The Ritchie Creek Cu-Zn deposit, located in the Paleoproterozoic Penokean Volcanic Belt (PVB) of northern Wisconsin, is one of many volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits known in the region. Previous studies suggest that VMS mineralization is concentrated on the western edge of a felsic volcanic center, likely formed in a back-arc or intra-arc rift environment, with mineralization occurring within bimodal volcanic sequences. These interpretations were largely based on core descriptions and comparisons to other global VMS deposits. This study aims to improve the understanding of the tectonic and volcanic setting of the Ritchie Creek deposit by re-examining historical drill cores and stratigraphic units. Over 1,000 feet of historic drill core was logged, and 22 samples were collected for petrographic and geochemical analysis, focusing on trace element characterization to better constrain the volcanic and tectonic setting. Sulfide mineralization is hosted in three main units: a quartz mica schist with disseminated sulfides, a sericite- and chlorite-altered quartz mica schist, and an intermediate meta-felsite that transitions into a rhyolitic tuff with localized sulfides and quartz veins. This project provides insights into the volcanic and tectonic processes that shaped the Ritchie Creek deposit, enhancing the understanding of VMS mineralization within the Penokean Volcanic Belt.
