Three major types of Ordovician intrusive-related gold-copper deposits are recognized in central-west New South Wales, Australia: porphyry, skarn and high sulphidation epithermal deposits. These deposits are mainly di...Three major types of Ordovician intrusive-related gold-copper deposits are recognized in central-west New South Wales, Australia: porphyry, skarn and high sulphidation epithermal deposits. These deposits are mainly distributed within two Ordovician volcano-intrusive belts of the Lachlan Fold Belt: the Orange-Wellington Belt and the Parkes-Narromine Belt. Available isotopic age data suggest that mineralization of the three types of deposits is essentially coeval with the Ordovician intrusive rocks (480-430 Ma).Porphyry gold-copper deposits can be further divided into two groups. The first group is associated with monzonite showing shoshonitic features, represented by Cadia and Goonumbla. The second group is associated with diorite and dacite, including the Copper Hill and Cargo gold-copper deposits. Gold skarn is associated with Late Ordovician (430-439 Ma) monzonitic intrusive complexes in the Junction Reefs area (Sheahan-Grants, Frenchmans, and Cor-nishmens), Endeavour 6, 7 and 44, Big and Little Cadia. The epithermal gold deposits with high sulphidation including Gidginbung (Temora) and Peak Hill mainly occur within Ordovician andesite and volcaniclastic rocks, and are associated with advanced argillic alteration. Available isotopic age data indicate that both alteration and mineralization of the porphyry, skarn and epithermal gold-copper deposits are broadly coeval with the Late Ordovician shoshonitic magmatism, which is thought to result from the melting of sub-continental lithosphere caused by Palaeozoic subduction events.The Ordovician intrusive-related gold-copper deposits are restricted to two longitudinal parallel volcano-intrusive belts, rarely extending outside them. Diagonal intra-belt trends of mineralization are common, particularly at the intersections of longitudinal and transverse (oblique) fault/fracture zones based on the authors' review of available geological data. The locations of these gold-copper deposits are obviously influenced by transverse (oblique) fault/fracture zones that are oriented northwest, eastwest and northeast. The conjunctions of these fault/fractures zones are thought to be zones of structural weakness, and appear to be the favourable locus for the Ordovician intrusive-related gold-copper deposits. Differences in structural patterns, intrusive, wall rock types, and depths of ore formation may contribute to the differences among the deposits.展开更多
After studying the characteristics and special texture of the fluidogenous tectonics, mineral assemblage in the cemented vein between breccia and their special distribution, and stress analyzing the joint structures i...After studying the characteristics and special texture of the fluidogenous tectonics, mineral assemblage in the cemented vein between breccia and their special distribution, and stress analyzing the joint structures in and around the breccia pipe, it is found that the observed phenomena are caused by a new tectonic dynamic mechanics of fluid——double-fracturing caused bytemperature and pressure of fluids and pulsating expansion. Under the actions of thermal stress and the pressure of fluids, thermal cracks and joints that developed along parts of the thermal cracks formed systematically in the rocks. Under these conditions, up-arching fracture zones that pulsatively expanded upward and cylindrical pressing breccia body were formed. Rocks at the peak of the pyramidal fractures zone break down instantly. Where the difference between pressure of fluids and the overburden pressure exceeded greatly the competence of the rocks, fluid junctions occurred and the velocity of the fluid flow increased as a result. Explosive body expanded upward in the shape of an inverse cone, cone-like explosive breccia body and cover-like shattering breccia body located on the upper part of the breccia pipe were ultimately formed. Gold-rich fluids were enriched and mineralized near the boiling surface in the lower part of the inverse cone-like explosive breccia body where temperature and pressure decreased rapidly, while copper-rich fluids were enriched and mineralized in the junction area where temperature and pressure were relatively high.展开更多
文摘Three major types of Ordovician intrusive-related gold-copper deposits are recognized in central-west New South Wales, Australia: porphyry, skarn and high sulphidation epithermal deposits. These deposits are mainly distributed within two Ordovician volcano-intrusive belts of the Lachlan Fold Belt: the Orange-Wellington Belt and the Parkes-Narromine Belt. Available isotopic age data suggest that mineralization of the three types of deposits is essentially coeval with the Ordovician intrusive rocks (480-430 Ma).Porphyry gold-copper deposits can be further divided into two groups. The first group is associated with monzonite showing shoshonitic features, represented by Cadia and Goonumbla. The second group is associated with diorite and dacite, including the Copper Hill and Cargo gold-copper deposits. Gold skarn is associated with Late Ordovician (430-439 Ma) monzonitic intrusive complexes in the Junction Reefs area (Sheahan-Grants, Frenchmans, and Cor-nishmens), Endeavour 6, 7 and 44, Big and Little Cadia. The epithermal gold deposits with high sulphidation including Gidginbung (Temora) and Peak Hill mainly occur within Ordovician andesite and volcaniclastic rocks, and are associated with advanced argillic alteration. Available isotopic age data indicate that both alteration and mineralization of the porphyry, skarn and epithermal gold-copper deposits are broadly coeval with the Late Ordovician shoshonitic magmatism, which is thought to result from the melting of sub-continental lithosphere caused by Palaeozoic subduction events.The Ordovician intrusive-related gold-copper deposits are restricted to two longitudinal parallel volcano-intrusive belts, rarely extending outside them. Diagonal intra-belt trends of mineralization are common, particularly at the intersections of longitudinal and transverse (oblique) fault/fracture zones based on the authors' review of available geological data. The locations of these gold-copper deposits are obviously influenced by transverse (oblique) fault/fracture zones that are oriented northwest, eastwest and northeast. The conjunctions of these fault/fractures zones are thought to be zones of structural weakness, and appear to be the favourable locus for the Ordovician intrusive-related gold-copper deposits. Differences in structural patterns, intrusive, wall rock types, and depths of ore formation may contribute to the differences among the deposits.
文摘After studying the characteristics and special texture of the fluidogenous tectonics, mineral assemblage in the cemented vein between breccia and their special distribution, and stress analyzing the joint structures in and around the breccia pipe, it is found that the observed phenomena are caused by a new tectonic dynamic mechanics of fluid——double-fracturing caused bytemperature and pressure of fluids and pulsating expansion. Under the actions of thermal stress and the pressure of fluids, thermal cracks and joints that developed along parts of the thermal cracks formed systematically in the rocks. Under these conditions, up-arching fracture zones that pulsatively expanded upward and cylindrical pressing breccia body were formed. Rocks at the peak of the pyramidal fractures zone break down instantly. Where the difference between pressure of fluids and the overburden pressure exceeded greatly the competence of the rocks, fluid junctions occurred and the velocity of the fluid flow increased as a result. Explosive body expanded upward in the shape of an inverse cone, cone-like explosive breccia body and cover-like shattering breccia body located on the upper part of the breccia pipe were ultimately formed. Gold-rich fluids were enriched and mineralized near the boiling surface in the lower part of the inverse cone-like explosive breccia body where temperature and pressure decreased rapidly, while copper-rich fluids were enriched and mineralized in the junction area where temperature and pressure were relatively high.
