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The geology and mineralisation at the Golden Pride gold deposit, Nzega Greenstone Belt, Tanzania

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Abstract

The Golden Pride gold deposit (∼3 Moz) is located in the central part of the Nzega Greenstone Belt at the southern margin of the Lake Victoria Goldfields in Tanzania. It represents an inferred Late Archaean, orogenic gold deposit and is hosted in intensely deformed meta-sedimentary rocks in the hanging wall of the approximately E–W striking Golden Pride Shear Zone. The hanging-wall sequence also includes felsic (quartz porphyritic) to mafic (lamprophyric) intrusions, as well as banded iron formations. Hydrothermal alteration phases associated with mineralisation are dominated by sericite and chlorite. Two main ore types can be distinguished, chlorite and silica ore, both occupying dilational sites and structural intersections in the hanging wall of the main shear zone. Sulphide minerals in both ore types include pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, pyrite and accessory sphalerite, galena, sulphosalts and Ni–Co–Bi sulphides. Gold and tellurides are late in the paragenetic sequence and associated with a secondary phase of pyrrhotite deposition. Sulphur isotope compositions range from −6 to 7 per mil and are interpreted to reflect contributions from two distinct sources to the mineralising fluids in the Golden Pride gold deposit. A redox change, potentially induced by the intrusion of mafic melts, together with structural elements in the hanging wall of the Golden Pride Shear Zone, are interpreted to be the main controls on gold mineralisation in this deposit.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Jigsaw Geoscience Pty. Ltd.’s Kas De Luca and Ian Neilson for their valuable contributions. In addition, Scott Halley of Mineral Mapping Pty. Ltd. has contributed his geological knowledge, in particular in relation to lithogeochemistry and recognising the various alteration styles. Prof. Anthony J. Crawford (University of Tasmania) and Dr. Doug Mason (Mason Geoscience Pty. Ltd.) both conducted petrographical studies, respectively, on intrusive and sedimentary (as well as ore-related) rocks from the Golden Pride gold deposit that contributed to the understanding of the lithologies and mineralisation styles. Stafford McKnight has dedicated his time and knowledge to assist with SEM work at the University of Ballarat. Andrew Goode is thanked for reviewing an early version of the manuscript and providing valuable comments. The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the CEO and General Manager Exploration from Resolute Mining Ltd. in approving publication of this paper. Revision of the manuscript was aided by constructive comments from the reviewers Basem Zoheir and Gregor Borg, and the editor, Bernd Lehmann. Their support is greatly appreciated.

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Author notes

  1. I. M. A. Vos

    Present address: SRK Consulting, Suite 2100, 25 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 3A1, Canada

  2. F. P. Bierlein

    Present address: Afmeco Mining and Exploration Pty. Ltd., 80 Leader Street, Forestville, South Australia, 5035, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Resolute Tanzania Limited, P.O. Box 78486, Plot 1670, Mwaya Road, Masaki, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    I. M. A. Vos

  2. School of Earth and Environment, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia

    I. M. A. Vos & F. P. Bierlein

  3. Jigsaw Geoscience Pty. Ltd., P.O. Box 488, West Perth, Western Australia, 6872, Australia

    J. S. Standing

  4. ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 79, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia

    G. Davidson

Authors
  1. I. M. A. Vos
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  2. F. P. Bierlein
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  3. J. S. Standing
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  4. G. Davidson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. M. A. Vos.

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Editorial handling: B. Lehmann

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Table 1

Whole-rock (XRF-in wt.%) and multi-element (ICP-MS-in ppm) geochemical data for selected rock suites of the Golden Pride mine stratigraphy. GPSZ = Golden Pride Shear Zone, relating to intensely foliated and carbonate-altered rocks defining the shear zone. (XLS 28 kb)

Table 2

Representative EDS analyses for ore mineral phases at the Golden Pride gold deposit. All values in atomic percent. System resolution is 53–60 eV. Data reduction by ZAF (two iterations). Standards used were pure elements except for sulphur (marcasite), zinc (sphalerite) and arsenic (arsenopyrite). (XLS 34 kb)

Table 3

In situ laser and conventional sulphur isotope data of representative iron sulphide samples from the Golden Pride gold deposit. Correction factors (w.r.t. CDT) for laser ablation: \({\text{arsenopyrite}} = {\delta ^{34}}{\text{S}} \times 1.105 + 5.00;\,{\text{pyrrhotite}} = {\delta ^{34}}{\text{S}} \times 1.105 + 3.48;\,{\text{pyrite}} = {\delta ^{34}}{\text{S}} \times 1.105 + 5.11\). Carbonate separation done for all samples. (XLS 36 kb)

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Vos, I.M.A., Bierlein, F.P., Standing, J.S. et al. The geology and mineralisation at the Golden Pride gold deposit, Nzega Greenstone Belt, Tanzania. Miner Deposita 44, 751–764 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-009-0245-3

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