The "Wernecke Breccias" are enigmatic, but significant features of the Middle Proterozoic Wernecke Supergroup in the Wernecke and Ogilvie Mountains. This report describes the breccias near Quartet Mountain and the Igor prospect in the Wernecke Mountains. Widespread, pervasive metasomatism and greenschist facies metamorphism of both the breccias and wall rocks is demonstrated by the development of chlorite, calcite, dolomite, siderite, albite, hematite, sericite, biotite and quartz. Altered fragments are multicoloured and give the appearance that they are transported, and exotic, but all are locally derived. Structures in relatively unaltered breccias suggest that brecciation was accompanied by mylonitization and faulting. Repeated brecciation, metasomatism, and faulting characterize development of the breccias. Small gabbro and diabase dykes and sills are associated with the breccias. The breccias contain numersouss, small occurrences of copper, iron, barium, molybdenum, uranium, cobalt, gold, and silver. Crustal extension and detachment faulting, and large buried intrusions beneath the breccias are suggested as possible genetic mechanisms.
