CET Quarterly News ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

4D framework of Leonora gold camp Nicolas Thébaud, John Miller Mapping of the early architecture and Cam McCuaig North Introduction ? The Leonora district is located 205 Early Basin Architecture ? km north of Kalgoorlie in the Eastern deposition of LWD ? North Goldfield Super Terrane, the eastern division of the west Australian Archean > 2817 Ma Yilgarn Craton. The Leonora district ? is approximately 100km long by 80

North km wide and is well endowed with orogenic gold deposits (Figure 1). Despite multiple years of mining history, the geological and structural Doming history documented in the area remains controversial due to poor

North ~2750 Ma outcrop exposure, and also because of the protracted structural history that has affected the terrain (Skwarnecki 1988, Williams et al., 1989, Passchier, 1990, Vearncombe 1992, Williams and Curie 1993, Passchier 1994, Witt 2001, Baggott 2006, Blewett and Czarnota 2007, Thébaud 2010). Furthermore, Extension and deposition of LED the timing of the mineralisation still 2700 Ma ? remains a subject of controversy. Early E-W Compression models based on field observations North and structural relationships, but with Basin Inversion scarce geochronology, traditionally

North supported a model whereby at least part of the mineralisation developed at an early stage of the deformation history (i.e. Witt, 2001; Weinberg, 2008; Blewett et al., 2007). However this view has recently been challenged with U-Pb SHRIMP dating of accessory minerals associated with gold mineralisation (Baggot, 2006). The most recent model for mineralisation in the Leonora district is similar to ~2640 Ma that postulated for deposits in the continued on page 4. Summary Figure of the tectonic evolution of the Leonora district

PhotoPhoto (top): An exploration drill rig on Lake Lefroy,Lefroy, ssouthouth of KambaldaKambalda.. This photograph is reproduced with the kind permissionpermission ofof BHPBHP BillitonBilliton MineralMineral Exploration,Exploration, fromfrom tthehe WesternWestern MiningMining CorporationCorporation HoldingsHoldings LimitedLimited 19901990 AnnualAnnual ReportReport to Shareholders.Shareholders. CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

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The 2010 meeting of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) CET at SEG 2010 was held at Keystone Resort, Colorado, USA, on October 2-5. This Yongjun Lu international meeting with the title and theme, “The Challenge of Finding New Mineral Resources: Global Metallogeny, Innovative Exploration, and New Discoveries”, drew participants from industry, academia, and government from all over the world. One staff and three PhD students from CET attended this meeting. Prof. Steffen Hagemann was invited to give an oral presentation on the Archean orogenic gold mineral system. Three students including David Mole, Qingtao Zeng and Yongjun Lu were awarded the student travel grants (each grant exceeding US$2300) by SEG to give poster presentations on their PhD research. Yongjun was invited by the organizing committee to attend the panel discussion during which delegates discussed various issues ranging from student career plan to how to avoid divorce of exploration geologists. Yongjun was also involved in the Student Round Table Discussion presided by SEG president Jeff Hedenquist to work on a Student White Paper. The White Paper will help SEG improve its support of the education and training of economic geology students.

2 From the Director success, the CET will be adding several new staff and >7 PhD’s in 2011, further increasing our braintrust brought to bear on challenges facing the industry. Another big development in 2010 was the proposal by government to impose a Resource Rent Tax. CET has been further involved on our Members’ behalf in partnership with AMEC to model the effects of variations of this proposed new federal tax regime. This research through our Progressive Risk and Value stream is aimed at providing scientific analysis of the effects proposed taxes, and informing the decision making panels that have been assembled to debate and design the new tax. I am also pleased to say that the level of engagement by Corporate Members in proactively approaching CET with research initiatives has increased since 2005. In my opinion, this increase in proactive As a 2011 winds to a close I am happy to reflect on collaborative research design reflects a changing a year that has seen a solid rebound in the minerals paradigm in the industry, where more and more industry as a whole, and tremendous success for companies are seeing the value proposition of the Centre for Exploration Targeting. The CET is investing in strategically designed R&D to maintain continuing to grow its capacity to provide value to competitive advantage in the marketplace. It also Corporate Members, with our research efforts not strongly endorses the CET’s success in designing only being designed to address critical issues facing and delivering applied research outcomes for the the exploration industry, but also being recognised industry over its 5-year history. at the highest levels in the Australian Research I invite all Corporate Members to join us on our Council (ARC). In addition to the ARC success Corporate Members Day, Monday December 13 to announced in the last newsletter ($0.5M linkage view some of the terrific science and industry-relevant grant and $12.5M Federal Centre of Excellence in outcomes produced by the CET team and its research Core to Crust Fluid Systems), this last quarter has partners. I look forward to seeing all of you there and seen CET and an international team of researchers celebrating our continued success! awarded a $1.6M large linkage grant to study 4D lithospheric architecture and its control on mineral systems in Neoarchaean to Paleoproterozoic terranes. This latest research initiative pools the resources of 11 companies, 11 geoscience agencies, and several collaborating institutions under the umbrella of AMIRA and the ARC, and illustrates how CET is managing to align fundamental and applied research Professor T. Campbell McCuaig to aid exploration targeting. Concomitant with this Director

In this issue

12 CET awarded $1.6M to study 4D lithospheric architecture controls on mineral systems in Neoarchaean to Paleoproterozoic terranes 16 New types of alkaline porphyry Cu (±Mo, Au) mineral systems of western Yunnan, East Tibet: Compositional characteristics, sources, and exploration implications for continental collision metallogeny 26 Structural Framework for Low-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposits, South Korea

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 3 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

continued from page 1. southern Yilgarn Craton, with transpressive event (i.e. Baggot, linkage project (LP0776780). mineralisation occurring very 2006). Using a multidisciplinary late in the structural history of approach, including field based The focus of this article is to the belt. The mineralisation is structural and stratigraphic present new evidence collected interpreted to be synchronous analysis together with over the last two years in the with dextral-reverse movement geochronology and numerical Leonora district through a on regional structures developed 3D modeling, we present a collaborative project with St in response to a regional new 4D structural framework Barbara Ltd as part of an ARC for the Leonora district. This 121°10'0"E 121°20'0"E work, combined with the

28°30'0"S 28°30'0"S architectural evolution recorded through the stratigraphy and structural framework, helps to unlock the understanding of the mineralisation system and to Bundarra Pluton guide exploration models and LWD strategy. Regardless of the timing of mineralisation, it has been

28°40'0"S demonstrated in several 28°40'0"S Tarmoola terranes of varying age that the structural framework LED associated with mineralisation is intimately controlled by the early architecture (Dörling Jasper hill et al.,1996; Love et al.,2004; Garwin et al.,2005; Lund, 2008; Miller et al., 2010). The newly defined structural framework for Trump 28°50'0"S 28°50'0"S the Leonora district recognizes the occurrence of an early Raeside Pluton Harbour Lights rift architecture developed Tower Hill at the time of deposition of the greenstone stratigraphy. Sons Of Gwalia This early architecture in its current geometry is essentially associated with NW trending 7,0003,500 0 7,000 Meters features visible in the detailed

121°10'0"E 121°20'0"E gravity dataset. These NW trending features appear to

Proterozoic control thickness variations in the dykes (dolerite) stratigraphy and are interpreted Sediment 2665 +/- 9 to be primary syn-volcanic

Felsic Volcanic Gindalbie structures that continued to be a Ultramafic LED 2680 +/- 2 Kalgoorlie control on the broad geometry of Basalt the terrane during its subsequent evolution. We further suggest Mt George that this early architecture 2817+/-6(a) may have been a fundamental undifferenciated Basalt granitic suite element of a connected Raeside dated at LWD Dolerite ca. 2750 Ma plumbing system that controlled Ultramafic Amphibolite 2839+/-22 Au-mineralisation.

Figure 1: geological map and lithostratigraphy of the Leonora Gold Camp. (a) age from Baggott (2006)

4 Understanding the lithostratigraphy of the LED as the deposition age. As a lithostratigraphy consists of tholeiitic basalt, minor result of the above we interpret komatiite, calc-alkaline volcanic these ages to indicate deposition The fundamental building block rocks and sedimentary rocks of the LWD volcanic cycle that underpins the interpreted (Barley et al., 1989; Williams occurred between 2839±22 Ma regional structural framework is and Curie 1993, Passchier and 2817±6 Ma. a comprehensive understanding 1994). The calc-alkaline volcanic The age of the LED is of the lithostratigraphy. The sequences are mainly andesitic constrained by three precise Leonora lithostratigraphy and rhyolitic and were erupted SHRIMP U-Pb zircon (Figure 1) is similar in its facies from subaerial volcanic centres dates. Felsic volcanic rocks succession to that elsewhere (Halberg and Giles, 1986). in the Eastern Goldfields. It representing the northern consists of meta- mafic, Geochronology extension of the Jeedamya ultramafic, interbedded Rhyolite from the Rifle Range sedimentary units, felsic The age for each of the domains locality and Pumping Station volcanics and late sedimentary has been constrained by precise locality in the hanging wall of the basins that are intruded by SHRIMP U_Pb zircon dates. Mt George discontinuity were the Raeside pluton to the west Previous work (Baggott 2006) respectively dated at 2680±2 Ma and the Bundarra pluton to the produced a minimum age for the (Baggott 2006) and 2688±20 Ma North-east. However, in contrast LWD of 2741±8 Ma, which is the (this study). Both ages suggest with the typical 2.71 to 2.65 Ga age of a granodiorite intruding the onset of the felsic volcanism lithostratigraphy proposed for the lithostratigraphy in the Jasper from c. 2680 Ma. It is thus much of the Kalgoorlie Terrane Hill locality close to the base of suggested that the underlying (Kambalda, Kalgoorlie and the sequence defining the LWD. mafic and ultramafic rocks to Merougil Sequences of Kositcin A banded greywacke from the the East of the Mt George shear et al., 2008), the Leonora Mt George discontinuity returned zone were deposited prior to c. supracrustal cover may have a robust age of 2817±6Ma 2680 Ma and are probably coeval been deposited in two major (Baggott 2006). This age is with the Kambalda mafic and volcanic cycles. These cycles interpreted as a maximum age ultramafic sequence deposited have contrasting ages and are for deposition of the sedimentary at c. 2700 Ma. An additional separated by the Mt George unit forming the Mt George age for the mafic conglomerate discontinuity (Figure 1). Based discontinuity and it also provides in the hanging wall of the on contrasting lithostratigraphic a constraint on the top of the ultramafic Sullivans unit returned content and geochronological LWD (Figure 1). a detrital age of 2670±11Ma (this study) which is coeval with record existing on either side A new U-Pb age for a felsic other ages obtained in other of the northwest trending volcanoclastic interflow sediment late metasedimentary basins Mt George discontinuity, the collected from the Harbour throughout the Yilgarn (Kositcin greenstone sequence can Lights deposit region (Figure 1) et al., 2008)). As a result, we be divided into two domains, as part of the study returned a suggest that the LED volcano- namely the Leonora Western mean concordia age on inherited sedimentary cycle occurred Domain (LWD) and the Leonora cores of 2839±22 Ma. The between c.2700 Ma and 2670 Eastern Domain (LED). zircon rims returned a mean +-12 Ma. The LED may therefore age of 2777±12 Ma. This age In the LWD the lithostratigraphy be interpreted as a direct is younger than the sediments consists of tholeiitic basalts and equivalent of the lithostratigraphy at the top of the LWD sequence komatiitic basalts with minor from the Kalgoorlie and and the age is interpreted to be interbedded sedimentary units Gindalbie domains. and rare felsic volcaniclastic a metamorphic over growth. An rocks. These rocks are alternate interpretation is that What structural metamorphosed to amphibolite the depositional age is 2777±12 Ma, however this is younger framework to and upper greenschist facies, mineralisation? with metamorphic grades than the 2817±12Ma age from increasing towards the contact the banded greywacke defining Four major northwest-striking with the Raeside pluton. The the top of the LWD. Furthermore complex shear zones are present Mt George discontinuity all the younger ages were in the district: the Poker Fault, unconformably caps the obtained from zircon rims which Sons of Gwalia (SOG) shear western greenstone succession returned Th/U ratios below 1 and zone, the Mt George lineament, and consists of deformed significantly lower than the zircon and the Keith-Kilkenny high- quartzite, chlorite- (locally core. We thus suggest that the strain zone. The Poker Fault andalusite)-schist and slate with unimodal population in the core runs along the margin of the quartz-sericite alteration. The of the zircons can be interpreted Raeside batholiths and is

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 5 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

interpreted to separate high geophysical sections (i.e. TMI), potential surfaces, and structural grade metamorphic rocks at the gravity worms as well as the dips correspond to gradients of contact with the granitic dome geological knowledge into a 3-D the potential. This software also from low grade metamorphic geometrical model. The data allows for a pseudo-geological rocks. The SOG shear zone used to constrain the model were; description of the relationships occurs east of the margin of the (1) the SBM Leonora geological between geological bodies Raeside granitoid. Kinematic map including geological surface through a “geological pile” or indicators suggest that the SOG observations and the structural stratigraphic succession. shear zone recorded a complex data, (2) key interpreted sections A 48.5 X 44 X 6 km 3-D model kinematic history with an initial over selected deposits, (3) of the regional geology of the normal sense of displacement gravity worms derived from Leonora district was interpolated locally reactivated by thrust the gravity dataset in order to and was used to compute the movement (i.e. Williams et al., assess the orientation at depth gravity and magnetic 3-D effects 1989, Vearncombe 1992, Blewett of major lithological interfaces, of the model. This process, et al., 2007). The Mt George (4) seismic lines, (5) existing 3D called forward modeling, lineament occurs to the east inversions of the Raeside dome, ensured that (1) all complex of the SOG shear zone and (6) aeromagnetic images, (7) drill 3-D effects of geological bodies defines the western margin of hole data. are correctly taken into account the Keith-Kilkenny high strain In 3-D GeoModeller the and (2) the 3-D interpolation zone. The Mt George lineament interpolation of the available has not introduced spurious is a major terrane boundary information into 3-D space is geometries. After discretising that locally separates the LWD achieved using implicit surfaces the model into voxels, the 3-D from the LED, and regionally is (Lajaunie et al., 1997). The 3-D gravity effect of the model was one of the boundaries between geological space is described computed using average rock the Kalgoorlie and Gindalbie through a potential field in which densities for each modeled Terranes (e.g., Kositcin et al., the geological boundaries are iso- lithology in accordance with 2008). The Keith-Kilkeny high strain zone comprises several a/ Initial iteration shear zones (Keith, Kilkenny, Germatong, and Cemetery) with apparent sinistral movement. Within this broad framework the detailed structural evolution of the Leonora district has been documented by numerous workers (Skwarnecki 1988, Williams et al., 1989, Passchier, 1990, Vearncombe 1992, Williams and Curie 1993, Passchier 1994, Witt 2001, b/ last iteration Baggott 2006, Blewett and Czarnota 2007). The 3D modeling contribution? Methodology 3-D modeling of the Leonora granite greenstone district, was undertaken using the 3-D GeoModeller Software (Aug, Measured Calculated Missfit 2004; Guillen et al., 2004, 2006). This allowed the integration Figure 2: This Figure displays the misfit between the Bouguer anomaly measured and the 3-D model gravity effect (calculated). Note that a good misfit value should be the closest to of all available information 0 Light green colors. On the north western corner of the model the misfit residues remain such as seismic sections, significant and may be due to a grid effect as the corner of the region studied was only characterized by a wide-spaced gravity survey.

6 Sons of Gwalia Detail of the complex granite morphology in the Northern Domain

Tarmoola N N

3D fault network Tarmoola 10 KM 5 KM

Figure 3: Screen capture of the Leonora 3D model generated with Geomodeller. those obtained from comparable The integration of geophysical 1km on the eastern margin of the geological context (Williams 2009; and geological dataset allowed Raeside dome to ~5km in the Agnew district). The measured us to redefine the Raeside overall northern domain. The dramatic gravity data were compared to geometry. The Raeside dome decrease in stratigraphic thickness the calculated gravity effects of is rooted at deep crustal levels on the east margin of the dome the 3D model. The comparison of whereas the Granitoid bodies to can either be interpreted as the both datasets generated a third the East of the Mt George are product of structural excision dataset where the misfit between more typical to high level intrusion during an early deformation stage the residual Bouguer anomaly floating in the greenstone. as suggested by Passchier (1994) and the 3-D model gravity effect is Furthermore, to the south the or as a lateral thickness variation displayed (Figure 2a). This dataset Raeside contact appears to within an early basin. The highlight the variations existing be near vertical over the depth variation in stratigraphic thickness between the measured gravity extension of the model. To the is not related to simple thrust field and the calculated potential north the Raeside the granite- or fold duplication because the field response derived from the greenstone contact becomes lithostratigraphic succession has 3D geological model. In other a near horizontal interface at been conserved (Figure 4). words, a misfit equal to 0 implies a a depth of about 4km below perfect fit between the measured surface. In the northern region Mapping early architecture and calculated potential fields. the greenstone is intruded by Mapping the early architecture in The misfit can be used to assess numerous deep seated intrusions terrane that has undergone a long the 3D geological model and (figure 3). and protracted tectonic evolution provides a visual aid to assess The 3D model identified a is a challenge and is in many the domains of the 3D model that large thickness variation of the cases highly speculative. Recent requires further modification. As Leonora Western Domain. This work at St Ives (Miller et al., 2010) part of this process the model was lithostratigraphic sequence has a has identified early syn-rift fault readjusted and forward modeled thickness ranging from less than architecture and linked this to later throughout successive iterations until a satisfying fit between the measured and calculated potential field was obtained (Figure 2b).

Modeling Outcomes Sons of Gwalia The 3D model is a tool that allows Tarmoola for a more rigorous assessment N of the current architecture of the Leonora district. The main outcomes of this 3D reconstruction were: 1. a refinement of the definition of the

granite-greenstone geometry, 10 KM 2. constraining large lateral thickness variations of the Leonora Figure 4: screen capture from the 3D model looking to the SE and showing the thickness stratigraphic lower sequence. variation from south (~1km) to north (~5 km) along strike. Note that the stratigraphic pile preserves the same lithological succession at Tarmoola and Sons of Gwalia.

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 7 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

gold mineralisation. Through our Hill both lay on a NW-trending Putting it together: multidisciplinary approach we lineament). This association is toward a regional have combined various datasets reinforced by the occurrence of paragenesis in an attempt to see through the negative gravity anomalies along more recent deformation events. these NW-trends in the ultramafic The local structural evolution In addition to the syn-deposition and/or mafic lithostratigraphic presented below is derived from lateral thickness variation of pile, likely indicative of intrusions previous studies but also relies the LWD, the analysis of high along them at depth. on the integration of our recent resolution gravity dataset has field observations with newly Field mapping of the strain identified NW trending features available geochronological data. intensity documented in (figure 5). Although these are The structural evolution can be the southern and northern cryptic in nature these trends synthesized as follow: domains cannot fully account show a close association with; for the thickness variation in — Early rift architecture: 1) lithostratigraphic thickness stratigraphy. The conservation of Deposition of Mafic ultramafic variations within the LWD and, 2) the lithostratigraphic succession sequence prior to ca. 2741Ma, variations in the granite geometry across the LWD from north to and possibly >2817+-6 Ma as modeled in 3D (Figure 5). south is interpreted to be related (Figure 6). The dramatic As part of the study these to lateral thickness variation decrease in stratigraphic NW-trending structures were established at the time of thickness from northwest to ground-truthed and were deposition of the greenstones southeast between the Mt George found to locally associated (Figure 4). This interpretation shear zone and along the Raeside with felsic volcanoclastic flows suggests that the current Pluton is interpreted to be related occurring at a high angle to greenstone geometry is in to lateral thickness variation the stratigraphic (e.g., Harbour part related to an early basin across early NW-trending normal Lights deposit). In other areas architecture. faults within an early basin they correlated with early ductile Based on the combination of (Thébaud et al., 2010). This shear fabrics that predated these observations, we argue basin architecture is interpreted brittle deformation associated that these NW-trends are early to have been accommodated by with gold mineralisation (e.g.at fundamental structures that may a set of NW striking normal and the Trump deposit) and in have played a critical role in the N striking transfer faults within some areas directly correlated deposition of the lithostratigraphy, a possible (local?) North-South with mineralisation trend (e.g., the emplacement of the granitic extension setting. This recently Clifton Hill). At the district scale a magmatism, the geometry of recognised early architecture is correlation exists between these the Raeside pluton and the inferred to have formed a series NW-trends and gold occurrence mineralisation in the Leonora of fundamental flaws in the (e.g., Sons of Gwalia and Tower area. crust that played a central role

N N

Sons of Gwalia

5 km

Figure 5: early architecture of the Leonora district highlighted in the gravity data set. Left: first derivative of the Bouguer anomaly in purple is represented the Raeside ultramafic unit as modeled during this study, right: textural analysis produce by Eun-Jung Holden from CET.

8 Early rift architecture

North

Deposition of the basal Leonora greenstone succession (rift phase) in a basin ? geometry and responsible for large ? Normal fault Transfer fault ? (NW features in curent geometry) North

caps regionaly the Leonora district (sag phase).

Figure 6: Block diagram synthesizing the emplacement of the lower Leonora greenstone stratigraphy in an extensional environment (Early rift architecture). in the response of the crust to shear zone. Furthermore, (Figure 8). The Raeside dome subsequent deformation events, we suggest that the early rift geometry strongly affected focussing magmas and auriferous architecture may have in part strain partitioning throughout the fluids throughout the tectonic controlled the emplacement and district during this event, with the evolution. geometry of the granitic domes. northern domain representing a major pressure shadow during — Granitoid Doming: — Deposition of the Kalgoorlie D3 compression. During this Emplacement of the Raeside and Gindalbie sequence (LED): later deformation event the NW dome between ca. 2750 Ma Renewed extension (Figure trending structures may have (crystallization age on intrusive 7) and deposition of the LED been reactivated forming local granitoid in dome) and ca. lithostratigraphic succession thrust and/or contractional jogs. 2741 Ma. The granitoid dome dated ca. 2720 Ma. The Mt emplacement was the result George shear zone at this point Conclusions of either regional extension, is a major terrane boundary gravitationally driven tectonics however the movement sense This paper presents the results or the combination of both along the structure remains of an integrated multidisciplinary (Weinberg 2008, Thébaud 2010). uncertain. It is inferred to have 4D study applied to the Leonora Deformation is characterised by a had a major component of gold camp that documents strong layer parallel ductile fabric east-directed normal movement the fundamental architecture and an arcuate ductile shear associated with the development present at the time of greenstone zone at the margin of the Raeside of the Eastern Leonora volcanic deposition. It is suggested that dome (Poker Fault and Sons of cycle as a graben structure this early rift architecture has Gwalia Shear). The juxtaposition (Passchier et al., 1994). a major control on the original of rocks of higher metamorphic Mafic units from the LED are basin-fill thickness but also that it grade (amphibolite) that occurs interpreted as a Kambalda controls the response of the crust at the contact of the Raeside sequence equivalent (2700 – to all subsequent deformation pluton with rocks of a lower 2690 Ma, undated at Leonora) events. As documented in other metamorphic grade (greenschist) and the felsic volcanic and mineral provinces, such early further to the east (and northeast) sedimentary sequences of the architecture is appears to have a is consistent with extensional LED are interpreted as Kalgoorlie strong control on the localisation displacement during this event sequence equivalent and dated of magmatism and centres of (Williams and Currie, 1993). The c. 2680 Ma and c. 2670 Ma hydrothermal alteration. The NW-trending cross-structures respectively. improved understanding of the developed in the early stage of 4D architecture of the Leonora — ENE-WSW compression deposition of the supracrustal district provides a powerful tool and basin inversion: This cover may have been reactivated to target NiS and Au resources in deformation is characterized as transfer faults accommodating the region. by folding, brittle/ductile the normal displacement along N-S shear zones and thrusts the Poker and Sons of Gwalia

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 9 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

References Baggott, M., 2006, A Refined Model for the Magmatic, Tectonometamorphic northern and Hydrothermal Evolution of Leonora domain North District, Eastern Goldfields Province, early transfer Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, PhD faults? Thesis, UWA, 406 p.

Blewett R and Czarnota K (2007) A early normal faultsreactivated new integrated tectonic framework of as transferfaults? Southern the Eastern Goldfields superterrane, domain Kalgoorlie ’07, Record 2007/14, 33-38. Dörling, S.L., Dentith, M.C., Groves, D.I., Vearncombe, J.R., 1996. Mississippi Kinematic and Valley- type deposits of the southeast magma focusing Lennard Shelf: an example of the North interplay of extensional deformation, sedimentation and mineralization. In: Sangster, D.F. (Ed.), Carbonate-Hosted Extension and deposition Lead-Zinc Deposits. Soc. Econ. Geol. of LED lithostratigraphy Spec. Publ. No. 4, pp. 96–111. Dunphy, J.M., Fletcher, I.R., Cassidy, K.F., and Champion, D.C., 2003, Compilation of SHRIMP U-Pb Figure 7: Block diagram synthesizing extension and deposition of the upper geochronology data, Yilgarn Craton, stratigraphic succession east of the Mt George shear zone. The doming was most Western Australia, 2001-2002: likely associated with the combination of regional extension and vertical gravity Geoscience Australia Record, 2003/15, driven tectonics. Detail of the Raeside margin showing the possible reactivation 139 p. of the early architecture (NW trends) as transfer faults. Note that these structures may have been exploited by both fluids and magma. Duuring, P., Hageman., and Love, R.J., A Thrust Ramp Model for Gold Mineralisation at the Archean Trondhjemite-Hosted Tarmoola Deposit: The Importance of Heterogeneous North Northern Stress Distributions around Granitoid domain Contacts, 2001; v. 96; no. 6; p. 1379- 1396 Fletcher, I.R., Dunphy, J.M., Cassidy, K.F., and Champion, D.C., 2001, Southern domain Compilation of SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology data, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, 2000-2001: Geosciences Australia Record, 2001/47, structure reactivation 111 p. Garwin, S., Hall, R., Watanabe, Y., 2005. Tectonic setting, geology and gold and copper mineralization in Cenozoic magmatic arcs of Southeast Asia and the west Pacific. In: Hedenquist, J., Goldfarb, R., Thompson, J. (Eds.), E-W compression Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Basin Inversion Volume. Soc. Econ. Geol., pp. 891–930. Hallberg, J.A., 1985, Geology and mineral deposits of the Leonora-Laverton Figure 8: Block diagram synthesizing the late E-W compression. Detail of the area, northeast Yilgarn Block, Western Eastern Raeside margin showing the reactivation of the early architecture as Australia: Perth, Hesperian Press, 140 p. restraining jogs along N-S trending reverse-sinistral shear zones. Kositcin, N., Brown, S.J.A., Barley, M.E., D.C., 2008. SHRIMP U–Pb zircon age

10 constraints on the Late Archaean Passchier, C.W., 1990, Report on mineralisation in the Archean tectonostratigraphic architecture of the geology of the Leonora area, Kalgoorlie Terrane, Yilgarn Craton: the Eastern Goldfields Superterrane, Western Australia: Bureau of Mineral Precambrian Research. v. 161, 77-88. Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Resources, Geology and Geophysics, Williams, P.R., and Currie, K.L., 1993, Precamb. Res. 161, 5–33. Record 1990/59, 14. Character and regional implications Kreuzer OP, Etheridge MA, Guj P, Passchier, C.W., 1994, Structural of the sheared Archaean granite- McMahon ME, Holden D (2008) geology across a proposed Archaean greenstone contact near Leonora, Linking mineral deposit models to terrane boundary in the eastern Western Australia: Precambrian quantitative risk analysis and decision- Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia: Research, v. 62, p. 343-365. making in exploration. Economic Precambrian Research, v. 68, p. 43-64. Williams, P.R., Nisbet, B.W., and Geology 103: 829-850. Skwarnecki, M.S., 1988, Alteration and Etheridge, M.A., 1989, Shear zones, Love, D.A., Clark, A.H., Glover, J.K., deformation in a shear zone hosting gold mineralisation and structural 2004. The lithologic, stratigraphic, and gold mineralisation at Harbour Lights, history in the Leonora District, Eastern structural setting of the giant Antamina Leonora, Western Australia, in Groves, Goldfields Province, Western Australia: copper–zinc Skarn deposit, Ancash, D.I., ed., Advances in Understanding Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, Peru. Econ. Geol. 99, 887–916 Precambrian Gold Deposits, Volume v. 36, p. 383-403. II, The Geology Department (Key Lund, K., 2008. Geometry of the Witt, W.K., 2001, Tower Hill Gold Centre) and University Extension, neoproterozoic and paleozoic Deposit, Western Australia: an The University of Western Australia, rift margin of western Laurentia; atypical, multiply deformed Archaean Publication 12, p. 111-129. implications for mineral deposit gold-quartz vein deposit: Australian settings. Geosphere 4, 429–444. Vearncombe, J.R., 1992, Archaean Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 48, p. gold mineralisation in a normal- 81-99. Miller, J., Blewett, R., Tunjic, J., motion shear zone at Harbour Connors, K., 2010, The role of early Witt, W.K., 2002, Leonora Exploration Lights, Leonora, Western Australia: formed structures on the development Models, SBM- internal report, Library Mineralium Deposita, v. 27, p. 182-191. of the world class St Ives Goldfield, catalogue No : 0051-31.Ex mandien Yilgarn, WA: Precambrian Research, Weinberg, R.F. and van der Borgh, atatilii sed in press. P., 2008, Extension and gold

PhD AWARDED TO ANTONY MAMUSE Congratulations are in order for Antony, now Dr. Mamuse, for having successfully completed his PhD degree in Applied Geology based on his thesis entitled ‘Spatial statistical estimation of undiscovered mineral endowment: case of komatiite-associated nickel sulphide deposits, Kalgoorlie Terrane, Western Australia’. Based on the PhD study, Antony has so far published three papers (two in Ore Geology Reviews and one in Economic Geology). Antony was awarded a scholarship to undertake his PhD research that was jointly funded by Curtin University of Technology, the Centre for Exploration Targeting and Intierra Pty Limited. His PhD follows a BSc and a BSc Honours (Geology) degree at the University of Zimbabwe and an MSc in Applied Geology at Curtin University on the geochemistry and health impacts of high fluoride groundwaters. His current study integrates concepts of geology, spatial analysis and mathematical-statistical modelling for estimating undiscovered nickel endowment in the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia. The work demonstrates that although quite complex, geological objects and phenomena can be substantially abstracted to permit appropriate application of the mathematical-statistical modelling techniques. Although best demonstrated by a well defined mineral system such as the komatiite-associated nickel sulphide system, methods presented in this study are potentially applicable to any mineral system anywhere in the world. This study further illustrates that a viable approach can usefully couple geological concepts with spatial point pattern analysis, centrograghy, deposit-density modelling and regression analysis. Strengths and potential pitfalls that may arise in the use of mathematical-statistical methods in mineral resources assessment are highlighted. After submitting his PhD thesis, Antony Mamuse worked on the Geological Survey of Western Australia’s Yilgarn Exploration Targeting Atlas Project where he focused on prospectivity mapping and spatial analysis of gold. Antony is currently in Zimbabwe working on a fourth publication from his thesis and preparing to return to Australia for postdoctoral research fellowship.

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 11 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010 CET awarded $1.6M to study 4D lithospheric architecture controls on mineral systems in Neoarchaean to Paleoproterozoic terranes Cam McCuaig

The Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET) is convergence of advances in analytical capability, delighted to announce that the Australian Research intense industry interest and concomitant levels of Council (ARC) has awarded the CET, and an funding. The project will also be the first to examine international industry-academia-government research lithospheric architecture, its control on upper-crustal team, a large Linkage grant of $1.6M dollars over geology (stratigraphy, structure, mineral systems) three years to study the 4D lithospheric architecture through time by integrating structural, geophysical, of Neoarchaean to Paleoproterozoic terranes and geochemical and isotopic studies from the sub-grain its control on mineral systems. This initiative, led by scale to the scale of entire cratons. CET, in partnership with the West African Exploration The study will focus on the time slice across the Initiative, led by the Institut de Recherche pour le Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic time periods Dévéloppement (http://www.waxi2.org) will kick off on between 2.7-1.7 billion years ago (Ga). This 1st of January 2011 and bring together the resources critical time period in Earth history is not only well of 11 partner companies, 11 geoscience agencies endowed with mineral resources, but also reflects a and 11 research institutions under the umbrella of fundamental transition in the geodynamic evolution AMIRA International and the ARC to address this of our planet, which profoundly and irreversibly fundamental scientific challenge (Figure 1). impacted on the nature of the Earth’s biosphere- The primary aim of this project is to map and hydrosphere-atmosphere. correlate lithospheric architecture (crust + upper Recent work in the Yilgarn Craton of Western mantle, 200 to >400 km thickness), mineral systems Australia (Champion and Cassidy, 2007; Mole et al., and metal endowment through space and time, 2010; ARC LP0776780) has applied multi-isotopic seeding paradigm shifts in (1) understanding the analyses of zircons and whole-rock intrusive and evolution of the earth and (2) exploration for giant ore volcanic rocks to reveal how the lithosphere has systems in a wide range of commodities, including evolved through time (Figure 2). This lithospheric Au, Ni and Fe. This project reflects the assembly architecture is seen to control variations observed of a remarkable brain trust and marks a unique in mafic-ultramafic stratigraphy, as well as the distribution of komatiite-hosted nickel mineral systems through time (Mole et al., 2010; Begg et al. Econ. Geol., in press). Furthermore, work by McCuaig et al. (in press) has shown how this architecture correlates with other stratigraphic and metamorphic variations and the distribution of other mineral systems such as iron and gold. The new study builds on these recent research outcomes in the Yilgarn Craton and will produce similar multi-isotopic data sets over Paleoproterozoic terranes, in order to test (1) if the deep lithospheric architecture can be effectively Figure 1. Map showing location of 3 terranes to be studied, key research nodes (gray text mapped by isotopic proxy and boxes), and associated research nodes (white text boxes).

12 (2) if the interpreted deep architecture exerts similar characterisation of igneous (volcanic and intrusive controls on observed variations in the upper crust, rocks) and sedimentary rocks. This integrated particularly on the spatial and temporal distribution approach has never before been undertaken at the of mineral systems. Specifically, the multi-modular scale of this project. study will address the Birimian Terranes of West The maps of fundamental lithospheric architecture Africa (2.2-2.0 Ma), building upon and integrating through time produced during this study will the AMIRA P934a WAXI-2 initiative, and the Tanami fundamentally impact on exploration strategies Inlier (1.9-1.7 Ma), building upon preliminary work (through the correlation with mineral deposit genesis completed as part of MERIWA M389 (Joly et al., and location), and on the hypotheses for Earth’s 2010), as illustrated in Figure 1. evolution over this unique and critical period of The study takes advantages of the latest advances in its history. It is anticipated that this study will be a technology, employing novel approaches to imaging benchmark for crustal evolution and mineralisation the lithospheric architecture through the isotopic studies in Precambrian terranes. The study firmly establishes CET as a leader in this area of research and in West African geology. Furthermore, the project is a clear demonstration of how CET is effectively leveraging maximum scientific and industry-relevant outcomes for its industry partners. References Begg, G.C., Hronsky, J.M.A., Arndt, N.T., Griffin, W.L., O’Reilly, S.Y., Hayward, N. (in press). Lithospheric, Cratonic, and Geodynamic Setting of Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide Deposits. Economic Geology. Champion, D.C. and Cassidy, K.F., 2007, An Overview of the Yilgarn and its Crustal Evolution. in: Bierlein F.P. and Knox- Robinson C.M., (editors), 2007. Proceedings of Kalgoorlie ’07 Conference, Geoscience Australia Record 2007/14, pp 8-13 Joly, A., McCuaig, T. C., and Bagas, L., 2010, The importance of early crustal architecture for subsequent basin-forming, magmatic and fluid flow events. The Granites-Tanami Orogen example: Precambrian Research, v. 182, p. 15-29. Mamuse, A., Beresford, S., Porwal, A., Kreuzer, O., 2010. Assessment of undiscovered nickel sulphide resources, Kalgoorlie Terrane, Western Australia. Part 1. Deposit and endowment density models. Ore Geology Reviews 37, 141–157. McCuaig, T.C., Miller, J.M., Fiorentini, M.L., Thebaud, N., Mole, D.R. (in press). Controls on giant mineral systems in the Yilgarn. In McCuaig (ed) 5th international Archaean Symposium Field Guide. GSWA Record. McCuaig, T. C., Beresford, S., and Hronsky, J., 2010, Translating the mineral systems approach into an effective Figure 2. A. Map of neodymium model ages for low-calcium exploration targeting system: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 38, granites (emplaced 2.66–2.63 Ga) of the Yilgarn Craton p. 128-138. (Champion and Cassidy, 2007), also showing the location of low-calcium granite samples (white circles). The contoured data Mole, D.R., Fiorentini, M., Thebaud, N., McCuaig, C., effectively map the age of the lithosphere from which the granitic Cassidy, K.F., Barnes, S.J., Belousova, E.A., Mudrovska, I., melts were derived and, by proxy, the edges of the paleocraton at Doublier, M. (2010). Lithospheric controls on the localisation the time of granite emplacement. Superimposed are the location of komatiite-hosted nickel-sulphide deposits. 5th of late Archean gold deposits (2.67–2.63 Ga, yellow circles; International Archaean Symposium program with abstracts. modified from Robert et al., 2005) and 2.7 Ga nickel sulphide camps (red circles; Mamuse et al., 2010). The deposit size ranges Robert, F., Poulsen, K.H., Cassidy, K.F., Hodgson, C.J., are shown in Fig. 2B. B. The geology of the Yilgarn (scale 1:500 K; 2005. Gold metallogeny of the Superior and Yilgarn Craton. GSWA 2008). Pink colours denote granitoid and granitoid gneiss, In: Hendequist, J.W., Thompson, J.F.H., Goldfarb, R.J., other colours represent supracrustal lithologies. The 2.7 Ga nickel Richards, J.P. (Eds.), Economic Geology, One hundredth sulphide and 2.67–2.63 Ga gold systems are overlain as in A. Note the spatial correlation between transitional craton margins anniversary volume (1905–2005). Society of Economic (green-yellow colours in A) and the location of mineral systems. Geologists, Inc, Littleton, Colorado, pp. 1001–1033. From McCuaig et al (2010).

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 13 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010 CET Projects

Western Australian Projects and research Projects and Researchin Western Australia (2009 / 2010) 15°0'0"S Speewah Ti-V genesis Ni-Cu-PGENi-Cu-PGE Au/Au-CuAu / Au-Cu FeFe Halls MTMT lines lines 4D model of the Creek Tanami: Au mineral Terrane-scaleTerrane-scale projects projects systems / prospectivity analysis 20°0'0"S

Telfer Au Arunta EIS GSWA

Hamersley Structural control / alteration of BIF-hosted iron ore at Paraburdoo 4D evolution of Plutonic and Mt Tom Price greenstone belt and Au Lithospheric architecture of W Musgraves Lithogeochemical prospectivity in the BIF-hosted Wiluna Musgraves iron ore project 25°0'0"S

Structural controls at Jundee

4D evolution of BIF-hosted iron ore Agnew gold field Nebo-Babel in the Weld Range Ni-Cu project

Ni-Norseman- Wiluna GB Mineral systems analysis at Sunrise Dam - Au

BIF-hosted iron ore in the Koolyanobbing 4D model of Leonora - Au greenstone belt Coolgardie - Au 30°0'0"S Kalgoorlie Lithospheric architecture Lithospheric architecture of SE Yilgarn margin of S Yilgarn

Perth

ARC Linkage: Tectonic evolution 4D evolution of of Southern Cross - Au St Ives field

Structural controls ARC Linkage: multiscale of NiS at Flying Fox modelling of ore systems Lake Johnston greenstone belt - Ni ARC Linkage:

controls on NiS camps 35°0'0"S

050 100 200 300 400 500 km Last updated September 2010

60°0'0"N 30°0'0"N 0°0'0" 30°0'0"S 60°0'0"S Controls on Au-Cu Controls on systems, Mindanao 4 D model of Tennant Creek 4 D model Tennant of StructuralAu controls of Magadan Ni-Cu-PGE Au in Lamping- in Au Simao basin Au in West Qinling West in Au Last updated November 2010 Western Australia See map of Bratsk Ni Batu Hijau Au Batu Hijau Dharwar craton Komatiites of Au-Sb-Pb-Zn Tibetan plateau project Country scale projects Sn-W Fe NiS prospectivity - Zimbabwe Obuasi Au Siguri Au Ni-Cu-PGE Pechenga Complex Au / Au-CuAu / Au-Ag-Mn PGE / Ni Yanfolila belt Au belt Yanfolila Subika Au AMIRA P934A AMIRA WAXI-2 Andorinhas Au BIF-hosted iron ore Ni-Cu-PGE genesis in Ivrea Zone StructuralAu controls of in Iron Quadrangle Sn-W project Jaspilite-hosted iron ore Ni-Cu in Abitibi Abitibi in Ni-Cu greenstone belt Casposo Au project Farallónproject Negro Au Pampeanasinitiative Au targeting inPataz Global Projects and Research Au - prospectivity mapping in subprovince Wabigoon

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 15 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010 New types of alkaline porphyry Cu (±Mo, Au) mineral systems of western Yunnan, East Tibet: Compositional characteristics, sources, and exploration implications for continental collision metallogeny

Yong-jun Lua,g, T. Campbell McCuaiga, Robert Kerrichb, Craig J.R. Hartc, Peter Cawoodd, A.I.S. Kempe, Zheng-xiang Lif, Zeng-qian Houg

a Centre for Exploration Targeting, School of Earth and Environment, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia b Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5E2, Canada c Mineral Deposit Research Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada d Department of Earth Sceinces, University of St. Andrews, North Street, St. Andrews, KY 169 AL, UK e School of Earth and Environmental Science, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia f Institute for Geoscience Research, Department of Applied Geology, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia g Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, China Introduction Porphyry Cu (PC) systems are defined as large volumes of hydrothermally altered rock centered on granitoid stocks with porphyritic texture; skarns, carbonate-replacement, sediment-hosted, and high- and intermediate-sulfidation epithermal base and precious metal mineralization may also be present (Sillitoe, 2010). Porphyry Cu systems, or deposits, currently supply nearly ~70% of the world’s Cu, ~50% Mo, ~25% of the Au (Sillitoe, 2010). In terms of magmatism and geodynamic setting, these deposits formed in association with Phanerozoic subduction-related calc-alkaline magma series in magmatic arcs worldwide, particularly in continental arcs in the western Americas, and in island-arcs of the western Pacific (Sillitoe, 1972; Richards, 2003; Seedorff et al., 2005; Sillitoe, 2010). Precambrian PC deposits are known, also in calc-alkaline plutons, but these are rarely preserved as such systems Fig.1. Simplified geological map of the Eastern Tibetan Plateau showing the distribution of form in topographically elevated alkaline porphyry intrusions and related mineral deposits, and major structures (modified after Wang et al., 2001). The ages (Ma) of the porphyry intrusions are also shown. The inset arcs which are prone to erosion indicates the location of the Eastern Tibetan Plateau in relation to the principal tectonic (Richards and Kerrich, 2007). elements of Asia (Modified from Tapponnier et al., 1990).

16 There is increasing evidence including the Tibetan Plateau. suite emplaced between ~40 for the existence of a suite of Shortening was accommodated and 30 Ma. This alkaline igneous porphyry Cu systems consistent in part by southeastward belt extends over 2000 km in with post-subduction or extrusion tectonics facilitated by length along the Jinshajiang collisional settings, and therefore strike-slip motion along the NW- suture which accomodated incompatible with a relationship WNW trending Ailao Shan-Red amalgamation of the Qiangtang to contemporaneous subduction River shear zone (ASRR) (Fig.1, terrane (Indochina terrane in (Richards, 2009; Hou et al., Tapponnier et al., 1990; Leloup et western Yunnan) and Yangtze 2010). Such deposits have been al., 1995; Yin and Harrison, 2000; craton before the Cretaceous discovered mainly in the Alpine- Chung et al., 1997, 2005). In the (Fig. 2; Zhang et al., 1987; Himalayan orogenic belt: for eastern Tibetan plateau there Chung et al., 1998; Hou et al., example, the Eocene-Oligocene is a post-collisional Eocene- 2003; Hu et al., 2004; Bi et Yulong porphyry Cu-Mo belt Oligocene alkaline magmatic al., 2009). The alkaline rocks of east Tibet (Hou et al., 2003; Hou and Cook, 2009), the mid- Miocene Gangdese porphyry Cu belt in southern Tibet (Yang et al., 2009; Hou et al., 2010), and the Neogene porphyry Cu- Au deposits of the southwest Pacific (Solomon, 1990; Richards, 2009). Their formation involves distinct, as-yet poorly- understood processes ranging from deep generation of magmas and metal sources to exsolution and evolution of ore-forming fluid in the upper crust. Porphyry systems of western Yunnan, east Tibet, belong to an alkaline magma series; we report on its compositional characteristics and metal provenance. This study uses innovative new microanalytical techniques to unravel the magmatic and metallogenic evolution of three post-collisional alkaline granitoid porphyry Cu systems in western Yunnan, east Tibet. Specifically, it involves the uranium-lead, oxygen and hafnium (O-Hf) isotopic analysis of zircon crystal from the porphyry using ion microprobe and laser ablation mass spectrometry. The results provide information that is unique for deducing the sources and processes involved in generation of the porphyry magmas and metals. Post-collisional alkaline porphyry Cu system in western Yunnan Regional geology Collision of the Indian and Asian Fig.2. Simplified geological map of western Yunnan showing the spatial distribution of alkaline porphyry intrusions and associated mineral deposits (modified after Zeng et al., plates since early Cenozoic 2002) with respect to the Ailao Shan-Red River Shear zone (ASRR) which separates the time (55-65Ma) created the Yangtze craton from the Indochina terrane. The inset shows the major terranes and suture Himalayan orogenic belt, zones of the eastern Tibetan Plateau (modified from Yang, 1998; Xu et al., 2001). www.cet.uwa.edu.au 17 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

occur as small extrusive and alkaline porphyry intrusions mineralisation is the prevalent intrusive bodies consisting of have been discovered (Fig.2), style now exploited at Beiya. mafic to felsic lithologies; they including the Beiya skarn gold Collectively, these mineralisation are interpreted to be produced deposit, Machangqing porphyry styles indicate that Beiya is an by lithospheric thinning due to Cu-Mo deposit and Yao’an gold- alkaline porphyry mineral system either convective removal of lead deposit. which shows systematic variation orogenically thickened mantle in mineralisation styles from the lithosphere (Chung et al., 1998) Deposit characteristics: intrusion centre to surrounding or “back-arc” extension (Chung similar intrusive suites, wallrock. et al., 2005). different metal budgets Machangqing Cu-Mo Deposit Numerous porphyry Cu deposits Beiya Au deposit The Machangqing Cu-Mo deposit associated with alkaline The Beiya Au deposit has a is located in a NE-trending, porphyry intrusions within this resource of 60 t Au with average 12km long and 2.5km wide, alkaline igneous belt have been grade of 2.26 g/t (Beiya company Machangqing alkaline intrusive discovered in the Eastern report, 2006). This deposit is complex (Fig. 2). The currently Tibetan Plateau including located in an alkaline porphyry mined deposit has reserves of the Yulong porphyry Cu belt complex of a number of small 39 Mt Cu @ 0.64% and 56 Mt (Fig.1). In Western Yunnan, the intrusive breccias, collectively Mo @ 0.08% (Hou et al., 2006). Paleogene alkaline intrusions are intruded into Triassic limestone The Machangqing intrusive located in the Indochina block and an Eocene clastic sequence complex consists of a large and the western margin of the (Fig. 2). The mineralisation body of equigranular granite and Yangtze craton on both sides of includes porphyry-style Cu-Au, numerous granite porphyries the Ailao Shan-Red River shear skarn-style Au-Fe, and vein-type intruded into Ordovician clastic zone (Fig.2). Several Cu-Au Pb-Zn. The skarn-style Au-Fe rocks and Devonian limestone. deposits associated with these The mineralisation styles have

Fig. 3 SiO2-K2O diagram (modified from Peccerillo and Taylor, 1976). The field for Chilean porphyries is from Reich et al. (2003) and Yulong porphyry is from Jiang et al.( 2006). Inset is an A/CNK-A/NK diagram.

18 ^:_ ^G_

Fig.4 Chondrite-normalized REE patterns (a) and primitive mantle normalized multielement patterns (b) of alkaline porphyry intrusions in Yao’an, Beiya and Machangqing. Normalising values from Sun and McDonough (1989). systematic variation from the stockworks and breccias related average bulk continental crust intrusion centre to peripheral to two series of faults and their is consistent with their alkaline wallrock including porphyry-style intersections within the intrusion characteristics (Figs. 3, 4b). Cu-Mo mineralisation within the (Yao’an lead company, 2004). These trace element features stock, skarn-, and hornfels-style Based on the lead isotope are similar to the coeval mafic Cu-Mo mineralisation in the composition of pyrite and galena, alkaline volcanics which were contact zone between intrusion it is concluded that Au-Pb (Ag) interpreted to have been derived and sandstone or limestone, metals are all derived from the from metasomatized lithospheric and distal Au-Ag-Pb-Zn quartz alkaline intrusions (Yao’an lead mantle (Xu et al., 2001; Guo et vein systems peripheral to the company, 2004). al., 2005; Huang et al., 2010). intrusion. Geochemistry Forensic zirconology Yao’an Au-Pb Deposit The Yao’an deposit consists The porphyries at the Beiya, Powerful new microanalytical of numerous Au-Pb mineral Machangqing and Yao’an range techniques allow the in situ systems spatially associated with from intermediate to felsic isotopic (U-Pb, O and Hf) a high level alkaline porphyry composition, from metaluminous characterization of zircons, which complex; the resource is 10t to peraluminous, showing high-K are considered to be progressive Au at an average grade of 4-5 calc-alkaline and shoshonitic data recorders of magmatic g/t (Fig. 2; Bi et al., 2004). This character (Fig.3). evolution. These techniques are superior to bulk rock isotopic complex consists mainly of All the porphyries at the three analyses which only provide an monzonite porphyry intrusion localities show enriched light rare average value integrating the and comagmatic trachyte, earth element (LREE) and flat entire magmatic history of the emplacing into Jurassic heavy REE (HREE) patterns with rock (Kemp and Blevin, 2009). and Cretaceous siliciclastic minimal Eu anomalies (Fig.4a). In the mineralising environment sequences. The gold ores have In terms of mantle normalized most rocks were subjected to magnetite-rich infilling with trace element compositions, intense hydrothermal alteration copper and seems to have there is systematic enrichment and thus primary geochemical a stronger association with of the incompatible large-ion information of the magma may porphyry-style mineralisation as lithophile elements (LILE: Rb, not be preserved, albeit the trace they contain various styles of Ba, Th and U), light rare earth element patterns are coherent quartz and sulphide, including elements (LREE), and lead, but (Fig. 4b). However, zircon is A, C and D-type veins. Lead depleted high-field-strength extremely robust and retentive mineralisation, with a resource elements (HFSE) such as Nb, of primary isotope information of 87,572t at an average grade Ta, Ti (Fig.4b). Specifically, under a range of geological of 4.38%, and associated silver enrichment of Rb, Ba, Th, conditions; a zircon approach ores are mostly in fracture LREE and Pb above levels in

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 19 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

non-mantle components in the magma from which the zircon crystallized, such as sediments (10 to 30 ‰) where large values of 18O arise from low-temperature weathering reactions with surface water. Thus, zircon 18O values provide a valuable record of the nature of any crustal contaminants in magmas. Methods Zircon grains are embedded in epoxy resin, polished to half their thickness and imaged by cathodoluminescence (CL) prior to U-Pb dating. The U-Pb isotopic analyses were performed using the Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP II) at the John de Laeter Centre, Curtin University of Technology. Oxygen isotope analyses were then conducted on a Cameca IMS-1280 high- Fig.5. CL images of zircons from representative porphyries at Beiya (a,b), Machangqing (c) resolutin, multi-collector ion and Yao’an (d). Ellipses indicate SHRIMP pit locations and the number besides it is the spot microprobe at the Centre for No., whereas the other is the age (Ma). The white scale bars are 100m long. Microscopy, Characterisation therefore circumvents the effects (e.g. Sr, Nd, Pb, Hf), may not and Analysis, the University of of alteration (Kemp and Blevin, distinguish whether granitic Western Australia. Finally, the Hf 2009; Fu et al., 2009; Dongen et intrusions with evolved isotope isotope ratios are acquired with laser ablation mass spectrometry al., 2009). signatures (e.g negative Hf values) were derived from mixed (LA-MC-ICP-MS) at GEMOC, The Hf isotope system evolves juvenile mantle and recycled Macquarie University. through time by radioactive 176 176 (metasedimentary) sources, or decay of Lu to Hf. The from mantle-derived precursors Results epsilon () notation is used that have simply aged in the to report Hf isotope ratios by Zircon U-Pb results deep crust. This ambiguity normalizing to the model isotope Representative zircon CL images can be greatly reduced by ratio of a chondritic uniform and U-Pb concordia diagrams augmenting radiogenic isotope reservoir (CHUR). The Hf isotope of the Beiya, Machangqing and data with oxygen isotopes, differ greatly between the mantle Yao’an porphyry system are whose fractionation is time- (high Lu/Hf ratio, thus relatively presented in figures 5 and 6 176 independent (Hawkesworth Hf-rich; i.e. high ) and respectively. All the age data in Hf and Kemp, 2006). The oxygen ancient crust (low Lu/Hf ratio, 18 16 the three systems is summarised 176 isotope ratio of O/ O is thus relatively Hf-poor; i.e. in figure 7. expressed as 18O. Zircons low ). Thus, positive values Hf Hf in equilibrium with mantle- Beiya alkaline intrusions were indicate a relatively radiogenic, derived melts have 18O value of emplaced between 36.9± 0.3Ma mantle-derived source, whereas 5.3±0.6‰ (2) (Valley, 2003), and 34.6± 0.5 Ma (Fig.7) and negative values indicate a a value that is insensitive to have abundant zircon inheritance relatively un-radiogenic, ancient magmatic differentiation (Valley ranging in age from 250Ma to crustal source. et al., 2005). Values of 18O in 2500Ma (Fig.5a, b; Fig.6a, b), Using radiogenic isotopes alone zircon above 5.9‰ diagnose whereas old zircon inheritance

20 is absent in the Machangqing and Yao’an porphyry intrusions (Fig.5c, d; Fig. 6c, d). Machangqing intrusions were emplaced between 35.6±0.3Ma and 34.4±0.2Ma (Fig.7). The magmatism at Yao’an lasted from 34.0±0.5 Ma to 33.4±0.3 Ma (Fig.7). Zircon Hf-O results The zircon Hf and oxygen isotopic analyses of Beiya, Machangqing and Yao’an intrusions show that there are distinct differences among the three intrusive suites (Fig.8, 9). Yao’an intrusion has the most negative Hf (-6.4 to -8.7) and the oldest depleted mantle model ages (1.52-1.66Ga). Machangqing intrusions have positive Hf (+0.3 to +4.7) with a depleted mantle model ages of Fig.6. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb concordia diagram of representative porphyries from Beiya (a,b), 0.8-1.1Ga. Beiya intrusions have Machangqing (c) and Yao’an (d). both negative and positive Hf values (-4 to +4.1) and depleted mantle model ages of 0.86- 1.37Ga (Fig.8). Zircon oxygen isotope analyses shows that Yao’an intrusion has 18O of 6.59-6.97‰; Machangqing has 18O below 6.5‰ (5.54-6.35‰) except one spot at 6.57‰; Beiya intrusions have the highest 18O of 6.63- 7.83‰ (Fig.9). Discussion Petrogenesis of three intrusive suites revealed by Hf-O isotopes Alkaline porphyry magmas of 40-30Ma in the western Yangtze have no significant component of juvenile melt from depleted mantle asthenosphere. This inference is revealed by the absence of spots close to the depleted mantle evolution line on the Hf vs. age diagram (Fig.8), consistent with the siliceous- alkaline compositions of the intrusive suite (Fig. 3), and with the low neodymium isotopic ratios of the mafic volcanic rocks formed between 40 and 30Ma Fig.7 Compilation of age data for the three alkaline porphyry intrusion systems of Beiya (a), in the region. Neodymium- Machangqing (b) and Yao’an (c). The grey bars indicate the maximum magmatic duration in isotope compositions of mafic each system.

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 21 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

summary, the Machangqing intrusions are likely the product of interaction between mafic magmas, possibly derived from mantle lithosphere, with reworking of Neoproterozoic juvenile crust. Yao’an intrusion Yao’an intrusions have significantly higher 18O (6.59- 6.97‰) than the mantle value (5.3±0.6‰), indicating that abundant supracrustal material was involved in the magma (Fig.9). The depleted Hf mantle model age of Yao’an intrusion (1.52-1.66Ga) is in keeping with reworking of Mesoproterozoic crust (Fig.8). Mesoproterozoic juvenile crustal, however, is not known in the Yangtze craton (Liu et al., 2008; Sun et al., 2010). Alternatively, Yao’an intrusions may be produced by assimilation of some supracrustal material, Fig. 8 Zircon Hf isotope data from the porphyry intrusions in Beiya, Yao’an and 18 c albeit higher O than Machangqing. TDM is model age calculated using Lu/Hf ratio of average continental crust. Neoproterozoic juvenile crust, into lithospheric mantle-derived volcanics in western Yunnan can Machangqing intrusion alkaline magma, a similar scenario to the Ok Tedi porphyry be divided into two groups: one Machangqing intrusions 18 Cu-Au deposit (Dongen et group has very negative Nd (-11 have mantle-like O (5.54- -12) which was only discovered al., 2009). This conclusion is 6.35‰), suggesting that little supported by the similar Sr- in Yao’an; whereas the other supracrustal material is involved Nd isotopic composition of the group has higher Nd (-5 -1) in the magma genesis (Fig.9). which was widespread in western Yao’an alkaline porphyries and The depleted Hf mantle model coeval mafic volcanic rocks. The Yunnan. These mafic volcanics age of Machangqing at 0.8- have been interpreted to be Yao’an porphyries have initial 1.1Ga (Fig.8) implies that the 87 86 derived from metasomatically Sr/ Sr of 0.7087-0.7096 and magma was derived from Nd(t) of -10.7 to -11.2 (Lu et al., enriched lithospheric mantle (Xu reworking of crust formed in et al., 2001; Guo et al., 2005; unpublished data) whereas the the Neoproterozoic, and the mafic volcanics at Yao’an have Huang et al., 2010). It seems, positive Hf (0.3 – 4.7) suggests 87 86 therefore, there is no significant initial Sr/ Sr of 0.7092-0.7096 that this crust was relatively depleted asthenospheric melt and Nd(t) of -11.4 to -11.8 (Guo juvenile. These interpretations et al., 2005). input in western Yunnan between are consistent with the fact 30 and 40Ma. Despite the similar that the most significant period Beiya intrusion trace element patterns of the of juvenile crustal growth in Beiya intrusions have three intrusive suites (Fig.4), the Yangtze craton was in the significantly higher 18O (6.63- there are distinct differences in Neoproterozoic (Liu et al., 2008; 7.83‰) than the mantle value zircon Hf-O isotopes which may Sun et al., 2010). Microgranular (5.3±0.6‰), indicating that be related to their distinct metal mafic enclaves (MME) developed abundant supracrustal material endowment (Fig.9). within the Machangqing intrusion was involved in the magma is consistent with mafic magma (Fig.9). This supracrustal input (Guo et al., 2009). In component is most likely a

22 Fig. 9 Combined zircon Hf-O isotope diagram from the porphyry intrusions at Beiya, Yao’an and Machangqing. sedimentary sequence, which Vervoort et al., 1999), the Hf(t) Metallogenic implications is supported by the existence of the mafic rocks are of -3.4 of abundant zircon inheritance to -0.5, which is essentially the Metal endowment in the three (250-2500Ma) found in the Beiya same with the negative Hf(t) intrusive suites seems to be intrusions (Fig.6a, b). values of Beiya intrusions (-4 to related to distinct Hf-O isotope -1.5) (Fig.8). The involvement signatures (Figure 9). Combined The Hf signature of Beiya of mafic magma in the genesis with the above petrogenetic intrusions suggests that it of Beiya intrusion is further analysis, it is thought that Cu- involves both reworking of supported by the similar Sr-Nd Mo seems to be related to a juvenile Neoproterozoic crust isotopic composition of the Beiya juvenile crustal source whereas (similar to Machangqing) porphyries and mafic volcanics. Au is more associated with some and ancient Mesoproterozoic The Beiya porphyries have initial combination of supracrustal crust to produce the range 87Sr/86Sr of 0.7075-0.7079 and as well as metasomatized of positive to negative Hf(t), Nd(t) of -5.2 to -5.4 (Lu et al., lithospheric-mantle derived respectively (Fig.8). However, unpublished data) whereas magma components. The as stated above there is no the mafic volcanics at Beiya close relationship between Mesoproterozoic juvenile crustal have initial 87Sr/86Sr of 0.7062- porphyry Cu-Mo deposits and growth in the Yangzte craton. 0.7079 and Nd(t) of -1 to -5.1 juvenile crust is probably more Thus, there needs to be another (Lu et al., unpublished data). widespread in post-collisional way to produce the negative Beiya intrusions are therefore settings (Hou et al., 2010). The Hf(t). The best candidate is the interpreted to be produced by Au may derive from remelting of coeval mafic magma. The mafic mixing of melt derived from subduction-modified lithospheric volcanic rocks have Nd(t) of juvenile Neoproterozoic crust mantle in a postsubduction -4.6 to -2.5 (Xu et al., 2001; Guo with lithospheric mantle-derived setting (Richards, 2009). The role et al., 2005; Huang et al., 2010). mafic magma, assimilating of the supracrustal component in According to the correlation metasedimentary sequence at enhancing porphyry fertility is the between Nd(t) and Hf(t), the same time in keeping with subject of ongoing studies. (Hf(t) = Nd(t)*1.36+2.95, zircon inheritance. www.cet.uwa.edu.au 23 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

Continent-continent orogens Neoproterozoic crust with Fu, B., Mernagh, T.P., Kita, N.T., are clealy prospective for some addition of mafic magma. Kemp, A.I.S. and Valley, J.W., 2009. porphyry style mineralization, Au-Pb at Yao’an is related to Distinguishing magmatic zircon as well as convergent margin the shoshonitc intermediate from hydrothermal zircon: A case study from the Gidginbung high- magmatic arcs. For orogens, intrusions produced by sulphidation Au-Ag-(Cu) deposit, SE the post-collisional stage of assimilation of some supracrustal Australia. Chemical Geology 259, magmatism has potential for material into lithospheric mantle- 131-142. porphyry Cu±Mo and Cu±Au derived mafic magma. Au at deposits: the critical factors in Beiya has a genetic relationship Hawkesworth, C.J. and Kemp, A.I.S., 2006. Using hafnium and oxygen sequence are: (1) an early phase to the shoshonitic felsic isotopes in zircons to unravel the of subduction-modification of intrusions which are formed record of crustal evolution. Chemical continental lithospheric mantle by mixing of melt derived from Geology, 226(3-4): 144-162. (CLM) ; (2) decompressional juvenile Neoproterozoic crust melting of CLM after orogenic with lithospheric mantle-derived Hou, Z.Q. and Cook, N.J., 2009. Metallogenesis of the Tibetan delamination; (3) extrusion of mafic magma, assimilating some Collisional Orogen: A review and mafic magmas from the CLM, metasedimentary sequence as introduction to the special issue. Ore as well as their interaction with well. Geology Reviews 36, 2-24. crust at the Moho density filter; Hou, Z.Q., Ma, H.W., Zaw, K., (4) collectively generating a Acknowledgements Zhang, Y.Q., Wang, M.J., Wang, bimodal suite where porphyry This research was jointed Z., Pan, G.T., Tang, R.L., 2003. The mineralisation is present in supported by Centre for Himalayan Yulong porphyry copper alkaline granites. Alkaline Exploration Targeting (CET) belt: Product of large-scale strike-slip granites are prospective targets, faulting in eastern Tibet. Economic and the Chinese Academy of but much remains to be learnt of Geology 98, 125-145. Geological Sciences (CAGS). the details of these processes. The Society of Economic Hou, Z.-Q., Zeng, P.-S., Gao, Y.-F., Dong, F.-L., 2006. The Himalayan Conclusions Geologists Student Research Grant and the Australian Cu-Mo-Au Mineralization in the eastern Indo-Asian Collision Zone: Beiya Au deposit, Machangqing Microscopy and Microanalysis Constraints from Re-Os Dating of Cu-Mo deposit, and Yao’an Au- Research Facility (AMMRF) TAP molybdenite. Mineralium Deposita Pb deposit are post-collisional Grant to Yongjun Lu are greatly 41, 33-45. alkaline porphyry Cu systems in appreciated. western Yunnan, Eastern Tibetan Hou, Z.Q., Zhang, H.R., Pan, X.F. and Yang, Z.M., 2010. Porphyry Cu Plateau. The three intrusive References (-Mo-Au) deposits related to melting suites formed between ca.37Ma Chung, S. L., Chu, M. F., Zhang, Y. of thickened mafic lower crust: and 33Ma. They show high-K Q., Xie, Y. W., Lo, C. H., Lee, T. Y., examples from the eastern Tethyan calc-alkaline and shoshonitic Lan, C. Y., Li, X. H., Zhang, Q., and metallogenic domain. Ore Geology character, share the same trace Wang, Y. Z., 2005. Tibetan tectonic Review (in press). element patterns with enrichment evolution inferred from spatial and Kemp, A.I.S. and Blevin, P., 2009. in LREE and LILE, depletion in temporal variations in post-collisional Forensic zirconology: tracing HFSE, particularly Nb, Ta, Ti. magmatism. Earth Science Reviews the magmatic and metallogenic 68, 173-196. Despite the similar bulk rock evolution of the Macquarie arc, NSW. Economic Geology Research Unit geochemistry, the combined Chung, S.L., Lo, C.H., Lee, T.Y., Zhang, Y. Q., Xie, Y. W., Li, X. H., Newsletter, August, p7-9. zircon Hf-O isotopes provide Wang, K. L., Wang, P. L., 1998. detailed information on the Richards, J.P., 2003. Tectono- Diachronous uplift of the Tibetan magmatic precursors for porphyry distinct magma sources and plateau starting 40 Myr ago. Nature petrogenetic processes, which Cu-(Mo-Au) deposit formation. 394, 769-773. Economic Geology 98, 1515-1533. in turn may account for different Dongen, M.., Weinberg, R.F., metal budgets. Richards, J.P., 2009. Postsubduction Tomkins, A.G., Armstrong, R.A. and porphyry Cu-Au and epithermal Au Cu-Mo at Machangqing is Woodhead, J.D., 2010. Recycling deposits: products of remelting of associated with high-K calca- of Proterozoic crust in Pleistocene subduction-modified lithosphere. alkaline granite porphyries, juvenile magma and rapid formation Geology 37, 247-250. of the Ok Tedi porphyry Cu-Au which are produced mainly deposit, Papua New Guinea. Lithos by the reworking of juvenile 114, 282-292.

24 SEG recognises CET researchers with highest honour

CET congratulates Emeritus Professor David Groves on receipt of the Society of Economic Geologists 2009 Penrose Gold Medal. The Society’s most prestigious award, the Penrose Gold Medal was established in 1923 and is awarded in recognition of a full career in the performance of outstanding work in the earth sciences. No one would dispute the tremendous impact David has had on the world of Economic Geology through the excellence of his immense body of personal research, his founding of the Key Centre for Strategic Mineral Deposits (which morphed into the Centre for Global Metallogeny and now CET) and especially through the numerous students he has mentored, who now abound in Emeritus Professor David Groves senior decision-making levels of industry and academia. David was awarded the medal in 2009, but just received it at the recent SEG 2010 conference in Keystone Colorado. The SEG has also announced the 2010 Penrose Gold Medal will be awarded to Adjunct Professor David Leach. David is a renowned economic geologist who recently retired from a distinguished career with the United States Geological Survey, where he remains a Scientist Emeritus, and is globally recognised as a leading expert in sediment hosted Zn deposits. David joined CET as an Adjunct Professor in 2009, held a Prestigious Gledden Senior Fellowship at UWA in 2009-2010, and continues to visit, collaborate with and mentor several staff and students within the CET. Sincere congratulations to both Davids, and a sincere thank you for their contributions to CET’s success! Adjunct Professor David Leach

Seedorff, E., Dilles, J.H., Proffett, Geology 105, 3-41. Ferreira, V.P., Sial, A.N., King, E.M., J.M., Jr., Einaudi, M.T., Zurcher, Peck, W.H., Sinha, A.K., Wei, C.S., Solomon, M., 1990. Subduction, arc L., Stavast, W.J.A., Johnson, D.A., 2005. 4.4 billion years of crustal reversal, and the origin of porphyry and Barton, M.D., 2005. Porphyry maturation: oxygen isotope ratios of copper-gold deposits in island arcs: deposits: Characteristics and origin magmatic zircon. Contributions to Geology 18, 630–633. of hypogene features: ECONOMIC Mineralogy and Petrology 150 (6), GEOLOGY 100TH ANNIVERSARY Valley, J.W., 2003. Oxygen isotopes 561-580. " in zircon. In: Hanchar, J.M., Hoskin, Yang, Z.M., Hou, Z.Q., White, P.W.O. (Eds), Reviews in Mineralogy Sillitoe, R.H., 1972. A plate tectonic N.C., Chang, Z.S., Li, Z.Q., Song, & Geochemistry 53: Zircon, model for the origin of porphyry Y.C., 2009. Geology of the post- Mineralogical Society of America. copper deposits. Economic collisional porphyry copper– Geology 67, 184-197. Valley, J.W., Lackey, J.S., Cavosie, molybdenum deposit at Qulong, A.J., Clechenko, C.C., Spicuzza, Tibet. Ore Geology Reviews 36,133- Sillitoe, R.H., 2010. Porphyry M.J., Basei, M.A.S., Bindeman, I.N., 159. copper systems. Economic

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 25 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010 Structural Framework for Low-Sulfidation

Epithermal Deposits, South Korea Paul Duuring

Mr Seok-Jun Yang is a recent MSc graduate from The aim of Seok-Jun’s MSc study was to examine Pukyong National University, Busan, South Korea; structural controls on the formation of the Eunsan and supervised jointly by Drs. Young-Seok Kim (PKNU) Moisan low-sulfidation epithermal mines, which are and Paul Duuring (CET). Seok-Jun is presently located in the Seongsan district of the Haenam-Jindo visiting the CET for the purpose of gaining some Basin, southwest Korea (Figure 2). Past studies in wider experiences in the study of ore deposits in the Seongsan district have either focused on district- Western Australia and is also assisting with general scale geological relationships (e.g., Bowden 2007), or laboratory work at the centre. His recently completed on specific Eunsan and Moisan characteristics, such MSc research topic was on two examples of low- as vein paragenesis, hydrothermal alteration mineral sulfidation Au-Au epithermal deposits in Korea. This assemblages, and physicochemical properties of article briefly reviews the nature of his project and the ore fluids (e.g., Choi et al. 2005). No study had presents some of his findings. yet determined the main structural and lithological controls on the distribution of ore zones in these Epithermal Au-Ag deposits in Korea account for about mines. Additionally, Seok-Jun’s work is the first to one-third of the total national gold resource and are have access to underground exposures at the Moisan associated spatially and temporally with Cretaceous deposit. pull-apart basins and volcano-tectonic depressions or calderas (Choi et al. 2005). Two main Au–Ag Gold-Ag mineralization at Eunsan and Moisan are metallogenic provinces are recognized: the Mugeug hosted by Cretaceous volcanic and volcaniclastic district in the central portion of the Korean Peninsula, rocks of the Yuchon Group. These rocks are and the Haenam–Jindo district in the southwestern interbedded with epiclastic fluvial, alluvial, and portion of the peninsula (Figure 1). The known lacustrine sedimentary rocks. epithermal deposits are spatially associated with Bedding at Eunsan varies in strike and dip, but mainly NNE-trending sinistral, strike-slip, brittle fault systems, dips shallowly (10 to 30 º) to the SW and is cut by the such as the Gongju–Eumseong and Yeongdong– 1 to 2 m-wide, NW-striking, subvertical, mineralized Gwangju fault systems. Gold-Ag mineralization Eunsan fault (Figures 3 and 4). Locally, 5 to 50 cm- occurred during the formation of Cretaceous pull- wide, quartz-pyrite±gold±acanthite veins are hosted apart or trans-tensional basins accompanied by by the main fault zone and also occur as a series of Cretaceous subvolcanic and volcanic activity (Choi et subparallel veins in country rock up to 5 m away from al. 2003).

Figure 1. The Seongsan district is located in the Haenam- Figure 2. The simplified geological map of the Haenam-Jindo basin Jindo basin, in the south-western part of the Korean peninsula. displays the distribution of major rock types and epithermal deposits Cretaceous rocks are indicated in the figure by different colours (modified after Chough et al. 2000). while all other rocks are represented by shades of grey.

26 Figure 3. Geological section for the Eunsan Figure 4. Heterolithic coarse tuff and overlying volcanogenic sandstone in the deposit demonstrating the spatial and timing western wall of the Eunsan pit are cut by subvertical WSW-striking V1 veins with a relationships between Au-Ag-bearing V1 SW-side-up and dextral displacement. The strata and V1 veins are in turn displaced veins and subparallel F2 faults (modified by a subvertical, WSW-striking F2 fault with a SW-side-down (and minor sinistral) after unpublished sections generated by displacement of about 80 m. Ivanhoe Mines Ltd). the main fault. Quartz veins, hydrothermal alteration, during the mineralization event are particularly and the Au-Ag ore zones are widest where the Eunsan prospective. Regions of no outcrop have historically fault intersects a weakly-bedded, homogeneous, hindered exploration in the district; however, the andesitic tuff. Within this unit, quartz-Au-Ag veins implementation of ground-based, geophysical have a sheeted morphology but grade outwards into exploration tools, such as seismic and induced stockwork vein systems. In contrast, in deeper areas polarisation surveys, may benefit future exploration in of the mine where the Eunsan fault intersects a well- these under-explored areas. bedded mudstone; the rock contains fewer veins, is Acknowledgments: Sun Shin Exploration and Mining Co. Ltd., and unaltered, and poorly mineralized. Possible causes specifically An-Gook Kwon and Chan-Kyu Lee, are thanked for for this disparity in mineralization development might providing access and logistical include rheological contrasts between units (i.e., support at the Eunsan and affecting their permeability), compositional differences Moisan mines. Paul Duuring acknowledges financial support (i.e., Fe-rich rocks are better chemical hosts), or from the second stage of the variations in the geometry of the Eunsan fault (i.e., the Brain Korea 21 project at presence of jogs or fault bends). Pukyong National University. Quartz-Au-Ag veins at the Moisan deposit tremd ESE-WNW and dip steeply (80 º) to the north, cutting subhorizontal bedding at a high angle. Similar to Eunsan, the 1 to 2 m-wide quartz-Au- Ag veins at Moisan are sheeted and grade into zones of stockwork veins in country rock. However, a key difference with the Eunsan deposit is the development of a parallel system of sheeted veins at Moisan, rather than the inclusion of dilatants jogs and fault bends, which have focused hydrothermal ore fluids at Eunsan. The result is that the Moisan ore body consists of multiple zones of narrow Au-Ag mineralization. The greatest exploration potential in the Seongsan district lies with the systematic exploration of WNW- trending structures that extend along strike from the Eunsan and Moisan deposits. Fault bends and areas of intersecting fault splays that experienced local dilation

The photoplate gives snapshots of the team in action, including some of its more junior members. www.cet.uwa.edu.au 27 n in re em an or n cc

Experts interpret the current state of research and exploration in a series of mineral systems and exploration-orientated workshops on the following deposit types; orogenic and intrusion-related gold, iron-oxide copper gold, Carlin-style gold and Cu-Mo-Au porphyry, regional-scale metallogenic features, nickel-sulphide, uranium and iron-ore. This course is available to participants as individual modules. Presenters Course presenters include Professor Campbell McCuaig, Dr John Miller, Dr Marco Fiorentini, Professor Steffen Hagemann and internationally recognised specialists from industry and academia. Presenters will include Roy Woodall, Jon Hronsky (Western Mining Services), Steve Beresford (MMG), Hilke Dalstra (Rio Tinto), David Martin (BHP Biliton), Chris Bonwick (IGO), Barry Goss (Ivanhoe), Dan Wood (formerly Newcrest) Lydia Lobarto (Universidade Federal Minas Gerais, Brazil), Ana Fogliata (Lillo/Tucuman University, Argentina), Rosa Figueiredo e Silva (Universidade Federal Minas Gerais, Brazil) plus more to be confirmed. Cost & Venue The cost of the course is $660 per day per participant (GST included). CET Corporate members receive a 20% discount. The venue is University Club UWA (Case Study Room and First Floor Conference Foyer), Hackett Entrance 1, Hackett Drive, Crawley WA 6009. For more information contact Cindi Dunjey, [email protected] or on 08 6488 2640. To register for the Advances in Ore Deposit Geology Course 2011, please complete the attached registration form. This can also be downloaded from http://www.cet.uwa.edu.au/courses/short-courses. Schedule of Daily Presentations

E 21 FEBRUARY 2011 DR JOHN MILLER Gold Systems of South America This course will provide an overview of diverse gold systems in South America including a country wide, detailed overview of the different gold systems in Brazil and Argentina, specific orogenic/intrusion-related gold systems in Peru (8 Mill oz Pataz district) and an introduction into the gold systems in Columbia. A synthesis presentation will draw together commonalities and differences and puts those into a mineral system context. DAY ON DAY

22 FEBRUARY 2011 PROFESSOR STEFFEN HAGEMANN Iron Ore Types in Archean and Proteozoic Environments This course will provide an overview of hypogene and supergene BIF-hosted iron ore types from deposits and prospects in the Yilgarn craton, Carajas in Brazil (Archean Algoma-type BIF), and Hamersley basin and Iron Quadrangle in Brazil (Proterozoic Superior type BIF). The structural setting, hydrothermal alteration footprint and vectors, and hydrothermal fluids that control the: (1) hematite ± martite ± microplaty hematite (e.g., Tom Price, Paraburdoo, Mt Whaleback, Carajas), (2) martite-goethite (e.g., Nammuldi, West Angelas, Hope Downs), (3) magnetite-martite-goethite±specularite (e.g., Koolyanobbing, Weld

DAY TWO DAY Range, Carajas), and (4) lepidoblastic-hematite±specularite and high-strain hematite±specularite (e.g., Windarling and Iron Quadrangle, respectively) will be discussed.

EE 23 FEBRUARY 2011 DR MARCO FIORENTINI

R Advances in Nickel Sulfide Targeting Participants of this course will gain a better insight on the latest advances in nickel sulphide targeting, from terrain to deposit scale. This one-day course will provide a comprehensive overview of the nickel sulphide mineral system, showcasing the latest advances in the fundamental science that underpins genetic models for a wide range of magmatic systems. This course will engage a number of world-class researchers from university and industry, who will present case studies on the discovery of large nickel sulphide systems in Australia and globally. AY T H D

R 24 FEBRUARY 2011 PROFESSOR CAMPBELL MCCUAIG Discovery Day

OU What are the elements that come together to make a significant mineral discovery? This one-day seminar will provide participants with real-world case studies of world class discoveries within Australia, and internationally. Speakers selected were key players in the discovery teams, and will give participants a clear picture of the corporate and technical landscape before the discovery, take them through the roller-coaster ride of the discovery process, and elaborate on how this experience changed their views on how successful exploration should be undertaken. This day is a must for any geologist who expects to contribute to a major discovery. DAY F DAY

29 Senior Exploration Management Course 2011

Jon Hronsky (BAppSci, PhD, MAusIMM, FSEG) Jon has more than 25 years of experience in the mineral exploration industry, primarily focused on project generation, technical innovation and exploration strategy development. Jon has worked across a diverse range of commodities. Bart Suchomel (BA, M.Sc., RPG, FAusIMM, FSEG) Bart has over 25 years of experience in mineral exploration, including 14 years in corporate senior management roles. He has extensive experience in exploration strategy development and business planning. Bart is a principal/partner of Western Mining Services and in this role he has provided assistance to numerous minerals companies in the areas of exploration strategy, planning, portfolio management and new project development. Jeff Welborn (BA, JD) Jeff has over 35 years of experience in the mineral exploration industry, 25 years as a mineral lawyer, 8 years in corporate senior management roles in WMC Resources Ltd, and 5 years as a principal/partner of WMS. Jeff’s experience covers the range of commercial, legal and risk management matters that comprise the non-technical side of mineral exploration and mining.

30 28 February - 4 March 2011 Western Mining Services (WMS) and the Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET) have combined to offer a senior-level exploration management course on 28 February – 4 March, 2011, on the campus of the University of Western Australia in Perth. The Director of the CET, Professor Campbell McCuaig was overwhelmed with the positive feedback from participants in te 2010 course that the CET and WMS have decided that the Senior Exploration Management Course will become an annual event. This four- day training course covers the principles and practices of effective exploration management. The course curriculum covers the spectrum of mineral exploration business issues that typically confront senior exploration managers. Participants will leave with a better understanding of:

development and implementation of corporate operating and growth strategies, Designing and managing exploration programs and portfolios, The importance of group structure, program design, process discipline and effective people management in achieving exploration group objectives, Opportunity generation including the exploration search space concept, targeting science and the application of targeting models, and How to conduct new opportunity due diligence, build and negotiate land and minerals access transactions, and manage non-technical risks to achieve enhanced project economics and maintain the necessary licenses to operate exploration projects in varied risk environments. The course format utilises both lecture and workshop and stresses interactive thinking and problem solving. Participants will work in teams to design solutions to exploration management challenges and will present their results to the larger group. WHO SHOULD ATTEND? This course is ideal for exploration professionals who are in, or on track to move into, positions of senior responsibility. This includes Regional or Country Exploration Managers and senior Project Managers, as well as geoscientists and commercial managers who have senior exploration management roles in their futures. The course is also appropriate for government or academic professionals who interact extensively with the mineral exploration industry. FACULTY The course faculty is comprised of three WMS Principals: Bart Suchomel (former WMC General Manager Exploration), Jon Hronsky (former WMC Global Geoscience Leader and BHP Billiton Manager Strategy & Generative Services), and Jeff Welborn (former WMC Exploration Manager Commercial Risk). Collectively, Bart, Jon and Jeff have nearly 90 years of experience in the mining and mineral exploration industry, a track- record of discovery and of successful exploration strategy and program development and implementation across a wide range of companies and commodities.

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Car Park 14 Central Plant Psychology Anatomy CTEC MATILDA BAY Fairway Entrance 4 Grounds Store Molecular RESERVE & Chemical Western Sciences Power Physiology David Curnow

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Parkway Entrance 1 PRESCOTT COURT Old Pharmacology 33 Myers Street Centre for Labour Market Research Science Agri - NW Wing Library Course 2011, please download the registration form from 11 Parkway Agri Central Botany COOK STREET Annexe PARKWAY CRC Car Park 8 Hackett Entrance 3 10-12 Parkway Promenade Saw Soil Science Parkway Entrance 2

TAXONOMIC Botany 14-16 Parkway GARDENS http://www.cet.uwa.edu.au/courses/short-courses

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PhD Profiles Ana Hensler Ana is a PhD candidate at the CET on a UWA Scholarship for International Research Fees (SIRF). She was born in Goettingen (Germany) and arrived in Perth at the end of November 2009. Her PhD project is part of a joint research project between the University of Western Australia and the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) supervised by Profs. Steffen Hagemann and Carlos Alberto Rosiere. Ana will be taking part in the Co-Tutelle program (international student exchange program) between both universities. The research project deals with both the mineralogy/geochemistry of several BIF-related high-grade iron ore deposits and the characteristics of their ore-forming fluids. These deposits are located in the Iron Quadrangle (QF) and in itabirite, that is situated east of the IQ; both localities are in Minas Gerais. Despite a long history of mining and exploration in the QF there is still a distinct dearth of information on the exact structural control of high-grade iron ore bodies and the geochemical processes, that are responsible for the transformation of itabirite to high-grade iron ore. For example, it is still not known the relative importance of igneous intrusions and their associated magmatic-hydrothermal fluids as well as the role of metamorphic or meteoric fluids in the enrichment of the ore bodies. In June 2008, Ana completed her diploma-degree at the Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich (LMU Munich) in geology with main subjects in Economic Geology and Hydrogeology. Her diploma thesis dealt with the mineralogy and geochemistry of the alteration zones and the ore mineralization in the “Pb-Zn-Ba ore deposits in Triades- Galana, W-Milos, Greece.” During her study, she gained experience as a teaching assistant in Economic Geology and Hydrogeology at the LMU Munich and as an student internship in the office for “Civil and Environmental Engineering” in Munich, as well as at the Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna (Austria). After her diploma graduation she worked for 1.5 years as a hydrogeologist in Salzburg, Austria. Her main duties were the observation and sampling of surface- and ground-water in risk areas (e.g. construction sites, pits, tunnels), as well as hydrogeological modelling. Although she enjoyed working in the field of hydrogeology and although she could gain a lot of interesting experience, she decided to return to the study of ore deposits and to pursue the challenges associated with conducting her PhD project in Western Australia and Brazil.

Christian Schindler Christian is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Exploration Targeting. He graduated in 2007 at the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich with a diploma degree in Geology (equal to a Master). After graduating he worked for 2.5 years in the field of hydrogeology and recycling of contaminated soil in Germany. In August 2010, Christian started his PhD project entitled “Petrogenesis of intrusive rocks in the Telfer area: implications for gold mineralisation”. The research is jointly funded by UWA (SIRF scholarship) and Newcrest Mining Limited under the supervision of Profs. S. Hagemann and T. Campbell McCuaig. The Telfer area is located in the Paterson Province, WA and hosts the world-class Telfer Au-Cu deposit, O’Callaghans W-skarn, and several smaller satellite Cu ±Au deposits, such as Backdoor, Trotmans and Camp Dome. All these ore deposits are potentially linked to nearby granitoid intrusions in the area (e.g. the Wilki Granite, Mt. Crofton Granite, Minyari Granite and O’Callaghans Granite). The aim of this project is to clearly determine the role that the intrusive rocks have played in the formation of these ore deposits. That is, to identify the source of the ore fluid or fluids, characterising the pressure-temperature-composition of the hydrothermal fluids, and to determine the nature of the involvement of granitoids in ore formation. Are the intrusive rocks the source of the metals, or do they provide the thermal energy for ore fluid circulation? Previous work conducted at the Telfer deposit suggests that the intrusive rocks solely acted as a heat source. However, new opportunities for testing this hypothesis are now available through the availability of new diamond drill core from Telfer Deeps and surrounding satellite deposits, as well as new technology, such as combined fluid and melt inclusion studies, and high precision trace element analysis of hydrothermal minerals and in fluid inclusions. It is hoped that potentially new insights into controls on gold mineralisation at Telfer will translate into the development of new targeting criteria for mine to regional-scale exploration in the Telfer district.

32 Staff Profiles Evgeny Stepanov Evgeny joins the CET as the Scientific Officer in our Mineral Separation Laboratory. He brings to the CET a high-level of technical expertise, providing assistance and analysis within the Mineral Separation Lab for geochronology and other geotechnical services. Originally from Russia and after completing his degree in Geophysics, he went on to work for 6 years as a geophysicist with the State Exploration Company. Working within the Siberia region, field trips could last anywhere from 4 to 6 months and often took place throughout the harsh Russian winter. Evgeny found the work interesting and exciting, and it provided him with excellent experience for his future career. With his children growing up and Evgeny wanting to spend more time with his family, he looked closer to home for new work options. Wanting to expand his field of expertise he went on to receive a degree in Gemmology. And after accepting a position at the Government Customs Service, he worked on a variety of tasks including the assessment of contracts relating to the importation and exportation of mineral resources and the certification, assessment, and market value of gems. In 2006-07 he went on to undertake a further course of study at the Moscow State Academy of Geological Exploration, Gemmology Institute School and obtained an additional Certificate in the Diagnostics of Precious Gems. Over the last four years Evgeny has worked as an expert-gemologist and member of the technical committee for a jewelry manufacturing company in Russia. Since coming to Australia and working at the CET he has used his extensive skill base to assist the students and staff to complete detailed analysis of their samples and ensure the smooth running of the Laboratory.

James Davis Hello! I started with the CET at the end of October 2010, if you blinked you probably missed me, as I was shipped off to West Africa a week later to start work on the Yanfolila Project, Mali. This is a joint CET/Gold Fields project and forms part of the greater WAXI project piecing together the evolution of West Africa. The Yanfolila Project is envisaged to run for 2 years and my job here is to put together the geology and regional framework of the Yanfolila Belt for Gold Fields and further the understanding of the geology in the region. I will be on field work until March/April 2011, before returning to the office. A second field season is planned for end of 2011 beginning of 2012. Prior to departure I was working for Gold Fields at St Ives Gold Mine (450,000 ounces per annum), Kambalda where I started out as a Graduate Geologist in 2008 working for the exploration department around St Ives, on various deposits such as Athena, Hamlet and Neptune. As part of the graduate program I spent a year working as a Mine Geologist at St Ives largest currently producing underground mine, Argo. After Argo I moved to Open Pits as a Production Geologist in charge of the largest open pit on site, Leviathan, responsible for 60% of the tonnes into the mill and 40 – 50% of the grade. During 1.5 years at Leviathan I helped oversee open pit mining through the original Victory (Ives Reward), Defiance and Repulse underground mines. My final months here were spent updating Leviathan resource models and training up a new breed of graduates as well as extensional drilling and putting together plans for a greater Leviathan model and generation of near mine targets to hand over to the targeting team at St Ives. Highlights of my time there would include field mapping down near Widgeemootha, re-interpreting parts of Argo Underground and re-introduction of the shovel at Leviathan. I also have also worked in Northern West Australia sampling for kimberlite and as Junior Geologist in the high Artic, sampling, mapping, bulk sampling and diamond drill supervision in Greenland, working out of Sondres Stromfjord. Most of this work was carried out between later years at University – the short field seasons fitted in well with summer and winter breaks! I studied Geology for my undergraduate degree at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a BSc with Honours (2:1) in 2006. I undertook as Masters Degree in Mining Geology at the Camborne School of Mines, graduating with a Distinction and becoming a MCSM MSc in Mining geology in 2007. I undertook field work for Focus Minerals in Coolgardie Western Australia. A little about me, I immigrated to Australia on Australia Day 2008 from the UK. I have not been back since! I am a bit of a mongrel in the sense that I moved around the UK, not living in one place for more than a few years, spending a lot of time climbing in the hills, flying down them on my mountain bike, kayaking down rivers, surfing and sea swimming, however living in the desert for 3 years has curtailed these activities somewhat! While in Australia I have learnt how to horse ride (still get to fly sometimes!) and competed at numerous One Day Events (ODE’s) around Western Australia from Esperance to Perth. I still enjoy cycling and you may see me about on my trusty fixed wheel. If that was not enough to keep me busy I am in the process of restoring from the ground up, an Ex-Australian Military 1959 Series II Land Rover. Being a geologist, and English I do also enjoy a good game of Rugby and a G&T! www.cet.uwa.edu.au 33 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010 CET End of Year Presentations 13 December 2010

The CET End of Year Presentations will be held on 9.00am Monday 13 December 2010 in the lecture theatre (ground level) General Purpose Building 2 (now called Robert Street Building) at The University of Western Australia. For directions see page 15 or a campus map is available at http://www.uwa.edu.au/campus_map. Ticket parking is available at Car Park 17 and along Fairway drive. The event is a full day, including catered morning/afternoon teas, lunch; and finger food/drinks at the conclusion of the presentations. As the venue has a limited number of seats (approx 80), please RSVP to [email protected] Presentation Schedule Morning

PRESENTER PRESENTATION TOPIC TIME Cam McCuaig 2010 in Overview 9:00-9:20 GOLD MINERAL SYSTEMS John Miller Achievements and advancements 9:20-9:30 Nicolas Thebaud 3D-modelling of the Leonora Gold Field - assessing the role of early architecture 9:30-9:50 Our ability to improve targeting model at the camp scale relies on our capacity to establish the 4D tectonostratigraphic evolution of the mineral system considered. Despite multiple years of mining history, the geological and structural history documented in the Leonora district remains controversial due to poor outcrop exposure, and also because of the protracted structural history that has affected the terrain. The focus of this paper is to present new evidence collected over the last two years in the Leonora district through a collaborative project with St Barbara Ltd as part of an ARC linkage project (LP0776780). Using a multidisciplinary approach, including field based structural and stratigraphic analysis together with geochronology and numerical 3D modeling, we present a new 4D structural framework for the Leonora district. This newly defined structural framework helps to unlock the understanding of the mineralisation system and to guide exploration models and strategy. Reassessment of Archean Gold models for the Yilgarn - continuum, metamorphic, fluid-mixing and John Miller 9:50-10:10 intrusion-related gold models The Crustal Continuum model for the formation of world class gold systems has been widely applied as a unifying theory (Groves, 1993). Some workers have recently questioned the validity of the Continuum model and still argue for a metamorphic fluid model (Phillips and Powell, 2009). Recent research into Archean gold systems in the Yilgarn Craton has assessed the role of oxidised versus reduced fluids (fluid mixing models; Neumayr et al., 2008) with some models proposing fluid was sourced from a deep mantle source or intrusion (e.g.; Mueller et al, 2008). This presentation will review the latest in understanding the controls on lode gold systems in the Yilgarn Craton by looking into the formation of several world class gold deposits and camps in the context of these variable genetic models.

Groves (1993). Min. Dep. 28, 366–374; Mueller et al., (2008). Min. Dep. 43: 337–362; Neumayr et al. (2008). Min. Dep., 43, p. 363–371; Phillips and Powell (2009). Earth-Sci. Rev. 94, p. 1–21.

QUESTION TIME 10:10-10:20

MORNING TEA

34 GEOPHYSICS AND IMAGE ANALYSIS Mike Dentith Achievements and advancements 10:40-10:50 Mike Dentith MT Surveys in Precambrian terranes in WA 10:50-11:10 Magnetotelluric data have been recorded along two traverses in southern Western Australia. Data across the suture zone between the Archean Yilgarn Craton and the adjacent Proterozoic Albany-Fraser Orogen suggest major structures and crustal blocks have been successfully mapped based on their conductivity characteristics. The data are interpreted as showing the orogen is largely allochthonous and the suture zone may contain remanent oceanic crust and suspect terranes of continental affinity. Preliminary results from a survey across the southern Yilgarn Craton from the Southern Cross to Eastern Goldfields greenstone terrains suggest major fault structures, such as the Koolyanobbing shear zone, extend in to the deep crust and dip to the east. A zone of anomalously conductive mantle occurs beneath the Lake Johnston greenstone belt. This belt contains nickel sulphide deposits but the origin and significance of the mantle feature and any link to the mineralisation remains equivocal. Luis Gallardo Joint inversion of gravity-magnetic data to characterize the Granite-Greenstone belts (in Leonora- 11:10-11:30 area) Determining the major rock compositions and the structural architecture of granite-greenstone terrains is a key element to understand their geodynamic evolution and associated metallogenesis. While geophysical data aim to determine such characteristics, structural complexity of precambrian greenstones and physical homogeneity of granites reduce the resolution of the individual data at depth. Recent developments have shown that the joint inversion of the multiple geophysical data can effectively overcome these difficulties and produce integrative images of the subsurface. In this work, high resolution gravity and magnetic data are jointly inverted to produce 20 density-magnetization integrative cross-sections that comprise a 70 x 70 x 15 km volume in the Eastern Goldfields terrain. The cross-sections not only account accurately for the geophysical data but also for the heterogeneity in composition and the architectural control of the coexisting greenstone and granite terrains. A preliminary interpretation shows an excellent match with surface geology and a seismic section available, even though this information was not used to constrain the interpreted volume. Daniel Wedge Demonstration of the Televiewer Image Analysis System (TIAS) 11:30-11:40 Rock mass description and characterisation is a basic task for exploration and mining workflows. Accurate logging of the number and type of discontinuities in the rock mass is crucial for two reasons: the discontinuities represent conduits through which the mineralising fluid can flow controlling the spatial distribution of the ore minerals within the rock mass; and when mining a deposit, the discontinuities are the weakest parts of the rock mass, and control how it will fail. For these reasons the analysis of discontinuities is vital and is a task that occupies a significant proportion of a mining industry geologist’s time. We have been developing a Televiewer Image Analysis system (TIAS) that provides an efficient and non-subjective processing of televiewer image data by facilitating automated fracture detection. A demonstration of the current status of TIAS will be presented. This project is financially sponsored by Rio Tinto. Jason Wong Development of new features for CET Grid Analysis software including Structural Complexity and 11:40-11:50 Porphyry Analyses Tools The geophysics and image analysis group at CET previously released the CET Grid Analysis Extension (commercial software for Geosoft Oasis Montaj) which detects lineaments within potential field data. This software is marketed by Geosoft since April 2010. This talk presents ongoing research into the development of potential field data analysis tools. Two new features have been developed and added to the existing software including: structural complexity analysis tools; and porphyry analysis tools. Structural complexity is important for the exploration of hydrothermal mineralisation, e.g. Archean lode gold, as crustal breaks are known to be used as conduits for mineralising fluid. Structural complexity is measured locally using: the density of structural contacts; and the variations in structure orientations. In addition, the porphyry analysis method that was developed in partnership with Barrick Gold is also included as a new feature for the upcoming release of the CET Grid Analysis Extension. Eun-Jung Holden Understanding geoscientific data interpretation by analysing human-data interactions 11:50-12:10 Qualitative geoscientific data interpretation is a difficult and highly subjective task. However this is an integral and critical part of geosciences in general with the accuracy of these interpretations having significant financial implications for the minerals, and oil and gas industries directly, and indirectly to government agencies and other industries that draw upon geoscience interpretations for decision making. This talk presents an on-going research that aims for improved interpretation practices for geophysical data by understanding the current interpretation practices. We monitor the neurological and physiological responses of interpreters using an eye tracker system that tracks eye gazes during data observation and an electroencephalography that captures brain responses of the interpreter. Towards understanding the moment of ‘realisation’ when interpreter decides the meaning of the data, we have conducted some preliminary experiments to identify data observation patterns and brain responses that are associated with the mental fitting of geoscientific model to the patterns of variation within the data being interpreted. QUESTION TIME 12:10-12:20

LUNCH

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 35 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

Presentation Schedule Afternoon

IRON MINERAL SYSTEMS Steffen Hagemann Achievements and advancements 1:00-1:10 Archean Algoma-Type Fe Deposits in the Weld Range Greenstone Belt of the Yilgarn Craton, Western Paul Duuring 1:10-1:30 Australia The Weld Range greenstone belt contains two known examples of Archean BIF-hosted, magnetite- hematite deposits: Beebyn and Madoonga. Both deposits display expressions of five different styles of high-grade (>45 % Fe) iron mineralisation, which formed as a consequence of multiple ore-forming events, occurring episodically from Archean to recent times. This talk describes the characteristics of each ore style and discusses implications for exploration in the district. The Archean Windarling Range iron ore deposits: evidence for structurally controlled supergene Thomas Angerer 1:30-1:50 modified hypogene BIF-mineralization Our ability to improve targeting model at the camp scale relies on our capacity to establish the 4D tectonostratigraphic evolution of the mineral system considered. Despite multiple years of mining history, the geological and structural history documented in the Leonora district remains controversial due to poor outcrop exposure, and also because of the protracted structural history that has affected the terrain. The focus of this paper is to present new evidence collected over the last two years in the Leonora district through a collaborative project with St Barbara Ltd as part of an ARC linkage project (LP0776780). Using a multidisciplinary approach, including field based structural and stratigraphic analysis together with geochronology and numerical 3D modeling, we present a new 4D structural framework for the Leonora district. This newly defined structural framework helps to unlock the understanding of the mineralisation system and to guide exploration models and strategy. QUESTION TIME 1:50-2:00 PROGRESSIVE RISK AND VALUE ASSESSMENT Pietro Guj Analysis of the impact of the MRRT on a small iron ore development in WA: Update 2:00-2:20 This presentation will cover the basic characteristics and potential impacts of the proposed Mineral Resources Rent Tax (MRRT) on emerging iron ore mining developments as modelled by the CET. The talk will also comment on some of the key aspects of the Issues Paper recently released by the Policy Transition Group (PTG) chaired by Minister Martin Ferguson and Mr. Don Argus and the nature of the recent industry submissions to and consultations with the PTG. Stephen Bartrop Investment trends in the resource sector 2:20-2:40 This presentation reviews changing investment trends in the Australian and global resource sector over the past decade. These trends and indeed, the evolution of the Australian resources sector, have been influenced by M&A activity as well as the unexpected commodity demand from emerging economies including China. Going forward, with a variation in growth expectations across the world, the resource sector remains one bright spot on the investment horizon. QUESTION TIME 2:40-2:50

AFTERNOON TEA

36 NICKEL - PGE MINERAL SYSTEMS Marco Fiorentini Overview on achievements and advancements 3:10-3:20 Integrated radiogenic and stable isotopic architecture of the north Eastern Goldfields Superterrane, Carissa Isaac 3:20-3:40 Western Australia Large-scale architecture is a major control on the production of rich komatiite-hosted Ni sulphide deposits. In order to clarify what types of lithospheric architecture produce the most prospective komatiites, a large-scale geochemical study is currently being undertaken in the north Eastern Goldfields Superterrane. A number of different isotopic systems are being used to constrain both the deeper lithosphere (U- Pb, Lu-Hf, Sm-Nd) and the surficial inputs ( mass-dependent and MIF istopes of sulphur) in order to gain a better understanding of what settings are optimal for komatiite-hosted NiS deposit formation.

Advances in the understanding of micromechanical processes in the remobilisation of komatiite- Zoja Vukmanovic 3:40-4:00 hosted nickel sulphides The idea to study micromechanical processes came from the need to understanding in what manner Ni sulphide deposits are remobilised on the larger scale. By studying microstructures in sulphides and hence deformation mechanisms that operate in sulphides, I am trying to associate observations made on the micro scale with large scale geology. Coupling of micro-macro scale observations would be achieved by relating microstructures to regional deformation events. Another important scope of the study is relating microstructures to the pentlandite exsolutions in pyrrhotite. Pyrrhotite as a matrix phase of the Ni sulphides very often contains pentlandite exsolutions. The question that this study wants to address is: are these exsolutions in any way governed by the deformation events recorded by microstructures and if they are, in what way. QESTION TIME 4:00-4:10 Cam McCuaig Wrap-Up 4:10-4:20

DRINKS AND FINGER FOOD

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PRINCESS ROAD 10 20 30 40 50 100 Scale in METRES 1:5000 ... (A3 print) 1:2500 ... (A1 print) CRAWLEY CAMPUS SWAN LOCATION 2885

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 37 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010 Corporate Members 2010 / 2011

MAJOR Producers

First Quantum Minerals Australia Ltd

EMERGING Producers St Barbara Ltd

38 JUNIOR Explorers

Anglo Australian

Mr Stephen Bartrop Mr Mark G Creasy Cryptodome Pty Ltd Newexco Services Pty Ltd Ferrum Crescent Ltd Talisman Mining Eleckra Mines Ltd

IN-KIND Members ER Mapper

Datamine Runge Ltd Equinox

www.cet.uwa.edu.au 39 CET NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2010

CET Research Themes and Leaders

The Centre is aimed squarely at the Au MINERAL Ni-PGE MINERAL Fe MINERAL SPECIAL PROJECTS & mineral industry’s need to increase SYSTEMS SYSTEMS SYSTEMS OTHER COMMODITIES the discovery of new mineral deposits. Its six research themes John Millillerer Marco FFiorentiniioren reflect the belief that more effective Steffen HagemannHagem Cam McCuaigua targeting, coupled with independent action to reduce the risks of value GEOG PHYYSICSSIC & destruction, will deliver outcomes IMAGE ANALYSIS that can significantly improve the risk: reward ratio. Mike DentithDentit Each theme has a leader and is responsible for a portfolio of projects. PROGRESSIVE Researchers within the CET are often RISK VALUE & ASSESSMENT engaged across several project portfolios. PietrooGu Gujj Theme leader contact details are available at http//:www.cet.uwa.edu.au/contact/staff

MSc Ore Deposit Geology Contact and Evaluation Information If you would like to find out more The course work Masters program is designed for geoscientists about the Centre for Exploration who want to gain up to date knowledge and skills in economic Targeting, its Corporate geology and mineral exploration. The course at UWA is part of the Membership program, Applied national Minerals Geoscience Masters program and is supported Research opportunities or Training by the Minerals Council of Australia. The program is run jointly possibilities, please contact: between the Centre for Exploration Targeting (UWA), CODES (UTAS), EGRU (JCU) and Curtin University of Technology (CUT). CENTRE FOR EXPLORATION The Masters course can be completed in three ways: TARGETING Option 1 - (8 course work units) Eight units of course work: at least two of which must be undertaken at UWA. The other units are The University of Western Australia done at UWA or at the other participating universities. 35 Stirling Highway Option 2 - (6 course work units + dissertation) Six units of course work and a dissertation (25% of overall assessment). Two of the CRAWLEY WA 6009 units must be completed at UWA. T +61 8 6488 2667 Option 3 - (3 course work units + thesis) Three course work units and a thesis which accounts for 62.5% of the overall assessment. F +61 8 6488 1178 The thesis is similar to an honours project in scope. E [email protected] Courses offered by the CET: W www.cet.uwa.edu.au — Computer-Aided Exploration Targeting, July 2011 — Ore Deposit Conceptual Models, November 2011 CRICOS Provider Code 00126G — Applied Structural & Field Geology, July 2012 — South African Ore Deposits Field Excursion, September 2012