Abstract
According to Ross and Travis,(18) there are three main tectonic settings for the sulfide nickel deposits of the World: (1) stable platforms, chiefly of Proterozoic age, (2) remnants of island arcs and mobile belts, mainly of Archean age, referred to as “Greenstone Belts,” and (3) Paleozoic and Mesozoic fold belts. The first two types of setting are well represented in the North American Precambrian Shield; the third one is found along the North American Cordillera Belt. Ross and Travis(18) and Naldrett(16) recognize three genetic and lithologic groups of sulfide nickel deposits throughout the world. The first two are associated with layered complexes and undifferentiated intrusives, while the third one has mafic volcanic affiliations. All three are known to occur in North America.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References and Selected Readings
CAMERON, E. M., SIDDELEY, G., and DURHAM, C. G., 1971, Distribution of ore elements in rocks for evaluating ore potential: Nickel, copper and sulfur in ultra-mafic rocks of the Canadian Shield, Can. Inst. Min. Metall. Spec. Vol. 11, 298–313.
CHAYER, T. P., 1960, Some critical differences between Alpine-type and stratiform peridotite-gabbro complexes, 21st International Geological Congress, Pt. XIII, pp. 247–259.
COAD, P. R., 1979, Nickel sulfide deposits associated with ultramafic rocks of the Abitibi Belt and economic potential of mafic-ultramafic intrusions, Ontario Geological Survey, Study No. 20, Toronto, Canada.
CORNWALL, H. R., 1966, Nickel deposits of North America, U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. No. 1223.
DOWSETT, J. S., 1979, Geophysical exploration methods for nickel, Geol. Surv. Can. Econ. Geol. Rep. No. 31, 310–321.
ECKSTRAND, O. R., 1972, Ultramafic flows and nickel sulfide deposits in the Abitibi Orogenic Belt, Geol. Surv. Can. Pap. 72.-1, part A, 75–81.
IRVINE, T. N., and SMITH, C. H., 1967, The ultrabasic rocks of the Muskox intrusion, N.W.T., Canada, in Ultramafic and Related Rocks, pp. 38–49, Wiley, New York.
JACKSON, E. D., 1961, Primary textures and mineral associations in the ultramafic zone of the Stillwater complex, Montana, U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. No. 358.
KILBURN, L. C., WILSON, H. D. B., GRAHAM, A. R., and OGURA, Y., 1969, Nickel sulfide ores related to ultrabasic intrusions in Canada, Symposium on magmatic ore deposits, Economic Geology Publishing Co, pp. 276–293.
LIEBENBERG, L., 1970, The sulfides in the layered sequence of the Bushveld igneous complex, Geological Society of South Africa, Special Publication No. 1, pp. 108–207.
LUSK, J., 1976, A possible volcanic-exhalative origin for lenticular nickel sulfide deposits of volcanic association, with special references to those of Western Australia; Can. J. Sci. 13, 451–458.
MACKENZIE, B. W., 1968, Nickel: Canada and the World, Mining Rept No. 16, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ottawa.
MILLER, C. P., 1959, A comparison of plant and soil prospecting for nickel, A.I.M.E. Preprint No. 59-L-40.
NALDRETT, A. J., 1966, The role of sulfurization in the genesis of iron–nickel sulfide deposits of the Porcupine District, Can. Inst. Min. Metall. Bull. 59, 489–497.
NALDRETT, A. J., and GASPARRINI, E. L., 1971, Archean nickel sulfide deposits in Canada: Their classification, geological setting and genesis, with some suggestions as to exploration, Geol. Soc. Aust. Spec. Pub. No. 3, 201–226.
NALDRETT, A. J., 1973, Nickel sulfide deposits—Their classification and genesis with special emphasis on deposits of volcanogenic association, Can. Inst. Min. Metall. Bull. 66 (739), 45–63.
OBIAL, R., APELO, M., and SANTOS, G., 1972, Geochemical prospecting for nickel sulfides—An orientation survey, J. Geol. Soc. Philipp. 26, 1–36.
ROSS, J. R., and TRAVIS, G. A., 1981, Nickel sulfide deposits of Western Australia in global perspective, Econ. Geol. 76, 1291–1329.
SHLANKA, R., 1969, Copper, nickel, lead and zinc deposits of Ontario, Ontario Department of Mines, M.R.C. 12, Toronto.
TAYLOR, R. B., 1964, Geology of the Duluth gabbro complex near Duluth, Minnesota, Minn. Geol. Surv. Bull. No. 44.
WAGER, L. R., and BROWN, G. M., 1968, Layered Igneous Rocks, Oliver & Boyd, London.
WAGER, L. R., VINCENT, E. A., and SMALES, A. A., 1957, Sulfides in the Skaergaard intrusion, East Greenland, Econ. Geol. 52, 855–903.
WALKER, F., 1940, Differentiation of the Palisades diabase, New Jersey, Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 51, 1059–1106.
WILSON, H. D. B., and BRISBIN, W. C., 1961, Regional structure of the Thompson–Moak Lake Nickel Belt, Can. Inst. Min. Metall. Bull. 54 (596), 815–821.
WYLIE, P. J. (Ed.) 1967, A Review of the Geology of the Ultra-mafic and Related Rocks, Wiley, New York.
ZURBRIGG, H. F., 1963, Thompson mine geology, Can. Inst. Min. Metall. Bull. 56, 451–460.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1985 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
De Geoffroy, J.G., Wignall, T.K. (1985). Detection of Ni-Cu Ultramafic Deposits of the North American Shield by Optimized Geophysical Surveys and Drilling Programs. In: Designing Optimal Strategies for Mineral Exploration. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1230-7_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1230-7_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-1232-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-1230-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive