Authors / CoAuthors
Blewett, R.S. | Henson, P.A. | Roy, I. | Champion, D.C. | Cassidy, K.F.
Abstract
World class mineral systems, such as those found in the Archaean Yilgarn Craton, are the product of enormous energy and mass flux systems that were driven by lithospheric scale processes. These processes can create big footprints or signatures on the lithosphere that can be observed at a range of scales and via a range of methods: including geophysics, isotopes, tectono-stratigraphy and geochemistry. This paper uses these datasets to describe both the architecture (structure) of the world-class gold systems of the Yilgarn Craton and the signatures of their formation. By applying the understanding of the most critical elements of the process and its signature, new areas (especially undercover) may be targeted more predictably than before. Knowledge of the major architectural elements of the Yilgarn Craton has increased greatly over the last decade through the collection of a wide range of geophysical and geochemical/isotopic data sets. These data sets range from 1) lithospheric-scale studies that provide information on the entire craton down to depths in excess of 350 km, through; 2) regional-scale studies that provide information at the province scale and down to depths of 30-40 km, to; 3) mine- and camp-scale studies providing information on the local-scale down to the top few kilometres of the crust. Deep pathways in the upper mantle and lower crust can be inferred from broad-band tomography and analysis of long wavelength gravity data. Geophysical data (e.g., magnetotellurics and seismic) also provide evidence for the signatures of the flow of fluids through this architecture (the pathways) and they illustrate the scale of the systems is many orders of magnitude larger than the immediate deposit itself. Of particular importance is the role of deep-crust penetrating shear zones or faults that link the mantle with domes in the upper crust.
Product Type
nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
68827
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Custodian
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
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2601
Australia
Keywords
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- External Publication
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- 3D model
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- geochemistry
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- magneto-tellurics
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- mineral exploration
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- geophysics
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- AU-WA
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_Internal
Publication Date
2009-04-20T00:00:00
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geoscientificInformation
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Extents
[-32.0, -26.0, 118.0, 128.0]
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