The Tjårrojåkka Apatite-Iron and Cu (-Au) Deposits, Northern Sweden
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2007:17 DOCTORAL T H E SI S The Tjårrojåkka Apatite-Iron and Cu (-Au) Deposits, Northern Sweden - Products of One Ore Forming Event Åsa Edfelt Luleå University of Technology Department of Chemical Engineering and Geosciences Division of Ore Geology and Applied Geophysics 2007:17|: 102-1544|: - -- 07⁄17 -- Thesis for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The Tjårrojåkka Apatite-Iron and Cu (-Au) Deposits, Northern Sweden – Products of One Ore Forming Event Åsa Edfelt Division of Ore Geology and Applied Geophysics Luleå University of Technology SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden Phone: +46-920-492029 E-mail: [email protected] May 2007 For Lionel and Adina with love Abstract The Tjårrojåkka area is located about 50 km WSW of Kiruna, northern Sweden, and hosts one of the best examples of spatially related apatite-iron (Kiruna type) and Cu (-Au) deposits in Sweden. The results from this project show that the two deposits are genetically related and indicate the presence of a younger, previously unknown, 1780 Ma generation of apatite-iron ores in northern Sweden. The bedrock in the Tjårrojåkka area is dominated by intermediate and basic extrusive and intrusive rocks. The 1880 Ma intermediate volcanic rocks, belonging to the Porphyrite Group, formed in association with subduction- related magmatism in a volcanic arc environment close to the Archaean continental margin. The overlying basalts and related feeder dykes formed through extrusion of mantle derived magma during a local extensional event in a subaquatic back arc setting. The area was metamorphosed at epidote- amphibolite facies and deformed during at least three stages, creating NE-SW, E-W, and NNW-SSE striking structures. The Tjårrojåkka deposits can be considered as belonging to the Fe- oxide-Cu-Au (IOCG) group of deposits representing two “end-members” of the class. Several generations and overlapping hydrothermal alteration stages indicate a long, complex history of fluid activity between 1780 and 1700 Ma related to the formation and post-ore modification of the deposits. The strongly altered host rock shows enrichment of alkalis related to mineralisation due to the formation of albite, scapolite, and K-feldspar. It is not obvious whether the massive part of the apatite-iron ore formed from an iron rich melt or through hydrothermal replacement, but a hydrothermal system was active at least at a late stage during the deposition of the iron ore, producing the apatite- magnetite-actinolite breccia, the copper mineralisation, as well as the extensive hydrothermal alterations. The ore forming fluids were CO2-bearing, moderately to highly saline CaCl2-NaCl-rich fluids of most likely magmatic origin. The magnetite ore deposited at around 500 to 650°C followed by the copper mineralisation between 150 and 450°C. Cooling along with decrease in salinity were important factors for metal precipitation at Tjårrojåkka. A NE trending shear zone acted as a major fluid channel and a structurally favourable location for the deposition of the copper (-gold) mineralisation. From apatite chemistry, it is evident that there is a fundamental difference between typical Kiruna type apatite-iron ores and copper mineralised apatite-iron deposits of IOCG character and could potentially be used as a tool for distinguishing copper mineralising apatite-iron systems from barren. Keywords IOCG deposit, apatite-iron ore, Kiruna type, Sweden, Palaeoproterozoic, geochemistry, hydrothermal alteration, fluid inclusions, U-Pb dating, stable isotopes, apatite chemistry. PREFACE This PhD project was initiated in 2001 by Dr. Olof Martinsson as part of the GEORANGE-funded research project P7 on Fe-oxide Cu-Au deposits in Norrbotten, Sweden. In May the same year, just before I finished my MSc thesis in Turku, I got an e-mail saying that a PhD position dealing with Fe- oxide Cu-Au (IOCG) deposits was available at Luleå University of Technology. Firstly, I looked at a map to find out where Luleå is located, secondly, I tried to find out what an IOCG deposit is (to the first question I found the answer, to the second one I still haven’t found one), and thirdly, I applied for the position not knowing what I was going to study. The week before midsummer, I got a phone call from Olof saying that they would like to meet me for an interview the following Monday regarding the PhD position. I packed my bag, got on the plane, and the rest is history. Of the papers and manuscripts included in the thesis, I have written the main part with guidance from my supervisor and advisors at the cooperating institutions. However, in article I, Dr. Paul Evins, Dr. Craig Storey, and Dr. Teresa Jeffries did the sampling and analysis of the zircon dating, and Mr. Alessandro Sandrin and Prof. Sten-Åke Elming did the geophysical sampling and modelling. In manuscript III, Dr. Curt Broman did the sampling and measurements on six of the samples in the fluid inclusion study, as well as the interpretation of raw data, while Dr. Kjell Billstöm performed the age determinations and assessment of the geochronology data. In manuscript IV, Dr. Olof Martisson provided the samples from all deposits except Tjårrojåkka and the LA-ICPMS work was done under supervision of Dr. Teresa Jeffries, who also did the raw data corrections and evaluation. Finally, I have never regretted that I took the chance to work in this project even if it sometimes was hard both physically and mentally. During my PhD studies, I got the chance to travel to places I could only dream of, I have met scientists from all over the world who have shared their knowledge with me, I have made new friends, but most importantly, I have learnt to think independently and critically. It is now time to move on, but the experience and knowledge I have obtained during these years, I will always treasure. Luleå, April 20th, 2007 Åsa Edfelt CONTENTS ABSTRACT PREFACE CONTENTS LIST OF PUBLICATIONS INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................1 OBJECTIVES OF THESIS ....................................................................2 REVIEW OF RESEARCH....................................................................3 Iron-oxide Cu-Au (IOCG) deposits...................................................3 Characteristics.............................................................................3 Ore genesis.................................................................................5 Apatite-iron ores of Kiruna type ........................................................6 Characteristics.............................................................................6 Ore genesis.................................................................................6 METHODOLOGY................................................................................8 Field work and drill core logging .......................................................8 Analytical work.................................................................................8 Whole-rock geochemistry...........................................................8 Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)................8 Microprobe ................................................................................9 Fluid inclusions...........................................................................9 Radiogenic isotopes..................................................................10 Stable isotopes (O, H, and S).....................................................11 LA-ICPMS...............................................................................11 SUMMARY OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ...............................12 Geology of the Tjårrojåkka area.......................................................12 Mineralisation and hydrothermal alteration.......................................13 Mineralisation...........................................................................13 Hydrothermal alteration............................................................13 Fluid characteristics and ore genesis..................................................14 The Tjårrojåkka deposits in the IOCG spectrum..............................16 CONCLUSIONS.................................................................................17 SIGNIFICANCE FOR EXPLORATION AND FUTURE WORK...18 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................20 REFERENCES ....................................................................................21 LIST OF PUBLICATIONS The thesis “The Tjårrojåkka Apatite-Iron and Cu (-Au) Deposits, Northern Sweden – Products of One Ore Forming Event” consists of the following articles and manuscripts: I. Edfelt, Å., Sandrin, A., Billström, K., Evins, P., Jefferies, T., Storey, C., Martinsson, O. and Elming, S.-Å., 2006. Stratigraphy and tectonic setting of the host rocks to the Tjårrojåkka Fe-oxide Cu-Au occurrences, northern Sweden. GFF 128:221-232 (Reprinted with kind permission from The Geological Society of Sweden) II. Edfelt, Å., Armstrong, R.N., Smith, M., and Martinsson, O., 2005. Alteration paragenesis and mineral chemistry of the Tjårrojåkka apatite- iron and Cu (-Au) occurrences, Kiruna area, northern Sweden. Mineralium Deposita 40:409-434 (Reprinted with kind permission from Springer Science and Business Media) III. Edfelt, Å., Billström, K., Broman, C., Rye, R.O., Smith, M.P., and Martinsson, O., 2007. Origin and fluid evolution of the Tjårrojåkka apatite-iron and Cu (-Au) deposits, Kiruna area, northern Sweden (to be submitted) IV. Edfelt, Å.,