Sedex Goodfellow Lydon2007

SEDIMENTARY EXHALATIVE (SEDEX) DEPOSITS
WAYNE D. GOODFELLOW AND JOHN W. LYDON

Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0E8
Corresponding author’s email: wgoodfel@nrcan.gc.ca
Abstract
There are 132 SEDEX (including Irish and BHT subtypes) deposits worldwide with known grade and tonnage, and of
these, 50 have geological resources equal to or greater than 20 Mt. In Canada, there are 35 deposits, seven with measured
geological resources of more than 20 Mt, including the Sullivan deposit with 162 Mt. Twelve Canadian deposits are past
producers, the largest of which is the Sullivan deposit, which produced 149 Mt of 5.33 percent Zn and 5.64 percent Pb.
The morphology of SEDEX deposits is highly variable and includes mounds, lenses, and tabular or sheet-like bodies.
Their internal architecture is controlled by the proximity of seaÀoor sulphides to Àuid discharge vents. Vent-proximal
deposits typically formed from buoyant hydrothermal Àuids, whereas vent-distal deposits formed from Àuids that are
denser than seawater and pooled in bathymetric depressions that may be remote from seaÀoor vents.
Most SEDEX deposits are hosted by organic-rich sedimentary rocks that were deposited in basins during periods
in the Earth’s history when the oceans were strati¿ed with a lower anoxic and H2S-rich water column. In the Paleozoic
Selwyn Basin, for example, there is a close temporal relationship between upward-increasing į34S secular trends in sedi-
mentary pyrite, anoxic laminated carbonaceous shales and cherts, and three major SEDEX forming events in the Late
Cambrian, Early Silurian, and Late Devonian.
The typical basinal architecture of most SEDEX deposits is a continental rift basin with at least 2 to 5 km of syn-rift,
coarse-grained, permeable clastics and related volcanic rocks and/or volcaniclastics overlain by post-rift relatively im-
permeable basinal shales or carbonates. Hydrothermal discharge to the seaÀoor was commonly focused at the intersection
of extensional and transform faults. There is close temporal and, in many cases, spatial association of SEDEX deposits
with basaltic volcanic rocks, dykes, and sills. The low rigidity, permeability, and thermal conductivity of host sediments
served to focus and prolong hydrothermal discharge at a restricted number of vent sites, thereby generating deposits that
are an order of magnitude larger on average than VMS deposits.
SEDEX deposits most likely formed from oxidized and therefore H2S-poor Àuids generated in geopressured hydro-
thermal reservoirs within syn-rift clastic (and evaporitic) sediments sealed by ¿ne-grained marine sediments. The large
variability in the temperature, salinity, metal content, and redox conditions of SEDEX Àuids was controlled by a number
of parameters including the local thermal regime, the redox state of the reservoir sediments, and the presence or absence
of evaporates. Because most of the Àuids that formed SEDEX deposits were probably depleted in reduced S, an essential
requirement for this deposit type is a suf¿cient supply of reduced S at the site of deposition. In the case of well-bedded
deposits that formed at the seaÀoor, the most likely S source is bacteriogenic H2S generated in an ambient anoxic water
column.
Résumé
À l’échelle du monde, il existe 132 gîtes SEDEX, y compris les gîtes irlandais et de type Broken Hill avec teneurs et
tonnages connus, et 50 d’entre eux renferment des ressources géologiques supérieures à 20 millions de tonnes. Le Canada
possède 35 gîtes de ressources géologiques mesurées, dont sept renferment plus de 20 millions de tonnes, y compris le
gisement de Sullivan avec 162 millions de tonnes. Douze gisements canadiens sont des producteurs passés et, le plus
important d’entre eux, le gisement Sullivan, a produit 149 millions de tonnes avec 5,33 % de Zn et 5,64 % de Pb. D’une
grande diversité, la géomorphologie des gîtes SEDEX comprend buttes, lentilles et corps tabulaires ou feuilletés.
La structure interne de ces gîtes est régie par la proximité des sulfures du plancher océanique par rapport aux évents
relâchant des Àuides. En général, les gîtes à proximité des évents se forment par l’intensité des Àuides hydrothermaux;
en revanche, ceux formés à distance des évents sont formés par des Àuides plus denses que l’eau de mer et se concentrent
dans les dépressions du plancher océanique qui peuvent être à l’écart des évents.
La plupart des gîtes SEDEX sont encaissés dans des sédiments carbonés déposés durant une période de l’histoire de la
Terre au cours de laquelle les océans furent strati¿és avec une colonne d’eau anoxique plus basse et riche en H2S. Dans le
bassin de Selwyn du Paléozoïque, notamment, une relation étroite existe entre les tendances séculaires d’augmentation à
la hausse de į34S dans la pyrite sédimentaire, les shales et les cherts laminés anoxiques et trois événements d’importance
dans la formation des gîtes SEDEX au cours du Cambrien supérieur, du Silurien inférieur et du Dévonien supérieur.
La structure type des bassins de la plupart des gîtes SEDEX se caractérise par un bassin d’effondrement continental
avec au moins 2 à 5 km de dépôts clastiques, volcaniques ou volcano-détritiques à gros grain, contemporains au rift,
recouverts de shales ou de carbonates de bassins imperméables, lesquels sont postérieurs au rift. Les jaillissements hydro-
thermaux sur le plancher marin se produisaient habituellement à l’intersection des failles d’extension et de transforma-
tion. Il existe une association temporelle étroite et, en maints cas, spatiale des gîtes SEDEX avec les roches volcaniques
basaltiques, les dykes et les ¿lons-couches. La faible rigidité, la perméabilité et la conductivité thermale des sédiments
hôtes ont servi à concentrer et à prolonger le jaillissement thermal dans un nombre restreint de sites d’évents, ce qui a
créé des gîtes plus importants que les gîtes de sulfures massifs volcanogènes.
Selon toute probabilité, les gîtes SEDEX ont été formés de Àuides oxydés, donc pauvres en H2S produits par des ré-
servoirs hydrothermaux géopressurés dans les sédiments clastiques (et évaporitiques), contemporains au rift, enveloppés
Goodfellow, W.D., and Lydon, J.W., 2007, Sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) deposits, in Goodfellow, W.D., ed., Mineral Deposits of Canada: A Synthesis
of Major Deposit Types, District Metallogeny, the Evolution of Geological Provinces, and Exploration Methods: Geological Association of Canada, Mineral
Deposits Division, Special Publication No. 5, p. 163-183.
W.D. Goodfellow and J.W. Lydon
par du carbonate ou des sédiments marins à grain ¿n. Un certain nombre de paramètres régissaient les grandes variations de température, de
salinité, du contenu en métaux, des conditions de redox des Àuides de SEDEX, soit le régime thermique, l’état de redox des sédiments du
réservoir et la présence ou l’absence d’évaporite. Vu que la plupart des Àuides qui ont formé les gîtes SEDEX étaient appauvris en souffre
réduit, un élément essentiel de ce type de gîte est un approvisionnement suf¿sant de soufre réduit sur l’emplacement du dépôt. Dans le cas
des gîtes bien lités qui ont formé le plancher océanique, la source de soufre la plus probable est le H2S qui est habituellement enrichi dans les
colonnes d’eau anoxiques.
Introduction VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide) deposits on the one

hand, and SEDEX and MVT deposits on the other hand. The
This synthesis of SEDEX deposits is intended as a syn- distinction between the three classes of deposits is based not
opsis of the major economic, geological, geochemical and only on the typical physical, chemical, and geological attrib-
genetic attributes of SEDEX deposits, with an emphasis on utes of member deposits and their respective geological en-
those that are considered important in mineral exploration. A vironments, but also on genetic models for the class. Both
great deal of the key attributes are based on research under- SEDEX and MVT deposits occur within marine platforms of
taken in the Selwyn Basin, Canada (e.g., Goodfellow, 2004; thick sedimentary basins and are thought to result from the
Goodfellow, 2007) and the Sullivan district, southeast B.C. migration of basinal metalliferous saline Àuids, whereas VMS
(Höy et al., 2000; Lydon et al., 2000a; Lydon et al., 2007). deposits occur in submarine volcanic-sedimentary sequences
This was augmented by major research programs on SEDEX and are formed from convective hydrothermal Àuids driven
deposits of the Northern Territories, Australia, by the Centre by, and/or magmatic Àuids from, a subvolcanic magma body.
for Ore Deposits Research (CODES; e.g., Large et al., 1998; Both SEDEX and VMS deposits were formed by hydrother-
Bull and Rawlings, 1999) and on the Red Dog deposits, mal systems that vented Àuids onto the sea Àoor, so that the
Brooks Range, Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey (e.g., age difference between the ores and the immediate host rocks
Kelley and Jennings, 2004; Young, 2004). is by de¿nition small. In contrast, MVT deposits formed in the
For a comprehensive analysis of this economically import- subsurface and so the age difference between ores and host
ant deposit type, the reader is referred to reviews by Large rocks can be much larger than for SEDEX deposits (Leach et
(1981b), Goodfellow et al. (1993) and Leach et al. (2005). al., 2001; Leach et al., 2005).
De¿nition Associated Mineral Deposit Types
Mineral Deposit Type SEDEX-associated deposits include MVT (Paradis et al.,
2007) and stratiform barite deposits (Goodfellow, 2004). The
Sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) deposits are typically MVT deposits occur in platformal carbonate sequences that
tabular bodies composed predominantly of Zn, Pb, and Ag are the shallow-water facies equivalent of basinal, typically
bound in sphalerite and galena that occur interbedded with ¿ne-grained sediments that host SEDEX deposits. Although
iron sulphides and basinal sedimentary rocks, and that were there is debate regarding the genetic link between SEDEX and
deposited on the seaÀoor and in associated sub-seaÀoor vent MVT deposits, the overlap in timing and the compositional
complexes from hydrothermal Àuids vented into mostly re- similarities suggests that these deposits formed from simi-
duced sedimentary basins in continental rifts. lar basinal metalliferous Àuids (Goodfellow, 1987; Sangster,
Mineral Deposit Subtypes 1990). The only major difference is that ore-forming Àuids
Subtypes of SEDEX deposits include the Broken Hill type vented at the seaÀoor in the case of SEDEX deposits whereas
(BHT) and those that formed below but near the seaÀoor most of the sulphide precipitation took place subsurface in the
(e.g., Irish-type deposits). The Irish type of SEDEX deposits case of MVT deposits. The source of most of the reduced S
(e.g., Hitzman and Beaty, 1997) is hosted predominantly in both deposit types is most likely bacterial reduced seawater
by carbonate rocks and these deposits, either individually sulphate (Goodfellow, 1987).
or collectively (district-wide), may show characteristics Economic Characteristics
of both seaÀoor deposition and epigenetic features typical
of Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits (e.g., Sangster, Summary
1990; Paradis et al., 2007). Irish-type deposits are considered SEDEX deposits are an important resource for Zn and Pb
to have formed by ore-forming processes similar to those (Table 1). In 2004, SEDEX deposits accounted for 38.8%
of SEDEX deposits, but because carbonate platforms are and 65.1% of the western world’s Zn reserves and resources,
highly soluble in mildly acidic ore Àuids, the ores were also respectively (Fig. 1; Hunt, 2006). By comparison, VMS and
deposited in open space that commonly formed by hydro- MVT deposits accounted for 30.2% and 15.3%, and 4.2% and
thermal karsting (e.g., dissolution voids, collapse breccias). 1.4%, of Zn reserves and resources, respectively. In addition,
BHT deposits (Beeson, 1991; Parr and Plimer, 1993; Walters, the percentage of SEDEX Zn reserves has shown a consistent
1998) are characterized by high metamorphic grade, elevat- increase over the past two decades. In 2004, SEDEX deposits
ed base metal to S ratios, a spatial and temporal association also accounted for 32% of Zn production that was followed
with Fe-Si-Mn oxide exhalites, and bimodal felsic-ma¿c by VMS at 27%, Zn oxide at 12%, and MVT at 6%. The size
volcanic/intrusive and ¿ne- to coarse-grained, mostly clastic (in tonnes of Pb + Zn metal) of SEDEX deposits is on aver-
sedimentary host rocks. age about an order of magnitude greater than that of VMS
It is generally recognized that, especially at the deposit deposits (Goodfellow et al., 1993).
scale, no matter the criteria used to de¿ne a SEDEX deposit, The bulk of the mineralization in most SEDEX deposits
there is a continuum of characteristics between SEDEX and resides in the bedded ore facies. The ore minerals in this fa-
164
Sedimentary Exhalative (SEDEX) Deposits
TABLE 1. Grade and tonnage of major global SEDEX deposits.
Geological Resources (maximum size)

Deposit Lat. Long. Cu Zn Pb Ag Au Ore Zn+Pb
Deposit Name Status Location
Û
( )
Û
( ) Age (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (Mt) (Mt)
HYC (McArthur River) producer Australia -16.43 136.10 Late Paleoproterozoic 0.20 9.20 4.10 41.00 237 31.52
Talvivaara deposit Finland 63.98 -28.05 Paleoproterozoic 0.14 0.53 2.60 221 1.17
Mehdiabad deposit Iran 36.63 59.18 Cretaceous 7.20 2.30 51.00 218 20.71
Broken Hill producer Australia -31.97 141.47 Paleoproterozoic 0.10 11.00 10.00 180.00 0.10 205 43.05
Ozernoe deposit Russia 52.50 112.50 Early Cambrian 1.20 6.20 37.00 180 11.16
Red Dog producer U.S. 68.07 -162.80 Mississippian 16.60 4.60 83.00 165 34.98
Sullivan past producer Canada 49.71 -116.01 Mesoproterozoic 5.86 6.08 67.36 162 19.33
Gamsberg deposit South Africa -29.25 18.97 Mesoproterozoic 7.10 0.55 150 11.47
Mount Isa producer Australia -20.73 139.48 Late Paleoproterozoic 6.80 5.90 148.00 124 15.75
Arditurri deposit Spain 43.17 -1.49 Late Carboniferous 1.00 8.00 50.00 120 9.60
Howards Pass (total) deposit Canada 62.56 -129.53 Early Silurian 5.00 2.00 17.00 120 8.40
Century producer Australia -18.75 138.63 Mesoproterozoic 10.20 1.50 36.00 118 13.81
Saladipura past producer India 27.65 75.53 Paleoproterozoic 1.25 115 1.44
Big Syncline deposit South Africa -29.20 18.83 Middle Paleo- 0.09 2.45 1.01 12.90 101 3.49
proterozoic
Jiashengpan deposit China 41.00 109.32 Paleoproterozoic 3.80 1.30 100 100.0
Filizchai producer Azerbaijan 41.79 46.47 Early Jurassic 0.64 4.50 2.00 54.00 100 100.00
Broken Hill producer South Africa -29.23 18.78 Middle Paleo- 0.34 1.77 3.57 48.10 85 85.0
proterozoic
Black Mountain deposit South Africa -29.23 18.73 Middle Paleo- 0.75 0.59 2.67 30.00 82 85.0
proterozoic
Limonitovoye deposit Russia 58.24 93.19 Neoproterozoic 0.70 1.90 80 85.0
Navan current Ireland 53.62 6.82 Mississippian 8.04 2.68 78 8.34
producer
Sindesar Kalan East deposit India 25.00 74.17 Paleoproterozoic 2.13 0.51 70 1.85
Changba-Lijiagou producer China 34.00 105.50 Middle Devonian 10.99 1.92 68 8.79
Rampura-Agucha deposit India 25.83 74.73 Paleoproterozoic 13.60 1.90 45.00 64 9.87
Howards Pass (Anniv) deposit Canada 62.47 -129.21 Early Silurian 5.40 2.10 25.00 61 4.58
Meggen past producer Germany 51.13 8.08 Middle Devonian 0.17 5.83 0.83 60 4.00
Howards Pass (XY) deposit Canada 62.56 -129.53 Early Silurian 5.40 2.10 9.00 59 4.43
Faro past producer Canada 62.36 -133.37 Late Cambrian 5.70 3.40 36.00 58 5.24
Rajpura-Dariba producer India 24.98 74.13 Paleoproterozoic 0.15 2.04 2.79 113.88 0.28 56 2.68
Tekeli deposit Kazakhstan 44.80 78.95 Neoproterozoic 1.00 6.00 5.00 50 5.50
Rosh Pinah producer Namibia -27.95 16.77 Neoproterozoic 0.10 7.00 2.00 50 4.50
Hilton producer Australia -20.57 139.47 Late Mesoproterozoic 9.30 6.50 151.00 49 7.74
Cannington producer Australia -21.87 140.92 Paleoproterozoic 4.30 10.90 493.00 47 7.19
Dugald River deposit Australia -20.25 140.15 Mesoproterozoic 13.28 2.09 42.00 43 6.59
Mokanpura North deposit India 25.00 74.13 Paleoproterozoic 2.40 0.60 40 1.20
Zinkgruvan deposit Sweden 58.82 15.10 Paleoproterozoic 10.00 1.50 45.00 40 4.60
Cirque deposit Canada 57.51 -125.15 Late Devonian 8.00 2.20 47.20 39 3.93
Su-Lik deposit U.S. 68.17 -163.20 Mississippian 8.00 2.00 30.00 34 3.40
Aguilar producer Argentina -23.20 -65.70 Early Ordovician 0.05 8.50 6.50 150.00 32 4.83
Elura past producer Australia -31.17 145.65 Devonian 8.62 5.58 108.98 32 4.57
Grum past producer Canada 62.27 -133.22 Late Cambrian 4.90 3.10 49.00 31 2.46
Rosh Pinah producer South Africa -27.95 16.77 Neoproterozoic 0.10 7.25 2.10 11.00 30 2.76
Mochia producer India 24.36 73.72 Paleoproterozoic 3.79 1.69 27 1.47
Citronen Fjord deposit Denmark 83.08 -28.25 Ordovician 7.50 25 1.88
Rammelsberg past producer Germany 51.88 10.42 Middle Devonian 1.07 18.06 8.59 25 6.58
Hilton North deposit Australia -20.53 139.48 Late Mesoproterozoic 12.10 6.40 110.00 23 4.26
(George Fisher)
Lisheen producer Ireland 52.73 7.68 Mississippian 11.50 1.90 26.00 22 2.97
Balmat producer U.S. 44.25 -75.40 Mesoproterozoic 9.00 0.50 21 1.99
Franklin past producer U.S. 41.12 -74.57 Mesoproterozoic 19.60 20 4.00
Qingchengzi deposit China 40.73 123.59 Midfdle Proterozoic 2.00 3.00 75.00 20 1.00
Zhairem deposit Kazakhstan 48.33 70.50 Late Devonian 0.50 5.00 2.00 20 1.40
Notes: Data from Appendix 2 (DVD), Goodfellow and Lydon, 2007. Geological resources = production + economic reserves + sub-economic
reserves; Mt = million tonnes; Zn+Pb Mt = Mt of combined Zn and Pb metal.
165
totaling 112 Mt of Zn + Pb metal), Curnamona

(A) Zinc Reserves (B) Zinc Resources Craton (one deposit of 75 Mt Zn+Pb), Selwyn
Other
Various MVT Other Various MVT
7.7%
Basin (17 deposits totaling 55 Mt Zn+Pb),
0.5% 4.2% 1.4%
7.5% 3.7% Oxide
0.1%
Brooks Range (three deposits totaling 40 Mt
VMS
15.3% Zn+Pb), Namaqualand (four deposits totaling
Replace
VMS
30.2% Oxide ment 30 Mt Zn+Pb), Rajasthan (¿ve deposits totaling
9.3% 2.3%
20 Mt Zn+Pb), Belt-Purcell Basin (one deposit
Replace
ment
Skarn totaling 19 Mt Zn+Pb), Irish Midlands (¿ve
4.3%
3.3% deposits totaling 15 Mt Zn+Pb), and Rhenish
Basin (two deposits totaling 11 Mt Zn+Pb;
Sangster and Hillary, 2000).
Skarn Singer (1995) de¿ned giant deposits as the
6.6%
SEDEX
38.4%
SEDEX top 10 percentile and super-giants as the top
65.1%
one percentile in terms of metal content. Using
(C) Zinc Production in 2004 these criteria, giant deposits contain more than 8
Various
1%
MVT
6%
Mt of Pb+Zn metal. If the criteria are extended
Other
VMS 10%
to total geological size, giant and super-giant
27% SEDEX deposits contain more than 100 and 300
MVT Other
Mt of ore, respectively. Some obvious conclu-
Oxide Oxide Replacement
12%
SEDEX Skarn
sions from Table 1 and Figure 4 are:
VMS Various
Skarn
7%
Replacement •Broken Hill is a super-giant deposit based
5%
on both metal tonnes and grade; HYC and
Mehdiabad are super-giant deposits based
SEDEX
32%
on geological resources.
• Nine of the 15 giant or super-giant deposits,
FIGURE 1. Zinc reserves (A), resources (B), and production (C) in 2004, broken down by based on total geological resources, are
deposit type. From Hunt, 2004. Meso-Palaeoproterozoic in age. Six of these
- Red Dog, Ozernoe, Arditurri, Mehdiabad,
cies are commonly ¿ne-grained and intergrown, which leads Filizchai and Howards Pass - are Phanerozoic giant or
to low metal recoveries during ore bene¿ciation. Although super-giant deposits.
recrystallization of ¿ne-grained sedimentary sulphides by • The Broken Hill and Red Dog deposits stand out as pro-
metamorphism and/or by hydrothermal reworking in the vent ducers in terms of both size and metal grade.
complex produces coarser-grained ores from which higher
recovery rates are obtained, these rates for SEDEX deposits Metal grades are highly variable, with a mean of 0.97 wt.
are, on average, much lower than for VMS, MVT, and BHT % Cu, 3.28 wt. % Pb, 6.76 wt. % Zn and 63 g/t Ag. Average
deposits, the other major sources of Zn and Pb (Goodfellow geological resources are 34.78 Mt of sulphide and 3.165 Mt
et al., 1993). of Zn + Pb metal Fig. 5. Most of the production from SEDEX
deposits in Canada came from the world-class Sullivan de-
Grade and Tonnage Characteristics posit in the Belt-Purcell basin, southeastern British Columbia,
There are 132 SEDEX including Irish and BHT deposits the Faro, Grum, and Vangorda deposits in the Selwyn Basin,
world wide with grade and tonnage ¿gures (Fig,. 2 and Yukon, and the H.B. and Reeves-MacDonald deposits, south-
Appendix 2, DVD), and of these, 50 have geological re- ern British Columbia (Table 3).
sources greater than 20 Mt (Table 1). In Canada, there are
35 deposits with known geological resources (Appendix 1, Geological Attributes of SEDEX deposits
DVD), of which seven contain more than 20 Mt, includ- Deposit Morphology
ing the Sullivan deposit with 161 Mt and the Howards Pass
deposits estimated at 120 Mt (Table 2 and Fig. 2). Of the The bulk of the ore is contained in a stratiform sulphide
35 Canadian deposits, 12 are past producers, the largest of body that typically has a high aspect ratio (i.e., the ratio of
which is the Sullivan deposit that produced 149 Mt of 5.33% the lateral extent of the body to its maximum stratigraphic
Zn and 5.64% Pb (Table 3). The Howards Pass deposit is thickness). Because most SEDEX deposits have an aspect
currently not economic, although it is currently undergoing ratio of 20 or more, the most common morphology is repre-
major exploration and evaluation. Most SEDEX deposits in sented by sheets or tabular lenses of stratiform sulphides up to
Canada occur in the Anvil, MacMillan Pass, and Howards a few tens of metres in thickness and more than a km in length
Pass districts, Selwyn Basin; the Gataga district, Kechika (Large, 1983). The Sullivan deposit in southern B.C.(Fig. 6),
Trough; the Sullivan district, Belt-Purcell; and the Duncan and the Tom and Jason deposits at MacMillan Pass, Yukon,
district, southern British Columbia (Fig. 3). are wedge-shaped and have a moderately high aspect ratio.
The Howards Pass (Fig. 7) and Anniv deposits in the Howards
In order of endowment of SEDEX deposits globally, the Pass district, on the other hand, are saucer-shaped and taper
major basins are: Mt. Isa-McArthur Basin (seven deposits gradually laterally for distances of several km. Unlike the
166
Citronen Fjord
Black Skarnesdalen Rauhala

Red Tom, Jason Angel
Dog Mofjellet

Bleikvassli
Anniv, XY
Foss, Ben
Navan, Tara, Eagach Gorevsk Kholodnina,
Driftpile Tatestown- Zinkgruvan Kholodninskoye Kholodninskoye
Anvil District Scallanstown
(Faro, Vangorda, Cirque Lafontaine, Tynagh Lisheen,
Grum, Swim, Dy) Galmoy Ozernoe
Sullivan, North Calmut, Leitch, Rammelsberg
Zhairem Beishan, Binggou,
Star, Stemwinder Silvermines
Dongshan, Gudonggou,
Ruddock Ck, Meggen Dongshengmiao, Gaobanhi Hejiagou, Laogoutun,
Tekeli
Cottenbelt Kootenay King Arditurri Filizchai Huogeqi Lugou, Lugouli
Mirgalimsai
Coby King Walton Changba-Lijoagou, Wafanggou
Reeves- Troya
River Jordan Arrens Bijiashan, Luoba
MacDonald, Tuanshanzi
Jersey, H.B. Lahore Dengjiashan
Franklin, Belmat, Mehdiabad
Sterling Hill Edwards, Hyatt Saladipura Qingchengzi
Kushk Bajta Central, Jiashengpan
Santa Lucia- Gunga Sawar, Tikhi, Bafangshan,
Matahambr Ganeshpura Qiandongshan,
Duddar
Esperanza Yinmusi
Ballaria, Baroi, Zhaojiazhuang,
Mochia, Zawarmala Sargipali Tongmugou,
Abua Samar Paduna North Xidonggou,
Yindongzi
Rajpura- Dariba,
Rewara, Bethumni,
North Sindesar
Century
Dairi Century
Morro
(Sopokomil) McArthur River
Agudo Dugald River
Aguliar, Mount Isa, Cannington,
Esperanza Rosh Pinah, Hilton Pegmont,
Scorpion Maramungee
Canoas,
Perau Broken Hill, Elura
Black Mountain,
Menninnie
Big Syncline Currawang
Dam
Putsberg Angas
Broken Hill
FIGURE 2. Global distribution of SEDEX deposits (includes Irish-type and BHP deposits) plotted on a simpli¿ed geological map of the world. Geology from Kirkham and Rafer (2003). Data on SEDEX
deposits from Appendix 2 (DVD).
167
Faro
Swim , D Y
Grum , To m, Jason
Vangorda
Anniv
XY
Mel
Driftpile
Cirque
Cottonbelt
River
Ruddock Jordan
Creek
Duncan
Colby
Mineral King
Big Ledge
Kootenay King
Reeves- Walton
MacDonald
Sullivan, Stemwinder ,
Jersey , H.B. LaFontaine,
North Star
Leitch
New Calumet
Cadieux
Long Lake
Salerno Lake
FIGURE 3. Canadian SEDEX deposits plotted on a 1:2 000 000 geological map of Canada by Wheeler et al. (1996). Data on SEDEX deposit from
Appendix 1 (DVD).
vent-proximal Tom and Jason deposits (e.g.,Fig. 8A), the that accompanies veining, in¿lling, and replacement of bed-
Howards Pass deposits (XY, Anniv, and OP) are probably ded sulphides by a typically higher-temperature assemblage
not spatially associated with a hydrothermal seaÀoor vent and that characterizes vent-proximal deposits.
(e.g., Fig. 8B). The geometry of distal deposits is controlled
by the basin morphology within which hydrothermal metal- Textures and Mineralogy
liferous Àuids formed brine pools similar to Atlantis II and The bedded facies in both distal and proximal deposits is
Discovery deeps in the Red Sea (Zierenberg, 1990). composed of sulphide minerals, other hydrothermal products
such as carbonates, chert, barite, and apatite, and non-hydro-
Deposit Architecture thermal clastic, chemical, and biogenic sedimentary rocks.
Vent-proximal deposits are characterized by four distinct The dominant sulphide mineral in most deposits is pyrite, al-
facies: 1. bedded sulphides, 2. vent complex, 3. sulphide though in some deposits (e.g., Sullivan and Mt. Isa), pyrrhot-
stringer zone, and 4. distal hydrothermal sediments. Near ite is predominant. The main economic minerals are sphaler-
the center of Àuid up-Àow represented by the stringer zone, ite and galena (e.g., Fig. 9A, Howards Pass deposit), although
the bedded sulphides are characteristically in¿lled, veined, chalcopyrite is an economically important mineral in a few
and variable replaced by a higher-temperature mineral as- deposits (e.g., Rammelsberg; Hannak, 1981). The ratio of iron
semblage, producing the vent complex (Goodfellow et al., sulphides to base metal sulphides ranges from less than 1:1
1993). The distal hydrothermal sediments probably represent (e.g., Red Dog; Moore et al., 1986) to greater than 5:1 (e.g.,
plume fallout that has been dispersed by bottom currents or Sullivan; Hamilton et al., 1982). The relative proportion of
alternatively clastic sulphides shed from sulphide mounds. non-sulphide hydrothermal components is similarly variable.
Examples of deposits with zone-re¿ned vent complexes in- Barite, when present, occurs in major amounts (i.e., more
clude the Sullivan, Tom, Jason, and Rammelsberg deposits. than 25% of the hydrothermal product) and is present in about
Vent-distal deposits, however, are typically weakly zoned, 25% of Proterozoic and about 75% of Phanerozoic SEDEX
well bedded, and conform to the basin morphology (e.g., deposits (Goodfellow et al., 1993). Silica, usually as chert,
Fig. 8B). There is no evidence of the type of zone re¿ning is ubiquitous in most stratiform ores and is in part hydrother-
168
TABLE 2. Grade and tonnage of Canadian SEDEXdeposits.
Geological Resource (size of deposit)

Deposit Province/ Lat. Long. Age Deposit Cu Zn Pb Ag Au Ore
Name Territory Û
( ) Û
( ) Age (Ma) Status (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (Mt)
Mesoprotero-
Sullivan British Columbia 49.71 -116.01 1470 past producer 5.86 6.08 67.36 161.97
zoic
Howards
Yukon 62.56 -129.53 Early Silurian 435 deposit 5.40 2.10 17.00 120.00
Pass (total)
Howards Pass
(Anniv)
Howards
Pass (XY)
Faro Yukon 62.36 -133.37 Late Cambrian 514 past producer 5.70 3.40 36.00 57.60
Cirque British Columbia 57.51 -125.15 Late Devonian 367 deposit 8.00 2.20 47.20 38.50
Grum Yukon 62.27 -133.22 Late Cambrian 514 past producer 4.90 3.10 49.00 30.80
Dy Yukon 62.23 -133.14 Late Cambrian 514 deposit 0.12 6.70 5.50 84.00 0.95 21.10
Tom Yukon 63.17 -130.14 Late Devonian 367 deposit 7.00 4.61 49.10 15.72
South Cirque British Columbia 57.51 -125.15 Late Devonian 367 deposit 6.90 1.40 32.00 15.50
Jason Yukon 63.15 -130.26 Late Devonian 367 deposit 7.40 6.50 65.00 10.10
Jersey British Columbia 49.10 -117.22 Early Cambrian 525 past producer 3.49 1.65 3.08 7.68
Vangorda Yukon 62.25 -133.18 Late Cambrian 514 past producer 4.90 3.80 54.00 0.79 7.50
Mel Yukon 60.35 -127.40 Cambrian 525 deposit 7.10 2.05 6.78
Big Ledge British Columbia 49.50 -118.15 Neoproterozoic 700 deposit 4.00 6.50
H.B. British Columbia 49.15 -117.20 Early Cambrian 525 past producer 4.10 3.30 4.80 6.45
Reeves-Mac-
British Columbia 49.02 -117.37 Early Cambrian 525 past producer 3.42 0.98 3.40 5.80
Donald
Clear Lake Yukon 62.78 -135.14 Mississippian 340 deposit 11.40 2.00 38.01 5.57
Late Pro-
Ruddock Creek British Columbia 51.27 -118.98 650 deposit 7.50 2.50 5.00
terozoic
Walton Nova Scotia 45.21 -64.04 Mississipian 340 past producer 0.04 0.11 0.32 27.70 4.90
Swim Yukon 62.21 -133.03 Late Cambrian 514 deposit 4.70 3.80 42.00 4.75
Mesoprotero-
New Calumet Quebec 45.70 -76.68 1300 past producer 5.95 1.66 121.33 0.64 3.65
zoic
Duncan British Columbia 50.37 -116.95 Early Cambrian 525 deposit 3.10 3.30 2.76
Late Pro-
River Jordan British Columbia 51.13 -118.41 650 deposit 5.60 5.10 35.00 2.60
terozoic
Driftpile British Columbia 58.05 -125.95 Late Devonian 367 deposit 11.90 2.00 2.40
Mineral King British Columbia 50.35 -116.43 Neoproterozoic 370 past producer 4.12 1.76 27.50 2.10
Upton Quebec 45.68 -72.67 Ordovician 472 past producer 2.21 15.00 1.00
Colby
British Columbia 50.73 -118.73 Proterozoic 1700 deposit 2.60 0.58 1.67
(King¿sher)
Cottonbelt British Columbia 51.45 -118.82 Proterozoic 1700 deposit 2.00 6.00 50.00 1.00
Cadieux Mesoprotero-
Ontario 45.41 -76.71 1300 deposit 10.00 1.00
(Renfrew Zinc) zoic
Mesoprotero-
Salerno Lake Ontario 44.85 -78.47 1300 deposit 5.00 0.75
zoic
Mesoprotero-
Long Lake Ontario 44.69 -76.77 1300 past producer 10.00 0.10
zoic
Mesoprotero-
Leitch Quebec 46.13 -75.96 1300 deposit 8.00 0.08
zoic
Mesoprotero-
North Star British Columbia 49.68 -116.03 1470 past producer 6.12 35.50 673.00 0.06
zoic
Mesoprotero-
Lafontaine Quebec 46.12 -75.96 1300 deposit 12.03 0.03
zoic
Mesoprotero-
Stemwinder British Columbia 49.69 -116.02 1470 past producer 15.60 3.70 76.30 0.03
zoic
Mesoprotero-
Kootenay King British Columbia 49.74 -115.61 1468 past producer 15.60 5.35 66.50 0.01
zoic
Notes: Data from Appendix 1 (DVD), Goodfellow and Lydon, 2007
169
mally derived.
Red Dog
Broken The outer margins of the stratiform body, referred to as the distal
20 Hill
Menninnie
Mount
Isa
facies, usually consist of bedded hydrothermal products that have
HYC no economic value, due to a decrease in the relative proportion of
Sullivan
base metal sulphides with distance from the center of hydrother-
Pb + Zn (wt. %)
10 Century
Arditurri
Filizchai
Mehdiabad
Gamsberg mal discharge (e.g., Sullivan horizon, Fig. 9C). The distal facies
Ozernoe
includes laminated pyrite and pyrrhotite, manganese, iron and cal-
5 Howards Pass
Jiashengpan
(XY+Anniv) cium carbonates, iron oxides, barite, and phosphate. The contact
3 Big Syncline
between the bedded ore facies and the distal sedimentary facies is
in most cases gradational and economically de¿ned.
SUPER- In contrast to the regularly layered appearance of the bedded
GIANT
All SEDEX Deposits GIANT ore facies, the vent complex is heterogeneous in nature and is typ-
Saladipura
1 ically composed of massive zones, replacement patches, irregular
1 10 100 400
Geological Resources Mt
veins and/or disseminations of sulphides, carbonates, and silicates
(mostly quartz; e.g., Fig. 9B, Tom vent complex). The mineral as-
30
semblage is dominated by pyrite, pyrrhotite, galena, sphalerite,
Rammels-
GIANT SUPER-GIANT ferroan carbonate, dolomite, quartz, tourmaline, and lesser mus-
berg covite, chlorite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, and sulphosalt min-
Ziashengpan Broken Hill
erals. In deposits in which the vent complex has been well docu-
Pb + Zn (wt. %)
Red Dog
20
mented (e.g., Tom, Jason, and Sullivan), the contact between the
Rampura-
Agucha stratabound vent complex and adjacent sedimentary-hydrothermal
15 Mount
Changba- Isa
HYC facies is a discordant replacement contact. The vent complex is
formed by the reaction of upÀowing hydrothermal Àuids with
Lijiagou
Navan Sullivan
Century
10
Arditurri
Mehdiabad hydrothermal and host sediment, which causes the replacement
Howards Pass of the lower-temperature sedimentary minerals by higher-temper-
5 (XY+Anniv) Canadian Deposits
Gamsberg ature vent assemblages (Turner, 1990; Kelley et al., 2004).
World Deposits
0
The feeder zone underlying vent complexes is discordant and
0 10 20 30 40 50 composed of sulphide, carbonate, and silica veins, impregna-
Mt of Pb+Zn Metal (Geological Resources) tions, and replacements that intersects the footwall sedimentary
sequence (e.g., Fig. 9D, Sullivan deposit; Fig. 9E, Red Dog de-
FIGURE 4. Grade vs. tonnage plots for SEDEX (including Irish and posit). The feeder zone at many deposits appears to be rooted in a
BHT) deposits world wide. Top: Pb + Zn (wt. %) vs. geological resour-
ces (Mt); Bottom: Pb + Zn (wt. %) vs. Pb + Zn metal (Mt). synsedimentary fault zone, and fault-scarp breccias, debris Àows,
TABLE 3. Grade and tonnage of Canadian SEDEX deposits brought into production.
Total Production
Province/ Lat. Long. Date Cu Zn Pb Ag Au Mt
Deposit Name Territory ( ) Û ( ) Û Age (Ma) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t)
Sullivan British Columbia 49.71 -116.01 Mesoproterozoic 1470 0.00 5.33 5.64 62.10 0.00 149.17
Faro Yukon 62.36 -133.37 Cambrian 514 5.00 3.40 33.00 0.30 53.18
Vangorda Yukon 62.25 -133.18 Cambrian 514 4.30 3.40 48.00 1.00 5.20
Grum Yukon 62.27 -133.22 Cambrian 514 5.80 3.40 50.00 0.60 4.60
Jersey British Columbia 49.10 -117.22 Early Cambrian 525 3.24 1.41 2.64 8.13
H.B. British Columbia 49.15 -117.20 Early Cambrian 525 4.10 0.77 4.74 0.00 6.66
Reeves-MacDonald British Columbia 49.02 -117.37 Early Cambrian 525 0.00 3.48 0.99 3.39 5.85
Walton Nova Scotia 45.21 -64.04 Mississippian 340 0.56 1.44 4.33 374.00 0.36
New Calmut Quebec 45.70 -76.68 Mesoproterozoic 1300 6.06 1.70 124.43 0.65 3.39
North Star British Columbia 49.68 -116.03 Mesoproterozoic 1470 6.12 35.50 673.00 0.06
Mineral King British Columbia 50.35 -116.43 Neoproterozoic 370 0.03 4.30 1.78 27.45 2.10
Kootenay King British Columbia 49.74 -115.61 Mesoproterozoic 1468 15.60 5.35 66.50 0.01
Notes: Data from Appendix 1 (DVD), Goodfellow and Lydon, 2007.
170
mostly of carbonaceous chert and shale. These

8
5
Mean = 0.97 wt. % Mean = 6.76 wt. %
sedimentary rocks generally represent pelagic
7
4 Min. = 0.042 wt. %
6
Min. = 0.107 wt. % and hemipelagic sediments. In some deposits
Max. = 4.6 wt. % Max. = 20 wt. %
3 S.D. = 1.14 5 S.D. = 4.44 (e.g., Sullivan), pelagic and/or hemipelagic
4 sedimentary rocks are interbedded with basin-
2 3
wide turbiditic siltstones and sandstones, and
2
1
1
locally derived coarse-grained clastic sedi-
0 0 ments shed off uplifted blocks during exten-
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
0 1 2
Cu (wt. %)
3 4 5
Zn (wt. %) sional tectonism. In the case of the Irish-type
Number of Deposits
6 7 deposits, the dominant lithologies are lime-

Mean = 3.28 wt. % 6 Mean = 63 g/t
5
Min. = 0.22 wt. % Min. = 3.08 g/t stone and dolomite. BHT deposits are hosted
5 Max. = 673 g/t
4 Max. = 35.5 wt. %
S.D. = 3.79 S.D. = 103
by a bimodal volcanic and clastic sedimentary
4
3
3
sequence that is commonly metamorphosed to
2
2
amphibolite-granulite facies, as at Broken Hill,
1 1 Australia.
0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 Chemical Attributes of SEDEX Deposits
Pb (wt. %) Ag (g/t)
14 20
Mean = 34.78 Mt Mean = 3.165 Mt
Ore Composition
12
Min. = 0.0002 Mt Min. = 0.006 Mt
10 Max. = 500 Mt
15
Max. = 58.8 Mt
The main economic constituents of SEDEX
8 S.D. = 75.6
10
S.D. = 7.58 ores are Zn, Pb, and Ag that occur primarily
6
in sphalerite and galena in both the bedded
4
2
5
ores and vent complex. Grades of Pb + Zn are
0 0 commonly highest near the transition between
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
the zone-re¿ned vent complex and the lat-
Million Tonnes Million Tonnes of Pb + Zn
erally extensive bedded ore facies (e.g., Tom
FIGURE 5. Histograms of metal grades and tonnage for global SEDEX deposits. and Sullivan, Goodfellow and Rhodes, 1990;
Lydon et al., 2000a). This increase in base met-
3000 E
6000 E
4000 E
5000 E
W E als and ore-associated elements (e.g., Hg, As,

5000 elev Sb) is caused by the leaching of these elements
? Vent Complex Section 10800 N from the vent complex and reprecipitation in
Surfac
e bedded facies adjacent to the vent complex.
? Transition In a few deposits, such as Rammelsberg in
Zone
Bed
Germany and Mount Isa in Australia, Cu is an
?
t
ded important economic resource and is concen-

aul
4000 elev
nF
Ore
s trated in what has been interpreted as the vent
liva
facies (Goodfellow et al., 1993). Other eco-

Sul
nomically recoverable elements include Sn in

Muscovite (sericite) the Sullivan deposit (Hauser and Hutchinson,
3000 elev Chlorite-Albite-Pyrite-(Calcite) 1983) and Au in deposits of the Anvil dis-
Chlorite-Pyrrhotite trict (Jennings and Jilson, 1986) and Sullivan
Tourmaline (Conly et al., 2000), although the Au content
Massive sulphides of SEDEX deposits is typically low (Emsbo,
Gabbro and "Granophyre" 2000).
- Mine Sill
2000 elev
Gabbro dykes In addition to the ore-forming elements,
SEDEX deposits are enriched in a large suite
2000 E
and sill apohyses

SCALE
0 200 m Unaltered Sedimentary rocks of ore-associate elements that may include Fe,
Note: Mine Grid Units are Feet
Mn, P, Ba, Ca, Mg, Hg, Cd, As, Sb, Se, Sn,
FIGURE 6. Cross section of the Sullivan deposit showing the local stratigraphy, major sulphide In, Ga, Bi, Co, Ni, and Tl (e.g., Goodfellow,
types, and core alteration facies (from Lydon et al., 2000a).
1984; Goodfellow and Rhodes, 1990; Slack et
and abrupt facies changes associated with SEDEX deposits al., 2004).
indicate that the fault was active before, during, and/or after Textural, Mineralogical, and Chemical Zonation
sulphide formation (e.g., Jason and HYC deposits; Turner,
1990; Large and McGoldrick, 1998). One of the most characteristic features of many SEDEX
deposits is the radial zonation of hydrothermal textures, min-
Host Rocks erals, and elements about centers of hydrothermal Àuid dis-
Most SEDEX deposits are hosted by basinal marine, recharge. This lateral zonation away from the center of Àuid
duced facies, ¿ne-grained sedimentary rocks that consist discharge is controlled mostly by zone re¿ning in the vent
complex and is typically accompanied by a decrease in the
171
thickness of the stratiform body and the number and/

or thickness of individual beds of hydrothermal min-
EARN GROUP
Or0180 XY0179
SL7980 erals (Goodfellow et al., 1993).
Devonian
Brown Clastic s
XY0279 An increase in the Zn:Pb ratio away from the
H99 vent complex is the most pronounced and consist-
H45
ent feature of SEDEX deposits, and has been well
H95 H42
H80 documented for the Tom (Goodfellow and Rhodes,
Black Clastic s 1990), Jason (Turner, 1990), Cirque (Jefferson et al.,
Silurian
1983), Sullivan (Hamilton et al., 1982), and Red Dog

Bioturbated Mudstone
(Moore et al., 1986) deposits. Other chemical zona-
ROAD RIVER GROUP
Phosphatic Chert tion patterns include increases in Pb:Ag, Cu:Zn+Pb,

Sulphide Zone
Black Shale Fe:Zn, Ba:Zn, and SiO2:Zn ratios away from the vent
complex (e.g., Sullivan and Tom, Hamilton et al.,
Ordovician
Pyritic and 1982; Goodfellow, 2004).

Calcareous Shal e
0 The Tom deposit is a good example of a deposit
m Sand-banded
that is highly zoned. The bedded ore facies sediments
Limestone that overlie the Àuid discharge conduit are brecciated,
100 veined, and variably replaced by silica, ferroan car-
bonate, and sulphides. The subsurface replacement
FIGURE. 7. Cross section of the Howards Pass (XY) deposit showing the local stratig- processes have produced a marked textural, mineral-
raphy in the area of mineralization (from Goodfellow, 2004).
ogical, and chemical zonation from the core of the
vent complex to the distal fringes (Goodfellow and
Rhodes, 1990). At the margins of the vent complex,
A O2 ¿ne-grained low-temperature phases of the bedded
H2 S ore facies (i.e., Fe-poor, cream sphalerite, galena,
framboidal pyrite, barite, and chert) are replaced by
Buoyant Plume coarser-grained, higher-temperature assemblages
(i.e., coarsely crystalline, Fe-rich black sphalerite,
and Hg-rich pink sphalerite, galena, siderite, quartz,
Distal Hydrothermal Sediments
Ve nt pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, and tetrahed-
Bedded Sulphide s Complex
rite). These mineralogical changes are reÀected by
the systematic zonation of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Hg, As,
Feeder Sb, Ba, Fe, Mn, Ca, and CO2 within and about the
Zone
vent complex, and an increase in Pb/Pb+Zn ratios
Hydrothermal towards the center of hydrothermal Àuid discharge
Alteration (Goodfellow and Rhodes, 1990). Near the core of the
Footwall vent complex, sedimentary barite has been complete-
Shale ly replaced by ferroan carbonate minerals.
Alteration Textures, Mineralogy, and Chemistry
Although many SEDEX deposits are closely asso-
B ciated with an underlying hydrothermal feeder zone,
O2 hydrothermal alteration has not been well document-
ed and mapped at most deposits. Alteration minerals
H2 S
Vent that have been reported for SEDEX deposits in-
Dispersion of metals Site clude quartz, muscovite, chlorite, ankerite, siderite,
from the brine pool
tourmaline, and sulphides. The sulphide content of
Brine Pool alteration zones is typically low, but pyrite, pyrrhot-
ite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, and
Bedded Sulphides
arsenopyrite may be present.
Hydrothermal alteration associated with SEDEX
Footwall deposits is commonly widespread and extends for
Faults
Shale hundreds of metres into the pre- and post-ore sedi-

mentary sequence and up to several kilometres lat-
erally from the deposit. For example, sericite altera-
tion at Sullivan extends more than 200 m below the
FIGURE. 8. Genetic models for SEDEX deposits. (A) Vent-proximal deposits formed ore, approximately 4 km in an east–west direction
from buoyant hydrothermal plume (e.g., Sullivan, B.C.; Tom and Jason, Yukon; Ram-
melsberg, Germany); (B) Vent-distal deposit formed from a bottom-hugging brine (e.g., along the Kimberley Fault, and about 6 km south
Howards Pass and Anniv, Yukon; HYC deposit, Australia). along the Sullivan-North Star corridor (Fig. 10 from
172
A B
0 1 2 0 1 2
Cm Cm
C D
0 1 2
Cm
E F
FIGURE. 9. Photographs of SEDEX and barite deposits. (A) Bedded facies: sphalerite and galena interlaminated with pyrite, hydrothermal carbonate,
and carbonaceous chert, Howards Pass (XY) deposit, Yukon and Northwest Territories; (B) Vent complex: pyrite, sphalerite, galena, and ferroan car-
bonates replacing bedded sulphide facies, Tom Deposit, Selwyn Basin, Yukon; (C) Distal hydrothermal sediments: pyrrhotite and pyrite containing
disseminated sphalerite interlaminated with ¿ne-grained turbiditic sedimentary rocks, Concentrator Hill, Sullivan deposit, B.C.; (D) Vent complex:
tourmalinized breccia in¿lled with pyrrhotite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite, Sullivan Deposit, B.C.; (E) Sulphide stringer zone: black silici¿ed shale
cut by a network of brown sphalerite veins, Red Dog deposit, Alaska; (F) Well-bedded barren barite deposit, Gataga District, northeastern B.C.
173
Turner et al., 2000). Large et al. (2000) have

described a widespread Zn, Pb, and Tl halo that
extends laterally from the McArthur River de-
posit along the pyritic black shale facies of the
Barney Creek Formation for at least 15 km to the
west, and hundreds of metres above and below
the mineralized zone.
Hydrothermal alteration of the hanging-
wall sedimentary sequence has not been docu-
mented for most SEDEX deposits. Although
post-ore hydrothermal sediments clearly show
that hydrothermal Àuids continued to vent well
after SEDEX formation, the paucity of post-ore
hydrothermal alteration described in the litera-
ture may indicate that it is too subtle in most
cases to be readily recognized. Perhaps the best
documented example of post-ore hydrothermal
alteration is the albite-chlorite-pyrite alteration
of turbiditic sedimentary rocks overlying the
Sullivan deposit (Hamilton et al., 1982; Turner
et al., 2000). The late albitization of the vent
complex and feeder zone is clear evidence that
post-ore hydrothermal Àuids utilized the same
conduits as the ore-forming Àuids.
The nature and extent of the hydrothermal
alteration and mineralization in the feeder zone
depends to a large degree on the mineralogy and
physical properties of footwall sediments, the
temperature and chemical composition of the
hydrothermal Àuids, and hydrostatic pressure
or water depth (Goodfellow et al., 1993). As a
result, compared to VMS deposits, feeder pipes
and associated alteration underlying SEDEX de-
posits are relatively inconspicuous due to low
sulphide contents, less reactive siliciclastic sedi-
ments compared to glassy volcanic rocks, and
IGURE 10. Map showing the distribution of major alteration facies within the Sullivan graben
limited seawater recharge through the low-per- Fsystem (from Turner et al., 2000).
meability hemipelagic mud that hosts most de-
posits. Furthermore, subtle but diagnostic hydro-
thermal assemblages such as clay minerals are obscured by 2. Manganese and iron carbonates (e.g., Meggen, Silvermines,
later metamorphism. McArthur River (HYC))
Distal and Post-ore Hydrothermal Sediments 3. Phosphatic and pyritic chert (e.g., Howards Pass, Anniv)
Hydrothermal systems that form SEDEX deposits are typ- 4. Metal-rich laminated pyrite (e.g., HYC, Mt. Isa, Tom,
ically long-lived and highly focused at discrete vent sites. Jason)
Furthermore, hydrothermal activity commonly continues 5. Albite-chlorite-pyrite alteration (e.g., Sullivan)
after sulphide formation, forming post-ore hydrothermal
sediments and alteration that extend for hundreds of metres Most SEDEX deposits are also surrounded by hydrother-
into the stratigraphic hanging-wall sequence. In most SEDEX mal sediments that extend for up to several km from the
deposits, the basal contact between the stratiform sulphides sulphide zone. In deposits containing barite (e.g., Tom and
and underlying sedimentary rocks is sharp, whereas the top Meggen), these distal sediments typically consist of interlay-
of the sulphide zone grades into an overlying sequence of ered barite, chert, carbonate and host lithologies. In other de-
host sedimentary pelagic and/or clastic sedimentary rocks. posits, this facies is represented by iron sulphides and/or chert
interbedded with host lithologies (e.g., Sullivan, Hamilton et
Hydrothermal products that extend for hundreds of meters al., 1982). At Howards Pass in the Yukon, the distal fringe
into the post-ore sequence and provide an important target of the ore zone consists of a laminated phosphatic chert and
for mineral exploration include: pyritic shale (Goodfellow, 2004). A manganese-rich halo has
1. Laminated and disseminated barite and pyrite (e.g., Tom, been noted to surround several SEDEX deposits, including
Jason, Rammelsberg, Meggen) the Tom (Large, 1981a) and Meggen (Gwosdz and Krebs,
174
1977). Widespread lithogeochemical halos

have also been documented at the Lady Yukon-Tanana Terrane Ancestral North America
Loretta (Large and McGoldrick, 1998) and
McArthur River (HYC; Large et al., 2000) Felsic-hosted VM S Alkalic-hosted SEDEX
Ma c Pass MV T
VM S Pine Point,
deposits. Mafic-hosted VM S
Finlayson Lake belt
Finlayson Lake belt
(W olverine
Mafic-hosted
VM S Homestake Cirque
VM S Robb Lake
(Fyre Lake) KZK) Chu Chua Wo lf
Marg
Geology—Continental and Global Scale
Tectonic Settings
SEDEX, Irish, and BHT deposits occur in Selwyn Basin/
Kechika Trough
Slide
intra-cratonic and epicratonic sedimentary Mountain Kootenay
Terrane and Cassiar
basins (Large, 1980). The tectonic settings Terranes
include intra-cratonic rifts driven by mantle
plumes (e.g., Belt-Purcell basin; Anderson
and Goodfellow, 2000), reactivated rifted slab retreat
margins (e.g., Howards Pass; Goodfellow

et al., 1986), and far-¿eld back-arc rifting
FIGURE 11. Tectonic model for the Devono-Mississipian margin of western North America, show-
(e.g., MacMillan Pass-Gataga (Fig. 11) and ing a complex history of ocean plate subduction and slab rollback, back-arc rifting and the for-
Mount Isa-McArthur districts; Nelson et al., mation of SEDEX and MVT deposits in the northern Canadian Cordillera (from Nelson et al.,
2002; Betts et al., 2003). Although there is 2002).
considerable debate on BHT deposits, our
interpretation is that the association of the Broken Hill de- to Rayleigh fractionation of S isotopes under closed or partly
posit with coeval bimodal igneous rocks in a sedimentary closed anoxic conditions, and accompanying increased rates
basinal sequence suggests that this deposit type is similar to of isotopically light S deposition as sedimentary sulphides
less-deformed and metamorphosed VSHMS (volcanic-sedi- causing an increase in į34S values for H2S in the reduced
ment-hosted massive sulphide) deposits in sedimented back- water column (Goodfellow, 1987).
arc continental rifts (e.g., Bathurst Mining Camp, Finlayson The transition from a ferrous Fe-dominated Archean
Lake, Iberian Pyrite Belt). ocean to a reduced S-dominated strati¿ed Proterozoic and
Most SEDEX deposits formed during periods of tectonism Phanerozoic oceans followed the oxidation and precipitation
which is typically manifested by fault reactivation, intrabasin of Fe in Superior-type iron formations (Fig. 13A). This major
clastic sedimentation, and in many cases magmatism repre- change in ocean chemistry was accompanied by the build-up
sented by volcanism and/or sill emplacement. Most deposits of sulphate, which was essential for bacterial sulphate re-
occur in reduced marine basins that formed during the sag duction, and the establishment of H2S-rich anoxic water col-
phase of basin history, adjacent to deeply penetrating faults. umns. The absence of Archean and Early Paleoproterozoic
SEDEX deposits is probably controlled, therefore, by the
Secular Variations and the Sulphur Cycle limiting effect of high contents of reduced Fe on the activity
SEDEX, Irish, and BHT deposits formed during several of H2S in anoxic oceans. Under these conditions, metals in
discrete episodes from Paleoproterozoic (about 2000 Ma) to S-depleted saline hydrothermal Àuids vented into seawater
Cretaceous (Fig. 12). The number and size of SEDEX per would be expected to be lost to the water column because
50 million years are greatest in the Middle Paleoproterozoic of a lack of reduced S to precipitate them (Goodfellow et
and Paleoproterozoic, respectively. Lead and Ag grades are al., 1993).
highest in the Early Mesoproterozoic, due to the inÀuence of
the giant Sullivan deposit, and Au grades reach a maximum Basin Architecture
in Paleoproterozoic and Early Mesoproterozoic deposits al- The ideal basinal architecture for the formation of SEDEX
though the database of Au grades is very limited (see Table 1 deposits (Fig. 14) is a continental rift basin with at least 2 to 5
and Appendix 1, DVD). km of coarse-grained permeable clastics and related volcan-
Most SEDEX deposits coincide with periods in Earth hist- ics and/or volcaniclastics that form the syn-rift phase overlain
ory when the oceans were episodically strati¿ed with a lower by an impermeable cap or seal of basinal shales and/or car-
anoxic and H2S-rich water column (Fig. 13A). In the Paleozoic bonates (Lydon, 1983; Large, 1986). The source for Zn and
Selwyn Basin, for example, there is a close relationship be- Pb is syn-rift dominantly clastic sedimentary rocks (Lydon
tween upward increasing į34S secular trends in sedimentary et al., 2000b). The ideal traps for the metals are reduced sub-
pyrite, anoxic laminated carbonaceous shales and cherts, and basins with an adequate supply of bacteriogenic H2S in the
three major SEDEX forming events in the Late Cambrian, ambient water column (Fig. 14). Although an association
Early Silurian, and Late Devonian (Fig. 13B). In the Selwyn with magmatism is not indicated for all SEDEX deposits,
Basin, episodes of ocean strati¿cation with reduced bottom ma¿c volcanic rocks and sills are spatially and temporally
waters coincide with global cycles of black shale deposition associated with many deposits (e.g., Selwyn Basin and Belt-
during the Paleozoic (Arthur and Sageman, 1994), indicating Purcell basin) and bimodal volcanic rocks host most BHT
that the Selwyn Basin anoxic episodes reÀect global processes. deposits (e.g., Broken Hill; Parr and Plimer, 1993)
The secular variation of pyrite į34S values has been attributed Two of the best understood continental basins hosting
175
0 Cenozoic
SEDEX deposits in Canada are the Paleozoic
Selwyn Basin that extends from Alaska bor-
Phanerozoic
Cretaceous
Meso-
zoic
Jurassic
200 Triassic
Permian
der through Canada into the U.S. south of the
Paleozoic
400
Carboniferous
Devonian
British Columbia (Fig. 15 from Goodfellow
Silurian
Ordovician et al., 1995), and the Middle Proterozoic Belt-
Cambrian
600 Purcell basin that extends from southeastern
Neoproterozoic
Millions of Years
British Columbia to Montana and Idaho in the

800
U.S. The Bathurst Mining Camp in northern
1000 New Brunswick (Goodfellow and McCutcheon,
Proterozoic
Late 2003) and the Finlayson district in the Yukon are

Mesoproterozoic
1200
two possible examples of BHT deposits (Piercey
Middle
1400
et al., 2001; Peter et al., 2007).
Early
1600
District Scale (Canada)
Paleoproterozoic
Late At the district scale, SEDEX deposits com-

1800
Middle
monly occur in clusters and formed during
2000 0
several hydrothermal events within local sec-
10 20 30 0 400 800 0 4 8 12 0 4 8 12 0 100 200 0 0.4 0.8
ond-order basins adjacent to extensional struc-
Number of Deposits Mt Zinc (wt. %) Lead (wt. %) Silver (g/t) Gold (g/t)
tures (e.g., Fig. 16, Sullivan deposit) separat-
Figure 12. Secular variations of tonnage and metal grades for SEDEX deposits world wide. ing basinal facies ¿ne-grained sediments from
Plotted from data in Appendix 2 (DVD). platformal carbonates sequences. Some deposits
are spatially and temporally associated with
Deposits/100 myr
volcanic and intrusive rocks. Most deposits are
0 20 150 hosted by marine basinal sedimentary rocks that
A 0 Cenozoi c
Mesozoi c include black shales and cherts, carbonates, and
0. 5
Paleozoi c H 2 S-rich intrabasinal clastic sedimentary rocks.
Late episodically
1. 0 Iro n
stratified Deposit Scale
anoxic
For -
Proterozoic
SEDEX, Irish, and BHT deposits typically

Billions of Years
Middle ma - oceans
1. 5
tions occur in local third-order sedimentary basins.
2. 0 Vent-proximal deposits are associated with act-
Superio r Type
Earl y Transitional Ocean

2. 5
ive faults that commonly de¿ne the margins of
local basins (Fig. 8A), whereas vent-distal de-
3. 0
Ferrous iron-rich
posits occupy bathymetric depressions on the
Eva-
Archean
por- Archean Ocean seaÀoor (Fig. 8B). The most recognized con-
3. 5
SEDEX VMS MVT ites trol on the siting of vents and associated ores
4. 0 is cross-stratal faults that served as conduits for
Number of
transporting metalliferous Àuids from the hydro-
VMS
Co Floo
Delta13 C CaCO 3 SEDEX thermal reaction zone to the seaÀoor. Other fac-
Gl tal
nti din
34
Delta S (‰ CDT) Deposits
ac
ne g
B Deposits
iat
(‰ PDB) (Mt) tors that inÀuenced the location of vents are:

n
io
-2 0 2 45 10 15 20 25 20 35
n
200 600 1000 0 5 10 15

Ceno- 1. basement highs where the thickness of soft
zoi c T Kokuroku District
DISPERSAL
100 Sulfate curve sediment is at a minimum, 2. the hydrology of

K
the reaction zone which is partly controlled by
Mesozoic
J
200 the thermal structure, 3. the basement geometry,
PANGEA
PANGEA
TR
and 4. the position of recharge zones. In the case
Age (million years)
P
300 P Coal Depositio n To m/Jason
M Iberian Pyrite Belt of vent-distal deposits, the predominant control
D Howards other than proximity to vents on the location of
Paleozoic
400 S Pass
deposits is Àuid density and local seaÀoor ba-
DISPERSAL
O Bathurst MC BMC
500
C
Anvil
District Mount Read Belt thymetry.
600 Pyrite curve
Distribution of Canadian Metallogenetic
PreCambrian
RODINI A
pC
700 Anoxic Anoxic
Districts
conditions conditions
Major metallogenetic districts that host
SEDEX deposits (Fig. 3) are:
FIGURE 13. (A) Secular distribution of SEDEX, VMS, and MVT deposits, iron formation,
evaporites, and H2S-rich anoxic periods (Goodfellow, 2004). (B) Late Proterozoic and Phan- • MississippianWalton District, Carboniferous
erozoic tectonic (continent accretion and dispersion; Fischer, 1984) and glacial (Baker, 1997) basin, Nova Scotia
events, continental Àooding (Vail et al., 1977), and sulfur isotope secular curves for evapor-
ites (Claypool et al., 1980), carbonates (Arthur and Sageman, 1994), and pyrite (Goodfellow, • Late Devonian MacMillan Pass District,
1987). Also shown are global (Arthur and Sageman, 1994) and Selwyn Basin (Goodfellow, Selwyn Basin, northeastern Yukon
1987) anoxic periods, and the temporal distribution of volcanic-associated massive sulphide
(Mosier et al., 1983) and SEDEX (Goodfellow et al., 1993) deposits. BMC = Bathurst Mining • Late Devonian Gataga District, Kechika
Camp. Trough, northeastern British Columbia
176
Carbonate Carbonate Local

First Order Basin Sabkha
Platform Platform Basin
Local Basins
Oxygenated Water Column

Anoxic (H2S)
Anoxic Cycle 2
Brine Pool
Anoxic Cycle 2
Se
Hydrological Cap
aw
er
at
Re
ch arge Sill
Complex
Evaporites
Continental
Crust
FIGURE 14. Model of the sedimentary basin architecture of productive basins hosting SEDEX deposits.
• Early Silurian Howards Pass District, Selwyn Basin, Genetic and Exploration Models
northeastern Yukon
Conventional Models
• Late Cambrian Anvil District, Selwyn Basin, Yukon
SEDEX deposits most likely formed from oxidized and
• Late Cambrian Duncan District, southern British therefore H2S-poor Àuids generated in geopressured hydro-
Columbia thermal reservoirs within syn-rift clastic (and evaporitic)
• Neoproterozoic Shuswap District, southern British sediments sealed by ¿ne-grained marine sediment or carbon-
Columbia ates (Goodfellow et al., 1993; Cooke et al., 2000). During
• Mesoproterozoic Sullivan District, Belt-Purcell basin, the post-rift or sag phase of basin formation, which is typ-
southeastern British Columbia ically long-lived and spans over 200 million years in the
• Mesoproterozoic Maniwaki-Grace¿eld District, Grenville case of the Selwyn Basin, Zn and Pb were probably leached
Province, Quebec from iron oxides coating detrital minerals and homogen-
The Selwyn Basin occupies the Paleozoic margin of west- ized by convecting Àuids in the hydrothermal reservoir. The
ern North America and has been subdivided into ¿ve spatially large variability in the temperature, salinity, metal content,
distinct mining districts representing three ages of mineraliza- and redox conditions of SEDEX Àuids was controlled by a
tion: 1. Late Cambrian Anvil, 2. Late Cambrian Duncan, 3. number of parameters including the local thermal regime,
Early Silurian Howards Pass, 4. Late Devonian MacMillan the redox state of the reservoir sediments, and the presence
Pass, and 5. Late Devonian Gataga districts. The Middle or absence of evaporates. Ancient SEDEX Àuids are similar
Proterozoic Belt-Purcell is an intracratonic basin (Price and to metalliferous Àuids in modern sedimentary basins, which
Sears, 2000) that hosts the Sullivan district (Höy et al., 2000). are characterized by temperatures up to 305ÛC (e.g., Salton
Other SEDEX districts include the highly metamorphosed Sea brines; McKibben et al., 1988), high salinities, and very
Neoproterozoic Shuswap district in southern British Columbia, low total S(reduced):total metal ratios.
and the Mesoproterozoic Maniwaki-Grace¿eld district in the A mineralizing episode is triggered by tectonic events
Grenville Province of Quebec. In the Appalachian orogen, the that re-activate major rift faults that generate rapidly subsid-
Carboniferous Walton district of Nova Scotia hosts the past- ing grabens or half-grabens. The reactivated rift faults can
producing Walton deposit. breach the sediment cap, causing the discharge of metal-rich
saline Àuids (enriched in Fe, Zn, Pb as chloride complexes,
and variable SO42-) along the faults to the basin Àoor. For
most SEDEX deposits, metal sulphides are precipitated at or
177
the sulphate has been reduced to sulphide, barium carried by

hydrothermal Àuids will be lost to the water column because
? of a lack of sulphate to precipitate barite.
Fossil Creek
Fossil Creek
volcanics
volcanics
Recent Advances in Genetic/Exploration Models

Woodchopper
volcanics
Mackenzie
Mackenzie Major advances in the genetic and exploration models are
Carbonate
Carbonate listed and discussed brieÀy below:
Platform
Tin
Nash
Platform
W
ti na
volcanics
14 0 o
Craig
• The tectonic settings for sedimentary basins that host

Fa
Arctic Red Mountain

Marmot Diatreme
ult
Volcanics
Niddery
volcanics
MacPass SEDEX deposits, particularly far-¿eld back-arc exten-
ska
Macmillan Porter Puddle

District
ry
volcanics Complex
Te kon
sional environments and intracratonic rifts driven by man-

Al a
rrito
Itsi
Yu
Menzie Lakes
Anvil
Creek
volcanics
volcanics
Vulcan
volcanics
Howards
Howards tle plumes are better understood.
Pass
Pass
District Groundhog
Headwaters
volcanics
volcanics
Gusty
• The architecture of productive sedimentary basins, par-
Coal River
Toobally
Nort hwest
Northw est
ticularly as it relates to syn-rift clastic sedimentation, the
Terr itoriries
Territo es
60 o N
development of hydrothermal reservoirs, and the onset
Gataga
Pacific District Alberta of subsequent sagging related to conductive cooling of
Ocean
Platformal carbonates
the lithosphere has been documented in detail for several
basins.
Selwyn Basin - shale and
chert
Allo
Paleozoic mafic volcanics • The temporal distribution of SEDEX deposits (post-1.8

chth
billion years) is probably controlled by the oxidation

o of Archean oceans, the buildup of sulphate and associ-
ono
55 N
ated bacterial sulphate reduction, the development of

u
200 km
s Te
Proterozoic and Phanerozoic oceans episodically strati¿ed

rra n
with lower anoxic water columns, and the precipitation

of sulphides by the mixing of S-poor metalliferous Àuids
es
W
with ambient H2S-rich anoxic oceans.

130 o
120 oW
50o N
• Detailed documentation of different aspects of SEDEX
deposits:
U.S.A.
MPC/94
• Geology and sedimentology of local third-order basins
FIGURE 15. Paleofacies distribution and SEDEX deposits of the Selwyn hosting deposits.
Basin, Yukon and British Columbia (modi¿ed from Goodfellow et al.,
1995; Cecile et al., 1997).
Horst Sullivan Economic limit

above the seaÀoor by reaction with H2S in the N Graben of Sullivan deposit
overlying reduced water column (Goodfellow, West Sullivan
Graben (surface projection)
1987). Continued Àuid discharge from the res-
K imbe rl
ervoir is driven by free convection, as cold e y F ault
?
seawater descends into the basin sedimentary
sequence along recharge faults (Yang et al.,
2004), where it is heated and leaches Zn and Pb
from the reservoir sediments. Concentrator
Because most Àuids that formed SEDEX de-
posits were probably depleted in reduced S, an Hill
important requirement for this deposit-type to LEGEND
Outcrop trace
form is a suf¿cient supply of reduced S at the Sullivan Horizon STEMWINDER
site of deposition (Goodfellow, 1987; Cooke et Concordant
al., 1998). In the case of well-bedded deposits fragmental rock
NORTH STAR
that formed at the seaÀoor, the most likely S Discordant
fragmental rock
source is biogenic H2S that is typically enriched Synsedimentary ?
in anoxic water columns (Goodfellow, 2000).
aul t
fault zone
The presence or absence of barite is controlled Minimal extent of
reek F
{
by two major factors: 1. the activity of sulphate deeper part of F ault

Sullivan Sub-basin Sullivan- Fertiliz er
in the ore-forming Àuids, which limits barium
Mark C
Minimal extent of North Star

solubility, and 2. the activity of sulphate in the distal, CHH lithologies.
Corridor
1 km
water column, which controls the precipitation FIGURE 16. Surface map of the Sullivan deposits showing the Sullivan and West Sullivan gra-
of barite. In extreme anoxic basins where all bens or third-order basins, and basin bounding faults (from Lydon et al., 2000a).
178
• Morphology and architecture of mineralized District and Deposit Scale

zones. At the district scale, the criteria for evaluating the po-
tential to host SEDEX and BHT Zn-Pb deposits are:
• Mineralogy and chemical composition of hydro-
thermal sediments and the development of ex- • Second- and third-order basins within sedimented
ploration vectors. continental rifts.
• Mapping of hydrothermal alteration surrounding • Local tectonism: reactivation of extensional faults as

SEDEX deposits. evidenced by sedimentary facies and thickness chan-
ges, fault scarp breccias, local unconformities, major
• New thermal chemical models which indicate that fault offsets and fault intersections.
SEDEX deposits formed from high ƒO2 and therefore
H2S-depleted basinal metalliferous Àuids (Cooke et • Magmatic centres (e.g., volcanic and sill complex-
al., 2000). es).
• The recognition that SEDEX deposits in the Selwyn • Reduced seaÀoor environments: anoxic cycles in the
Basin are genetically related to coeval MVT de- evolution of a given basin.
posits on the adjacent Mackenzie Carbonate Platform
(Goodfellow, 1987). • Paleoclimate: evaporites in the hydrothermal reac-
tion zone and/or saline recharge Àuids on the adjacent
Key Exploration Criteria for Canadian SEDEX
platforms that provide a source of chloride to com-
Deposits
plex base metals.
Continental Scale
At the continental or basin-wide scale, criteria indicat- • Distal hydrothermal sediments: e.g., barite, apatite,
ing a high potential for SEDEX and BHT Zn-Pb deposits pyrite, and Mn-Fe-Ca-Mg carbonates.
include:
• Hydrothermal alteration: pre- and post-ore quartz,
muscovite, chlorite, ankerite, siderite, and tourmaline
• Age: post-1800 Ma because of the S cycle. alteration with associated disseminated and vein sul-
phides of ore-forming and ore-associated elements.
• Tectonic setting: sedimented intra-cratonic and epi-
continental rifts. • Geochemically anomalous shales: enriched in base
metals and ore-associated elements (e.g., As, Sb, Cd,
• Sedimentary basin architecture: syn-rift clastic se- Mn, P, Ba, Hg, Tl).
quence overlain by post-rift impervious marine Sur¿cial geochemical anomalies: sediment and water
basinal sediments; the recharge of saline brines on samples that are locally anomalous in deposit-forming
adjacent carbonate platforms may be an import- and ore-associated elements.
ant source of chloride to complex metals in basinal
hydrothermal Àuids. Knowledge Gaps
Key knowledge gaps are summarized below.
• Anoxic episodes: interglacial, warm oceanic condi-
tions represented by global episodes of anoxic sedi- 1. Radiometric and paleontological ages of ore-forming
mentation (e.g., carbonaceous non-bioturbated shales, events is required to relate the causes of ore formation
laminated pyrite, the absence of benthic fauna) and to other geological events such as tectonism, magma-
evaporate formation. tism, and ocean strati¿cation. This can be carried out
by direct dating of the various ore components (e.g.,
• Magmatic events: syn- and/or post-rift ma¿c alkali Nd/Sm in carbonate, sulphides; Rb/Sr in carbonates;
volcanic rocks, and tholeiitic sills and dykes. U/Pb in xenotime); detailed micropaleontology of
Phanerozoic rocks; or by bracketing the age of the ore
• Coeval MVT deposits in adjacent carbonate plat- horizon by U/Pb dating of intercalated volcanic ash
forms. horizons.
2. Development of exploration criteria for discovering
• Geochemical stream anomalies: sediment and water SEDEX in sedimentary basins. This would involve
samples that are anomalous in ore-forming and ore- comparative studies of the geological and hydro-
associated elements over a large area of the basin. An thermal evolution of productive and non-productive
example is widespread Zn anomalies that extend for basins. Essential information would include:
hundreds of kilometres in the Selwyn Basin (e.g., Fig.
17, Selwyn Basin). • History of tectonic and magmatic events within
basins.
179
constrained rock property parameters, and

targeted research on key basins where the
critical components are well preserved.
4. Re¿ne models of SEDEX formation. There

is still much debate as to the ore-forming
environment required for the deposition
and preservation of sedimentary Zn-Pb de-
posits. It is still not decided whether SEDEX
deposits require a brine pool, whether they
MacMillan District
can form as a sulphide mound, or whether
they are predominantly subsurface replace-
Zinc ppm Howards Pass ments of ¿ne-grained sediments. These and
2000-5000 Anvil District
District other unresolved questions on the genesis
1500-2000
of SEDEX deposits require further studies
1000-1500
500-1000
of more pristine examples of SEDEX de-
Deposits posits such as those of the Tethyan Belt and
SEDEX Cuba.
VMS
MVT 5. Determine the impact of ocean evolution
on the temporal distribution of SEDEX de-
posits. The empirical observation that there
are no SEDEX deposits older than about 1.8
billion years and the proposed ocean chem-
FIGURE 17. Proportional circle map for stream sediments that are highly anomalous (>1,000 ical evolution model as it relates to reduced
ppm) in Zn, Selwyn Basin, Yukon. biogenic S supply needs to be tested in
sedimentary basins that span the geological
time scale. This question is of particular
• Sediment accumulation rates (needs radiometric dat- interest to Canada because of the large number of Early
ing control). Proterozoic sedimentary basins especially in Northern
Canada (e.g., Labrador Trough, Labrador; Foxe-Rinkian
• Evolutionary pathways of mineralogical and litho- Basin, western Nunavut; Wopmay Orogen, northern
geochemical changes during diagenesis and burial NWT; Athapuscow Aulacogen, NWT; Kilohigok Basin,
metamorphism. This requires transects of the basin Bathurst Inlet-Victoria Island, NWT).
supported by careful stratigraphy, sedimentology,
Areas of High Mineral Potential in Canada
lithogeochemistry and radiometric dating of diagen-
etic and burial metamorphic minerals. Using the criteria outlined above for identifying productive
basins, major sedimentary basins in Canada are rated for their
• Evolutionary paths of pore Àuids in the basin (would potential to host SEDEX, Irish-type and BHT sulphide de-
have to rely on studies of Àuid inclusions in cements posits. It should be noted that the con¿dence level varies with
and diagenetic minerals), with emphasis on determin- the quality and comprehensiveness of geoscienti¿c data, and
ing the stage or circumstances under which pore Àuids the level of exploration by the mining industry.
become metalliferous. Basins Hosting SEDEX Deposits
• Paleoclimatology and the history of ocean strati¿ca- The following basins host SEDEX and VSHMS deposits
tion. This would require geochemical and isotopic and are therefore highly prospective for additional new de-
(e.g., S, C, Sr) pro¿les of basinal stratigraphy and the posits within existing districts and new districts.
systematic documentation of lithological and sedi- • Selwyn Basin, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and British
mentological indicators. Columbia (Cambrian to Mississippian). Although most
deposits are located in the Yukon and British Columbia,
3. Development of prognostic criteria for stratigraphic the potential for SEDEX deposits is considered high in
interval(s) with a high mineral potential and the most Selwyn Basin facies that extends the full length of the
favorable spatial position(s) for SEDEX deposits in a Canadian Cordillera.
sedimentary basin. This requires a fundamental under-
standing of all the key processes controlling focused • The Mesoproterozoic Belt-Purcell basin, southeastern
expulsion of metalliferous hydrothermal Àuids in a sedi- British Columbia and northwestern U.S. This continental
mentary basin. This could be accomplished by compil- rift hosts several SEDEX deposits including the world-
ation of key data (especially data generated by the oil class Sullivan deposit.
industry), mathematical modeling of Àuid Àow using
• Finlayson Lake district, Yukon (Middle-Late Devonian).
180
This sedimented back-arc continental rift is host to several Baker, V.R., 1997, MegaÀoods and glaciation, in Martini, I.P., ed., Late
major deposits. glacial and postglacial environmental changes; Quaternary, Carbonif-
erous-Permian, and Proterozoic: New York, Oxford University Press,
p. 98–108.
• Bathurst Mining Camp, northern New Brunswick (Middle Beeson, R., 1991, Broken Hill-type lead-zinc deposits—An overview of
Ordovician). This back-arc sediment-covered continental their occurrence and geological setting: Institution of Mining and
rift hosts over 20 deposits greater than 1 Mt, and sever- Metallurgy, Transactions, Section B: Applied Earth Science, v. 99, p.
al past and current producers including the world-class 163–175.
Betts, P.G., Giles, D., and Lister, G.S., 2003, Tectonic environment of shale-
Brunswick No. 12 deposit. hosted massive sul¿de Pb-Zn-Ag deposits of Proterozoic northeastern
Highly Prospective Sedimentary Basins Australia: Economic Geology, v. 98, p. 557–576.
Bull, S.W., and Rawlings, D.J., 1999, A tectono-stratigraphic review of the
The following basins do not contain SEDEX deposits but northern Australian Proterozoic zinc belt: Centre for Ore Deposit and
exhibit all or most of the key attributes of productive basins. Exploration Studies (CODES), Special Publication, v. 2, p. 1–13.
• Borden Basin, Nunavut (Middle Proterozoic) Cecile, M.P., Morrow, D.W., and Williams, G.K., 1997, Early Paleozoic
(Cambrian to Early Devonian) tectonic framework, Canadian Cordil-
• Franklinian Basin, northern Nunavut (Paleozoic) lera: Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, v. 45, p. 54–74.
• Wernecke Supergroup, central Yukon (Mesoproterozoic) Claypool, G.E., Holser, W.T., Kaplan, I.R., Sakai, H., and Zak, I., 1980, The
age curves of sulfur and oxygen isotopes in marine sulfate and their
Moderately Prospective Sedimentary Basins mutual interpretation: Chemical Geology, v. 28, p. 3–4.
The following basins do not contain SEDEX deposits and Conly, A.G., Goodfellow, W.D., Taylor, R.P., and Lydon, J.W., 2000, Geol-
ogy, geochemistry, and sulphur isotope geochemistry of the hanging
exhibit most of the key attributes of productive basins but are wall sulphide zones and their related hydrothermal alteration, Sullivan
de¿cient in at least one fundamental attribute. The Richardson Zn-Pb-Ag deposit, in Lydon, J.W., Höy, T., Knapp, M., and Slack, J.,
Trough in not underlain by a syn-rift clastic sequence and eds., The geological environment of the Sullivan deposit, British Col-
therefore does not exhibit the classic architecture of product- umbia: Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division,
ive sedimentary basins. All the remaining sedimentary basins Special Publication 1, p. 541–573.
listed below are older than the oldest SEDEX deposits and Cooke, D.R., Bull, S.W., Large, R.R., and McGoldrick, P.J., 1998, Oxidised
(sulfate-bearing) brines; their importance for the formation of Austral-
may be de¿cient in bacteriogenic S that is considered essen- ian Proterozoic Pb-Zn (SEDEX) deposits [abs.]: Geoscience for the
tial for precipitating base metals vented by H2S-poor hydro- new Millennium, 14th Australian Geological Convention, Townsville,
thermal Àuids into ambient seawater. Queensland, Geological Society of Australia, Abstracts, p. 91.
Cooke, D.R., Bull, S.W., Large, R.R., and McGoldrick, P.J., 2000, The im-
• Richardson Trough, northern Yukon and NWT portance of oxidized brines for the formation of Australian Proterozoic
(Paleozoic) stratiform sediment-hosted Pb-Zn (SEDEX) deposits: Economic Geol-
ogy, v. 95, p. 1–18.
• Labrador Trough, Labrador (Paleoproterozoic) Emsbo, P., 2000, Gold in SEDEX deposits: Reviews in Economic Geology,
• Foxe-Rinkian Basin, western Nunavut (Paleoproterozoic) v. 13, p. 427–437.
Fischer, A.G., 1984, Biological innovations and the sedimentary record, in
• Wopmay Orogen, northern Nunavut (Paleoproterozoic) Holland, H.D., and Trendall, A.F., eds., Patterns of change in Earth
Acknowledgements evolution: Berlin, Springer-Verlag, p. 145–157.
Goodfellow, W.D., 1984, Geochemistry of rocks hosting the Howards Pass
This synthesis is based largely on previous reviews of (XY) strata-bound Zn-Pb deposit, Selwyn Basin, Yukon Territory, Can-
SEDEX deposits and research emanating from Geological ada: Proceeding of the Sixth Quadrennial IAGOD Symposium: Stutt-
Survey of Canada research projects on SEDEX deposits of gart, Germany, E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (Nägele u.
Obermiller), p. 91–112.
the Selwyn Basin, Yukon, and Sullivan mining district, south-
—— 1987, Anoxic strati¿ed oceans as a source of sulphur in sediment-
ern British Columbia. It is intended to have a global perspec- hosted stratiform Zn-Pb deposits (Selwyn Basin, Yukon, Canada):
tive but a national focus on SEDEX deposits and sediment- Chemical Geology, v. 65, p. 359–382.
ary basins considered to have SEDEX potential. We thank C. —— 2000, Anoxic conditions in the Aldridge Basin during formation of
Allen and S. Paradis for reviewing the manuscript and offer- the Sullivan Zn-Pb deposit: Implications for the genesis of massive
ing many excellent suggestions, and I. Kjarsgaard for check- sulphides and distal hydrothermal sediments, in Lydon, J.W., Höy, T.,
Knapp, and M., Slack, J., eds., The geological environment of the Sul-
ing and editing an earlier version of the manuscript and ac- livan deposit, British Columbia: Geological Association of Canada,
companying Canadian and global SEDEX databases. P. Smith Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication 1, p. 218–250.
of Brook Hunt is thanked for making recent data on global Zn —— 2004, Geology, genesis, and exploration of SEDEX deposits, with
and Pb production, reserves and resources available for plot- emphasis on the Selwyn Basin, Canada, in Deb, M., and Goodfellow,
ting in Figure 1. W.D., eds., Sediment-hosted lead-zinc sulphide deposits: Attributes
and models of some major deposits of India, Australia, and Canada:
References Delhi, India, Narosa Publishing House, p. 24–99.
—— 2007, Base metal metallogeny of the Selwyn Basin, Canada, in Good-
Anderson, H.E., and Goodfellow, W.D., 2000, Geochemistry and isotope
fellow, W.D., ed., Mineral deposits of Canada: A synthesis of major de-
chemistry of the Moyie sills: Implications for the early tectonic setting
posit types, district metallogeny, the evolution of geological provinces,
of the Mesoproterozoic Purcell basin, in Lydon, J.W., Höy, T., Knapp,
and exploration methods: Geological Association of Canada, Mineral
M., and Slack, J., eds., The geological environment of the Sullivan de-
Deposits Division, Special Publication 5, p. 553–579.
posit, British Columbia: Geological Association of Canada, Mineral De-
posits Division, Special Publication 1, p. 302–321. Goodfellow, W.D., and McCutcheon, S.R., 2003, Geological and genetic
attributes of volcanic-associated massive sul¿de deposits of the Bath-
Arthur, M., and Sageman, B.B., 1994, Marine shales: Depositional mechan-
urst Mining Camp, northern New Brunswick—A synthesis: Economic
isms and environments of ancient deposits: Annual Review of Earth and
Geology Monograph 11, p. 245–301.
Planetary Sciences, v. 22, p. 499–551.
181
Goodfellow, W.D., and Rhodes, D., 1990, Geological setting, geochemistry —— 1981b, Sediment-hosted submarine exhalative lead-zinc deposits—A
and origin of the Tom stratiform Zn-Pb-Ag-barite deposits, in Abbott, review of their geological characteristics and genesis, in Wolf, K.H.,
J.G., and Turner, R.J.W., eds., Mineral deposits of the northern Canad- ed., Handbook of strata-bound and stratiform ore deposits, 9: New York,
ian Cordillera: Ottawa, International Association on the Genesis of Ore Elsevier, p. 469–507.
Deposits, Eighth Symposium, Field Trip 14 Guidebook, p. 177–244. —— 1983, Sediment-hosted massive sulphide lead-zinc deposits: An em pir-
Goodfellow, W.D., Jonasson, I.R., and Morin, J.A., 1986, Environment of ical model, in Sangster, D.F., ed., Sediment-hosted stratiform lead-zinc
formation of the Howards Pass (XY) Zn-Pb deposit, Selwyn Basin, deposits: Mineralogical Association of Canada, Short Course Handbook
Yukon: Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Special Volume, 8, p. 1–29.
v. 37, p. 19–50. —— 1986, The paleotectonic setting of Rammelsberg and Meggen, Ger-
Goodfellow, W.D., Lydon, J.W., and Turner, R.W., 1993, Geology and many—A basin analysis study, in Turner, R.J.W., and Einaudi, M.T.,
genesis of stratiform sediment-hosted (SEDEX) Zn-Pb-Ag sulphide eds., The genesis of stratiform sediment-hosted lead and zinc deposits:
deposits: Geological Association of Canada, Special Paper 40, p. 201– Stanford University Publications, Geological Sciences, Conference pro-
251. ceedings, 20, p. 109–112.
Goodfellow, W.D., Cecile, M.P., and Leybourne, M.I., 1995, Geochemistry, Large, R.R., and McGoldrick, P.J., 1998, Lithogeochemical halos and geo-
petrogenesis and tectonic setting of lower Paleozoic alkalic and potas- chemical vectors to stratiform sediment hosted Zn-Pb-Ag deposits; 1,
sic volcanic rocks, northern Canadian Cordilleran Miogeocline: Can- Lady Loretta deposit, Queensland: Journal of Geochemical Exploration,
adian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 32, p. 1236–1254. v. 63, p. 37–56.
Gwosdz, W., and Krebs, W., 1977, Manganese halo surrounding Meggen Large, R.R., Bull, S.W., Cooke, D.R., McGoldrick, P.J., and Williams, P.J.,
ore deposit, Germany: Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Trans- 1998, A genetic model for the H.Y.C. Deposit, Australia; Based on re-
actions, Section B: Applied Earth Science, v. 86, p. 73–77. gional sedimentology, geochemistry, and sul¿de-sediment relationships:
Hamilton, J.M., Bishop, D.T., Morris, H.C., and Owens, O.E., 1982, Geol- Economic Geology, v. 93, p. 1345–1368.
ogy of the Sullivan orebody, Kimberley, B.C., Canada: Geological As- Large, R.R., Bull, S.W., and McGoldrick, P.J., 2000, Lithogeochemical halos
sociation of Canada, Special Paper 25, p. 597–665. and geochemical vectors to stratiform sediment hosted Zn-Pb-Ag de-
Hannak, W.W., 1981, Genesis of the Rammelsberg ore deposit near Gos- posits; Part 2, HYC Deposit, McArthur River, Northern Territory: Jour-
lar/Upper Hartz, Federal Republic of Germany, in Wolfe, K.H., ed., nal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 68, p. 105–126.
Handbook of strata-bound and stratiform ore deposits, 9: Amsterdam, Leach, D.L., Bradley, D., Lewchuk, M.T., Symons, D.T.A., de, M.G., and
Elsevier, p. 551–642. Brannon, J., 2001, Mississippi Valley-type lead-zinc deposits through
Hauser, R.L., and Hutchinson, R.W., 1983, Tin in the Sullivan deposit, geological time; Implications from recent age-dating research: Mineral-
Kimberley, B.C.: Geological Association of Canada; Mineralogical ium Deposita, v. 36, p. 711–740.
Association of Canada, Canadian Geophysical Union; Joint Annual Leach, D.L., Sangster, D.L., Kelly, K.D., Large, R.R., Garven, G., Allen,
Meeting, Program with Abstracts, v. 8, p. A31. C.R., Gutzmer, J., and Walter, S., 2005, Sediment-hosted lead-zinc de-
Hitzman, M.W., and Beaty, D.W., 1997, The Irish Zn-Pb-(Ba) ore¿eld: So- posits: A global perspective: Society of Economic Geologists, One Hun-
ciety of Economic Geologists, Special Publication 4, p. 112–143. dredth Anniversary Volume 1905–2005, p. 561–607.
Höy, T., Anderson, D., Turner, R.J.W., and Leitch, C.H.B., 2000, Tectonic, Lydon, J.W., 1983, Chemical parameters controlling the origin and depos-
magmatic and metallogenic evolution of the early synrift phase of the ition of sediment-hosted stratiform lead-zinc deposits, in Sangster, D.F.,
Purcell basin, southeastern British Columbia, in Lydon, J.W., Höy, T., ed., Sediment-hosted stratiform lead-zinc deposits: Mineralogical As-
Knapp, M., and Slack, J., eds., The geological environment of the Sul- sociation of Canada, Short Course Handbook, v. 8, p. 175–250.
livan deposit, British Columbia: Geological Association of Canada, Lydon, J.W., Paakki, J.J., Anderson, H.E., and Reardon, N.C., 2000a, An
Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication 1, p. 32–60. overview of the geology and geochemistry of the Sullivan Deposit, in
Hunt, B., 2006, Lead and zinc costs: Mines and projects, 2006 Edition: Sur- Lydon, J.W., Höy, T., Knapp, M., and Slack, J., eds., The geological
rey, England, Brook Hunt and Associates Ltd. environment of the Sullivan deposit, British Columbia: Geological As-
sociation of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication 1,
Jefferson, C.W., Kilby, D.B., Pigage, L.C., and Roberts, W.J., 1983, The
p. 505–522.
Cirque barite-zinc-lead deposits, northeastern British Columbia, in
Sangster, D.F., ed., Short course in sediment-hosted stratiform lead- Lydon, J.W., Walker, R., and Anderson, E.H., 2000b, Lithogeochemistry of
zinc deposits: Mineralogical Association of Canada, Short Course the Aldridge formation and the chemical effects of burial diagenesis,
Handbook, v. 8, p. 121–139. in Lydon, J.W., Höy, T., Knapp, M., and Slack, J., eds., The geological
environment of the Sullivan deposit, British Columbia: Geological As-
Jenkins, C.L., and Lydon, J.W., 2002, A mineral deposit data base structure
sociation of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication 1,
and a data base of VMS and SEDEX deposits: Geological Survey of
p. 137–179.
Canada, Open File 4165, (CD-ROM).
Lydon, J.W., 2007, An overview of the economic and geological contexts of
Jennings, D.S., and Jilson, G.A., 1986, Geology and sulphide deposits of
Canada’s major mineral deposit types, in Goodfellow, W. D., ed., Min-
the Anvil Range, Yukon: Canadian Institute Mining and Metallurgy,
eral Deposits of Canada: A Synthesis of Major Deposit-types, District
Special Volume 37, p. 339–361.
Metallogeny, the Evolution of Geological Provinces, and Exploration
Kelley, K.D., and Jennings, S., 2004, Barite and Zn-Pb-Ag deposits in the Methods, Special Publication 5, Mineral Deposits Division, Geological
Red Dog District, western Brooks Range, Northern Alaska; preface: Association of Canada, p. 3–48.
Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1267–1280.
McKibben, M.A., Eldridge, C.S., and Williams, A.E., 1988, Sulfur and base
Kelley, K.D., Dumoulin, J.A., and Jennings, S., 2004, The Anarraaq Zn- metal transport in the Salton Sea geothermal system, in Tucker, R., ed.,
Pb-Ag and barite deposit, Northern Alaska; Evidence for replace- New horizons, 12. Davis, CA, United States, Geothermal Resources
ment of carbonate by barite and sul¿des: Economic Geology, v. 99, Council, Transactions, p. 121–125.
p. 1577–1591.
Mosier, D.L., Singer, D.A., and Salem, B.B., 1983, Geologic and grade-ton-
Kirkham, R.V., and Rafer, A.B., 2003, Selected world mineral deposits nage information on volcanic-hosted copper-zinc-lead massive sulphide
database. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 1801 (CD-ROM). deposits: USGS Open File Report, 83-89, 77p.
Large, D.E., 1980, Geological parameters associated with sediment-hosted, Moore, D.W., Young, L.E., Modene, J.S., and Plahuta, J.T., 1986, Geological
submarine exhalative Pb-Zn deposits: An empirical model for mineral setting and genesis of the Red Dog zinc-lead-silver deposit, Western
exploration: Geologisches Jahrbuch, v. D40, p. 59–129. Brooks Range, Alaska: Economic Geology, v. 81, p. 1696–1727.
—— 1981a, Geochemistry of sedimentary rocks in the vicinity of the Tom Nelson, J., Paradis, S., Christensen, J., and Gabites, J., 2002, Canadian
Pb-Zn-Ag deposit, Yukon Territory, Canada: 8th International Geo- Cordilleran mississippi valley-type deposits; A case for Devonian-Mis-
chemical Exploration Symposium, Hanover, April 10-15, 1980, Trans- sissippi back-arc hydrothermal origin: Economic Geology, v. 97, p.
actions, p. 203–217. 1013–1036.
182
Paradis, S., Hannigan, P., and Dewing, K., 2007, Mississippi Valley-type Slack, J.F., Kelley, K.D., Anderson, V.M., Clark, J.L., and Ayuso, R.A.,
lead-zinc deposits, in Goodfellow, W.D., ed., Mineral deposits of Can- 2004, Multistage hydrothermal silici¿cation and Fe-Tl-As-Sb-Ge-REE
ada: A synthesis of major deposit types, district metallogeny, the evolu- enrichment in the Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag district, Northern Alaska: Geo-
tion of geological provinces, and exploration methods: Geological As- chemistry, origin, and exploration applications: Economic Geology, v.
sociation of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication 5, 99, p. 1481–1508.
p. 185-203. Turner, R.J.W., 1990, Jason stratiform Zn-Pb-barite deposit, Selwyn Basin,
Parr, J.M., and Plimer, I.R., 1993, Models for Broken Hill-type lead-zinc- Canada (NTS 105-O-1): Geological setting, hydrothermal facies and
silver deposits: Geological Association of Canada, Special Paper 40, p. genesis, in Abbott, J.G., and Turner, R.J.W., eds., Mineral deposits
253–288. of the northern Canadian Cordillera: International Association on the
Peter, J.M., Layton-Matthews, D., Piercey, S., Bradshaw, G., Paradis, S., and Genesis of Ore Deposits, Field Trip 14: Guidebook, p. 137–175.
Boulton, A., 2007, Volcanic-hosted massive sulphide deposits of the Fin- Turner, R.J.W., Leitch, C.H.B., and Ross, K.V., 2000, District-scale altera-
layson Lake District, Yukon in Goodfellow, W. D., ed., Mineral Deposits tion associated with the Sullivan deposit, British Columbia, Canada,
of Canada: A Synthesis of Major Deposit-types, District Metallogeny, in Lydon, J.W., Höy, T., Knapp, M., and Slack, J., eds., The geological
the Evolution of Geological Provinces, and Exploration Methods, Spe- environment of the Sullivan deposit, British Columbia: Geological As-
cial Publication 5, Mineral Deposits Division, Geological Association sociation of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication
of Canada, p. 471–508. 1, p. 408–439.
Piercey, S.J., Paradis, S., Murphy, D.C., and Mortensen, J.K., 2001, Geo- Vail, P.R., Mitchum, R.M., Jr., and Thompson, S., III, 1977, Seismic stratig-
chemistry and paleotectonic setting of felsic volcanic rocks in the Fin- raphy and global changes of sea level; Part 4: Global cycles of relative
layson Lake volcanic-hosted massive sul¿de district, Yukon, Canada: changes of sea level: American Association of Petroleum Geologists,
Economic Geology, v. 96, p. 1877–1905. Memoir 26, p. 83–97.
Price, R.A., and Sears, J.W., 2000, A preliminary palinspastic map of the Walters, S.G., 1998, Broken hill-type deposits: AGSO Journal of Australian
Mesoproterozoic Belt-Purcell Supergroup, Canada and USA; Implica- Geology and Geophysics, v. 17, p. 229–237.
tions for the tectonic setting and structural evolution of the Purcell anti- Wheeler, J.O., Hoffman, P.F., Card, K.D., Davidson, A., Sanford, B.V.,
clinorium and the Sullivan deposit, in Lydon, J.W., Höy, T., Knapp, M., Okulitch, A.V., and Roest, W.R., 1996, Geological map of Canada,
and Slack, J., eds., The geological environment of the Sullivan deposit, Map 1860A, Geological Survey of Canada, CD-ROM.
British Columbia: Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits Yang, J., Large, R.R., and Bull, W., 2004, Factors controlling free thermal
Division, Special Publication 1, p. 61–81. convection in faults in sedimentary basins: Implications for the forma-
Sangster, D.F., 1990, Mississippi Valley-type and SEDEX lead-zinc deposits: tion of zinc-lead mineral deposits: GeoÀuids, v. 4, p. 237–247.
A comparative examination: Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Young, L.E., 2004, A geologic framework for mineralization in the western
Transactions, Section B: Applied Earth Science, v. 99, p. 21–42. Brooks Range, Alaska: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1281–1306.
Sangster, D.F., and Hillary, E.M., 2000, SEDEX lead-zinc deposits—Pro- Zierenberg, R.A., 1990, Deposition of metalliferous sediment beneath a
posed subtypes and their characteristics: Exploration and Mining Geol- brine pool in the Atlantis II deep, Red Sea, in McMurray, G.R., ed.,
ogy, v. 7, p. 341–357. Gorda Ridge: A seaÀoor spreading center in the United States exclu-
Singer, D.A., 1995, World class base and precious metal deposits—A quanti- sive economic zone: New York, Springer-Verlag, p. 131–142.
tative analysis: Economic Geology, v. 90, p. 88–104.
183

Sedex Goodfellow Lydon2007

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Sedex Goodfellow Lydon2007

Transféré par

Informations du document

Description originale:

Titre original

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Sedex Goodfellow Lydon2007

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

SEDIMENTARY EXHALATIVE (SEDEX) DEPOSITS

WAYNE D. GOODFELLOW AND JOHN W. LYDON

Introduction VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide) deposits on the one

TABLE 1. Grade and tonnage of major global SEDEX deposits.

Geological Resources (maximum size)

totaling 112 Mt of Zn + Pb metal), Curnamona

Black Skarnesdalen Rauhala

Sedimentary Exhalative (SEDEX) Deposits

TABLE 2. Grade and tonnage of Canadian SEDEXdeposits.

Geological Resource (size of deposit)

Notes: Data from Appendix 1 (DVD), Goodfellow and Lydon, 2007

Notes: Data from Appendix 1 (DVD), Goodfellow and Lydon, 2007.

mostly of carbonaceous chert and shale. These

6 7 deposits, the dominant lithologies are lime-

W E als and ore-associated elements (e.g., Hg, As,

ded important economic resource and is concen-

facies (Goodfellow et al., 1993). Other eco-

nomically recoverable elements include Sn in

and sill apohyses

thickness of the stratiform body and the number and/

1983), Sullivan (Hamilton et al., 1982), and Red Dog

Phosphatic Chert tion patterns include increases in Pb:Ag, Cu:Zn+Pb,

Pyritic and 1982; Goodfellow, 2004).

Shale hundreds of metres into the pre- and post-ore sedi-

Turner et al., 2000). Large et al. (2000) have

1977). Widespread lithogeochemical halos

margins (e.g., Howards Pass; Goodfellow

British Columbia to Montana and Idaho in the

Late 2003) and the Finlayson district in the Yukon are

Late At the district scale, SEDEX deposits com-

SEDEX, Irish, and BHT deposits typically

Earl y Transitional Ocean

(‰ PDB) (Mt) tors that inÀuenced the location of vents are:

200 600 1000 0 5 10 15

100 Sulfate curve sediment is at a minimum, 2. the hydrology of

Carbonate Carbonate Local

Oxygenated Water Column

the sulphate has been reduced to sulphide, barium carried by

Recent Advances in Genetic/Exploration Models

• The tectonic settings for sedimentary basins that host

Arctic Red Mountain

Macmillan Porter Puddle

sional environments and intracratonic rifts driven by man-

Paleozoic mafic volcanics • The temporal distribution of SEDEX deposits (post-1.8

billion years) is probably controlled by the oxidation

ated bacterial sulphate reduction, the development of

Proterozoic and Phanerozoic oceans episodically strati¿ed

with lower anoxic water columns, and the precipitation

with ambient H2S-rich anoxic oceans.

Horst Sullivan Economic limit

by two major factors: 1. the activity of sulphate deeper part of F ault

Minimal extent of North Star

• Morphology and architecture of mineralized District and Deposit Scale

• Mapping of hydrothermal alteration surrounding • Local tectonism: reactivation of extensional faults as

constrained rock property parameters, and

4. Re¿ne models of SEDEX formation. There

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi