Geochemistry as a Tool for Exploration at the Renstrom Zn-Pb-Cu-Au-Ag VMS Camp, Skellefte District, Sweden

• The Skellefte mining district in northern Sweden contains over 85 pyritic Zn-Cu-Au-Ag massive sulphide deposits. The Renstrom area, one of the most intensely mineralized parts of the Skellefte district, contains five zinc-and gold-rich deposits, three of which are confined to a specific continuous stratigraphic unit, the "Renstrom ore host unit". The great structural complexity of the area made it difficult to locate and follow the ore horizon to generate new exploration targets. A new study in the Kyrkvagen area, based on stratigraphic correlations, structural interpretations and lithogeochemical and geophysical data interpretation, revealed several NW-trending faults which separate five structural blocks. The rocks of the area could be characterized in terms of geochemistry, stratigraphy and their position in the hanging or footwall with respect to the ore horizon. Moreover, alteration patterns allowed predictions of possible extensions of the ore horizon. This increased knowledge of the Kyrkvagen area led to the identification of five new drilling targets for further exploration in one of Boliden's most important mining areas.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Geologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Geology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Malmgeologi

Ore Geology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)