Sulfide Mineralization in the Huronian Sediments in the Cobalt Area, Ontario, Canada

Base metal sulfides occur in the Huronian sedimentary rocks that cover the Archean volcanic rocks in the Cobalt area, Ontario, Canada. They are mostly concentrated in the basal conglomerate which was formed in the pre-Huronian basin structure. Sulfide occurrence can be grouped as massive sulfide clasts in the basal and Coleman conglomerate, disseminated sulfides throughout the sediments, and disseminated sulfides near Ag-Co-Ni-As carbonate veins. Detrital mechanism can explain features such as angularity of sulfide fragments and graded bedding of dissemnated sulfides. Sulfides concentrated near carbonate veins are probably of hydrothermal origin. Nearby strata-bound type massive sulfide ore deposits and mineralized interflow units are the most probable sources for syngenetic sulfides. This is supported by the angularity of sulfide fragments, presence of massive sulfide boulders which are identical in mineralogy and texture to the strata-bound type sulfide deposits in the Archean basement, and a similar composition of sphalerite in the Archean volcanic rocks and Huronian sedimentary rocks. Some sulfide grains, especially in sandstones and argillites, were undergone recrystallization during the intrusion of the Nipissing diabase.