Iron Magan Bauxite 2002 Mainbody
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Northern Territory Geological Survey NORTHERN TERRITORY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY IRON ORE, MANGANESE AND BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY Phil Ferenczi Government Printer of the Northern Territory REPORT 13 Darwin, December 2001 DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, INDUSTRY AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT MINISTER: Hon Paul Henderson, MLA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Peter Blake NORTHERN TERRITORY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DIRECTOR: Dr R Dennis Gee Ferenczi P (Phil) Iron ore, manganese and bauxite deposits of the Northern Territory (Report / Northern Territory Geological Survey ISSN 0814-7477; 13) Bibliography ISBN 0 7245 70381 BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Ferenczi P, 2001. Iron ore, manganese and bauxite deposits of the Northern Territory. Northern Territory Geological Survey, Report 13. Keywords: iron deposits, manganese deposits, aluminium deposits, Northern Territory, sedimentary ores, hydrothermal deposits, residual deposits, economic geology, exploration history, exploration potential, ore genesis, Proterozoic, Cretaceous, Tertiary. Northern Territory Geological Survey GPO Box 3000 DARWIN NT 0801 Web site: http://www.minerals.nt.gov.au/ntgs/index.html © Northern Territory Government 2001 Printed and published for the Northern Territory Geological Survey by the Government Printer of the Northern Territory Disclaimer This information is provided on the understanding that the user agrees to release and indemnify the Northern Territory, the Commonwealth of Australia, companies who supplied and acquired the data, and their employees, agents and contractors, in respect of all liability for actions, claims, costs, expenses, loss, damage or injury, which may be suffered by them, or any other persons, arising from the users use of the data, or as a consequence of any unlawful or negligent act or omission of the user. ii CONTENTS Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................................... vii Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................................................1 Regional geological framework ..................................................................................................................................................2 Prospective regions..................................................................................................................................................................4 Pine Creek Orogen ..............................................................................................................................................................4 Tennant Inlier.......................................................................................................................................................................7 Arunta province ...................................................................................................................................................................9 McArthur Basin .................................................................................................................................................................11 Arafura Basin..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Carpentaria Basin ..............................................................................................................................................................11 Money Shoal Basin............................................................................................................................................................13 Iron Ore ....................................................................................................................................................................................13 Definition and classification ..............................................................................................................................................13 Exploration and evaluation................................................................................................................................................15 Metallurgical and industrial uses .......................................................................................................................................17 Ore extraction and treatment – a summary........................................................................................................................18 Iron ore deposits of the NT .....................................................................................................................................................19 Iron ore exploration and mining in the NT .......................................................................................................................19 Classification and distribution of iron ore deposits of the Northern Territory..................................................................21 Oolitic sedimentary (Clinton-type) deposits .............................................................................................................................21 McArthur Basin .....................................................................................................................................................................22 Roper River iron field........................................................................................................................................................22 South Nicholson Basin ..........................................................................................................................................................27 Amadeus basin.......................................................................................................................................................................27 Georgina Basin ......................................................................................................................................................................27 Ore Genesis ...........................................................................................................................................................................27 Distal hydrothermal deposits .....................................................................................................................................................27 Pine Creek Orogen ................................................................................................................................................................28 Frances Creek iron field ....................................................................................................................................................28 Tennant Inlier.........................................................................................................................................................................33 Arunta province .....................................................................................................................................................................36 Ore genesis ............................................................................................................................................................................36 Skarn deposits............................................................................................................................................................................37 Pine Creek Orogen ................................................................................................................................................................37 Mount Bundey iron ore deposit .........................................................................................................................................37 Ore Genesis ...........................................................................................................................................................................38 Surficial deposits .......................................................................................................................................................................39 Pine Creek Orogen ................................................................................................................................................................40 McArthur Basin .....................................................................................................................................................................40 Arafura Basin.........................................................................................................................................................................40 Arunta province .....................................................................................................................................................................40 Iron ore prospectivity ..............................................................................................................................................................41 Manganese................................................................................................................................................................................41 Definition and classification