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Intrusion Hosted Mineralization - Queensland PDF
Intrusion Hosted Mineralization - Queensland PDF
Abstract
Auriferous quartz sulfide veins of the Charters Towers goldfield are mainly hosted in oxidized I-type grani-
toids of the Ravenswood batholith. K-Ar and Ar-Ar isotope age data of hydrothermal muscovite from alteration
envelopes of veins at Charters Towers and the Hadleigh Castle mine (~40 km east of Charters Towers) are in-
distinguishable within error, suggesting broadly synchronous gold deposition between 410 and 404 Ma and
across a significant segment of the Ravenswood batholith. Published geochronological data indicate that sev-
eral granitoid bodies were emplaced into the Ravenswood batholith at the time of gold mineralization. Despite
their association in space and time with igneous rocks, the gold deposits lack an obvious causative intrusion.
Moreover, published lead isotope studies indicate that the lead in the ore was not acquired from any of the ex-
posed intrusions. A distal origin of the ore-forming fluids also may be inferred from nitrogen isotope values of
hydrothermal sericite, suggesting wall-rock interaction with metamorphic fluids or fluids that were in equilib-
rium with metamorphic rocks during the paragenetic stage of pyrite and arsenopyrite deposition (stage II).
Veins of the Charters Towers goldfield contain three different types of fluid inclusions, which are distinguish-
able by petrography and microthermometry. This study is the first to report saline fluid inclusions in sphalerite
(18.9–28.3 wt % NaCl equiv) and vein quartz (20.9–24.7 wt % NaCl equiv), trapped during the stage of gold
deposition (stage III). The range of temperatures and salinities, particularly of the saline inclusions in spha-
lerite, could indicate mixing between hotter, more saline fluids (e.g., deep-seated magmatic) and cooler, more
dilute solutions (e.g., modified meteoric) as the cause of gold deposition. The geological and geochemical data
are not compatible with derivation of fluids, metals, and ligands from individual plutons. Similarity of host
rocks, ore element associations, alteration assemblages, structural controls, and tectonic settings strongly sug-
gest that the auriferous veins of the Charters Towers goldfield belong to a group of granitoid-hosted lode gold
deposits that are generally classified as orogenic.
Introduction cases, temporally associated with magmatic activity. How-
THE CHARTERS TOWERS goldfield in northern Queensland ever, isotopic tracers of fluid sources have failed to provide
was one of the largest producers of gold in Australia (Solomon definitive evidence of the origin of the ore-forming fluids
and Groves, 2000), with production in excess of 6 million (e.g., Ridley and Diamond, 2000).
ounces (Moz) Au, 1 Moz Ag, 3,000 t Pb, and 1,000 t Cu metal The eastern part of the main mining area of the Charters
during the period of 1872 to 1918 (Levingston, 1972). Eco- Towers goldfield is hosted by the Millchester Creek tonalite
nomic zones were characterized by high average grades of 34 (Fig. 1A), which was emplaced between 426 ± 4 and 425 ± 4
g/t Au (Blatchford, 1953). Ma (based on U-Pb and Rb-Sr biotite whole-rock ages: table
Peters and Golding (1989) suggested that the Late Sil- 8 in Hutton and Rienks, 1997). Although the ages do not
urian to Early Devonian gold-bearing veins precipitated overlap, the tonalite could be as little as 1 m.y. older than the
from deep-seated magmatic or metamorphic fluids. Sillitoe auriferous veins, which are enveloped by wall-rock alteration
(1997) questioned this origin and in a subsequent publica- zones that have whole-rock K-Ar ages of 416 ± 4 to 397 ± 4
tion (Sillitoe and Thompson, 1998) assigned the veins to a Ma (Morrison, 1988) and an Ar-Ar muscovite age of 414.8 ±
class of deposits with an Au-As-Pb-Zn-Cu association, ge- 1 Ma (Perkins and Kennedy, 1998). Based on this timing, Sil-
netically linked to their host intrusions. Groves et al. (2003) litoe and Thompson (1998) concluded that a genetic relation-
classified the veins of the Charters Towers goldfield as oro- ship between the host intrusion and gold deposits could not
genic gold deposits, following similar previous classifications be ruled out. However, Groves et al. (2003) argued that ig-
by Groves et al. (1998), Bierlein and Crowe (2000), and neous bodies, such as the Millchester Creek tonalite, might
Goldfarb et al. (2001). Many granitoid-hosted gold deposits, only have contributed heat for convection of externally de-
such as those of the Charters Towers, Etheridge (Bain et al., rived ore-forming fluids.
1998), Grass Valley (Johnston, 1940), Parcoy-Pataz Previous investigations (e.g., Peters, 1987; Morrison, 1988;
(Schreiber, 1990a, b; Haeberlin et al., 2004), and Jiaodong Peters and Golding, 1989; Perkins and Kennedy, 1998) fo-
districts (Qiu et al., 2002; Fan et al., 2003), have similarities cused on the main mining area (~15 km2) at Charters Towers,
to orogenic gold deposits but are spatially and, in many but the geology, geochemistry, and timing of similar aurifer-
ous veins elsewhere in the Charters Towers goldfield were
† E-mail address: okreuzer@els.mq.edu.au
not as well documented. This paper presents new fluid inclu-
*Present address: ARC National Key Centre for the Geochemistry and
sion and stable isotope data that were collected from veins of
Metallogeny of Continents (GEMOC), Department of Earth and Planetary the Charters Towers and Hadleigh Castle areas (Fig. 1A).
Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia. Data collection and analysis were part of a district-scale
Fig. 1. A. Simplified map illustrating the main subdivisions of the Ravenswood batholith (modified from Hutton and
Rienks, 1997). Also shown are the locations of veins of the Charters Towers goldfield (veins included in this study are la-
beled), volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) and porphyry-related gold deposits and occurrences (Hutton and Rienks,
1997; Hartley and Dash, 1993; Hartley, 1996; G.W. Morrison, writ. commun., 2003; Australian map grid). B. Outcrop areas
of the Ravenswood and Lolworth batholiths (modified from Hutton and Rienks, 1997; Hutton et al., 1997). Abbreviations:
CT = Charters Towers, MI = Mingela, RAV = Ravenswood, TVL = Townsville.
research project on the prospectivity of the Charters Towers Middle Silurian to Middle Devonian plutons are typically
goldfield and the geology, structure, timing, and genesis of its hornblende and biotite-bearing granodiorites and tonalites,
lode gold deposits (Kreuzer, 2003, 2004, 2006; Kreuzer and making up 60 percent of the exposed Ravenswood batholith.
Alston, 2004). Late Carboniferous to Early Permian plutons and volcanic
In this study, data from published records on the Ravens- rocks (K-Ar and Rb-Sr biotite whole-rock ages of 311 ± 3 to
wood batholith (Hutton and Rienks, 1997; Hutton et al., 283 ± 9 Ma: table 9 in Hutton and Rienks, 1997) crop out pri-
1997) are combined with new results from the Charters Tow- marily in the eastern and southeastern parts of the
ers and Hadleigh Castle areas to test whether fluids were de- Ravenswood batholith, accounting for only 6 percent of its
rived from individual plutons or if they are part of a much volume (Hutton and Rienks, 1997).
larger system of energy and mass flux (cf. Wyborn et al., 1994; Little is known about the emplacement depth of the intru-
Hronsky, 2004) that postdated the host intrusions. New and sions and their current exposure level. However, gravity mod-
published data are used (1) to more tightly constrain the spa- eling suggests that the Ravenswood batholith is a 5- to 6-km-
tial and temporal relationship between magmatism and gold thick tabular body, exposed at or close to its roof zone
mineralization, (2) to better characterize the origin of the ore- (Hutton and Rienks, 1997).
forming fluids, and (3) to compare the characteristics of the
veins with those of orogenic and intrusion-related deposits in Structural framework
similar granitoid-hosted gold provinces elsewhere. Middle Ordovician to Middle Silurian deformation (D1) of
The results presented in this paper extend another study by the Ravenswood batholith was likely the result of northeast-
Kreuzer (2006), in which the paragenetic relationships, southwest– to north-south–oriented regional shortening,
quartz, and ore textures and gold-related hydrothermal wall- having produced mainly sinistral and up to 50-km-long,
rock alteration of the veins are described. east-west–striking mylonitic shear zones (Fig. 1A; Hutton
and Rienks, 1997; Kreuzer, 2004). These zones are locally
Geologic Framework overprinted by dextral, northwest-southeast–striking struc-
Most auriferous veins in the Charters Towers goldfield are tures that formed during north-south–directed regional
hosted by granitoids of the Ravenswood batholith (Fig. 1A). shortening (D2) sometime after D1 but prior to the Middle
This composite plutonic mass crops out over >6,000 km2 of Silurian (Hutton et al., 1997). Broad doming of the
the largely concealed Lolworth-Ravenswood terrane (Fig. Ravenswood batholith or extension along a north-south to
1B), which forms part of the northern Tasman fold belt (e.g., northeast-southwest axis (D3), which overlapped with em-
Scheibner and Veevers, 2000). Intrusions of the Ravenswood placement of diorite dikes in the Middle Silurian (Peters,
batholith are mainly oxidized (magnetite-series), hornblende- 1987; Hutton and Rienks, 1997), was terminated prior to the
bearing I-type granitoids (Richards, 1980) that were em- Late Silurian. This age is constrained by the Late Silurian to
placed into a composite basement. To the south, the base- Early Devonian age of formation of the veins of the
ment consists of greenschist or lower grade volcanic and Charters Towers goldfield (Morrison, 1988; Perkins and
sedimentary rocks of the Cambrian to Ordovician Seventy Kennedy, 1998; this study). Gold deposition occurred dur-
Mile Range Group and the Kirk River Beds (e.g., Berry et al., ing an episode of northeast-southwest–directed regional
1992; Hutton and Rienks, 1997). Basement rocks in the shortening (D4), which was characterized by conditions of
northern part of the Ravenswood batholith are mainly green- low strain and the brittle reactivation of earlier structures
schist to amphibolite-grade metasedimentary rocks of the (Kreuzer, 2004).
Neoproterozoic or Early Cambrian Charters Towers Meta-
morphics. Metaigneous rocks, such as the Bucklands Hill Middle Silurian to Middle Devonian magmatism
diorite, occur as dikes and sills that intruded the basement Crosscutting relationships and limited radiometric data
during Middle Cambrian time (e.g., Hutton and Rienks, suggest that auriferous vein formation was temporally and
1997). spatially associated with magmatism, particularly that associ-
The intrusive history of the Ravenswood batholith has been ated with the emplacement of the Chippendale, Deane,
divided into Early to Middle Ordovician, Middle Silurian to Carse-O-Gowrie, and Broughton River granodiorites (Rb-Sr
Middle Devonian, and late Carboniferous to Early Permian whole-rock ages of 411 ± 2 to 406 ± 4 Ma: Hutton and Rienks,
phases of magmatic activity (Fig. 1A; Hutton and Rienks, 1997; Fig. 1A).
1997). These subdivisions are based on isotopic and geophys- At the regional scale, the gold mineralization and plutonism
ical data, igneous geochemistry, crosscutting relationships, of the Ravenswood batholith overlapped in time with the em-
and the fabric of the rocks. Early to Middle Ordovician intru- placement of the nearby Lolworth (K-Ar and U-Pb ages of
sions (Pb-Pb, U-Pb, and Rb-Sr biotite whole-rock ages of 490 414–382 Ma: Hutton et al., 1997; Fig. 1B) and Reedy Springs
± 6 to 463 ± 3 Ma: table 4 in Hutton and Rienks, 1997) are batholiths (U-Pb and K-Ar ages of 410–403 Ma: Hutton et al.,
mainly granitic and generally strained or recrystallized (Teni- 1997). There was also temporal overlap between gold miner-
son-Woods and Rienks, 1992; Hutton and Rienks, 1997). Fol- alization (K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages of 426–398 Ma: Bain et al.,
lowing two major regional deformation events (D1 and D2: 1998) and granitoid emplacement (Rb-Sr and U-Pb ages of
Hutton and Rienks, 1997), Middle Silurian to Middle Devon- 431–420 Ma: Withnall et al., 1997) in the Georgetown inlier.
ian magmatism (K-Ar, U-Pb, and Rb-Sr biotite whole-rock Based on the Y-undepleted and Sr-depleted geochemical
ages of 426 ± 4 to 382 ± 5 Ma: table 8 in Hutton and Rienks, signature of intrusions of the Ravenswood batholith (cf.
1997) overlapped with Late Silurian to Early Devonian gold Wyborn et al., 1992), Hutton and Rienks (1997) proposed a
mineralization and regional shortening (D4: Kreuzer, 2004). model of melt generation by underplating of the thickened
Fig. 3. Bivariate plots illustrating correlations between Au and Ag, Au and As, Au and Te (A-C), elements of paragenetic
stage III (D), and elements that are commonly enriched in magmatic-hydrothermal systems (E-H). Shading in (B), (G), and
(H) show typical As, Mo, and Bi concentrations (ppm) of granitoids of the Ravenswood batholith. Plots are based on ICP-
MS assay data of 66 pulp samples from the B lode, Hadleigh Castle (S.C. Dominy, James Cook University, unpub. data), with
0.1 to 489.5 g/t Au. As, Mo, and Bi background concentrations in (B), (G), and (H) are based on granitoid whole-rock geo-
chemistry (XRF) data published in Hutton and Crouch (1993) and the OZCHEM database (http://www.ga.gov.au/oracle/
#geochem).
The samples were analyzed at the Western Australian argon Canada, the samples were analyzed, using the infrared laser
isotope facility, operated by a consortium of Curtin University ablation total fusion technique (e.g., Hodges, 1998). Analyti-
and University of Western Australia. After irradiation in the cal methods and equipment were similar to those described
H5 position of the nuclear reactor at McMaster University, by Willner et al. (2004).
Radiometric data from sample Ar-01 fall within a range
from 412.2 ± 2.4 to 405. 0 ± 4.0 Ma; those from sample Ar-02
fall within the range of 409.8 ± 2.4 to 400.1 ± 4.9 Ma (Fig. 5,
Table 1). Two of the analyses showed higher than average
37Ar/39Ar ratios, suggesting possible contamination by a Ca-
= quartz, ser = hydrothermal muscovite. geochronology results, mainly ranging from 410 to 404 Ma.
#01 core 406.98 2.26 12.30 0.04 12.51 0.01 0.01136 0.00016 0.01066 0.00122 0.00072 0.00014 1.88E-11 2.17E-14 98.31
#02 rim, #01 412.15 2.36 12.47 0.05 12.52 0.01 0.01306 0.00018 0.00977 0.00115 0.00016 0.00016 1.66E-11 1.63E-14 99.62
#03 core 405.10 2.75 12.23 0.07 12.34 0.02 0.01245 0.00022 0.04606 0.00161 0.00037 0.00023 1.78E-11 2.17E-14 99.11
#04 core 404.95 4.00 12.23 0.12 12.43 0.01 0.01170 0.00027 0.01551 0.00284 0.00067 0.00040 1.00E-11 5.59E-15 98.41
#05 rim, #04 407.42 5.75 12.31 0.18 12.49 0.02 0.01217 0.00031 0.02230 0.00439 0.00061 0.00062 8.74E-12 1.21E-14 98.55
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
#06 core 409.57 3.18 12.38 0.09 12.43 0.02 0.01189 0.00021 0.00909 0.00218 0.00014 0.00029 1.86E-11 2.50E-14 99.66
#01 core 405.42 3.66 12.24 0.11 12.24 0.01 0.01193 0.00001 0.00603 0.00268 0.00000 0.00000 1.50E-11 1.12E-14 100.00
#02 core 409.38 3.93 12.37 0.12 12.37 0.02 0.01282 0.00018 0.00417 0.00260 0.00000 0.00000 1.55E-11 2.18E-14 100.00
#03 rim, #02 409.79 2.35 12.39 0.05 12.52 0.02 0.01278 0.00045 0.00498 0.00350 0.00045 0.00015 9.09E-12 1.41E-14 98.95
#04 core 407.26 2.30 12.30 0.05 12.42 0.02 0.01239 0.00050 0.00988 0.00349 0.00041 0.00014 9.83E-12 1.68E-14 99.02
#05 core 407.40 3.13 12.31 0.09 12.58 0.01 0.01158 0.00029 0.51263 0.00814 0.00092 0.00029 1.41E-11 1.46E-14 97.83
#06 rim, #05 400.10 4.88 12.06 0.15 12.49 0.02 0.01178 0.00051 0.35892 0.00337 0.00144 0.00051 7.96E-12 1.46E-14 96.59
Analyses were carried out using the infrared laser ablation total fusion technique of 40Ar/39Ar dating, irradiation standard: Tinto B biotite (409.24 ± 0.71 Ma), J value: 0.020581 ± 0.00103, errors are
1σ
1 Weighted mean (n = 6): 408.2 ± 1.2 Ma, unweighted mean (n = 6): 407.7 ± 2.5 Ma, see Figure 2 for sample location
2 Weighted mean (n = 6): 407.5 ± 1.2 Ma, unweighted mean (n = 6): 406.6 ± 3.2 Ma, see Figure 2 for sample location
1590
OLIVER P. KREUZER
ing (1989).
not be visible.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
Note: 1 = plotted from fluid inclusion data of Peters (1987), Peters and Gold-
ing, III = cooling, IV = boiling with cooling (modified from Wilkinson, 2001).
and Great Britain prospect (GB 128), and Charters Towers ores previously
inclusions in samples from the Maude St. Ledger reef (BD), B lode (B 2-1)
1592
TABLE 2. Summary of Fluid Inclusion Characteristics in the Three Samples from the B Lode (sample B 2-1, Hadleigh Castle Mine), Maude St. Ledger Reef
(sample BD, Charters Towers), and Great Britain Reef (sample GB 128, Great Britain Prospect, Charters Towers)
OLIVER P. KREUZER
Type Phases Vapor (%) Size (µm) Shape Timing Host mineral Paragenetic stage Th [°C]2, 3 Salinity Composition
2a L+V 20-25 <20 Irregular S Quartz Stage IIa to IId B 2-1: 177-305 (n = 43)1 B 2-1: 0.7-10.4 (n = 30) H2O-(NaCl)
BD: 219-256 (n = 17) BD: 0.2-1.6 (n = 8)
GB 128: 221-225 (n = 8) GB 128: 0.2-8.5 (n = 8)
L+V 5-10 5-30 Elongate S Sphalerite Stage IIc or IId B 2-1: 080-137 (n = 3) B 2-1: 5.4-6.0 (n = 3)
BD: 105-107 (n = 3) BD: 0.9-10.0 (n = 3)
2b L+V 5-10 5-25 Irregular S Quartz Stage IIc B 2-1: 177-305 (n = 43)1 B 2-1: 20.9-24.7 (n = 7) H2O-NaCl-FeCl2, H2O-Na2CO3-
K2CO3, H2O-NaCl-MgCl2, H2O-
FeCl2, or H2O-MgCl2
L+V 5-10 5-25 Irregular P Sphalerite Stage IIc B 2-1: 235-251 (n = 3) B 2-1: 28.0-28.3 (n = 3) H2O-NaCl-FeCl2, H2O-Na2CO3-
BD: 121-254 (n = 18) BD: 18.9-28.3 (n = 22) K2CO3, H2O-NaCl-MgCl2, H2O-
FeCl2, or H2O-MgCl2
1 Range
of type 2a and 2b inclusions
2 Data
collected at the School of Earth Sciences, James Cook University, having used a Linkam DSC 600 heating-freezing stage mounted on an Olympus BX 51 system microscope
2 2 2 2
3 Heating-freezing temperatures were controlled to within 0.1°C, stage calibration was carried out using the fluid standards H O-CO (25 mol % CO ) and H O (critical density), mean calibration
and secondary type 2a inclusions in sphalerite have Tfm values Isochores calculated for individual inclusions using the pro-
that are well below the eutectic temperature (i.e., –21.2°C) of gram FLINCOR (Brown, 1989) indicate pressures in the
the H2O-NaCl system (cf. Roedder, 1984; Shepherd et al., range of 0.5 to 4.7 kbars, suggesting formation depths be-
1985; Brown, 1998). Salinities of type 2a inclusions in quartz tween ~2 and 17.5 km (Fig. 11). However, most pressure es-
range from 0.2 to 10.4 wt percent NaCl equiv, similar to that timates fall within the range of 0.9 to 3.8 kbars (equivalent to
of type 2a fluid inclusions in sphalerite (0.9–10 wt % NaCl depths between 5–14 km).
equiv). The Tfm values of type 2b inclusions are well below The wide range of pressure estimates may reflect a decom-
–20.8°C, so the presence of additional salts is implied (cf. pression path related to Silurian to Devonian uplift of the
Roedder, 1984; Shepherd et al., 1985; Brown, 1998). Eutec- Ravenswood batholith, as proposed by Hutton and Rienks
tic temperatures of type 2b inclusions range from –31.2° to (1997). The common occurrence of structures, such as (1) hy-
–42.2°C (quartz-hosted) and from –28.7° to –45.3°C (spha- draulic breccia (cf. Jébrak, 1997), (2) flat-lying to shallow-dip-
lerite-hosted). Therefore, these fluid inclusions contain a ping extensional veins, and (3) open-space filling textures
more complex salt system (e.g., H2O-MgCl2, H2O-FeCl2, (Kreuzer, 2004, 2006), which, at formation depths >2 km, are
H2O-NaCl-MgCl2, H2O-NaCl-FeCl2, H2O-Na2CO3-K2CO3, indicative of fluid overpressuring (e.g., Harley and
or H2O-NaCl-CaCl2). Calculated salinities for type 2b fluid Charlesworth, 1996), suggests that veins of the Charters Tow-
inclusions range from 20.9 to 24.7 wt percent NaCl equiv ers goldfield formed under conditions of lithostatic to
(quartz-hosted) and 18.9 to 28.3 wt percent NaCl equiv supralithostatic fluid pressure (Kreuzer, 2004). When super-
(sphalerite-hosted). Average salinities of all type 2b inclusions imposed on a lithostatic fluid pressure gradient, the likely
are approximately 23 wt percent NaCl equiv. Salinities above depth range of vein formation can be further restricted to
26 wt percent NaCl equiv may be overestimations as none of ~7.5 to 10 km, which is consistent with (1) the range of fluid
the analyzed type 2b inclusions contained any daughter salts. inclusion-based P-T estimates for gold deposits within green-
Alternatively, the fluids may be undersaturated with respect schist facies rocks (e.g., McCuaig and Kerrich, 1998), (2) the
to other salts if the major cations are not Na (Roedder, 1984). approximate P-T boundary conditions of abundant quartz
When the Th values are plotted against the salinity of fluid in- veining (e.g., Bons, 2001), (3) the approximate P-T boundary
clusions in sphalerite (Fig. 10) they indicate a range of fluid conditions for greenschist facies metamorphism (e.g., Yard-
compositions from a hotter more saline to a cooler, more di- ley, 1989), and (4) the approximate depth ranges of the seis-
lute fluid. mogenic zone (e.g., Sibson, 2001), the fault-valve mechanism
Fig. 11. Isochore plots and pressure estimates for type 2a and 2b sphalerite- and quartz-hosted fluid inclusions. Trapping
pressures have been estimated by constructing isochores (each representing a sample) from fluid inclusion data, using the
program FLINCOR (Brown, 1989). Isotopic equilibrium temperatures based on quartz-mica (170°–200°C, 200°–230°C, and
330°–360°C) and sphalerite-galena (310°C) isotope fractionation data of Peters and Golding (1989) provided independent
trapping temperature (Tt) estimates for defining positions along the constructed isochores, as described by Roedder (1984)
and Shepherd et al. (1985). Calculations in FLINCOR were based on the H2O-NaCl system, applying the equation of state
from Brown and Lamb (1989). For the purpose of pressure calculations for type 2a and 2b inclusions components other than
H2O and NaCl were neglected. A. Drill core sample GB 128 (Great Britain prospect, Charters Towers). B. Underground
mine sample B 2-1 (B lode, Hadleigh Castle). C. Underground mine sample BD (Maude St. Ledger reef, Charters Towers).
Abbreviations: gn = galena, ms = hydrothermal muscovite, qtz = quartz, sp = sphalerite, Tt = trapping temperature.
al., 2003).
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
herent cataclasite (e.g., Twiss and Moores, 1992).
8 and 17 per mil. Most δ15N values are >10 per mil (Fig. 12).
contents ranging from 11 to 44 ppm and δ15N values between
erous veins at Charters Towers and Hadleigh Castle had N
tions (≤1.5 µg/g), hydrothermal muscovite grains from aurif-
Although most samples had very low nitrogen concentra-
al., 2003; Jia et al., 2003). K-bearing silicates such as potas-
als has been shown to be an effective tracer of distal fluid ori-
for nitrogen isotopes (Table 3). Nitrogen in rocks and miner-
Archean igneous feldspar, biotite, and muscovite are based on Jia and Ker-
mine. Fields of Archean and Phanerozoic hydrothermal muscovite, and
hanging-wall granodiorite (bulk granitoid HC) near the Hadleigh Castle
Hadleigh Castle. The graph also shows a value obtained from unaltered
1594
OLIVER P. KREUZER
TABLE 3. Nitrogen Isotope Data from Hydrothermal Muscovite from Auriferous Veins at Charters Towers, Hadleigh Castle, and Robinson Crusoe,
also including a Whole-Rock Sample of Unaltered Granitoid from near the Hadleigh Castle Mine
Area Vein/intrusion Material1 Sample no. JCU no. Sample location Mass2 (mg) δ15N2 (‰) Total N2 (µg) N (ppm)
CT Maude St. Ledger Muscovite N-CT01 69295 894 to 896 m RL Central decline 79.0 10.27 1.16 14.7
CT Maude St. Ledger Muscovite N-CT02 69300 894 to 896 m RL 77.5 14.03 1.25 16.1
CT Maude St. Ledger Muscovite N-CT03 69302 894 to 896 m RL 77.5 10.81 1.06 13.7
HC 02 lode Muscovite N-HC01 69297 855/02 m RL Hadleigh Castle mine 74.8 7.93 1.14 15.2
HC 04 lode Muscovite N-HC02 69296 855/04 m RL (west) 74.4 9.83 3.28 44.1
HC 04 lode Muscovite N-HC03 69301 920/04 m RL (west) 80.7 16.61 1.19 14.8
HC 04 lode Muscovite N-HC04 69303 855/04 m RL (west) 78.6 17.21 1.40 17.9
HC B lode Muscovite N-HC05 69299 2 level, 1110 m RL 77.3 14.22 2.46 31.8
HC Robinson Crusoe Muscovite N-HC06 69298 Robinson Crusoe pit 78.1 9.31 0.89 11.4
HC Hanging-wall gdrt Whole rock N-HG01 69304 0460782 m E, 7777135 m N (AMG) 72.3 –1.75 0.40 5.6
1 Mineral separates of samples N-CT01 to N-CT03 and N-HC01 to N-HC06 were produced at the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (Lower Hutt, New Zealand), using standard separa-
tion techniques, concentrations to >97% purity were achieved by handpicking under the binocular microscope, pulverized mineral separates were loaded into tin capsules and weighted
2 Analyses were carried out on a high-precision, continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer (CF-IRMS) at the Centre for Soil Research (University of Saskatchewan, Canada), analytical preci-
sion (1σ) for mica separates is typically ±0.2 per mil for δ15N (Jia and Kerrich, 2000)
Note: see Figure 2 for sample locations
Abbreviations: AMG = Australian map grid, CT = Charters Towers, gdrt = granodiorite, HC = Hadleigh Castle, JCU no. = James Cook University collection number
CHARTERS TOWERS GOLDFIELD, NORTH QUEENSLAND, FLUID INCLUSIONS AND STABLE ISOTOPES 1595
These data are incompatible with meteoric surface waters wall-rock alteration within an area of at least 1,200 km2 and to
(δ15N <10‰) and mantle-derived (N = 1–2 ppm, δ15N = depths of at least 1 km (Fig. 1A), the lack of zoning with re-
–5‰) or granitic fluids (N = 21–27 ppm, δ15N = 6–10‰: Jia spect to individual intrusions, and that the veins postdate the
and Kerrich, 2000; Jia et al., 2003), but they are compatible emplacement, crystallization, and brittle fracturing of their
with values of fluids of metamorphic origin. In particular, the host intrusions. Similar features, including a spatial and tem-
Charters Towers goldfield data overlap with N concentrations poral link between gold deposition and I-type magmatism
and δ15N values of Archean quartz veins (N = 20–70 ppm, were recognized in the Etheridge and Cape York peninsula
δ15N = 11–24‰) that are interpreted to be products of meta- goldfields (Bain et al., 1998; Table 4). These characteristics
morphic fluids (Jia and Kerrich, 2000). suggest that the ore-forming fluids in North Queensland were
more likely sourced from a single regional-scale, tectonother-
Discussion mal system of Late Silurian to Early Devonian age rather than
Any genetic model for the origin of the gold in veins of the from single intrusions.
Charters Towers goldfield must explain the similar ages (Fig. Veins of the Charters Towers goldfield are not obviously
13) and the uniformity of veins and zones of gold-related genetically linked to a particular intrusion, and Figure 14
Fig. 13. Plot of median ages (with 2σ ranges) of granitoids of the Ravenswood batholith (K-Ar biotite, K-Ar hornblende,
Rb-Sr whole rock, and U-Pb) and hydrothermal muscovite in alteration envelopes of auriferous veins of the Charters Tow-
ers goldfield (Ar-Ar and K-Ar), illustrating temporal overlap of granitoid emplacement and gold mineralization. 1 = Morri-
son (1988), 2 = Perkins and Kennedy (1998), 3 = this study, 4 = Hutton and Rienks (1997), 5 = intrusions of the Millchester
supersuite: Beasley Creek tonalite, Boatswain granodiorite, Casey Spring Creek granodiorite, Centauri granodiorite, Cres-
cent granodiorite, Dalmore granodiorite, Emu Mill granodiorite, Five Mile Mill granodiorite, Heathfield West tonalite,
Meadowale granodiorite, Merriland tonalite, Molly Darling granodiorite, Spondulix granodiorite, Tullegorim granodiorite,
Two Mile granite, Urdera granodiorite, Wellington Springs tonalite, Wharleys tonalite, Yulga tonalite; intrusions of the
Barrabas supersuite: Kedumba granodiorite, Mount Cuthbert granodiorite; unassigned intrusions: Amity aplite, Balfes Creek
granodiorite, Box Forest quartz-diorite, Kirkton tonalite, and Scoop Hills granodiorite (Hutton and Rienks, 1997).
Examples Brilliant, Day Dawn, Queen Jubilee Plunger, Dargue’s reef Linglong, Sanshanado
Cumberland, Havelock
Principal mineralization Large, multistage qtz veins Large, multistage qtz veins Disseminations Large, multistage qtz veins
style and disseminations
Vertical continuity ~1 km, many open at >0.2 km, all open at depth <0.2 km, some open at >1 km
(maximum) depth1,2 depth
Spatial distribution of Within an area of at least Within an area of at least Within an area of at least Within two areas of at least
mineralization 60 × 30 km (possibly up to 120 × 30 km 3 × 1 km 150 × 60 km and 60 × 30 km
230 × 70 km9)
Spatially associated Older VHMS (e.g., Coeval Au-U-F-Mo, No data No data
deposits and occurrences Highway, Reward)3, younger younger porphyry and
porphyry Cu-Au (e.g., epithermal3
Mount Leyshon)3
Cummulative production/ >200 t Au (33g/t Au)2,4 20 t Au and Ag (33 g/t Au, >0.06 t Au (>4 g/t), >900 t Au (3-30 g/t Au,
reserves (average grade includes Ag bullion) alluvial: >40t Au mainly 10 g/t Au)
in brackets)
Au / Ag ratio >1, commonly 4 No data No data No data
Principal host rocks Oxidized, metaluminous S-type granitoid of the Oxidized, metaluminous Granite and granodiorite of
I-type granite, granodiorite, Forsayth batholith and I-type granodiorite of the the Linglong and Guojialing
and tonalite of the Ravens- I-type granitoid of the Bega batholith suites
wood batholith3 White Springs batholith
Host terrane Mainly greenschist facies Greenschist to granulite Mainly greenschist facies Greenschist to granulite facies
metamorphic grade, facies metamorphic grade, metamorphic grade, metamorphic grade, basement
dominated by igneous rocks, dominated by metasedi- dominated by igneous rocks to intrusions dominated by
contact aureoles absent or mentary and metaigneous metavolcanic and meta-
poorly developed, basement rocks sedimentary rocks
to intrusions dominated by
shallow marine sedimentary
rocks3
Age of host rocks and/or 426 ± 4 to 382 ± 5 Ma 424 ± 11 to 404 ± 11 Ma 415 ± 4 to 399 ± 6 Ma Intrusions: 165 to 125 Ma
associated magmatism (K-Ar, Rb-Sr, U-Pb)3 (Rb-Sr, U-Pb) (K-Ar, Rb-Sr) (U-Pb), mafic to intermediate
dikes: 124 to 120 Ma (K-Ar)
Age of gold-related 416 ± 4 to 397 ± 4 Ma 426 ± 5 to 398 ± 3 Ma 411 ± 5 to 406 ± 4 Ma 123 to 121 Ma (Ar-Ar, Rb-Sr),
wall-rock alteration (K-Ar)5,6, 400 ± 5 to (K-Ar), 407 ± 6 (Rb-Sr) (K-Ar) 130 to 100 Ma (K-Ar, Rb-Sr)
412 ± 2 Ma (Ar-Ar)
Vein/lode mineralogy Qtz > sulfides >> Qtz > sulfides >> Sulfides and ser >> Qtz > sulfides >> carbonates(?);
carbonates; open space- carbonates; open space- carbonates and qtz; open open space-filling textures rare
filling textures common filling textures common space-filling textures rare
Principal quartz types Subhedral to euhedral buck Euhedral buck qtz, Rare comb qtz Buck, qtz, rare comb qtz,
qtz, comb qtz, modified comb qtz modified grey qtz
gray qtz7
Sulfide content Low to moderate (>10 vol%) Low to moderate (>10 vol%) Moderate (>15-30 vol%) Low to moderate (>10 vol%?)
Metal association Au, Ag, As, Pb, Zn, Cu ± Au, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu Au, Cu, As, Bi, Mo, Pb, Te Au, As, Pb, Zn, Cu
Te, Sb, Hg, W8
Main ore minerals (minor Au, el, py, gn, sp, cpy El, py, gn, sp, cpy Py (Au, cpy, gn, Bi-sfs, Bi, Au, el, py, gn, sp, cpy, apy, hm
constituents in brackets) (apy, po, td-tn, tell)1,9,10 tell, td, po) (mt, po, sch, tell, mo)
Metal zoning No evidence for lateral No evidence No evidence No evidence
zoning9, possible vertical
zoning of Zn and Pb, possible
decrease of average Au grade
with depth (55 g/t near
surface --> 14 g/t at 900 m
below surface)1
Main vein gangue Qtz, ser, cal, ank9,10 Qtz, cal Qtz, ser, cal Qtz, cal, ank, ser, K-fs, sd, chl
Main wall-rock alteration Ser, cal, ank, py (chl, ep)9,10 Chl, clays, ser Ser, py, chl, carbonates, Qtz, ser, plag, K-fs, chl, cal
gangue (minor clays, ep, rt, qtz, hm (K-fs) (sd, dol, bar)
constituents in brackets)
Grass Valley, California17 Parcoy-Pataz, Peru18 Intrusion-related gold deposits19 Phanerozoic orogenic gold deposits20
Empire, North Star, Dromedary La Lima, El Gigante Dublin Gulch, Brewery Creek, Mother Lode, Bendigo, Macraes,
Timbarra Dolgellau
Large, multistage qtz veins Large, multistage qtz veins Sheeted qzt veins, disseminations, Large, multistage qtz veins
skarn, breccia pipes, replacements,
greisen
>1 km >1 km, many are open at depth <0.5 km >1 km
Within an area of at least 6 × 4 km well developed Generally centered on causative Generally within large areas of at
intrusion least 30 × 10 km
>230 t Au (8 to 16 g/t Au) ~200 t Au (<20 g/t Au) Most <20 t Au (most between Many >50 t (most between
0.8 and 3 g/t Au) 5 and 30 g/t Au)
127 ± 3 Ma (K-Ar) 329 ± 1 Ma (U-Pb) Host rocks generally of same age Host rocks generally much older than
as gold deposits gold deposits, gold mineralization
often bracketed by magmatic activity
Mother Lode district: 110 to 314 to 312 Ma (Ar-Ar) Not applicable Not applicable
125 Ma (K-Ar, Rb-Sr)
Qtz >> carbonates > sulfides; Qtz > sulfides >> carbonates; Qtz > fs >> sulfides; open Qtz > carbonates >> sulfides; open
open space-filling textures common open space-filling textures common space-filling textures common space-filling textures not common
Buck qtz, comb qtz, modified Buck qtz, comb qtz, modified Buck qtz, comb qtz, modified Buck qtz, modified grey qtz
grey qtz grey qtz grey qtz, crustiform qtz
Low (<10 vol %?) Low to moderate (>10 vol %) Generally low (<5 vol%) Generally low (<5 vol%)
Au, Ag, As, Pb, Zn, Cu, W Au, Ag, As, Fe, Zn ± Cu, Sb, Proximal to intrusions: Au, Bi, W ± Au, As, B, Bi, Hg, Sb, Te, W
Bi, Te, W Te, Mo, As; distal to intrusions:
Au, As, Sb ± Hg; Au, Ag, Pb, Zn ±
Cu associations typical for most distal
deposits (up to several kilometers
away from the causative intrusions)
Au, el, py, apy, gn, sp, cpy, hm Au, py, apy, gn, sp Au, Bi, apy, py, po Au, apy, py, po
(mo, As, pot, sch, td, tell) (el, cpy, po, wf, td-tn)
No evidence No evidence Strong district-scale zoning: Cryptic with little change in
Au-W → Sn-Ag → Pb → Zn mineralogy or Au grade
Qtz, ser, cal, ank, chl Qtz, ser, chl, fuch, ank, dol, cal Qtz, carbonates, K-fs, plag Qtz, carbonates, K-fs, chl, ser
Ank, ser, py, chl, ep Ser, chl, fuch, ank, dol, cal Silicates (K-fs, ser), carbonates Carbonates (ank, dol, cal) and sulfides
(py, po, apy)
TABLE 4.
Wall-rock alteration (less Sericitization, propylitization Propylitization, chloritization Propylitization, sericitization Silification, sericitization,
common types in brackets) (chloritization, silicification)9 (sericitization) (silicification) potassic alteration (chloritization)
Lateral zoning of wall- Well-developed9 Well-developed Well-developed Well-developed
rock alteration
Elements involved in As, K, Na, Pb, S, Si, Sr, Zn10 Not specified Not specified Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cu,
fluid/wall-rock reactions Fe, K, Mg, Na, Sb, Si, Sr, W, Zn
Fluid parameters Neutral to weakly acidic, CO2-bearing fluids of low Neutral to weakly alkaline, CO2-rich fluids of low (6-14
CO2-poor fluids of low (0.2- (6-10 wt % NaCl equiv) CO2-bearing fluids of low wt% NaCl equiv) salinity, rare
11 wt % NaCl equiv)9,10,11 to salinity, Tt = 250° to (4-11 wt% NaCl equiv) moderate salinity inclusions
moderate (18.9-28.3 wt % 300°C (possibly up to salinity, Tt < 350°C (≤32 wt% NaCl equiv), Tt =
NaCl equiv)10 salinity, Tt = 350°C) 250° to 350°C
240° to 310°C10
Stable isotope data δ18O = 12.3 to 15.7‰9,11,12, δ18O = 8.4 to 15.7‰ δ18O = 6.5 to 10.9‰, δ18O = 7.0 to 13.1‰,
δD = -57 to -42‰9,11, δ13C = -3.8 to -1.7‰, δD = -91 to -63‰,
δ13C = -4.7 to 3.6‰9,11, δ34S = -1.5 to -0.4‰ δ13C = -5.9 to -3.4‰,
δ34S = -1.1 to 4.2‰9,11, δ34S = 3.0 to 14.0‰
δ15N = 7.9 to 17.2‰
Inferred depositional Fluid mixing and Not specified Desulfidation and Fluid-wall rock interaction,
mechanism chemisorption10 chemisorption fluid immiscibility,
chemisorption
Inferred fluid source Ore stage I: fluids that were Primary magmatic fluids Late-stage Magmatic fluids (degassing
in equilibrium with meta- or extremely modified orthomagmatic fluids from magma parental to mafic
morphic rocks, ore stage II: meteoric fluids and intermediate dikes)
mixing of deep-seated
magmatic and significantly
modified meteoric fluids
Depositional environment ~1 to 4 kbars, ~5 to 10 km, >5 kbars, >3 km Not specified 1 to ≥3 kbars, 4 to 8 km
low mean stress
Strain field Shortening9,13 Not specified Not specified Shortening?
Controls on ore zones Regional-scale: major fault District-scale: faults and Deposit-scale: granitoid Regional-scale: major fault
zones, district-scale: second- fault abundance, hetereo- roof zone, fractures zones, district-scale: major
and third-order faults close geneities around geologic fault zones and subsidiary
to regional-scale faults and contacts faults (especially where they
preexisting discontinuities juxtapose geological contacts),
(e.g., geological/rheological deposit-scale: fault jogs/bends,
contacts, deposit-scale: jogs/ tension gashes, en echelon
bends in gently to moderately fractures
dipping segments of reverse
faults, splay faults, hydraulic
extension fractures1,9,10
Regional/district
association Partial crustal melting, crustal Partial crustal melting, Late-stage magmatic- Partial crustal melting,
heating, regional-scale grani- granitoid emplacement, hydrothermal activity in the granitoid emplacement, uplift
toid emplacement, uplift of retrograde greenschist facies crystallized roof zone of the of thickened crust, reactivation
thickened crust3, regional metamorphism, uplift of host intrusion of preexisting structures,
shortening9,10 reactivation thickened crust, possible possible temporal link with
of preexisting structures, temporal link with orogenesis and/or Pacific
possible temporal link with W-directed Pacific plate plate subduction
W-directed Pacific plate subduction
subduction10
Inferred tectonic setting Well inboard of inferred or Well inboard of inferred or Well inboard of inferred or Craton margin position
recognized collisional plate recognized collisional plate recognized collisional plate significantly landward relative
boundaries, potential con- boundaries, potential con- boundaries, potential con- to subduction zone of Pacific
tinetal magmatic arc setting3,10 tinetal magmatic arc setting? tinetal magmatic arc setting? plate, potential magmatic arc
setting
Current classifications Mesothermal, intrusion- Mesothermal, plutonic Mesothermal, epithermal, Orogenic, intrusion-related
related, plutonic, orogenic granitoid-associated
Sources: 1 = Reid (1917), 2 = Levingston (1972), 3 = Hutton and Rienks (1997), 4 = Blatchford (1953), 5 = Morrison (1988), 6 = Perkins and Kennedy
(1998), 7 = Dowling and Morrison (1989), 8 = G.W. Morrison (writ. commun., 2003), 9 = Peters (1987), 10 = Kreuzer (2003, 2006), 11 = Peters and
Golding (1989), 12 = Golding and Wilson (1981), Golding et al. (1987), 13 = Kreuzer (2004), 14 = Bain et al. (1998), 15 = McQueen and Perkins (1995),
Ho et al. (1995), 16 = Qui et al. (2002), Fan et al. (2003), 17 = Johnston (1940), Böhlke and Kistler (1986), 18 = Schreiber et al. (1990a,b), Haeberlin
(2002), Haeberlin et al. (2004), 19 = Thompson et al. (1999), Lang et al. (2000), Thompson and Newberry (2000), Lang and Baker (2001), Mustard (2001),
20 = Bierlein and Crowe (2000), Goldfarb et al. (2001), Groves et al. (2003), Jia et al. (2001)
(Cont.)
Grass Valley, California17 Parcoy-Pataz, Peru18 Intrusion-related gold deposits19 Phanerozoic orogenic gold deposits20
Al, C, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Si As, C, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, S Not specified As, Au, C, K, Na, S, Si,
Mother Lode district: CO2-rich Of low (5-15 wt% NaCl equiv) Low salinity (<12 wt% NaCl equiv) Low salinity (<10 wt% NaCl equiv),
fluids, Tt = 300° to 350°C to high (20-38wt% NaCl equiv) H2O-CO2 ± CH4 fluids, moderate near neutral H2O-CO2 ± CH4 fluids,
salinity, Tt = 150° to 330°C to high (10-65 wt% NaCl equiv) Tt = 300° to 400°C
salinity inclusions are present in
some deposits, Tt = 250° to 350°C
δ18O = 11.4‰, δD = -39‰ δ18O = 10.9 to 14.2‰, δ18O = 5 to 10‰, δ18O = 12 to 19‰, δD = -80 to -20‰,
δD = -60 to -39‰, δD = -90 to -40‰, δ13C = -10 to ±0‰,
δ13C = -6.5 to -3.4‰, δ13C = -3 to 7‰ and -22 to 0‰, δ34S = -7.4 to 8.1‰,
δ34S = -2.1 to 3.7‰ δ34S = -5 to 5‰ δ15N = 2.84 to 4.49‰
Deep-seated fluids of unknown Magmatic or metamorphic fluids, Magmatic fluids Fluids derived from crustal-scale
origin, no obvious genetic link to possible meteoric fluid input reservoirs and sourced from
exposed intrusions metamorphic devolatilization
reactions at depth, modified
magmatic and meteoric sources
cannot be ruled out
>3 km 0.5 to 2.6 kbars, 7 km <1 to 7 km, moderate fluid flux 0.75 to 3 kbarS, 2 to 6 km, low
mean stress, high fluid flux
Shortening Shortening Not specified Shortening
District-scale: faults, fractures, Regional-scale: major fault zones, Deposit-scale: fault/fracture Second-order faults close to
preexisting discontinuities (e.g., district-scale: major fault zones, networks and specific igneous regional-scale faults (commonly
granitoid-basement contact, subsidiary faults, preexisting textural facies within the roof terrane boundaries), deposits mainly
deposit-scale: splay faults discontinuities, deposit-scale: zones of host plutons hosted in steeply dipping reverse
fault jogs/bends, splay faults, faults
vein/fault intersections
Granitoid emplacement, uplift of Granitoid emplacement, uplift of Regional extension, granitoid Collisional and subduction-related
thickened crust, reactivation of thickened crust, reactivation of emplacement regimes, regional crustal heating
preexisting structures, spatial link preexisting structures, link with induced by metamorphism or
with Cordilleran-type continental Cordilleran-type continental granitoid emplacement
margin and post-Nevadan margin and plate subduction
subduction
Convergent margin? Convergent margin Well inboard of inferred or Situated at inferred collisional plate
recognized collisional plate boundaries, typically fore-arc and
boundaries, typically sited within continental magmatic arc settings,
old, cratonic continental crust less commonly sited between the
magmatic arc and backarc
Mesothermal, mother lode-type Intrusion-related, orogenic Not applicable Not applicable
Abbreviations: ank = ankerite, apy = arsenopyrite, As = native arsenic, Au = native gold, bar = barite, Bi = native bismuth, Bi-sfs = Bismuth sulfosalts,
cal = calcite, chl = chlorite, cpy = chalcopyrite, dol = dolomite, el = electrum, ep = epidote, fs = feldspar group minerals, fuch = fuchsite, gn = galena, hm
= hematite, K-fs = potassium-feldspar, mo = molybdenite, mm = montmorillonite, mt = magnetite, plag = plagioclase, po = pyrrhotite, py = pyrite, qtz =
quartz, rt = rutile, sch = scheelite, sd = siderite, ser = hydrothermal muscovite (sericite group minerals), sp = sphalerite, td-tn = tetrahedrite-tennantite,
tell = telluride group minerals, to = tourmaline, Tt = trapping temperature, wf = wolframite
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