Regional, lithological and temporal variation in the abundances of some trace elements in the Canadian Shield

Samples of rocks during reconnaissance geological mapping by Geological Survey of Canada field parties have been used to estimate the average abundance of some trace elements in the surface crystalline rocks of the Canadian Shield. The preferred values are as follows, in ppm: Ni, 19; Cu, 26; Zn, 60 ; Pb, 18; V, 59; Sc, 12 ; Y, 21; La, 71; Zr, 190 . Regional variations in trace element content of the rocks suggest that Pb is mobile under high grade regional metamorphism but that Ni , Co, Cu, Zn, V, and Scare relatively immobile and tend to be concentrated in rocks of granulite facies. Ni is more abundant and Pb and Zn less abundant in Archean rocks than in Proterozoic rocks. Rocks of some of the sample areas show higher than average contents of some trace elements, for example, rocks of Fort Enterprise area are high in Ni and Cu and rocks of Battle Harbour - Cartwright are high in Zn.

Publisher

Natural Resources Canada

Resources

1

Catalogue metadata updated

2021-01-11