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Geology of the Fishtie deposit, Central Province, Zambia: iron oxide and copper mineralization in Nguba Group metasedimentary rocks

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Abstract

The Fishtie copper deposit, located in the Central Province of Zambia, contains approximately 55 Mt of 1.04 % Cu at a 0.5 % Cu cut-off in oxide, sulfide, and mixed oxide–sulfide ores. The deposit is hosted in Neoproterozoic diamictites and siltstones of the Grand Conglomérat Formation and overlying Kakontwe Limestone Formation of the lower Nguba Group. The Grand Conglomérat Formation at Fishtie directly overlies basement schists and quartzites. Mineralized zones are located adjacent to high-angle normal faults that appear to control thickness variations in the Grand Conglomérat Formation suggesting synsedimentary fault movement. Iron-rich rocks consisting of nearly monomineralic bands of magnetite and ankerite occur within the Grand Conglomérat Formation. The absence of magnetite-rich clasts in overlying diamictites and the presence of disseminated magnetite, ankerite, and apatite in adjacent diamictites suggest this iron-rich rock formed by replacement of siltstone beds. These magnetite-rich rocks thicken towards normal faults suggesting the faults formed conduits for oxidized hydrothermal solutions. The magnetite–ankerite–quartz rock was overprinted by later hydrothermal alteration and sulfide mineralization. Copper sulfide precipitation was associated with growth of both muscovite and chlorite, together with weak silicification. Sulfides are zoned relative to normal faults with bornite more common in proximity to faults and ore stage pyrite most common in an outer zone with chalcopyrite. Copper sulfides display generally heavy sulfur isotopic values, suggesting sulfide derivation from thermochemical reduction of Neoproterozoic seawater sulfate. Copper mineralized zones in the Grand Conglomérat at Fishtie are megascopically similar to those observed in the newly discovered Kamoa deposit in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo. Alteration and mineralization at Fishtie display lateral zoning relative to normal faults unlike the broad vertical zonation observed at the giant Kamoa deposit. The small size of the known mineralized zones at the Fishtie deposit relative to Kamoa is probably due to the absence of a thick siliciclastic palaeoaquifer beneath the Grand Conglomérat Formation as is present at Kamoa.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank First Quantum Minerals Ltd. for permission to publish this description of the Fishtie copper deposit. Mr. Doug Jack is thanked for providing critical logistical support in Zambia and for identifying and making available the data on which this study is based. Dr. Katharina Pfaff and Matt Dye were instrumental in QEMSCAN® data capture and reduction. Dr. Misac Nabighian of the Center for Gravity, Electric, and Magnetic Research at the Colorado School of Mines provided essential filtering of the aeromagnetic data. Constructive reviews by Nicolas Beukes and Marek Wendorff significantly improved the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    Michael D. Hendrickson, Murray W. Hitzman, John D. Humphrey & Richard F. Wendlandt

  2. First Quantum Minerals Ltd, Minera Inmet Chile SA, Callao 3462 Las Condes, Santiago, Chile

    David Wood

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  1. Michael D. Hendrickson
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  2. Murray W. Hitzman
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Correspondence to Murray W. Hitzman.

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ESM Fig. 1

Three-dimensional model of the upper surface of basement rocks (white) and copper grade in the Fishtie deposit illustrating the close association of mineralized zones to high-angle normal faults. The green shells represent a 0.5 % Cu cutoff, the yellow shells represent a 1.1 % Cu cutoff, and the red shells represent a 1.6 % Cu cutoff. Brown intervals in drill holes denote diamictite packages. Blue faults are high angle normal; yellow faults had strike–slip movement. A Top view of the deposit area. B Northeast-directed view of the deposit. C North-directed view of the central, eastern, and satellite structural domains. D Northwest-directed view of the satellite, eastern, and central domains (GIF 140 kb)

High-resolution image (EPS 2200 kb)

ESM Fig. 2

Photomicrographs and QEMSCAN® images of the Kakontwe Limestone. APhotomicrograph in cross-polarized light of massive dolostone. Dolomite occurs as subrounded to subangular grains that are intergrown with subordinate quartz. Calcite is less common and forms small grains (KEDD0135, 141.5 m). B QEMSCAN® image utilizing a 15 μm resolution of Kakontwe Limestone from the least altered portion of the deposit. Calcite is dominant with lesser dolomite along bedding planes. Minor quartz and potassium feldspar occur as small grains throughout the sample. Pyrite occurs as small subhedral crystals (DDH KEDD0076, 115 m). C Photomicrograph in plane polarized light of a dolomitic siltstone. Quartz and dolomite occur as subrounded to subangular grains; there is abundant interstitial carbonaceous material (KEDD0142, 139.5 m). D QEMSCAN® image utilizing a 15-μm resolution of a rhythmically laminated dolomitic siltstone. Siliciclastic microlaminae are composed of subrounded to subangular quartz and potassium feldspar grains. Dolomite-rich laminae contain minor quartz and potassium feldspar (DDH KEDD0085, 150 m) (GIF 395 kb)

High-resolution image (EPS 10094 kb)

ESM Fig. 3

Muscovite-rich Grand Conglomérat diamictite. A Photomicrograph in plane polarized light of muscovite-rich diamictite showing elongate muscovite laths and pervasive fine-grained white mica. Minor biotite and chlorite are present. This sample contains disseminated bornite grains (DDH KEDD0064, 79.5 m). B Photomicrograph in cross-polarized light of the muscovite-rich diamictite in (A) (DDH KEDD0064, 79.5 m). C QEMSCAN® image at 15 μm resolution of muscovite-rich diamictite. The diamictite contains clasts of vein quartz, schist, and altered mafic igneous rock (chlorite–biotite–albite–quartz) in a fine-grained matrix dominated by muscovite and quartz. Potassium feldspar is present along contacts between quartz and muscovite grains; the texture suggests muscovite replaced potassium feldspar. The matrix also contains minor biotite that was apparently locally replaced by chlorite. This sample contains an irregular aggregate of chalcopyrite grains with minor pyrite that is rimmed by quartz and ankerite. Ankerite is common in the lower portion of the image as irregular grains apparently intergrown with muscovite. The location of image (D) is outlined in black (DDH KEDD0008, 107 m). D QEMSCAN® image showing an enlargement of the diamictite matrix in image (C) at a 2-μm resolution. The matrix consists of muscovite with lesser quartz, biotite, and potassium feldspar. Potassium feldspar is preserved within or immediately adjacent to quartz grains. Patches of anhedral ankerite are scattered through the matrix (DDH KEDD0008, 107 m) (GIF 497 kb)

High-resolution image (EPS 11033 kb)

ESM Fig. 4

Biotite-rich Grand Conglomérat diamictite. A Photomicrograph in plane polarized light of biotite-rich diamictite. Biotite occurs as pervasive small to moderate sized subhedral to anhedral crystals that contain inclusions of muscovite. Pyrite is present as small subhedral crystals (DDH KEDD0008, 98.6 m). B Photomicrograph in plane polarized light of biotite apparently partially replacing the outer edges of an albite grain. The interior of the albite grain is partially altered to muscovite, chlorite, and biotite (DDH KEDD0008, 98.6 m). C QEMSCAN® image at a 15-μm resolution of biotite-rich diamictite. The sample contains subrounded clasts of vein quartz, quartzite, and schist in a matrix of biotite, quartz, albite, and apatite with subsidiary chlorite replacing biotite. The biotite contains minor muscovite inclusions. Small grains of pyrite and pyrrhotite are present. The area of image (D) is outlined in black (DDH KEDD0089, 46.3 m). (D) QEMSCAN® image showing an enlargement of (C) at a 2 μm resolution. The matrix of the diamictite is composed of biotite that encloses very small grains of quartz with lesser albite, apatite, muscovite, chlorite, and calcite. (DDH KEDD0089, 46.3 m) (GIF 431 kb)

High-resolution image (EPS 4913 kb)

ESM Fig. 5

Chlorite-rich Grand Conglomérat diamictite. A Photomicrograph in plane polarized light of chlorite-rich diamictite showing small chlorite grains intergrown with or overgrowing quartz. Coarse chalcopyrite is intergrown with chlorite (DDH KEDD0062, 101.4 m). B Photomicrograph in plane polarized light of chlorite partially replacing the outer edges of a relatively thin muscovite lath and nearly completely replacing a larger crystal of muscovite directly below it (DDH KEDD0012, 41.5 m). C Photomicrograph in plane polarized light of chlorite partially replacing biotite. Chlorite is intergrown with pyrite (DDH KEDD0012, 41.5 m). D QEMSCAN® image at 15 μm resolution of a chlorite-rich diamictite. Lithic clasts consist of vein quartz, schist, and one chlorite-rich clast that may represent an altered mafic igneous rock. The diamictite matrix consists of intergrown fine-grained quartz and chlorite together with lesser ankerite, muscovite, and biotite. The sample contains several areas with abundant apatite, commonly intergrown with chlorite. Chalcopyrite with minor bornite rims several vein quartz clasts. The location of image (E) is outlined in black (DDH KEDD-0006, 53.6 m). E QEMSCAN® image showing an enlargement of (D) at a 2-μm resolution. The diamictite matrix consists of small grains of subrounded to irregularly shaped quartz set in a chlorite matrix with minor apatite, muscovite, and biotite. Apatite forms irregular grains intergrown with chlorite. Ankerite occurs as small grains interstitial to quartz. (DDH KEDD0006, 53.6 m) (GIF 409 kb)

High-resolution image (EPS 5028 kb)

ESM Fig. 6

QEMSCAN® image at 15 μm resolution of mineralized Kakontwe Limestone. The sample is composed of alternating dolomite and siliciclastic rich microlaminae and a bedding parallel vein (left). Small to large grains of subhedral to anhedral chalcopyrite are concentrated in dolostone laminae that contain abundant carbonaceous material (not visible in image). Coarse-grained chalcopyrite is intergrown with quartz in a bedding parallel vein in the left side of the image. Minor very fine-grained chalcopyrite is intergrown with chlorite and potassium feldspar in siliciclastic beds. (DDH KEDD0085, 85.5 m) (GIF 141 kb)

High resolution image (EPS 1578 kb)

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Hendrickson, M.D., Hitzman, M.W., Wood, D. et al. Geology of the Fishtie deposit, Central Province, Zambia: iron oxide and copper mineralization in Nguba Group metasedimentary rocks. Miner Deposita 50, 717–737 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-014-0570-z

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