Sunjmary report on wholerock geochemistry and alteration mineralogy from Wetar Island, October 1995. Ri Herriagton Introduction ‘Thig short report conéerns the important conclusions from the analysis of material collected by David First in late June 1995, analysed at the NHM by ICP-AES geochemistry and XRD study during August-September 1995, This report is preliminary in neture, as petrological work, commissioned in August, is pending. Further K-Ar age-dating is planned subject to successfl clay extractions from material deemed suitable in the current study. The samples ‘are mostly shown on Figures 1-4 (except 81024-30, 81051-52 which are from Meron). Samiple descriptions are shown in Table 1 and the analyses are shown in Table 2. Table 3 shows the summary of the XRD results on alteration phases from selected samples. * Whplerock geochemi Nature of the voleanic units Natural History Museum Report MRP 12-94-03 demonstrated the particular usefulness of Ti vs. Zt plots for discriminating the various volcanic suites in the Lerokis and Kali Kuning areas, In this initial geochemical programme, both Ti and Zr were shown to be immobile. TiO, wes detected as @ phase in even the most altered rocks and the stability of zircon, the host for Zr, is likely to be equivalent to TiO. The'early 1995 study suggested that there may be a distinctive footwell sequence to the barite mineralisstion at Lerokis and Kali Kuning. It furthermore showed that the mafic and felsic lava suites could be discriminated even in intensely altered, silicified rocks. The! new geochemical sampling programme results for Ti vs. Zr are shown on Figure 5 together with the data from the earlier programme (see report MRP 12-95-03). The previous programme concluded that two geochemical trends could be seen in the mafic volcanics which Tay below the mineralisation and two teend lines (Representing lavas evolved from the same parent magma) were defined, These are shown as lines 1 and 2 on Figure 5. It was suggested that the lavas on the more Ti-rich trend were probably tholeitic, either oceanic crust or arc-tholeiites, Since writing this report, it was discovered that one of the samples plotting on this line was collected by Kavalieris at W74 end was suggested to represent ‘oceanic “basement”, which the geochemistry appears to confirm. . The’ new data generated from the latest geochemistry alters the picture in detail, largely because sampling was more focused at Kali Kuning, Betu Kapal, Meron and TM17/18 which aro dominated by felsic rocks. However, two general trends of mafic lavas ere still demonstrated, ‘The increased data set spreads the mafic rocks from line 1, but it is suggested that a regression line 3 can be plotted around the data which is still significantly different from line 2, the immediate footwall mafic unit to the Lerokis and Kali Kuning mineralisation.Nev) samples which plot close to line 3 are footwall breccies from Lerokis Zone 4 (81031, 32) a thyodavite from Lerokis (81034) end hanging wall rocks from Kali Kuning (81008, 11, 12). The rhyodacite is somewhet enigmatic, but the Lerokis footwall breccies could be derived from the tholeiitic basement, as could the fregments in the Kali Kuning hanging wall labars/breccies. Tntefestingly three new date points, 81013, 81077 and 81114 plot near to line 2. Sample 13 is an andesite clast from a lehar at KK1 (footwall derived?), sample 77 is a silicified volcanic from TM17/18 and 114 is an altered mafic clast from a lahar at Batu Kapal (also footwall derived?). This suggests that part of the Lerokis/Kali Kuning mineralisation footwall sequence may be present at the three sites. ‘The date for the felsic volcenics end their altered equivalents all plots well below line 3. What is apparent from this is a that classification of the felsic rocks based on Ti/Zr ratios is not es simple as for the mafic lavas. ‘There is a broad grouping of data as an elongated ellipse, parallel to the x-axis, However, a group of samples clearly falls along a trend shown as dashed line 4. The majority of these rocks are from TM17/18 anomaly area (where all the samples collected appear to be felsie (with the exception of 81077) and they form a highly distinctive geochemical group, Its proposed thet the lavas which plot in the region close to lines 1 and 3 are lavas with « more tholeitie, primitive oceanic-type signature, wheteas the mafic lavas plotting along line 2 are probsbly calc-elkaline arc-related lavas. The group of felsic rocks from TM17/18 which plot along line 4 are quite distinct and appear to be highly evolved to account for the low War ratio, Alteration may affect the TUZr ratio in extreme cases but further petrology is needed to assess this, Despite this caveat, the TM17/18 rocks are tentatively identified as the K-spar potessic alteration zone of a porphyry body. Alteration studies 4) Kall Kuning The°earlier 1995 report established a systematic pattern to the alteration around the Lerokis Zone 4 orebody (see MRP12-95-03) Further sampling in the now exposed Kali Kuning open pit wes designed to similarly test this orebody. Figure 3 shows the sampling pattern on a crude geological plan. Samples were in most cases analysed by whole-rock geochemistry and by XRD of elteration minerat extractions. In broad terms the study shows similar patter to the work at Lerokis. Ca is highly depleted as mineralisation is approached followed by Na and at the core of the alteration even K and Al. ‘The core of the footwall alteration is characterised by @ "vuggy silica” alteration comprising quartz and cristobalite or amorphous silica. This passes out into e quartz-illite zone and then to an illite-smectite(montmorillonite) zone, The alteration is seen both in felsic end more mafic lithologies. Again no alunite was detected.ii) TMA78 ‘Alteration mineral extractions from this zone were highly reveeling (Figure 4). Here there is a distinctive K-spar alteration, common goethite (the host mineral forall the Fe) and in four samples (81057, $8, 64 and 67) alunite was indicated. In sample 81057 slunite is the mein alteration phase together with gocthite. The geochemistry is also expressed ss a strong potessic alteration in the rocks. The decite plug, reported by Billiton geologists, was not focated on the ground, although this area eppears to be associated with the most intense Kspar alteration. Further south, diaspore and alunite are recorded, believed to be testament to highly ‘acid conditions during hydrothermal alteration. ‘The presence of alunite appears to confirm the presence of acid, highly oxidised hydrothermal fluid in tis system (See Figure 6). Of further note is the highly elevated Ba geochemistry in some of the samples (81074 = £215ppm Ba, 81075 = 1624ppm Ba end 81078 = 6347ppm Ba). This may be highly significant in terms of the association of the potassic alteration, porpbyries and the barite- sulphide mineralisation nearby at Lerokis. {t) Batu Kapal Here the wholerock geochemistry has so far been focused on the hanging wall since the sequence intersteted in drill core is largely mineralised. Samples from the henging well volcenica (andesite debris and lava unit) all have Ti/Zr ratios close to the felsic hanging well sequence from Lerokis and Keli Kuning. In the XRD alteration studies, traces of alunite were found in sample 81084 which may be significant, Alteration in the mineralisation/footwall rocks is illitic (81094 - Drill hole 6) to smectitic (81098 - Drill hole 9), perhaps indicating a decrease in alteration intensity southwards although this needs checking. It is suggested that further samples will be run from this anomaly efter examination of the new drilling results. tv) Meron ‘At Meron, only a few samples were taken for wholerock analysis (81024,25,26,29,30), Samples 24,25,29 and 30 have TUZr ratios close to the felsic mine sequences at Lerokis and Kali Kuning whilst sample 26 has a Ti/Zr ratio similar to basal mafic lavas. This sample comprises a basaltic/andesite:clast from a labar flow which may actually be reworked "basement" material. Samples 81029 and 81030 were anslysed for comparative purposes. ‘Sample 81029 is believed to be a fresh example of the homblende dacites seen at Kali Kuning ‘and Lerokis (mine host rock). The TUZr plot shows that the samples have similar Ti/2r ratios and hence are suggested to be from the same magma, Texturally the rocks are identical although 81030 has lost all feldspar and ferromagnesian minerals as well as being strongly depleted in Ce, Ne and K.. Prelfiatnary Conclasions 1) Confirmation of a lower tholeiitic lava unit on Wetar which may be original oceanic crust.2) Distinctive mineralisation footwall unit from Lerokis and Kali Kuning may underlie KK1, Bat} Kapal and TM17/18 3) Geochemicslly distinctive felsic suite defined at TM17/18 4) Clay alteration patterns shown at Lerokis are repeated at Kali Kuning in both felsic and mafie footwall/ost units 5) Strong potassic Kspar, diespore and alunite alteration associated with elevated Ba in rock values are defined at TMI7/18. These are believed to be related to the potassic alteration zoné of a porphyry. Alunite and diaspore point to a highly oxidised acid hydrothermal fluid association (High-sulphidation epithermal? - N.B. this must be checked for bypogene vs. supergene origin!)$661 Buydwes jerwwaypoatounn dey uonesoy JeIaM |eAUAD YONFigure 2 Na0.06 N5008: K155 KOT O ; Sample Plan av ¢ ccor8t Jutcrop sample point Bn Bt 3 neo with CaO%, Na,O%, K,O% soos. Pit Se and alteration mineralogy in italics Showing Simplified Geology Alkali oxide % and alteration mineralsFigure 3 Samplé Plan se TM17/18 Anomaly June 1995 Alkali oxide% and alteration minerals Dactte plug ? (ngt located on ground) Anomaly Area / |? 79 483 tit fe DL Kspor — Bee 7 tn ay VDL kar Ubyao | Boag sgt? 78 oh of 3 3 NO® 267 Kear 680 176 2161 @"%0 1, Kspar wo, os O64 az, AL oar Sample Se7=380 + Whabroce 8 Number tuasuoey oh Nox a asl KOK 1D Low Sulphidason 2 Dy stern minont Gant ine ta tlsSf rigues eAndete mas a PTA] Batu Kapal EST now & leva unit Location Map vtewnd a 2252) June 1995 Lithogeochemical sampling 9° Drillhole 991083 Rock samplewidd 17 00°0Sz 00°00z 00°0S1 00001 00°0S 00°0 eS - eee totem 7 BT C ya Begg ~ Sa i dena aa fe dag : + w+ ued oy . [ bla zZza U S ais ‘za ie + ae . ivl [ s roe 2 +7 hr be Lo oO 7 ro Lo LO @ 3 ES FO So s ,O 4 ” INVOTOA-SVEM E 101d 4Z “SA IL ¢ i ° an wdd Faure 5 - Plot of Tl versus Zr for wholerock analyses from Wetar. Stars represent earller sampling (see MRP 12-95-03) Crosses represent current samples (ail numbers prefixed 810)Les 1i:e7 —@171-938-9268 NAT HIST MUSEUM PACE Lb Figure 6 —— ydrothermal Alteration Assemblages Epithermal H (with respect to T & pH) pH ——-——— 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 o-- TT = 1 — = 1 ssinad Opel Halloysite spidymite , rm cristobaiite siibite Mordenite Chlorte Heulancite lo } —- ~Simectita Chabezte 100-4 1 Smectite ~ ‘Wplcel low sulphidation ‘atteration assemblage (Carbonates)" A Aoproximate field for Co Hishikari high-grade x vein assemblage g 2 200) € o 2 3004 5 a Shimanto supergroup nse alteration assemblage Biotite \ Clinopyroxene ami Wollastonite ‘ Characteristic advanced arglllic 400 coun alteration assemblage associated with high sulphidatlon systems *. Quartz & cristobalite stable over all pH ranges 2. Carbonates stable over all temperature ranges (rece ate Leach & Erg 100)