Alteration of the Bootstrap Limestone, Northern Carlin Trend
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ALTERATION OF THE BOOTSTRAP LIMESTONE, NORTHERN CARLIN TREND, ELKO COUNTY, NEVADA by Catherine E. Morgan A thesis submitted to the Faculty and the Board of Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Geology). Golden, Colorado Date ___________ Signed: _____________________________ Catherine E. Morgan Signed: _____________________________ Dr. John D. Humphrey Thesis Advisor Golden, Colorado Date ___________ Signed: _____________________________ Dr. John D. Humphrey Professor and Interim Head Department of Geology and Geological Engineering ii ABSTRACT The Silurian-Devonian Bootstrap limestone unit hosts Carlin-type gold deposits. Although the structural controls for Carlin-type gold deposits can vary significantly, ore bodies located in the Bootstrap limestone occur predominately in silicified breccias. The objectives of this study were to describe in detail the alteration in the Bootstrap limestone, determine paragenesis of the different alteration events, and identify the pattern of alteration surrounding Bootstrap-hosted deposits. The objectives were met through detailed logging of drill-hole cores, as well as standard petrography, cathodoluminescence microscopy, and stable isotopic analysis. The study area focuses on the northern Carlin trend, located approximately 27 miles (43 km) northwest of Carlin, NV. This area includes the deposits of Meikle, Ren, Dee-Rossi (Storm), and South Arturo. The relevant stratigraphy in the area consists of the massive Bootstrap limestone platform unit and the time-equivalent Roberts Mountains Formation and slope and basinal facies of the Popovich Formation. Six major carbonate components of the Bootstrap limestone were recognized in the study area: limestone, diagenetic-planar dolomite, saddle dolomite, ferroan dolomite, zebra texture dolomite, and calcite. The limestone experienced pervasive early diagenetic calcite cementation that sharply lowered porosity and permeability of the unit. The resulting restriction of fluid flow resulted in a condensed sequence of later hydrothermal dolomitization. The diagenetic-planar dolomite represents a regional dolomitization event that was localized along the lower contact of the Bootstrap limestone. The fluids necessary for dolomitization were probably sourced from compaction of the adjacent mud-rich Roberts iii Mountains and Popovich Formations. The resulting dolostones extend from west of Meikle to the Ren area. Non-planar saddle, ferroan, and zebra texture dolomites are the result of hydrothermal dolomitization. Curved boundaries of the dolomite crystals, associated sulfides, and calculated temperatures from isotopic data, support a hydrothermal source for these dolomites. Through cross cutting relationships between diagenetic planar dolomite and non-planar dolomites were not observed, the available evidence suggests non-planar dolomite post date planar dolomite. Non-planar, commonly ferroan dolomite at Meikle is spatially associated with a Paleozoic age base-metal mineralization event. Non-planar, generally non-ferroan at Storm and Dee-Rossi are spatially associated with Jurassic to Eocene intrusions suggesting they formed due to much later hydrothermal events. Thus, there are two possible generations of hydrothermal dolomite, one in the Paleozoic and another associated with Jurassic to Tertiary igneous activity. In the study area, the complex nature of the breccia bodies and/or the permeability of the host rock limit the lateral extent of the carbonate alteration. However, based on the samples analyzed in this study, and recognition of the processes that form dolomite, a pattern of dolomitization can be predicted for Carlin-type deposits in this study area. Extending away from a fluid pathway, ferroan dolomite forms first, followed by saddle dolomite, which is in contact with unaltered limestone. Zebra texture dolomite forms at the transition between ferroan and saddle dolomites, or it can extend throughout the zone of ferroan dolomite. The dolomite zonation pattern, as well as the different generations of dolomite, should be considered in the exploration for Carlin-type deposits hosted in massive limestone units. Each dolomite generation may reflect the potential for gold iv mineralization, with the Paleozoic iron-rich hydrothermal dolomite being the most favorable host. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................. xi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................ xii INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 3 Methods..........................................................................................................................3 GEOLOGIC BACKGROUND............................................................................................5 Tectonic History.............................................................................................................5 Stratigraphy....................................................................................................................8 Structure.......................................................................................................................17 Paleozoic Mineralization Event ...................................................................................18 Cretaceous Mineralization Event.................................................................................19 Tertiary Mineralization Event......................................................................................20 Alteration .....................................................................................................................24 RESEARCH RESULTS ....................................................................................................26 Limestone.....................................................................................................................26 Diagenetic-Planar Dolomite.........................................................................................31 Saddle Dolomite...........................................................................................................41 Ferroan Dolomite.........................................................................................................46 Zebra Dolomite ............................................................................................................52 Calcite ..........................................................................................................................59 vi DISCUSSION....................................................................................................................67 Limestone Interpretation..............................................................................................67 Dolostone Interpretation ..............................................................................................68 Saddle Dolomite and Ferroan Dolomite Interpretation ...............................................75 Zebra Texture Dolomite Formation.............................................................................84 Calcite Generations......................................................................................................86 Generations of Silica Deposition .................................................................................91 Hydrocarbon Migration ...............................................................................................94 Paragenesis...................................................................................................................94 Pattern of Dolomitization.............................................................................................97 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ..............................................................................104 REFERENCES CITED....................................................................................................109 APPENDIX A—GEOLOGIC MAP................................................................................117 APPENDIX B—DATA...................................................................................................118 APPENDIX C—CORE LOGS........................................................................................127 APPENDIX D—STABLE ISOTOPE DATA .................................................................133 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Location map of the Carlin trend .........................................................................2 Figure 2: Summary of the tectonic history for western North America ..............................6 Figure 3: Tectonostratigraphic column of the northern Carlin trend...................................9 Figure 4: Facies distribution map for the Bootstrap limestone..........................................11 Figure 5: Cross section B-B’ through the Bootstrap limestone shoal facies .....................12 Figure 6: Location