Mauritania hosts one significant copper-gold deposit, Guelb Moghrein and several occurrences, which have been categorized as iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposits but which are atypical in some important respects. Nonetheless, Guelb Moghrein is an economically significant mineral deposit and an attractive exploration target. The deposit is of Archean age and is hosted by a distinctive metacarbonate rock which is part of a greenstone-banded iron formation (BIF) package within a thrust stack in the northern part of the Mauritanide Belt. The surrounding area hosts a number of similar copper-gold occurrences. Based on the characteristics of the Guelb Moghrein deposit and its geologic environment, five tracts which are considered permissive for IOCG type mineralization similar to Guelb Moghrein have been delineated.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Title | Iron oxide copper-gold deposits in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (phase V, deliverable 79) |
| DOI | 10.3133/ofr20131280M |
| Authors | Gregory Fernette |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Series Title | Open-File Report |
| Series Number | 2013-1280 |
| Index ID | ofr20131280M |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Central Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center |