Granitoid rocks and associated coper skarn, Whycocomagh Mountain, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

• Published in: Atlantic Geology
• Main Authors: Barr, Sandra M., Choy, R. Yip, Colwell, J. A., Oldale, H. S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Atlantic Geoscience Society 1984
• Subjects: Breton Island
• Online Access: https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/ag/article/view/1573

Mineralized (Fe-Cu-W-Mo) skarn in the Whycocomagh Mountain area is associated with a small pluton of Devonian (402±20 Ma) age, which intruded predominantly metasedimentary rocks of the Hadrynian George River Group. The pluton consists largely of granite porphyry with a marginal granodiorite to diorite zone, and minor porphyritlc granodiorite to monzodiorite dykes and pegmatite. The suite is calc-alkalic with I-type characteristics. Although weakly mineralized, the Whycocomagh Mountain pluton has features typical of plutons associated with porphyry-type Cu-Mo deposits. Calc-silicate rocks derived from marbles of the George River Group are the chief hosts for magnetlte ± chalcopyrlte ± scheelite ± molybdenite ± pyrite which occur in veinlets along fractures and as disseminated grains In adjacent alteration envelopes. Characteristics of the pluton and the skarn minerals suggest that the deposit is a copper skarn. RÉSUMÉ Un skarn minéralise (Fe-Cu-W-Mo), situe dans la région de la montagne Whycocomagh, est associé à une petite intrusion ignée d'âge Dévonien (402±20 m.a.) qui pénétre des roches, principalement des métasédiments, du groupe George River (Hadrynien). Le pluton consiste surtout en un granite porphyrique accompagne d'une zone marginale (granodiorite à diorite), de dykes mineurs (granodiorite à monzodiorite porphyrique) et de pegmatite. L'ensemble est calco-alcalln et de "type 1". Blen que faiblement minéralise, le pluton Whycocomagh Mountain possède lea caractérlstiques typiques des plutons associés aux dépôts porphyrlques de type Cu-Mo. Les calco-sflicates dérives des marbres du groupe George River sont les notes principaux du cortege for magnétite ± chalcopyrlte ± scheelite ± molybdenite ± pyrite que L’on retrouve dans des veinules le long des fractures et disséminés dans les ...