A Mississippian Bedded Barite Deposit, Bar Claim Group, South Central Yukon

Abstract

<p> The BAR CLAIM GROUP is located on the western margin of the Selwyn Basin geologic province in south central Yukon. The rock sequence is eugeosynclinal in nature, belonging to the Englishman's Group of the Mississippian. Chronologically, these rocks include massive limestone, white to red chert breccia, dark grey chert breccia, chert pebble conglomerate, lithic wacke, massive barite, grey green chert, and hornblende microdiorite. The elastic units in particular appear to be correlative with the units on the eastern margin of the Selwyn Basin. </p> <p> The barite is light grey, bedded, massive, and contains rare relic rosette structures. Associated minerals include pyrite, galena and minor sphalerite. Extensive recrystallisation and mobilization has occurred, probably as a result of regional compression and faulting. The barite may have had an exhalative origin along fault or extensional zones; however, sedimentogenic sources, such as the redistribution of pre-existing barite, cannot be precluded. </p>