sulphide deposits - utas
TRANSCRIPT
PROGRESS
REPORT
NOVEMBER 1986Australian Mineral Industries Research Association Limited
CONTROLS ON GOLD AND SILVER
GRADES IN VOLCANOGENIC
SULPHIDE DEPOSITS
(84/P210)
GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT
UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA
.AMIR~Australian Mineral Industries Research Association Limited
DT
17th November, 1986
11th Floor. 63 ·ExrHDlll0n StreetMelDOlJrne. 3000 Australia
Talaonona (03) 654 8844 Tale' AA 38530"., (03; 654 886'
CONTROLS ON GOLD AND SILVER GRADES IN VOLCANOGENIC SULPHIDE DEPOSITS(84/P210)
TOWN HOUSE139 wrLSON STREET
BURNIE TAS 7320
MONDAY 17TH NOVEMBER, 1986, AT 8.00 P.M. AT THE TOWN HOUSE'l.'lm>DAY 18TH & WEDNESDAY 19TH NOVEMBER, 1986 ON WEST COAST TASMANIA
ATTENDANCE LIST
CITICO
Aberfoyle Limited
Balcooma Joint Venture
The Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd.
Billiton Australia Limited
BP Minerals Australia
CSR Limited
Department of Mines, TAS
Electrolytic Zinc Company of A/AsiaLimited, C/- North Broken HillHoldings Limited
Pancontinenta1 Mining Limited
Gold Fields Exploration Pty. Limited ,
University of Tasmania
AMIRA
R. PatersonD. WallaceG. McarthurD. Jack
B. StainforthK. Harvey
P. GregoryA. ClarkeD. Windrim ..1)"- ...._
D. Hall
C. Laughton
R. FountainR. Williams
A. McNeilR. BottrillG. Green
S. Tay10rI. Mathison
K. Airas
P. RobertsL. Newnham
F. FitzgeraldT. Cartwright
R. LargeP. McGo1drickP. RuxtonS. AdrichemKihn ZawD. HustonS. HunsI. GordonR. Wedekind
J. D. Bailey
\
:8530
Universityof Tasmania
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. CONFIDENTIAL
AMIRA REPORT
NOVEMBER 1986
CONTROLS ON GOLD AND SILVER
GRADES IN VOLCANOGENIC
.SULPHIDE DEPOSITS
(84/P210)
CONTENTS
Page No.
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. SUMMARY OF PROJECTS 3
3. PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE FOOTWALL PRECIOUS METAL ZONE, 7QUE RIVER: Peter McGoldrick and Ross Large
4. ROSEBERY STUDY-oF LENS DEEP DRILLING: Khin Zaw 17
5. STERLING VALLEY PROJECT: lan Gordon 19
6. LAKE SELlNA PROSPECT: Steve Hunns 29
7. PRIMARY ALTERATION CHEMISTRY OF THE MOUNT READ VOLCANICS: 38. Ross Large, Anthony Crawford and Sharon Adrichem
8. GOLDEN GROVE--WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Peter Ruxton 46
9. TEUTONIC BORE--WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Peter Ruxton 72
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10. A PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION OF THE STRATIGRAPHY AND STRUCTUREOF THE BALCOOMA PROSPECT, NORTHERN QUEENSLAND: David Huston 84
11. GOLD AND SILVER RELATIONSHIPS IN AUSTRALIAN MASSIVE SULPHIDES: 90Ross Large
APPENDIX I: GOLD IN WESTERN TASMAI\IIA--prepared for the Aus IMM BicentenialVolume .
APPENDIX 11: FIELD EXCURSION GUIDES
1
INTRODUCTION
.Restatement of Aims:
To investigate the geological and geochemical controls on the distribution of precious metals within
'volcanic hosted massive sulphide deposits, with the objective of developing exploration models useful for
the discovery of further precious metal-rich deposits.
Background:
Due to the high concentration 0' gold and silver in the Western Tasmanian volcanogenic deposits, the
r project has initially concentrated on the documentation and study of gold-silver accumulation along the Mt.
Read Volcanic Arc. A four pronged approach has been adopted on the Tasmnanian deposits.
1) Detailed studies of pretious metal geology and geochemistry at Rosebery and Que River, the two
richest deposits.
2) Geology and geochemistry of a barren sulphide system, Lake Selina , to evaluate why some volcanic
hydrothermal systems are devoid of precious and base metals.
3) A study of gold mineralisation along the Henty Fault Zone, a major structure which dislocates the Mt.
Read Volcanic Arc and has been the focus of hydrothermal activity.
4) Researcr into the chemistry of the Mt. Read Volcanics to determine whether there is a relationship
between gold mineralisation and volcanic rock chemistry (either primary or alteration chemistry).
To compliment the Tasmanian studies, three Western Australian Archean volcanogenic deposits (Gossan
Hill, Scuddles, and Teutonic Bore), and a Queensland deposit (Balcooma) have been included in the
project for comparative purposes.
This Report.:
This second major report marks 15 months of research since commencement of the project in August
1985. The first report (April 1986), dealt mainly with research on;
- geology, structure, and metal distribution of the PQ lens and P-north lens at Que River.
- a chemical data base for the Mt. Read Volcanics.
This report covers further research developments on the Tasmanian deposits plus a comprehensive.
section on the Archean massive sulphides. Progress this year has been excellent and I would like to give
special thanks to all the AMIRA team members at the University of Tasmania for their dedication, support,
and fine standard of research.
RossLarge
Project Leader