Rr Large

Gold metallogeny and the copper-gold association of the Australian Proterozoic

Australian Proterozoic gold-producing deposits, emplaced mainly at 1.55–2.00 Ga, are divided into the following categories: (1) iron oxide-dominated, brecciahosted, Cu-U±Au replacement deposits spatially associated with felsic intrusions (273t Au); (2) stratabound Au±Cu-bearing iron formations (152.4t Au); (3) unconformity-style U ±Cu/PGM/Au deposits (53t Au); (4) Iron oxide-dominated Au±Cu mineralisation hosted within elements of ductile deformation (146.7t Au); (5) Broken Hill and volcanic-hosted massive sulphides (150t Au); (6) iron-sulphide-dominated veins and replacement zones spatially related to felsic intrusions (150.7t Au), and (7) iron-sulphide-dominated veins and replacement zones spatially related to elements of regional deformation (159.9t Au). Categories (1) to (4) are mainly confined to Proterozoic rocks, constituting an association in which Au and Cu are commonly present together, with variable amounts of U, Bi, Co, W, Se, Te and REE. Most examples in categories 1–4 fall into either of two groups: Cu-Aumagnetite ±hematite types formed at relatively high temperature (300–450 °C), and Cu-U±Au-hematite types formed at 150–300 °C. We postulate that these ores formed from a common high salinity (15–35 wt. % NaCl equiv.), low total sulphur (aΣS = 10−3 to 10−2), high fO2 fluid-type, in which metal transport was dominated by chloride-complexing. The most effective method of metal deposition was fluid mixing, achieving a synchronous decrease in fO2 and temperature. This unusual oxidised fluid association was favoured in high heat-flow extensional settings containing oxidised and/or oxidised-evaporitic sedimentary sequences. The intrusion of oxidised fractionated granites, which are commonly temporally associated with metal emplacement, acted in some places to heat and focus basinal fluids, and in others was the ultimate source of metals.

Microthermometry and geochemistry of fluid inclusions from the Tennant Creek gold-copper deposits: implications for ore deposition and exploration

Gold-copper-bismuth mineralization in the Tennant Creek goldfield of the Northern Territory occurs in pipe-like, ellipsoidal, or lensoidal lodes of magnetite ± hematite ironstones which are hosted in turbiditic sedimentary rocks of Proterozoic age. Fluid inclusion studies have revealed four major inclusion types in quartz associated with mineralized and barren ironstones at Ten nant Creek; (1) liquid-vapour inclusions with low liquid/vapour ratios (Type I), (2) liquid-vapour inclusions with high liquid/vapour ratios or high vapour/liquid ratios and characteristic dark bubbles (Type II), (3) liquid-vapour-halite inclusions (Type III), and (4) liquid-vapour inclusions with variable liquid/vapour ratios (Type V). Type I inclusions are present in the barren ironstones and the unmineralized portions of fertile ironstones, whereas Types II and III inclusions are recognized in fertile ironstones. Trails of Types II and III inclusions cut trails of Type I inclusions. Type I fluid inclusions have homogenization temperatures of 100° to 350 °C with a mode at 200° to 250 °C. Type II inclusions in mineralized ironstones (e.g. Juno, White Devil, Eldorado, TC8 and Gecko K-44 deposits) have homogenization temperatures of 250 °C to 600 °C with a mode of 350 °C. Type I fluid inclusions have a salinity range of 10 to 30 NaCl equiv. wt %. Salinity measurements on fluid inclusions in the mineralized zones gave a range of 10 to 50 NaCl equiv. wt % with a mode of 35 NaCl equiv. wt %. Fluid inclusion studies indicate that the Tennant Creek ironstones were formed from a relatively low temperature and moderately saline fluid, where as gold and copper mineralization was deposited from later hydrothermal fluids of higher temperature and salin ity. Gas analysis indicates the presence of N2 and CO2, with very minor CH4 in Types II inclusions but no N2 or CH4 gases in Type I inclusions. Microprobe analysis of the fluid inclusion decrepitates indicates that the inclusions from Tennant Creek contain sodium and calcium as dominant cations and potassium in a subordinate amount. The high temperatures (≥ 350 °C), high salinities (≥ 35 NaCl equiv. wt. %) and cation composition of the Tennant Creek ore fluids suggest that the ore fluids were derived from upward migrating heated basinal brines, although contribution from a magmatic source cannot be ruled out. Close association of vapour-rich Type IIb and salt-rich Type III inclusions in the mineralized ironstones (e.g. Juno, White Devil, Eldorado, TC8 and Gecko K-44) indicates heterogeneous trapping of ore fluids. This heterogeneous trapping is interpreted to be due to unmixing (exsolution) of a gas-rich (e.g. N2) fluid during the upward migration of the metal bearing brines and/or due to degassing caused by reaction of oxidized ore fluids and host ironstones. Fluid inclusion data have important implications regarding the deposition of gold in the ironstones, and may have application in discriminating fertile from barren ironstones.

Geochemistry, geochronology, and tectonic setting of early Permian (~290 Ma) volcanic-hosted massive sulphide deposits of the Tasik Chini district, Peninsular Malaysia

ABSTRACT The age and nature of Permian volcanism and sulphide mineralization in Malaysia are poorly understood. The Tasik Chini district is located in the Central Belt of Peninsular Malaysia and hosts the Bukit Botol and Bukit Ketaya volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) deposits. These deposits are hosted by felsic-dominated Permian felsic volcanics that are part of a mixed volcano-sedimentary rock succession. Four mineralization zones were identified in both deposits: (1) stringer sulphide/zone; (2) massive sulphide zone; (3) barite zone; and (4) Fe-Mn and Fe-Si zones. The stringer and massive sulphides generally define the lower mineralized zones, whereas the barite, Fe-Mn, and Fe-Si layers define the stratigraphically upper mineralized zones. The main sulphide phases are pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, rare galena, and trace Sn-, Au-, and Ag-bearing minerals, with the latter two confined to the massive sulphide and barite zones. Trace and rare earth element data for the host rhyodacite-rhyolite at both deposits are consistent with formation in a volcanic arc palaeotectonic setting. In comparison, the trace element data for Triassic volcanic and intrusive rocks from the Tasik Chini area have moderate to low high field strength element (HFSE) concentrations along with transitional (Zr/Y = 4–7) to tholeiitic (Zr/Y = 2–4) affinities, but have similar magmatic arc signatures. Laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb zircon dating of rhyolites from the Bukit Botol deposit yields early Permian (286 ± 4 to 292 ± 3 Ma) ages. Similarly, the zircon U–Pb age results for Bukit Ketaya rhyolites reveal early Permian (286 ± 2 to 288 ± 4 Ma) ages. The differences in geochemical and geochronological results between the early Permian host and the later Triassic volcanic and intrusive rocks are likely due to tectonic progression from a volcanic arc environment to a collisional setting.