scholarly journals Structural Control on Banded Iron Formation (BIF) and Gold Mineralization at Abu Marawat Area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-183
Author(s):  
Mohamed K. El-Shafei Mohamed K. El-Shafei
Keyword(s):  
Structural Control ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Pure Shear ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Brittle Deformation ◽  
Banded Iron Formation ◽  
Quartz Veins

Abu Marawat area is considered as a promising site for exploration of gold mineralization, where many ancient gold mines, hydrothermal alteration zones, and intervening quartz veins are present. This study is a field-based structural analysis that aims at revealing the relationship between mineral occurrences and local structural setting. The area is a part of a back-arc volcanosedimentary sequence associated with banded iron formation (BIF) that has undergone extensive ductile and brittle deformation history. This multiple deformation is manifested by four phases. D1 and D2 are the product of compressional stresses and are expressed by F1, F2 and F3 folds in low-grade regionally metamorphosed rocks. D1 was a progressive deformational phase started with F1 folds, which in a later stage were overprinted by F2 folds. It resulted from NW-SE-oriented pure shear and is associated with imbricate thrust stacks, which control the locations of listwanite bearing gold. NE-SW-oriented compressive stress during D2 is displayed by F3-slip folds at the early stage followed by N-S- to NW-trending dip-slip normal faults and related shear zones. Mineralized quartz veins (MQV) were developed post-D2 and pre-D3. Folding and refolding in addition to thrust movement play a significant role in shortening and thickening of the iron formation bands located at the summit of Gebel Abu Marawat. D3 and D4 are expressed by brittle deformation. D3 is displayed by conjugate shear planes represented by sinistral-NW-oriented and dextral-NE–oriented strike-slip faults that led to the dislocation and redistribution of gold mineraliztion associated with both MQV and listwanite. Barren quartz veins trending E-W were also developed along gash fractures formed during this phase of deformation.

scholarly journals A Fonte dos Metais da Mina de Ouro do Schramm, Santa Catarina: Evidências de Dados de Isótopos de Pb e Elementos Terras Raras

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
FLÁVIO FRANÇA NUNES DA ROCHA ◽  
ARTUR CEZAR BASTOS NETO ◽  
MARCUS VINÍCIUS DORNELLES REMUS ◽  
VITOR PAULO PEREIRA
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Isotope Composition ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Gold Mine ◽  
Banded Iron Formations ◽  
Banded Iron Formation ◽  
Santa Catarina ◽  
Lead Isotope Composition ◽  
Ree Patterns

The source of the ore elements in the Schramm gold mine, localized in central part of Santa Catarina shield, has been constrained based on lead isotope composition of galena and sulfosalts, and the rare earth element (REE) patterns of the ore. The Pb207/ Pb206 model age obtained in galena and lillianite-gustavite series from the mineralization yields an age of 1.88 Ga. It is higher than the estimated age of the deposit (» 534 Ma). The Pb isotopic composition obtained in these minerals indicates that the age of Schramm mine source is similar to that of the galena of the Ribeirão da Prata mine (Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag). This mine is located 25 Km southwest of the Schramm gold mine witch is hosted in the tension fracture zone conjugated with the first order shear zone that contains the Ribeirão da Prata deposit. The similarities between Pb-isotope compositions of both deposits could indicate that they were contemporaneous and derived from the same regional lead source. The REE patterns of the ore samples of Schramm mine are similar to that of the pyroxenites and banded iron formations from the Archean Santa Catarina Granulitic Complex that host the Schramm gold mine. They present low REE contents with flat patterns and lack Eu anomalies. The comparison among the isotopic data from this mine with those from other places indicates that the banded iron formation and mafic-ultramafic granulitic gneisses are the source of the gold mineralization. This evidence agreed with the hypothesis that the ore fluids were derived from retrogressive metamorphism reactions of Santa Catarina Granulitic Complex in the shear zones during the final stage of Brasiliano orogenic cycle.

Structure of veins in a gold–pyrite deposit in banded iron formation, Amalia greenstone belt, South Africa

1986 ◽  
Vol 123 (6) ◽  
pp. 601-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Vearncombe
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Quartz Vein ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Banded Iron Formation ◽  
Vein Wall ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Anticlockwise Rotation ◽  
Fibre Growth ◽  
Mineralizing Fluids

AbstractFibrous quartz veins in deformed banded iron formation of the Amalia greenstone belt, southwestern Transvaal, are spatially related to gold–pyrite mineralization in both wallrock and vein inclusions. Poles to quartz vein orientations show a general parallelism with mineral elongation and fold plunges of the principal deformation in the wallrock. Quartz vein fibres show a consistent anticlockwise rotation, late components being subparallel to the elongation lineation, suggesting veining was probably synchronous with the principal deformation. Antitaxial fibrous veins, which dominate the mineralized banded iron formation, formed by the process of crack–seal which channelled mineralizing fluids along the vein walls, increasing the potential for fluid–wallrock interaction. Gold mineralization in quartz veins occurs in wall-parallel slivers of banded iron formation which have been plucked off the vein wall during antitaxial fibre growth. Mineralization can be explained by a process of fluid–wallrock interaction with sulphidation and gold precipitation.

Chapter 9: Orogenic Gold Deposits of the Kibali District, Neoarchean Moto Belt, Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo

2020 ◽  
pp. 185-201
Author(s):  
Andrew Allibone ◽  
Carlos Vargas ◽  
Etienne Mwandale ◽  
Justus Kwibisa ◽  
Richard Jongens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Banded Iron Formation ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Lithostratigraphic Units ◽  
Host Rocks

Abstract The Kibali district in the Democratic Republic of Congo hosts the large Karagba-Chaffeur-Durba (KCD) deposit and smaller satellite deposits that together contained 20 million ounces (Moz) of gold when mining recommenced in 2013. An additional 3 Moz of gold was probably mined from the district before 2013. Gold deposits in the Kibali district are located along the KZ trend, a series of folds, contractional shear zones, and altered lithostratigraphic units that coincide with the margin of an earlier 2630 to 2625 Ma intraorogenic basin within the Neoarchean Moto belt. Fluids first responsible for barren carbonate-quartz-sericite alteration, and later for siderite and/or ankerite (±quartz, magnetite, pyrite, and/or chlorite) alteration with associated auriferous pyrite ± rare arsenopyrite veinlets, infiltrated and replaced the siliciclastic, banded iron formation (BIF), and chert host rocks via fold axes, shear zones, and reactive BIF horizons. The complex shape and gentle northeast plunge of the lodes across the Kibali district reflect the shape and plunge of coincident folds that formed during early barren alteration. Many other folded BIF horizons across the wider Moto belt remain barren or only weakly mineralized, suggesting deep extensional structures that may have developed in the vicinity of the KZ trend during basin opening and prior to gold mineralization, were important fluid pathways during later contractional deformation and mineralization.

scholarly journals Neoarchean crustal shear zones and implications of shear indicators in tectonic evolution of Bundelkhand craton, central India

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2-2) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
S C Bhatt ◽  
Vinod K. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Central India ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Banded Iron Formation ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Mylonitic Foliation ◽  
Ductile Shearing ◽  
Crustal Shear Zones ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
The Relationship

The gneisses and granitoids emplaced along E-W sub-vertical crustal shear zones are represented as important tectonic units in Bundelkhand craton of central India. The tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) gneisses (3.5-3.2 Ga; oldest unit), and streaky to mafic gneisses structurally deformed in D 1 deformation. The metabasic, felsic, banded iron formation and metasedimentaries of greenstone complex exposed in central part, have characteristics of three sets of folding (F 1 -F 3 ). These gneisses associated with migmatite, amphibolite, quartzite, and schist were evolved in D 2 compressive phase, which are not occurring in northern part of craton. The K-rich Neoarchean granitoids (2.6-2.49 Ga) were intruded as granitic complex (D 3 magmatic phase) and the E-W strike-slip Raksa-Garhmau shear zone reported as important tectonic unit, were evolved in asyn-to post-tectonic D 3 phase. The dolerite dykes (ca. 2.0 Ga) were emplaced along NW-SE fractures in extension setting during D 4 magmatic event. The NE-SW riedel shears occupied by giant quartz veins (reefs) evolved in Paleoproterozoic during D 5 endogenic activity. The relationship between macro and microstructural fabrics has been documented within mylonitic foliation, stretching lineation, S-C planes and rotated fabrics, reflect mesoscopic shear indicators, as noted in three types of mylonitic rocks. i) The rotated porphyroclasts of quartz, feldspars and asymmetric pressure shadows showing strong undulose extinction, deformation lamellae, and dynamic recrystallization are characteristic features of protomylonite where altered orthoclase and kinked plagioclase are noticed. ii) Mylonite, a distinct mylonitic foliation represented by parallel orientation of elongated quartz and feldspar with flakes of mica. iii) The ground matrix of recrystallized quartz with few protoliths of quartz and feldspar are observed, important features of ultramylonite. The asymmetric microstructures viz. σa and σb mantled porphyroclasts, othermicrostructures show progressively deformed by crystal plastic (non-coaxial) strain softening under low to moderate temperature conditions. The sinistral top- to- SW sense of shear movement was dominant. The microfractures/ microfaults, kinking and pull apart structures observed in K- feldspars and are indicative of overprinting of brittle deformation on ductile shearing.

Geochemical evaluation of the in-situ regolith of Madengi hills of Dodoma, Tanzania. Implication on bedrock mapping and delineating gold mineralization target

2021 ◽  
pp. geochem2021-074
Author(s):  
Godson Godfray
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Soil Geochemistry ◽  
Residual Soils ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Geochemical Evaluation ◽  
Supplementary Material ◽  
Pathfinder Elements

Successful gold exploration projects depend on a piece of clear information on the association between gold, trace elements, and mineralization controlling factors. The use of soil geochemistry has been an important tool in pinpointing exploration targets during the early stage of exploration. This study aimed to establish the gold distribution, the elemental association between gold and its pathfinder elements such as Cu, Zn, Ag, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, Cd, V, Cr, Ti, Sc, In, and Se and identify lithologies contributing to the overlying residual soils. From cluster analysis, a high similarity level of 53.93% has been shown with Ag, Cd, and Se at a distance level of 0.92. Au and Se have a similarity level of 65.87% and a distance level of 0.68, hence is proposed to be the most promising pathfinder element. PCA, FA, and the Pearson's correlation matrix of transformed data of V, Cu, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cr, and Co and a stronger correlation between Pb and U, Th, Na, K, Sn, Y, Ta and Be shows that source gold mineralization might be associated with both hornblende gneisses interlayered with quartzite, tonalite, and tonalitic orthogneiss. From the contour map and gridded map of Au and its pathfinder elements, it has been noted that their anomalies and target generated are localized in the Northern part of the area. The targets trend ESE to WNW nearly parallel to the shear zones as a controlling factor of Au mineralization emplacement.Supplementary material:https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5721965

Inversion of magnetic and frequency-domain electromagnetic data for investigating lithologies associated with gold mineralization in the Canadian Malartic area, Québec, Canada

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Mehrdad Darijani ◽  
Colin G. Farquharson
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Tetrahedral Mesh ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
Magnetic Inversion ◽  
Northern Edge

Canadian Malartic is an Archean low-grade bulk tonnage native gold deposit. The deposit is mostly located in altered clastic metasedimentary rocks, mafic–ultramafic dykes, and monzodioritic porphyry intrusions. Airborne magnetic and frequency-domain electromagnetic (EM) data were inverted to reconstruct the geological units associated with the mineralization, especially the intrusive masses. The 3-D inversion of magnetic data, which used a tetrahedral mesh to a depth of 2.4 km, shows that mafic volcanic rocks and iron formation rocks extend to depth in the area, more so than diabase dykes. The magnetic inversion also shows that the diorite and monzodiorite rocks of the Lac Fournière A pluton are dipping toward the south on its northern edge at the contact with the metasedimentary rocks. The 1-D inversion of the frequency-domain EM data, for both electrical conductivity and magnetic susceptibility, is able to reconstruct geological structures to a depth of approximately 100 m, providing more details and information about these features. The intrusive masses such as diabase dykes, diorite and monzodiorite rocks, and mafic volcanic rocks are reconstructed as electrically conductive structures in the inversion results. The metasedimentary rocks are resistive, and the overburden is conductive in most of the area. The geophysical data and inversion results suggest the presence of some features (such as diabase dykes and monzodiorite rocks) that are not yet present on some parts of the geology map. A comparison of the EM-derived susceptibility and the magnetic-derived susceptibility over the iron formations can reveal the effect of remanent magnetization.

Petrogenesis of amphibole – biotite – calcite – plagioclase alteration and laminated gold – silver quartz veins in four Archean shear zones of the Norseman district, Western Australia

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 388-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas G. Mueller
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Wall Rock ◽  
Alteration Zone ◽  
Mining District ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Fluid Temperature ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
The North ◽  
Gold Silver

The Norseman mining district in the Archean Yilgarn Block, Western Australia, has produced 140 t of gold and about 90 t of silver from 11.24 × 106 t of ore. The district is located within a metamorphic terrane of mafic and minor ultramafic greenstones, intruded by granite cupolas and swarms of porphyry dykes. The orebodies consist of laminated quartz veins, controlled by narrow (0.5–5 m) reverse shear zones that, in general, follow the contacts of metapyroxenite or porphyry dykes. Petrological studies of four shear zones, exposed on the Regent shaft 14 level, Ajax shaft 10 level, and in the stope above the North Royal shaft 5 level, show that the host rocks were metamorphosed to hornblende–plagioclase amphibolites and actinolite–chlorite rocks at temperatures of 500–550 °C prior to mineralization.At the localities studied, intense wall-rock replacement and low-grade (0.5 g/t) gold mineralization are confined to ductile or brittle–ductile shear structures. Alteration is similar in both ultramafic and mafic greenstones, and consists of an inner zone of biotite–quartz–calcite–plagioclase rock with minor actinolitic hornblende and quartz–calcite–actinolite veinlets, and an outer zone, locally developed, of chlorite–calcite–quartz rock. At an estimated pressure of 3 kbar (300 MPa), fluid temperatures during wall-rock alteration are constrained by the hydrothermal mineral assemblages to 480 ± 30 °C in two shear zones on the Regent shaft 14 level, and to 450 ± 20 °C in one shear zone in the North Royal shaft 5 level stope. The mole fraction of CO2 of the fluids is estimated at [Formula: see text], and the sulphur fugacity at 10−6 bar (10−1 kPa) (at 450 °C), based on the assemblage pyrrhotite + pyrite ± arsenopyrite. The development of an outer chloritic alteration zone at North Royal is related to the lower fluid temperature at this locality.High-grade (up to 75 g/t Au, 283 g/t Ag) veins formed within three of the shear zones studied at fluid temperatures of 400 °C and less, by the successive accretion of quartz laminae, separated by films of retrograde chlorite and sericite. The assemblage of ore minerals in the veins differs from that in the altered wall rocks, and includes disseminated galena, Pb–Bi–Ag tellurides, and native gold, which coprecipitated with the quartz. The orebodies at Norseman show affinities to Phanerozoic and Archean gold skarn deposits.

scholarly journals Genesis of the Koka Gold Deposit in Northwest Eritrea, NE Africa: Constraints from Fluid Inclusions and C-H-O-S Isotopes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Zhao ◽  
Huazhou Yao ◽  
Jianxiong Wang ◽  
Ghebsha Fitwi Ghebretnsae ◽  
Wenshuai Xiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Meteoric Water ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
Igneous Origin ◽  
Ne Africa

The Koka gold deposit is located in the Elababu shear zone between the Nakfa terrane and the Adobha Abiy terrane, NW Eritrea. Based on the paragenetic study two main stages of gold mineralization were identified in the Koka gold deposit: 1) an early stage of pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite-galena-gold-quartz vein; and 2) a second stage of pyrite-quartz veins. NaCl-aqueous inclusions, CO2-rich inclusions, and three-phase CO2-H2O inclusions occur in the quartz veins at Koka. The ore-bearing quartz veins formed at 268℃, from NaCl-CO2-H2O(-CH4) fluids averaging 5 wt% NaCl eq. The ore-forming mechanisms include fluid immiscibility during stage I, and mixing with meteoric water during stage II. Oxygen, hydrogen and carbon isotopes suggest that the ore-forming fluids originated as mixtures of metamorphic water, meteoric water and magmatic water, whereas sulfur isotope suggest an igneous origin. Features of geology and ore-forming fluid at Koka deposit are similar to those of orogenic gold deposits, suggesting the Koka deposit might be an orogenic gold deposit related to granite.

Microstructures in a banded iron formation (Gua mine, India)

2007 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
MANISH A. MAMTANI ◽  
A. MUKHERJI ◽  
A. K. CHAUDHURI
Keyword(s):  
Iron Ore ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Eastern India ◽  
Banded Iron Formation ◽  
Rigid Core ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Planar Structures ◽  
Diffusive Mass Transfer ◽  
Ore Minerals ◽  
Deformation Processes

This paper provides a detailed documentation of microstructures developed in the banded iron formation (BIF) of Gua mine, located in the Bonai Synclinorium (eastern India), where the rocks have been subjected to three deformations (D1 to D3). Folded iron ores, quartz strain fringes around rigid core objects and folded iron ore layers, and refracted quartz veins are described from samples taken from D2 folds in the banded iron formation. Orientations of microstructures are compared with mesoscopic structures to interpret the generations of ore minerals, planar structures and the time relationship between deformation and development of different microstructures. The mechanism of D2 folding is worked out and its bearing on microstructure development is discussed. The D2 folds are inferred to have developed by a combination of tangential longitudinal strain in the competent layer, flexural flow in the incompetent layers and flexural slip at the interface between layers of differing competence. Homogeneous flattening strain superposed the earlier strain, which led to modification of the folds in the competent layer from class 1B to 1C. This strain is quantified and is found to be higher in the limb than the hinge of a fold. Diffusive mass transfer by solution and bulging dynamic recrystallization in quartz are inferred as the dominant deformation processes during folding. Moreover, based on comparison with published deformation microstructure maps, the microstructures of the present study are estimated to have developed between 300 and 350 °C temperatures at a strain rate of 10−14–10−12 s−1, which are geologically realistic conditions for naturally deformed rocks.

Structural constraints of the Birimian lithium pegmatites of Bougouni (Southern Mali, Leo-Man shield)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Séko Sanogo ◽  
Cyril Durand ◽  
Michel Dubois ◽  
Ousmane Wane
Keyword(s):  
Structural Control ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
West African ◽  
Crustal Thickening ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Structural Constraints ◽  
West African Craton

<p>The Bougouni region is located in the southern Mali, 170 km south-east of Bamako. It is part of the northern edge of the Leo-Man [UdMO1] shield (southern part of the West-African Craton). It is known for its swarm of pegmatites, most investigated as a lithium resource (spodumene pegmatites) and its gold potential. It is made up of metavolcanosedimentary rocks and plutonic complexes of the Birimian (Paleoproterozoic).</p><p>The objectives of this study are: 1) to make a review of the main regional structural features, 2) to define the structural control of the pegmatite emplacement. To reach these aims a structural analysis was carried out using the information collected during our field campaigns (2018 and 2019) and data from previous works.</p><p>Metavolcanosedimentary rocks had undergone a low grade metamorphism degree. Schistosities in these rocks (n=156 measurements) are distributed along 2 main directions which indicate two deformation phases. The first one, D1, oriented NNW-SSE to N-S. It is ductile, responsible for low grade regional metamorphism (Baratoux et al., 2011) and crustal thickening of the volcano-sedimentary rocks (Wane et al., 2018). It is linked to a compression event oriented E-W to ESE-WNW (Baratoux et al., 2011; Wane et al., 2018). The second one, D2, oriented NNE-SSW to SE-NW, is a ductile-brittle transpressive deformation. It affects metavolcano-sedimentary rocks. It would be contemporaneous with the location of most birimian granitoids (Baratoux et al., 2011; Wane et al., 2018) and it would be responsible for the gold mineralization (McFarlane et al., 2011). The third one, oriented E-W is marked by fracture cleavage and extensional cracks sometimes sigmoidal and generally filled by quartz. It has a brittle-ductile character. The faults have been observed in the field but weren’t measured. Feybesse et al. (2006) showed that they intersect all the lithologies without having any direct link with the different deformation phases.</p><p> </p><p>Pegmatites are hosted in both metavolcanosedimentary and granitoids. Lithium bearing pegmatites are characterized by an assemblage containing spodumene (15-65%; main lithium-host mineral), albite (10-55%), microcline (1-10%), quartz (25-50%) and muscovite (2-10%). The accessory minerals are: apatite; garnet; columbo-tantalite, tourmaline, beryl and rutile. Lithium pegmatites are distributed in three directions (n=209): NNE-SSW (minor, ≃10 %?), ENE-WSW to E-W and ESE-WNW to SE-NW. Most of them are characterized by a steep dip (≃90°). The dyke-host unit contacts are generally sharp and brittle. These results suggest that the emplacement of the lithium bearing pegmatites of Bougouni even of all the Birimian pegmatites (Example of Issia pegmatite, côte d'ivoire Allou, 2005) could be related to the brittle deformation phase D3. This phase is also thought to be linked with the gold mineralization (McFarlane et al., 2011).</p><p> </p><p><strong>Ref: </strong>Allou, 2005, thèse à l’université de Chicoutimi ; Baratoux et al., 2011, Precamb. Res. 191, 18–45 ; Feybesse et al., 2006, Carte et Notice explicative de la Carte du Birimien du Mali ; McFarlane et al., 2011, Econ. Geol. 106, 727-750; Wane et al., 2018, Precamb. Res. 305, 444-478</p><p><strong>Key words:</strong> pegmatite, mineralization, lithium, spodumene, granitoid, Leo-Man shiel, Mali, West African Craton</p>

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