Wednesday, October 2, 2024

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The Wasamac deposit, situated along the Francoeur-Wasa Shear Zone (FWSZ) in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Canada, exhibits characteristics of both intrusion-related and orogenic gold deposits. The deposit showcases two distinct alkaline alteration assemblages: potassic and albitic, each linked to unique gold characteristics. The potassic alteration, abundant in the deposit's core, is characterized by microcline, carbonates, quartz, and gold associated with porous pyrite enriched in Te-Ag-Au-Mo-Pb-Bi-W. This assemblage points to an oxidized environment and shares similarities with syenite-related mineralization found in the Kirkland Lake district. Conversely, the albitic alteration, composed of albite, sericite, and carbonates, reflects a more reduced environment, with gold primarily occurring in its native form. This assemblage, along with the brecciation of early gold-rich pyrite, suggests a structural overprint that influenced late-stage gold characteristics . The gold mineralization at Wasamac appears to be the result of a multistage process. The initial stage involved a magmatic-hydrothermal event, potentially linked to a deep-seated alkaline intrusion, leading to the formation of invisible gold tellurides within porous pyrite. Subsequent structural events, possibly related to orogenic processes, induced brecciation and an albitic hydrothermal overprint under reduced conditions. This led to the fracturing of the earlier pyrite and the remobilization of gold, culminating in the formation of larger, free native gold grains within the albitic assemblage. The presence of these distinct mineralization stages, marked by variations in alteration, pyrite textures, and gold characteristics, underscores the complex interplay of magmatic and orogenic processes in the genesis of the Wasamac deposit. P. Geo. Ricardo A Valls, M. Sc. Valls Geoconsultant ORCID ID- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5421-0914 Scopus Author ID: 7003369619/35335510700 ResearcherID: S-6604-2018 If you like this content, please "buy me a coffee" and support my efforts to close the gap between Academy and Industry. Thank you! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goldendroplets

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