Regional and local ice-flow history in the vicinity of the Izok Lake Zn–Cu–Pb–Ag deposit, Nunavut

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Authors: Paulen, Roger C., McClenaghan, M. Beth, Hicken, Anna K.
• Other Authors: Trenhaile, Alan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2013
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Nunavut; Northwest Territories
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2013-0064; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/cjes-2013-0064; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/cjes-2013-0064

Ice-directional indicators were compiled from detailed field mapping at the Izok Lake volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit, in the Point Lake region of western Nunavut and eastern Northwest Territories. Cross-cutting erosional relationships and depositional landforms indicate that the Izok Lake area was affected by four ice-flow phases. It is this new glacial history interpretation that is used to explain the gahnite indicator mineral dispersal train down-ice of the Izok Lake deposit as being the net effect of all ice-flow phases. Its fan-shaped morphology is a function of the duration and intensity of two dominant glacial trajectories. Field-based mapping of all glacial-flow indicators are essential, and must be properly interpreted, to detect palimpsest dispersal trains. The resultant dispersal fan serves as a model for future exploration in the glaciated terrain of the north-central part of the Slave Province.