Subject: Low-Sulfidation (Bonanza ) - Epithermal

Quartz Vein Texture

Quartz vein textures can be a useful guide to depth of erosion of an epithermal vein system and hence the
likelihood of locating a bonanza ore zone below the level exposed.

Four major subdivisions are noted:

ABZ: above boiling zone vein textures: anomalous Hg, As, Sb ± Au

 Chalcedonic silica and bladed silica alter carbonate not in bands; massive and saccharoidal
silica.
BZ: within boiling zone: best Au grades
 colloform, crustiform, prism spar, chalcedonic and bladed replacement silica in bands

BCCZ base of colloform – crustiform zone: decreasing Au grades

 prism spar > 50% of rock volume

BBZ: below boiling zone : best Ag – base metal values

 Crystalline to massive quartz, prism spar not in bands ± calcite.

Approaching a major vein (see Fig. 1):

1. BCCZ and argillic zone are depressed

2. REDOX boundary is depressed
3. clay capping increases
4. argillic – propylitic boundary depressed

 Important quartz veins may not reach the surface but expand in the sub-surface.
 in my experience the above pattern may be disrupted / changed by late-stage crack-sea¡ hydraulic
fracturing and late hydrothermal brecciation of the vein, which may enhance Au grades
throughout the vein system.
References

Dowling, K., and Morrison, G., 1989. Application of quartz vein textures to the classification of gold
deposits using North queensland examples. In : RR Keays, WRH Ramsay and DI Groves (eds) The
Geology of Gold Deposits : The perspectiva in 1988. Econ. Geol. Monograph 6, 342 – 355.