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Constraining the location of the Archean--Proterozoic suture in the Great Basin based on magnetotelluric soundings

Open-File Report 2012-1117
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20121117

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Abstract

It is important to understand whether major mining districts in north-central Nevada are underlain by Archean crust, known to contain major orogenic gold deposits, or, alternatively, by accreted crust of the Paleoproterozoic Mojave province. Determining the location and orientation of the Archean-Proterozoic suture zone between the Archean crust and Mojave province is also critical because it may influence subsequent patterns of sedimentation, deformation, magmatism, and hydrothermal activity. In the Great Basin, the attitude of the suture zone is unknown because it is concealed below cover. A regional magnetotelluric sounding profile along the Utah-Nevada State line reveals a deeply penetrating, broad electrical conductor that may be the Archean-Proterozoic suture zone in the northwest corner of Utah. This major crustal conductor's strike direction is northwest, where it broadens to about 80 km wide below about 3-km depth. These results suggest that the southwestern limit of intact Archean crust in this part of the Great Basin is farther north than previously reported. These results also suggest that the major gold belts in north-central Nevada are located over the Paleoproterozoic Mojave province, and the Archean terrain lies northeast in the northwest corner of Utah. Rifted Archean crust segments south and west of the suture suggest that future mineral exploration northeast of current mineral trends may yield additional gold deposits.
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Constraining the location of the Archean--Proterozoic suture in the Great Basin based on magnetotelluric soundings
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2012-1117
DOI 10.3133/ofr20121117
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Crustal Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center
Description iv, 30 p.; col. ill.; map (col.)
First page i
Last page 30
Country United States
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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