Geochronology of the North Caribou greenstone belt, Superior Province Canada: Implications for tectonic history and gold mineralization at the Musselwhite mine

Abstract

The ~3. Ga North Caribou greenstone belt comprises a package of volcanic and sedimentary rocks metamorphosed from greenschist to upper amphibolite grade, surrounded by ~2.7-3.0. Ga granitoids and gneisses and is host to the Musselwhite gold mine, a large orogenic gold deposit. New U-Pb (zircon, monazite), Ar-Ar (biotite) and Sm-Nd (garnet) ages for volcanic, sedimentary and intrusive rocks from the Musselwhite mine and surrounding plutons have been obtained. Felsic volcanic rocks yielded ages of 2972.4. ±. 1.6 and 2982.4. ±. 0.8. Ma, broadly consistent with existing ages for volcanic rocks and plutonism. An age of 2857.3. ±. 1.4. Ma for the Schade Lake gneiss is consistent with published plu..