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Distribution, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry of Selenium in Felsic Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Finlayson Lake District, Yukon Territory, Canada

Daniel Layton-Matthews^1,,*, Jan M. Peter², Steven D. Scott³ and Matthew I. Leybourne^4,**

¹ Department of Geology, University of Toronto, 22 Russell St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3B1
² Central Canada Division, Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0E8
³ Department of Geology, University of Toronto, 22 Russell St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3B1
⁴ Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, 2601 North Floyd Rd., Richardson, Texas 75080

Corresponding author: e-mail, dlayton{at}geol.queensu.ca

Three significant base metal deposits were recently discovered in the Finlayson Lake district, Yukon Territory, Canada; however, widely varying selenium contents (e.g., 1,100 ppm avg Se at Wolverine, 200 ppm avg Se at Kudz Ze Kayah, and 7 ppm avg Se at GP4F) have hindered their rapid exploitation. Observations and data from the deposits in the Finlayson Lake district show a strong positive correlation between high-temperature (>300°C), copper-rich sulfide assemblages at the base of volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) and the selenium content of all sulfide minerals. Thermodynamic calculations for selenide and sulfide minerals indicate significantly higher temperatures of formation and lower solubilities of selenide versus sulfide minerals, which is consistent with petrographic observations and can explain the distribution of selenium in zone-refined VHMS and volcanic sediment-hosted massive sulfide deposits. Volumetric mass-balance calculations indicate that some selenium could be sourced from contemporaneous volatile degassing of SeO₄, its rapid reduction to H₂Se, and subsequent entrainment into hydrothermal ore fluid. However, estimates for the Kudz Ze Kayah and Wolverine deposits suggest an additional large Se reservoir. Volumetric mass-balance estimates indicate that contemporaneous volcanic rocks and black shales are likely selenium reservoirs for the Kudz Ze Kayah and Wolverine deposits, respectively.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. J. Piercey, J. M. Peter, and J. K. Mortensen A Special Issue Devoted to Continental Margin Massive Sulfide Deposits and Their Geodynamic Environments Economic Geology, January 1, 2008; 103(1): 1 - 4. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. D. Bradshaw, S. M. Rowins, J. M. Peter, and B. E. Taylor Genesis of the Wolverine Volcanic Sediment-Hosted Massive Sulfide Deposit, Finlayson Lake District, Yukon, Canada: Mineralogical, Mineral Chemical, Fluid Inclusion, and Sulfur Isotope Evidence Economic Geology, January 1, 2008; 103(1): 35 - 60. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]