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Geology, alteration, and sulfide mineralization of the TV and Jeff precious-metal occurrences in northwestern British Columbia, Canada
Peterson, McKenzee L.
Peterson, McKenzee L.
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2022
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The precious-metal occurrences TV and Jeff are located in the Unuk River region on the eastern limb of the Eskay Anticline approximately 10 km south of the Eskay Creek volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. The J20-34 drill core from Jeff and the TV20-37 drill core from TV were studied to evaluate the deposit type, stratigraphy, deposition, alteration, sulfide mineralization, and ore mineralogy. Sulfide mineralization occurs as discordant stockwork and concordant sulfides replacing carbonaceous mudstone in the Betty Creek Formation of the Early Jurassic lower Hazelton Group. At Jeff, sulfide mineralization occurs as sub-seafloor replacement of the mudstone matrix in dacitic and basaltic peperites. Sulfide mineralization at TV is characterized by sub-seafloor replacement of mudstone immediately below and at seafloor position and replacement of mudstone in a scoriaceous breccia. The Ishikawa alteration index and silicification intensity is strongest below concordant sulfide mineralization and shows asymmetrical intensity throughout both drill cores. Ore minerals are hosted in vugs and fractures of pyrite grains and commonly as inclusions associated with As-rich pyrite grains. The mineral association of electrum, tetrahedrite, galena, chalcopyrite, and As-rich pyrite indicates an ore forming fluid element association of Au, Ag, As, Sb, Cu, and Pb. There is an early stage of non-mineralized pyrite formation with a later stage episodic As-rich pyrite formation associated with ore minerals. The results from this study indicates that TV and Jeff represent a stacked sub-seafloor replacement, precious-metal enriched VMS system hosted in the lower Hazelton Group.
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