The Gowganda Formation

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The Gowganda Formation

• BY Karen, Linda, Jany, Nick

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Presentation Breakdown

• Introduction Background Information
• Glacial Depositional Environments
• Climatic Conditions
• Importance of Deposits
• Conclusion
• References

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Background Information

• Dates back to the early Proterozoic
• Belongs to the Huronian Cobalt Series
• Located North of Lake Huron
• Traces found in the Grenville, Paleozoic, and
  Superior Province, however, makes up a large
  portion of the Southern Province
• Between 600-1700m thick
• Two divisions
• Coleman Firstbook member

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Map Overview
http//www.brocku.ca/earthsciences/people/gfinn/fi
eldcamp/location.gif
Detailed Map
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ca/pdflinks/05010623105411262.pdf
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Depositional Environment

• Coleman Member
• Diamictite, laminated argillite with dropstones,
  and normally graded sandstone beds
• Terrestrial to lucastrine
• Diamictites are deposits of continental
  glaciation
• Firstbook Member
• laminated argillite, with occurrences wavy
  sandstone, normal-graded sandstone, and
  parallel/cross laminated sandstone beds
• Glacier marine
• Fine grain units are deep water deposits by post
  glacial rise of sea level causing shoreline to
  migrate Northward

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Climatic Conditions

• Alternating layers in the formation are separated
  by bands of distinct colour and texture
• Light layers winter deposition, smaller clasts
  settled out of the still water of an ice-covered
  glacial-margin lake.
• Darker layers summer deposition, coarser grained
  sediments in an open body of water receiving
  glacial runoff.
• Thickness of sedimentary layers are related to
  annual climatic variability temporal variation
  (rainfall temperature may have affected
  sedimentary layering in argillite sequence)

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Climatic Conditions

• Consists of metamorphosed sedimentary rock
  diamictite (likely formed as lodgment till under
  glaciers)
• Argillites formed in a glacial setting and
  sedimentary layering produced by annual climate
  cycles
• Dropstones breccia indicate seasonal
  freeze-thaw cycles

                                   (
Dropstone
Argillite
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r.ca/science
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Importance of Deposits

• The Gowganda area is known for its economical
  resourcefulness
• The Gowganda formation is a popular site for
  mining, some of these minerals include
• Silver, cobalt, copper, and minor nickel bearing
  carbonate quartz veins
• Of the given region, the Gowganda formation hosts
  the majority of the gold deposits

http//www.mbmiresources.com/properties/mcmillan.a
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Conclusion

• There are various theories put out in search of
  describing the truth of the Gowganda formation
• The Gowganda Series is a complex formation which
  is still under study and much remains in question
• The information that we have is based on numerous
  findings, however much of the Huronian Gowganda
  formation still remains uncovered
• By continuing study of the Huronian Series, it
  helps us grasp a better understanding of the
  processes which helped shape our environment

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References

• Debicki, R.L. 1990. Stratigraphy,
  Paleoenvironment and Economic Potential of the
  Huronian Supergroup in the Southern Cobalt
  Embayment. Toronto Ministry of Northern
  Development and Mines.
• Fedo, M.a Young, Grant M.b Nesbitt, H. 1997.
  Paleoclimatic control on the composition of the
  Paleoproterozoic Serpent Formation, Huronian
  Supergroup, Canada a greenhouse to icehouse
  transition. Precambrian Research 86 (3-4)
  201-223.
• Junnila, R.M. 1990. Precambrian Geology Yarrow
  and Doon Townships with Emphasis on the Huronian
  Supergroup. Toronto Ministry of Northern
  Development and Mines.
• MBMI Resource Inc. (2005). Online McMillan.
  Available http//www.mbmiresources.com/properties
  /mcmillan.asp 2005, February 3.
• McLennan, S.M., Simonette, A., Goldstein, S.L..
  2000. Nd and Pb isotopic evidence for provenance
  and post-depositional alteration of the
  Paleoproterozoic Huronian Supergroup, Canada.
  Precambrian Research 102 (3-4) 263-278.
• Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and
  Mines. (2005). Online Government of Ontario.
  Available http//www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndm/mines/re
  sgeol/northeast/kirkland_lake/geo_e.asp 2005,
  February 4.