The New England Orogen, the most eastern part of the continent is a fertile section of NSW and QLD for a variety of mineral deposits, varying from base and precious metals to building stones and industrial minerals. Significant advances in the understanding of the Orogen have been made in recent times and the Field Conference aims to present an in situ review of the knowledge.

Sites are drawn from a variety of industrial minerals, base and precious metals deposits and building stones deposits. In addition, selected geological outcrops, granites, breccias and fossil locations will be visited.

The Field Conference will be preceded by a full day seminar in Brisbane on the New England Orogen highlighting advances in the knowledge of the geology, tectonics and economic geology of the area (see separate flyer).

The Queensland Branches of the

Australian Institute of Geoscientists

a n d

Geological Society of Australia

NEW ENGLAND FIELD CONFERENCE

Important notes - participants are required to provide their own high vis vests, hard hats, safety glasses and boots. - prices include accommodation and meals (except Sunday evening meal)

When: Bus transport leaves from outside the Brisbane Transit Centre, 8am Saturday 6

th June 2015 and returns approx 6pm Monday 8

th June 2015

Doug Young Ph: 0417 197 144 email: d.young@findex.net.au Web: www.aig.org.au

Rod Carlson Ph: +61 7 3230 9000 email: rcarlson@amcconsultants.com Web: www.aig.org.au

AIG QLD Branch Contacts:

Day One – red, Day Two – Green, Day Three - Blue

Day One – Saturday 6th June 2015

From To Km Mins Trip MGAE MGAN Notes

6.1 8.00 9.30 114 90 Brisbane to Mt Sylvia (Meet at Brisbane Transit Centre 8am sharp), turn off via Gatton (toilets in Gatton centre), via Tent Hill, Mt Sylvia Rd

Sunstate Coaches

6.2 9.30 9.40 7 10 Mt Sylvia to Mt Sylvia Mine, (via Mt Sylvia Road, mine is off Chalk Mines Road), meet at Junction View (pull off/recycling station)

420637 6928081

6.3 9.40 10.40 60 Mt Sylvia Mine - diatomaceous earth, aggregate and palagonite operation 418518 6928560 1

6.4 10.40 11.15 44 35 Mt Sylvia Mine to Heifer Creek (Thiess Cutting and Memorial), toilets, return via Mt Sylvia, Tent Hill, Ma Ma Creek

6.5 11.15 11.30 15 Heifer Creek (Thiess Cutting and Memorial), toilets, Main Range Volcs (Olig) on Marburg Fm (Jura)

412871 410267

6933308 6930300

2

6.6 11.30 12.30 61 60 Heifer Creek to Warwick, via Gatton-Clifton Road and New England Hwy

6.7 12.30 14.00 90 Warwick, Leslie Park (toilets), visit Court House, Uniting Church, Town Hall, Post Office, Warwick sandstone usage Lunch

405011 404961 404847 405098 405079

6878839 6878710 6878706 6878597 6878458

3

6.8 14.00 14.10 9 10 Warwick to Kingsley Rd Fossil Site (drive past St Mary's Cathedral Warwick)

6.9 14.10 14.25 15 Kingsley Rd Fossil site - fossilised wood 403434 6872916 4

6.10 14.25 14.50 33 25 Kingsley Rd to Crystal Mountain, via New England Hwy and Crystal Mtn Rd

6.11 14.50 15.50 60 Crystal Mountain Breccia Pipes 387301 6852474 5

6.12 15.50 16.20 35 30 Crystal Mountain to Ruby Creek Granite, return via Crystal Mtn Rd and New England Hwy and Ridge Road and Old Warwick Road

6.13 16.20 16.35 15 Ruby Creek Granite, sulphides occurrence 398904 6836424 6

6.14 16.35 16.45 9 10 Ruby Creek to Stanthorpe via New England Highway

6.15 16.45 17.00 15 Stanthorpe Granite (Quart Pot Creek and New England Highway) 395762 6829233 7

6.16 17.00 17.30 Overnight Stanthorpe – Granite Court Motel 395275 6828670 (07) 4681 1811

6.17 17.30 21.30 Ravenscroft Winery - BBQ dinner, wine tasting, off Texas Road, via Elks Lane (12m from Stanthorpe, 3km along Elks Lane)

385355 6831752 8

Note 1

Encouraging palagonite trial results

Agriculture, hp / Anthony Bauer of Bauer’s Organic Farms (right), shows Guy Lewington of Mt Sylvia Diatomite, the impact palagonite is having on his new ginger crop in the Lockyer Valley. A trial strip of two rows was spread with compost that included palagonite. DIRECTORS at Mt Sylvia Diatomite are enthused from the encouraging results of a recent palagonite trial in a

ginger plot at Bauer’s Organic Farms, the largest organic farm in Queensland. All of the directors have a tertiary background in science, which fuels their desire to establish the value and utility

of diatomite using evidence-based research. They recognize that in this era of water shortage and increasing

awareness of chemical pollution in industry and agriculture, diatomaceous earth offers unique, environmentally

sustainable solutions to a diverse range of problems. The three directors, Martin I’Ons, a full time geological consultant and part-time grazier; Guy Lewington,

qualified geologist, metal explorer and organic farmer; and Dr Ian Neering, Assoc. Prof of Pharmacology; say

their variety of diatomaceous earth products have a wide range of applications in agriculture, road construction

and many industrial uses. Their company, Mt Sylvia Diatomite Pty Ltd, evolved with the purchase of the diatomaceous earth mine nine

years ago at Junction View, 40 kilometres south of Gatton and focuses on the development of its diatomite

products and the education of current and future clients in the uses of these products. Guy and Ian, the hands-on managers at Mt Sylvia Diatomite P/L, say the company sells a variety of the highest

quality diatomaceous earth products available in Australia that are all Australia Organic Registered Farm inputs

(allowed inputs 10575). The company also operates a 300,000 tonnes per annum basalt quarry at the site that

supplies the Lockyer Valley in South East Queensland with a range of Main Roads Certified road base, aggregate

and coarse rock products. Guy Lewington says the diatomaceous earth deposit was laid down in a fresh water lake some 20 million years

ago during a lull in a period of extensive basaltic volcanic activity. “Mt Sylvia diatomaceous earth is a high quality

product due to the low concentrations of natural impurities,” he said. “Samples analysed regularly exceed 90 per

cent SiO2. “Diatomaceous earth is composed of the siliceous skeletons of diatoms (plankton) and is amorphous (not

crystalline) in nature. Unlike other diatomaceous earth deposits that have higher iron content and/or kaolin

contents the near pure Mt Sylvia diatomaceous earth is transformed into a number of higher quality screened

products for a large variety of applications.” The basalt quarry component of the operation now produces a product that is new to the Australian agricultural

market called palagonite. Dr Ian Neering says the company now produces this basalt derived rock mineral dust that is a superior soil

amendment when compared to other quarry sourced rock mineral dusts on the market. He said the Biodynamic Association of Australia (BAA) has recently declared palagonite their rock mineral dust of

choice, replacing a product known as Minplus. Palagonite is largely derived from devitrified basaltic volcanic glass that formed when the basalt lava above the

diatomacious horizon flowed into the fresh water lake. Over time this volcanic glass has devitrified to form this

new largely soft yellow/brown amorphous material “Two diatomaceous products in particular are sold into the rural sector, namely, molodri which is a powder

composed of molasses and fine DE, and absorbacide, our super- fine 10 micron DE product. “Molodri was originally sold to improve the taste of old fodder or to blend into livestock feed preparations. More

recently it has been sought after for its use in internal parasite control. “One sheep farmer in New England, Charlie McCowen, has had continued success over seven years in reducing

the impact of Barbers Pole worm in his flock. Reduced drenching programmes and healthier animals have

resulted. Other farmers have had similar positive results with their goats and chickens.” “Absorbacide is our most valued product,” said Guy. “This very fine diatomaceous earth powder has the ability to

control weevils, caterpillars, mites and other insects through the action of cutting and abrading the insect’s

exoskeleton or cuticle. It then absorbs the internal oils and waxes, killing the insect. “It is registered with the AVPMA for the control of weevils in edible grain that is commonly stored in silos and the

Queensland DPI also found it effective in controlling small hive beetle that attacks bee hives. “Recent trials involving the blending of absorbacide with the Gemstar NPV virus proved very effective in

improving the mortality rate of Helicoverpa caterpillar in sweet corn, broccoli and lettuce crops. In this case the

absorbacide retained the moisture within the diatom skeletons which kept the virus alive for longer period,

resulting in much improved caterpillar mortality. “After the diatomaceous earth has dried, the microscopic sharp points of the broken diatoms create an

environment that is very uncomfortable for all insects (including caterpillars). “They are unable to develop a resistance to absorbacide, unlike chemical insecticides that gradually become

ineffective. The silica in absorbacide has an amorphous structure and is completely safe for human health.” Dr Ian Neering, previously Assoc. Prof of Pharmacology at NSW University, said the Kiln dried diatomaceous

earth is a powerful absorbent, and can retain 150 per cent of its own weight in water (one kilo of diatomaceous

earth can retain 1.5 litres of water). Consequently, he said, it has multiple applications in addition to those

described above.

Popular absorbent uses are as pet litters (it was the original Kitty Litter), for the control of oil and fuel spills in

fuel supply and vehicle maintenance garages and similarly by fire brigades and emergency services. It is used as a moisture retaining ingredient in nursery products and farmers also use diatomaceous earth as a

silica spray when a silica deficiency is recognised in their soil, such as in the sugar industry. Other users of diatomaceous earth include the hydroponic and bonsai growers and it is used as a flux ingredient

in the steel industry. Guy and Ian say the quarry and palagonite businesses are growing strongly and following the floods in the

Lockyer Valley over the last three years the quarry products had been much sought after for the repair of roads

and creek crossings. “The farming community and backyard gardeners are also becoming more aware of the availability and value of

palagonite, particularly since Minplus is no longer produced,” said Guy Lewington, a former gold and base metal

explorer, and organic macadamia, avocado and banana farmer, “there are currently no other high quality mineral

dusts available for soil reconditioning. “As outlined above, palagonite is derived from devitrified basaltic volcanic glass. Although there are extensive

basalt lava flows in eastern Australia and many quarries exploit these rocks, there are very few occurrences where

these lavas flowed into freshwater lakes,” said Guy. “This makes the Mt Sylvia quarry unique. Our palagonite constitutes approximately 20 per cent of the basalt

above the diatomaceous earth horizon and has the same bulk composition as basalt. It has a wide spectrum of

major and trace elements, but in a more plant available structure. ”The cation exchange level (35 meq/100g) of palagonite (a measure of the fertility of the product) is moderate to

high (quarry crusher dusts are normally in the range of 5-10 meq/100g), largely due to the presence of a low

expansion smectite clay in palagonite. “When it is wet it still drains well and does not become sticky, thereby promoting aeration to the root zone when

added to heavy clay soils. Mixing palagonite with compost on a one-to-one weight ratio produces a balanced

blend of macro and trace elements along with beneficial soil fungi and bacteria.” Ian said: “For those growers looking for a paramagnetic component the recorded levels in palagonite have ranged

from 600 to 1300 c/g/s. “While the significance of high paramagnetism values remains controversial, there are many successful farmers

who promote the benefits of this feature in their soil. An increased paramagnetic level is believed to result in

better water retention, (palagonite has a water holding capacity of >60%). Higher levels of paramagnetism may

lead to higher microbial activity.” In a recent trial undertaken by Anthony Bauer, of Bauer’s Organic Farms, the largest organic vegetable grower in

Queensland, palagonite was blended on a one-to-one by weight ratio with composted chicken manure and turned

into the soil at 12 tonnes /Ha. The trial was on both carrots and potatoes. Anthony was pleasantly surprised at the results achieved. Apart from significant improvement in yield he was

most taken with the obvious improvement in taste as well as increased shelf life and uniformity of product. While

this can be said to be somewhat anecdotal, and more concrete evidence is required through scientific study, the

comments by Anthony are never-the-less very significant. Mt Sylvia Diatomite P/L has also initiated research to investigate the applicability of combining palagonite with

ag-lime in the treatment of acidic soils. Each tonne of ag-lime produces 400kg of CO2 when neutralised and most

of the calcium is lost through leaching. This is not an efficient outcome. Including palagonite – which has a pH

of 8 – in this process could result in longer lasting improvements in soil chemistry, microbiological activity and

nutrient retention. Mt Sylvia Diatomite P/L sells minus 5mm screened palagonite to farmers in bulk from the quarry stockpile. They

also sell a minus 2.5mm palagonite either in one tonne bulk bags or in 20kg bags under the name “Soil Support”.

“At MSD we believe we have exceptional products that will become increasingly important for the current

generation of environmentally conscious farmers and back yard gardeners,” stated Guy Lewington. “Absorbacide on its own and in combination with products such as Gemstar NPV virus provides a non-chemical

insecticide, producing a high degree of safety and high efficacy. “Palagonite on its own improves many soil characteristics and importantly offers an alternative to NPK fertilisers

when blended with the appropriate composts. “Palagonite is potentially a product for our times and we believe that it could be part of a solution to the

contamination/pollution issues currently affecting many of the country’s water ways and coastal environments

including the Great Barrier Reef. “Leeching of excess nitrogen and phosphorous into our waterways is an increasing environmental issue in

Australia and also represents a waste of natural resources, particularly with respect to phosphorous.”

Guy Lewington of Mt Sylvia Diatomite, left, congratulates Anthony Bauer of Bauer’s Organic Farms.

Note 2

Thiess Brothers Memorial

A memorial commemorates the contribution of the Theiss Brothers (Bert and Leslie) to Australian earthmoving.

Heifer Creek is reputed to have been the turning point where the Thiess brothers changed from a small group of contractors doing mainly rural work such as farm dams and rural roads for local councils, to a group dedicated to infrastructure projects of all sizes. The Heifer Creek cut is 35metres deep and was claimed to be the deepest cutting in Australia in 1939. Originally designed to be a tunnel through sand stone, the brothers argued that a cut would be much more economical and convinced the powers that be by submitting price of £4000 less than the tunnel price.

This won the day. At this time, Bert and Leslie Thiess joined in the formation of Thiess Bros which had just bought its first and biggest bulldozer, a brand new Cat D8 known as Gertie.

15-July-2014

Photographs supplied by Russell Byers

Note 3

Extracts from Trezise, D.L. 1990 Building Stones, Department of Resource Industries, ISSN 1035 – 171X

Note 4

Kingsley Road Fossil Wood

The Jurassic sandstones around Warwick have been identified as ‘Gatton Sandstone’ part of the Marburg subgroup (Donchak et.al. 2007). Gatton Sandstone:

The Marburg Subgroup has been subdivided into the Gatton Sandstone and the Koreelah Conglomerate Member in the northeast part of the study, where they crop out adjacent to the exposed granites and meta-sediments. The Gatton Sandstone consists of thick-bedded, medium and coarse-grained, quartz-lithic and feldspathic sandstone, commonly with calcareous cement. The unit characteristically displayed large-scale trough and planar cross bedding, and carbonized wood fragments and pebble beds are common in places.

Provenance and Environment of Deposition:

The Gatton Sandstone is derived from erosion of the uplifted Palaeozoic basement rocks of the Woolomin Province and well as Permian-Triassic granitic rocks of the New England batholith situated to the west of the Clarence Moreton Basin. Overall transport direction in the basin is to the north. The Gatton Sandstone was deposited in a fluviatile environment characterized by

low sinuosity braided streams. The Koreelah Conglomerate Member represents valley-fill material, including gravelly channel deposits, fine-grained flood plain deposits, colluvium and debris-flow deposits (O’Brien & Wells, 1994) in Donchak, et al. 2007.

Relationships:

The unit unconformably overlies the Palaeozoic rocks of the Texas Beds, Silverwood Group and the Permian-Triassic granitoids of the New England Batholith. The unit is conformably overlain by the Koukandowie Formation elsewhere in the basin.

Age: No palyonlogical studies have been done in the area but the unit is considered to be Early Jurassic in age.

The Gatton Sandstone is probably broadly equivalent to the to the lower part of the Evergreen Formation in the Surat Basin (Donchak, et al. 2007)

Locally: The Jurassic sandstones form an arc from Warwick to Inglewood under which the sediments and granitoids of the New England Fold Belt plunge. The sandstone mapped in the local area consists of cross-bedded horizons with laminated sandstones and thin silt bands. They are the repository of large amount of limonitised and partly silicified fossil wood, which is often ellipsoidal in form, displaying evidence of compaction.

Such fossil wood is confined to interbed positions and often occupies the base of large cross-sets interpreted as riverbed scours. The sands are often quite arkosic and kaolinitic.

The fossil wood is interpreted as logs collected in the bottoms of channels and scours.

At Glennie Heights (northern part of Warwick) a thick sandstone unit forms bluffs with a northeasterly dip slope. The unit consists of cross-bedded sandstones and is relatively quartz rich.

Around Warwick, current directions determined from cross bedding show a predominant trend towards the NW, i.e. towards the Surat Basin (Butler, 1974).

Note 5

Crystal Mountain

Note 6

Ruby Creek Granite:

(Rgru): Pale pink to reddish pink, white, buff, brown or pale medium grey, fine to medium grained, even-grained to porphyritic, miarolitic biotite leucogranite; low to moderate magnetic response (Donchak, et al. 2007)

Minimum Age: Anisian; 238.1 Ma - Early Triassic Maximum Age: Anisian; 244.5±1.6 Ma - Early Triassic

Age Method: isotopic, U/Pb-Pb/Pb ion probe

Ruby Creek Granite:

The unit forms a relatively large, elongate, irregular, north-west-trending pluton, which extends from Eukey-Wilson Downfall area (in south-east) to Mt Magnus area (North-West). The roof of the pluton is irregularly exposed northwest of Stanthorpe, in the Applethorpe-Bullecourt area (also see Denaro & Burrows, 1992-in Donchak et.al. 2007). A much smaller belt of scattered stocks extends from east to southeast of Wallangarra to the Sundown area. Elsewhere, a texturally diverse range of leucogranites forming dykes, pods, and several small stocks has been assigned to the Ruby Creek Granite. The unit is cut by a set of prominent NNE trending vertical joints. The main intrusion forms undulating low hilly country, with numerous boulders, tors and extensive pavements e.g. east of Stanthorpe. As well as gently undulating to flat country with extensive soil development and sparse outcrop for example in the Applethorpe area.

It is characterised by mainly white tones on ‘standard’ ternary Radiometric images but is distinguished from the enclosing Stanthorpe Granite by relative low uniform flat magnetic intensities.

Contacts between the Ruby Creek Granite and the Texas beds are generally sharp. Diffuse boundaries and highly irregular margins have been reported in small pods of the granite W-N-W of Ballandean (Robertson, 1974-in Donchak et al. 2007).

The Ruby Creek Granite extensively intrudes the Stanthorpe Granite (Stanthorpe Complex) with which it has a close spatial relationship. Dykes of Ruby Creek Granite are also very common in the Stanthorpe Granite. Contacts between the two granites is invariably very abrupt. Locally, the contacts range from slightly to highly irregular, and are marked in places by the presence or irregular, vuggy pegmatite zones up to ~30 cm. (Red Bridge- Quart Pot Creek)

One of the most notable characteristics of the Ruby Creek Granite in the widespread distribution of miarolitic cavities up to ~5cm across and to a lesser extent, vuggy pegmatite lenses. The cavities are commonly for partly filled with coarse quartz (commonly smoky) and K-feldspar ± minor biotite ± minor molybdenite ± minor fluorite.

Formation:

Blevin & Chappell (1996)(in Donchak et al. 2007) proposed that extended fractional crystallization within the Stanthorpe magma chambers resulted in the generation of a more highly evolved Ruby Creek Granite – some of which ponded in the upper parts of the magma chambers, some of which intruded into the crystallized parts of the chambers as stocks and dykes, and some of which intruded into overlying country rocks (e.g. Sundown and Kilminster).

The Ruby Creek Granite is the source of the cassiterite mineralisation.

Note 7

Stanthorpe Granite: (Donchak, et. al. 2007)

Max/Min Age: Early Triassic: 246.9±2 Ma

Age Method: isotopic, U/Pb-Pb-Pb ion probe

Description: Main phase plus 14 variations recognized, 6 described. Main Phase: (Rgst): Pale pink to grey, mainly medium-grained, porphyritic, leucocratic biotite (rarely + hornblende) monzogranite to syenogranite; rapakivi texture common.

Stanthorpe Granite : (Rgst2) Pale pink, grayish pink, white or brown, medium to locally fine-grained, uneven-grained to moderately porphyritic hornblende-biotite monzogranite to syenogranite; Moderate magnetic response

Stanthorpe Granite : (Rgstc) Pale pink, medium grained, slightly porphyritic biotite monzogranite, locally with rare mafic enclaves; moderate magnetic response Stanthorpe Granite : (Rgstf) Pale pink to pale pinkish grey, medium-grained, moderately porphyritic, leucocratic biotite monzogranite to syenogranite (locally); scarce titanite-hornblende-biotite monzogranite, fine-grained highly porphyritic leucocratic monzogranite; moderate magnetic response

Stanthorpe Granite : (Rgst5) Pink, buff, or pale brown, medium to fine grained, uneven-grained to moderately porphyritic hornblende-biotite and biotite monzogranite to syenogranite?; cut by numerous dykes of fine-grained, even-grained leucogranite

Stanthorpe Granite : (Rgst6) Pale pink, off-white to buff, or pale brown to brown, medium to fine-grained, moderately porphyritic hornblende-biotite and biotite monzogranite to syenogranite?; commonly with minor titanite; traces of allanite locally; cut by numerous dykes of fine and medium-grained, even-grained leucogranite

Stanthorpe Granite : (Rgsta) Pink, medium-grained, moderately porphyritic (muscovite-allanite-hornblende) biotite monzogranite; locally with mafic enclaves (to 10cm); rare miarolitic cavities

In total 14 variations have been noted with the Stanthorpe Granite group.

Description:

The Stanthorpe Granite is well exposed in places for example Girraween National Park and to a lesser extent in Passchedaele State Forest (Amiens). In these areas the granite forms, rough hilly country with numerous large boulders, domes and iselburgs (Girraween National Park) bare rocky outcrops and extensive tors.

The close spatial relationship between the Ruby Creek and the Stanthorpe Granite of the Stanthorpe Complex is one to the most noteworthy of the New England Batholith. The Stanthorpe Granite is cut by numerous dykes, pods and irregular stocks of Ruby Creek Granite, only the larger of which are shown on the map (Donchak, et al. 2007). Blevin & Chappell (1996) proposed that extended fractional crystallization within the Stanthorpe magma chambers resulted in the generation of a more highly evolved Ruby Creek Granite – some of which ponded in the upper parts of the magma chambers, some of which intruded into the crystallized parts of the chambers as stocks and dykes, and some of which intruded into overlying country rocks (e.g. Sundown and Kilminster).

The Ruby Creek and Stanthorpe Granites consist of predominantly leucogranite (SiO2 >74 %; modal biotite content< ~5%) and show considerable overlap in chemical composition)

See (Donchak et al. 2007) for more information.

Note 8

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http://www.ravenscroftwines.com.au/

Day Two – Sunday 7th June 2015

From To Km Mins Trip MGAE MGAN Notes

7.1 8.00 8.25 31 25 Stanthorpe to Texas Beds, view Ruby Creek Granite tin dredged area (Broadwater) on way

390816 6829045 9

7.2 8.25 8.40 15 Texas Beds, road cutting 370371 6832366 10

7.3 8.40 8.55 5 15 Pikedale Fault Block and silver deposits (road outcrop only) 366183 6830113 11

7.4 8.55 9.00 6 5 Pikedale to Pike Creek (via Stanthorpe - Texas Rd)

7.5 9.00 9.20 20 Pike Creek mafics 361370 6827196 12

7.6 9.20 10.00 31 30 Pike Creek to Warroo, via Pikedale Inglewood Rd, turn off 24km from Pikedale, 6km along Soldier Settlement Rd (gravel) and 1km along Verona-Wylarah Rd (gravel)

7.7 10.00 12.00 120 Warroo Gold Mine, Texas Beds, IRG system, Permian Fault Block 347286 6836194 13

7.8 12.00 12.40 46 40 Warroo Mine to Fairleigh Rd, via Soldier Settlemnt Rd and Warroo-Limevale Rd (18km gravel) and Texas-Inglewood Rd

7.9 12.40 12.55 15 Fairleigh Rd weathered limestone outcrops, Texas Beds 324142 6823371 14

7.10 12.55 13.15 22 20 Fairleigh Rd to Texas, via Texas -Inglewood Rd, view fresh limestone road cutting 7km south of Fairleigh Rd

321201 6816607

7.11 13.15 14.15 60 Lunch Texas, (toilets) 321629 6805596

7.12 14.15 14.25 9 10 Texas to Hornet Mine, via Texas-Stanthorpe Rd and Waverley Lane

7.13 14.25 14.45 20 Hornet Mine 328535 6807756 15

7.14 14.45 14.50 4 5 Hornet to Silver Spur, via Stanthorpe-Texas Rd, view Twin Hills Mine at 2km from Hornet T/off

7.15 14.50 15.10 20 Silver Spur Mine 331605 6805876 16 7.16 15.10 15.30 23 20 Silver Spur to Boxwell Granodiorite, return to Texas, south from Texas,

across border turn right on Yetman Road

7.18 15.30 15.45 15 Boxwell Granodiorite 313770 6804269 17

7.19 15.45 17.00 100 75 Boxwell Granodiorite to Glen Lyon Dam via Bruxner Hwy and Mingoola Stn Rd

7.20 17.00 17.15 15 Glen Lyon Dam Wall 350363 6793316 18

7.21 17.15 17.35 3 20 Glen Lyon Dam to Information Centre, museum, toilets 350853 6795147 19

7.22 17.35 18.35 70 60 Glen Lyon Dam to Tenterfield, via Mingoola Station Rd, Bruxner Hwy

7.23 Overnight Tenterfield - Settlers Inn, ad hoc dinner (you choose, not included)

404370 6785010 (02) 6736 2333

Note 9

Tin has historically been the most important commodity mined from the Stanthorpe Mineral District. Cassiterite was probably first found in the area in 1853. Mining of alluvial cassiterite deposits commenced in 1872 and the Stanthorpe Mineral Field was proclaimed in 1883. Both alluvial and lode cassiterite have been mined. By far the greatest production has come form alluvial and elluvial deposits.

The total recorded production for the Stanthorpe Mining District (1872-1989) is 56537t of cassiterite concentrates of which 41 800t was produced between 1872-1882, (Skertchly (1898) - in Donchak, et al. 2007) including 337t of lode tin. Production for the area declined gradually over time.

Lode Tin Numerous small greisen, quartz-greisen veins were discovered in the Stanthorpe and Sugarloaf areas in the early 1880’s, but none proved to be economic. The only tin lodes of any consequence were discovered in Sundown, Red Rock, and Mineral Hill areas in the Ballandean district and in the Sugarloaf area east of Stanthorpe.

The source of the cassiterite is the Ruby Creek Granite.

Placer cassiterite occurs mainly in modern alluvium especially in broad valleys and to a lesser extent in higher stream-cut benches on valley sides. Nearest to the originating veins and greisens, the cassiterite is generally coarser often shows crystal faces and can have attached vein mineral such as quartz. Further down streams the grains are sub-rounded, smaller, (down to 1mm) and break along cleavages. Colour varies from near clear translucent varieties to dominant black and ruby red. (Butler, 1974)

The valleys around Stanthorpe have been cut to surprising heights as evidenced by terraces with gravels and cassiterite concentrations up to 25 metres above the present stream levels and some distance away from present courses. It is thought that multiple reworking and concentration of cassiterite by meandering streams carving broader valleys is a viable process.

Much of the placer cassiterite around Stanthorpe is probably Quaternary accumulation.

Hydraulic sluicing and dredging has revealed poorly consolidated alluvium averaging approximately 2 metres in thickness but ranging from a few centimeters near rocky stream bottoms to as much as 10 metres.

The alluvium is composed of sands, cemented clays, sandy clays, quartz pebbles conglomerates and granitic detritus up to boulder size (Skertchly, 1898- in Donchak et al. 2007). Examination of old dredge hole walls has revealed strong sedimentary layering, graded bedding and some poorly preserved cross bedding. (Butler, 1974)

Note 10

Texas Beds (In-Donchak, et al. 2007) Age: Carboniferous Description: Main: (Ctx): Thin to thick-bedded, volcanoclastic arenite, siltstone, mudstone and slate; locally phyllite; sporadic lenses of jasper, chert, limestone and mafic volcanics; rare conglomerate; low to moderate magnetic response (Ctxvg): Strongly magnetic or magnetically altered chert (plus minor jasper), mafic volcanics/volcanoclastic and slate sequences and/or associated magnetically altered strata (Ctxj): Thin-bedded to locally massive, pink to brown jasper, subordinate interlayered mudstone; locally grades to grey chert (Ctxl): Variably recrystallised, sparcely fossiliferous limestone; local limestone/basalt breccia (Ctxlw): Limestone inundated by Glenlyon Lake (Ctxv): Mafic lava and associated pyroclastic deposits; some subvolcanic intrusives; minor chert, jasper and volcanoclastic sediments

The Texas Beds form the most extensive unit in the Texas region. The unit was originally defined by Olgers & Others (1974) and further subdivided into four tectono-stratigraphic subunits on the basis of relative abundances by Fergusson & Flood in 1984. Current mapping indicates that only the most northly clastic sequence differs lithologically to any significant degree from the clastics to the south. The current subdivisions show that the Texas Beds form a sequence of volcanoclastic turbidites (lithic arenite and mudstone)(units Ctx & Ctx m with minor chert/argillite and or jasper/argillite (Units Ctxc andCtxj), altered mafic volcanics (unit ctx v) and limestone(mapped Ctx1).

The mafic volcanic rocks within the formation are mostly basaltic in composition, and often associated with manganiferous jasperoidal rocks.

The Texas Beds turbidites commonly comprise rhythmically interlayered volcanoclastic arenite and mudstone although the sequence shows continuous variation towards either thick amalgamated arenite-dominated or pelitic dominated end-members.

The pelitic component ranges from phyllite to slate.

The well-bedded arenites: commonly show grading and locally display ripple cross-lamination (especially in thin to medium beds)

Arenites throughout the Texas Beds typically consist of silicic volcanoclastic detritus with <10% matrix

Lithic sedimentary grains and granules (including some mafic fragments and rare granitic grains) are locally common in coarser lithologies.

Radiolarian chert grains are a minor lithic component in some arenites.

Note 11

Pikedale Silver Mine (In – Donchak, et al.,2007) The Pikedale Silver /Copper Mine (4 workings marked)

A small outcrop of gossanous ore in Woolshed Gully was first noticed in about 1880 but no work was done. The Pikedale Silver mine was opened in late 1896, when a smelter was erected by Pikedale Copper, Gold and Silver Mining Company. The mine was worked until late 1897 when operations were suspended because of smelter problems; 102t of matte containing 30-40% copper, 4.6-9.2kg/t silver and 15.3 g/t gold was shipped to Europe. Attempts to raise capital for a new type of smelter failed and the mine was closed in 1898.

Some underground development was carried out in 1906 and 437t of ore was treated in 1907. Government assistance was sought to erect a roasting furnace, zinc flume condenser, copper smelter, Wilfery table and magnetic concentrator. Cameron (1908) reported that the ore body was not sufficiently proven and no subsidy was granted. There is no record of any other subsequent mining activity other than the shipment of 10t of ore to Great Britain for treatment investigations in 1908.

Total recorded production (1897-1899, 1907-1908) was 1341t of ore yielding 15t copper, 186kg silver, 10.7t Lead, 70t Zinc and 102t copper matte.

The Pikedale Beds occur as a narrow NNW trending, partly fault-bounded wedge of sediments. The unit comprises of lithic arenite, siltstone and mudstone, interlayered with sporadic discontinuous pebbly., conglomeratic lenses up to 5m thick as well as local vitric tuff lenses 10cm- 5m thick. The conglomerates are mainly matrix-supported and the dominant clast types are rhyolitic tuff, chert and siliceous siltstone, together with scattered angular mudstone and other lithic fragments. Grading is rare and the conglomerates are generally interweaved with massive gritty arenites.

The Pikedale beds are less structurally complex than the underlying Texas Beds, with open gently plunging folds and moderate to locally steep dips predominating. Contacts with the Texas Beds basement are interpreted to be gently dipping unconformity surfaces or faults. Fossil wood and other plant remains have been reported from the Pikedale area (Olgers & others, 1974; Forester, 1991- In Donchak et al., 2007)

Age: The Permian age assigned to the sequence is based on close similarity between these rocks and the Permian strata in other outliers in the area.

Malachite Resources (Malachite Resources Annual Report 2011) (EPM 18166)

Malachite has identified a 2.3km long and up to 250m wide zone of ironstone and sporadic old workings, known as the ‘Lickhole Prospect’. Rock chip geochemical sampling at this prospect has shown the ironstone outcrops to be variably anomalous in Silver, copper and zinc. Moderate silver and zinc values have been recorded (up to71 g/t Ag and 6.28% Zn respectively. Some samples area high to very high in Copper 7.93% Copper.

Mineralisation is best developed on the walls and dump of an old shaft, where abundant malachite and azurite have been deposited along fractures in siltstone-hosted breccia.

Disseminated chalcopyrite occurs on fracture surfaces possibly in narrow (<2mm) quartz veinlets in fresh siltstone and rarely more oxidized gossaneous pods/small lenses of quartz and gossan.

A geophysical survey over this area shows that the ironstone outcrops are associated with strong chargeability anomalies that are believed to represent disseminated sulphide mineralisation at relatively shallow depth. The survey using induced polarization geophysical technique detected two well-defined chargeability highs underlying the surface ironstone outcrops- these were targeted for drilling.

Note 12

Pikes Creek Mafics The Pikes Creek mafics lie within southern tail of the Mount You You Granite The Mount You You forms an elongate NNW trending stock ~14 km². The granite is reasonably well exposed and forms undulating to low hilly country with scattered boulders, tors, pavements and whalebacks. The unit forms prominent outcrops of pale grey to pale pink, fine to medium grained, moderately porphyritic, leucocratic biotite syenogranite. Age: Late Permian - Early Triassic

Mount You You Granite: (PRgmy): Pale pink to pale grey, buff to reddish brown, or cream, fine to medium-grained, uneven-grained to variably porphyritic biotite monzogranite to syenogranite; minor hornblende-biotite monzogranite, aplitic leucogranite, gabbro.

Mafics: (Pro): dark grey, medium-grained to slightly porphyritic gabbro, diorite, quartz diorite; moderate to high magnetic response.

Age: Late Permian 295 Ma The granitic rocks consist of K-feldspar, quartz, subordinate plagioclase, and biotite (~2-5%). K-feldspar grains are commonly turbid and range from white to pink at different locations. Minor hornblende (Pleochroic from brown or greenish brown to pale brown or pale greenish yellow) is present in one of the samples. Virtue (1985) reported up to ~5% hornblende in the southern and northern parts of the pluton. Granophyric intergrowths between quartz and K-feldspar are locally common. The local presence of small, irregular miarolitic cavities implies a relatively shallow level of emplacement. Low magnetic intensities shown by the unit on aeromagnetic images. In contrast the mafics show moderate to high magnetic responses. The Mount You You Granite was previously mapped as Ruby Creek granite (Robertson, 1974). Although there are some similarities, the Mount You You Granite differs in from the Ruby Creek Granite is several different aspects:

Titanite is a relatively common element is the Mount You You Granite, but was not detected in the felsic Ruby Creek Granite

Parts of the Mount You You Granite contain minor Hornblende, whereas hornblende is not recorded in the Ruby Creek Granite

The Mount You You Granite is highly fractionated (e.g. Rb < 250ppm) Mount You You Granite is unmineralised in contrast to the Ruby Creek Granite

The Mount You You Granite intrudes the Texas Beds and as well as a sequence of mudstone, siltstone and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks of probable Permian age. The granite is associated with several pods and lenses of gabbro with sharp or crenulated contacts (Donchak, et al. 2007) Pikes Creek Dolerite A complex dyke, containing granite and dolerite, passes through Pikes Creek Station. It has been mentioned by Skertchley (1898) and Lucas (1957,1958). Lucas first recognized dolerite phase.

Microscopic Description: The Dolerite is an ophitic textured variety containing laths of plagioclase (An 50-55) with dimensions of 0.5-2mm. Pyroxenes have been altered to uralite (αpale yellow, β olive green, γ bright sea green) and very minor biotite. Where pyroxenes are preserved they are non-pleochroic-suggesting augite in composition. Anhedral crystals of ilmenite are quite common (Butler, 1974)

(Donchak et al. 2007)

Note 13

Warroo Cu-Au

The early records show that a mining lease was applied for at Warroo in 1906, and by 1908 a prospect shaft had been developed to 41.5 metres. Smelting of sulphides started in November 1910 and the mine closed in June 1911, by when 861 tonnes had been processed for a return of 21 tonnes of copper, 283 oz of gold and 901 oz of silver. Tributers reopened the mine in May 1912 and with five cyanide vats treated 1512 tonnes of ore to produce 932 oz of gold belore closing the mine again in March 1913. An attempt to reopen the mine in 1931 was aborted when, after access was provided by dewatering and retimbering the main shaft, all payable ore appeared to be worked out. ln 1987 Valdora Minerals Ltd was granted ATP 4608M around the Warroo Mine, and proceeded with a detailed drilling programme between 1987 and 1988. Based on the reverse circulation drilling results, independent consultants delineated an open pit containing undiluted mineable reserves of 186400 tonnes at a grade of 2.3 g/t Au. These reserves were calculated between level 6 (440 RL) and level 18 (410 RL). To show the effect of dilution by waste and regressive gold loss, a 15% dilution factor and a 5% gold loss were assumed (in the absence ol empirical studies) to show that the cumulative result would be an increase in mineable reserves lo 2144@ tonnes, but with a reduction in grade to 1.9 g/t Au. lt was noted that 66.5% of the gold is contained in the lower three levels associated with a supergene tabular structure.

Regional Geology The Devonian to Carboniferous Texas beds form a thick sequence of volcaniclastic turbidite rocks throughout the area. Outliers ol structurally controlled Permian acid volcanics outcrop in northwest trending linear zones, as do the younger intruded granites of late Palaeozoic to early Mesozoic age, represented at Warroo by the Mt Bullanganang "S'type granite. The Texas beds form a broad north-plunging antiform, 75 km wide between Stanthorpe and Texas, with the Warroo Mine and the granite at Mt Bullanganang at the core of the structure. The folded layers represent thick imbricate thrust sheets which curve around the northern edge of the granite.

Permian fault blocks and Structures

The Warroo Shear and associated fractures. Brittle fracture deformation of the Texas beds provided early channelways for the mineralising fluids at Warroo. The two main fracture sets are (a) Strike + 60, dip 30-600 SE and (b) Strike at 130, dip 40-50 NE. The main Warroo Shear bisects these fractures with a curved strike averaging 107, dip 50-8OS. Fracture density and mineralisation decrease away from the main shear, which provided the main channelway for the 'gold-copper hydrothermal fluids that were probably generated by the emplacement of the granite at Mt Bullanganang. Minor fracture sets strike 170-175oE, and 40-75oE. As a result of the easterly dip of most of the fractures, the eastern pit slope is stable compared to the western side. Mine planning is accordingly advancing the pit from east to west. The main Warroo Shear zone and associated fractures provided 1007o of the gold mined up to 1931, but only 3Oo/o since mining started in 1990. Flatmake Shear Ore Zone Approximately 70% of the gold produced since mining restarted has comeflrom this supergene enriched zone which intersects the main Warroo Shear at the present water table. This low angled thrust gently undulates over the floor of the pit and steepens towards the surface on the east and north walls. Gold enrichment decreases rapidly as the dip of the structure steepens. Sub-vertical feeders can be seen streaming off the hangingwall of the Flatmake Shear acting as channelways for the primary sulphide deposition, and for secondary supergene enrichment. A study by A.R. Hockings on the Flatmake ore has shown a central to basal layer of comb-textured hydrothermal quartz surrounded by limonite which contains a complex mixture of goethite, hematite and lepidocrocite. The in-situ altered primary minerals form boxwork structures after pyrite, whilst the re-deposited minerals often display a collolorm texture. Other minerals identified include gold, arsenopyrite and covellite. Gold occurs as flakes around 1 micron in size distributed randomly in the limonite. Based on field observations, assay data, and limited microscopic study, the following paragenetic sequence is suggested:-

1. lntroduction of primary sulphides along the Warroo Shear and into the Flatmake thrust. The siliceous solutions initially contained gold associated with pyrite, arsenopyrite and copper sulphides. Solutions became depleted in gold and arsenopyrite; chalcopyrite and pyrite deposition continued with silica superceded by carbonate-rich solutions.

2. Secondary enrichment. Oxidation of primary sulphides by surlace waters destroyed these minerals and redeposited their elements at the water table. At Warroo this process was concentrated by the Flatmake low-angle thrust zone, which provided a permeable zone in the relatively low porosity Texas beds.

Alteration Fracture alteration studies by A.R. Hockings have shown hexagonal paramorphs of B-Quartz which indicate that the fluids were emplaced above 573oC. The breakdown of pyrite deposited on fracture surfaces has formed hydroxides which cause a khaki and maroon colouration and the development of limonitic jasper. Away from the fractures the iocks have a bleached appearance caused by partial kaolinisation of feldspars. At the northern end of the Warroo Pit, the rock appears completely kaolinised, although microscopically quartz remains a major constituent.

A micromonzonite dyke about a metre wide striking 600 dip 80o SE has been identified from clay pseudomorphs of plagioclase and K-feldspar. The dyke crosscuts and displaces the Flatmake and Warroo Shear zones. lt is unmineralised and completely altered in the weathered zone.

Structural Interpretation and Cu-Au Prospects

Text mostly taken from 1992 GSA Field Conference Excursion Guide

Note 14

Fairleigh Road Weathered Limestone Outcrop

Extensive Limestone resources occur throughout the region and have been mined for over a century. Limestone and marble have been quarried from a number of variably metamorphosed lenses to the south and SE and SW of Warwick.

Two types of limestone have been recorded, tectonically stretched varieties associated with slates and other limestone outcrop in the central regions, which consist of boulder sized blocks in disorganized conglomerates.

All outcrops show typical karst features to various degrees.

Tectonically stretched varieties appear to be recrystallised bodies, which conform to the slaty cleavage of the surrounding tectonics. The boulder limestones however show little textural destruction and contain various allochems of fossils and ollites. Some of the allochems have fine dark algal overgrowths. This latter phenomenon is typical of formation in a shallow water environment (Butler, 1974).

Limestone Quarries:

The largest of these quarries in located at Elbow Valley SE of Warwick.

Elbow Valley Production: 505 118t of crushed rock, 10 977t of marble; 75 917t of calcined ore (1997-2004).

Small limestone and marble deposits have been quarried at Silverwood to the south of Warwick.

Cement Mills - south of Gore

The limestone was first quarried in 1914 and worked almost continuously until 1969 and produced 1 140 000tof crushed limestone for use in cement making and for agricultural purposes. Operations began again in 1998-2004 with a further 151 826t produced. Reserves of about 2 Mt of limestone remain at Cement Mills.

Texas Region Lime Products Marble Quarry The quarry was first worked in the early 1920’s, but there is no record of production. A new lease was taken out in 1931 and the quarry has been worked intermittently since then, mainly producing marble blocks and terrazzo chips. Some high grade, excellent quality ornamental marble was produced and used as a finishing stone in the construction industry. Total production from 1932-1938 was 713t.Actual production for 1939 is not known, as production figures were included with the Limevale Quarry (22 080t from 1939-1975).

Limevale Quarry A mining lease was first taken out over the deposit in 1923, but production records only document intermittent production of limestone and marble from 1932-1975. From 1953-1975 marble was quarried for marble as well as for terrazzo chips. Later leaseholders produced marble and limestone chips, crushed lime and burnt lime. There is an open cut at the site with most of the later production occurring at the southern end of the pit due to seepage to the north. Recorded production from 1939-1999 (38 063t including some production from Lime Products Marble quarry. Production in 1999 included 129t of marble dimension stone, which has been the sole commodity produced since that time (458t for the period 2000-2003). Riverton Quarry: located to the south of Texas - still in production. (Donchak, et al 2007).

Note 15

Hornet (Texas Copper)(Donchak, et al. 2007; Cooke, 2013)

Hornet formally known as ‘Texas Copper’ was discovered in 1888 and worked until 1894. Production was minor and not recorded. In 1905, the mine was reopened and 15t of ore was sold to the Silver Spur Mining Company. In 1906, it was renamed the Silver Spur Copper Mine and the ore raised that year averaged 21% copper and in 1907, 61t of ore averaging 22% copper was produced. The mine closed down in 1907 when the oxidized ore cut out at 30 m depth. The QLD Department of Mines drilled a number of holes at the site in 1971, but no economic mineralisation was found. Core samples contained grades of 2.4-16.2g/t silver but there was no record of silver production during the working life of the mine (Donchak et al. 2007). The Hornet deposit lies about 2km west of the Twin Hills mine, the deposit is situated in the south of what is termed the Western Tectonic Corridor, a northwest striking shear zone extending the length of the Silver Spur Beds. The ore is hosted by strongly chloritic altered siltstone to wacke sediments, in massive chalcopyrite and pyrite veins up to 30 cm in thickness. The mullock heap material directly surrounding the abandoned shafts at Hornet are gossaneous, with abundant malachite and azurite forming goethite and limonite. It is likely that the original miners worked the rich supergene zone, hosting abundant chalcocite and copper carbonates, and failed to reach the chalcopyrite zone at depth. It is hypothesized that Hornet is a structurally controlled mesothermal vein copper deposit, potentially formed syntectonically with the large-scale metamorphic deformation of the Silver Spur Beds (Cooke, 2013).

Note 16

Silver Spur (Donchak, et al. 2007)

The Silver Spur Mine was one of the notable producers of silver, gold, lead and copper in the state. Ore was mined to a depth of 158m over five levels. The main product was argentiferous copper matte with some lead-copper matte, lead bullion, silver and zinc ore also being marketed.

Total recorded production (1892-1925, 1952, 1970, 1996) is ~100 000t of ore for a return or 68t of Silver, 140 kg of gold, 990t of copper, 1050t of lead and 690t of zinc ore.

History:

The deposit was found in 1890 as a malachite-stained gossanous outcrop. The Silver Spur Mining Company was formed in 1894 and erected a reverberatory furnace in 1898, a pyrite smelter in 1899 and a lead smelter in 1900. A second company, the Silver Spur Proprietary Company was formed and worked an area on the southern boundary of the parent company’s mine. Mining at Silver Spur declined from 1909 as the smelting methods were inefficient and high-grade ore became scarce. By 1911, one third of the total metal was being extracted (during processing). The ore also contained insufficient copper metal to collect all of the silver and gold during smelting. Labour shortages brought about by WW1 forced closure of the mine in 1914. The mine was reopened in 1917 but produced only small amount for ore from small rich relatively shallow lenses until 1926. Lack of high-grade ore, smelting difficulties and low metal prices were significant factors forcing the mine to close. The mine was once again opened in 1952 when 171t of ore was recovered for a return of 290 kg silver, 8.7t of lead and 964g of gold. In 1970 Mt Carrington Mines Ltd obtained the leases raised 2t of ore and set about rehabilitating the workings. In 1973, The Queensland Department of Mines drilled five cored drillholes at the site, but did not locate any major ore bodies. In 1976, 196t or ore was milled for a return of 2.88t of lead and 68.5kg of silver. The mine is currently inactive, with the leases controlled by Texas Silver Mines a subsidiary of Alcyone Resources Ltd. Alcyone is currently in Administration. Geology: (Jupp, 1998- in Cooke, 2013).

Host Rocks: fine grained clastics, quartzofeldspathic wackes and sub-wackes.

Within these units area pebble sized clasts, identified as argillaceous and silty siliclastics, felsic lavas and rhyolitic quartz, which Jupp uses as evidence to support proximity to felsic volcanism.

The matrix is composed of clay, chlorite, silt and carbonaceous material

Microscope work indicated minor potassic bearing minerals occurring along fractures, micro faults and stringer veins, differentiating Silver Spur to all other deposits, which exhibit extensive potassic alteration either within the host rock or as hydrothermal fill. Pyrite is common throughout all samples, host and ore, in a number of forms.

Like all deposits within the Silver Spur Beds, a combination of framboidal and euhedral pyrite occurs, the latter often forming veins.

Jupp identified 3 of his samples as banded ore, with sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, tetrahedrite/tennantite and abundant pyrite.

Classification: Discussion regarding classification of Silver Spur concluded that Silver Spur shows characteristics of VHMS, SEDEX and Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) deposits.

Jupp classified the deposit as SEDEX, whereby the Carboniferous Texas Beds have hosted mineralisation at depth, which has been remobilized through the heat and fluid generated by one of the nearby intrusions along the fault boundaries of the SSB. (Stokes Fault)

Note 17

Boxwell Granodiorite

The Boxwell Granodiorite (Stroud, 1992 – Donchak, et.al. 2007) forms gently undulating country with scattered boulder outcrops, west of Texas. The unit crops out over ~22km² and extends south of the Border in to NSW. The Boxwell Granodiorite cuts the Texas Beds and is partially overlain by Tertiary and Quaternary sediments. The unit is compositionally zoned. It has a monzodiorite-quartz monzodiorite margin that grades into granodiorite, and a core of monzogranitic and leucocratic syenogranite (Shaw, 1981, in Stroud, 1992 in Donchak et al. 2007). Main Rock Type: Medium grained, slightly porphyritic hornblende-biotite granodiorite (with abundant mafic enclaves) Boxwell Granodiorite: (Pmg) pale to dark grey or pinkish grey, medium to fine-grained biotite-hornblende and hornblende- biotite granodiorite; minor monzodiorite-quartz monzodiorite; monzodiorite, syenogranite

Age: Late Permian Stroud (1992)(In Donchak et al. 2007) reported that the Boxwell Granodiorite has geochemical similarities with the Clarence River Supersuite; in particular low K and high Na, and relatively low Sr contents. The Clarence River Supersuite comprises compositionally diverse intrusions possibly derived from multiple mid- to lower-crustal sources. However the Boxwell granodiorite crops out more than 100 km west of the Clarence River Supersuite granites, it is also characterized by relatively low CaO and high TiO2 and Na2O + K2O contents (Donchak et al 2007)

Note 18

Ladder veins in Texas Beds

Note 19

Day Three – Monday 8th June 2015

From To Km Mins Trip MGAE MGAN Notes

8.1 8.00 8.45 49 45 Tenterfield to Drake, via Bruxner Hwy 439540 6801843

8.2 8.45 Drake Deposits, via Cheviot Hills Rd – Strauss open pit, drill core. 438848 6801885 20

8.3 11.15 Drake Deposits – Kylo Open pits, drill core. 438755 6802065 21

8.4 11.15 12.00 49 45 Drake to Tenterfield- Dundee Ryhodacite

8.5 12.00 12.20 20 Dundee Rhyodacite 402341 6789236 22

8.6 12.20 13.00 40 Lunch, Tenterfield Golf Club

8.7 13.00 14.20 86 80 Tenterfield to Undercliffe, via Mt Lindsay Highway, view Boonoo Boonoo Granites, Bald Rock on the way, then via Undercliffe Road (10 km gravel road)

412354 6803642

8.8 Boonoo Boonoo Falls turn off - granites 412726 6804481 23

8.9 Bald Rock turn off - granites, fresh granite in road sie at 411499E 6811652N 411552 6809559 24

8.10 Bookookoorara Mass at wooden bridge 411385 6816032 25

8.11 14.20 14.45 25 Undercliffe Falls, Demon Fault Porhyrite Adamellite, mafic dykes 419371 6831342 26

8.12 14.45 15.10 31 25 Undercliffe Falls to Stanthorpe (toilets)

8.13 15.10 18.00 217 170 Stanthorpe to Brisbane

Note 20 and 21

Mt Carrington Overview White Rock’s cornerstone asset is the 100% owned Mt Carrington project where shallow Indicated and Inferred

Mineral Resources totalling 338,000oz gold and 23.5Moz silver have been defined.

Location: Mt Carrington is 5 km from the township of Drake in northern NSW. It is located on the Bruxner

Highway 4 hour’s drive SW of Brisbane and 2 hours west from Ballina.

History: Gold was first discovered in the district in 1853 with a number of small prospects worked over the next

25 years. In 1886 gold and silver were found at Drake, Mt Carrington, White Rock and Red Rock. Prospecting and

small-scale mining continued into the 1920s. During 1974 to 1976 Mt Carrington Mines Ltd extracted a small

tonnage of high grade Ag and Au from the Lady Hampden open pit. In 1998 a new mining campaign focussed on

extracting open pit oxide Au/Ag ore from the Strauss, Kylo, Guy Bell and Lady Hampden deposits. The oxide ore

was depleted by 1990, and with metal prices at US$370/oz Au and US$5/oz Ag, and secondary copper zones in

the pits resulting in processing issues in the CIP plant, the small scale mine was closed.

The new Mt Carrington: In April 2008 Rex Minerals Ltd acquired Mt Carrington and completed 2 years of

exploration and Resource definition. The project was demerged in June 2010 with the formation of White Rock

Minerals to undertake extensive exploration, Resource definition and development studies with the aim of

defining a new viable open pit mining operation, underpinned by existing Mining Lease tenure, site

infrastructure, and ready access to power and water.

Volcanic Caldera: In the early 1990s CRA Exploration focused on exploring for ‘a large polymetallic

mineralised system in a Pacific Rim-type environment’. Detailed mapping and reconstruction of the volcanic

architecture was undertaken by White Rock in 2011-2012, which established the existence of a large 400 square

km collapsed volcanic caldera structure. This setting has been demonstrated to contain a number of epithermal-

style precious metal targets, many of which will be drill tested in 2013. Up to 2010 no systematic regional

exploration had been undertaken on the project for more than 16 years.

Resources: In February 2012 an upgraded and updated Resource estimate was published, with a total of

0.28Moz Au and 23.3Moz Ag at the Kylo, Strauss, Lady Hampden, Silver King, White Rock and White Rock

North deposits. For more detail refer to WRM’s announcement to the ASX of 13 February 2012. In July 2013 a

maiden gold Resource estimate for Red Rock was published. For more detail refer to WRM’s announcement to

the ASX of 11 July 2013. As at July 2013 the updated Resource estimate for all deposits at the Mt Carrington

Project totals 0.34Moz Au and 23.5Moz Ag.

Mt Carrington Project Mineral Resource Summary

Exploration Portfolio:

The Mt Carrington Mining Leases are enveloped by a large portfolio of Exploration Licences with demonstrated

potential for epithermal and intrusion-related gold, silver and copper mineralisation. White Rock has generated

and refined an extensive exploration target portfolio at Mt Carrington since 2010. A number of regional and near-

mine targets have been tested, and new shallow gold-silver Mineral Resources were defined at the Red Rock

Prospect in 2013. Whilst exploration for shallow gold and silver deposits has been White Rock’s main focus to

date, the potential for the project to host significant intrusion-related (porphyry) copper mineralisation has also

been recognised. Recent work has focussed on characterising this potential, and has resulted in the definition of a

number of targets for drilling in 2014/15.

Geological Setting:

The Mt Carrington project contains substantial precious and base metal mineralisation predominantly hosted by

the Permian Drake Volcanics, within the southern New England Fold Belt in north-eastern New South Wales.

The Drake Volcanics comprises a 60km long by 20km wide north to northwest-trending sequence of Lower

Permian acid to intermediate volcanics dominated by volcaniclastic andesitic units, intruded by

contemporaneous sub-volcanic andesite and rhyolite porphyries. The Drake Volcanics are conformably underlain

by the Razor Creek Mudstone and conformably overlain by the Gilgurry Mudstone. Permian and Triassic

granitoid plutons and associated igneous bodies intrude the area, several bringing small scale intrusion-related

mineralisation.

To the east the Drake Volcanics overlie or are structurally bound by the Carboniferous to Early Permian

sedimentary Emu Creek Formation, which host the gold mineralisation of the Tooloom and Lunatic Goldfields.

To the west the Drake Volcanics are intruded by the Early Triassic Stanthorpe Monzonite pluton and structurally

bound by the Demon Fault from earlier Permian granitoids. The granitoids from part of the New England

Batholith and are known to host numerous mineralisation occurrences including disseminated gold

mineralisation at Timbarra and tin-tungsten-molybdenum mineralisation in the Wilsons Downfall and

Stanthorpe areas.

Mt Carrington Project Regional Geology.

Mt Carrington is a historic mining centre with a number of low sulphidation epithermal gold-silver deposits

characterised by relatively high levels of base metal (copper-lead-zinc) mineralisation. The deposits manifest as

fissure veins, stockworks, breccias and stratabound disseminations within the andesitic, andesitic volcaniclastic

and intrusive rhyolitic lithologies.

Mineralisation is hosted within the Drake Volcanics, which locally is centred on the Drake Quiet Zone, a 20km

diameter circular feature of low magnetic signature. Recent detailed mapping has confirmed that the Drake Quiet

Zone is a caldera structure. Calderas are a common setting for a range of epithermal mineralisation styles from

low-grade disseminated bulk tonnage deposits through to high grade “bonanza” vein hosted deposits. At depth

the volcanic centres within a fertile caldera setting can host intrusions with porphyry copper-gold mineralisation.

The Mt Carrington Project presents exploration opportunities on three levels:

1. The existing deposits provide a potential near-term development opportunity.

2. The recognition of the mineralisation setting within a major volcanic caldera and the lack of modern

exploration provide significant upside potential in identifying a world-class epithermal gold-silver deposit.

3. The metals zonation, spatial relationships to volcanic intrusions

and change in mineralisation styles seen through the area can provide a vector for targeting deeper

porphyry-style Cu +/- Au mineralisation.

Drake Quiet Zone on RTP magnetics, displaying interpreted structure.

Drake Quiet Zone cross section displaying interpreted subsurface stratigraphy.

http://www.whiterockminerals.com.au/projects/mt-carrington/

Note 22

Widespread terrestrial and shallow marine volcanism in the Central Block of the New England Fold Belt in New South Wales in the Late Permian produced thick sequences of predominantly rhyolitic to rhyodacitic and minor andesitic tuffs and ignimbrites. The volcanism represents the surface expression of a major period of plutonism. In many places thick volcanic sequences are intruded by granitoid plutonic suites which were emplaced during the latter part of this activity.Previous stratigraphic names applied to these volcanic rocks have been confined to local sequences and there has been no unifying description of the stratigraphy. Recent recompilation mapping by the New South Wales Geological Survey of most of the New England region has indicated that stratigraphic successions previously recognised in local areas can also be recognised regionally. On the basis of stratigraphic, geochemical and lithological similarities, we propose the name Wandsworth Volcanic Group to encompass units including the Dummy Creek Conglomerate, Annalee Pyroclastics, Emmaville Volcanics, Wallangarra Volcanics, Drake Volcanics and Gilgurry Mudstone, Dundee Rhyodacite, and units of the Coombadjha Volcanic Complex. It also includes large tracts previously referred to as 'Undifferentiated Permian volcanics'.

The Dundee Ignimbrite has a distinct magnetic fabric, defined by susceptibility anisotropy. Magnetic foliation data for the ignimbrite mass at Dundee define a basinal structure. The magnetic lineation data which are argued to be

flow lineations generally have a NNE?SSW orientation. This suggests that the source vent(s) for the ignimbrite is external to the mass.

The magnetic fabric of the Late Permian Dundee Ignimbrite, Dundee, N.S.W. M.A. Lackie Exploration Geophysics 19(4) 481 - 488

http://digsopen.minerals.nsw.gov.au/?rin=R00037000

Note 23

Boonoo Granite

Type Location (MGA 411255 6797202 and MGA 411286 679766) Age: Late Permian - Early Triassic

The Boonoo Boonoo Granite forms a small (~2.5km²) irregular pluton in the south-western part of the Drake 1:100 000 Sheet area. It was referred to as the ‘Spring Creek body’ of the Bookookoorara Granite by Thompson (1976, page 69- in Donchak et al.2007). The irregular outline of the pluton is interpreted to indicate the Boonoo Granite pre-dates the enclosing Stanthorpe Granite with which it has sharp contacts. The unit consists of grey to pinkish grey, fine to medium grained, porphyritic (hornblende-titanite-biotite monzogranite, with scattered feldspar (up to ~2.5cm long) and quartz (to ~1.5cm) phenocrysts. It is slightly to moderately altered. The monzogranite contains~ 10% biotite, minor titanite (relatively common) traces of hornblende, and sparse small (up to ~2cm in diameter) mafic inclusions. K-feldspar grains are pale pink to cream (locally). The Boonoo Granite is distinguished from the Bookookooara Monzogranite by the following characteristics.

Feldspar phenocrysts are less abundant Mafic minerals are not as abundant The groundmass is finer grained Magnetic susceptibilities are significantly higher Mafic inclusion are scarcer and smaller

The Boonoo Granite is similar chemically to the Herries Suite of granites, but is characterized by anomalous high F, Se and Sr contents, slightly higher Ga, Pb and Rb concentrations and relatively low K/Rb ratios. Boonoo Granite (PRgbn); Grey to pinkish grey, medium to fine-grained, slightly to moderately porphyritic muscovite-titanite-biotite monzogranite; with scarce mafic inclusions to ~3cm

Note 24

Bald Rock Largest Granite Monolith is eastern Australia.

Stanthorpe Granite:

(Rgstb): Pale pink to pale brown, or brown to reddish brown, medium-grained (groundmass), coarsely porphyritic (allanite-muscovite-) biotite monzogranite to syenogranite; locally with mafic enclaves (to ~ 15m) inclusions of leucogranite (to ~1m); moderate magnetic response

Note 25

Bookookoorara Granite

Under the umbrella of the Stanthorpe Supersuite (with Bungulla Suite affinities).

The Bungulla Suite: relatively mafic (~60% <SiO2 <~74%) granites (Undercliffe Falls Monzogranite, Bungulla Monzogranite; part of the Bookookoorara Monzogranite. The granite of this suite are usually deeply weathered and mainly form relatively low undulating country. The Undercliffe Falls and Bungulla monzogranites are characterized by the presence of large (up to ~10cm long), euhedral, pale pink K-feldspar phenocrysts, large euhedral grains of titanite in the groundmass, and numerous mafic enclaves. The presence of titanite and pale pink K-feldspar indicates that those rocks are oxidized. Age: Late Permian- Early Triassic

Bookookoorara Granite: (Prgbo): Grey, medium to fine-grained (marginal zone), moderately to highly porphyritic (titanite-) hornblende-biotite monzogranite; locally granophyric; with mafic inclusions to ~10cm; moderate magnetic response

Note 26

Undercliffe Falls Demon Fault, Undercliffe Granite, Mafic dykes

Undercliffe Falls Monzogranite:

(Prguf): Greyish pink to pinkish grey, medium to fine0grained (groundmass), coarsely porphyritic titanite-hornblende-biotite monzogranite to granodiorite; with pink K-feldspar megacrysts to ~10cm; mafic inclusions common; high magnetic response

(Prguf3): Buff to pale pink, medium-grained, slightly porphyritic biotite-hornblende monzogranite; high magnetic response

The Undercliffe Falls and Bungulla monzogranites are characterized by the presence of large (up to ~10cm long), euhedral, pale pink K-feldspar phenocrysts, large euhedral grains of titanite in the groundmass, and numerous mafic enclaves. The presence of titanite and pale pink K-feldspar indicates that those rocks are oxidized.

My thanks go to Davina Halloran for preparing many of these notes

References:

Blevin, P.L. & Chappell, B.W., 1996. ‘Internal evolution of Permo-Triassic high-K granites in the Tenterfield-Stanthorpe region, southern New England Orogen, Australia,’

Mesozoic Geology of the eastern Australia Plate Conference, Geological Society of

Australia, extended abstracts 43, pp 94-100.

Butler, H.R., 1974.’The Geology of the Stanthorpe-Leyburn Mineral District Queensland and New South Wales with particular reference to sedimentation, structure, tectonics,

igneous petrology, economic geology, geological history and geomorphology’,

BSc (Hons) Thesis, University of New England, Armidale, (unpubl.). Cooke, J.C., 2013. ‘Comparative Mineralisation and Genesis of Three Spatially Related Ore Deposits within the Silver Spur Beds, Texas, Queensland.’ BSc (Hons) Thesis, University of New England, Armidale, (unpubl.).

Donchak, P.J.T., Bultitude, R.J., Purdy, D.J., & Denaro, T.J., 2007.’Geology and Mineralisation of the Texas Region, South Eastern Queensland’ Queensland Geology Special Publication 11, Queensland Department of Mines and Energy. GSA 1992 GSA Field Conference Excursion Guide M.A. Lackie 1988 The magnetic fabric of the Late Permian Dundee Ignimbrite, Dundee, N.S.W.

Exploration Geophysics 19(4) 481 - 488

Malachite Resources Annual Report 2011: (EPM 18166)

Trezise, D.L. 1990 Building Stones, Department of Resource Industries, ISSN 1035 – 171X

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