A GIS PLATFORM FOR IMPROVED PLATE RECONSTRUCTIONS: THE WAY FORWARD FOR GLOBAL MINERAL EXPLORATION?

Recognition of large-scale spatial and temporal patterns is an integral step in the development of global mineral exploration strategies. In particular, the rapid assessment of the potential of an area to host world class deposits requires an understanding of global metallogeny and tectonics. For example, recent studies into the tectonic controls on orogenic gold deposits suggest that the lack of significant gold ores for 1800-600 Ma is related to a change in continental growth pattern whereby thin, long, easily erodable orogenic belts formed. The abundance of orogenic gold deposits in belts younger than 600 Ma is due to the fact that the deposits have not been removed by uplift and erosion. Studying the spatial and temporal associations of the deposits can be facilitated by use of improved deposit databases, particularly those that show the abundance of specific metal deposits through time. However, because the continents and the terranes, which contain these deposits have amalgamated and dispersed several times through geological history, the distribution of the deposits on the present configuration of continents does not reflect their original tectonic controls. In order to maximize the benefit of a global ore-deposit database, examination of metallogenic patterns on tectonic reconstructions for particular periods of time is useful. This analysis is possible using a GIS-based plate-tectonic software package. At present, no single, easily-used plate-tectonic package appropriate for evaluating plate-tectonic controls on the distribution of metal deposits exists. Numerous plate-tectonic computer packages offer a range of plate reconstructions functions, but with limited spatial and -temporal functionality. Similarly, numerous research facilities, universities, private companies and consultants offer a range of plate-tectonic expertise, but there is no standard way of collating this information. Selecting software and getting access to tectonic data are additional problems that are limiting plate-tectonic-based mineral exploration. In this presentation, we show applications of newly-developed plate-tectonic software with spatial and temporal functionality that can be applied to mineral deposit studies.