Murray Basin - Mineralisation
A.C. Burtt – (contributions by W.V. Preiss, C.G. Gatehouse, J.C. Gum and P.J. Abbot)
Neoproterozoic to Palaeozoic sequences beneath Tertiary Murray Basin sediments have been poorly explored, with increased exploration only as a result of 1994-95 detailed aeromagnetic surveys and drilling programs conducted by MESA in 1990, and 1994.
A 1994 MESA bedrock drilling program in the Coomandook area (Fig. 3) revealed anomalous base metals with sphalerite mineralisation (.94% zinc) associated with para-amphibolites and anomalous zinc associated with sedimentary and volcanic rocks (Hill, 1995). Anomalous copper (.93% copper) is associated with elevated zinc and anomalous gold was found in argillite and meta-tuff (Hill, 1995).
Peebinga 1 from the 1990 Murray Basin Basement Drilling Transect intersected basic volcanics and pyritic limestone and carbonaceous shales indicating potential for possible VHMS or SEDEX style mineralisation (Rankin et al., 1991).
Layered ultramafic bodies such as the Black Hill Norite are anomalous in platinum group elements and other ultramafic bodies have recently been defined by drilling and airborne magnetic surveys, however, these have been poorly explored. Minor occurrences of molybdenum (Mt Boothby) and gold (Kitticoola) are associated with Cambro-Ordovician granitoids.
In the Padthaway Ridge Zone extensive, long lived, deep seated, northwest trending faults and fractures source and spatially control mantle-derived plutons of mafic to felsic composition. These deep crustal level derived mafic to ultramafic intrusives have the potential to source precious metal and Platinum Group Element (PGE) style mineralisation. The presence of tightly folded, chemically reactive and permeable metasediments and felsic to intermediate volcanics indicate the Padthway Ridge Zone has excellent potential for the discovery of SEDEX and/or VHMS type mineralisation. Extensive syn- and post-tectonic granitoids are potential sources for porphyry Cu-Mo, epithermal Cu-Au and skarn deposits (Belperio et al., 1998).
- Page URL: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/minerals/geological_survey_of_sa/geology/geological_provinces/adelaide_geosyncline/kanmantoo_murray_min
- Page Last Modified: November 8, 2011