Project title: Characterization and geological setting of the Nautanen North Cu-Au deposit, Norrbotten, Sweden
Researcher: David Drejing-Carroll
This research project utilizes the newly discovered Nautanen North deposit, Sweden, to investigate the characteristics, associations, styles and timing of Cu-Au mineralization in the one of the largest active metal mining areas in Europe. The research will explore by what mechanism the deposit was formed, establish its formal classification and how it relates spatially and temporally to the major Aitik Cu-Au & Malmberget Fe deposits which are hosted in the same stratigraphic sequence.
A more comprehensive understanding of these factors will help mineral exploration targeting, metallurgy, mineral deposit evaluation, aid in the formalisation of a mineral systems model for the area and provide clarity to the history of a complex geological basin. The Nautanen North deposit displays key characteristics which are suggestive of an Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) deposit, this would be the first deposit of significant size and grade identified in Northern Fennoscandia and its proximity to type deposits of Iron Oxide Apatite deposits provides opportunities to investigate the relationship of the two deposit types if they represent distinct mineralization events utilizing the same structural conduits and hosts or if they are forming synchronously at different structural levels.
The project has the following aims;
1. Provide a detailed characterisation of the Nautanen North deposit, its geological setting, lithological and structural controls, alteration and mineralization.
2. Utilize geological and geochemical evidence to interpret the processes responsible for mineralization.
3. Determine what geological, geochemical, and geophysical vectors are associated with the deposit
4. Investigate the relationships to proximal mineral deposits of significance.