Yuka Zhuang, BSc
Y. Zhuang1, O. Ak1, D. Gregory1
1Department of Earth Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
The Young-Davidson (YD) orogenic gold deposit, located at the western terminus of the Cadillac–Larder Lake Deformation Zone (CLLDZ) in the southwestern Abitibi greenstone belt, is hosted by syenite intrusions cut by multiple generations of quartz–carbonate veins associated with extensive potassic-hematite-pyrite alteration. Although previous studies have established the paragenetic framework and major alteration styles at Young-Davidson, fluid inclusion microthermometry has not been systematically integrated into a unified analytical framework. As a result, the distribution and preservation of fluid inclusion assemblages across vein generations and alteration zones remain poorly constrained.
This study uses petrographic analysis and fluid inclusion microthermometry of syenite-hosted quartz–carbonate veins to evaluate how vein generation and alteration style control the distribution and preservation of fluid inclusion assemblages. It further evaluates quick-plate thick sections as an exploration-targeting tool by comparison with traditionally prepared thick sections in terms of analytical efficiency, inclusion preservation, and interpretive reliability. Rapid screening is first applied to a broad suite of veins, and samples showing well-preserved inclusion assemblages are subsequently selected for detailed microthermometric analysis using doubly polished thick sections. Overall, this efficiency-focused workflow provides a framework for evaluating rapid fluid-inclusion screening as an exploration-scale vectoring tool.