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Renseignements : POUR PLUS DE VEUILLEZ VOUS PAR TÉLÉPHONE : PAR COURRIEL : RENSEIGNEMENTS SUR ADRESSER À : la reproduction du Services de Local : (705) 670-5691 [email protected] contenu publication du MDNM Numéro sans frais : 1 888 415-9845, poste 5691 (au Canada et aux États-Unis) l'achat des Vente de publications Local : (705) 670-5691 [email protected] publications du MDNM du MDNM Numéro sans frais : 1 888 415-9845, poste 5691 (au Canada et aux États-Unis) les droits d'auteurs de Imprimeur de la Local : 416 326-2678 [email protected] la Couronne Reine Numéro sans frais : 1 800 668-9938 (au Canada et aux États-Unis) Mines and Minerals Division Ontario Geological Survey Study 30 Geology of Carbonatite - Alkalic Rock Complexes In Ontario Spanish River Carbonatite Complex District of Sudbury by R.P. Sage 1987 Ministry of Northern Development and Mines Ontario 1987 Queen's Printer for Ontario ISSN 0704-2590 Printed in Ontario, Canada ISBN 0-7729-0565-7 Publications of the Ontario Geological Survey, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, are available from the following sources. Orders for publications should be accompanied by cheque or money order payable to the Treasurer of Ontario. Reports, maps, and price lists (personal shopping or mail order): Public Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources Room 1640, Whitney Block, Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1W3 Reports and accompanying maps only (personal shopping): Ontario Government Bookstore Main Floor, 880 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M7A 1N8 Reports and accompanying maps (mail order or telephone orders): Publications Services Section, Ministry of Government Services 5th Floor, 880 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M7A 1N8 Telephone (local calls) 965-6015 Toll-free long distance 1-800-268-7540 Toll-free from Area Code 807 O-ZENITH-67200 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Sage, R.P. Geology of the carbonatite-alkalic complexes in Ontario, Spanish River car bonatite complex, district of Sudbury (Ontario Geological Survey study, ISSN 0704-2590 ; 30) Includes index. ISBN 0-7729-0565-7 1. Carbonatites Ontario Spanish River Region. 2. Alkalic igneous rocks, l. Ontario. Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. II. Ontario Geological Survey. III. Title. IV. Series. QE462.C36S23 1987 552'. 1'09713133 086-099631-X Every possible effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this report, but the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines does not assume any liability for errors that may occur. Source references are included in the report and users may wish to verify critical information. Parts of this publication may be quoted if credit is given. It is recommended that reference be made in the following form: Sage, R.P. 1987: Geology of Carbonatite - Alkalic Rock Complexes in Ontario: Spanish River Carbonatite Complex, District of Sudbury; Ontario Geological Survey, Study 30, 62p. If you wish to reproduce any of the text, tables or illustrations in this report, please write for permission to the Director, Ontario Geological Survey, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, 11th floor, 77 Grenville Street, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1W4. 500-87-CSG Foreword The Spanish River Carbonatite Complex was examined as part of a project, begun in 1974, to study alkalic rock - carbonatite complexes in Ontario. The study describes the rock types and mineralogy of the complex and outlines the history of the mineral exploration efforts within the complex. V.G. Milne Director Ontario Geological Survey HI Contents Abstract.................................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction ......................................^ 3 Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................ 3 Location and Access ................................................................................................... 3 Field Methods ............................................................................................................... 3 Previous Geological Work........................................................................................... 3 Physiography ................................................................................................................ 5 Laboratory Techniques................................................................................................ 5 Nomenclature................................................................................................................ 5 General Geology................................................................................................................... 7 Archean.............................................................................................................................. 7 Quartz Monzonite.......................................................................................................... 7 Fenitized Quartz Monzonite ...................................................................................... 10 Proterozoic....................................................................................................................... 11 Spanish River Carbonatite Complex........................................................................ 11 Outer Phase............................................................................................................. 11 Syenitic Rocks ...............................i.................................................................... 11 Ijolite..................................................................................................................... 12 Pyroxenitic Rocks............................................................................................... 12 Inner Carbonate-Rich Phase................................................................................. 13 Silicocarbonatite................................................................................................. 13 Sovite ................................................................................................................... 14 Metamorphism..................................................................................................................... 16 Petrogenesis........................................................................................................................ 17 Structural Geology .............................................................................................................. 18 Regional Setting .............................................................................................................. 18 Internal Structure............................................................................................................. 18 Geochronology and Paleomagnetism.............................................................................. 20 Magnetic Data ..................................................................................................................... 21 Economic Geology.............................................................................................................. 22 Property Descriptions..................................................................................................... 22 Eaton, E. [1957].......................................................................................................... 22 International Minerals and Chemical Corp. (Canada) Ltd. [1975]...................... 22 Jenmac Co. Ltd. [1960]............................................................................................. 22 Johns ManvilleCo. Ltd. [1955] ................................................................................ 23 Union Carbide Canada Ltd. [1968].......................................................................... 23 Recommendations to the Prospector........................................................................... 25 Appendix A Petrographic Descriptions and Chemical Compositions of Samples................................................................................................................................ 26 References........................................................................................................................... 56 Index ..................................................................................................................................... 59 TABLES 1. Table of lithologic units for the Spanish River Complex..................................... 10 2. Isotopic ages for the Sudbury area ....................................................................... 20 3. Vermiculite test results reported by Guillet........................................................... 23 FIGURES 1. Key map showing location of the Spanish River Complex ................................... 4 2. Geology of the Spanish River Complex ................................................................... 8 3. Aeromagnetic map of the Spanish River Complex................................................. 9 4. Schematic map showing major faults and lithologic subdivisions of Sudbury area.............................................................................................................. 19 5. Geology of trenches on vermiculite occurrence, Spanish River Complex ...................................................................................................................... 24 CONVERSION FACTORS FOR MEASUREMENTS IN ONTARIO GEOLOGICAL _______________SURVEY PUBLICATIONS.^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CONVERSION FROM SI TO IMPERIAL CONVERSION FROM IMPERIAL TO SI SI Unit Multiplied by Gives Imperial Unit Multiplied by Gives LENGTH 1 mm 0.039 37 inches 1 inch 25.4 mm 1 cm 0.393 70 inches 1 inch 2.54 cm 1 m 3.280 84 feet 1 foot 0.304 8 m 1 m 0.049 709 7 chains 1 chain 20.1168 m 1 km 0.621 371 miles (statute) 1 mile (statute) 1.609344 km AREA 1 cm2 0.1550 square inches 1 square inch 6.451 6 crrr 1 m2 10.763 9 square feet 1 square foot 0.092 903 04 m2 1 km2 0.386 10 square miles 1 square mile 2.589 988 km2 1 ha 2.471 054 acres 1 acre 0.404 685 6 ha VOLUME 1 cm3 0.061 02 cubic inches 1 cubic inch 16.387064 crrr 1 m3 35.314 7 cubic feet 1 cubic foot 0.028 316 85 m3 1 m3 1.308 O cubic yards 1 cubic yard 0.764 555 m3 CAPACITY 1 L 1.759 755 pints 1 pint 0.568 261 1 L 0.879 877 quarts 1 quart 1.136522 1 L 0.219969 gallons 1 gallon 4.546 090 MASS 19 0.035 273 96 ounces (avdp) 1 ounce (avdp) 28.349 523 10 0.032 150 75 ounces (troy) 1 ounce (troy) 31.1034768 9 1kg 2.204 62 pounds (avdp) 1 pound (avdp) 0.453 592 37 kg 1kg 0.001 102 3 tons (short) 1 ton (short) 907.18474 kg 1 t 1.102311 tons (short) 1 ton (short) 0.907 184 74 t 1kg 0.000 984 21 tons (long) 1 ton (long) 1016.0469088 kg 1 t 0.984 206 5 tons (long) 1 ton (long) 1.0160469088 t CONCENTRATION 1 g/t 0.029 166 6 ounce (troy)/ 1 ounce (troy)/ 34.285 714 2 g/t ton (short) ton (short) 1 g/t 0.583 333 33 pennyweights/ 1 pennyweight/ 1.714 285 7 g/t ton (short) ton (short) OTHER USEFUL CONVERSION FACTORS 1 ounce (troy) per ton (short) 20.0 pennyweights per ton (short) 1 pennyweight per ton (short)____0.05 ounces (troy) per ton (short) Note. Conversion factors which are in bold type are exact. The conversion factors have been taken from or have been derived from factors given in the Metric Practice Guide for the Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Industries, published by the Mining Association of Canada in cooperation with the Coal Association of Canada. vi GEOLOGY OF CARBONATITE - ALKALIC ROCK COMPLEXES IN ONTARIO Spanish River Carbonatite Complex DISTRICT OF SUDBURY R. P. Sage1 1. Geologist, Precambrian Geology Section, Ontario Geological Survey, Toronto. Manuscript approved for publication March 1, 1982, by Chief Geologist, Ontario Geological Survey. This report is published with the permission of V.G. Milne, Director, Ontario Geological Survey. Abstract The Spanish River Carbonatite Complex is in the Abitibi Subprovince of the Superior Province of the Canadian Shield. It occurs in a fault zone associated with a graben structure that is most likely related to the western extension of the Ottawa-Bonnechere graben system. The complex contains silicocarbonatite, sovite, ijolite, pyroxenite, and cancrinite-nepheline syenite enveloped in fenitized Archean quartz monzonite. The complex has been dated by rubidium-strontium isotopic techniques at 1838 95 Ma which indicates its emplacement may have been coeval with the development of the Sudbury Basin. The complex has been unsuccessfully prospected for niobium and vermiculite. Additional testing of the complex is warranted. RESUME Le complexe de carbonatite de la riviere Spanish se trouve dans la sous- province d'Abitibi de la province Superieure du Bouclier canadien. II apparalt dans une zone de faille associee a un fosse tectonique tres probablement lie a ('extension occidental de systeme de fosse tectonique d'Ottawa-Bonnechere. Le complexe esHorme de silicocarbonatite, de sovite, d'ijolite, de pyroxenite et de syenite de cancrenite-nephelinite enveloppee de monzonite quartzifere archeen fenitisee. Le complexe a pu etre date grace a des techniques isotopiques de rubidium-strontium a 1838 95 Ma, qui indiquent que sa formation est contem- poraine du developpement du bassin de Sudbury. La prospection de niobium et de vermiculite s'est averee infructueuse dans le complexe, ce qui justifie done le recours a des essais supplementaires. Geology of Carbonatite - Alkalic Rock Complexes in Ontario: Spanish River Carbonatite Complex, District of Sudbury, by R.P. Sage. Ontario Geological Survey Study 30, 62p. Published 1987. ISBN 0-7729-0565-7.