Volcanogenic massive sulfide sample from the Precambrian of Ontario, Canada. (~5.8 centimeters across along the base)
Volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits (= "VMS" deposits) have rocks rich in sulfide minerals that originally accumulated as seafloor sediments in the vicinity of black smoker chimneys (e.g.,
www.flickr.com/photos/oceannetworkscanada/50320787356 ). This example consists of sphalerite (ZnS - zinc sulfide), galena (PbS - lead sulfide), and pyrite (FeS2 - iron sulfide).
Stratigraphy: Kidd Creek VMS Deposit, Kidd-Munro Assemblage, Abitibi Greenstone Belt, lower Neoarchean, 2.711-2.717 Ga
Locality: Kidd Creek Mine, ~24 kilometers north of the town of Timmins, eastern Ontario, southeastern Canada (48° 41' 26.88" North latitude, 81° 21' 57.38" West longitude)
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Info. at:
Barrie et al. (1999) - The giant Kidd Creek volcanic-associated massive sulfide deposit, Abitibi Subprovince, Canada. Economic Geology Monograph 10: 247-259.
