Mineral deposits in Archaean rocks

Abstract

Some years ago, C. J. Allègre pointed out that many of the world’s Archaean terrains had once belonged to Queen Victoria: although most such regions were added to her estate by the pilotage and later the scientific enterprise of Captain Cook, not to mention other accidents of discovery, fits of absence of mind and most significantly the distribution of beaver habitats, a powerful motive (other than desire to get to Fashoda first and forestall the French) was the search for economic minerals. Today, in all Archaean shields, mining plays a very important or even dominant role in the local economy.

There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top

Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire

Shone with a glossy scurf — undoubted sign

That in his womb was hid metallic ore

the work of sulphur, Thither, winged with speed

A numerous brigade hastened…Mammon led them on.

Milton, Paradise Lost, I. 670