Structural Evolution of the Central Kiruna Area, Northern Norrbotten, Sweden: Implications on the Geologic Setting Generating Iron Oxide-Apatite and Epigenetic Iron and Copper Sulfides

Abstract To guide future exploration, this predominantly field based study has investigated the structural evolution of central Kiruna area, type locality for iron oxide-apatite deposits that stands a significant amount European ore production. Using combination geologic mapping focusing on structures and stratigraphy, petrography with focus microstructures, X-ray computed tomography imaging sulfide-structure relationships, 2D-forward modeling, framework is provided including spatial-temporal relationships between emplacement, subeconomic Fe Cu sulfide mineralization, deformation. These are important to constrain as guidance exploration in oxide copper-gold prospective terrains may help understand genesis these deposit types. Results suggest were emplaced an intracontinental back-arc basin, they formed precrustal shortening under shallow crustal conditions. Subsequent east-west greenschist facies metamorphism inverted basin along steep moderately E-dipping structures, often subparallel bedding lithological contacts, reverse, oblique dip-slip, east-block-up sense shears. sulfides associated oxides hosted by during inversion spatially related but fundamentally different settings separated time. The was gently refolded later affected hydraulic fracturing, which represent last recorded deformation-hydrothermal events affecting architecture Kiruna.