MSc Project
Laurentian University
Fault kinematics and displacements at the Sleeping Giant mine, Amos, Québec

The volcanic succession and gold mineralized zones at the Sleeping Giant mine are displaced along late faults and shear zones. The faults cut across several different generations of dykes which will be used as offset markers to determine the slip vector along the faults. The project will entail structural kinematic analysis of the faults to determine their slip direction, and geochemical and petrographical analyses of the dykes to separate the dykes into groups that can be used as offset markers to determine the absolute magnitude of fault slip.

The project will involve underground mapping of the dykes and faults over two summers. The slip direction along the faults will be determined through observations and measurements of kinematic indicators in the field and in thin section and through further analysis of striated fault polished surfaces (slickenside) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the acquisition of topographic secondary electron images. A representative dyke from each generation of dykes will be systematically sampled from margin to core to characterize their trace and major element chemical variability. The grouping of the dykes will be tested and verified using U-Pb dating. This will establish a baseline for matching offset dykes across the faults by comparing their mineralogy, textures, and geochemistry to those of the representative dykes.

The project is sponsored and supported by North American Palladium. During the two summers in Amos, the student will be directly employed by the company which will provide accommodation and transportation to the mine while living in Amos.

The project will be co-supervised by Drs. Bruno Lafrance and Phil Thurston at Laurentian University. If you are interested in this project, please contact:

Dr. Bruno Lafrance
Department of Earth Sciences
Laurentian University
Sudbury, Ontario
Tel: (705)675-1151 extension 2264
blafrance@laurentian.ca