A 3D Geochemical and
Mineralogy Model of the
Salt Creek Gold Deposit
Scott Halley, May 2012
Introduction
Salt Creek Gold Deposit.
• Discovered in 2007 by Integra Mining Limited.
• Pre-mining resource of 4.3MT @ 2.4g/t for 334,300 Oz
• Mafic host-rock with pervasive chlorite alteration.
• All drill holes were systematically logged with a portable infrared
spectrometer.
This talk presents a model based on the spectral data, with a few
highlights from the geochemistry.
RANDALLS GOLD PROJECT
Location Plan
Salt Creek
Location
Mt Monger
Daisy Milano
Maxwells
Salt Creek
Regional Lithogeochemistry
Bi-Modal basalt chemistry
Regional Basalt Chemistry
Mt Monger Region
Three mafic magma suites can be traced
from Higginsville to Kalgoorlie to Agnew.
• Progressive enrichment in HFSE, but
depletion of HREE.
• Crustal contamination?
• Evolution of basalt chemistry indicates
residence time in a mantle magma
Kalgoorlie Region chamber.
• How big is that magma chamber?
• How long does it take to cool?
Abitibi Basalt Chemistry
Evidence of mantle fractionation is a common feature of well-mineralized provinces
Vipond Formation
Central Formation
Large hydrothermal Cell
Defined by aeromagnitic anomaly and geochemistry
Salt Creek
5km
Early High Temperature Alteration
Actinolite-Magnetite-Epidote-Pyrite
+/- Biotite is a very common
precursor to gold in many Yilgarn
Victory deposits, but rarely recognised.
• Aeromagnetic anomalies
• Anomalous Mo-Bi-Cs
geochemistry
Junction
Wallaby
Salt Creek Sill
Fine-grained dolerite, with texturally destructive chlorite alteration.
Consistently identifying fractionation zones is difficult in core, impossible in chips.
Mineralization Style
Gold occurs in and around extensional vein arrays, adjacent to a steeply dipping
shear zone.
Salt Creek Dolerite Sill Fractionation
Salt Creek Dolerite Sill Fractionation
Salt Creek Dolerite Sill Fractionation
Background Information
Typical Alteration plot for Achaean Gold
Systems
Feldspar-Sericite K/Al vs Na/Al molar ratio plot for mafic rocks
Reaction path
towards Sericite
Reaction path
towards Albite
Expected
composition of
unaltered basalt
Alteration Plot
Salt Creek Sill
Very little change in alkali-element content; alteration is dominantly chlorite.
Sericite
Sericite-Albite
Least-altered dolerite Albite
Background Information
ASD spectra
Background Information
Measuring Sericite Solid Solution Compositions
FSFR.2162 Int=10.0 sec Konkera North Section 21450N
2nd: KNRC125_00041.asd.sco FSFR.2162 Int=10.0 sec Konkera North Section 21610N
0.9
HullQuot
2190
2220
0.8
Red = Phengite; Blue = Paragonite
0.7
Measure the wavelength of the 2200nm feature => Sericite Composition
Measure the depth; proxy for Sericite abundance
1980 2070 2160 2250 2340 2430
Wavelength in nm
Background Information
What does the Sericite wavelength shift mean?
Background Information
Sericite composition zonation in Archaean
Gold Systems
Background Information
Correlation between chlorite and sericite chemistry?
Can we use chlorite solid solution variations to map a zonation pattern in
the Salt Creek system?
Sericite composition versus Chlorite composition in mixed Sericite-Chlorite samples
2200nm wavelength in Sericite
2250nm wavelength in Chlorite
Salt Creek Results
Down-hole profile of chlorite composition
There are regular compositional variations in the chlorite spectra in
downhole drill profiles.
Scope
Scope==Grp1
Grp1sTSAS
sTSAS::Chlorites;
Chlorites; 133
133points,
points,r=-0.0828;
r=-0.0828; Aux:
Aux:w2350
in Chlorite
2352
w2350 2 3 5 1 .1 7
2265
2 3 5 0 .3 3
2265
2 3 4 9 .5
2 3 4 8 .6 7
2250nm wavelength
2 3 4 7 .8 3
2260
w2250
2260
w2250
2347
2 3 4 6 .1 7
2 3 4 5 .3 3
2 3 4 4 .5
2255
2255
2 3 4 3 .6 7
2 3 4 2 .8 3
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 2342
0 30 60 90 120 150 180
Index
Index
FSFR.2077 Int=3.0 sec FSFR.2077 Int=3.0 sec
1
1
0.9
HullQuot
HullQuot
0.8
0.9
1500 1800 2100 2400 1500 1800 2100 2400
Wavelength in nm Wavelength in nm
Salt Creek Results
Gold assays, looking down the plunge of the ore
body.
Salt Creek Results
Dolerite fractionation classification from ME geochem,
looking along strike of the sill.
Salt Creek Results
Wavelength of the 2350nm feature for all chlorite
samples, looking along strike of the sill.
Feldspar-Hbl porphyry
Salt Creek Results
Wavelength of the 2350nm feature for all chlorite
samples, looking down plunge of the sill.
Salt Creek Results
Wavelength of the 2350nm feature, along with
modelled contacts.
Hangingwall Shale
Top of quartz dolerite
Base of quartz dolerite
Footwall Chert
Salt Creek Results
Cross section, Dolerite fractionation classification
from ME geochem.
le
ha
lS
al
w
ng
gi
an
ite
H
r
ole
d
artz
qu
of rt
p he
To C
r ite al
l
o le tw
o
rt zd Fo
a
qu
of
a se
B
Salt Creek Results
Cross section, Wavelength of the 2350nm feature
for all chlorite samples.
le
ha
lS
al
w
ng
gi
an
ite
H
r
ole
d
artz
qu
of rt
p he
To C
r ite al
l
o le tw
o
rt zd Fo
a
qu
of
a se
B
Note the sharp break in chlorite compositions at the top of the quartz dolerite.
Salt Creek Results
Cross section, Gold Assays.
le
ha
lS
al
w
ng
gi
an
ite
H
r
ole
d
artz
qu
of rt
p he
To C
r ite al
l
o le tw
o
rt zd Fo
a
qu
of
a se
B
Salt Creek Results
Cross section, Wavelength of the 2350nm feature
for all chlorite samples.
e
hal
lS
w al
ng
ngi
Ha e
e rit
l
do
a rtz
qu
of
rt
p
he
To
C
ite
ll
le r
a
tw
do
o
rtz
Fo
ua
ofq
s e
Ba
Note the sharp break in chlorite compositions at the top of the quartz dolerite.
Also note the inflection in this surface.
Salt Creek Results
Cross section, Gold Assays.
e
hal
lS
w al
ng
ngi
Ha e
e rit
l
do
a rtz
qu
of
rt
p
he
To
C
ite
ll
le r
a
tw
do
o
rtz
Fo
ua
ofq
s e
Ba
Salt Creek Results
Controlling surfaces for gold mineralization.
“Connolly Diagram” style colour shading on upper quartz dolerite surface
highlights a 5m fault offset.
Fault modelled from ;
•Offset on Qtz dolerite surface
•Planar gold trend on “feeder structure”
•Logged shear fabrics.
e
rit
le
do
z
art
qu
of
p
To e
erit
l
do
tz
ar
qu
of
a se
B
Salt Creek Results
“150m Thick-slice section”,
Controlling surfaces for gold mineralization.
e
eri t
l
do
r tz
qua
of
p
To
e
l e rit Fault
do
rtz
q ua
f
s eo
Ba
What did we learn?
47,000 spectra measured with a portable spectometer
Logging rate; 1,500m/day RC, 1,000m/day DDH
Learnings
In this case, chlorite solid solution chemistry reflected whole rock
composition, not fluid chemistry.
The spectral logging led to a very precise geological model.
The total cost of the spectral logging (including instrument hire, operator and
interpretation) was around 80c/meter.
Every geologist has a different opinion about logging quartz dolerite. It is
impossible in chips. The spectral logging took away the guess work.
The End
Thanks to collaborators on this project;
•Greg Wilson
•Brent Simpson
•Ross Whittle-Herbert
•Ashley Adams
•John Beeson
•Alan Downie
•Marcus Willson
•Carl Young
•Chris Cairns
Thanks also to Integra Mining for allowing the presentation of their results.
