Government of New Brunswick

Clarence Stream Area

his virtual field trip examines the geological setting of granite-related gold mineralization in the Clarence Stream area of southwestern New Brunswick. Two major mineralized zones have been identified at the Clarence Stream deposit: the Main Zone and the Anomaly A Zone.

Mineralization features of the Main Zone and Anomaly A Zone show similarities to proximal and distal deposits of granite-related gold systems, respectively. Recognition of such gold systems in southwestern New Brunswick has significant implications for future mineral exploration in the Northern Appalachian Orogen.

The Clarence Stream Area (CSA) virtual field trip contains the following:

  • Maps showing the surface distribution of the groups and formations that comprise  the CSA
  • Schematic stratigraphic columns of the rock groups
  • Digital photo’s of the rock units* from type-sections and other significant exposures
  • Links to the New Brunswick Stratigraphic Lexicon and to digital Fieldtrip Guidebooks (see links to PDF files on the right);
  • A listing of Fieldtrip Stops that pertain to corresponding rock formations/units.

All graphic- and photo-images may be downloaded and used freely. Questions regarding this virtual field trip or the Clarence Stream Area should be directed to [email protected].

CSA_Regional_geology-e

Regional geology of southern New Brunswick

 

Map

Location and Tectonic setting of Clarence Stream Area  
           

Location and Tectonic setting of Clarence Stream Area

        

 

Interactive Stratigraphy

Rock Units

Felsic Intrusions
Mafic Intrusions
Kingsclear
Mascarene
Cookson
Tectonostratigraphy
CSA_Tectonostratigraphy-e
Group Distribution
CSA_Group_Distribution-e
 

Gold Deposit

CSG_Gold_Deposit_map-e

The Clarence Stream gold deposit is situated proximal to a major tectonostratigraphic boundary represented at the surface by the syn- to post-depositional Sawyer Brook Fault that separates the Ordovician St. Croix Terrane of the Gander Zone to the northwest from the peri-Gondwanan New River Terrane of the Avalon Zone to the southeast. The Clarence Stream deposit consists of two prominent mineralized zones that have contrasting styles of mineralization. Mineralization at the Main Zone is localized along a splay of the Sawyer Brook Fault that borders the northern contact of the Early Devonian Magaguadavic granite.

CSG_Deposit_East-e

The Main Zoneencompasses several mineralized subzones, referred to as the Cox, West, N, Central, and East subzones. Gold occurs in a parallel series of northeast-trending, steeply dipping quartz veins hosted by sedimentary rocks of the Silurian Waweig Formation and gabbroic dykes of the East Branch Brook Gabbro.

CSG_Deposit_West-e

The Anomaly A Zone is situated north of the Sawyer Brook Fault in an area underlain by polydeformed quartzose sedimentary rocks of the Ordovician Kendall Mountain Formation. These rocks host gold mineralization in quartz stockworks and veinlets that are localized within a shallowly dipping, folded thrust. Geophysical data suggest that a large granitic mass underlies the Anomaly A area at relatively shallow depths.