Disseminated

Disseminated Sedimentary
Sedimentary
Rockhosted Gold
Gold Systems
Systems
Rock-hosted
in
in Nevada
Nevada
Steve Garwin
Geoinformatics Exploration
Centre for Exploration Targeting
steve.garwin@geoinformex.com

SEG Gold Workshop

20Cairns, Australia
20-21 October 2007
Betze - Post, Northern Carlin Trend

Clusters of disseminated sedsed-hosted deposits occur

as linear trends in the Great Basin province of the U.S.

Carlin trend
Battle Mtn
Eureka trend

Courtesy of Greg Arehart

SRHG in Nevada
provide 11% of
the worlds Au
production

Grade/Tonnage of Gold Systems

100
000
es

Au
es

n
Ton

nn
To

Au
es
nn
To

00

10

10

100

Au

Grade (g/t)

10

Epithermal Alkalic
Epithermal HS
Epithermal LS

Greenstone Lode
Other
Porphyry
SHV
VMS
Wi twaterstrand
Carli n (SRHG)

0.1
1

100

10000

1000000

100 000000

100 00000000

Tonnes

Muntean, 2004

Sedimentary RockRock-hosted Gold Deposits

Gold Quarry
Pipeline

(million Oz)

Marigold

Post-Betze
Twin Creeks
Cortez Hills

Getchell
Leeville

Deep Post
Deep Star

Johnston & Ressel, 2005

Carlin Trend Gold Endowment

(year(year-end 2000; metric tonnes)
tonnes)

Cumulative
Production

Reserves

Resources

Total

Newmont
Barrick
Others

873
593
25

400
761
7

91*
226
----

1364
1580
25

Totals (t)
(million oz)

1491
48

1168
38

317
10

2976
96

* denotes mineralized material not in reserve

(revised from Teal and Jackson, 1997; Bettles, 2002; unpublished Newmont data)

Nominal 80% recovery brings total inventory to 3349 t (108 Moz) gold

Carlin Trend Exploration

and Mining History
1907 Lynn Creek placers; originating from Big Six
1946 Discovery of Au at Bootstrap (57(57-60 production)
1959 Au found in turquoise workings at Blue Star (61 prod)
1961* Discovery of Carlin (80at 0.20 opt in sed rk near dike)
1962 Discovery of Au in Goldstrike area
1965 Carlin production commences (11 Mt at 0.32 opt)
1978 Goldstrike production commences (western area)
79/82 Discovery of Gold Quarry / Post Oxide
1984 Discovery of Genesis
1986 Discovery of Deep Post - Change of strategy
8888-89 Discovery of Deep Star, RodeoRodeo-Goldbug & Meikle
1994 Discovery of West Leeville
1996 Underground production starts at Deep Star & Meikle
9696-97 Deep intercepts in Little Boulder Basin (> 6000 feet)
2000 Deep intercepts at Ren
0101-04 Deep intercepts beneath and SSE of Deep Post
2006 Discovery of Bravo
RR

Disseminated Sedimentary RockRock-hosted

Gold Systems in Nevada

Outline of Presentation
1) Regional setting and metallogeny
2) Carlin trend geology & geochemistry
Styles and settings of gold mineralization
OreOre-related processes and mineral paragenesis
OreOre-fluid PP-T-X constraints
Weathering and supergene effects
3) Global examples of SRHG deposits and
Conceptual models and controls to mineralization
(Carlin deposit controversies session SEG / Reno, 2005)

SRHG Systems and Mineral Trends in the Great Basin

Muntean, 2004

Crustal Structure Radiogenic Isotope Lines

(Pb 206/204 >19.3)

Muntean, 2004

Gravity Worms and Crustal Structural Interpretation

Snake River Plain

a Mtns
Nevad
Sierra

Great Basin

Colorado
Plateau

Thorman, 2002

Thorman, 2002

Thorman, 2002

Thorman, 2002

Thorman, 2002

Thorman, 2002

Thorman, 2002

Thorman, 2002

Tectonostratigraphic Units in the Great Basin

Hofstra and Cline, 2000

Patterns of Tertiary
Magmatism

Humphreys, 1995

Patterns of
Tertiary Extension

Hofstra and Cline, 2000

~34 to 17 Ma
PostPost-Mineral
Extension

Heterogeneous
~50% to
locally >400%
extension in
north-central
Nevada

Tilted post-mineral Oligocene ignimbrites, Caetano tuff

Muntean, 2004

Tectonic
TimeTime-Event
Chart for the
Great Basin
Late Proterozoic
continental rifting
Paleozoic passive
margin sequence
Orogonies & Thrusts:
Dev-Miss Antler,
P-Trias Sonoma,
J Luning-Fencemaker,
K Sevier & Laramide
(plutonism)
Tertiary extension &
magmatism
Muntean, 2004

Great Basin Gold Deposits

Total gold endowment ~220 MOz
for Nevada alone
SedimentSediment-hosted deposits are Late
Eocene, as are Bingham Porphyry and
Fortitude Skarn
Bonanza lowlow-sulfidation deposits are
MiddleMiddle-Miocene (13(13-16Ma) and related to
rifting and bibi-modal volcanism
Large disseminated epithermal
deposits (e.g. Round Mountain) related to
Early Miocene silicic calderas
Intermediate and highhigh-sulfidation
deposits related to the Walker Lane
Neogene magmatic arc and calderas

Crustal Provinces and Structural Systems

Major surface thrusts, folds and crustal

provinces including radiogenic isotope
lines
Gold deposits and belts shown

Extensional Domains and Gold Deposits

Extension began in the N part of

the Great Basin in the Late Eocene
(~40 Ma) and migrated SW with time to
pass through the Walker Lane in the
Miocene
Gold deposits display a similar temporal /
spatial pattern

Leading edge of extension through time (Ma)

indicated by blue lines.

Favourable Stratigraphic Units and Major Thrusts

Black units indicate SilurianSilurianDevonian marine slope facies and

Antler Orogeny (Dev(Dev-Mississippian)
overlap assemblages, which contain
reactive and porous / permeable
mixed carbonate / siliciclastic rocks
Major thrusts shown as light blue
lines

Favourable Stratigraphic Units, Thrusts and Gold Deposits

Black units indicate SilurianSilurianDevonian marine slope facies and

Antler Orogeny (Dev(Dev-Mississippian)
overlap assemblages, which contain
reactive and porous / permeable
mixed carbonate / siliciclastic rocks
SRHG deposits lie in anticlinal
domes and windows beneath the
Roberts Mountains and Golconda
Allochthons,
Allochthons, typically in reactive
calcareous rocks; exceptions do
occur (e.g. Marigold deposit in
fractured Valmy Quartzite)

10

Favorable Host Rocks

Muntean, 2004

Isopach Map Lower Silurian & Middle Devonian

CT

6
3 4 5

BM
T

7
6

Sedimentary isopachs in 100s

of meters
Zinc in stream sediment samples
as a proxy for Devonian SEDEX
mineralization

SRHG deposits lie along inferred

NWNW-trending basement structures
that controlled deposition of
SiluroSiluro-Devonian rocks

50 km
Emsbo et al, 2006

Late Eocene Mineralization Event

Rb-Sr dating of
Galkhaite:

3mm

(Cs,Tl)Hg6(As,Sb)4S12
trace Cu, Zn, Cd, Rb
no Sr
found at: Getchell, Rodeo, Carlin,
SSX
dated at: Getchell (39.5 Ma),
Rodeo (39.8 Ma)
paragenetically late ore stage
Muntean, 2004

Photo: Dave Tretbar

11

Apatite Fission Track Data for CarlinTrend Gold Deposits

Apatite fission track dates, lesser certainty:

~ 37- 41 Ma, Carlin, hydrothermal apatite

Carlin district associated with large (~250 sq km) late Eocene

thermal anomaly

Muntean, 2004

Carlin Trend: FissionFission-track Annealing and Heat Flow

(Cline et al, 2005)

Age Data for Disseminated SedSed-hosted Gold Deposits

Very good maximum age constraints ages on mineralized Eocene dikes:

<37 Ma to <41 Ma, Beast, Deep Star, Post, Dee, Genesis,
Jerritt Canyon

Good minimum age constraints ages on post-mineral volcanics:

> 34 to >38 Ma, Ratto Canyon, Tonkin Springs, Alligator Ridge,
Cortez, Chert Cliff

Good minimum age constraints ages on post-mineral supergene alunite:

as old as 30 Ma (Gold Quarry), mostly Miocene

Porphyry-related deposits overlap in time with SRHG deposits:

37.5-39 Ma, Bingham Canyon, Copper Canyon, McCoy/Cove,
Hilltop, Tenabo

Muntean, 2004

12

Eocene Paleotopography NorthNorth-central Nevada

JC
2.5
2 2.5

Syn-mineralization
topographic contours
in 1000s of meters

CT
2

RM

BMT

3 2.5

1.5

Eocene intrusive centers

as loci for local surface
uplift

2
AR
2.5
1

1.5

SRHG deposits occur

on paleo-highs near
basin margins

2.5

2
Eocene
sediments

Ruby Mountains (RM) as

major topographic high

50 km

13

Disseminated Sedimentary
RockRockhosted Gold
Gold Systems
Systems
Rock
Rock--hosted
in
in Nevada
Nevada
Steve Garwin
Geoinformatics Exploration
Centre for Exploration Targeting
steve.garwin@geoinformex.com

SEG Gold Workshop

20Cairns, Australia
20-21 October 2007
Betze - Post, Northern Carlin Trend

Disseminated Sedimentary RockRock-hosted

Gold Systems in Nevada

Outline of Presentation
1) Regional setting and metallogeny
2) Carlin trend geology & geochemistry
Styles and settings of gold mineralization
OreOre-related processes and mineral paragenesis
OreOre-fluid PP-T-X constraints
Weathering and supergene effects
3) Global examples of SRHG deposits and
Conceptual models and controls to mineralization
(Carlin deposit controversies session SEG / Reno, 2005)

SRHG Systems and Mineral Trends in the Great Basin

Carlin Trend

Muntean, 2004

Regional Structural High - Geology

Stratigraphic Column / Deposits

(Recent work at GQ assigns more

gold ore to Rodeo Creek unit)

Primary Host Lithologies of SRHG deposits

calcareous
silty/sandy
pyritic
carbonaceous
dolomitic
sedimentary
breccias (e.g.,
debris flow
breccias) shelfslope boundaries
fossiliferous
grainstones
commonly
shallow dipping
and thin-bedded/
laminated

Roberts Mountains
Formation, Maggie Creek
Canyon, NV

Photo by Greg Arehart

Northern / Central
Carlin Trend
Major Deposits:
Meikle 7 Moz
BetzeBetze-Post 27 Moz
Carlin 7 Moz
Mike ~7 M oz
Gold Quarry 22 Moz

Boulder
Valley

> 35 km x 7 km x 2 km
Mike

Maggie
Creek

Gold Quarry - Central Carlin Trend

Panoramic Photo / Section

Looking East

Roaster

2000 x 1200 x 350m

158m/4.15
g/t Gold
Overburden

SL
GQ

Bedrock

oxide
?
NRM

295m/4.05
g/t Gold
Deep Sulfide
Feeder

+0.34 g/t Gold Shape

Oxide

+2.40 g/t Gold Shape

Refractory

300
Meters

Chukar Footwall Deposit (02)

Looking Northwest

Core Drill

RC Drill

North Vent
Portal

Main Decline
Portal

Resource (0.2 opt Au):

380,000 oz @ 0.37 opt

Northern / Central
Carlin Trend

Dee/Rossi
Ren
Meikle

Bootstrap

Rodeo
Betze-Post

Geology and Gold Deposits

Deep Post

Goldstrike

Deep Star

Genesis

LBB Vivian
Beast

Leeville
Carlin

Lantern

Pete

(Goldstrike Stock - 158 Ma)

Mike
Mac
Gold
Quarry

Northern / Central
Carlin Trend

Dee/Rossi
Ren
Meikle

Bootstrap

Rodeo
Betze-Post

Goldstrike
Genesis

Intrusion and Dike Swarm

Interpretation

Deep Post
Deep Star
Beast

(generalized from NBMG Bull. 111, 2002)

Leeville

Lantern

Carlin
Pete

Mike
Mac
Gold
Quarry

Jurassic Alkaline Goldstrike Stock and Associated Dikes

Goldstrike Diorite

Lamprophyre and
Monzonite Dikes

Rhyolite Porphyry
Dikes

Johnston & Ressel, 2005

Eocene Intrusions of the Northern Carlin Trend

Finely Porphyritic Rhyolite of
BetzeBetze-PostPost-Genesis (40.3(40.3-39.3 Ma)

Coarsely Porphyritic Rhyolite

of Beast (37.6 Ma)

Porphyritic Hbl Dacite of

BetzeBetze-PostPost-Meikle (40.1(40.1-39.0 Ma)

Aphyric HighHigh-Si Rhyolite of

Deep StarStar-Genesis (40.3(40.3-39.3 Ma)

Johnston & Ressel, 2005

Eocene Intrusions SRHG deposits

No deposits within 2 km of coeval stock
Some SRHG deposits have coeval Eocene dikes range from basaltic
to rhyolitic, common porphyry textures, locally mgt-poor & ilmenite-rich

Johnston & Ressel, 2005

Northern / Central
Carlin Trend

Dee/Rossi
Ren
Meikle

Bootstrap

Rodeo
Betze-Post

Goldstrike
Genesis

LBB Vivian
Beast

Lantern

Geology and Gold Deposits

Deep Post
Deep Star
Leeville
Carlin
Pete

(Goldstrike Stock - 158 Ma)

Mike
Mac
Gold
Quarry

(generalized from NBMG Bull. 111, 2002)

Section Line

CrossCross-Section, Northern CarlinTrend

Post Anticline
RMT

Ore Outline
Post Fault

(Section A A Plate 3, NBMG Bull. 111, 2002)

Northern / Central
Carlin Trend

Dee/Rossi
Ren
Meikle

Bootstrap

Rodeo
Betze-Post

Goldstrike
Genesis

LBB Vivian
Beast

Lantern

Geology and Gold Deposits

Deep Post
Deep Star
Leeville
Carlin
Pete

(Goldstrike Stock - 158 Ma)

Mike
Mac
Gold
Quarry

(generalized from NBMG Bull. 111, 2002)

Section Line

Generalized LongLong-Section, Northern Carlin Trend

(using Drc/Dp contact as a datum)

thermal
aureole

> 0.03 opt Au

(Modified from Jory, 2002)

Folds, Thrusts and LowLow-Angle Features

Post
Anticline
Photo: Greg Arehart

Low-Angle
Features
Anticlines / domes
Thrust faults /
duplexes
Sills / flows
Low-angle normal
faults
Lithologic /
rheologic contrast

Muntean, 2004; Stenger et al, 1998

Cross-section of Conelea Anticline, Mega-pit, Twin Creeks

Low-Angle
Features
Anticlines / domes
Thrust faults /
duplexes
Sills / flows
Low-angle normal
faults
Lithologic /
rheologic contrast

Muntean, 2004; Teal and Jackson, 1997

Northern / Central
Carlin Trend

Dee/Rossi
Ren
Meikle

Bootstrap

Dome

Rodeo
Betze-Post

Structural Interpretation

Deep Post

Goldstrike

Deep Star

Genesis

Beast
Lantern

Leeville
Carlin
Pete

Mike

Dome
Mac
Gold
Quarry

3
Eocene Extension
and Reactivation of
Pre-existing Faults
NNE to N faults: dip slip
NW faults: oblique right-lateral
dip slip
WNW faults: strike slip
Potential for vertical 1 and
low dev. stress allows for
dilation on steeply dipping
faults / fractures
(after Teal and Jackson, 1997; Nutt and Tosdal, 1999)

Muntean, 2004

Carlin - N. Wall, Main Pit (94)

Looking Northwest
Hardie fault (NE)
Mill 1

Midway fault (NW)

Jki dike-filled

GoldGold-related Structural
Systems in Carlin Area
Early NNENNE- and NN-trending
systems
SynSyn-ore NWNW- and WNWWNWtrending systems
Late NENE-trending system
(not shown)

(after Madrid, 2001)

Mineralized Fracture Systems

Ov Outcrop
~ 1500 feet
above Rita K
resource, north
of Carlin mine
Fractures
typically contain
1010-50 ppb Au,
to 2000 ppm As

(after Madrid, 2001)

NURE Arsenic
Stream
Sediment/Soil
Data
Strong association with
known gold resources
(black dots)

Muntean, 2004

> 20 ppm As

Deposit Morphology by Size

(Modified from Jory, 2002)

Deposit Morphology and Setting

Alteration Zoning - Carlin Mine

Muntean, 2004

Kuehn and Rose (1992)

10

Hydrothermal Mineral Zoning and Abundance, Carlin Mine

Muntean, 2004

Photo: G. Arehart

Photo: G. Arehart

Bakken, 1990

Stratiform Jasperoid outcrop, Gold Point, NV

Decarbonatization: Sanded dolomite

11

Photo: G. Arehart

Dickite, Getchell, NV

Jasperoid breccia,
Gold Quarry, NV
Photo: G. Arehart

Hydrothermal Dissolution Breccia,

Breccia, Getchell

Photo: G. Arehart

12

Deep Post Underground (02)

L 4080W
realgarrealgarorpiment ,
1.5 opt Au

Rock bolter
in action

Deep Post Mine

JKi
SDrm
stls2

Collapse (dissolution) breccia in Roberts Mountains Fm.

adjacent to Goldstrike Intrusion, L 4150 W

Breccia Textures - Deep Post

Carbonate rock clasts
in sulfidic matrix

SDrm

Decalcified-sulfidic

0.79 opt Au

0.05 opt Au
Silica-sulfidic

Dp2

2.02 opt Au

SDrm

Late realgar after

silica-sulfidic

2 cm

0.18 opt Au

(after Marino, 2002)

13

Dissolution Breccia Texture

Relict clast
0.8 mm

Photomicrograph (plane-polarized)

SEM image

Photo: Tracy Cail

56.6 g/t Au

Getchell

As-14.5
Au-2100
As-12.7
Au-300
As-8.8
Au-2100

As-0.02
Au-bdl
As-0.02
Au-bdl
As-0.65
Au-bdl

As-7.0
Au-400
Image and data
from Jean Cline

50 m

99NZ008 2732.5-1

14

Co
re

Rim

Getchell
TU00664 219 1.213 oz/t

148 Zone

Image from Jean Cline

Interpretation
Rims are a proxy for evolving ore fluid
Inner (early) rims - highest Au (X000 ppm)
Metals traveling with Au:
As Cu Hg Tl Te Sb (Pb)
Outer (later) rims mod Au (X00 ppm)
Metals from wallrocks: Pb, W
(& diminishing ore trace elements)

Cline, 2006

Carlin SDrm
pyrite

Carlin Jurassic Dike

pyrite

0.76% Au
1.1% Au

0.70% Au

Up to 0.47% Au

Up to 0.90% Au
in bright zones

SEM - BSE
Images

15

Betze-Post
Post ore
drusy
Late ore drusy

Ore jasperoid

2.1 oz/t Au

Ore quartz is characterized by

jasperoid and drusy quartz lined
vugs, rather than veins
Lubben, 2004

Cathodoluminescence

Provides control for fluid inclusion and

ion probe isotope analyses
Betze-Post, Lubben, 2004

Late-stage
orpiment,
Twin Creeks
Muntean, 2004

16

Late-stage
intergrown galkhaite
and stibnite, Getchell

galkhaite

stibnite

25m
Images from Greg Arehart

Late-stage hydrothermal barite,

Meikle, NV
Photo from Greg Arehart

17

Processes and Paragenesis

Early

Decarbonatization / Decalcification
(Dolomitization & Brecciation)
Brecciation)
volume loss

Replacement: Argillization,
Argillization, Silicification
Sulfidation (Au)
volume loss

Late

Open Space Development / Deposition

cavities, fractures and breccias

Pre Ore
?
?
calcite
vein quartz
sericite
pyrite / pyrrhotite
chalcopyrite
sphalerite
arsenopyrite
galena
jasperoid
drusy quartz
m arcasite
pyrite (Au and As)
illite / kaolinite
m arcasite (Au and As)
orpim ent
fluorite
galkhaite
stibnite
realgar
calcite (clear, coarse)
calcite (coarse, euhedral)
Fe-oxides

Carlin Event
Main

Post Ore

Late

?
?

?
?

?
?

Depth and Fluid TemperatureTemperature-Composition

of SRHG Deposits

Depth approx. 1 km (+ 0.5km), inferred from glassy dikes,

reconstruction of Eocene volcanic stratigraphy and cooling
profiles for apatite closure temperatures (FT and U-Th)
Temperature 115-240, mostly 180-240C for ore deposition
Salinity 0-10 wt%, locally as high as 17 wt%
Gas Content CO2-bearing, but less than 4 mole %
Detectable H2S, trace CH4
No evidence for boiling

(Modified from Muntean, 2004)

18

Quartz Microthermometry / Fluid Inclusions

Cline & Hofstra,
2001
Shigehiro, 2001

Kuehn & Rose,

1992

Lamb, 1995

Tt =
Lubben, 2004
180-240C
220

160

Hofstra, 1994

Fluid Inclusions - Getchell

ore quartz: 180-220C

orpiment: 180-200C
fluorite: 140-180C
realgar: ?
calcite: 120-160C
Cline & Hofstra, 2000

Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotopes

Source fluids for
Au mineralization
equivocal
Local evidence for
deep magmatic or
metamorphic orefluid overprint by
exchanged
meteoric fluids
(e.g. Getchell,
Deep Star)

Cline et al., 2005

19

Sulfur Isotopes

S isotope range in
ore-pyrite is inconclusive
or consistent with
sedimentary source
Local evidence for
magmatic source
(e.g. Getchell, N. Carlin)

Cline et al., 2005

SRHG Deposits Carbonaceous Material

Horse Canyon Pit

Muntean, 2004

SRHG Deposits Carbonaceous Material

Most SRHG deposits have a close spatial association with
carbonaceous rocks
Unaltered rocks generally contain <1.5 wt% organic C; organic
C in SRHG deposits ranges from 0.1 to locally >10 wt%
Indigenous C and mobilized C
Most carbon in SRHG deposits is best characterized as
pyrobitumen (overmature, locally bordering on graphite)
No consistent relationship between gold grade and the amount
of carbon at the deposit scale
In many cases, SRHG deposits appear to occupy pre-existing
hydrocarbon reservoirs
Hydrocarbons mainly accumulated and were rendered immobile
prior to mineralization; Au-bearing hydrothermal fluids cooked
oil reservoir at Alligator Ridge
Some syn-ore mobilization of hydrocarbons cannot be ruled out
Muntean, 2004

20

Weathering of SRHG deposits

Oxide profile, Twin Creeks megapit

Photo: G. Arehart

Weathering and Oxidation

Weathering generates iron oxides (hematite, goethite), sulfates
(alunite-jarosite); phosphates (variscite and similar minerals);
and As oxides (e.g. scorodite)
Weathering in Nevada occurred sporadically between 30 0 Ma
based on supergene alunite and volcaniclastic rock dates
Depth of weathering varies, but may reach 500 m along
structures
Oxidation liberated significant Au to generate oxide ore exploited
almost exclusively until 1990
Bio-oxidation to liberate gold from ore-stage pyrite-marcasite
Current debate over supergene mobility of gold
Modified from Muntean, 2004

21

Disseminated Sedimentary
Rockhosted Gold
Gold Systems
Systems
RockRock--hosted
Rock
in
in Nevada
Nevada
Steve Garwin

Part III

SEG Gold Workshop

20Cairns, Australia
20-21 October 2007
Betze - Post, Northern Carlin Trend

Disseminated Sedimentary RockRock-hosted

Gold Systems in Nevada

Outline of Presentation
1) Regional setting and metallogeny
2) Carlin trend geology & geochemistry
Styles and settings of gold mineralization
OreOre-related processes and mineral paragenesis
OreOre-fluid PP-T-X constraints
Weathering and supergene effects
3) Global examples of SRHG deposits and
Conceptual models and controls to mineralization
(Carlin deposit controversies session SEG / Reno, 2005)

SRHG DEPOSITS in SOUTHEAST ASIA

W Hunan
SW Guizhou
Kyaukphato
Xepon
Siana
Bau

Mesel

Bau Limestone - Sarawak, Malaysia

District-Scale Deposit Zoning

Diss. Au-As-Hg

Tai Parit - SRHG

Epithermal Au
Central Porph / skarn
Polymetallic vein
N
N

1000m

Mining Operations Circa 1995

Bau District Sarawak, Malaysia

Host Rocks
Lower Cretaceous Pedawan Shale (turbiditic)
Jurassic Bau Limestone

Assoc. Igneous Rocks

Middle Miocene (13-10 Ma) dacite porphyries

Geologic Setting
Host rocks deposited on active margin of Sundaland Caton
District in Oligocene-Miocene Central Kalimantan Arc

Deposit Form
Zoned from porphyry / skarn center outwards through
polymetallic veins and SRHG deposits to distal disseminated
Hg deposits
Gold near limestone-shale contact and steeply-dipping faults
or intrusive margins

MESEL GOLD MINE

NORTH SULAWESI, INDONESIA

Mesel District - Sulawesi, Indonesia

Host Rocks
Middle Miocene silty- to clayey-limestone sequence

Assoc. Igneous Rocks

Middle Miocene (14-11 Ma) hbl. andesite laccolith, flows &
tuffs

Geologic Setting
Oligocene-Recent North Sulawesi magmatic arc
Intersection of arc-parallel and arc-normal faults control local
extensional sedimentary basins, related magmatism &
mineralization

Deposit Form
Gold near limestone-tuff contact and laccolith margins

SW Guizhou Province, China

Zimoudang Gold Mine

Triassic Calcareous Rocks

ore

ore

Permian Calcareous Rocks

Getang Gold Mine,

Guizhou-Guangxi, China
Host Rocks
Upper Permian Middle Triassic shelf carbonates grade to
clastics, including coal

Assoc. Igneous Rocks

None evident; no geophysical evidence of intrusions at depth

Geologic Setting
Host rocks deposited on south margin of Yangtze Craton;
open folding is only significant deformation (Yangshanian)

Deposit Form
Stratabound ore at contact between carbonates and clastics
and within carbonate rocks in anticlines
Ore associated with high-angle faults that typically breach
folds

Circum-Pacific SRHG Deposits: Common Attributes

Deposits hosted by sedimentary rock sequences

containing carbonate
Gold ore in favourable stratigraphy near controlling
faults
Alteration Assemblages:

Carbonate dissolution and brecciation

Silicification by replacement and deposition
Argillic alteration of siliciclastic units
Sulfidation of iron to form pyrite / marcasite

Geochemical Enrichment: Au, Ag, As, Sb, Hg, Tl, Ba

Sub-micron gold diss. in arsenical py / marc rims

Conceptual Model - Large Deposit

(e.g. Gold Quarry)

Conceptual Model Muntean (2004)

Muntean, 2004

Muntean, 2004

Muntean, 2004

Controls on Mineralization
Structural high - anticline or horst block
Steep faults, dikes and fracture zones
- hydrothermal fluid conduits
GentlyGently-moderate dipping lithologies and thrusts
- traps and thickened prospective section
Receptive and reactive host rocks
Contrasting rheology and porosity/permeability
- competency contrast and fluid channel ways
Decalcification, brecciation & silicification
- volume loss; preparation to gold deposition

Restored Late Eocene CrossCross-section

Removes Oligocene-Early Miocene extension
Shows Eocene granitic intrusions, emplaced at >10 km depth,
could have underlain Carlin trend deposits

Keith Howard, 2003

Muntean, 2004

On the margins of large

magmaticmagmatic-hydrothermal
systems, where we propose
CarlinCarlin-type deposits form,
remobilization of at least some
wallwall-rock components during
mineralization cannot be ruled
out, and may be the norm.
Circulation of meteoric,
connate, or other fluids and the
associated remobilization of
wallwall-rock components may
account for nonmagmatic
signatures of mineralizing fluids
and variable isotopic signatures
for mineralizing components
observed in many CarlinCarlin-type
deposits
FIGURE ADAPTED FROM HEINRICH (2005)

FIGURE ADAPTED FROM SILLITOE AND BONHAM (1990)

- Johnston and Ressel (2005)

Johnston & Ressel, 2005

Metal and deposit

zonation around the 39
Ma Bingham stock
(modified from Gunter
and Austin, 1997)

Johnston & Ressel, 2005

10

Carlin Trend: Centered on the 39 to 37 Ma NCEP Complex

DEE, ROSSI
BOOTSTRAP, TARA

PROSPECTIVITY BY TYPE:

GOLDSTRIKE
COMPLEX
GENESIS
COMPLEX

LEEVILLE, ETC.

PROXIMAL PORPHYRY
AND/OR SKARN DEPOSITS
POLYMETALLIC VEIN OR
REPLACEMENT DEPOSITS
DISTAL CARLINCARLIN-TYPE
(SRHG) DEPOSITS

LANTERN
CARLIN, ETC.

39 TO 38 Ma WELCHES
CANYON STOCK

GOLD QUARRY,
MIKE, ETC.

5 km

OUTLINE OF THE NORTHERN CARLINCARLINEMIGRANT PASS INTRUSIVE COMPLEX

Johnston & Ressel, 2005

District Dimensions and Zoning

A question of scale
Size of footprints of Carlin-type (SRHG) systems
are substantially larger than giant igneous-related
porphyry and high-sulfidation epithermal deposits
Seedorff & Barton, 2005

Sizes of Intrusions and SRHG Systems

Coleman et al., 2004, Fig. 1

Tuolumne Intrusive Suite, Sierra Nevada Batholith

Assembled by emplacement of plutons over 10 m.y.

Carlin trend (figures at same scale)

About the same size as a large composite pluton within a batholith
Seedorff & Barton, 2005

11

Regional
Hydrothermal
Systems

Regional systems are not only

large, but they have weak alteration
zoning
Orogenic gold systems, e.g., Mother
Lode of California
Note spatial proximity to igneous rocks
(probably genetically unrelated)
Note similarity in scale of Carlin trend to
central Mother Lode
Seedorff & Barton, 2005

Three Possible Scenarios

Magmatic
origin
Magmatic
fluids

Amagmatic
origins
Metamorphic
fluids
Surfacederived fluids
Seedorff & Barton, 2005

Fluid Pathways on P-T Diagram

Pathways on diagram contoured for

solubilities of quartz and calcite
Note similarity of products at low P and T

Seedorff & Barton, 2005

12

Source Rocks for Au in Amagmatic Models

Seedorff, 1991,
Fig. 20

Fine-grained clastic
rocks at base of
miogeocline may be in
appropriate setting and
have appropriate
chemistry to be the
source of metals
Seedorff & Barton, 2005

Seedorff, 1991, Table 4

Disseminated SedimentarySedimentary-rock Hosted

Gold Systems - Looking Forward
HighHigh-grade u/g deposits (e.g. Deep Star)
- profitability vs ounces
Rendering the upper plate (RMA) transparent
- delineate zones of structural complexity
NonNon-traditional host rocks
- upper plate, subsub-SDrm and intrusive rocks
Geological and geochemical vectors to ore
- fracture mapping, alteration zoning and 3D models
Innovative underground drilling techniques
Enhancement of BioBio-oxidation process
- milling of low/moderatelow/moderate-grade refractory material

Acknowledgements
J.
J. Muntean,
Muntean, M.
M. Johnston
Johnston &
& M.
M. Ressel,
Ressel,
E.
E. Seedorff
Seedorff &
& M.
M. Barton,
Barton, C.
C. Thorman
Thorman
Newmont,
Placer Dome,
Dome, Victoria
Victoria
Newmont, Barrick,
Barrick, Placer
Geoinformatics
Geoinformatics &
& other
other Company
Company Geologists
Geologists
UNR
UNR CREG,
CREG, UNLV,
UNLV, UWA
UWA
US
US Geological
Geological Survey
Survey
Hedenquist,
J.
J. Cline,
Cline, D.
D. Groves,
Groves, J.
J. Hedenquist,
Hedenquist,
T.
T. Leach,
Leach, P.
P. Lewis,
Lewis, R.
R. Madrid
Madrid
steve.garwin@geoinformex.com

13