Geochemical Constraints of the Gold Mineralization Sources from the South Mine Complex and the Main/’04 Breaks, Macassa Mine, Kirkland Lake, Ontario

Author

Liana K.T. Stammers, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Geology

Supervisor

Dr. Neil Banerjee

Abstract

Kirkland Lake Gold’s Macassa Mine is a lode gold deposit in the Abitibi Greenstone. It has two systems of mineralization: the Main/’04 Breaks, and the South Mine Complex (SMC). The objective of this work was to constrain mineralization sources between these systems using geochemical signatures. The SMC has different structure, mineralogy, alteration, trace- and major-elements composition, and δ¹⁸O values. The Main/’04 is a series of faults with thin alteration dipping south 60-85º. The SMC is a series of structurally controlled zones dipping southeast 25-50° with wide alteration. It is interpreted to be a Riedel Shear between the ’04 and Amalgamated Breaks. Significant findings include δ¹⁸O values of quartz mineral separates of 10.1-12.9‰ (SMC) and 11.0-14.0‰ (Main/’04) and paired with chlorite mineral separate calculate temperatures between 134-616°C (SMC) and 128-434°C (Main/’04) within auriferous samples. This suggests higher temperatures and a greater magmatic component present in the mineralizing fluids within the SMC.

Recommended Citation

Stammers, Liana K.T., "Geochemical Constraints of the Gold Mineralization Sources from the South Mine Complex and the Main/’04 Breaks, Macassa Mine, Kirkland Lake, Ontario" (2016). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 4256.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/4256