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Synvolcanic gold mineralization within a deformation zone: the Chevrier deposit, Chibougamau, Abitibi Subprovince, Canada

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Abstract

The Chevrier gold deposit is located in the northeastern part of the Abitibi Subprovince within the Chevrier volcanic centre (CVC). This calc-alkaline volcanic centre evolved from mafic to felsic in a submarine environment, and the Chevrier deposit is spatially associated with the uppermost unit composed mostly of massive dacite to rhyolite, dated at 2730 Ma. The Chevrier deposit is divided in two zones. The North Zone is composed of high-grade, discordant quartz-carbonate veins and disseminated pyrite mostly within melanocratic gabbro dykes, whereas, the South Zone is within a low-grade, concordant pyrite envelope associated with quartz-carbonate-pyrite veinlets. Both zones are highly deformed and show strong carbonate, sericite and chlorite alterations. Although these zones share many characteristics with orogenic deposits, the crosscutting of the Chevrier deposit by structures associated with the major deformation events suggests that mineralization was prior to these events. Furthermore, felsic dykes associated with the formation of the CVC crosscut auriferous veins and zones, therefore suggesting a synvolcanic timing for the gold mineralization. Characteristics of the zones, such as similar vein composition and alteration mineral assemblages and location within the volcanic pile, suggest that they are part of a single hydrothermal event where the South Zone represents the shallower part of the deposit. The Chevrier deposit is classified as a noncarbonate-hosted stockwork and disseminated deposit and shows many similarities with strata-bound gold deposits of the Andacollo mining district of Chile. Dating of mineralization at the Chevrier deposit indicates that the emplacement of gold occurred more than 25 Ma before the onset of the orogeny affecting this part of the Abitibi subprovince. It also illustrates how synvolcanic mineralization can be misinterpreted as an orogenic deposit without the presence of crosscutting relationships with dykes, faults or other structures.

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Acknowledgements

This paper presents part of a Ph.D. thesis by the first author. The authors wish to express their sincere thanks to the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec (SGNO), GéoNova Explorations (now Campbell Resources), and Inmet Mining Corporation for important scientific collaboration, logistical, and financial support as well as access to unpublished information. Financial support through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada as well as Fonds PAIR and Fonds d’Investissement of the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (through postgraduate scholarships to M.L.) are acknowledged with gratitude. We thank P. Doucet and P. Pilote of the MRNF for suggestions on an earlier draft. The manuscript was significantly improved by reviews from P. Eilu, P. Thurston, and G. Beaudoin.

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  1. Marc Legault

    Present address: Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec, 82 boul. Québec, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada, J9X 6R1

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  1. Centre d’Études sur les Ressources Minérales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, QC, Canada

    Marc Legault & Réal Daigneault

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Contribution No. 2005-5130-01 of the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec.

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Legault, M., Daigneault, R. Synvolcanic gold mineralization within a deformation zone: the Chevrier deposit, Chibougamau, Abitibi Subprovince, Canada. Miner Deposita 41, 203–228 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-006-0051-0

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