Geology and Fluid Genesis of the Neoproterozoic Niblack Cu-Au-Zn-Ag Volcanogenic-Hosted Massive Sulfide Camp, Southeast Alaska

12 1 2 3
Brian A. McNulty (bmcnulty@eos.ubc.ca) , Melissa J. Gregory , Keith Roberts , Jim Oliver
1 2 3
Mineral Deposit Research Unit, Department of Earth & Ocean Sciences, The University of British Columbia Heatherdale Resources Ltd. Oliver Geoscience

Prince of Wales Regional Geology | Niblack VHMS Property-Scale Geology & Resource Summary Niblack Camp Stratigraphy & Geochronology Geochemical Characterization of Neoproterozoic Strata Niblack Hydrothermal Alteration Assemblages & Mineralization Styles
WALES GROUP A B
A B n = 18 calc-alkaline transitional
oor
(Neoproterozoic) Spatial Distribution of VHMS Deposits 200
Paleo-Sea
fl
6
2
G-I
Niblack Alteration Explanation
55o 30' Mine
0
Chlorite-rich,

Y/Zr = 25
1 cm 1 cm

4 .5
=7
Strati 1 cm
Cu-dominant

=
graph

r
WC South North

Zr
Y/Z
LEGEND Southwest Limb of ic HW

Y/
Sericite-rich,
MORB
Plutonic rock units Antiformal Syncline Zn-dominant
132o Mafic to Intermediate Epiclastics Rhyolite-Dacite
Elevation
? (m) Lookout
Mesozoic (MIEP) ? 670
-1
tholeiitic
Deposit
Sericite-Pyrite
Mg-rich Chlorite,

Log(Zr/Ti)

Zr (ppm)
Paleozoic NFS 5 3
MOIRA SOUND UNIT D-E Cu-rich
Niblack Andesite-Basalt r =2 J 1. Chl-Rich Alteration 2. Mg-Rich Chlorite Alteration 3. Ser-Rich Alteration
6 (Ordovician) Y/Z 1 A-B, F
100
Neoproterozoic Stratigraphic 457
4 C 3 Magnetite-Chlorite

t
Chl+Sulfide

osi
-2
Mafic Volcanic Wackes Footwall Chlorite-Pyrite- 1 cm 1 cm 1 cm
Non-Magnetic Mafic Trio Zone Mag+Chl

Dep
Stratified rock units (MVW) Basalt Alkali
Carbonate
Basalt
Ash Tuffs and Siltstones

HANGING WALL
STRATIGRAPHIC
Undivided - Chlorite-Carbonate-

t
5 305

kou
Stratigraphic Hematite
Silurian and younger strata Niblack Stratigraphic
Northeastern limb of

Loo
4 ? -3 low Ti island FW Mineralization
Hanging Wall
Descon Formation - Portal Synformal Anticline arc basalt
n = 18
Juneau Magnetic 152 Sub-Seafloor
Ordovician through Silurian )
trusion (?
-2.5 -.5 1.5 10 20 30 40 50
Mafic Volcaniclastics ? Log(Nb/Y) 0
Y (ppm) Shallow In Seafloor
4(P). Mag-Chl & Chl-Rich Alteration 5. Chl-Py-Cb Alteration 6. Chl-Cb-Hm Alteration

Zon oth
Moira Sound Unit - Siltstones, Bedded Mafic ?
Exhalative

ne
Volcaniclastics C n = 12 D Symbol Explanation n=6

m
e
Zo
58 3 Ordovician through Lower Silurian Historic

Mam
0 Footwall Samples PPL RFL XPL RFL
0

Trio
=1 1 cm 1 cm
Intermediate Tuff/Flow
137 GC Wales Group - Niblack Mine V Chl Sp
within plate
Ti/ Sp
Felsic Succession Samples
2000
Neoproterozoic through Cambrian (A-type) Volcaniclastic Py

Zon a
1000

Dam
Rhyolite Flow Ga

e
-152
Quartz Feldspar Phyric Sill
Chl
? Ser

st
Blue Felsic Sill
Volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits Argillaceous Py

Fau Thru
? Felsic Pyroclastic Fragment Ccp
island arc
BC

Admiralty Wales Group VHMS deposits Lithic Niblack

1500

lt
7

Nb (ppm)
k
basalt

V (ppm)
Niblack
-305
d
Hanging Wall Samples
Ccp Py

lac
Island 2 1 Wackes an ridge Chl
AK

Niblack Felsic Moira 100

e
Basalt Flow

Nib
1 Property 2
Pillowed Mafic Flows
Succession syn-collisional p lat ean 7. FOV 2 mm; Chlorite-Rich Alteration 8. FOV 1 mm; Sericite-Rich Alteration Ccp A. Disseminated Sulfide B. Disseminated Sulfide
Sound Unit n c =2
0
132 Map Area Luela Zone i thi us o nd
57 3 E Blue Aphanitic Felsic Sills Figure 4. Schematic cross section through the Niblack Camp showing the relative locations of the Lookout deposit, Trio zone, Mammoth zone, Dama zone and
(S-type) w alo 1000 a
isl alt Ti/V 1 cm 1 cm 1 cm Js Chl 1 cm 1 cm 1 cm 1 cm
57 Ruby Tuesday m i 1 cm
4 the Historic Niblack Mine. Note the varying stratigraphic positions of the VHMS deposits in the Niblack Felsic Succession.
a no T as Sp Mag
136 Khayyam A D Quartz Porphyritic Felsic Intrusions w
lo arc
b mid ocean Qtz xl
5 volcanic arc Rhyolite Fragment
Stumble-On 10 ridge basalt Py
Massive and Replacement Sulfides Ccp Qtz xl

NIBLACK FELSIC
6 ocean ridge 50
Ti/V =

SUCCESSION
500
Big Harbor (OR-type) Js Ccp
C Ccp
Moira Sounds Unit VHMS deposit Felsic Volcaniclastics Clast Sp Sp Jasper +
Sp Qtz xl Ccp
7 Argillites ocean island basalt Magnetite
Moira Copper Blue Aphanitic Felsic Sills
8 Siltstones 1
10 100
0
5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0
C(P). Net-Texture Sulfide D(P). Net-Texture Sulfide E(P). Semi-Massive Sulfide F. Semi-Massive Sulfide G(P). MS H(P). S+M Breccia I(P). MS & MJ-M J. Pyrite Stringer Vein
Nicholas Bay Y (ppm) Ti/1000 (ppm)
9 Mafic Tuffs Felsic Volcaniclastics Figure 7. Trace element discrimination diagrams for least-altered Niblack stratigraphy. A. Log(Nb/Y) vs. Log(Zr/Ti) diagram after Pearce (1996), showing Figure 9. Schematic hydrothermal alteration model of the Neoproterozoic Wales Group rock units pre-folding and deformation with the interpreted stratigraphic locations of the Historic Niblack Mine, Lookout deposit and Trio zone of the Niblack VHMS Camp. Photographs and photomicrographs of typical Niblack alteration types and textures from drill core,
Barrier Islands bimodal composition of rhyolite-dacite NFS rocks, basalt HW rocks and andesitic basalt FW sample. B. Y vs. Zr diagram after MacLean and Barrett (1993), numbers refer to locations on model. F9-1. Chlorite-rich alteration of monolithic volcanic breccia with semi-massive and net-texture pyrite-chalcopyrite-yellow sphalerite mineralization. F9-2. Mg-rich chlorite alteration with disseminated magnetite of quartz-rich ash tuff. F9-3. Sericite-rich alteration of quartz-rich lapilli tuff with fine-grained, net-textured
56 F showing the majority of felsic and basalt rocks are tholeiitic. C. Y vs. Nb tectonic discrimination diagrams after Pearce et al. (1984). The NFS rocks occupy a sphalerite-chalcopyrite-pyrite mineralization. F9-4. Disseminated magnetite-chlorite alteration and gradational contact of chlorite-rich sulfide bearing alteration of quartz-rich crystal tuff. F9-5. Pervasive chlorite-pyrite-carbonate alteration of quartz-rich crystal tuff. F9-6. Pervasive, fine-grained chlorite-carbonate-hematite alteration of felsic ash tuff. F9-7.

130 Faults Felsic Flows limited compositional range in the volcanic arc field. D. Ti/1000 vs. V mafic tectonic affinity diagram from Shervais (1982). Reflective light and plane-polarized light photomicrographs of chlorite-rich alteration. F9-8. Reflective light and plane-polarized light photomicrographs of sericite-rich alteration.
A Oceanic Back-Arc B Photographs of Niblack styles of sulfide mineralization. A. Disseminated chalcopyrite-pyrite-sphalerite and pervasive chlorite-rich alteration (ash tuff). B. Disseminated chalcopyrite-sphalerite-pyrite and chlorite alteration (quartz-rich ash tuff). C. Net-texture sphalerite-chalcopyrite-pyrite and sericite-rich alteration (quartz-rich ash tuff). D. Net-texture sphalerite-
High-angle fault Volcanic Arc Basin C-D inset chalcopyrite-pyrite and sericite-rich alteration (quartz-rich lapilli tuff). E. Semi-massive chalcopyrite-sphalerite-pyrite and chlorite-rich alteration (quartz-rich ash tuff). F. Semi-massive chalcopyrite-sphalerite-pyrite and chlorite-rich alteration (monolithic volcanic breccia). G. Banded massive chalcopyrite-sphalerite-pyrite and Mg-rich chlorite alteration. H. Jasper-
magnetite breccia with chalcopyrite in fill. I. Banded massive sphalerite-chalcopyrite-pyrite and massive jasper-magnetite. J. Pyrite-rich stockwork stringer veins with pervasive sericite-pyrite alteration (rhyolite flow). Figure abbreviations: Sp=sphalerite; Ccp=chalcopyrite; Qtz xl=quartz crystal; (P)=polished sample; MS=massive sulfide; Js=jasper; Chl=chlorite;
VHMS deposits Prince B inset Mag=magnetite; Py=pyrite; FOV=field of view; RFL=reflected light; XPL=cross polarized light; PPL=plane-polarized light.
of Wales Thrust fault Mafic Flows

2000 m
Intermontane terranes
Stable Isotope Data & Niblack VHMS Camp Alteration & Mineralization Model Conclusions
Island Ketchikan Conglomerate Oc
ea

STRATIGRAPHIC
Alexander terrane 9 nic
Cr 1. The Niblack VHMS camp is hosted in Neoproterozoic

FOOTWALL
us A 0 5 10
δ34S‰CDT 20 25 30 35
NB N 8 Magnetic
t Wales Group felsic stratigraphy.
Chugach terrane Neoproterozoic
ALASKA Siltstones C D A
0 5 10 15 20 Km Intermediate to Felsic Waning felsic volcanism. Deposition of HW Magmatic Sulfur Seawater 2. Multiple (at least 6) volcanic-hosted sulfide ore deposits
Fractionation of primitive intrusion and deposition of

1500 m below sea level

Tuffs - lesser flows mafic wacke-siltstones and pillowed basalt flows formed in a short-lived, rapidly emplaced felsic volcanic
NFS at 565 Ma and VHMS deposits Mammoth Zone
0 80 Km Sulfide Separates sucessession at approximately 565 Ma.
L L Niblack Mine chalcopyrite
Figure 1. Niblack Regional Geology Summary. 1A. Terrane map of southeast Alaska (modifiec from Campbell and Dodds, 1993; Gehrels and Berg, 1992; Taylor et al., 2008). 1B. Simplified geologic map of southern Prince of Wales Island with the locations of the Niblack VHMS camp and others (after Eberlien 1983; Gehrels 1990, 1992, Slack et al., 2005; Oliver et al., 2011). T N T n=6
N
N
sphalerite 3. The Niblack Wales Group stratigraphy is characterized by a
Lookout Deposit
Niblack Property Geology Argillite D D n=4 bimodal mfaic-felsic volcanic sequence with sulfide deposits
914,400 E

915,619 E

916,838 E
Intrusive Rock Units Symbols: pyrite
B - inset
Trio Zone n=8 hosted in primitative, tholeiitic rhyolite volcanic rocks (NFS).
& Project Overview:

3,012,000 E

3,016,000 E
Myrtle Mafic dikes and sills 1-7 Location of VHMS deposits
Lake Rhyolite Domes Hanging Wall Mafic Wacke B -12 -8 -4
SMOW
0 4 8 12 16
4. The NFS is characterized by volcanic arc tecontonic affini-
1. The Niblack VHMS camp is located on Blue felsic sills & dikes A-B U-Pb geochronology surface sample locations Subvolcanic Intrusion QFP Sill
Figure 5. The positions of the Lookout, Trio, Lindsy, Mammoth, Historic Niblack Mine, and Dama VHMS deposits (red solids) are shown with respect to their Felsic Volcanic Rocks Hanging Wall Basalt
0 ties and the hanging wall basalt flows have primitive low-
Prince of Wales Island in SE Alaska, ap- 362,102 N 150 generalized relationship to Neoproterozoic felsic stratigraphy (yellow band).
Oceanic Crust VHMS deposits Metamorphic
Quartz-feldspar phyric sill C-F U-Pb geochronology drill collar sample locations U-Pb Geochronology Summary titanium island arc (LOTI) and eveoled mid ocean ridge (E-

L
proximately 50 Km southwest of Ket- B Intermediate Figure 8. Schematic reconstruction of Neoproterozoic Niblack oceanic back-arc. A. Illustration of Alexander terrane oceanic arc architecture. B. Oceanic crustal Water

MW
A Lookout Mt: 565.2 ± 1.0 Ma thinning results from back-arc basin extension and large volumes of lithospheric melting formed by the emplacement of shallow primitive melts/subvolcanic Hydrothermal MORB) geochemical signtarues which indicate that the Neo-
chikan (Fig 1A).

SCALE (meters)
Volcanic Wackes intrusion. C. Continued extension results in felsic volcanism and deposition of NFS strata and synchronous volcanic-hosted massive sulfide mineralization. D.
Nib
lack Stratified Rock Units D1 Antiform fold axis 100 Mafic derived volcanic wacke and siltstones are deposited during a period of sporadic and waning volcanism and forms interlayered pillow basalt flows and
-20 FMW fluid flow proterozoic tectonic setting was likely a juvenile, oceanic
7 C U029: 565.3 ± 0.4 Ma Crystal Tuff
2. The Niblack VHMS camp is hosted in Thr
ust Moira Sound Strata sedimentary rocks of the hanging wall sequence. Figure abbreviations: D=Dama; L=Lookout; N=Niblack Mine; T=Trio
B - inset back-arc basin environment.
Neoproterozoic
some of the oldest basement rocks of the Fau D2 Overturned synform fold axis D
lt Undivided volcaniclastic rocks LO141-290: 565.1 ± 0.4 Ma Seawater 5. The Niblack stratigraphy is characterized by mafic greater
Alexander terrane on Prince of Wales
Island (Fig 1B).
D1
Wales Group Strata
Thrust fault E U006-936: 564.8 ± 0.5 Ma 50 Niblack Rock Types -40
Signature 0 100 m than felsic volcanic rock types. Coherent and pyroclastic rock
types with low Zr/Y ratios and depleted HFSE and REE con-

δD‰VSMOW
Normal and strike slip faults F LO206-723: ca 561-570 Ma
Stratigraphic hanging wall fl oor
3. To date six VHMS deposits have been
0 Paleo-Sea Niblack Geology Explanation
A B 7
centrations (e.g. Zr<120 ppm) dominate the 100-200 m thick
discovered and the project is currently at Niblack felsic volcaniclastic Mine Basalt Flows & Mafic 1 cm 1 cm 4 host felsic stratigraphy. This suggests that the Niblack VHMS
Niblack exploration drift 6
an advanced stage of exploration that is Lake D Wackes camp is a bimodal-mafic VHMS deposit.
3
focused on expanding the current metal Luela Stratigraphic footwall Qtz-Flds Phyric Sill 2
L-M -80 n=14 PMW 6. Sub-seafloor sulfide precipitation formed in water-laden,
resources at the Lookout Deposit and Trio Lookout Coarse Volcanic Breccia 1
A D
Niblack Mine Deposit Fluid Signatures: Niblack Hydrothermal Fluid Trends: vent-proximal pyroclastic rocks of the Lookout deposit and
Zone (Tbl 1). K Deposit Chl-rich (307±16ºC) Active 5
Quartz-rich Felsic Tuff Pillow Lookout Deposit Seafloor Vent
Evolved
Increase in δ34S
sulfide
porous lithic volcaniclastic rocks of the Trio zone.
Seawater
4. The property-scale geology is charac- 5 C D Ser-py (280±20ºC) Decrease in δ18Owater
360,883 N Lithic Tuff Ser-rich (300±25ºC) Rio Tinto Moderately-Evolved Seawater 7. Seafloor exhalative sulfide mineralization formed in vent-
terized by two major lithostratigraphic Footwall Mafic Flow Footwall Intermediate Tuff Chl-rich (321±19ºC) and Magmatic Fluids
F-G E J Trio Zone distal ash tuffs of the Niblack Mine, Dama and Mammoth
sequences (Fig 1B): Rhyolite Flow C D E Ser-py (280±20ºC)
Neves Corvo
Highly-Evolved Seawater Geology Explanation Sulfide Mineralization & Alteration Explanation
6 1 cm Blue Qtz zones.
Blue Qtz 1 cm 1 cm Ser-rich (300±25ºC) and Magmatic Fluids Pillow Basalt Sub-Seafloor Sulfide Sericite-Pyrite
Trio Zone
- Neoproterozoic through Cambrian Mafic to Intermediate Blue Hill
Flows & Tuffs Blue Qtz Chl-rich (321±19ºC)
Coarse Felsic Volcanic Breccia & Lapilli Tuff Seafloor Exhalative Sulfide Chlorite-Pyrite- 8. Pyrite-rich stringer veins corsscut coherent rhylite flows
Wales Group I
4 A-B Mineralization Example Age (Ma) VHMS Classification Metals Reference Medium Grained Felsic Ash Tuff Chlorite-rich, Cu-dominant Carbonate and form feeder-like zones of the Lookout deposit and Trio
Chlorite-Magnetite
- Ordovician through Lower Silurian Moira Sub-Seafloor
Active Seafloor Vent - - - de Ronde, 1995
Fine Grained Felsic Ash Tuff Sericite-rich, Zn-dominant ± Epidote zone.
Rio Tinto 320 Felsic-siliciclastic Cu-Zn-Pb-Ag-Au Munha et al., 1986
Sound Unit E Rhyolite Flows/Domes Mg-rich Chlorite, Cu-rich Jasper-Magnetite
Seafloor Lapilli Neves Corvo 320 Felsic-siliciclastic Cu-Sn-Zn-Ag Relvas et al., 2006 9. Stable isotope data indicate that the metal-bearing hydro-
D1
5. The Wales Group volcanic stratigraphy trusion (?
) Exhalative Blue Hill 385 Mafic-siliciclastic Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag Munha et al., 1986
thermal fluids were produced from evolved seawater and
D2 Shallow In
Niblack 565 Bimodal-mafic Cu-Au-Zn-Ag this study
is host to all the Niblack VHMS deposits C Niblack Anchorage FOV: 7.8 mm; XPL; Lookout Mountain U-Pb Sample - QFP FOV: 7.8 mm; XPL; LO141-290 U-Pb Sample - QFP Quartz-Rich Tuff Quartz-Rich Tuff Quartz-Rich Lapilli Tuff Alteration Type Estimated Temp. Metals SWIR Feature (nm) δ34Ssulfide‰CDT δ18Owater‰VSMOW magmatic fluid sources. Copper-rich seafloor exhalative
and is divided into three stratigraphic
Dee 2 C Magmatic
r Cr Neoproterozoic Sub Seafloor Semi-Massive Sulfide Deposit sulfide-ores at the Niblack Mine precipitated from a highly-
groups (Fig 2):
eek A F 3 E F Water
Thr F G H I Seawater 1:1 Cu:Zn; Chlorite, evolved seawater fluid. The copper- and zinc-dominant sub-
ust 1 cm Basalt 1 cm 1 cm 1 cm 1 Chlorite-rich 325-350ºC +6.6 to +7.5 +5.0 to +5.8
Fau 1 Rhyolite Au+Ag FeOH av. 2255 (2250-2258) seafloor sulfide-ores at the Lookout deposit and Trio zone
- Niblack Stratigraphic Footwall: lt Fragment 0
Block 1:2 Cu:Zn; White Mica, formed from a mixed evolved seawater and magmatic hydro-
Non-magnetic intermediate to felsic vol- 2 Sericite-rich 275-325ºC +7.9 to +9.7 +2.9 to +3.8
Ag+Au AlOH av. 2207 (2199-2216) thermal fluid. Distal, anomalously mineralized pyrite-sericite
caniclastics and flows

δ13C‰VDP
359,664 N White Mica, alteration precipitated from moderately-evolved seawater.
Rhyolite 3 Sericite-Pyrite 260-300ºC - +8.2 to +10.5 +2.3 to +4.2
- Niblack Felsic Succession (Host to VHMS AlOH av. 2198 (2195-2199)
Fragment Lithics 10. New stable isotope measurements in context with the
Deposits):
D Carbonate Separates 4 Chlorite-Pyrite- 170-190ºC -
Chlorite,
- -5.9 to -13.9 hydrothermal alteration model indicate fluid mixing trends
Felsic volcaniclastics and coherent felsic Lookout and Trio Mineral Resources Nov. 2011 Monolithic Volcanic Breccia Heterolithic Volcanic Breccia Felsic Ash Tuff Lithic Tuff Mammoth Zone (180±10ºC) Carbonate FeOH av. 2254 (2252-2256)
flows Niblack Mine (180±10ºC)
and water-rock interactions. For example, δ34S of sulfide
Indicated J K Fsp L M 5 Chlorite-Magnetite Chlorite, values increase away from the hydrothermal pathway as a
c 1 cm Flame Structure Lookout Deposit (180±10ºC) 180-200ºC -
bri
Deposit Tonnes Cu % Au g/t Zn % Ag g/t 1 cm 1 cm 1 cm - -
- Niblack Stratigraphic Hanging Wall: ± Epidote FeOH av. 2254 (2252-2256)
w Fa Dama Zone (180±10ºC) result of hydrothermal fluid mixing with ambient seawater.
Lookout 5,638,000 0.95 1.15 1.73 29.52 -10 n=13
Massive to well bedded, strongly mag- Flo Late cb veins (310±10ºC)
Seafloor Exhalative Massive Sulfide Deposit Calculated δ18O compositions of fluid in equilibrium with
netic mafic volcanically derived sediments TOTAL 5,638,000 0.95 1.15 1.73 29.52 FOV: 4.2 mm; XPL; U006-936 U-Pb Sample - bFs δ18Owater‰VSMOW 3:1 Cu:Zn;
FOV: 4.2 mm; XPL; LO206-723 U-Pb Sample - Rf -12 -8 -4 8 12 16
290-320ºC Chlorite, chlorite, sericite and calcite alteration minerals decrease
Inferred Figure 3. Detailed Niblack Camp stratigraphic column (J. Oliver et al., in prep) with the relative locations of U-Pb samples and results. Figures 3B-E. Petrographic 6 Mg-rich Chlorite +7.2 to +8.1 -8.1 to -15.5
and pillowed basalt flows. characteristics of the Niblack Camp U-Pb samples. 3B. The Lookout Mountain sample has been selected from the crowded quartz feldspar phyric felsic intrusion, Figure 10. Niblack camp stable isotope data summary. 10A. Comparison of sulfur isotope results Au+Ag FeOH av. 2255 (2252-2258) away from the hydrothermal source. The variations in hydro-
Deposit Tonnes Cu % Au g/t Zn % Ag g/t Blue Qtz Pillow with possible sulfur reservoirs; magmatic sulfur signature from Chaussidon and Lorando (1990)
which commonly forms the immediate hanging wall to the Lookout deposit. The sample contains large intact plagioclase and quartz phenocrysts. Quartz pheno- Fining Direction 7 Jasper-Magnetite 180-200ºC - - - - thermal fluid compositions highlight increases in fluid-rock
6. At least two major deformation events, Lookout 1,023,000 1.00 1.11 1.56 16.56 crysts are partially recrystallized and the sample is cut by sporadic sericitic microveinlets. 3C. This fine-grained felsic rock unit has petrographic characteristics Pillow and estimated Neoproterozoic seawater signature from age curves of δ34S values measured in
that suggests that it is a quartz and feldspar porphyritic intrusion. Plagioclase grains in the center of the field of view are euhedral and display no evidence of sulfate from evaporates by Claypool et al., (1980). 10B. Comparison of calculated hydrothermal δ18Owater‰VSMOW from phyllosilicate and calcite data interactions and mixing with ambient seawater away from
which resulted in repeated folding of the Trio 2,370,000 0.73 1.42 1.17 21.63 N fluid signatures from stable isotopes with active seafloor vents and other VHMS camps. 10C.
abrasion due to volcaniclastic transport. 3D. The aphanitic blue felsic sill shows a matrix dominated by an abundance of small, <0.2 mm, quartz and feldspar
Rhyolite Flow Quartz-Feldspar Phyric Sill Hanging Wall Mafic Wacke-Siltstone Hanging Wall Basalt Flow Calculated δ18Owater vs. δ13Ccalcite of fluids associated with hydrothermal calcite alteration
the fluid pathway.
Niblack Wales Group stratigraphy (Fig 2). TOTAL 3,393,000 0.81 1.32 1.29 20.10 grains. A few scattered 0.5 mm quartz and feldspar grains are also noted. The sample has a weak defined planar fabric. All quartz grains exhibit undulose extinc-
Figure 6. Schematic geology model of the Neoproterozoic Wales Group rock units pre-folding and deformation with the interpreted stratigraphic locations of the Historic Niblack Mine, Lookout deposit and Trio zone of the Niblack VHMS Camp. Figures 6A-M are representative rock photographs of the Niblack stratigraphy with from the Niblack Mine, Lookout deposit, Mammoth zone, Dama zone; and fluids responsible for Figure 11. Niblack-Type VHMS deposit model. A. Host rock volcanic lithofacies schematic. Rapidly emplaced felsic pyroclastic volcanic breccia, lapilli and ash tuff
tion patterns but have not undergone significant re-crystallization. 3E. The matrix of the rhyolite flow sample contains two generations of quartz, early primary
A D1 event formed isoclinal folds during Table 1: Metal Resources for the Lookout Deposit and the Trio Zone (Nowak et al. 2011). 300 900 quartz phenocrysts and seriate textured secondary quartz grains. The matrix has been strongly overprinted by fine-grained sericite that forms a poorly defined the photograph letter label corresponding to the relative stratigraphic location of the rock type in the schematic geology model. 6A. Example of a pillow structure in a chlorite-pyrite altered, nonmagnetic mafic flow. 6B. Example of intermediate footwall tuff. 6C. Chlorite-pyrite altered quartz-rich tuff with accessory angular late carbonate veins. Neoproterozoic seawater field estimated from Claypool et al. (1980), Wadle- are the host rocks for sub-seafloor sulfide mineralization. Seafloor exhalative sulfide forms by localized hydrothermal fluid flow through less permeable, vent-
lithics. 6D. Strong chlorite-magnetite altered quartz-rich crystal tuff. 6E. Weakly sericite altered, quartz-rich crystal lapilli tuff. 6F. Weakly altered monolithic volcanic breccia. 6G. Weakly chlorite-pyrite altered heterolithic volcanic breccia. 6H. Sericite altered ash tuff. 6I. Chlorite-pyrite altered lithic tuff. 6J. Sericite-pyrite altered igh and Viezer (1992) and Butler et al. (1997); and the magmatic water field from Taylor (1974) distal volcanic rocks. B. Hydrothermal alteration distribution and associated metal concentrations. Stable isotope results indicate that as the hydrothermal fluid
the Wales Orogeny and a younger, D2 penetrative fabric. The remainder of the matrix consists of sub-mm quartz-feldspar grains. A few scattered black pyrite grains are also noted.
rhyolite flow. 6K. Weakly chlorite altered quartz-feldspar phyric (QFP) sill. 6L. Example of fining-upwards sedimentary structures in mafic wacke and siltstone beds of the stratigraphic hanging wall. 6M. Example of strongly magnetic pillow basalt flow of the stratigraphic hanging wall. and Exely et al. (1986). Meteoric water line (MWL) from Craig (1961); metamorphic water field cools and interacts with the host rocks and seawater δ34Ssulfide ratios will increase and δ18Owater ratios will decrease away from the core of the hydrother-
0 600 1,200 m
event formed open folds perpendicular to 358,444 N from Taylor (1974) and Sheppard (1981); felsic magmatic water field (FMW) from Taylor (1992); mal system.
D1 during the Klakas Orogeny. and primary magmatic water filed (PMW) from Taylor (1974).
Figure 2. Niblack geology, VHMS deposit locations and U-Pb geochronology sample locations map after Oliver et al. (2011). VHMS deposits include (1) Lookout; (2) Trio; (3) Dama: (4) Mammoth; (5) Historic Niblack Mine; (6) Lindsy; and (7) Luela.

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