Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Whole-rock δ2H and δ18O footprint of the Canadian Malartic gold deposit, Pontiac Subprovince, Québec, Canada

  • Article
  • Published:
Mineralium Deposita Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Canadian Malartic gold deposit was produced by a hydrothermal system that altered the host metasedimentary rocks of the Pontiac Group, metavolcanic rocks of the Piché Group, and associated porphyritic intrusions and mafic dykes. The isotopic footprint in Pontiac metasedimentary rocks is marked by an increase in δ2H values from − 91‰ near mineralization to background values of ca. − 59‰, whereas δ18O values remain relatively constant near 10‰. The isotopic footprint in mafic dykes is marked by an increase in δ2H values from − 84‰ near mineralization to background values of ca. − 73‰, and a decrease in δ18O values from 9.8‰ near mineralization to background values of ca. 8.3‰. Kriging of oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions around the Canadian Malartic deposit delineates the isotopic footprint of the deposit. In greywackes, the − 59‰ δ2H isopleth encircles the mineralized domain and is elongated towards the northwest and southeast. In mafic dykes, the − 73‰ δ2H isopleth encircles the mineralized domain as well as a large area to the south and southeast, whereas the 8.3‰ δ18O isopleth encircles the center of the mineralized system and extends over an area towards the southeast. Host rock oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions therefore define a cryptic alteration footprint up to 2.5 km outside of the Canadian Malartic deposit. The isotopic composition of the metamorphic fluid in equilibrium with the average least altered greywacke at upper greenschist to amphibolite conditions of ca. 550 °C is approximately δ18O = 8.6‰ and δ2H = − 19‰. This is close to the composition of the mineralizing fluid at the Canadian Malartic deposit reported by previous studies. Fluid/rock oxygen and hydrogen isotope exchange modeling indicate that the isotopic footprint formed at relatively low fluid/rock ratios up to 0.5 at temperatures near 350–400 °C.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aitchison J (1986) The Statistical Analysis of Compositional Data 44:365–374

  • Ayer J, Amelin Y, Corfu F, Kamo S, Ketchum J, Kwok K, Trowell N (2002) Evolution of the southern Abitibi greenstone belt based on U-Pb geochronology: autochthonous volcanic construction followed by plutonism, regional deformation and sedimentation. Precambrian Res 115:63–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beaudoin G, Chiaradia M (2016) Fluid mixing in orogenic gold deposits: evidence from the H-O-Sr isotope composition of the Val-d’Or vein field (Abitibi, Canada). Chem Geol 437:7–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.05.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beaudoin G, Pitre D (2005) Stable isotope geochemistry of the Archean Val-d’Or (Canada) orogenic gold vein field. Mineral Deposita 40:59–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-005-0474-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beaudoin G, Raskevicius T (2014) Constraints on the genesis of the archean oxidized, intrusion-related Canadian malartic gold deposit, Quebec, Canada—a discussion. Econ Geol 109:2067–2071. https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.109.3.713

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beaudoin G, Therrien R, Savard C (2006) 3D numerical modelling of fluid flow in the Val-d’Or orogenic gold district: major crustal shear zones drain fluids from overpressured vein fields. Mineral Deposita 41:82–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-005-0043-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bierlein FP, Arne DC, Cartwright I (2004) Stable isotope (C, O, S) systematics in alteration haloes associated with orogenic gold mineralization in the Victorian gold province, SE Australia. Geochem Explor Environ Anal 4:191–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camiré GE, Laflèche MR, Ludden JN (1990) Archaean metasedimentary rocks from the northwestern Pontiac Subprovince of the Canadian shield: chemical characterization, weathering and modelling of the source area. Precambrian Res 62:285–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/0301-9268(93)90026-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Card K (1990) A review of the superior province of the Canadian shield, a product of Archean accretion. Precambrian Res 48:99–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cathles LM, Spooner ETC, Barrie CT (1993) Oxygen isotope alteration in the Noranda mining district, Abitibi greenstone belt, Quebec. Econ Geol 88:1483–1511. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.88.6.1483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain CP, Ferry JM, Rumble D (1990) The effect of net-transfer reactions on the isotopic composition of minerals. Contrib Mineral Petrol 105:322–336. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark I, Harper WV (2000) Practical Geostatistics. https://doi.org/10.1198/tech.2001.s52

  • Clayton RN, Mayeda TK (1963) The use of bromine pentafluoride in the extraction of oxygen from oxides and silicates for isotopic analysis. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 27:43–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colvine AC (1989) An empirical model for the formation of Archean gold deposits: products of final cratonization of the Superior Province, Canada. In: Keays RR, Ramsay WRH, Groves DI (eds) The geology of gold deposits: The perspective in 1988. The Economic Geology Publishing Company, pp 37–53

  • Corfu F, Jackson SL, Sutcliffe RH (1991) U–Pb ages and tectonic significance of late Archean alkalic magmatism and nonmarine sedimentation: Timiskaming Group, southern Abitibi belt, Ontario. Can J Earth Sci 28:489–503. https://doi.org/10.1139/e91-043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Criss RE, Fleck RJ (1990) Oxygen isotope map of the giant metamorphic-hydrothermal system around the northern part of the Idaho batholith, U.S.A. Appl Geochem 5:641–655. https://doi.org/10.1016/0883-2927(90)90062-A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Criss R, Singleton M, Champion D (2000) Three-dimensional oxygen isotope imaging of convective fluid flow around the Big Bonanza, Comstock Lode mining district, Nevada. Econ Geol 95:131–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croghan CW, Egeghy PP (2003) Methods of dealing with values below the limit of detection using Sas. South SAS User Gr 5

  • Daigneault R, Mueller WU, Chown EH (2002) Oblique Archean subduction: accretion and exhumation of an oceanic arc during dextral transpression, Southern Volcanic Zone, Abitibi Subprovince Canada. Precambrian Res 115:261–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis JC (1973) Statistics and data analysis in geology, third. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis DW (2002) U–Pb geochronology of Archean metasedimentary rocks in the Pontiac and Abitibi subprovinces, Quebec, constraints on timing, provenance and regional tectonics. Precambrian Res 115:97–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-9268(02)00007-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Souza S, Dubé B, McNicoll VJ, Dupuis C, Mercier-Langevin P, Creaser RA, Kjarsgaard IM (2015) Geology, hydrothermal alteration, and genesis of the world-class Canadian Malartic stockwork-disseminated Archean gold deposit, Abitibi, Quebec. In: Dubé B, Mercier-Langevin P (ed) Targeted geoscience initiative 4: contributions to the understanding of precambrian lode gold deposits and implications for exploration, Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 7852, 113–126

  • De Souza S, Dubé B, McNicoll VJ, Dupuis C, Mercier-Langevin P, Creaser RA, Kjarsgaard IM (2016) Geology and hydrothermal alteration of the world-class Canadian Malartic gold deposit: genesis of an Archean Stockwork-disseminated gold deposit in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Québec. Econ Geol Rev 19:263–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Derry DR (1939) The geology of the Canadian Malartic gold mine. N Quebec Econ Geol 34:495–523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desrochers J-P, Hubert C (1996) Structural evolution and early accretion of the Archean Malartic composite block, southern Abitibi greenstone belt, Quebec, Canada. Can J Earth Sci 33:1556–1569

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodson MH (1982) On “spurious” correlations in Rb-Sr isochron diagrams. Lithos 15:215–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-4937(82)90013-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egozcue JJ, Pawlowsky-Glahn V, Mateu-Figueras G, Barceló-Vidal C (2003) Isometric logratio transformations for compositional data analysis. Math Geol 35:279–300. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023818214614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eilu P, Mikucki E, Groves DI (1997) Wallrock alteration and primary geochemical dispersion in lode-gold exploration.SGA Short Course Series Volume 1, 71 p

  • Eilu P, Mikucki EJ, Dugdale AL (2001) Alteration zoning and primary geochemical dispersion at the Bronzewing lode-gold deposit, Western Australia. Mineral Deposita 36:13–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s001260050283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng R, Kerrich R, Maas R (1993) Geochemical, oxygen, and neodymium isotope compositions of metasediments from the Abitibi greenstone belt and Pontiac Subprovince, Canada: evidence for ancient crust and Archean terrane juxtaposition. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 57:641–658. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(93)90375-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filzmoser P, Hron K, Reimann C (2009) Principal components analysis for compositional data with outliers. Environmetrics 20:621–632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Floyd PA, Winchester JA (1977) Magma type and tectonic setting discrimination using immobile elements. Earth Planet Sci Lett 27:211–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaillard N, Williams-Jones AE, Clark JR, Salvi S, Béziat D, Lypaczewski P, Perrouty S, Linnen RL (2015) Mineralogical and geochemical vectors to ore: the alteration halo of the Canadian Malartic gold deposit, In: Proceedings of the 13th, Biennial SGA Meeting, Nancy, France, 2: 461–464

  • Gaillard N, Williams-Jones AE, Clark JR, Lypaczewski P, Salvi S, Perrouty S, Piette-Lauzière N, Guilmette C, Linnen RL (2018) Mica composition as a vector to gold mineralization: deciphering hydrothermal and metamorphic effects in the Canadian Malartic district, Québec, Canada. Ore Geol Rev 95:789–820

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gervais D, Roy C, Thibault A, Pednault C, Doucet D (2014) Technical report on the mineral reserve estimates for the Canadian Malartic property. Mine Caladian Malartic. 460 p

  • Golding SD,  Wilson AF (1983) Geochemical and stable isotope studies of the No. 4 lode, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Econ Geol 78(3):438–450

  • Helt KM, Williams-Jones AE, Clark JR, Wing BA, Wares RP (2014) Constraints on the genesis of the Archean oxidized, intrusion-related Canadian Malartic Gold Deposit, Quebec, Canada. Econ Geol 109:713–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herron MM (1988) Geochemical classification of terrigenous sands and shales from core or log data. J Sediment Res 58:820–829

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyde R (1980) Sedimentary facies in the Archean Timiskaming Group and their tectonic implications, Abitibi greenstone belt, northeastern Ontario, Canada. Precambrian Res 12:161–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Issigonis MJ (1980) Occurance of disseminated gold depisits in porphyries in Archean Abitibi Belt, northwest Quebec, Canada. Trans Inst Min Metall Sect B Appl Earth Sci 89:157–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Maitre RW (1982) Numerical petrology: ststistical interpretation of geochemical data. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesher CM, Hannington M, Galley A, the Mineral Exploration Research Network (2017) Integrated multi-parameter exploration footprints of the Canadian Malartic disseminated Au, McArthur River- Millennium unconformity U, and Highland Valley porphyry Cu Deposits: preliminary results from the NSERC-CMIC Mineral Exploration Footprints Research Network, Exploration ‘17, Toronto, ON, 23 p

  • Makvandi S, Ghasemzadeh-Barvarz M, Beaudoin G, Grunsky EC, Beth McClenaghan M, Duchesne C (2016) Principal component analysis of magnetite composition from volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits: case studies from the Izok Lake (Nunavut, Canada) and Halfmile Lake (New Brunswick, Canada) deposits. Ore Geol Rev 72:60–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2015.06.023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuhisa Y, Goldsmith JR, Clayton RN (1979) Oxygen isotopic fractionation in the system quartz-albite-anorthite-water. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 43:1131–1140. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(79)90099-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pawlowsky-Glahn V, Egozcue JJ (2006) Compositional data and their analysis: an introduction. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 264:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.2006.264.01.01

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perrouty S, Gaillard N, Piette-Lauzière N, Mir R, Bardoux M, Olivo GR, Linnen RL, Bérubé CL, Lypaczewski P, Guilmette C, Feltrin L, Morris WA (2017) Structural setting for Canadian Malartic style of gold mineralization in the Pontiac subprovince, south of the Cadillac Larder Lake Deformation Zone, Québec, Canada. Ore Geol Rev 84:185–201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2017.01.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perrouty S, Linnen RL, Lesher CM, Olivo GR, Piercey SJ, Gaillard N, Clark JR, Enkin RJ (2019) Expanding the size of multi-parameter metasomatic footprints in gold exploration: utilization of mafic dykes in the Canadian Malartic district, Québec, Canada. Mineralium Deposita. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-018-0829-x

  • Piette-Lauzière N (2017) Métamorphisme régional du nord-est de la Sous-province de Pontiac, Abitibi, Québec. MSc Thesis, Université Laval, Québec, pp 260

  • Raskevicius T (2017) Whole-rock δ18O and δ2H footprint of the Canadian Malartic Gold deposit, Pontiac sub-province, Quebec, Canada. MSc Thesis, Université Laval, Québec, pp 89

  • Rice C, Harmon R, Boyce A, Fallick A (2001) Assessment of grid-based whole-rock δD surveys in exploration: Boulder County epithermal tungsten deposit, Colorado. Econ Geol 96:133–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Riverin G, Hodgson CJ (1980) Wall-rock alteration at the Millenbach cu-Zn mine, Noranda, Quebec. Econ Geol 75:424–444

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robert F (2001) Syenite-associated disseminated gold deposits in the Abitibi greenstone belt, Canada. Mineral Deposita 36:503–516. https://doi.org/10.1007/s001260100186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rollinson HR (1993) Using geochemical data: evaluation, presentation, interpretation. Pearson, p 384

  • Sansfaçon R, Hubert C (1990) The Malartic Gold District, Abitibi greenstone belt, Québec: geological setting, structure and timing of gold emplacement Barnat, East- Malartic, Canadian Malartic and Sladen Mines. In: The northwestern Quebec polymetallic belt: a summary of 60 years of mining exploration. In: Rive M, Verpealst P, Gagnon Y, Lulin JM, Riverin Simard A (eds) Special Vol. 43. Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, pp. 221–235

  • Scott CR, Mueller WU, Pilote P (2002) Physical volcanology, stratigraphy, and lithogeochemistry of an Archean volcanic arc: evolution from plume-related volcanism to arc rifting of SE Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Val d'Or, Canada. Precambrian Res 115:223–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharp ZD, Atudorei V, Durakiewicz T (2001) A rapid method for determination of hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios from water and hydrous minerals. Chem Geol 178:197–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard SMF (1986) Characterization and isotopic variations in natural waters. Rev Mineral Geochem 16:165–183.

  • Suzuoki T, Epstein S (1976) Hydrogen isotope fractionation between OH-bearing minerals and water. Geoochim Cosmochim Acta 40:1229–1240

  • Taylor H (1974) The application of oxygen and hydrogen isotope studies to problems of hydrothermal alteration and ore deposition. Econ Geol 69:843–883

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor HP (1978) Oxygen and hydrogen isotope studies of plutonic granitic rocks. Earth Planet Sci Lett 38:177–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(78)90131-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor BE, de Kemp E, Grunsky E, Martin L, Maxwell G, Rigg D, Goutier J, Lauzière K, Dubé B (2014) Three-dimensional visualization of the Archean Horne and Quemont Au-bearing volcanogenic massive sulfide hydrothermal systems, Blake River Group, Quebec. Econ Geol 109:183–203. https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.109.1.183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyman DA, Kerrich R, Polat A (2002) Assembly of Archean cratonic mantle lithosphere and crust: plume-arc interaction in the Abitibi-Wawa subduction-accretion complex. Precambrian Res 115:37–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0301-9268(02)00005-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young ED (1993) On the 18O/16O record of reaction progress in open and closed metamorphic systems. Earth Planet Sci Lett 117:147–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(93)90123-Q

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study is part of the NSERC-CMIC Exploration Footprints Project. We also would like to acknowledge the logistic support given by the Canadian Malartic mine, as well as sponsors of the NSERC-CMIC footprints project. Special thanks are given to Michael Lesher, Robert Linnen, Gema Olivo, and Marc Bardoux for reviews of earlier drafts of the manuscript. NSERC-CMIC Mineral Exploration Footprints Project Contribution Number 173. We thank Anne-Sylvie André-Meyer, David Banks, and Bernd Lehmann for their comments that helped improve the paper significantly.

Funding

Funding was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Canada Mining Innovation Council (CMIC) through the NSERC Collaborative Research and Development Program. Support has also been provided by the Society of Economic Geologist Canada Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de recherche sur la géologie et l’ingénierie des ressources minérales (E4m), Département de géologie et de génie géologique, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Thomas Raskevicius & Georges Beaudoin

  2. Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    Kurt Kyser

  3. Mineral Exploration Research Centre, Harquail School of Earth Sciences, Goodman School of Mines, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, 3PE 2C6, Canada

    Stéphane Perrouty

  4. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7, Canada

    Nicolas Gaillard

Author notes

  1. Kurt Kyser is deceased. This paper is dedicated to his memory.

    • Kurt Kyser
Authors
  1. Thomas Raskevicius
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Georges Beaudoin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kurt Kyser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stéphane Perrouty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nicolas Gaillard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georges Beaudoin.

Additional information

Editorial handling: B. Lehmann

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(PDF 17683 kb)

ESM 2

(XLSX 33 kb)

ESM 3

(DOCX 46 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Raskevicius, T., Beaudoin, G., Kyser, K. et al. Whole-rock δ2H and δ18O footprint of the Canadian Malartic gold deposit, Pontiac Subprovince, Québec, Canada. Miner Deposita 55, 991–1008 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-019-00919-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-019-00919-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation