Minor Element Concentrations in Sphalerite from Yukon Zinc-Lead Deposits

166 specimens from 48 carbonate-hosted zinc-lead deposits in Yukon and Northwest Territories were analyzed for concentrations of Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Hg. The Government of Yukon published this geochemical data to define the metallogeny of the remote Northern Cordillera region. Analyses indicate minor element variations are significant between deposits, allowing each deposit to be characterized by its sphalerite composition.

Use Cases

• Classify zinc-lead deposits based on minor element signatures in sphalerite mentioned in the description
• Model regional metallogenic events based on the association of element populations with Proterozoic and Cambrian host rocks
• Analyze geochemical distributions to distinguish between 'high' and 'low' minor element populations defined by probability graph analysis
• Investigate correlations between host rock age (Ordovician to Devonian) and sphalerite composition patterns

Strengths

• 166 analyzed specimens provide a substantial sample size for geochemical study
• 48 distinct deposits offer a basis for comparative analysis between sites
• Quantitative analysis reported for 9 elements (Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Hg) with 13 additional elements investigated qualitatively

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to open_canada, focusing solely on the Northern Cordillera

Provenance

Source

Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon

Collection Method

Chemical analysis of mineral specimens

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-17 15:56:47.937447; freshness should be verified

Geography

Yukon Territory and adjacent District of Mackenzie, Northwest Territories, Northern Cordillera