Orogenic Gold Mineral

Systems

Tashi Tenzin
and
Shane Tomlinson
The University of Western Australia
Outline
Key Features
Geographical distribution of Orogenic Gold
Geodyanmic Drivers
Tectonic Settings
Sources of Orogenic Gold
 Key Features
Associated with late-stage orogeny (Goldfarb et al., 2005)
Episodes of mineralization: 1) Neoarchean (ca. 2700
-2400 Ma), 2)Paleoproterozoic (ca. 2100-1800 Ma), 3) ca. 650
Ma continuing throughout the Phanerozoic (Goldfarb et al.,
2001).
Size: Gaint (>500 t Au) Grade: ( >5-10 g/t)
Depth of formation: Wide range of crustal depths (5-15
km) ( Duuring et al., 2005)
Location: World class deposits - spatially proximal to
crustal scale deformation zones (Hagemann and Cassidy,
2000)
23 major orogenic Au deposits
1. Golden Mile
(2.6-2.64 Ga; 1984
t Au)

11. Telfer, Paterson

Orogen (2.1 Ga;
1564 t)

21.Bendigo,
Lachlan Orogen
(440 Ma, 660 t)

Modified after Bierlein et al.(2006)

Geodynamics – Driver of plate tectonics

Heat convection
current– upwelling
of asthenosphere

Buoyancy –
Subduction of
lighter lithosphere
underneath denser
one.

Figure : USGS
 Lithospheric Instabilities- source for
thermal energy
Lithospheric instabilities- provide thermal energy
(heat flux) for fluid migration (Bierlien et al., 2006).
Thickness of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle
(SCLM)– critical for the instability and heat flux
Plume Impact Delamination Erosion of mantle Subduction/
/Subduction of mantle lithosphere Slab roll back
lithosphere

Modified after Bierlein et al.(2006)

Lithospheric instability vs Orogenic gold
mineralisation
Age of giant deposits –
good correlation with the
plume activity or crustal
or lithospheric growth
(Condie 2000; Poudjon
Djomani et al. 2001).

Key control for

mineralization- pre-
dating the stable SCLM
(Bierlein et al., 2006)

Figure from Bierlein et al. (2006)

 Tectonic Setting
Accretionary and/or convergent plate margins
(Hageman and Cassidy, 2000); Cordillera type orogens
favoured ( Kerrich et al., 2005).

From Groves and Bierlein et al. (2007)

Regional Geological Features
Host geological environments include volcano-plutonic
and clastic sedimentary terranes.
Deposits dominantly form in metamorphic rocks in the
mid- to shallow crust (5–15 km)
Host rocks characteristically metamorphosed up to
greenschist facies conditions, and locally to amphibolite or
granulite facies.
Structures generally indicate compressional to
transpressional tectonic settings that facilitate transfer of
hot gold-bearing fluids from deeper levels (Goldfarb et al.,
2005; Groves et al., 1998; Phillips and Powell, 2009) .
Source of Gold
Difficult to define a unique source of gold and the ore-
forming fluids; a number of genetic models have been
proposed;
Fluids produced by metamorphic processes (Kontak et
al., 1990; Phillips and Powell, 1993; Kerrich and
Cassidy, 1994)
Magmatic fluids generated from felsic – intermediate
magmas (Burrows and Spooner, 1987)
Deep circulation of meteoric water (Nesbitt et al.,
1986; Boiron et al., 1996).
Metamorphic Devolatisation
Fluids generated by the devolatisation of hydrous &
carbonate minerals during the transition of
greenschist to amphibolite facies (Fyfe & Henley, 1973;
Norris & Henley, 1976; Kerrich, 1977; Fyfe et al., 1978).
Devolalitilisation operates on the scale of individual
mineral grains, extracting not just H2O and CO2 but
also S and, in turn, Au.
Greater the fluid volume the greater the chance for
gold mobilisation.
Metamorphic Devolatisation

Kerridge et al, 2000

Metamorphic Devolalitisation

Phillips et al, 2010

Magmatic Source
Fluid derived from mantle material
Felsic-intermediate magmas release fluids
(devolatisation) as they crystallise.
Based on field relations, stable isotopes of carbon and
similar elemental compositions of lode gold with
granite related deposits.
Close relationship between magmatism and
mineralisation in some locations – maybe intrusion
related?
Magmatic Source

Goldfarb et al, 2001

Model Analysis
Direct analysis of fluid inclusions in minerals – relies
on being able to identify which inclusion is the
mineralisation event; petrographic studies
Chemical and isotope analysis of coexisting
hydrothermal minerals and alteration haloes;
Mineral analysis; thermodynamic properties
Isotope dating i.e SHRIMP U-Pb have allowed the
refinement of time relationships among tectonic,
metamorphic, magmatic, and ore formation events.
Crustal Continuum Model
Early 1990s, CCM (Groves, 1993) was developed to
explain the occurrence of orogenic gold deposits in
metamorphic rocks of granulite to sub-greenschist
facies.
Form at almost any depth in the crust, at
temperatures from 750 °C to 180 °C.
Crustal Continuum Model
More recently, it was shown that large fluid volumes
cannot migrate effectively through rocks hotter than
∼650 °C (Tomkins & Grundy, 2009; Phillips & Powell,
2009).
Model is further constrained in grade range as most of
the fertile metamorphic fluids are released over ∼500–
550 °C, with little fluid released beyond ∼550 °C
(Tomkins, 2010).
Most orogenic gold deposits occur in greenschist to
lower amphibolite facies rocks (Groves, 1993).
References
BIERLEIN, F. P., GROVES, D. I., GOLDFARB, R. J. & DUBÉ, B. 2006. Lithospheric controls on the
formation of provinces hosting giant orogenic gold deposits. Mineralium Deposita, 40, 874-886.
CONDIE, K. C. 2000. Episodic continental growth models: afterthoughts and extensions. Tectonophysics,
322, 153-162.
DUURING, P., CASSIDY, K. & HAGEMANN, S. 2007. Granitoid-associated orogenic, intrusion-related,
and porphyry style metal deposits in the Archean Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Ore Geology
Reviews, 32, 157-186.
GOLDFARB, R., GROVES, D. & GARDOLL, S. 2001. Orogenic gold and geologic time: a global synthesis.
Ore geology reviews, 18, 1-75.
GOLDFARB, R. J., BAKER, T., DUBE, B., GROVES, D. I., HART, C. J. & GOSSELIN, P. 2005. Distribution,
character, and genesis of gold deposits in metamorphic terranes. Economic G eology 100th anniversary
volume, 40.
GROVES, D. I. & BIERLEIN, F. P. 2007. Geodynamic settings of mineral deposit systems. Journal of the
Geological Society, 164, 19-30.
HAGEMANN, S. & CASSIDY, K. F. Archean orogenic lode gold deposits. SEG Reviews, 2000. 9- 68.
KERRICH, R., GOLDFARB, R. J. & RICHARDS, J. P. 2005. Metallogenic provinces in an evolving
geodynamic framework. Economic geology, 100, 1097-1136.
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. Plate Tectonics in a Nutshell [Online]. Available:
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/about/edu/dynamicplanet/nutshell.php.