An aeromagnetic approach to revealing buried basement structures and their role in the Proterozoic evolution of the Wernecke Inlier, Yukon Territory, Canada

Gridded aeromagnetic data, 2D forward models and 3D potential field inversions are used in combination with surface geological and petrophysical data to reveal basement and supracrustal architecture of the Wernecke Inlier, northern Canada. Paleoproterozoic crystalline basement is modelled at ∼ 5–10 km depth, and is significantly offset by a major NW-trending normal fault. Basement fault development is interpreted to have occurred during lithospheric extension following accretion during the Wopmay Orogeny (2100–1840 Ma) utilising the existing structural architecture of the Richardson Fault Array. Forward models provided evidence for structural connectivity between basement faults and mapped normal faults within the Wernecke Supergroup. Basement faults appear to project to Wernecke Breccia occurrences, and may have been important fluid pathways during ca. 1590 Ma hydrothermal activity. Syn-breccia faulting also appears to have been important during Wernecke Breccia emplacement, accommodating and focusing brecciation and alteration.