Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr dating of an Archean massive sulfide deposit: Kidd Creek, Ontario
Highly altered felsic metavolcanics associated with the Kidd Creek, Ontario, Cu-Zn massive sulfide deposit show a large range of Sm/Nd ratios and yield a Sm-Nd isochron of 2674 +/- 40 Ma (initial ratio epsilon/sub Nd/ = 1.55 +/- 0.30), which represents the time of rare-earth-element redistribution during intense hydrothermal alteration. That the Sm-Nd age is consistent with age constraints on ore deposition provided by precise U-Pb zircon data indicates contemporaneity of ore deposition, hydrothermal alteration, and rare-earth mobility. The age is therefore interpreted as a minimum age of ore deposition. In contrast, the Rb-Sr age of the altered rocks, as well as the metavolcanic rocks outside the alteration zone, has been reset at 2576 +/- 26 Ma, most likely as a result of widespread low-temperature metasomatism unrelated to ore deposition. The results suggest that Sm-Nd dating could be a useful tool in the study of ore deposits and, potentially, in the study of a wide range of mineralizations. Initial epsilon/sub Nd/(T) values for massive ore, altered felsic volcanics, and their weakly altered precursors are identical, indicating derivation and redistribution of light-rare-earth elements within the altered footwall volcanics. These data suggest that the footwall volcanics have also supplied part of the base metals to the stratiform ore.
- Research Organization:
- Australian National Univ., Canberra
- OSTI ID:
- 5516151
- Journal Information:
- Geology; (United States), Journal Name: Geology; (United States) Vol. 14:7; ISSN GLGYB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
580100* -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
AGE ESTIMATION
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
CANADA
COPPER ORES
DEPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION
IGNEOUS ROCKS
ISOTOPE DATING
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LEAD ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
METAMORPHISM
MINERALIZATION
MINERALS
NEODYMIUM ISOTOPES
NORTH AMERICA
ONTARIO
ORES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RARE EARTH ISOTOPES
RARE EARTHS
ROCKS
RUBIDIUM ISOTOPES
SAMARIUM ISOTOPES
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
URANIUM ISOTOPES
VOLCANIC ROCKS
ZINC ORES
ZIRCON
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM SILICATES