p748 dec… · p748 camiro-amira research p roposal a collaboration between the ... a d a 1842 g e...

Global Research ProjectGlobal Research Project““Giant BHT and SEDEX SystemsGiant BHT and SEDEX Systems””

P748 CAMIRO-AMIRA Research ProposalCAMIRO-AMIRA Research Proposal

A Collaboration between theA Collaboration between the Center for Ore Deposits Research (CODES) Australia) Center for Ore Deposits Research (CODES) Australia)and the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) (Canada)and the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) (Canada)

Research LeadersResearch Leaders

Wayne Goodfellow (GSC) and Ross Large (CODES)Wayne Goodfellow (GSC) and Ross Large (CODES)

CANADA1842

GE

OL

OGI

CA

L

SU

RVEY -

C O M MI SSI

ON

GÉ

OL

OG

IQ

UE

CODES

CODESCODES

CANADA1842

GE

OL

OG

IC

AL

SU

RVEY -

C O M MI SSI

ON

GÉ

OL

OG

IQ

UE

GSCGSC

COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

The contents of this proposal are confidential to the Centre for Ore Deposit Research,University of Tasmania, Geological Survey of Canada and the Australian MineralsIndustry Research Association Limited and are made available to possible participantsin the Project solely for the purpose of inviting their interest and are not to be used forany other purpose or disclosed or made available to any other person or body.

Executive Summary!This project brings together two world class research teams at the GSC and

CODES to develop more efficient exploration strategies and outcomes for the

discovery of BHT and SEDEX deposits

!Utilising the positive feedback provided by numerous exploration companies over

the past 3 months,this current research proposal represents a substantial

modification of the preliminary proposal circulated in June 2002

!The project will focus on three major research and exploration objectives

• To develop exploration criteria to discriminate sedimentary basins that host large and

high grade deposits (super giants) from those that are barren or host smaller and/or

lower grade deposits (Basin Architecture Theme)

• To understand the geological controls and petrophysical, mineralogical and textural

properties of high grade metal zones within deposits (High Grade Theme)

• To develop a series of geochemical, geological and geophysical vectors to ore, from the

basin scale down to the drill-target scale (Exploration Vectors Theme)

Executive Summary!Research will be conducted in two or three world class districts (Brooks Range,

Cunamona and one other to be decided by sponsors), in conjunction with studies

on two potential basins with no known deposits. The Brooks range and Cunamona

have been selected as they contain the premier global deposits (in terms of both

grade and tonnes) of Broken Hill and Red Dog. The two potential basins will be

selected in consultation with the final sponsor group, but must include at least

one Canadian basin and preferably also an Australian basin.

!The Basin Architecture and Exploration Vectors Themes will include not only new

research on the three productive and two potential basins but also a review of all

available relevant data on a number of other productive basins which host

moderate to giant sized deposits. The comparator basins will be: Mt Isa and

McArthur Basins, Belt-Purcell Basin, Selwyn Basin, Mackenzie Platform, Irish and

Renish Basins, Qinling Basin, Gariep Basin, Cannington District, Rajasthan District,

Bergslagen District and Bathurst District.

Executive Summary

!The time table of research is designed to provide annual deliverables that can

be fed directly into on-going exploration for BHT and SEDEX ores.

!A major set of synthesis reports will be completed in the final year of the

project, including: 1)criteria for productive basins, 2) exploration vectors, 3)

controls on high grades, 4) synthesis of Red Dog,, 5) petrophysical properties of

selected SEDEX and BHT, 6) genetic and fluid flow models, 7) exploration

criteria for BHT and SEDEX, 8) data base of all geochemical and petrophysical

measurements.

!As a sponsor of this project you will be kept abreast of the latest basin-scale

and exploration vector research and be in an excellent position to increase your

exploration effort, and avoid being left behind, when the zinc price turns around

Executive Summary

!The total budget for the project is $360,000US per year for three years. We

seek to raise $130,000US pa through AMIRA/CAMIRO with a further

$230,000US provided by support from GSC, University of Tasmania, ARC and

NSERC.

!Company sponsorship is set at $15,000US per year, and Government Survey

sponsorship at $10,000US per year. This equates to leverage of 22 to 1 for

each sponsor.

Value of GSC-CODES Collaboration

• GSC has developed expertise on SEDEX

deposits in Belt-Purcell and Selwyn Basins

• CODES has basin framework and deposit

expertise on the Australian stratiform Zn-Pb-

Ag and BHT deposits

• The project will benefit from two world class

research groups working together

Changes to Preliminary Proposal

• A brief proposal and questionnaire was

circulated by AMIRA and CAMIRO in June

2002

• Based on the feedback and discussions with

numerous companies the proposal has been

substantially modified, as outlined...

Significant Modifications• More emphasis is now placed on BHT districts

• The project has been focussed from eleven suggested modules

down to three modules (Basin Architecture, High Grade and

Exploration Vectoring)

• The number of productive districts for detailed research has

been reduced from ten to three (Red Dog, Broken Hill and one

other to be decided by the final sponsor group)

• In the vectoring module a study of petrophysical properties of

ores and halos has been developed (based on responses)

• In the High Grade module a study of controls on Ag and Au

grades in SEDEX and BHT has been added (based on responses)

• Discussions have been held with the USGS concerning a

collaboration on the Red Dog and Brooks Range research

• A list of clearly defined deliverables, with time lines, is now

provided

Curnamona

Mt Isa-McArthurBasinsRajasthan

Namaqualand

IrishMidlands

RhenishBasin

SelwynBasin

Belt-PurcellBasin

BrooksRange

Major Stratiform Zn-Pb-Ag Provinces

Qinling

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

0 500 1000 1500 2000

Num

ber

of d

epos

its

Age Ma

Age Distribution of SedimentaryZn deposits

Palaeoproterozoic

Cambrian

Devonian-Carb

Types of Sedimentary Zinc DepositsTypes of Sedimentary Zinc Deposits

• SEDEX : Laminated shale-hosted stratiform zinc

– Vent proximal: deposits overlying feeder zone (usuallyoccur in thick reduced successions)

– Vent distal : deposits without a footwall feeder(often occur in thin reduced intervals withindominantly oxidised basin successions)

• BHT : Broken Hill Type

• Irish : Irish style, carbonate replacement and

open fill

• HYBRID : Deposits within sedimentary basins which

show transitional features between SEDEX

and VHMS, MVT or BHT

0

5

10

15

20

25

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Zn+P

b wt

%

Zn + Pb Mt

Giants (21)

Super Giants (10)

Low Grade Super Giants

WORLD CLASS STRATIFORM SEDIMENTARY Zn-Pb-Ag DEPOSITS

Broken Hill

Red Dog

Howards Pass

McArthur RiverMt Isa

Sullivan

HiltonGeorge Fisher

Century

JindingGamsberg

Rammelsberg

Lady Loretta

Anarraaq

Rampura Agucha

Irish typeSEDEX

Broken Hill type

HYC

Century

Sullivan

Rift phase clastics

Basement Mafic volcanics

Felsic volcanics

Platform carbonates

Organic siltstones/shales

RiftRift

SagSag

Basin Setting : Irish ---> SEDEX--> BHTBasin Setting : Irish ---> SEDEX--> BHT

Conclusions: Controls on north Australian Giant Zn deposits

• The sequence: source-aquifer-seal-trap is critical for ore formation• About 3 to 6 km of section is required between the aquifer and trap to

generate fluids of sufficient temperature for ore formation• Major syn-sedimentary faults are needed for both fluid discharge from

the aquifer reservoir, and for recharge by marine waters

Zn-Pb oreZn-Pb ore

2

4

6

8

10 km

10 km

RR

R

RRR

D1

D2

Conclusions: Two stage process

• STAGE 1: Long periods of quiet carbonate sedimentation promotesfluid convection below this impermeable cap, to produce ametalliferous brine reservoir

• Volcanic units in or below the aquifer are an ideal source of metals• Hematite-bearing sandstones/conglomerates make excellent aquifers,

and facilitate high levels of Zn-Pb transport

10 km

2

4

6

8 km

Carbonate cap sequenceCarbonate cap sequence

STAGE 1STAGE 1

Conclusions: Two stage process

• STAGE 2: Discrete tectonic events, activate faults, set up the blackshale sub basins and promote a recharge - discharge component tothe convective hydrological system

Zn-Pb oreZn-Pb ore

2

4

6

8

10 km

10 km

RR

R

RRR

D1

D2STAGE 2STAGE 2

Aim of Project

• To study selected world class sedimentary basins

and their related ore deposits in order to develop

improved exploration targeting criteria for high

grade sediment-hosted Zn-Pb-Ag deposits

(including both SEDEX and BHT styles)

Districts for Research

The focus will be on three productive basins and two

potential basins -

• Brooks Range and Red Dog

• Curnamona and Broken Hill

• Another productive basin

• Borden Basin, Nunavut (Mesoproterozoic)

• Another potential basin

For comparison, using previous studies only

SEDEX and Irish style districts

• Mt Isa & McArthur Basins (CODES and others)

• Belt-Purcell and Sullivan deposit (GSC recent project)

• Selwyn Basin and Mackenzie Platform (GSC research)

• Irish and Rhenish Basins

• Qinling Basin, China

BHT districts

• Cannington District (Steve Boden PhD CODES)

• Rajasthan District (collaboration with Prof Deb)

• Bushmanland District

• Bergslagen District (CODES,Boliden and SGU)

• Bathurst Camp (GSC recent research)

Research Themes

The following themes will apply in each district program:

• Basin Architecture (criteria for favourable basins)

• High Grade (criteria for best targets)

• Exploration vectors (to aid drilling the best targets)

Theme 1: Basin Architecture (criteria for favourable basins)

• Basin stratigraphy, structure and history

• Basement configuration

• Sources, aquifers, seals and traps

• Basin redox conditions

• Chemostratigraphy

• Volcanic and intrusive components

• Basin scale fluid flow modelling

Theme 2: High Grade (criteria for best targets)

Focussed research to answer particular questions that relateto controls on high metal grades

• What controls the silver and gold content of BHT and

SEDEX deposits? Why are some deposits so rich in precious

metals and others so poor?

Silver content

of stratiform

deposits ranges

from 2 ppm to

540ppm.

What controls

the Ag grade?

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

JerseyReeves-MacDonald

H.B.Dariba

GamsbergHowards Pass

Big SynMeggen

SilverminesLik

Black Mtn.Santa Lucia

LisheenDugald River

CenturyFaro

H.Y.C.Swim

Rampura-AguchaTynagh

Broken Hill SAf.GrumTom

VangordaSullivan

JasonDy

AnarraaqGeorge Fisher

Red DogLady Loretta

El AguilarZinkgruven

HiltonRammelsberg

Dariba-RajpuraElura

Broken HillMt. Isa

Dariba(secondary)Walton

Cannington

Ag ppm

**

**

**

**

**

**

**

Most deposits show a

Pb-Ag linear

relationship, but

some stand out -

why?

Use laser ICP-MS to

study Ag mineral

associations and

paragenesis in

selected deposits

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Ag ppm

Pb wt%

Cannington

Dariba

Walton

Mt Isa Broken HillRajpura-Dariba

Silver content of ores

Theme 2: High Grade (criteria for best targets)

Focussed research to answer particular questionsthat relate to controls on high metal grades

• What is the range and variability of selected

petrophysical properties in BHT and SEDEX ores

and their host rock halos. In particular what

petrophysical properties characterise high grade ore

zones

• How do metal grades, mineralogy, and petrophysical

properties change under different metamorphic

conditions? (metamorphic modelling forwards and

backwards)

Theme 3: Exploration Vectors(to aid drilling the best targets)

• Chemostratigraphy - favourable horizons

• Lithogeochemical vectors (whole rock majors and traces)

• Mineral chemistry vectors (LA-ICPMS, PIMA: silicates and

sulfides)

• BHT and SEDEX vector diagrams

• Isotopic vectors (S, C, O, Sr, Pb)

• Petrophysical properties of different ore types and halo

Example of a District Research Program:Broken Hill District

• Nature of transition from ore body to lode horizon: geology,

lithogeochemistry, mineral chemistry and selected isotopes

• Unfolding the ore body and lode rocks (Tony Webster, PhD)

• Distribution and controls on high Ag grades at Broken Hill

• Petrophysical properties of Broken Hill lodes and halo

• Development of an alteration vector diagram for BHT

• Chemistry, magma petrogenesis and alteration of Potosi Gneiss and

amphibolites (collaboration with GSNSW)*

• Metamorphic modelling down to greenschist facies (what was the mineral

composition of the pre-metamorphic ores, lode rocks and halo?)

Broken Hill Line of LodeTony Webster’s PhD study

Broken Hillorebody

compilation:example XS 26

from TonyWebster’s PhD




(collaboration with Perilya)


• Chemistry, magma petrogenesis and alteration of Potosi

Gneiss and amphibolites (collaboration with GSNSW)


• Metamorphic modelling down to greenschist facies (what was

the mineral composition of the pre-metamorphic ores, lode

rocks and halo?)

VHMS Alteration Box PlotLarge, Gemmell, Herrman, Paulick & Huston (2001)

Ishikawa AI

CCPI

0 1000

100

Least alteredvolcanics

Hydrothermal alterationdiagenetic

alteration

sericite

chlorite

pyrite

carbonate

orecentre

Advantages of alteration vector plotsAdvantages of alteration vector plots

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 20 40 60 80 100

rhyolitedaciteandesite and basaltbasaltminerals

CC

P I

ndex

Alteration Index

dolomite / ankeritechloritepyrite

sericite

K-feldsparalbite

epidotecalcite

leastaltered

box

andesite/basalt

dacite

rhyolite

•Simple to apply

•Defines least alterted

•Relates geochemistry to

mineralogy

•Shows alteration trends

•Defines very weak alteration

•Distinguishes hydrothermal

alteration from diagenetic and

metamorphic “alteration”

Mineral overlay on vector plotMineral overlay on vector plot

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 20 40 60 80 100

BH

TA

I Mk4

BHTAI Mk3

almandine

spessartine

andradite

pyroxmangite

bustamite

rhodonite

wollastonite

Hedenbergite

cordierite

tephorite

Grunnerite

cummingtoniteStaurolite

sillimanite

albitek-spar

biotitemuscovite

magnetite

Ore-relatedminerals

Backgroundminerals

Meta-seds, potosi and lode rocksMeta-seds, potosi and lode rocks

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 20 40 60 80 100

lode rocksmeta sedimentspotosi gneissminerals

BH

TA

I Mk4

BHTAI Mk3

almandine

spessartine

andradite

pyroxmangite

bustamite

rhodonite

wollastonite

Hedenbergite

cordierite

tephorite

Grunnerite


sillimanite

albitek-spar

biotitemuscovite

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 20 40 60 80 100

BH

TA

I Mk4

BHTAI Mk3

almandine

spessartine

andradite

pyroxmangite

bustamite

rhodonite

wollastonite

Hedenbergite

cordierite

tephorite

Grunnerite


sillimanite

albitek-spar

biotitemuscovite

Lode Rocks

Comparison of Comparison of lithologieslithologies

metasediments

Potosi gneiss

calcsilicates

amphibolites

Albite rocks

magnetite

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 20 40 60 80 100

BH

TA

I Mk4

BHTAI Mk3

almandine

spessartine

andradite

pyroxmangite

bustamite

rhodonite

wollastonite

Hedenbergite

cordierite

tephorite

Grunnerite


sillimanite

albitek-spar

biotitemuscovite

Lode Rocks

metasediments

Potosi gneiss

calcsilicates

amphibolites

Lode rocks

Albite rocks

magnetite

Comparison ofComparison of lithologies lithologies




(collaboration with Perilya)


• Chemistry, magma petrogenesis and alteration of Potosi

Gneiss and amphibolites (collaboration with GSNSW)


• Metamorphic modelling down to greenschist facies (what was

the mineral composition of the pre-metamorphic ores, lode

rocks and halo?)

CODESCODES

CANADA1842

GE

OL

OG

IC

AL

SU

RVEY -

C O M MI SSI

ON

GÉ

OL

OG

IQ

UE

GSCGSC

Example of metamorphic modelling: HYC dolomitic shale

greenschistgreenschist amphiboliteamphibolite

Annual Milestones and Deliverables

• Although a 3 year project, it is planned that

significant segments of the project will be

completed and reported to sponsors at the end

of each year.

• A major set of synthesis reports will be

completed in the final year of the project

• Field meetings at the major study locations will

be held one per year (Broken Hill, Red Dog,

Aggeneys?)

Examples of Yearly Deliverables

• YEAR 1:• Summary of basin architecture of the selected basins (SB,DS, CS, JL)

• Report on controls on Ag and Au grades in BHT and SEDEX systems

(WH, RL, DC, Poul Emsbo USGS?)

• Complete set of compiled geological level plans and sections for the

Broken Hill orebody (result from Tony Webster’s PhD research)

• Report of phase 1 of Red Dog research: lithogeochemical halo (WG, JP,

RL)

• Case Study 1 report on petrophysical properties (eg, Broken Hill) (MR)

• Case Study 1 on metamorphic modelling (HYC to granulite facies)(RB,

RL, WH)


• YEAR 2:• Report on lithogeochemical halos & vectors for a range of SEDEX

deposits : HYC, Mt Isa, Century, Sullivan, Selwyn Basin, Irish Midlands

(RL, WG, WH)

• Report on geochemical vectoring using bif’s in BHT districts (JP, GD)

• Development of a robust BHT vector diagram for exploration (RL, WH)

• Report on volcanic and intrusive components of basins (AC, BS,SP)

• Case Studies 2 & 3 report on metamorphic modelling (Broken Hill down

to greenschist facies and Bathurst to granulite facies) (RB, CS)

• Case Study 2 report on petrophysical properties (eg, Red Dog ?)

• Red Dog Report 2: Lithogeochem halo and basin architecture (WG, SB..)

• Coupled fluid flow-heat-salinity Case Studies 1 & 2: North Mt Isa Basin

(AMIRA P552, JY,RL); Red Dog (USGS, Grant Garven)


YEAR 3: Major Synthesis Reports• Synthesis Report on basin architecture - criteria to pick the

best productive basins (SB, DS, JL, CS, SP, AC)

• Synthesis report on vectoring using whole rock geochemistry,

organic maturation, isotopes and mineral chemistry in various

productive basins (RL, WG, JP, GD)

• Synthesis report on controls on high metal grades in SEDEX

and BHT ores (WH)

• Synthesis Report on Red Dog - nature of deposit, its halo and

basin setting (WG, SB)

• Synthesis report on metamorphic modelling - relevance to

exploration in differing metamorphic environments (RB)


YEAR 3: Major Synthesis Reports

• Synthesis report on petrophysical properties of selected SEDEX and

BHT deposits and relationships to metal grades, mineralogy,

metamorphic/deformation and geophysical targeting (MR, WH)

• Report on genetic models, fluid flow models and differences between

BHT and SEDEX systems (WG, RL, JL, JP, GG)

• Report on Exploration Criteria for BHT and SEDEX deposits (RL)

• Release of data bases generated by the project: lithogeochemistry,

isotopes, mineral chemistry, petrophysical properties

Research Team• CODES: Ross Large, Stuart Bull (sedimentology), David Selley

(structure), Tony Crawford (tectonics & petrochemistry), Garry

Davidson (ores and isotopes), David Cooke (fluid chemistry), Ron

Berry (metamorphism), Walter Herrmann (alteration), Mike Roach

(petrophysics), Peter McGoldrick (ores)

• GSC: Wayne Goodfellow, Jan Peter (geochemical vectors), John

Lydon (fluid chemistry), Cees van Staal (structure and

metamorphism), Steve Piercey (magma petrogenesis), Mike

Hamilton (U-Pb geochronology), and Conrad Gregoire (analytical

chemistry)

• Potential Collaborators: Barney Stevens (GSNSW), Grant Garven

(Johns Hopkins U), Jianwen Yang (Windsor U), Poul Emsbo (USGS)

Karen Kelley and Red Dog Project Team (USGS, Denver)

Preliminary Budgetper year for 3 years

• 2.5 postdoc fellows 98,000 USD

• PhD scholarships (3) 36,000

• Analytical 25,000

• Field work 25,000

• Travel 13,000

• Infrastructure 20,000

• AMIRA/CAMIRO fees 40,000

• TOTAL 260,000 USD

Research Expenditure Patterns

• Basin Architecture 100,000 USD (28%)

• High Grades 90,000 (25%)

• Exploration Vectors 170,000 (47%)

Contributions to Budget

• AMIRA/CAMIRO Contributions 130,000 USD

• ARC Linkage (Australia) 65,000

• STEP & NSERC (Canada) 65,000

• CODES support for salaries 50,000

• GSC support for salaries 50,000

• TOTAL 360,000 USD

• Leverage on each company contribution 22 to 1

AMIRA-CAMIRO contributionsper year for 3 years

• Company sponsors $15,000 USD

• Government Survey sponsors $10,000 USD

• Target: 7 company sponsors & 3 survey sponsors

• If less sponsors are available, the program will be

reduced accordingly

p748 dec… · p748 camiro-amira research p roposal a collaboration between the ... a d a 1842 g e...

Documents