Overview of the GEM Multiple Metals - Melville Peninsula project, central Melville Peninsula, Nunavut

Abstract

Recent work in the Melville Peninsula area of the Rae Craton provides new constraints on the lithotectonic framework of Archean supracrustal rocks and associated Archean intrusions, as well as Paleoproterozoic cover sequences. The region is subdivided into four lithologically distinctive crustal blocks that include from north to south: the Northern Granulite Block; the Prince Albert Block; on which lies the Penrhyn Group; and the Repulse Bay Block. The Prince Albert belt is redefined as a ca. 3.20 Ga to 2.77 Ga greenstone belt, much older than the Committee Bay belt to which it was historically linked and collectively named the Prince Albert Group. On the eastern side of the Peninsula, the Roche Bay greenstone belt appears to be linked - at least in age - to the Prince Albert belt. Penetrative Paleoproterozoic deformation can be confidently documented northwesterly to the Roche Bay greenstone belt. Beyond this, it is less well defined although the Folster Lake Formation suggests moderate deformation under upper-greenschist metamorphic conditions.

Origin and tectonometamorphic history of the Repulse Bay block, Melville Peninsula, Nunavut: exotic terrane or deeper level of the Rae craton?

“…The U-Pb geochronology data presented herein demonstrate that the study area contains rocks similar in age to 2.73-2.68 Ga granitoid rocks in adjacent regions of the Rae craton, including the Prince Albert block in northern Melville Peninsula, on Southhampton Island, and within the Wager Bay area (van Breemen et al 2007a;Wodicka et al 2011;Rayner et al 2011Rayner et al , 2013Corrigan et al 2013). Even though the RBb is separated from the Prince Albert block by the LIBZ, there is no evidence for subduction-related accretion of the RBb to the Rae craton during the Trans-Hudson orogeny (i.e., widespread arc-related magmatism, etc.).…”

“…Rae craton, Archean supracrustal sequences are composed of komatiite, mafic to felsic volcanic rocks, conglomerate, quartzite, pelite, and iron formation (e.g., Frisch 1982;Zaleski et al 2001;Bethune and Scammell 2003;Skulski et al 2003;Young et al 2007;Corrigan et al 2013). These belts are ca.…”

“…3, the RBb encompasses a large tract of highgrade granitoid rocks and gneisses as exposed in the 29 000 km 2 study area. The block is bounded to the north by the LIBZ, an east-northeast-striking high-strain zone that can be traced discontinuously to the southwest and accommodated shortening associated with late-stage Trans-Hudson orogenesis (e.g., Ganderton 2013;Corrigan et al 2013). As summarized in the subsection "Rock types" and on Fig.…”

Neoarchean Mantle-derived Magmatism within the Repulse Bay Block, Melville Peninsula, Nunavut: Implications for Archean Crustal Extraction and Cratonization

“…The north-central segment of the Western Churchill Province is divided into two main crustal divisions, the Rae and Hearne cratons (Hoffman 1988). The Rae craton is made up of Mesoarchean to Neoarchean north-northwesterly trending granite-greenstone belts composed of komatiite, mafic and felsic volcanic rocks, conglomerate, quartzite, pelite, and iron formations (Frisch 2000;Zaleski et al 2001;Bethune and Scammell 2003;Skulski et al 2003;Corrigan et al 2013). Rare Mesoarchean to Neoarchean calc-alkalic gneiss complexes are sandwiched between the low grade belts (Zaleski et al 2001;Hartlaub et al 2005;Rayner et al 2013).…”

Deep Crustal Structure and Model of Neorchaean Evolution of the North American Craton

“…Со средним по возрасту импульсом связаны также медно-никеленосные габбро (например [Davis, Zaleski, 1998;Bethune, Scammell, 2002]). Исключением из общего правила являются коматиитсодержащие зеленокаменные пояса северо-восточного простирания, принадлежащие группе Принц-Альберт (Prince Albert Group) в центральной части полуострова Мелвилл с возрастом около 2.97 млрд лет [Wodicka et al, 2011;Corrigan et al, 2013]. Возраст гранитоидов комплекса основания, датированных в южной части провинции Рэй, составляет 3.01-2.94 млрд лет [Hartlaub et al, 2004;Ashton et al, 2009Ashton et al, , 2010, однако преобладают неоархейские гранитоиды с возрастом 2.62-2.58 и реже 2.71 млрд лет [LeCheminant, Roddick, 1991].…”