Geophysical architecture of the Neoarchean Mentor anorthosite intrusive complex, northwestern Minnesota

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Abstract

The ca. 2737 Ma (Souders, 2023) Mentor anorthosite intrusive complex (MAIC) lies near the northern margin of the Wawa subprovince of the Archean Superior Province, in an area of northwestern Minnesota where the Wawa, Quetico, and Wabigoon subprovinces are juxtaposed in close proximity (Fig. 1). The rocks of interest are entirely concealed by 10s to >100 m of unconsolidated Quaternary sediments and localized Cretaceous strata and saprolite. The MAIC comprises a large volume of megacrystic anorthosite, with a lesser volume of oxide-rich gabbros. The gabbros are known, from a single borehole intersection at ~70 m depth, to be enriched in vanadium (see http://minarchive.dnr.state.mn.us), and have further potential for chromium and titanium mineralization. New interpretations are based on data from an Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (MRI)-sponsored aeromagnetic survey flown in 2021 and pre-existing ground gravity data, constrained by approximately ten boreholes in the area.

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Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Geophysical architecture of the Neoarchean Mentor anorthosite intrusive complex, northwestern Minnesota
Year Published 2023
Language English
Publisher Institute on Lake Superior Geology
Contributing office(s) Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Description 2 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title Institute on Lake Superior Geology proceedings, 69th annual meeting, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, part 1 - Abstracts and proceedings
First page 29
Last page 30
Country United States
State Minnesota
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