Seismic imaging and potential field modelling to delineate structures hosting VHMS deposits in the Skellefte Ore District, northern Sweden

The Skellefte District in northern Sweden is a roughly 150 by 50 km(2) large early Proterozoic massive sulphide belt. Based on high-resolution reflection seismic data along two parallel seismic profiles, potential field modeling has been carried out and two geologic cross sections have been constructed that are consistent with the available geophysical data as well as surface geologic observations. The combined modelling suggests that the Kristineberg deposit occurs on the northern limb of a regional E-W striking syncline. The interpretations help to identify new prospective areas, both down-plunge from known ores, and on the ore-bearing horizon on the southern limb of the syncline. The new results suggest that the post-orogenic Revsund granites can be divided into two major types of intrusives, those which are intruded as domes/stokes with a maximum present day thickness of about 3-3.5 km and those which are intruded as thin sheets, with a maximum thickness of a few hundred meters. The margins of the intrusions are generally inclined inwards, suggesting that the current erosion level is near the middle, or toward the base, of the granites. The contact between the Skellefte volcanic rocks and the Bothnian Basin has been interpreted as a thrust fault. We also suggest that crustal thickening predates the Skellefte volcanisin and that the interpreted Bothnian Basin rocks are either a structural basement or a separate terrane to the Skellefte voleanism. Diffraction patterns in the reflection seismic data can be interpreted as originating from either a mafic-ultramafic intrusion or a mineralization zone, similar to observations elsewhere in the world. The results obtained in this study have greatly improved our understanding of the tectonostratigraphic framework and architecture of the poly-deformed c. 1.9 Ga Skellefte VHMS belt and is a key step towards building a 3D geological model in the area. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.