ISOTOPIC AND GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ARCHEAN IRON FORMATIONS AND ASSOCIATED VOLCANIC ROCKS - SOME PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM THE TEMAGAMI AND BOSTON IRON FORMATIONS.

Iron formations from the Sherman Mine, Temagami, and the Adams Mine, Boston Township, Canada were subjected to isotopic, trace element, mineralogical, and petrographic study. The immediate objective of the research is to characterize the isotopic and heavy metal distribution properties of the iron formations and associated volcanic rocks. The results suggest that biogenic sulfur is a major component of iron formation pyrite and that such pyrite carries most of the gold, arsenic, and antimony. The thermal and metamorphic history of iron formations appears to have a significant bearing on the metal content of these deposits.