www.postersession.com The Jasper Property, southwest Vancouver Island, contains several showings of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, and Au; however, the origin and style of mineralization is not well understood. Based on the nature of mineralization, two different deposit models have been hypothesized: Noranda/Kuroko volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) or Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry The goal of this research project is to determine whether or not the Jasper Property hosts a VMS deposit. This will be determined by analyzing the geology and geochemistry of Jasper Property drill core. Geological and geochemical predictions are as follows: Veins containing Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, or Au [6] Submarine volcanic rocks: rhyolite, dacite, andesite, basalt Enriched Cu-Zn relative to Pb Geochem signatures of mafic boninite, LOTI, MORB rocks M-affinities on Nb/Y discriminant diagram . The Jasper Property is underlain by a variety of lower-Jurassic Bonanza Group volcanic rocks . Felsic to mafic volcanics formed in an island arc environment Bedrock exposure is due to convergent plate tectonics; the exotic Wrangellia Terrane collided with N. America ~100 Ma Economic mineralization is associated with alteration zones VMS deposits originate at submarine plate boundaries Seawater flows down joints towards igneous intrusions Due to hydrothermal processes, sulphide minerals become incorporated in seawater and travel back to seafloor Sulphide minerals precipitate at 'black smoker' sites and accumulate in lens-shaped deposits on the seafloor Bimodal-mafic VMS deposits are associated with subduction Vancouver Island hosts VMS in Sicker Group volcanics Observations: Jacques Houle and Nitinat Minerals Corporation provided three drill cores from the Jasper Property. Drill core observations led to the identification of four different rock units. See figures below. Bedrock Units: Unit A: Grey-green lapilli tuff 50% ash, %50 lapilli; most lapilli fragments occur as 2mm-5mm quartz crystals; suspected hornblende crystals (5%); alteration evidenced by bleaching, anastomosing calcite veins, and very fine-grained disseminated pyrite (<5%); 4.5 cm thick galena vein Unit C: Feldspar-phyric andesitic basalt 50% groundmass, 50% phenocrysts; grey-green aphanitic groundmass with abundant feldspar phenocrysts: 25% K-feldspar and 20% plagioclase; suspected hornblende (4%); alteration associated with calcite veins (1mm-30mm thick) and disseminated sulphide minerals: pyrite (<1%), galena (<1%). Unit D: Overprinting alteration of A-E contact Light green matrix with lapilli and dark rounded nodules; variable quartz-sericite, chlorite, and red alteration; fine disseminated pyrite(<1%); anastomosing veins; bleaching; brittle zones Unit E: Red lapilli-tuff 50%ash, 50% lapilli; lapilli fragments (2mm-50mm); deep red matrix; epidotization; minor calcite veins associated with pyrite Expectations & Discussion: If the Jasper Property hosts VMS, we should see the following: Ore associated with the felsic or intermediate volcanic rocks? [6] Mineralization is present, but ore is not economic. Veins containing Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, or Au? [6] One 4.5 cm thick Pb vein found in grey-green lapilli-tuff. 1. British Columbia Geological Survey (BCGS). 2014. BCGS Geoscience Map http://www.mapplace.ca, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources. Retrieved January 25th, 2014 2. Flower, K. 2013. British Columbia Geological Survey (BCGS) MINFILE Record Summary - MINFILE No. 092C 088. 3. Franklin JM. Gibson HL. Galley AG. Jonasson IR. 2005. Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits. In: Hedenquist JW. Thompson JFH. Goldfarb RJ. Richards JP (editors). Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume. Littleton, CO. Society of Economic Geologists. p 523-560. 4. Gibson HL. Galley AG. Jonasson IR. 2005. Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits. In: Hedenquist JW. Thompson JFH. Goldfarb RJ. Richards JP (editors). Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume. Littleton, CO. Society of Economic Geologists. p 523-560. 5. Houle, J. 2012. 2011 Assessment Report for Prospecting, Trenching Geochemistry, Geology, and Diamond Drilling May 2011 – March 2012 on the Jasper Property. 6. Höy T. 1991. Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide Deposits in British Columbia. In: W.J. McMillan (Coordinator). Ore Deposits, Tectonics and Metallogeny in the Canadian Cordillera. British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. Paper 1991-4. p 89-123. 7. Nasmith HW, Yorath CJ. 2001. The Geology of Southern Vancouver Island. Victoria (BC): Orca Book Publishers. 172 p. 8. Nelson, J., and Colpron, M., 2007, Tectonics and Metallogeny of the British Columbia, Yukon and Alaskan Cordillera, 1.8 Ga to the present, in Goodfellow, W.D., ed., Mineral Deposits of Canada: A Synthesis of Major Deposit-Types, District Metallogeny, the Evolution of Geological Provinces, and Exploration Methods: Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication No. 5, p. 755-791. 9. Piercy, S.J. 2010. An overview of petrochemistry in the regional exploration for volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis. Vol 10, pp. 1-18. 10. Stevens R. 2010. Mineral Exploration and Mining Essentials. Port Coquitlam, BC: Pakawau GeoManagement. Chapter 3, Mineral Deposits; p 70-74. Predictions Y/N Comments Veins containing Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Au Y Core contains one significant galena (PbS) vein Submarine volcanic rocks: rhyolite, dacite, andesite, basalt Y Core contains intermediate tuffs and andesitic basalt, but alteration may complicate rock classification Ore found in felsic to intermediate rocks ? Interesting mineralization, but no major ore Enriched Cu-Zn relative to Pb Y Evidence of a juvenile environment, consistent with a bimodal mafic VMS model Geochemical signatures of mafic boninite, LOTI, or MORB rocks ? No boninite signature; may explain lack of mineralization; likely island arc tholeiite M-affinities on Nb/Y discriminant diagram Y Supports, but does not prove, VMS mineralization; ore is possible, not evident Many thanks to Jacques Houle and Nitinat Mining Corporation for providing drill core and geochemical data. Further thanks to our instructor, Sandra Johnstone. Geological and geochemical findings support a potential VMS deposit at the Jasper Property, but hard evidence is lacking. The scope of this research is limited due to a lack of core samples, geochemical information, and geologic mapping. Further sampling, geochemical analysis, and property mapping are recommended. Samples were analyzed by Inspectorate Mining and Exploration Service using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectroscopy. ... Image from Google Earth Spider Diagram: The pattern of enrichment or depletion of certain elements in the local rock units is similar to those of back-arc basin basalt (BABB) and island arc tholeiites (IAT). Al2O3/TiO2 vs. Nb/Y: Data points straddle the boundary between mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) and boninite/low Ti tholeiitic (LOTI)-associated VMS. Al2O3/ TiO2 is too low for rocks to be considered boninitic. Nb vs. Y: Rhyolites with M-type affinities are most likely to host VMS mineralization. Drill core data plot within the M-type field. Zr vs. Y: Drill core plots within the tholeiitic field. This disagrees with Bonanza Grp. descriptions indicating calc-alkalic rocks [5] . Although these plots are better suited for rhyolite analysis, mafic, intermediate, and felsic rock samples should display geochemical signatures similar to rhyolites [5] . 0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Al (ppm) Nb (ppm) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ba (ppm) Nb (ppm) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sc (ppm) Nb (ppm) 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ta (ppm) Nb (ppm) 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ti (ppm) Nb (ppm) 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 V (ppm) Nb (ppm) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Y (ppm) Nb (ppm) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Zr (ppm) Nb (ppm) 1 10 100 1000 1 10 100 1000 Nb (ppm) Y (ppm) Within-plate (A-type) M-type Volcanic arc (I-type) Ocean ridge (OR-type) Syncollisional (S-type) 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 0 20 40 60 80 100 Zr (ppm) Y (ppm) Calc-alkalic Tholeiitic 0.1 1 10 100 1000 Th Nb La Ce Pr Nd Sm Zr Hf Eu Ti Gd Tb Dy Y Er Yb Lu Al V Sc Rock/Primitive Mantle Element 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 Nb/Y MORB Associated Boninite and LOTI Associated