Abstract: Restoration of the 450 km of right lateral movement on the Tintina Fault brings the massive sulphide-rich Finlayson area of the Yukon-Tanana Terrane to a location southeast of Dawson. This suggests that the underlying Yukon-Tanana Terrane geology west of the Tintina Fault, in west-central Yukon is prospective for massive sulphide mineralization. This area, west of the Tintina fault, largely escaped Pleistocene glaciation and is deeply weathered and covered by a thick mantle of soil and vegetation. This presents problems for traditional geochemical prospecting using soil samples. Alternatively the vegetative cover can be used as a sampling medium.

To test the effectiveness of this technique in the exploration for VMS deposits two areas of the Yukon-Tanana Terrane were chosen for study:: Matson Creek and Bradens Canyon. At Matson Creek, a biogeochemical signature was obtained from a site with known polymetallic sulphides and data compared with known soil geochemistry. At Bradens Canyon soil and biogeochemical samples were collected. At each sample site in the two locations twigs were collected from both black and white spruce trees according to availability, along several transects. Results indicate that biogeochemical sampling is a viable alternative to soil sampling. The data show that the two species of spruce contain different concentrations of elements, therefore care must be taken during the sampling procedure to identify which species is being sampled. From the data a normalization factor was created by multiplying the white spruce Cu and Pb values by a factor of two in order to obtain an approximate equivalent concentration of these elements in black spruce.

Authors: Hunt, J.A.,. Dunn, C.E, Timmerman, J.R.M. and Zantvoort, W.G.

Map Scale: 1 : 0

NTS Mapsheet(s): 105F, 105G, 105H, 115N, 115O

Citation: Hunt, J.A.,. Dunn, C.E, Timmerman, J.R.M. and Zantvoort, W.G., 1997. Biogeochemical prospecting in the Yukon-Tanana Terrane, Yukon Territory. In: Yukon Exploration and Geology 1996, Roots, C.F. (edt), Indian & Northern Affairs Canada/Department of Indian & Northern Development: Exploration & Geological Services Division.

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