A review of volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) mineralization in the Archaean Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia: Tectonic, stratigraphic and geochemical associations
Steven P. HollisC.J. YeatsStephen WycheStephen J. BarnesTimothy J. IvanicSue BelfordGJ DavidsonAnthony RoacheM.T.D. Wingate
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Yilgarn Craton
Felsic
Prospectivity mapping
Greenstone belt
Geochronology
Mantle plume
Yilgarn Craton
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Yilgarn Craton
Greenstone belt
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The Agnew–Wiluna greenstone belt in the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia is a narrow package of complexly deformed Archean supracrustal rocks that hosts two of the world's largest komatiite-hosted nickel sulfide deposits, the Mt Keith and Perseverance deposits. These deposits and several others in the belt are centred on thick lenses of adcumulate-textured komatiite interpreted to represent areas of channelised magma flow. The large nickel sulfide deposits are located in parts of the belt associated with ca 2720 to 2700 Ma felsic volcanism (e.g. the Leinster and Mt Keith nickel camps). In these areas, felsic to intermediate volcanic rocks are intercalated with syn-volcanic massive sulfides of inferred exhalative origin. While these primary magmatic features are clearly first-order controls on the distribution of Ni sulfide deposits in the belt, several regional-scale deformation events have significantly complicated the interpretation of primary stratigraphic relationships. The earliest recorded deformation events (D1,2,3) resulted in an east–west trending greenstone belt with recumbent isoclinal folds and ductile shear zones. Subsequent west-southwest–east-southeast shortening during the D4 event at ca 2666 Ma involved the refolding of the tectono-stratigraphy to produce belt-scale, north- to north-northwest-trending upright folds, a pervasive axial planar schistosity in all rocks, and the present-day steeply dipping, overturned supracrustal sequences, and emplacement of granitoids in major antiformal fold hinges. Polyphase folding of supracrustal rocks produced Type 2 fold interference patterns with multiple facing reversals at various scales across the belt. West-southwest–east-southeast extension during the D5 event at ca 2665 Ma triggered the development of terrestrial basins (i.e. Scotty Creek and Jones Creek) in areas flanking major antiforms, resulting in the deposition of the Jones Creek Conglomerate. Subsequent west-southwest–east-southeast shortening during the D6 event resulted in the folding of the Jones Creek Conglomerate and formation of gold-bearing veins in the Agnew gold camp. Belt-wide relaxation in east–west shortening during the D7 event caused open, recumbent F7 folding of the steeply dipping stratigraphy. Broadly east–west shortening during the D8 to D10 events resulted in the tightening of existing fold hinges, the dismemberment and displacement of panels of supracrustal rocks by sinistral (e.g. Perseverance shear zone) and then dextral (Waroonga) shear zones. The Agnew–Wiluna belt displays (para)autochthonous associations within the belt, with district-scale heterogeneities caused by primary volcano-sedimentary facies changes combined with polyphase deformation. Importantly, nickel sulfide-bearing sequences identified in nickel camps can potentially be traced to different parts of the belt by unravelling the effects of polyphase deformation.
Greenstone belt
Yilgarn Craton
Felsic
Volcanic belt
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Yilgarn Craton
Greenstone belt
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Komatiites occur in many Archean greenstone belts and host significant Ni sulfide ore deposits. Establishing the stratigraphy and the control that stratigraphy has on the emplacement and morphology of ultramafic magmatism is crucial in understanding Archean geodynamic environments and in targeting for Ni sulfide mineralization within these environments. The ~2.9 Ga Lake Johnston greenstone belt, in the southern portion of the Youanmi Terrane of Western Australia, contains komatiite flows and related subvolcanic intrusions, mafic volcanic rocks, felsic volcanic rocks, banded iron formation, and sedimentary rocks. The stratigraphic sequence is intact, preserving original sedimentary and igneous textures and contact relationships, despite being overturned and variably deformed. This study proposes that the lithostratigraphic succession and ultramafic intrusions identified within the Lake Johnston greenstone belt record a transition from arc- to plume-dominated magmatism, accompanied by the establishment of a banded iron formation-dominated sedimentary basin. It is proposed that the rheological contrast between the felsic volcanic unit and overlying banded iron formation acted as a stratigraphic barrier, trapping ascending ultramafic magmas. The stratigraphic barrier inhibited the upward ascent of ultramafic magma causing the development of a subvolcanic magma chamber. Magma trapped beneath the banded iron formation progressively inflated and spread out along the contact, until overpressuring breached the banded iron formation and magma escaped, forming the overlying extrusive komatiites. Both the geodynamic and lithologic transitions gave rise to favorable substrate rock units and an ideal tectonic setting for formation of komatiite-hosted Ni sulfide ores.
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Prospectivity mapping
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