Sudbury Impact Structure and Evolution of the Impact Melt and Associated Ni-Cu-PGE Mineralization

FT04 • 5 Days • Ontario

Large nested shattercones, Hwy 17 Whitefish

Image credit: CML

The 1.85 Ga Sudbury Impact Structure is one of the world’s oldest, largest, best-preserved, and best-exposed extraterestrial impact structures. It also contains some of the world’s largest and most valuable Ni-Cu-PGE deposits, some of which are still in operation, under development, or being defined. The trip will provide an overview of the geology of the Sudbury Structure with an emphasis on the evolution of the impact melt sheet and its relationship to the associated Ni-Cu-(PGE) sulfide ores. We will examine a wide range of spectacular mechanically ± hydraulically-stripped outcrops and road cuts to illustrate: 1) the effects of shock metamorphism on the surrounding target rocks (e.g., shatter cones and pseudotachylites), 2) the crystallization products of the impact melt sheet, 3) the various types of ore-hosting magmatic breccias, and 4) fall-back and suevitic material from the impact. Sudbury is home to the Harquail School of Earth Sciences and Mineral Exploration Research Centre at Laurentian University, which will host evening lectures. The field trip will start and end in Sudbury and local transportation will be provided.

Field Trip Leaders

Michael Lesher, Laurentian University

Dustin Peters, Laurentian University

Sandra Baurier Aymat, Laurentian University

Footwall Breccia, Hwy 144 Bypass

Image credit: CML

Additional Field Images