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Mafic-ultramafic subvolcanic intrusive complexes, at the 1–10-km scale, constitute favorable environments for the formation of orthomagmatic Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits. Within 100–1000-km scale large igneous provinces (LIPs), the most favorable economic target areas may be difficult to identify using a traditional regional exploration approach. We report results of field and laboratory studies focused on an integrated geochemical-architectural model for the Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide potential of the High Arctic large igneous province (HALIP) of Canada, the largest and best-exposed portion of this circum-arctic LIP. Previous lithogeochemical studies of the Canadian HALIP (130–80 Ma) concluded that subalkaline mafic units located on Axel Heiberg Island were more prospective than younger, alkalic igneous rocks (alkaline basalts to basanites) exposed on northern Ellesmere Island. Mapping carried out for this study revealed the presence of abundant subalkaline igneous rocks on western Ellesmere Island. We interpret these units as an extension of the Schei Sills, a stratigraphically bound sequence of intrusions exposed along a ~ N-S belt on eastern Axel Heiberg Island. Samples from the Schei Sills and from the Middle Fiord Intrusive Complex (~ 20 km2, central Axel Heiberg Island) show Cu/Zr values above and below unity, consistent with complementary sulfide enrichment and removal, respectively, within these intrusive systems. The spatial association of the Schei Sills with the post-emplacement Eocene Stolz Thrust is noteworthy, as later thrusting associated with the Paleogene Eurekan Orogeny caused the uplift of deeper parts of the HALIP subvolcanic feeder system and associated wall-rock stratigraphy. Absolute Ir-group PGE contents are low throughout the HALIP; however, Pt-group PGE contents range widely among analyzed tholeiitic intrusive rocks. For example, relatively elevated Pt + Pd values of 10–30 ppb in samples from the Middle Fiord Intrusive Complex and the Schei Sills suggest heightened prospectivity in these two areas. In contrast, tholeiitic flood basalts in the Strand Fiord Formation and associated intrusions exposed in western Axel Heiberg Island (~ 95 Ma) exhibit Cu/Zr < 1 and low Pt + Pd contents (below 10 ppb). The ca. 120 Ma magmatic event associated with the Schei Sills and Middle Fiord Intrusive Complex appears to have generated magmas that are more prospective than those of the younger (ca. 95 Ma) magmatic pulse associated with the flood basalts of the Strand Fiord Formation. This work demonstrates that not all architectural elements of a LIP are equal in terms of metallogenic potential, and that nested zones of higher prospectivity can be identified through the integration of several geological constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article discusses large Igneous Provinces has linked, directly or indirectly, to several metallogenic systems. Topics include sedimentary units of the Sverdrup Basin have deformed, at localities, by structures associated with syndepositional episodic flow related to diapirism of Otto Fiord Formation evaporites; and the area exhibits a complex and unique fold interference pattern.

The Cretaceous geological evolution of the Canadian Arctic was marked by voluminous magmatism comprising Canada's portion of the High Arctic large igneous province (HALIP) that is thought to have resulted from a mantle plume head. This magmatism is largely recorded as extensive Early Cretaceous lavas of the Isachsen Formation, Late Cretaceous continental flood basalts of the Strand Fiord Formation, and an extensive network of dykes and sills forming their plumbing systems. Axel Heiberg Island near South Fiord contains a small, structurally complex portion of the overall network of HALIP tabular intrusions, from which samples from the South Fiord intrusions and Isachsen Formation basaltic lavas were analysed to better understand their petrogenesis. Specifically, we apply trace-element ratios together with Sm-Nd isotope systematics in order to identify processes that shaped the chemical evolution of the South Fiord intrusions and Isachsen Formation lavas, to identify (1) mantle source chemistries and (2) the role of crustal assimilation. On the basis of Sm-Nd isotopic results, South Fiord intrusion magmas were derived from a homogeneous mantle source whereas a more heterogeneous source is invoked for the Isachsen Formation lavas. Furthermore, modelling with Th/ La, Nb/U, Ba/Th and Ba/Nb suggests that South Fiord intrusive magmatism was contaminated by sedimentary rocks from the Sverdrup Basin. Conversely, a trend towards high Ba/Th in Isachsen Formation lavas suggests a subducted sediment component derived from extinct subduction zones. We surmise that (1) South Fiord intrusive rocks are geochemically distinct from the Isachsen Formation lavas and (2) the HALIP mantle plume head intersected and incorporated sediments from ancestral subduction zones to the present-day Aleutian and Alaska subduction zones to produce the Isachsen Formation flows, whereas the South Fiord intrusions (and correlated Strand Fiord magmatism) were generated from plume material that interacted with upper crustal sedimentary rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Gossans are surficial deposits that form in host bedrock by the alteration of sulphides by acidic and oxidizing fluids. These deposits are typically a few meters to kilometers in size and they constitute important vectors to buried ore deposits. Hundreds of gossans have been mapped by field geologists in sparsely vegetated areas of the Canadian Arctic. However, due to Canada's vast northern landmass, it is highly probable that many existing occurrences have been missed. In contrast, a variety of remote sensing data has been acquired in recent years, allowing for a broader survey of gossans from orbit. These include band ratioing or methods based on principal component analysis. Spectrally, the 809 gossans used in this study show no significant difference from randomly placed points on the Landsat 8 imageries. To overcome this major issue, we propose a deep learning method based on convolutional neural networks and relying on geo big data (Landsat-8, Arctic digital elevation model lithological maps) that can be used for the detection of gossans. Its application in different regions in the Canadian Arctic shows great promise, with precisions reaching 77%. This first order approach could provide a useful precursor tool to identify gossans prior to more detailed surveys using hyperspectral imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses large igneous provinces (LIPs) have characterized by massive outpourings of predominantly mafic magma in the continental and oceanic domains. Topics include geoscientists have studied the stratigraphy, volcanology, petrology, and geochemistry of continental flood basalts emplaced in LIPs; and the relative contributions of asthenospheric versus lithospheric mantle sources to LIP basalt genesis have a topic of debate.