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Northern Superior Province

Pikwitonei Granulite Domain mapping program

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Project Information

Principal investigators:
Chris Couëslan, Christian Böhm

Partnered with:
University of Waterloo, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Location:
Pikwitonei Granulite Domain, 63P

Project Description

Main objectives:

To create a series of geological maps from the Pikwitonei Granulite Domain (PGD) and subdivide the granulitic gneiss into discrete lithological units. To determine the extent of supracrustal rocks within the PGD. To characterize and document the tectonic make up of the PGD.

Methodology:

1:20 000 or 1:50 000 scale bedrock mapping of islands and shoreline based on protolith interpretation rather than descriptive petrography;
Isotopic, mineralogical, and geochemical characterization of various units.

Benefits:

Updated mapping will provide a better geological understanding of this portion of the province and Superior craton. The recognition of supracrustal rocks could open the PGD to exploration for various mineral deposit-types. Study of the tectonic make up of the PGD will help to understand its origins along the northwest margin of the Superior craton, and help to correlate the granulite gneisses with adjacent lower-grade rocks in the Superior craton.

Plans for fiscal year 2019-2020:

Working on Geoscientific Report for the Pikwitonei granulite domain

Completed outputs:

2017-2018

Guevara, V.E., Dragovic, B., Caddick, M.J., Couëslan, C.G., Kylander-Clark, A.R.C., Maclennan, S.A., Baxter, E.F. and Schoene, B. 2018: Ultrahigh temperature metamorphism of Archean continental crust: insights from the petrochronology arsenal; Geological Society of America, 53rd annual northeastern section meeting, Burlington, Vermont, March 18–20, 2018, abstract and oral presentation.

2016-2017

Couëslan, C.G. 2016: The Pikwitonei granulite domain, Manitoba: a collisional orogenic zone along the northwestern margin of the Superior craton; Geological Association of Canada–Mineralogical Association of Canada, Joint Annual Meeting 2016, Whitehorse, Yukon, June 1–3, 2016, abstract.

Dragovic, B., Guevara, V.E., Caddick, M.J., Couëslan, C.G. and Baxter, E.F. 2016: Deciphering the timescales of Archean HT/UHT metamorphism in the Pikwitonei Granulite Domain using garnet petrochronology; American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, December 12–16, 2016.

Guevara, V.E., Dragovic, B., Caddick, M.J., Kylander-Clark, A.R.C. and Couëslan, C.G. 2016: Ultrahigh temperature metamorphism of the Archean Pikwitonei Granulite Domain; Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado, September 25–28, 2016, Paper No. 270-4.

Guevara, V.E., Maclennan, S.A., Schoene, B., Dragovic, B., Caddick, M.J., Kylander-Clark, A.R.C. and Couëslan, C.G. 2016: Quantifying the timescales of Archean UHT metamorphism through U-Pb monazite and zircon petrochronology: insights from the Pikwitonei Granulite Domain; American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, December 12–16, 2016.

2015-2016

Couëslan, C.G. and Guevara, V. 2015: Bedrock geology of the southern and central Cauchon Lake area, central Manitoba (parts of NTS 63P7, 8); Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, Preliminary Map PMAP2015-2, scale 1:20 000.

Couëslan, C.G. and Guevara, V.E. 2015: Preliminary results from bedrock mapping in the southern and central Cauchon Lake area, eastern margin of the Pikwitonei granulite domain, central Manitoba (parts of NTS 63P7, 8); in Report of Activities 2015, Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 24–37.

2014-2015

Couëslan, C.G. 2014: Bedrock geology of Armstrong Lake, central Manitoba (parts of NTS 63P10, 11); Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, Preliminary Map PMAP2014-1, scale 1:20 000.

Couëslan, C.G. 2014: Bedrock geology of the Partridge Crop Lake area, central Manitoba (parts of NTS 63P11, 12); Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, Preliminary Map PMAP2014-2, scale 1:20 000.

Couëslan, C.G. 2014: Mapping progress in the Pikwitonei Granulite Domain: tectonic and economic implications; Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, Manitoba Mining and Mineral Convention, Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 19–21, 2014, oral presentation.

Couëslan, C.G. 2014: Preliminary results from bedrock mapping in the Armstrong Lake area, Pikwitonei granulite domain, central Manitoba (parts of NTS 63P10); in Report of Activities 2014, Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 7–17.

Couëslan, C.G. 2014: Preliminary results from bedrock mapping in the Partridge Crop Lake area, eastern margin of the Thompson nickel belt, central Manitoba (parts of NTS 63P11, 12) – Year 2; in Report of Activities 2014, Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 18–31.

2013-2014

Couëslan, C.G. 2013: Preliminary results from bedrock mapping in the northeast Cauchon Lake area, eastern margin of the Pikwitonei granulite domain, central Manitoba (parts of NTS 63P9, 10); in Report of Activities 2013, Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 23–33.

Couëslan, C.G. 2013: Bedrock geology of northeastern Cauchon Lake, Manitoba (parts of NTS 63P9, 10); Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, Preliminary Map PMAP2013-4, scale 1:20 000.

Couëslan, C.G. 2013: Preliminary results from bedrock mapping in the Partridge Crop Lake area, eastern margin of the Thompson nickel belt, central Manitoba (parts of NTS 63P11, 12); in Report of Activities 2013, Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 34–45.

Couëslan, C.G. 2013: Bedrock geology of northern and western Partridge Crop Lake, Manitoba (parts of NTS 63P11, 12); Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, Preliminary Map PMAP2013-5, scale 1:20 000.

Couëslan, C.G. 2013: Bedrock mapping in the Partridge Crop Lake area: east margin of the Thompson Nickel Belt; Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, Manitoba Mining and Mineral Convention, Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 20–22, 2013, oral presentation.

2012-2013

Couëslan, C.G., Böhm, C.O. and Martins, T. 2012: Preliminary results from geological mapping in the central Sipiwesk Lake area, Pikwitonei Granulite Domain, central Manitoba (part of NTS 63P4); in Report of Activities 2012, Manitoba Innovation, Energy and Mines, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 79–89.

Couëslan, C.G., Böhm, C.O. and Martins, T. 2012: Bedrock geology of central Sipiwesk Lake, Pikwitonei Granulite Domain, central Manitoba (part of NTS 63P4); Manitoba Innovation, Energy and Mines, Manitoba Geological Survey, Preliminary Map PMAP2012-5, scale 1:20 000.