8. Gold in the Abitibi - New System-Scale Research

The world class gold deposits in Superior Province in the Canadian Precambrian Shield are being studied with in a broad and comprehensive research program called ‘Metal Earth’ at Laurentian University. In this episode we delve into their multidisciplinary and system-scale approach to learn some of the insights coming from this innovative program.  

To set up the framework we talked to Richard Goldfarb, world-renowned orogenic gold expert, who introduces the orogenic gold model and the importance of understanding this model to assist in future exploration efforts for deposits under cover. 

We explored the research and ideas being generated by Metal Earth with several post-doctoral researchers and Ph.D. students. They discuss the fundamentals of gold endowment and why some regions of the Superior may be more prospective than others. 

Kate Rubingh takes us into the well-endowed Larder Lake area in the Abitibi subprovince and Ben Frieman compares the Abitibi and Wabigoon subprovinces and speculates on gold endowment in the Wabigoon. David Mole discusses his post-doctoral research on craton-scale isotopic mapping and what insights can be gained regarding the location of world-class mineral deposits. 

We then move from the subprovince scale down to the microanalytical scale and discuss trace element mapping and gold fingerprinting in the Swayze greenstone belt with Ph.D. candidate Evan Hastie.  

All of these researchers discuss where they see exploration in the Superior in 20 years and the potential for new world-class gold discoveries coming out of the research being conducted by the Metal Earth.

Learn more about the Metal Earth program
merc.laurentian.ca/research/metal-earth

Theme music is Confluence by Eastwinds
eastwindsmusic.com

SEG 2024 will be in Windhoek, Namibia!  Come join us in a country known for its spectacular and diverse geology  27- 30 September, 2024.