Geological and thermal conditions before the major Palaeoproterozoic gold-mineralization event at Ashanti, Ghana, as inferred from improved thermal modelling

Precambrian Research

Volumn 154, Issue 1-2, 2007, Pages 71-87

  Harcouët, Virginie ^a,b   Guillou Frottier, Laurent ^a   Bonneville, Alain ^b   Bouchot, Vincent ^a   Milesi, Jean Pierre ^a  

^a BRGM   (France)

^b INSTITUT DE PHYSIQUE DU GLOBE DE PARIS   (France)

Author keywords

Ashanti; Mantle heat flow; Palaeoproterozoic; Thermal modelling

Indexed keywords

COMPACTION; CONTINENTAL CRUST; CRUSTAL SHORTENING; GOLD; HEAT FLOW; HEAT TRANSFER; MANTLE PLUME; MINERALIZATION; MODELING; ORE DEPOSIT; PAN AFRICAN OROGENY; PROTEROZOIC; TEMPERATURE EFFECT;

AFRICA; ASHANTI; GHANA; SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA; WEST AFRICA;

CALLUNA VULGARIS;

EID: 33847357736     PISSN: 03019268     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.precamres.2006.11.014     Document Type: Article

References (75)

1. Abouchami W., Boher M., Michard A., and Albarede F. A major 2.1 Ga event of mafic magmatism in West-Africa: an early stage of crustal accretion. J. Geophys. Res. 95 (1990) 17605-17629
2. Allibone A., Teasdale J., Cameron G., Etheridge M., Uttley P., Soboh A., Appiah-Kubi J., Adanu A., Arthur R., Mamphey J., Odoom B., Zuta J., Tsikata A., Pataye F., Famiyeh S., and Lamb E. Timing and structural controls on gold mineralization at the Bogoso gold mine, Ghana, West Africa. Econ. Geol. 97 (2002) 949-969
3. Allibone A., McCuaig T.C., Harris D., Etheridge M., Munroe S., Byrne D., Amanor A., and Gyapong W. Structural Controls on Gold Mineralization at the Ashanti Deposit vol. 9 (2002), Obuasi, Ghana. Society of Economic Geologists, Spec. Pub pp. 65-93
4. Artemieva I., and Mooney W. Thermal structure and evolution of Precambrian lithosphere: a global study. J. Geophys. Res. 106 (2001) 16387-16414
5. Barley M.E., Krapez B., Groves D.I., and Kerrich R. The Late Archean bonanza: metallogenic and environmental consequences of the interaction between mantle plumes, lithospheric tectonics and global cyclicity. Precamb. Res. 91 (1998) 65-90
6. Beck A., and Mustonen E. Preliminary heat flow data from Ghana. Nature 235 (1972) 172-174
7. Bickle M. Global thermal histories. Nature 319 (1986) 13-14
8. Blenkinsop T., Mumm A.S., Kumi R., and Sangmor S. Structural Geology of the Ashanti Mine vol. D100 (1994), Geologisches Jahrbuch pp. 131-153
9. Boher M., Abouchami W., Michard A., Albarede F., and Arndt N.T. Crustal growth in west Africa at 2.1 Ga. J. Geophys. Res. 97 (1992) 345-369
10. Bonneville A., and Capolsini P. THERMIC: a 2-D finite-element tool to solve conductive and advective heat transfer problems in Earth sciences. Comput. Geosci. 25 (1999) 1137-1148
11. Burov E., and Guillou-Frottier L. The plume head-continental lithosphere interaction using a tectonically realistic formulation for the lithosphere. Geophys. J. Int. 161 (2005) 469-490
12. Clauser C., and Huenges E. Thermal conductivity of rocks and minerals. In: Ahrens T.J. (Ed). Rock Physics and Phase Relations: A Handbook of Physical Constants vol. 3 (1995), AGU, Washington, DC 105-126 AGU Ref. Shelf
13. Davis D.W., Hirdes W., Schaltegger U., and Nunoo E.A. U-Pb age constraints on deposition and provenance of Birimian and gold bearing Tarkwaian sediments in Ghana, West Africa. Precamb. Res. 67 (1994) 89-1997
14. De Boorder H., Spakman W., White S.H., and Wortel M.J.R. Late Cenozoic mineralization, orogenic collapse and slab detachment in the European Alpine Belt. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 164 (1998) 569-575
15. Demongodin L., Pinoteau B., Vasseur G., and Gable R. Thermal conductivity and well logs: a case study in the Paris basin. Geophys. J. Int. 105 (1991) 675-691
16. England P.C., and Bickle M. Continental thermal and tectonic regimes during the Archean. J. Geol. 92 (1984) 353-367
17. Feybesse J.-L., and Milesi J.-P. The Archaean/Proterozoic contact zone in West Africa: a mountain belt of décollement thrusting and folding on a continental margin related to 2.1 Ga convergence of Archaean cratons?. Precamb. Res. 69 (1994) 199-227
18. Feybesse J.-L., Billa M., Milesi J.-P., Lerouge C., and Le Goff E. Relationships between metamorphism-deformation-plutonism in the Archean-Paleoproterozoic contact zone of West Africa. Proceedings of the 31st International Geological Congress. Rio (2000) CD-ROM Abstract
19. Gallagher K., Ramsdale M., Lonergan L., and Morrow D. The role of thermal conductivity measurements in modelling thermal histories in sedimentary basins. Mar. Petrol. Geol. 14 (1997) 201-214
20. Goldfarb R., Groves D., and Gardoll S. Orogenic gold and geologic time: a global synthesis. Ore Geol. Rev. 18 (2001) 1-75
21. Groves D.I., Condie K.C., Goldfarb R.J., Hronsky J.M.A., and Vielreicher R.M. Secular changes in global tectonic processes and their influence on the temporal distribution of gold-bearing mineral deposits. Econ. Geol. 100 (2005) 203-224
22. Guillou L., Mareschal J.-C., Jaupart C., Gariépy C., Bienfait G., and Lapointe R. Heat flow, gravity and structure of the Abitibi belt, Superior Province, Canada: implications for mantle heat flow. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 122 (1994) 103-123
23. Guillou L., and Jaupart C. On the effect of continents on mantle convection. J. Geophys. Res. 100 (1995) 24217-24238
24. Harcouët V., Guillou-Frottier L., Bonneville A., and Feybesse J.-L. Pre-mineralization thermal evolution of the Paleoproterozoic gold-rich Ashanti belt, Ghana. In: McDonald, et al. (Ed). Mineral Deposits and Earth Evolution vol. 248 (2005), Geological Society, London, Spec. Pub 103-118
25. Hirdes W., Davis D.W., and Eisenlohr B. Reassesment of Proterozoic Granitoid ages in Ghana on the basis of U/Pb zircon and monazite dating. Precamb. Res. 56 (1992) 89-96
26. Hirdes W., Davis D.W., Lüdtke G., and Konan G. Two generations of Birimian (Paleoproterozoic) volcanic belts in northeastern Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa): consequences for the 'Birimian controversy'. Precamb. Res. 80 (1996) 173-191
27. Isley A.E., and Abbott D.H. Plume-related mafic volcanism and the deposition of banded iron formation. J. Geophys. Res. 104 (1999) 15461-15477
28. Jaupart C., Mareschal J.-C., Guillou-Frottier L., and Davaille A. Heat flow and thickness of the lithosphere in the Canadian Shield. J. Geophys. Res. 103 (1998) 15269-15286
29. Jaupart C., and Mareschal J.-C. The thermal structure and thickness of continental roots. Lithos 48 (1999) 93-114
30. John T., Klemd R., Hirdes W., and Loh G. The metamorphic evolution of the Paleoproterozoic (Birimian) volcanic Ashanti belt (Ghana West Africa). Precamb. Res. 98 (1999) 11-30
31. Junner N. Geology of the Gold Coast and Wester Togoland. Geol. Surv. Bull. (1940) 13
32. Kappelmayer O., and Haenel R. Geothermics with Special Reference to Application (1974), Gebruder Borntraeger, Berlin/Stuttgart
33. Kesse G. The mineral and rocks resources of Ghana (1985), A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Boston p. 609
34. Kleinschrot D., Klemd R., Bröcker M., Okrusch M., and Schmidt K. The Nsuta manganese deposit, Ghana: geological setting, ore-forming process and metamorphic evolution. Z. Angew. Geol. 39 (1993) 48-50
35. Klemd R., Hirdes W., Olesch M., and Oberthür T. Fluid inclusions in quartz-pebbles of the gold-bearing Tarkwaian conglomerates of Ghana as guides to their provenance area. Miner. Depos. 28 (1993) 334-343
36. Klemd R., Hünken U., and Olesch M. Metamorphism of the country rocks hosting gold-sulfide-bearing quartz veins in the Paleoproterozoic southern Kibi-Winneba belt (SE-Ghana). J. Afr. Earth Sci 35 (2002) 199-211
37. Kukkonen I.T. Temperature and heat flow density in a thick cratonic lithosphere: the sveka transect, Central Fennoscandian shield. J. Geodyn. 26 (1998) 111-136
38. Kukkonen I.T., and Peltonen P. Xenolith-controlled geotherm for the central Fennoscandian Shield: implications for lithosphere-astenosphere relations. Tectonophysics 304 (1999) 301-315
39. Ledru P., Johan V., Milesi J.-P., and Tegyey M. Markers of the last stages of the Palaeoproterozoic collision: evidence fr a 2 Ga continent involving circum-South Atlantic provinces. Precamb. Res. 69 (1994) 169-191
40. Lenardic A., and Kaula W.M. Mantle dynamics and the heat flow into the Earth's continents. Nature 378 (2000) 709-711
41. Lenardic A., Guillou-Frottier L., Mareschal J.-C., Jaupart C., Moresi L.-N., and Kaula W.M. What the mantle sees: the effects of continents on mantle heat flow. In: Richards M., et al. (Ed). The History and Dynamics of Global Plate Motions, Geophysical Monograph, vol. 121 (2000), AGU 95-112
42. Leube A., and Hirdes W. The Birimian Supergroup of Ghana: Depositional Environment, Structural Development and Conceptual Model of an Early Proterozoic Suite (1986), Hannover, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation p. 259
43. Leube A., Hirdes W., Mauer R., and Kesse G.O. The early Proterozoic Birimian Supergroup of Ghana and some aspects of its associated gold mineralization. Precamb. Res. 46 (1990) 139-165
44. Lucazeau F., Lesquer A., and Vasseur G. Trends of heat flow density from West Africa. In: Cermak V., and Rybach L. (Eds). Terrestrial Heat Flow and the Lithosphere, (1991), Springer-Verlag, Berlin 417-425
45. Lucazeau F., Brigaud F., and Bouroullec J.-L. High-resolution heat-flow density in the lower Congo basin. Geochim. Geophys. Geosyst. 5 2 (2004) 115-134
46. Milesi J.-P., Feybesse J.L., Ledru P., Dommanget A., Ouedraogo M.F., Marcoux E., Prost A., Vinchon C., Sylvain J.P., Johan V., Tegyey M., Clavez J.Y., and Lagny Ph. Mineralisations aurifères de l'Afrique de l'ouest, leurs relations avec l'évolution litho-structurale au Paleoproterozoïque inférieur. Chron. Rech. Min. 497 (1989) 3-98
47. Milesi J.-P., Ledru P., Ankrah P., Johan V., Marcoux E., and Vinchon C. The metallogenic relationship between Birimian and tarkwaian gold deposits in Ghana. Miner. Depos. 26 (1991) 228-238
48. Milesi J.-P., Feybesse J.-L., Pinna P., Deschamps Y., Kampuzu H., Muhongo S., Lescuyer J.-L., Le Goff E., Delor C., Billa M., Ralay F., and Heinry C. Géologie et principaux gisements d'Afrique-carte et SIG à 1/10,000,000. Proceedings of the 20th Colloquim of African Geology. Orléans, France, June 2-7 (2004)
49. Nisbet E.G., and Fowler C.M.R. The thermal background to metamorphism-1, Simple one-dimensional conductive models. Geosci. Canada 9 3 (1982) 161-164
50. Nisbet E.G., and Fowler C.M.R. The thermal background to metamorphism. II. Simple two-dimensional conductive models. Geosci. Canada 9 4 (1982) 208-214
51. Oberthür T., Weiser T., Amanor J.A., and Chryssoulis S.L. Mineralogical siting and distribution of gold in quartz veins and sulfide ores of the Ashanti mine and other deposits in the Ashanti belt of Ghana: genetic implications. Miner. Depos. 32 (1997) 2-15
52. Oberthür T., Vetter U., Davis D.W., and Amanor J.A. Age constraints on the gold mineralization and Paleoproterozoic crustal evolution in the Ashanti belt of southern Ghana. Precamb. Res. 89 (1998) 129-143
53. Opare-Addo, E., John, B.E., Browing, P., 1993a. Field and geochronologic (U-Pb) constraints on the age and generation of granitoids and migmatites in southern Ghana, AGU Spring meeting, Baltimore, EOS Trans. Abst. Suppl., pp. 74, 16, 301.
54. Opare-Addo E., Browing P., and John B.E. Pressure-temperature constraints on the evolution of an early Proterozoic plutonic suite in southern Ghana, West Africa. J. Afr. Earth Sci. 17 (1993) 13-22
55. Pigois J.P., Groves D.I., Fletcher I.R., McNaughton N.J., and Snee L.W. Age constraints on Tarkwaian paleoplacer and lode-gold formation in the Tarkwa-Damang district, SW Ghana. Miner. Depos. 38 (2003) 695-714
56. Pirajno F. Ore Deposits and Mantle Plumes (2001), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht p. 576
57. Ranalli G. Rheology of the crust and its role in tectonic reactivation. J. Geodyn. 30 (2000) 3-15
58. Richter F.M. Models for the Archean thermal regime. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 73 (1985) 350-360
59. Rolandone F., Jaupart C., Mareschal J.-C., Gariépy C., Bienfait G., Carbonne C., and Lapointe R. Surface heat flow, crustal temperatures and mantle heat flow in the Proterozoic Trans-Hudson Orogen, Canadian shield. J. Geophys. Res. 107 B12 (2002) 2341
60. Russel J.K., and Kopylova M.G. A steady-state conductive geotherm for the north central Slave, Canada: inversion of petrological data from the Jericho kimberlite pipe. J. Geophys. Res. 104 (1999) 7089-7101
61. 2 content of fluid inclusions in gold mineralisations in the Ashanti belt, Ghana: a new category of ore forming fluids?. Miner. Depos. 32 (1997) 107-118
62. Seipold U. Temperature dependence of thermal transport properties of crystalline rocks-a general law. Tectonophysics 291 (1998) 161-171
63. Serban D.Z., Nielsen S.B., and Demetrescu C. Transsylvanian heat flow in presence of topography, paleoclimate, and groundwater flow. Tectonophysics 335 (2001) 331-344
64. Sillitoe R.H. A plate tectonic model for the origin of porphyry copper deposits. Econ. Geol. 67 (1972) 184-197
65. Smithies R.H., Champion D.C., and Cassidy K.F. Formation of the Earth's early Archean continental crust. Precamb. Res. 127 (2003) 89-101
66. Starin L., Yuen D.A., and Bergeron S.Y. Thermal evolution of sedimentary basin formation with variable thermal conductivity. Geophys. Res. Lett. 27 (2000) 265-268
67. Sylvester P.J., and Attoh K. Lithostratigraphy and composition of 2.1 Ga greenstone belts of the West African craton and their bearing on crustal evolution and the Archean-Proterozoic boundary. J. Geol. 100 (1992) 377-393
68. Taylor P.N., Moorbath S., Leube A., and Hirdes W. Early Proterozoic crustal evolution in the Birimian of Ghana: constraints from geochronology and isotope geochemistry. Precamb. Res. 56 (1992) 97-111
69. Trubitsyn V.P., Mooney W.D., and Abbott D.H. Cold cratonic roots and thermal blankets: how continents affect mantle convection. Int. Geol. Rev. 45 (2003) 479-496
70. Turcotte D., and Schubert G. Geodynamics: Applications of Continuum Physics to Geological Problems. 2nd ed. (2002), Cambridge Univ. Press, New York p. 456
71. Vosteen A., and Schellschmidt R. Influence of temperature on thermal conductivity, thermal capacity and thermal diffusivity for different types of rock. Phys. Chem. Earth 28 (2003) 299-509
72. Watson J.V. Precambrian thermal regimes. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A. 288 (1978) 431-440
73. Wyllie P.J. Crustal anatexis: an experimental review. In: Green D.H. (Ed). Experimental Petrology Related to Extreme Metamorphism 43 (1977), Tectonophysics 41-71
74. Yao Y., Murphy P.J., and Robb L.J. Fluid characteristics of granitoid-hosted gold deposits in the Birimian Terrane of Ghana: a fluid inclusion microthermometric and Raman spectroscopic study. Econ. Geol. 96 (2001) 1611-1643
75. Zoth G., and Hänel R. Appendix. In: Hänel L.R.R., and Stegena L. (Eds). Handbook of Terrestrial Heat Flow Density Determination. (1988), Kluwer, Dordrecht 449-468