Geophysical reassessment of the role of ancient lineaments on the development of the western Laurentian margin and its sediment-hosted Zn–Pb deposits, Yukon and Northwest Territories, Canada

A new three-dimensional (3D) inversion strategy is applied to compilations of gravity and magnetic data reassess the role crustal lineaments in development western Laurentian margin, Selwyn Basin, associated sediment-hosted zinc–lead (Zn–Pb) deposits. The region’s history obscured by multiple tectonic overprints, including terrane accretion, plutonism, thrust faulting. Regionally continuous, broadly northeast-trending lineaments, Liard line, Fort Norman structure, Leith Ridge fault, were interpreted as having had long-standing influence on craton, sedimentary basin development. An east–northeast-trending lineament, Mackenzie River, traced from Misty Creek Embayment Great Bear Lake, southern edge a cratonic promontory. location with transfer fault that bounds Macdonald Platform promontory, refined. New geophysical results support continuity structure below but limited evidence exists for this area. northwest-trending lineament craton manifestation lithospheric thinning echoed change depth lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary. delimits eastern extent mid- Late Cretaceous granitic intrusions straddled Mississippi Valley-type Zn–Pb occurrences, following their palinspastic restoration. Clastic-dominated occurrences are aligned along another be shallowing lower rocks.