Diamondiferous mass-flow and traction current deposits in a Neoarchean Fan Delta, Wawa area, Superior Province

Abstract

Diamond bearing Neoarchean metaconglomerates are present in the Michipicoten greenstone belt, Wawa-Abitibi subprovince near Wawa, Ontario. They form a portion of the Dore Metasedimentary rocks in the Arliss Lake subbasin, and unconformably overlie a succession of mafic metabasalts. The conglomerates are transitional into argillite which in turn is conformably overlain by metabasalts. The conglomeratic succession has a maximum thickness of 454 meters and confined to what appears to be a deformed paleovalley at the base of the sedimentary succession.