Iron oxide-copper-gold potential of the southern Arunta Region

Authors / CoAuthors

Schofield, A. | Huston, D.L. | Gallagher, R. | Kemp, C.

Abstract

Iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) mineral systems occur globally and range in age from Archean to Mesozoic or younger. An assessment for IOCG mineral system potential has been undertaken in the southern Arunta Region, incorporating the southern Aileron and northern Warumpi provinces. The assessment has been undertaken in a GIS-based environment using a mineral systems approach. This approach recognises four key system components: (1) sources of metals and fluids, (2) fluid-flow drivers, (3) fluid-flow pathways and architecture, and (4) depositional sites and mechanisms. For each of these key system components, mappable criteria were developed as proxies for mineralising processes in order to identify potential IOCG mineral systems. The locations of known deposits and prospects were not used for generating the assessment of IOCG potential. However, they are used as a validation of the results. The assessment largely reproduces the locations of known IOCG-style mineralisation, and predicts additional potential in a number of other areas, many of which are obscured by recent sedimentary cover. An approximately east-west-trending belt of broad IOCG potential has been identified, along with local regions of high potential where favourable criteria occur.

Product Type

nonGeographicDataset

eCat Id

76423

Contact for the resource

Custodian

MNHD

Owner

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)

Custodian

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia

Keywords

Promotional Material

( Theme )

mineral exploration

( Theme )

prospectivity

AU-NTAU-WA

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Geology

Published_External

Publication Date

2013-01-01T00:00:00

Creation Date

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Australian Government Security ClassificationSystem

Classification - unclassified

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

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Use - license

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Purpose

Maintenance Information

asNeeded

Topic Category

geoscientificInformation

Series Information

Lineage

Criteria for the assessment of the potential for iron oxide-copper-gold mineral systems were developed from geological, geochemical and geophysical data. The basement solid geology dataset used in this study was compiled for the study area using published solid geology datasets, 1:1 000 000 and 1:250 000 maps of surface geology, and new interpretation of magnetic and gravity data. The basement solid geology utilised is a preliminary interpretation and is solely intended to be used for the assessment of iron oxide-copper-gold potential in this study. Geochemical data were sourced from Geoscience Australia's OZCHEM national whole rock geochemistry database and the Northern Territory Geological Survey's open-file whole rock geochemical database. Magnetic and gravity geophysical data were used to produce the solid geology map, as well as for developing a number of the criteria used in this assessment such as modelling of iron oxide alteration. These data were sourced from Geoscience Australia databases and are publicly available via the Geoscience Australia website. Derivative products of the input datasets were developed for the assessment (e.g., buffering). Decisions concerning the development of these derivatives, such as the selection of buffer distances and assignment of cutoff values, were made subjectively based on the scientific judgement of the analyst. Further information regarding the datasets used, data processing steps, criteria weightings and scientific rationale can be found in the accompanying metadata and pamphlet.

Parent Information

Extents

[-24.0, -22.0, 126.0, 138.0]

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