Petrogenesis of the Blachford Lake Intrusive Suite
Principal Investigator: Mumford, Thomas R. (2)
Licence Number: 14948
Organization: Carleton University
Licensed Year(s): 2011 2010
Issued: Jul 15, 2011

Objective(s): To gain a better geological understanding of the setting of the Blachford Lake intrusive suite mineral deposit.

Project Description: With increasing activity at the Nechalacho Rare Earth Element Deposit a better geological understanding of the setting of the mineral deposit is required. This study is fundamentally concerned with how and why the deposit exists. This is achieved by studying the entire Blachford Lake intrusive suite (>300 km2), the igneous system which generated the deposit. From this, a petrogenetic framework will be created to model the development and mineralization of the Blachford Lake intrusive suite. To address these problems this study will focus on the origin, evolution, and interactions of the various phases in the complex. This will be done through improved mapping, additional geochronology (dating of the rocks), and detailed whole-rock and mineral geochemistry. The radiogenic isotopic studies (Stronium - Sr, Neodymium - Nd, Lead - Pb) will be especially important in defining source characteristics, potential crustal assimilants, and sources of elements concentrated in the ore deposits; whereas mineral chemistry and stable isotopes will be used to quantify emplacement conditions (pressure, temperature, fO2). The ongoing results of this study will be presented to the individuals and communities of NWT during the annual Geoscience Forum in Yellowknife. Once the study is complete, a thesis of all the compiled data will be made accessible to the general public at the library of the NWT Geoscience Office in Yellowknife. In addition the geologists of the Northwest Territories geoscience office will be presenting the results to Community members at future meetings. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 15, 2011 to August 20, 2011.