSW–oriented second-order shear zones that control hydrothermal alteration patterns and Cu-Au mineralization. Hydrothermal alteration in the study area formed during several phases. Volcanic-volcaniclastic rocks to the east and west of the Nautanen deformation zone display low to moderately intense, pervasive to selectively pervasive (i.e., patchy zones or bands, disseminations) sericite ± feldspar, amphibole + biotite + magnetite ± tourmaline, and K-feldspar + hematite alteration. Both the amphibole + biotite and K-feldspar + hematite associations occur adjacent to NNW- and NE-oriented deformation zones and are locally associated with minor sulfide. Within the deformation zone, a moderate to intense biotite + amphibole + garnet + magnetite + tourmaline + sericite alteration assemblage is typically associated with chalcopyrite + pyrrhotite + pyrite and forms linear and subparallel, mainly NNW-oriented seams, bands, and zones that locally appear to overprint possibly earlier scapolite + sericite ± feldspar alteration. Late-stage epidote ± quartz ± feldspar alteration (retrograde saussuritization) forms selectively pervasive zones and epidote veinlets across the area and is partly related to brittle faulting. A magnetite-amphibole-biotite–rich, penetrative S1 foliation records shortening during early Svecokarelian-related deformation (D1) and can be related to ca. 1.88 to 1.87 Ga arc accretion processes and basin inversion that overlaps with regional peak metamorphism to near mid-amphibolite facies conditions and a potential initial Cu mineralization event. Folding and repeated shearing along the Nautanen deformation zone can be assigned to a second, late-Svecokarelian deformation event (D2 stage, ca. 1.82–1.79 Ga) taking place at a higher crustal level. This D2 deformation phase is related to late-stage accretionary processes active during a transition to a stage of postorogenic collapse, and it was accompanied by abundant, syntectonic intrusions. D2-related magmatism produced high-temperature and low-pressure conditions and represents a regional magmatic-hydrothermal event that controlled the recrystallization/remobilization of magnetite, biotite, and amphibole. Associated shear zone reactivation during D2 favors the utilization of the Nautanen deformation zone as a fluid conduit, which preferentially controlled the siting and formation of epigenetic Cu-Au mineralization with distinctive IOCG characteristics within second-order shear zones.
Abstract. In this field-based study, a ~ 90 km long Palaeoproterozoic metasupracrustal belt in the northwestern part of the Norrbotten ore province (northernmost Sweden) has been investigated in order to characterize its various structural components and thus constrain its structural evolution. In addition, hydrothermal mineral associations are described and linked to identified deformation phases. New geological mapping of five key areas (Eustiljåkk, Ekströmsberg, Tjårrojåkka, Kaitum West and Fjällåsen-Allavaara) indicates two major compressional events (D1, D2) that affected the belt whereas each deformation event can be related to specific alteration styles typical for iron oxide-apatite and iron oxide Cu-Au systems. D1 generated a regionally distributed penetrative S1 foliation and oblique reverse shear zones with southwest block up sense-of-shears in response to NE–SW crustal shortening. D1 is associated with regional scapolite ± albite alteration formed coeval with regional magnetite ± amphibole alteration and calcite under epidote-amphibolite metamorphism. During D2, folding of S1 generated steeply south-plunging F2-folds in low strain areas whereas most strain was partitioned into pre-existing shear zones resulting in reverse dip-slip reactivation of steep NNW-oriented D1 shear zones and strike-slip dominated movements along steep E–W-trending shear zones under brittle-ductile conditions. The hydrothermal alteration linked to the D2 deformation phase is more potassic in character and dominated by K-feldspar ± epidote ± quartz ± biotite ± magnetite ± sericite ± sulphides, and calcite. Our results underline the importance of paired structural-alteration approaches at the regional- to belt-scale to understand the temporal-spatial relationship between mineralized systems. Based on the mapping results and microstructural investigations, as well as a review of earlier tectonic models presented for adjacent areas, we suggest a new structural model for this part of the northern Fennoscandian Shield. Our new structural model harmonizes with earlier petrological/geochemical tectonic models of the northern Norrbotten area and emphasizes the importance of reactivation of early formed structures.
The Jameson Land Basin in central East Greenland is mineralized in Pb, Zn and Cu. Mineralization occurs in several stratigraphic horizons and along structures in Upper Permian and Triassic sediment ...
Abstract To support economic decisions and exploration targeting, as well as to understand processes controlling the mineralization, three-dimensional structural and lithological boundary models of the Kiruna mining district have been built using surface (outcrop observations and measurements) and subsurface (drill hole data and mine wall mapping) data. Rule-based hybrid implicit-explicit modeling techniques were used to create district-scale models of areas with high disproportion in data resolution characterized by dense, clustered, and distant data spacing. Densely sampled areas were integrated with established conceptual studies using geologic conditions and the addition of synthetic data, leading to variably constrained surfaces that facilitate the visualization, interpretation, and further integration of the geologic models. This modeling approach proved to be efficient in integrating local, frequently sampled areas with district-scale, sparsely sampled regions. Dominantly S-plunging lineation on N-S–trending fracture planes, characteristic fracture mineral fill, and weak rock mass at the ore contact indicated by poor core orientation quality and rock quality description suggest that ore-parallel fractures in the Kiirunavaara area were more commonly reactivated. Slight variation in the angular relationship of fracture sets situated in different fault-bounded blocks suggests that strain accommodation across the orebodies was uneven. The location of brittle faults identified in drill core, deposit-scale structural analysis, and aeromagnetic geophysical maps indicate a close relationship between fault locations and the iron oxide-apatite mineralization, suggesting that uneven stress accommodation and proximity of conjugate fault sets played an important role in juxtaposing blocks from different crustal depths and control the location of the iron oxide-apatite orebodies.
Abstract To guide future exploration, this predominantly field based study has investigated the structural evolution of the central Kiruna area, the type locality for iron oxide-apatite deposits that stands for a significant amount of the European iron ore production. Using a combination of geologic mapping focusing on structures and stratigraphy, petrography with focus on microstructures, X-ray computed tomography imaging of sulfide-structure relationships, and structural 2D-forward modeling, a structural framework is provided including spatial-temporal relationships between iron oxide-apatite emplacement, subeconomic Fe and Cu sulfide mineralization, and deformation. These relationships are important to constrain as a guidance for exploration in iron oxide-apatite and iron oxide copper-gold prospective terrains and may help to understand the genesis of these deposit types. Results suggest that the iron oxide-apatite deposits were emplaced in an intracontinental back-arc basin, and they formed precrustal shortening under shallow crustal conditions. Subsequent east-west crustal shortening under greenschist facies metamorphism inverted the basin along steep to moderately steep E-dipping structures, often subparallel with bedding and lithological contacts, with reverse, oblique to dip-slip, east-block-up sense of shears. Fe and Cu sulfides associated with Fe oxides are hosted by structures formed during the basin inversion and are spatially related to the iron oxide-apatite deposits but formed in fundamentally different structural settings and are separated in time. The inverted basin was gently refolded and later affected by hydraulic fracturing, which represent the last recorded deformation-hydrothermal events affecting the crustal architecture of central Kiruna.
nduced Polarization (IP) effects were observed in airborne Time Domain EM (TEM) data acquired in central East Greenland in the context of exploration for disseminated sulphides in a sedimentary basin. Some of the IP anomalies were targeted by drilling which revealed the absence of mineralization. In order to understand the possible causes of the IP effects we first identified them in the TEM data. IP indicators were extracted from the shape of the transient curves at every measurement location and were analysed by using a Self-Organizing Map (SOM) procedure. Results from K-mean clustering of the SOM are visualized on a geographical map showing the transient curves’ characteristics. Some of the clusters are clearly correlated with the geology whereas others merely reflect recordings below the noise level. In order to interpret the cause of the IP anomalies the airborne TEM data were inverted for the Cole-Cole parameters.
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