Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Lode–gold mineralization in the Tanami region, northern Australia

  • Article
  • Published:
Mineralium Deposita Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Tanami region of northern Australia has emerged over the last two decades as the largest gold-producing region in the Northern Territory. Gold is hosted by epigenetic quartz veins in sedimentary and mafic rocks, and by sulfide-rich replacement zones within iron formation. Although limited, geochronological data suggest that most mineralization occurred at about 1,805–1,790 Ma, during a period of extensive granite intrusion, although structural relationships suggest that some deposits predate this period. There are three main goldfields in the Tanami region: the Dead Bullock Soak goldfield, which hosts the world-class Callie deposit; The Granites goldfield; and the Tanami goldfield. In the Dead Bullock Soak goldfield, deposits are hosted by carbonaceous siltstone and iron formation where a late (D5) structural corridor intersects an early F1 anticlinorium. In The Granites goldfield, deposits are hosted by highly sheared iron formation and are interpreted to predate D5. The Tanami goldfield consists of a large number of small, mostly basalt-hosted deposits that probably formed at a high structural level during D5. The D5 structures that host most deposits formed in a convergent structural regime with σ 1 oriented between E–W and ENE–WSW. Structures active during D5 include NE-trending oblique thrust (dextral) faults and ESE-trending (sinistral) faults that curve into N- to NNW-trending reverse faults localized in supracrustal belts between and around granite complexes. Granite intrusions also locally perturbed the stress field, possibly localizing structures and deposits. Forward modeling and preliminary interpretations of reflection seismic data indicate that all faults extend into the mid-crust. In areas characterized by the N- to NW-trending faults, orebodies also tend to be N- to NW-trending, localized in dilational jogs or in fractured, competent rock units. In areas characterized by ESE-trending faults, the orebodies and veins tend to strike broadly east at an angle consistent with tensional fractures opened during E–W- to ENE–WSW-directed transpression. Many of these deposits are hosted by reactive rock units such as carbonaceous siltstone and iron formation. Ore deposition occurred at depths ranging from 1.5 to 11 km from generally low to moderate salinity carbonic fluids with temperatures from 200 to 430°C, similar to lode–gold fluids elsewhere in the world. These fluids are interpreted as the product of metamorphic dewatering caused by enhanced heat flow, although it is also possible that the fluids were derived from coeval granites. Lead isotope data suggest that lead in the ore fluids had multiple sources. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope data are consistent with both metamorphic and magmatic origins for ore fluids. Gold deposition is interpreted to be caused by fluid unmixing and sulfidation of host rocks. Fluid unmixing is caused by three different processes: (1) CO2 unmixing caused by interaction of ore fluids with carbonaceous siltstone; (2) depressurization caused by pressure cycling in shear zones; and (3) boiling as ore fluids move to shallow levels. Deposits in the Tanami region may illustrate the continuum model of lode–gold deposition suggested by Groves (Mineralium Deposita 28:366–374, 1993) for Archean districts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Only rocks of amphibolite grade or higher are referred to using the prefix “meta-.”

References

  • Adams SF (1920) A microscopic study of vein quartz. Econ Geol 15:623–664

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams GJ (1997) Structural evolution and ore genesis of The Granites gold deposits, Northern Territory. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Adelaide

  • Adams GJ, Both RA, James P (2006) The Granites gold deposits, Northern Territory, Australia: evidence for an early syn-tectonic ore genesis. Miner Depos (in this issue)

  • Bagas L, Huston DL, Anderson J (2006) Gold deposits in the Palaeoproterozoic Tanami Group, Western Australia. Miner Depos (in this issue)

  • Blake DH, Tyler IM, Page RW (2000) Regional geology of the Halls Creek Orogen. Bull Aust Geol Surv Organ 246:35–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodnar RJ, Reynolds TJ, Kuehn CA (1985) Fluid inclusion systematics in epithermal systems. Rev Econ Geol 2:73–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Böhlke JK (1988) Carbonate-sulfide equilibria and “stratabound” disseminated epigenetic gold mineralization—a proposal based on examples from Allegheny, California, USA. Appl Geochem 3:499–516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canfield DE, Raiswell R (1999) The evolution of the sulfur cycle. Am J Sci 299:97–723

    Google Scholar 

  • Crispe A, Vandenberg L (2004) Preliminary findings from mapping in the northern Tanami. Northern Territory Geological Survey Record 2004-0001 pp 17–18

  • Crispe A, Vandenberg L (2006) Geology of the Tanami region, Northern Territory. Northern Territory Geological Survey Report (in press)

  • Crispe AJ, Vandenberg LC, Scrimgeour IR (2006) Geological framework of the Palaeoproterozoic Tanami Region, Northern Territory. Miner Depos (in this issue)

  • Cross AJ, Crispe AJ (2006) SHRIMP U–Pb analyses of detrital zircon: a window to understanding the early Palaeoproterozoic development of the Tanami basin, northern Australia. Miner Depos (in this issue)

  • Cross AJ, Claoué-Long JC, Scrimgeour IR, Close DF, Edgoose CJ (2004) Summary of results, Joint NTGS–GA geochronology project: southern Arunta Region. Northern Territory Geological Survey Record 2004-003

  • Cross AJ, Fletcher IF, Crispe AJ, Huston DL, Williams N (2005) New constraints on the timing of deposition and mineralisation in the Tanami Group. Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) 2005: record of abstracts. Northern Territory Geological Survey Record 2005-001

  • Cumming GL, Richards JR (1975) Ore lead isotope ratios in a continuously changing Earth. Earth Planet Sci Lett 28:155–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daly J (1962) Granites geophysical survey, Northern Territory, 1939. Bureau of Mineral Resources Geology and Geophysics, Australia Record 1962/154

  • Davidson AA (1905) Journal of exploration in central Australia by The Central Australian Exploration Syndicate. South Australian Parliamentary Paper 27

  • Dean AA (2001) Igneous rocks of the Tanami region. Northern Territory Geological Survey Record 2001/03

  • Fraser (2002) Geochronology of Tanami ores and host rocks. Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) 2002: record of abstracts. Northern Territory Geological Survey Record 2002/0003

  • Goldfarb RJ, Groves DI, Hart GJR (2001) Orogenic gold and geologic time: a global synthesis. Ore Geol Rev 18:1–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goleby BR, Lyons P, Huston DL, Vandenberg L, Davies B, Bagas L, Jones KEA, Smith, Gebre-Mariam M, English L, Green M, Korsch RJ, Crispe, A (2006) The 2005 Tanami seismic collaborative research project: seismic results. In: Lyons P, Huston DL (eds.) Evolution and metallogenesis of the North Australian Craton. Geoscience Australia Record 2006/16: 41–46

  • Green MJ (2006) Granite geochemistry, In: Geology of the Tanami region, Northern Territory. Northern Territory Geological Survey Report (in press)

  • Groves DI (1993) The crustal continuum model for late-Archæan lode gold deposits of the Yilgarn block, Western Australia. Miner Depos 28:366–374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groves DI, Barley ME, Ho SE (1989) Nature, genesis, and tectonic setting of mesothermal gold mineralization in the Yilgarn Block, Western Australia. Econ Geol Monogr 6:71–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Groves DI, Goldfarb RJ, Robert F, Hart GJR (2003) Gold deposits in metamorphic belts: overview of current understanding, outstanding problems, future research, and exploration significance. Econ Geol 98:1–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagemann SG, Cassidy KF (2000) Archean orogenic lode gold deposits. Rev Econ Geol 13:9–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagemann SG, Groves DI, Ridley JR, Vearncombe JR (1992) The Archean lode gold deposits at Wiluna, Western Australia: high-level brittle-style mineralization in a strike–slip regime. Econ Geol 87:1022–1053

    Google Scholar 

  • Haines PWO, Jago JB, Gum JC (2001) Turbidite deposition in the Cambrian Kanmantoo Group, South Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 48:465–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan LY (2002) Mineral occurrences and exploration potential of the east Kimberley. Geological Survey of Western Australia Report 74

  • Hodgson CJ (1993) Mesothermal lode gold deposits. Geol Assoc Can (Special Paper) 40:635–678

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson CJ, MacGeehan PJ (1982) Geological characteristics of gold deposits in the Superior Province of the Canadian Shield. CIM Spec Vol 24:211–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Hossfeld PS (1940a) Preliminary report on The Granites goldfield, central Australia. Aerial Geology and Geophysics Survey of Northern Australia, Northern Territory Report 30

  • Hossfeld PS (1940b) The gold deposits of The Granites–Tanami district, central Australia. Aerial Geology and Geophysics Survey of Northern Australia, Northern Territory Report 43

  • Ireland TJ, Mayer TE (1984) The geology and mineralisation of The Granites gold deposits, Northern Territory. Proceedings of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Conference, Darwin, Northern Territory, pp 397–405

  • Jagodzinki EA (1998) Shrimp U–Pb dating of ignimbrites in the Pul Pul Rhyolite, Northern Territory; a cautionary tale. AGSO Res Newsl 28:23–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambeck L (2004) Sequence stratigraphic framework of mineralised units in the Tanami region. Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) 2004: record of abstracts. Northern Territory Geological Survey Record 2004-001

  • Lowenstern JB (2001) Carbon dioxide in magmas and implications for hydrothermal systems. Miner Depos 36:490–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer TE (1990) The Granites gold field. Aus IMM Monogr 14:715–719

    Google Scholar 

  • Meixner AJ, Lane R (2005) 3D inversion of gravity and magnetic data for the Tanami Region. Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) 2005: record of abstracts. Northern Territory Geological Survey Record 2005-001

  • Mernagh TP, Wygralak AS (2006) Ore fluids of the Tanami region. Miner Depos (in this issue)

  • Morelli RM, Creaser RA, Bell CC (2005) Re–Os geochronology of the Homestake gold deposit, Black Hills, South Dakota, and implications for chronometer closure temperature. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 37:452

    Google Scholar 

  • Naden J, Shepherd T (1989) Role of methane and carbon dioxide in gold deposition. Nature 342:793–795

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson PM (1990) Tanami gold deposit. Aus IMM Monogr 14:719–724

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohmoto H (1986) Stable isotope geochemistry of ore deposits. Rev Miner 16:491–559

    Google Scholar 

  • Ord River Minerals (2005) Activities report, quarter ended 30 September 2005. Announcement to Sydney Stock Exchange, 31 October 2005

  • Page R, Sun S-S, Blake D (1995) Geochronology of an exposed late Archæan basement terrane in The Granites–Tanami region. AGSO Res Newsl 22:19–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Partington GA, Williams PJ (2000) Proterozoic lode gold and (iron)–copper–gold deposits: a comparison of Australian and global examples. Rev Econ Geol 13:69–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips GN, Groves DI (1983) The nature of Archæan gold-bearing fluids as deduced from gold deposits of Western Australia. J Geol Soc Aust 30:25–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Plumb KA (1990) Halls Creek Province and The Granites–Tanami Inlier-regional geology and mineralisation. Aust IMM Monogr 14:681–695

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen B, Sheppard S, Fletcher IR (2006) Testing ore deposit models using in situ U–Pb geochronology of hydrothermal monazite: Paleoproterozoic gold mineralization in northern Australia. Geology 34:77–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scrimgeour I, Sandiford M (1993) Early Proterozoic metamorphism at The Granites gold mine, Northern Territory: implications for the timing of fluid production in high-temperature, low-pressure terranes. Econ Geol 88:1099–1113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Şener AK, Young C, Groves DI, Krapež B, Fletcher IR (2005) Major orogenic gold episode associated with Cordilleran-style tectonics related to the assembly of Paleoproterozoic Australia? Geology 33:225–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard S, Tyler IM, Griffin TJ, Taylor WR (1999) Palaeoproterozoic subduction-related and passive margin basalt in the Halls Creek Orogen, northwest Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 46:679–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard S, Griffin TJ, Tyler IM, Page R (2001) High- and low-K granites and adakites at a Palaeoproterozoic plate boundary in northwestern Australia. J Geol Soc (Lond) 158–547–560

    Google Scholar 

  • Sibson RH, Robert F, Poulsen KH (1988) High-angle reverse faults, fluid–pressure cycling, and mesothermal gold–quartz deposits. Geology 16:551–555

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JB (2001) Summary of results. Joint NTGS–AGSO age determination program 1999–2001. Northern Territory Geological Survey Record 2001-007

  • Smith EH, Lovett DR, Pring PI, Sando BG (1998) Dead Bullock Soak gold deposits. Aust IMM Monogr 22:449–460

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuart-Smith PG, Needham RS, Page RW, Wyborn LAI (1993) Geology and mineral deposits of the Cullen Mineral Field, Northern Territory. Bull Aust Geol Surv Organ 229

  • Stüwe K (1998) Tectonic constraints on the timing relationships of metamorphism, fluid production, and gold-bearing emplacement. Ore Geol Rev 13:219–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tunks AJ (1996) Geology of the Tanami Gold Mine, Northern Territory. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Tasmania

  • Tunks AJ, Cooke DR (2006) Geology and structural controls on mineralization at the Tanami gold mine. Miner Depos (in this issue)

  • Tunks AJ, Marsh S (1998) Gold deposits of the Tanami Corridor. Aust IMM Monogr 22:443–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallini DA, Groves DI, McNaughton NJ, Fletcher IR (2006) Uraniferous authigenic xenotime in northern Australia and its relationship to unconformity-associated uranium mineralization. Miner Depos (in this issue)

  • Vandenberg LC, Meixner AJ (2003) The Tanami 3D model. Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) 2003: record of abstracts. Northern Territory Geological Survey, Record GS 2003-0001

  • Vandenberg LC, Hendrickx MH, Crispe AJ (2001) Structural geology of the Tanami region. Northern Territory Geological Survey Record 2001-004

  • Voulgaris P, Emslie J (2004) Geology and ore estimation at the Callie underground gold mine, Tanami, NT. The Aus IMM Bull 2:71–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall VJ (2005) TAG:Thermal aureole (pluton-related) gold systems. AIG News 79:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall VJ, Taylor JR (1990) Granite emplacement and temporally related gold mineralisation. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts 25:264–265

  • Williams NC (2006) Controls on mineralization at the world-class Callie gold deposit, Tanami desert, Northern Territory, Australia. Miner Depos (in this issue)

  • Wygralak AS, Mernagh TP, Fraser GF, Huston DL, Denton G, McInnes B, Crispe A, Vandenberg L (2001) Gold mineral systems in the Tanami region. AGSO Res Newsl 34:2–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Wygralak AS, Mernagh TP, Huston DL, Ahmad M (2005) Gold mineral system of the Tanami region. Northern Territory Geological Survey Report 2004/18

Download references

Acknowledgements

This contribution is a product from the North Australia Project, a joint National Geoscience Accord project between Geoscience Australia and the Northern Territory Geological Survey, and the Geological Survey of Western Australia. It has benefited from discussions with Richard Blewett, Paul Henson, and geologists from Newmont Australia, Tanami Gold, Barrick Australia, and Anglogold Australia and from critical reviews by Anthony Budd, David Champion, Rich Goldfarb, and David Groves. Ian Scrimgeour, Steve Sheppard, and Ian Tyler are thanked for their comments on the aspects of the evolution of the Halls Creek and Pine Creek regions relative to the Tanami region. This contribution is published with permission of the Chief Executive Officer of Geoscience Australia, the Director of the Northern Territory Geological Survey, and the director of the Geological Survey of Western Australia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    David L. Huston, Terrence P. Mernagh, Alexis Lambeck, Andrew Cross, Geoff Fraser, Nick Williams, Kurt Worden, Tony Meixner, Bruce Goleby, Leonie Jones, Pat Lyons & David Maidment

  2. Northern Territory Geological Survey, P.O. Box 8760, Alice Springs, NT, 0871, Australia

    Leon Vandenberg & Andrew Crispe

  3. Northern Territory Geological Survey, GPO Box 3000, Darwin, NT, 0801, Australia

    Andrew S. Wygralak

  4. Geological Survey of Western Australia, 100 Plain St, East Perth, WA, 6009, Australia

    Leon Bagas

  5. Centre for Exploration Targeting, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6004, Australia

    Leon Bagas

Authors
  1. David L. Huston
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Leon Vandenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andrew S. Wygralak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Terrence P. Mernagh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Leon Bagas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Andrew Crispe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Alexis Lambeck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Andrew Cross
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Geoff Fraser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Nick Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Kurt Worden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Tony Meixner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Bruce Goleby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Leonie Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Pat Lyons
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. David Maidment
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David L. Huston.

Additional information

Editorial handling: L. Meinert

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huston, D.L., Vandenberg, L., Wygralak, A.S. et al. Lode–gold mineralization in the Tanami region, northern Australia. Miner Deposita 42, 175–204 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-006-0106-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-006-0106-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation