Exploration implications of hydrothermal alteration associated with epithermal Au-Ag deposits

J. Bruce Gemmell

doi:10.1071/ASEG2006ab048

ISSN: 2202-0586
E-ISSN:

oa Exploration implications of hydrothermal alteration associated with epithermal Au-Ag deposits
Authors J. Bruce Gemmell^a
View Affiliations Hide Affiliations

^a CODES, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 79 Hobart, , Tasmania, 7001, [email protected]
Publisher: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Source: ASEG Extended Abstracts, Volume 2006, Issue ASEG2006 - 18th Geophysical Conference, Dec 2006, p. 1 - 5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/ASEG2006ab048
- Published online: 01 Dec 2006

Abstract

This paper will present a synopsis of the results from a three year AMIRA project (P588) entitled ”Epithermal Gold-silver Deposits: Geological, Geochemical and Isotopic Vectors to Target Major Deposits”. Research was undertaken at the Ladolam, (Papua New Guinea), Gosowong, and Mt Muro (Indonesia), Cerro Vanguardia (Argentina) and Twin Hills and Bimurra (Australia) deposits. The sizes and styles of the deposits varied greatly from a low-grade to barren small vein-stockwork system at Bimurra and Twin Hills to high grade veins systems of different scales such as Gosowong, Mt Murro and Cerro Vanguardia to a large breccia-hosted low grade, disseminated system at Ladolam.

At each of the deposits alteration mineralogy and zonation were determined using a combination of surface mapping, drill hole logging, petrology, SWIR (PIMA), XRD and potassium feldspar staining. Electron microprobe analyses of specific minerals, whole-rock and trace element whole rock analyses and stable isotope geochemistry were utilised to characterise the geochemical signature of the hydrothermal alteration.

Results of this research have 1) substantially increase our knowledge of the mineralogical and whole-rock geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal alteration associated with low- and intermediate sulfidation epithermal deposits, 2) developed a range of vectors that point towards ore, both on district and deposit scales, which can be used when exploring in epithermal environments and 3) proposed a set of criteria for distinguishing potential ore grade systems from barren or low grade epithermal systems.

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1071/ASEG2006ab048

2006-12-01

2026-01-18

From This Site

/content/journals/10.1071/ASEG2006ab048

dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword

-contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution

10

5

Full text loading...

References

Booth, J., 2002, Mineralization and alteration of the Bimurra prospect, Drummond basin, Queensland, Australia: Honours Thesis, University of Tasmania.
Buchanan, L.J,. 1981, Precious metal deposits associated with volcanic environment in the southwest: in Relations of Tectonics to Ore Deposits in the Southern Cordillera, Dickinson W.R. and Payne, W.D., eds, Arizona Geological Society Digest 14, 237-262.
Carmen, G.D., 2003, Geology, mineralization, and hydrothermal evolution of the Ladolam gold deposit, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea: Economic Geology Special Publication 10, 247-284.
Cater, G., 2002, Deep hydrothermal alteration at the Ladolam epithermal gold deposit, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea. Masters thesis, University of Auckland.
Cooke, D.R. and Simmons, S.F., 2000, Characteristics and genesis of epithermal gold deposits: Reviews in Economic Geology 13, 245-278.
Gemmell, J.B, 2002, Hydrothermal alteration associated with the Gosowong low sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag vein deposit: ARC-AMIRAP588 Final Report 2, 1.1-1.11.
Heald, P., Foley, N.K. and Hayba, D.O., 1987, Comparative anatomy of volcanic hosted epithermal deposits: acid-sulfate and adularia-sericite types: Economic Geology 82, 1-26.
Hedenquist, J.W., Arribas, A. and Gonzalez-Urien, E., 2000, Exploration for epithermal gold deposits: Reviews in Economic Geology 13, 221-244.
Herrmann, W., 2002, Ladolam gold deposit, Lihir Island, PNG: ARC-AMIRA P588 Final Report 2, 4.1-4.10.
Ikramuddin, M., Asmeron, Y., Nodstrom, P.M., Kinart, K.P., Martin, W.M., Digby, S.J.M., Elder, D.D., Nijak, W.F. and Afemari, A.A., 1983, Thallium: a potential guide to mineral deposits: Journal of Geochemical Exploration 19, 465-490.
Ishikawa, Y, Sawaguchi, T., Iwaya, S. and Horiuchi, M., 1976, Delineation of prospecting targets for Kuroko deposits based on modes of volcanism of underlying dacite and alteration halos: Mining Geology 26, 105-117
Large, R.R., McPhie, J., Gemmell, J.B., Herrmann, W. and Davidson, G., 2001, The spectrum of ore deposit types, volcanic environments, alteration halos and related exploration vectors in submarine volcanic belts: some examples from Australia: Economic Geology 96, 913-938.
Olberg, D.J., 2001, Ore shoot targeting in the Gosowong vein zone, Halmahera, Indonesia: Masters Thesis, University of Tasmania.
Olberg, D.J., Rayner, J., Langmead, R. P. and Coote, J.A.R., 1999, Geology of the Gosowong Epithermal Gold Deposit, Halmahera, Indonesia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Publication 4/99, 179-186.
Reyes, A.G., 1990, Petrology of Philippines geothermal systems and the application of alteration mineralogy to their assessment: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Resources 43, 279-309.
Sennitt, C.M., 1991, Aspects of epithermal gold mineralization, Twin Hills, Queensland: Masters Thesis, James Cook University.
Shah, M.T., Ikamuddin, M. and Shervais, J.W., 1994, Behaviour of T1 relative to K, Rb, Sr and Ba in mineralized and unmineralized metavolcanics from the Dir area, northern Pakistan: Mineralium Deposita 29, 422-426.
Sharpe, R., 2002, Low sulfidation epithermal veins of the Cerro Vanguardia district, Patagonia, Argentina: integration of stratigraphic, alteration and geochemical constraints to define exploration vectors and discriminate high and low grade veins: ARC-AMIRA P588 Final Report 2, 5.1-5.19.
Sharpe, R., Riveros, C. and Scavuzzo, V., 2002, Stratigraphy of the Chon Aike Formation ignimbrite sequence at Cerro Vanguardia Au-Ag epithermal vein district: In Actas del XV Congreso Geológico Argentino CD-ROM, Cabaleri N., Cingolani, C.A., Linares, E., López de Luchi, M.G., Ostera, H.A. and Panarello, H.O., eds, Artículo N° 232.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1993, Epithermal models: genetic types, geometric controls and shallow features: In Mineral Exploration Modelling, Kirkham, R.V., Sinclair, W.D., Thorpe, R.I. and Duke, J.M. eds, Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 40, 403-417.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1997, Characteristics and controls of the largest porphyry copper-gold and epithermal gold deposits in the circum-Pacific region: Australian Journal of Earth Science 44, 373-388.
Simmons, S. F. and Browne, P.R.L., 1990, Mineralogic, alteration and fluid inclusion studies of epithermal gold-bearing veins at the Mt. Muro prospect, Central Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia: Journal of Geochemical Exploration 35, 63-104.
Simmons, S.F., White, N.C. and John, D.A., 2005, Geologic characteristics of epithermal precious and base metal deposits: Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume 485-522.
Tate, N.M., 2001, Geology of the Bimurra prospect MDL 22: Unpublished report for Delta Gold Ltd.
White, N.C., Leake, M.J., McCaughey, S.N. and Paris, B.W., 1995, Epithermal gold deposits of the southwest Pacific: Journal of Geochemical Exploration 54, 87-136.
White, N.C. and Hedenquist, J.W., 1990, Epithermal environments and styles of mineralization: variations and their causes, and guidelines for exploration: Journal of Geochemical Exploration 35, 445-474.
White, N.C. and Hedenquist, J.W., 1995, Epithermal gold deposits: styles, characteristics and exploration: Society of Economic Geologists Newsletter 23, 1, 9-13.
Wurst, A., 2002, Au-Ag low sulfidation epithermal vein and breccia systems, Mt Muro, Kalimantan, Indonesia: ARC-AMIRA P588 Final Report 2, 2.1-2.17.
Young, B., 2001, A mineralogical and geochemical study of the Lone Sister epithermal gold deposit, Queensland, Australia: Masters Thesis, University of Auckland.

/content/journals/10.1071/ASEG2006ab048

Article Type: Research Article

Keyword(s): epithermal; exploration vectors; hydrothermal alteration; lithogeochemistry; mineral chemistry

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

- Inversion of data from electrical imaging surveys in water-covered areas
  
  Authors M. H. Loke and J. W. Lane
- Inversion of Magnetic Data from Remanent and Induced Sources
  
  Authors Robert G. Elllis, Barrry de Wet and Ian N. Macleod
- A comparison of smooth and blocky inversion methods in 2-D electrical imaging surveys
  
  Authors M. H. Loke, Ian Acworth and Torleif Dahlin
- Designing matched bandpass and azimuthal filters for the separation of potential-field anomalies by source region and source type
  
  Authors Jeffrey D. Phillips
- Bad Colour Maps Hide Big Features and Create False Anomalies
  
  Authors Peter Kovesi
- Practical 3D EM inversion – the P223F software suite
  
  Authors Art Raiche, Fred Sugeng and Glenn Wilson
- Estimating Noise Levels in AEM Data
  
  Authors Andy Green and Richard Lane
- Target delineation using Full Tensor Gravity Gradiometry data
  
  Authors Colm A. Murphy and James Brewster
- Transdimensional Monte Carlo Inversion of AEM Data
  
  Authors Ross C Brodie and Malcolm Sambridge
- The geotech VTEM time domain helicopter em system
  
  Authors Ken Witherly, Richard Irvine and Edward Morrison
More Less

oa Exploration implications of hydrothermal alteration associated with epithermal Au-Ag deposits

Abstract

Most Read This Month

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed