The geology and genesis of iron oxide-copper-gold mineralisation associated with Wernecke Breccia, Yukon, Canada

The large scale Wernecke Breccia system occurs throughout the 13 km-thick Early Proterozoic Wernecke Supergroup (WSG) and is spatially associated with regional-scale faults. Breccia emplacement made use of pre-existing crustal weaknesses and permeable zones; metaevaporitic rocks in the lower WSG may be intimately related to breccia formation. The breccia bodies host vein and-disseminated iron oxide-copper-gold ± uranium ± cobalt mineralisation and are associated with extensive sodic and/or potassic metasomatic alteration overprinted by pervasive carbonate alteration. Multiple phases of brecciation, alteration and mineralisation are evident. Six widely spaced breccia bodies that occur in different part of the…