Thor - An Intermediate Sulfidation Deposit Model
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A deposit model is used as an empirical basis for understanding how an ore deposit formed. There are many types of geological models that are used, and exploration and mining of an ore deposit can help to understand exactly how a deposit formed. In 2021, Taranis made considerable progress understanding the geology of Thor, and this led to the refinement of the deposit model. Thor hosts a complete intrusive (porphyry) - intermediate sulfidation epithermal mineral setting, of which only the epithermal portion has been explored to date.
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The table to the right shows examples of other intermediate sulfidation epithermal deposits that have base metal content similar to Thor. (Source - USGS)
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Image showing the relationship of the 'Intrusive Target' to the known zones of mineralization at Thor. Image looking east. Note how the known epithermal zones are arranged along the axis of the of the intrusive body, and particularly along the northwest end of the body. The known zones of mineralization extend downwards into the apex of the body.
Click on the image to the right see a larger-scale image! |
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Image looking southeast at the "T-shaped" nature of the 'intrusive target'. note how the topography reflects the buried nature of the 'Intrusive Body'. The alignment of the body parallel to the Thor Fault Zone is indicative that it intruded along the Fault Zone. Structural measurements have shown that the movement along the Thor Fault Zone is northeast side down, and the final movement along the fault has been sinistral strike-slip (lateral). This has controlled much of the known epithermal zones of mineralization emplacement and caused multiple overlapping zones of mineralization at Thor.
Click on the image on the left to see a larger-scale image! |
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Image looking northwest that demonstrates the vertical zonation through the Thor deposit and its relationship to the buried 'Intrusive Target'. The known mineralization is geometry located along the top of the buried body. This shows that the epithermal mineralization occurs outward of the intrusive body typical of epithermal mineralization associated with an intrusive body.
Click on the image to the right see a larger-scale image! |
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