Abstract: The Minto and Williams Creek copper (-gold) deposits in western Yukon are hosted by variably deformed Early Jurassic (198-197 Ma; U-Pb) plutonic rocks and to a lesser extent strongly metamorphosed supracrustal rocks. These rocks are pendants and schlieren within slightly younger (197 Ma; U-Pb), intermediate-composition intrusive phases of the Granite Batholith. Chalcopyrite and bornite are disseminated and also occur as stringers in these rocks. Alteration muscovite associated with late quartz-feldspar-epidote veins gives a 182 Ma Ar-Ar age. Geobarometry on postmineral intrusive phases in the area indicate that they were emplaced at a depth of >9 km. Hornblende geochemical studies of plutonic and meta-plutonic host rocks at Minto and Williams Creek indicate that they formed in a continental magmatic arc setting. Cu/Au ratios and field observations indicate that supergene mobility of copper was more extensive at Williams Creek than at Minto. Our results indicate that the two deposits represent variations on typical copper (-gold) porphyry deposits.

Authors: Tafti, R. and Mortensen, J.K.

Keywords: Mineral Deposit

NTS Mapsheet(s): 115I06, 115I07, 115I10, 115I11

Citation: Tafti, R. and Mortensen, J.K., 2004. Early Jurassic porphyry(?) copper (-gold) deposits at Minto and Williams Creek, Carmacks Copper Belt, western Yukon. In: Yukon Exploration and Geology 2003, Emond, D.S. and Lewis, L.L. (eds.), Yukon Geological Survey, p. 289-303.

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