Log-uniform distribution of gold deposits along major Archean fault zones

Olivier Rabeau and J. J. Royer and M. Jebrak and A. Cheilletz. ( 2013 )
in: Mineralium Deposita, 48:7 (817-824)

Abstract

The location of potentially unrecognized gold deposits in the close vicinity of the Cadillac-Larder Lake Fault Zone in the Archean Abitibi Subprovince (Canada) is predicted by applying a stochastic approach to the distribution of known gold deposits. The methodology uses the distances between neighboring orogenic gold deposits along the fault trace. The cumulative distribution of the curvilinear inter-distances along the fault zone, are adequately represented by a log-uniform model. The average inter-distance is 1.95 km, and an upper inter-distance of 5.6 km is observed. The same distribution pattern appears along the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone (Abitibi). This log-uniform distribution shows that the spatial distribution of gold deposits is regionally controlled by the major crustal shear zone. Lithologies and structures only seem to exert a local influence at the deposit scale. The log-uniform spacing could be interpreted as the result of the crustal failure locations induced by hydraulic overpressure along mechanically independent segments on the main fault.

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BibTeX Reference

@article{rabeau:hal-01303026,
 abstract = {The location of potentially unrecognized gold deposits in the close vicinity of the Cadillac-Larder Lake Fault Zone in the Archean Abitibi Subprovince (Canada) is predicted by applying a stochastic approach to the distribution of known gold deposits. The methodology uses the distances between neighboring orogenic gold deposits along the fault trace. The cumulative distribution of the curvilinear inter-distances along the fault zone, are adequately represented by a log-uniform model. The average inter-distance is 1.95 km, and an upper inter-distance of 5.6 km is observed. The same distribution pattern appears along the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone (Abitibi). This log-uniform distribution shows that the spatial distribution of gold deposits is regionally controlled by the major crustal shear zone. Lithologies and structures only seem to exert a local influence at the deposit scale. The log-uniform spacing could be interpreted as the result of the crustal failure locations induced by hydraulic overpressure along mechanically independent segments on the main fault.},
 author = {Rabeau, O. and Royer, J. J. and Jebrak, M. and Cheilletz, A.},
 doi = {10.1007/s00126-013-0470-7},
 hal_id = {hal-01303026},
 hal_version = {v1},
 journal = {{Mineralium Deposita}},
 number = {7},
 pages = {817-824},
 publisher = {{Spinger}},
 title = {{Log-uniform distribution of gold deposits along major Archean fault zones}},
 url = {https://hal.science/hal-01303026},
 volume = {48},
 year = {2013}
}