Burra Mine Project
New copper exploration model revealedThe age of the Burra porphyry has now been determined as 797±5 Ma. This date places the Burra porphyry as similar age to the host Skillogalee Dolomite and has led to significant reinterpretation of the timing of primary mineralisation. Large tracts of the Adelaide Geosyncline are now considered prospective for similar mineralisation. Details of the geological mapping and interpretation of the Burra Mine Project are available as a Report Book with associated dataset. Review of the Burra Mine Project
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The Burra orebody formed in a zone of heavily fractured dolomite rock confined between two faults. The trace of one of these, Kingston Fault, is visible in the sourthern face of the open cut as a distinct, steeply dipping, white band. This fault, up to 10 metres wide, marks the western limit of copper mineralisation.
The ore zone was up to 70 metres wide and contained brightly coloured oxidised copper minerals, chielfy malachite (green) and azurite (blue). These occured as veins, blebs and nodules in the dolomite host rocks. The rich oxidised ores were formed from a much poorer body of copper supphide mineralisation over a period of millions of years, by a process known as secondary enrichment.
- Page URL: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/minerals/geological_survey_of_sa/geology/geological_provinces/adelaide_geosyncline/burra_mine_project
- Page Last Modified: November 8, 2011