Palaeoseismic events recorded in Archaean gold-quartz vein networks, Val d'Or, Abitibi, Quebec, Canada

Abstract

Archaean gold-quartz vein deposits are commonly hosted in high-angle reverse shear zones and are interpreted to have formed in a regime of horizontal compression and high fluid pressure environment. This paper presents the results of a combined structural and fluid inclusion study on three gold-quartz vein deposits of the Val d'Or area (Abitibi, Quebec) consisting of subhorizontal extensional veins and E-W steeply dipping shear veins. Crack-seal structures, tourmaline fibres, stretched quartz crystals and open-space filling textures indicate that the subhorizontal veins formed by hydraulic fracturing under supralithostatic fluid pressure. CO 2-rich and H 2 O + NaCl fluid inclusions, interpreted as two coexisting immiscible fluids, occur typically in microcracks of different orientations interpreted to have formed in the σ 1- σ 2 plane. Horizontal CO 2-rich fluid inclusion planes are contemporaneous with the opening of these veins (σ 3 vertical). Vertical H 2O + NaCl fluid inclusion planes, as well as some microstructures, such as deformed minerals, indicate that the same extensional veins have experienced episodic vertical shortening (σ 3 horizontal) alternating with the opening events. Deformation and slip/opening also occurred in shear veins in which preferred orientation of fluid inclusion planes is not clear, except that the H 2O + NaCl fluid inclusion planes tend to be oriented at high angles to the slip direction. The successive opening and collapse events in subhorizontal extensional veins are correlated with deformation and slip/opening events in shear veins, respectively, and are attributed to cyclic fluid pressure fluctuations in the system. They are thus consistent with the fault-valve model: sudden drop in fluid pressure from supralithostatic to lower values induces fluid unmixing and occurs immediately post-failure following seismic rupturing along the shear zone. Sealing of the shear veins allows the fluid pressure to build up again and the subhorizontal extensional veins to form. The intermittent change in orientation of σ 3 in horizontal extensional veins is ascribed to a total shear stress release along the neighbouring shear veins after rupture. The complex internal structures of the gold-quartz veins provide an excellent record of Archaean seismic activity along high-angle reverse faults.