Grant: Alliance Grants

This project will focus on the shear zone hosted gold mineralization of the Eagle River Complex in the Mishibishu greenstone belt, Northern Ontario. Three BSc and two MSc will use fundamental geological mapping and logging combined with traditional and state-of-the-art analytical techniques to characterize the mineralization and alteration system associated with the Eagle River Complex gold deposits and the Mishibishu greenstone belt that hosts them. The proposed research will combine basic field and petrographic studies with well established (whole rock geochemistry, stable and radiogenic isotopes) and novel (e.g., mineral chemistry from LA-ICP-MS, EMPA, in situ isotope studies) geochemical techniques to fully characterise the paragenesis and alteration of shear zone hosted gold mineralization. We will develop lithologic, geochemical and geochronologic criteria that can be used to characterize the footprint of the alteration and develop models that can be applied by Wesdome on the property and in their ongoing regional exploration.The data generated in this study will be used to develop a model(s) for shear zone hosted Au mineralization that Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. can use to enhance their exploration efforts, and hopefully lead to increased mineral production. This project will contribute to our understanding of the processes that form shear zone hosted gold systems and develop vectors in the alteration that can be used to target high-grade zones of mineralization. We will develop tools that can be applied by Canadian companies to aid in generating future discoveries. The discovery and development of new mineral resources is critical to the well-being of Canada's economy and this project will lead to greater efficiencies in that process.