Abstract
Transitions from pyrrhotite–magnetite- to pyrite–magnetite- and pyrite–hematite-bearing assemblages in metasedimentary rocks in the Kambalda-St. Ives goldfield have been shown to be spatially associated with economic gold grades. Fluid mixing, fluid–rock interaction and phase separation have been proposed previously as causes for this association. Textural, mineralogical and isotopic evidence is reviewed, and thermodynamic calculations are used to investigate the mineralogical consequences of progressive fluid–rock interaction in interflow metasediments. Fluid–rock interactions in response to fluid infiltration and/or bulk composition variation are plausible mechanisms for production of the observed features.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bavinton OA (1981) The nature of sulfidic metasediments at Kambalda and their broad relationships with associated ultramafic rocks and nickel ores. Econ Geol 76:1606–1628
Clark ME, Carmichael MD, Hodgson CJ, Fu M (1989) Wall-rock alteration, Victory Gold Mine, Kambalda, Western Australia: Processes and P-T-XCO2 conditions of metasomatism. In: Keays RR, Ramsay WRH, Groves DI (eds) The Geology of Gold Deposits: The Perspective in 1988. Economic Geology Monograph 6, pp 445–449
Cox SF, Ruming K (2004) The St Ives mesothermal gold system, Western Australia—a case of golden aftershocks? J Struct Geol 26:1109–1125
Evans KA, Phillips GN, Powell R (2006) Rock-buffering of auriferous fluids in altered rocks associated with the Golden Mile-style mineralization, Kalgoorlie gold field, Western Australia. Econ Geol 101:805–817
Hodkiewicz PF, Groves DI, Davidson GJ, Weinberg RF, Hagemann SG (2009) Influence of structural setting on sulphur isotopes in Archean orogenic gold deposits, Eastern Goldfields province, Yilgarn, Western Australia. Miner Depos 44:129–150
McCuaig TC, Kerrich R (1998) P-T-t-deformation-fluid characteristics of lode gold deposits: evidence from alteration systematics. Ore Geol Rev 12:381–453
Neall FB, Phillips GN (1987) Fluid–wall interaction in an Archean hydrothermal gold deposit: a thermodynamic model for the Hunt Mine, Kambalda. Econ Geol 82:1679–1694
Neumayr P, Petersen KJ, Gauthier L, Hodge JL, Hagemann SG, Walshe JL, Prendergast K, Connors K, Horn L, Frikken P, Roache A, Blewett RS (2005) Mapping of hydrothermal alteration and geochemical gradients as a tool for conceptual targeting: St. Ives Gold Camp, Western Australia. In: Bierlein FP, Mao J (eds) Mineral deposit research: meeting the global challenge. Berlin, Springer, pp 1479–1482
Neumayr P, Walshe J, Hagemann S, Petersen K, Roache A, Frikken P, Horn L, Halley S (2008) Oxidized and reduced mineral assemblages in greenstone belt rocks of the St. Ives gold camp, Western Australia: vectors to high-grade ore bodies in Archaean gold deposits? Miner Depos 43:363–371
Oliver NHS, Cleverley JS, Mark G, Pollard PJ, Fu B, Marshall LJ, Rubenach MJ, Williams PJ, Baker T (2004) Modeling the role of sodic alteration in the genesis of iron oxide–copper–gold deposits, Eastern Mount Isa block, Australia. Econ Geol 99:1145–1176
Palin JM, Xu Y (2000) Gilt by Association? Origins of pyritic gold ores in the Victory mesothermal gold deposit, Western Australia. Econ Geol 95:1627–1634
Petersen KJ, Neumayr P, Hagemann SG, Walshe JL (2005) Paleohydrologic evolution of the Kambalda gold camp. In: Bierlein FP, Mao J (eds) Mineral deposit research: meeting the global challenge. Springer, Berlin, pp 573–576
Petersen KJ, Neumayr P, Walshe J, Hagemann S (2006) Types of fluid compositions and evolution at the St. Ives gold camp. Geochim et Cosmochim Acta 70:A485
Phillips GN, Brown IJ (1987) Host rock and fluid control on carbonate assemblages in the Golden Mile Dolerite, Kalgoorlie gold deposit, Australia. Canad Min 25:265–273
Phillips GN, Groves DI (1984) Fluid access and fluid–wall rock interaction in the genesis of the Archaean gold–quartz vein deposit at Hunt Mine, Kambalda, Western Australia. In: Foster RP (ed) Gold ’82: the geology, geochemistry and genesis of gold deposits. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 389–416
Prendergast K (2007) Application of lithogeochemistry to gold exploration in the St Ives goldfield, Western Australia. Geochem-Exp Environ Analysis 7:99–108
Shvarov Y, Bastrakov E (1999) HCh: a software package for geochemical equilibrium modelling. User's guide. Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Canberra. Record 1999/25; p 61
Watchorn RB (1998) Kambalda-St. Ives gold deposits. In: Berkman DA, Mackenzie DH (eds) Geology of Australian and Papua New Guinean mineral deposits. The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne, pp 243–254
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by a Curtin University Research and Teaching Fellowship and by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Exploration and Mining. Neil Phillips and Roger Powell are thanked for helpful discussions. Frank Bierlein and an anonymous reviewer are thanked for perceptive reviews that improved the paper, and Patrick Williams is thanked for editorial support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Editorial handling: G. Davidson
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Evans, K.A. A test of the viability of fluid–wall rock interaction mechanisms for changes in opaque phase assemblage in metasedimentary rocks in the Kambalda-St. Ives goldfield, Western Australia. Miner Deposita 45, 207–213 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-009-0260-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-009-0260-4