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6th International Archean Symposium
6th International Archean Symposium

The evolving crustal architecture of the Wawa Subprovince, Superior Craton

Oral

Oral

2:00 pm

27 July 2023

Room 1

Session 1.8 (T3)

Talk Description

The Superior Craton is Earth’s largest relic of Archean crust, thus providing important information on the geology of the early Earth. The craton hosts numerous world-class ore deposits, particularly in the Abitibi-Wawa Terrane, including volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS), orogenic gold, and lesser komatiite-hosted Ni-Cu-PGE deposits, that are all often clustered spatially and temporally into ‘camps’. Controls on the formation of these clusters, the crustal architecture, and geodynamic processes leading to mineralisation are yet to be fully resolved. Previous studies used combined U-Pb geochronology, radiogenic (Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf) and stable (18O/16O, δ18O) isotopes to map the spatiotemporal evolution of crustal architecture (i.e., the Yilgarn Craton and Abitibi Subprovince, Superior Craton). Our study applies this technique to the less studied eastern Wawa Subprovince along strike of the Abitibi Subprovince and looks to further develop the methodology by integrating whole-rock geochemistry to allow mapping of crustal petrogenetic variations. We integrate multiple analytical datasets from tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) and felsic volcanic rocks with phase equilibrium modelling to understand crustal architecture, including: 1) zircon trace element, O- and Hf- isotope compositions to identify involvement of low/high-temperature processes and juvenile/ancient crustal input to magmas, 2) whole-rock geochemistry, including Sr/Y ratio, to investigate source characteristics and relative source depth, and 3) whole-rock Nb content and phase-equilibrium modelling of Kapuskasing Structural Zone (KSZ) mafic rocks to establish the depth of source zone melting for Wawa TTG and felsic volcanic rock production. Combining these approaches, we find evidence for a geochemical and isotopic transition around 2695 Ma. Whole-rock geochemistry indicates that pre-2695 Ma rocks are dominated by sodic (K2O/Na2O<0.7) magmas, and zircon isotopes show mantle-like δ18O values (4.7-5.9‰) with juvenile εHf values (+2.2-+5.6). Post-2695 Ma potassic (K2O/Na2O>0.7) rocks are more abundant, showing overall heavier δ18O-isotopes (5.9-7.4‰) and less juvenile εHf values; notably similar to findings from the Abitibi Subprovince. Whole-rock phase equilibrium analysis of Wawa mafic rocks indicates a garnet stability-field > 7-8 kbar, suggesting that Wawa TTG source rocks dominated by high Sr/Y were melted predominantly at a crustal depth equivalent to ~ 26-30km depth. The felsic volcanic rocks are dominantly sourced from a shallower crustal depth (low Sr/Y) than the TTGs (high Sr/Y). This temporal transition is couped to a spatial change, with the high Sr/Y crust (deep source) trending N-S at >2695 Ma, compared to E-W at <2695 Ma. Our results demonstrate significant spatial and temporally variability in source characteristics, source depth and hence, crustal architecture across the Wawa Subprovince, features likely to have a significant effect on the formation and localisation of mineral systems, with VMS more likely in a more primitive (sodic, mantle-like δ18O and εHf) and possibly thinner crustal regime. Less primitive crust (potassic, heavy δ18O and εHf) may reflect a metasomatized component, potentially important for gold mineralization. This study demonstrates that integration of isotopic mapping with whole-rock geochemistry and phase-equilibrium modelling establishes a more robust tool for understanding evolution of crustal architecture.

Speakers