2013 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc.

Economic Geology, v. 108, pp. 199227

The Geology and Mineralogy of the Loulo Mining District, Mali, West Africa:
Evidence for Two Distinct Styles of Orogenic Gold Mineralization
DAVID M. LAWRENCE,1,*, PETER J. TRELOAR,1 ANDREW H. RANKIN,1 PAUL HARBIDGE,2 AND JOEL HOLLIDAY2
1 School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Centre for Earth & Environmental Science Research, Kingston University,
Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, London, United Kingdom, KT1 2EE
2 Randgold Resources Ltd, Halkett Street, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands JE2 4WJ

Abstract
Loulo is a world-class orogenic gold mining district in the Birimian terrane of western Mali. Orebodies are
located along second or higher order shears associated with the Senegal-Mali shear zone, with gold mineral-
ization largely linked to a transtensional event. The mine camp is divided into two distinct styles of gold deposit
on the basis of differing geologic characteristics. One group is typified by the Gara deposit, whereas the other
by the Yalea deposit. Both deposit styles are hosted by similar rock types (calcareous graywackes and calcitic-
dolomitic marbles). Gara-style orebodies occur as sulfide disseminations or ankerite-rich shear vein stockworks,
hosted in folded tourmalinized sandstones and breccias mainly within 2 km of the Senegal-Mali shear zone.
These deposits are characterized by intense multi-stage albitization and tourmalinization (pre-, syn- and post-
mineralization). Gold lodes are Fe-rich (dominated by nickeloan pyrite), contain Cu-Ni Co minor and trace
sulfides (e.g., chalcopyrite, gersdorffite, pentlandite, cobaltite, millerite), and show consistently high levels of
P-REE-Wbearing phases (apatite, monazite, xenotime, and scheelite). Base metal concentrations show a
marked increase in marble host rocks, with the formation of nickeloan pyrite-cobaltite-clausthalite ores.
In contrast, Yalea-style deposits are associated with quartz ankerite vein lodes and disseminated sulfide
stringer zones. Mineralization occurs along highly altered (tourmaline-absent), brittle-ductile, shears up to 8
km away from the Senegal-Mali shear zone. Wall-rock alteration is characterized by addition of K2O, CaO,
CO2, H2O, and SiO2, with mineral assemblages consisting of chlorite-sericite-carbonate-quartz albite. Ore
paragenesis is enriched in As, mainly as multistage growth of arsenopyrite and arsenian pyrite. Base metal sul-
fides, scheelite, and (REE)-phosphates are extremely rare.
The diversity in the ore paragenesis is controlled by a dynamic hydrothermal system that sourced fluids and
metals from different reservoirs within the region. The As-rich Yalea-style deposits have characteristics typical
of Birimian gold mineralization in Ghana, and auriferous fluids are likely derived from the dewatering of sed-
imentary rocks during regional metamorphism. On the other hand, the polymetallic, Fe-Brich, Gara-style ore-
bodies show atypical features for Birimian gold mineralization. Instead, field relations and the mineralogy and
geochemistry of the Gara-style lodes indicate a strong hydrothermal influence from surrounding intrusive
stocks, with possible links between gold mineralization and iron oxide skarn development in the region. The
data collected at Loulo highlight the diverse nature of orogenic gold deposits, especially in West Africa. This
style of ore deposit can form from a variety of fluid sources, both metamorphic and magmatic.

Introduction
THE FLUID origin for orogenic gold hydrothermal systems has
been debated for decades (e.g., Burrows and Spooner, 1989;
Powell et al., 1991; de Ronde et al., 2000; Pitcairn et al., 2006).
New petrographic and lithogeochemical data presented in
this paper from the Loulo mining camp in southwest Mali, in
combination with fluid inclusion and stable isotope data set
out in the companion paper of Lawrence et al. (2013), suggest
that the interplay of both magmatic- and metamorphic-derived
fluids are linked to the formation of world-class orogenic gold
districts. Orogenic gold lodes are the most common and most
significant type of gold deposit, ranging from Precambrian to
Tertiary in age (Goldfarb et al., 2001, 2005). They are shear-
hosted deposits developed along strike-slip fault systems linked
to late-stage, nonorthogonal, orogenic crustal growth (Groves
et al., 1998, 2000). The majority of deposits are found in green-
schist facies rocks (Bierlein and Crowe, 2000), although signif-
icant orebodies are also found at shallower and deeper levels
Corresponding author: e-mail, David.Lawrence@randgoldresources.com
*Present address: Randgold Resources Ltd, Halkett Street, St Helier, Jer-
sey, Channel Islands, JE2 4WJ
(<6 to >12 km) (Groves et al., 1992). The general character-
istics of orogenic gold deposits are summarized in Groves et
al. (1998) and Ridley and Diamond (2000).
Loulo represents one of the largest orogenic gold districts
in West Africa outside of Ghana. The mining camp is situated
within the highly endowed West Mali gold belt, which stretches
180 km north-south along the Senegal border. Operational
mines in the region include Gara, Yalea, and Gounkoto on the
Loulo permit, as well as Sadiola, Yatela, Tabakoto, and Segala.
These deposits are all linked to a major crustal scale linea-
ment known as the Senegal-Mali shear zone. The West Mali
gold belt contains total gold resources exceeding 35 Moz,
with approximately 730,000 oz produced in 2011. Gold min-
ing along the belt has a long and lustrous history, with arti-
sanal miners exploiting the metal since prehistoric times. In
1324, gold extracted from alluvial placers in the region were
transported by Emperor Mansa Moussa on his legendary pil-
grimage to Mecca. At Loulo, gold lodes were first discovered
in the 1980s during regional mapping (1:50,000 scale) and geo-
chemical soil sampling by the Mali Gold Syndicate, a joint ven-
ture between the French Bureau de Recherches Gologiques

Submitted: October 22, 2011

0361-0128/13/4089/199-29 199 Accepted: May 12, 2012
200 LAWRENCE ET AL.
et Minires (BRGM) and the Malian government. Despite
the fact that the ore potential at Loulo has long been recog-
nized, commercial mining only started in 2005. The mine
camp is owned by Socit des Mines de Loulo (Somilo),
which is held 80% by Randgold Resources Ltd and 20% by
the state of Mali. Loulo currently consists of three major de-
posits (Gara, Yalea, and the newly discovered Gounkoto ore-
body) and numerous smaller satellite deposits and targets
with gold resources totaling 15.5 Moz (pub. data from Rand-
gold Resources Ltd 2011 annual report).
The Loulo gold deposits show variable paragenetic assem-
blages in terms of ore and alteration mineralogy. In this paper
we aim to address the significance of these differences within
the context of the currently accepted orogenic gold paradigm.
In particular, we set out to show that (1) hydrothermal fluids
and metals are potentially sourced from both magmatic and
metamorphic reservoirs in the region; (2) some of the Loulo
orebodies show characteristics similar to gold mineralization
elsewhere in West Africa, whereas others are more distinct;
and (3) the magmatic-related deposits share affinities with
Archean orogenic gold deposits in the Abitibi subprovince,
Canada (e.g., Malartic, Kirkland Lake, Siscoe, Sigma-Lamaque
deposits). Data presented in this paper forms a basis of an ore
genetic model for the Loulo district, which will be developed
further in the companion paper (Lawrence et al., 2013).
Regional Geology
Loulo is situated on the eastern side of the Paleo-
proterozoic Kdougou-Kniba inlier, which covers eastern
Senegal and western Mali (Fig. 1). The inlier represents the
westernmost exposure of the Birimian Supergroup (2050
2200 Ma) of the West African Craton (inset, Fig. 1). The K-
dougou-Kniba inlier is bounded on its western margin by
the Hercynian Mauritanide orogenic belt (Villeneuve, 2008)
and is unconformably overlain by flat-lying Neoproterozoic
sandstones of the Taoudeni intracratonic basin on all other
sides (Villeneuve and Corne, 1994).
Bassot (1987) subdivided the Birimian domain of the
Kdougou-Kniba inlier into a western Mako Series (gran-
ite-greenstone belt) and an eastern Dial-Dalma Series
(sedimentary basin), separated by a regional-scale shear zone
known as the Main Transcurrent zone. The Mako belt con-
sists of tholeiitic basalt and andesite lavas, with intercalated
volcanic agglomerates and banded tuffs (Gueye et al., 2008).
Calc-alkaline volcaniclastic units and derived sedimentary
rocks crop out along the eastern side of the Mako belt. The
volcanic assemblage is dated between 2160 and 2197 Ma
(Boher, 1991; Dia et al., 1997). The Mako crustal rocks are in-
truded by a complex sequence of pre- and syntectonic mafic
and felsic plutons (Dia et al., 1997; Dioh et al., 2006; Gueye
et al., 2008), dated between 2070 and 2210 Ma (Bassot and
Caen-Vachette; 1984; Dia, 1988; Dia et al., 1997; Hirdes and
Davis, 2002; Gueye et al., 2007). The volcanic package and
the granitoids show geochemical and isotopic evidence con-
sistent with a volcanic-arc setting (Dia et al., 1997; Dioh et al.,
2006; Pawlig et al., 2006).
The neighboring Dial-Dalma basin is composed of
folded sandstones and siltstones, interbedded with calc-alka-
line ash- and lapilli-tuffs (Bassot, 1987; Hirdes and Davis,
2002). The Dial-Dalma Series is generally considered to be
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
younger than the Mako Series (Bassot, 1987; Dia, 1988;
Abouchami et al., 1990). Siliciclastic rocks show detrital zir-
con ages ranging between 2096 8 and 2165 1 Ma (Milsi
et al., 1989; Hirdes and Davis, 2002). The Dial-Dalma
Series is centrally intruded by the Saraya quartz monzonite-
granite (Pons et al., 1992), which yielded a U/Pb zircon age of
2079 2 Ma (Hirdes and Davis, 2002).
A calc-alkaline volcanic-plutonic complex, in the eastern
part of the Kdougou-Kniba inlier, is considered by Hirdes
and Davis (2002) and Lawrence (2010) as a separate entity
from the Dial-Dalma Series and is referred to here as the
Falm Series (Fig. 1). The Falm rocks consist of a package
of carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks, minor basalts and an-
desites, rare rhyolites, and syntectonic granitoids (Ndiaye et
al., 1997; Hirdes and Davis, 2002). Geochronological data is
limited for the Falm Series; although the available data
indicates a late Birimian formation in relation to the Mako
Series. In the southern parts of the belt, a rhyolite flow has
been dated at 2099 4 Ma, with the surrounding Boboti and
South Falm plutons yielding ages of 2080 1 and 2082 1
Ma, respectively (Hirdes and Davis, 2002).
The Falm belt is bordered to the east by the Senegal-Mali
shear zone, which forms the contact with the Kofi sedimen-
tary basin in Mali (Fig. 1). The Kofi Series comprises sand-
stones; argillites and platform carbonates; and syntectonic, S-
type, peraluminous biotite-bearing granites (with similar
compositions to the Saraya batholith). Detrital sedimentary
rocks at Loulo have been dated between 2093 7 and 2125
27 Ma (Boher et al., 1992). Whole-rock Rb-Sr dating of the
Gamaye leucogranite, located in the south of the sedimentary
basin, gave a cooling age of 2045 27 Ma (Bassot and Caen-
Vachette, 1984). The Falm and Kofi Series are discussed in
detail in Geology and Structure of the Loulo permit, below.
Birimian rocks of the Kdougou-Kniba inlier show a
polycyclic deformation and metamorphic history related to
the Eburnean orogenic event (Ledru et al., 1991; Dabo and
Afa, 2010; 2011). The first deformation phase (D1) is a com-
pressive event linked to the initial accretion of the Birimian
terranes (Milsi et al., 1989, 1992; Ledru et al, 1991). Later
deformation (D2-D3) is associated with transcurrent move-
ment and the formation of the regional-scale, north-south,
shear zones (Main Transcurrent zone and the Senegal-Mali
shear zone) and subsidiary structures (Bassot and Dommanget
et al., 1986; Ledru et al., 1991). A similar polyphase character
to Eburnean orogeny has been reported in other Birimian
terranes of West Africa (e.g., Milsi et al., 1992; Hein et al.,
2004; Feybesse et al., 2006). Transcurrent deformation is syn-
chronous with gold mineralization and the emplacement of
several calc-alkaline granitoids (e.g. the Saraya, Yatia, Gamaye
peraluminous granites, the Falm granitoids, and the youngest
generation of subcircular Mako plutons; Figs. 1, 2) (Ledru et
al., 1989; Pons et al., 1992; Gueye et al., 2008). Regional
greenschist facies metamorphism is associated with both
compressive and transcurrent phases of deformation.
Geology and Structure of the Loulo District
Geology
The geology of the Loulo mining and exploration permit, il-
lustrated in Figure 2, is controlled by the terrane-bounding
200
 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI 201

15 W 10 W 5 W 0 5 E
25 N
Mako Series
IELD
N UIBA
T SH
REG
20 N

AR
TAOUDENI GG
Nouakchott HO
BASIN
Yatela 15 N Niger R
.
Sadiola Kayes
Dakar
KKI Niamey
14 N Bissau Bamako
10 N Ouagadougou
Conakry
BENIIN
NIGERIA
LEO-MAN SHIELD
PLAIN
Phanerozoic
Kakadian Hercynian
Mauritanides Accra
Pan African Abidjan
Paleoproter- ATLANTIC
Kenieba ozoic 300 150 0 300 km OCEAN
Archean

13.5 N 13.5 N

Fal

SM
- m
Rive
r

SZ
Mo

Sabodala Sitakili
Z

Gara
MT

Bambaraya

13 N Makana Bal 13 N
Yt
Yalea
Segala
Massawa
Gounkoto Tabakoto
Saraya Bambadji

Kenieba
G

Sa
am
bi
a
Ri
ve
r

Bo
Kedougou
12.5 N Ga
SF

Falm
River

Dial-Dalma Series Falm Series Kofi Series

12 W 11.5 W 20 10 0 20 km

Kakadian-Badon batholith- Calc-alkaline, metaluminous Mauritanides Hercynian

ultramafic to felsic rocks TTG plutons belt
Detrital and chemical Towns/villages
Tholeiitic basalts
basin metasedimentary rocks
Orogenic gold deposits (>1 Moz)
Calc-alkaline peraluminous
Tholeiitic andesites
granites SMSZ Senegal-Mali Shear Zone
Calc-alkaline volcaniclastic rocks, MTZ Main Transcurrent Shear Zone
Neoproterozoic cover
plus volcanic belt-hosted meta-
sequences
sedimentary rocks

FIG. 1. Geologic map of the Birimian Kdougou-Kniba inlier (KKI) (1:250,000 scale), modified after Gueye et al.
(2008). The dotted line represents the Loulo mining and exploration permit area (Fig. 2). The Falm River forms the in-
ternational border with Senegal to the west and Mali to the east and north. Abbreviations refer to plutons mentioned in the
text: Bal = Balangouma pluton, Bo = Boboti pluton, Ga = Gamaye granite, Sa = Saraya granite, SF = South Falm pluton,
Yt = Yatia granite. Inset map shows the geologic setting of the West African craton (modified after Dallmeyer and Lcorch,
1991; Feybesse et al., 2006).

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 201

202 LAWRENCE ET AL.

Ghanaian Birimian belt-type plutons (e.g., Leube et al., 1990).

11.5 W
Falm calc-alkaline volcani-
clastic, siliciclastic & carbon-
ate metasedimentary rocks
Tholeiitic andesite lavas
Cargneule- ferrigeneous
carbonate breccias
Falm metaluminous
granodiorites, tonalites
and quartz microdiorites
A Albitites (altered intrusions)
Iron skarn deposits
Detrital and chemical basin
metasedimentary rocks
Calc-alkaline peraluminous
granites
V Post-Birimian dolerite dykes
V Gara
SMSZ
Inferred SMSZ
Inferred NNE Yalea-trend
Major Au deposit
Minor Au deposit/target
discussed in this paper
Town/village
13 N Balangouma
pluton
North of Bambadji village, intrusive rocks are collectively
N known as the Balangouma pluton, although recent mapping
confirms the presence of several individual granitoids of various
compositions and sizes. Intrusions are composed of fine- to
medium-grained hornblende-bearing granodiorites, biotite +
Moussala
hornblende-bearing microdiorites and rare aphanitic clinopy-
granite roxene-rich tonalites. These rocks show strong deformation and
sodic alteration along the margin with the Senegal-Mali shear
zone (where they are transformed to albitites), and less subtle
Baboto albitization around the contact aureoles of iron endoskarn de-
lodes
posits (discussed below). The Boboti plutons in the southern
Iron Hill parts of the study area have previously been investigated by
Djidian Ndiaye et al. (1997) and Hirdes and Davis (2002), and have sim-
Kenieba
ilar compositions to the Balangouma intrusive rocks (metalumi-
nous granodiorites and tonalities). The Falm granitoids show
Gara W
Loulo volcanic arc geochemical signatures (Schwartz and Melcher,
Kolou
Loulo-3 2004; Lawrence, 2010), similar to the rocks of the Mako Series
P-129
P-125 Sakola
(Pawlig et al., 2006; Dioh et al., 2006). The volcanic-sedi-
Yalea mentary component of the Falm belt comprises siliciclastic
rocks and marbles, intercalated with undifferentiated volcani-
clastic sedimentary rocks in the north and minor pillowed and
Sassamba massive basaltic-andesite lavas around the villages of Bam-
badji and Lengeya. Ferrigeneous carbonate breccia units
Falm

(cargneules) crop out along the eastern contact of the belt.

Riv

The Balangouma and Boboti plutons are spatially and ge-

netically associated with contact metasomatic skarns of the
er

Radier Koundjan
Falm iron ore district (Schwartz and Melcher, 2004) (Fig.
Karakaena
A
2). These skarns collectively (28 individual orebodies) repre-
A sent the largest Birimian iron deposit of West Africa (750 Mt
P-64 ore reserves; ArcelorMittal 2007 press release). The Falm
Gounkoto iron district is subdivided into primary magnetite-bearing
Faraba endoskarns (flat lying) and exoskarns hosted in calcitic and
Lengeya
lodes dolomitic marbles (steeply dipping), as well as supergene-
Bambadji A enriched hematite-bearing bodies situated on topographic
highs (Schwartz and Melcher, 2004). The primary deposits
Dinkakokone are characterized by a magnetite association with pyrite +
12.75 N
chalcopyrite + pyrrhotite, and alteration phases consisting of
Boboti Sansela
pluton
albite + clinopyroxene + biotite garnet serpentine am-
Boulandissou
phibole calcite, with variations in mineral assemblages be-
tween the endo- and exotypes (Wade, 1985; Milsi et al.,
1989; Bassot, 1997; Schwartz and Melcher, 2004).
Sedimentary rocks of the Kofi Series crop out to the east of
Garaboureya
the Senegal-Mali shear zone. The bedding, in general, trends
NNE and dips 60 to 90 E. The Kofi Series is interpreted to
5 2.5 0 5 km represent a fore-arc environment with a sequence of shelf
carbonates and calcareous clastic rocks to the west, and
FIG. 2. Geology of the Loulo mining and exploration permit (scale deeper water argillites and turbiditic sedimentary rocks to-
1:65,000) comprising a western Falm Series and an eastern Kofi Series. wards the east. This broad classification is complicated by a
SMSZ = Senegal-Mali shear zone. series of D1 thrusts that caused stacking and repetition of the
strata during early Birimian orogenesis. Arenaceous rock
Senegal-Mali shear zone. To the west of this shear zone lie the types include tourmalinized quartzwackes, feldspathic sand-
Falm belt and a small portion of the Dial-Dalma Series. stones, and calcareous graywackes with argillite intercala-
The Dial-Dalma basin sedimentary rocks crop out in the tions. All units in the Loulo region, with the exception of late
northwestern extremities of the permit, where they are in- crosscutting tholeiitic dolerite dikes (Fig. 2), have been meta-
truded by the strongly kaolinized Moussala syenogranite. This morphosed to greenschist facies.
granite represents a northern extension of the Saraya
batholith (Pons et al., 1992). Structural setting
The Falm belt is dominated by calc-alkaline, I-type, met- D1 compression in the eastern parts of the Kdougou-
aluminous granitoids which share similar compositions to the Kniba inlier is characterized by NNE- to NE-trending

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 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI
recumbent and overturned folds (F1), NW-verging thrusts,
and axial plane schistosity (Milsi et al., 1989; 1992; Ledru et
al., 1991; Dabo and Afa, 2010). F1 folds are superimposed
(refolded) by younger upright folds (F2) associated with D2
deformation. The N-S, brittle-ductile, Senegal-Mali shear
zone was initiated as a sinistral transpressional fault during
the onset of D2 deformation. This major shear zone acted as
the main conduit for hydrothermal fluids in the region, with
gold ores located in higher order structures along the eastern
wall (Kofi Series). The subsidiary structures formed during
advanced D2 transpression, with the development of second-
order, NNE-striking sinistral shears (P-shear geometry) and
related folding (F2).
In Mali (east of the Falm River), a third stage of defor-
mation (D3) is associated with transtensional movement along
the D2 structures and the development of sinistral, N- and
NW-trending, Riedel shears (third- and fourth-order). The
timing of the gold-mineralized event(s) at Loulo is largely
linked to this late D3 trantensional phase. The structural set-
ting of the Gara and Yalea deposits is discussed in later sec-
tions. On the Senegalese side of the Falm River, Dabo and
Afa (2011) recognized NW-SE and SW-NE dextral shear
bands, and associated Z-shaped folds, within the Kofi sedi-
mentary rocks. These dextral shears post-date D2 structures;
however, the relative timing with the transtensional deforma-
tion recorded in Mali is unclear at this stage. A more detailed
evaluation of the structural history of the Loulo region is be-
yond the scope of this paper.
Sampling and Analytical Methods
Due to the intense laterization of the terrane in western
Mali (~6% outcrop at Loulo), most of the data reported in
this paper come from diamond drill core samples. A few
dozen samples of ore and altered wall rock were also collected
from open pits and underground workings. The Gara and
Yalea deposits were the main focus of the investigation, but
Gounkoto and a selection of satellite bodies and minor targets
were also investigated for comparison purposes. Approxi-
mately 200 polished thin sections were analyzed for petrogra-
phy, in addition to 21 lithosamples for whole-rock chemistry.
Ore and hydrothermally altered samples were studied
using optical and scanning electron microscopy at Kingston
University, London. Backscattered electron (BSE) imaging
and mineral chemistry analyses were achieved using a Zeiss
EVO 50 electron microprobe. Major oxides and trace-ele-
ment mineral compositions were determined using both an
Oxford Instruments X-ACT energy dispersive spectrometer
(EDS) and an Oxford Instruments WAVE wavelength disper-
sive spectrometer (WDS). The analytical software employed
was the Oxford Instruments INCA analytical suite. Operating
parameters for the EDS include an accelerating voltage of 20
kV, a beam current of 1.5 na, and a detector process time of
4; and for the WDS an accelerating voltage of 20 kV and a
beam current of 50100 na. The detection limit for all ele-
ments using the EDS analyzer was approximately 0.20 wt %.
Whole-rock geochemistry was carried out on altered and
unaltered wall rocks from both the Gara and Yalea deposits.
Around 0.5 to 1 kg of fresh, homogeneous, rock was collected
per sample. Stained and weathered surfaces were removed
prior to jaw-crushing. Rock chips were then powdered using
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203
an agate ring mill. Rock powders were mixed with a lithium
metaborate (LiBO2) flux and prepared as fusions for litho-
geochemistry analysis at Kingston University. Major and some
trace elements (Ba, Cr, Nb, Ni, Sr, V, Y, and Zr) were mea-
sured using a JY Ultima 2C inductively coupled plasma-
atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). Analysis of trace
and REE elements was achieved by inductively coupled
plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), using an Agilent 7500c
quadrupole mass spectrometer. Calibrating with international
standards, the accuracy of the data was typically better than
3% for the major elements and trace elements was generally
better than 10%. Precision levels were less than 10%.
Gara Deposit
Deposit geometry
The Gara gold deposit, previously known as Loulo-0 (Dom-
manget et al., 1993), was discovered in the early 1980s, along
with the smaller P-64 and Loulo-3 bodies. Gara is located 2
km to the south-southeast of the Iron Hill endoskarn deposit
and lies adjacent to the Falm River (Fig. 2). The orebody
occurs over a strike length of 1.2 km and has a current re-
source of 3.12 Moz of contained gold at an average grade of
4.0 g/t Au (published data from Randgold Resources Ltd
2011 annual report).
Mineralization at Gara is stratiform in nature and confined
to a thin unit (520 m) of folded, strongly tourmalinized
sandstone (Fig. 3), which formed a prominent, 15-m-high
ridge of resistant rock prior to mining. The ore zone manifests
itself as a black, fine-sand (100500 m), turbiditic sedimen-
tary rock, with gold occurrence intrinsically related to epige-
netic tourmaline growth. The geometry of the orebody is con-
trolled by macroscopic, NNE-trending F2 folds, related to
transpressive D2 deformation along a series of second-order
shears (Fig. 3A). The limbs of these folds are commonly
sheared by further sinistral movement along these structures.
A weakly tourmalinized, epiclastic, quartzwacke unit (1540
m in thickness) sits beneath the Gara ore zone and probably
represents a coarser grained (500 m2.2 mm) equivalent of
the mineralized protolith. Other wall-rock units include a se-
quence of granoblastic carbonaceous calcitic marbles (locally
dolomitized) and argillitic calcareous sandstones (20140 m
in thickness). The Gara tectonostratigraphy is schematically
shown in Figure 3B.
Mineralization
Styles: Mineralization at Gara is essentially confined to a
carbonate-quartz-pyrite vein stockwork system (Fig. 4A).
The stockwork contains various vein morphologies, includ-
ing straight centimeter- to millimeter-scale veins and vein-
lets, breccias, and boudinaged and sigmoidal vein arrays
(Fig. 4). Mineralization is also associated with minor dis-
seminated sulfides largely confined to the vein walls, which
formed contemporaneously with the vein stockwork (not
discussed in detail here).
Stockwork paragenesis consists of three main vein types.
Type I veins are carbonate-rich auriferous veins (Fig. 4B),
with higher gold grade associated with increasing carbonate
content. Vein-filling minerals include ankerite (average 50
70% of the veins), milky quartz (mainly <1030%), dolomite
204 LAWRENCE ET AL.

(A) N A

Surface outcrop
of the tourmaline-
rich ore zone
The geometry
of the folds is
controlled by
transpressional
movement along
a series of D2
NNE-trending
F2 folds with axial trends
second order
to the NNE and plunge SSW
shears
at 10-30 dip

A B

F2 antiform B
F2 Synform Type I veins
Pit outline

100 50 0 100 m

(B)
Zone of C Type II veins
albitization
A B
100 RL

Tourmaline alteration
controlled by bedding
parallel ductile shears 0

v v v v v v v v v v v -100
v v v v
100 50 0 100 m

Marble
Strongly tourmalin-
ised quartz-wacke
D
Calcareous sandstone/ phyllite sequence Type III veins
Weakly tourmalin- v Post-Birimian
v
ised quartz-wacke dolerite dyke

FIG. 3. Plan and cross sections of the Gara fold system. A) Plan view of
the Gara orebody showing the surface expression of the strongly tourmalin-
ized layer. B) Cross section through the main anticline and syncline in the
southern half of the Gara pit. Pink shaded areas represent the extent of wall-
rock albitization.

(subordinate), tourmaline and pyrite. Type II veins are late,

gray, quartz-pyrite-Au veins which form during reopening
and brecciation of ankerite-milky quartz type I veins (Fig.
4C). Both veins generations also host a range of minor and
trace sulfides, phosphates, and tungstates (discussed below),
as well as minor gangue phases of albite, rutile, and postmin-
eralized chlorite. Sulfides generally occupy less than 15 vol %
of the mineralized veins; although elevated concentrations
are observed in high-grade ore (>20 g/t). Pit mapping and
core logging of type I and II veins highlight the dominance of
FIG. 4. Hand specimen and diamond drill-core samples showing the vein
paragenesis of the Gara stockwork. A) Pit sample of mineralized ankerite-
quartz-pyrite veins and veinlets crosscutting black tourmalinized sandstone.
B) Thick type I ankerite-rich pyrite-Au vein. Pyrite has oxidized to red-brown
goethite and limonite on the right side of the image. C) Sigmoidal, mineral-
ized, type II gray quartz vein, formed during the reopening and brecciation
of type I veins (relict ankerite clasts seen in the image). Pyrite is fine-grained
and difficult to distinguish in this sample. D) Late, barren, type III quartz-
rich veins and veinlets, with minor calcite (observed just left of center).

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 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI 205

several vein sets, including NW-striking veins and other sets, (up to 5 wt % Ni + Co; Table 1). Pyrite crystals show strong
including E- (080090) and NE-trending veins. The consis- replacement by late-stage tourmaline. Supergene products of
tent orientation of these three vein sets along the limbs and the pyrite ore include red-brown iron hydroxides (Fig. 4B),
hinges of the NNE-trending F2 folds suggests mineralization namely goethite and limonite, which decrease downward
post-dates the D2 transpressional stage. The bulk of Gara through the deposit.
mineralization is instead linked to late extensional and exten- Trace sulfide assemblages associated with vein pyrite in-
sional shear vein systems developed during D3 deformation. clude (in decreasing order of abundance) chalcopyrite, gers-
Type III veins are late, barren, translucent to milky quartz- dorffite, pentlandite, Ni-bearing pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and
rich veins with minor amounts of calcite (<10% of the veins) molybdenite (chemical analyses given in Table 1). Nickel-
(Fig. 4D). This vein generation is undeformed, and crosscuts bearing minerals (10100 m in size) commonly occur in
type I and II gold-bearing veins and all stages of hydrother- multi-phase aggregates enclosed in pyrite (Fig. 6B), or as id-
mal alteration (post-D3 in origin). iomorphic, irregular-shaped grains surrounding pyrite (Fig.
Ore mineralogy: The ore petrogenesis observed in type I 6C). Gersdorffite is the most common Ni sulfide at Gara and
and II veins at Gara is homogeneous across the strike length is found in close proximity to native gold grains. Pentlandite,
of the stockwork, implying a continuous mineralizing fluid along with rare fibrous molybdenite, appears to be exclusive
flow event. Auriferous veins show the presence of Fe-Nirich to the type II gray quartz mineralized veins. The presence of
sulfides (Ni pyrite and less common gersdorffite and pent- Ni Co sulfides is a common feature of other Loulo ore bod-
landite), and strong enrichment in (REE)-phosphates (apatite, ies (e.g., Gounkoto and the Yalea North ore shoot; discussed
monazite, and xenotime) and scheelite. A summary of the ore in later sections; Table 1). Two stages of chalcopyrite growth
and alteration paragenesis at Gara is presented in Figure 5. are seen in the Gara vein ore. The first is a minor inclusion
The mineral paragenesis shows that the majority of the ore- phase in pyrite (chalcopyrite-I) (1080 m in size). The sec-
related phases coexist with pyrite. The wall-rock alteration ond, more dominant, generation of chalcopyrite (chalcopy-
was more prolonged in comparison to ore development and riteII) forms the primary mineral in the last stages of sulfide
occurred pre-, syn- and postmineralization (discussed in de- paragenesis (15% of total sulfides) (Fig. 5). Microfissures in
tail in a later section). pyrite are commonly filled by chalcopyrite-II, with little or no
Pyrite is the principal sulfide phase at Gara (>95% of total replacement (Fig. 6D).
sulfides). Pyrite occurs in numerous forms, including annealed Arsenopyrite is extremely rare at Gara and is present as
aggregates (up to several cm), single pyritohedral crystals fine-grained (270 m) rhombic and anhedral inclusions (Fig.
(<200 m) and massive pyrite in thicker (>5 cm) ankerite-rich 6A) or intergrowths with auriferous pyrite. Despite being an
veins. Compositional zoning in pyrite is evident throughout empirical thermometer, and therefore not fully quantitative,
the ore zone (Fig. 6A), marked by Ni Co substitution of Fe arsenopyrite geothermometry (Kretschmar and Scott, 1976;
Sharp et al., 1985) is used to estimate the temperature of min-
eralization at Gara. Using the S2-buffered arsenopyrite-
Mineral Pre-ore Main ore Post-ore Super-
stage stage stage gene
pyrite-pyrrhotite equilibrium, chemical analysis of arsenopy-
rite grains (>40 m in size) indicate temperatures between
- Wall-rock alteration 1.
2. 3. 400 and 447C (As concentrations vary from 31.65 to 32.37
Tourmaline
at %; Table 1).
Rhodochrosite
Quartz
Gold abundance at Gara is directly proportional to sulfide
Albite abundance. Deportment studies show 95% of the gold parti-
Ankerite cles measured (over 500 grains) exist as (1) subhedral to an-
Hematite hedral inclusions (270 m) in pyrite (45%; G-I) (Fig. 6E);
Rutile (2) individual grains situated along deformation cracks in pyrite
Chlorite
(Fig. 6F) or as discrete gold veinlets infilling microfractures
- Vein phases
1. 2. 3.
over lengths of 350 m (45%; G-II) (Fig. 6G); and (3) parti-
Quartz
cles located on pyrite margins within pressure shadows or
Ankerite
Calcite
along fracture terminations (5%; G-III) (Fig. 6H). The re-
Pyrite maining gold (5%) occurs as free gold in quartz-ankerite veins
Chalcopyrite
1. 2.
(G-IV), in close proximity to sulfide grains. These textural re-
Gersdorffite lationships suggest that gold mineralization occurred either in
Pentlandite
Pyrrhotite
two separate events (syn- and post-pyrite formation) or more
Arsenopyrite
likely that the fracture-bound gold reflects a local remobiliza-
Molybdenite tion stage. The gold fineness at Gara is high (988; mean of
Monazite 994) (Table 2), with Ag levels highest in the northern parts of
Xenotime the orebody and in grains filling fractures (G-II).
Scheelite The Gara vein stockwork also shows elevated concentra-
Apatite
Gold
tions of P and REEs. This is documented by the presence of
Limonite
monazite-(Ce), which is the second most common ore-related
Goethite phase after pyrite and accounts for <1 to 2% of the total ore
minerals (most common in Au-rich zones). It coexists with
FIG. 5. Vein, ore, and alteration paragenetic sequence for Gara. pyrite and apatite as large (up to 1 mm in size) inclusions or

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206 LAWRENCE ET AL.

A B
Au
Qtz

Ni-Py Gf & Pn Gf

Py

Asp
Pn
10 m 120 m

C D
Ank

Py Ccp-II

Gf
Py

20 m 100 m

E F
Ank
Au

Au

Py Py

40 m 40 m

G H
Py

Au
Au

Py

50 m 10 m

FIG. 6. Backscattered electron (BSE) images of ore-related phases associated with mineralized type I and type II veins at
Gara. A) Compositional zoning in pyrite, with lighter zones representing Ni replacement of Fe (nickeloan pyrite). The con-
centric zonation pattern is disturbed by recrystallization. Ultrafine arsenopyrite inclusions occur in the center of the image.
B) Irregular-shaped gersdorffite and pentlandite inclusions in pyrite. C) Idiomorphic gersdorffite grain surrounding larger
pyrite. D) Late-stage chalcopyrite growth infilling microfractures in pyrite. E) An aggregate of gold grains (G-I) included in
pyrite. F) A trail of gold grains situated along deformation cracks in pyrite (G-II). G) Gold veinlets crosscutting pyrite (G-
II). H) Gold grains attached to pyrite margin (G-III). I) An aggregate of euhedral and subhedral monazite inclusions situ-
ated along pyrite rim. A small inclusion of xenotime is present on the left side of the image, situated between two larger mon-
azite grains. J) A large isometric monazite crystal intergrown with pyrite. K) Scheelite porphyroblast and smaller grains
intergrown with pyrite. L) Late-stage, irregular-shaped scheelite situated along micro-fractures in pyrite. Ank = ankerite, Asp
= arsenopyrite, Au = gold, Ccp = chalcopyrite, Gf = gersdorffite, Mnz = monazite, Pn = pentlandite, Py = pyrite, Ni-Py =
nickeloan pyrite, Qtz = quartz, Sch = scheelite, Xtm = xenotime.

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 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI
I J
Xtm
Py
Mnz Mnz
100 m
K L
Py
Ank
Sch
200 m
FIG. 6. (Cont.)
intergrowths (Fig. 6I, J), commonly located toward sulfide
margins as singular, spherical, and polygonal grains or more
commonly as two or three phase aggregates. Monazite also
appears as smaller (2050 m) skeletal grains rimming pyrite,
as randomly dispersed grains in the gangue material, and as a
rare phase filling fractures in pyrite. Xenotime-(Y) exists in
much lower concentrations in comparison to monazite and
apatite (trace amounts), but shows a positive relationship with
monazite (and gold) abundance. Xenotime occurs as small
rounded inclusions (530 m) in pyrite (Fig. 6I), monazite,
and apatite; and as larger (up to 100 m), irregular-shaped
grains in vein ankerite. Trace element analyses of the phos-
phates show a multielement signature, with Th, Pr, Ca, Sm,
and Gd in monazite grains and Rb, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb, Fe, Co,
and Ca in xenotime (Table 3).
Scheelite is also moderately abundant at Gara. Tungsten dis-
tribution is highly skewed, with the strongest enrichment in the
southern parts of the orebody (~1% of the ore-related miner-
als). Scheelite (<10 m to a few cm in grain size) is typically spa-
tially related to pyrite and ankerite (Fig. 6K) or fills fractures in
the major sulfides (Fig. 6L). Scheelite-rich zones are commonly
associated with high gold values (up to 90 g/t). Conversely,
gold-enriched zones are not always related to high W concen-
trations. Rare U-Th bearing oxides (uraninite and sayrite) exist
as microscopic inclusions (<5 m) within the scheelite grains.
Alteration
Two main types of wall-rock alteration occur at Gara (para-
genesis shown in Fig. 5). The most pronounced alteration style
is marked by a multi-tage period of pervasive epigenetic tour-
maline growth, which is also seen at a number of other Loulo
orebodies (e.g. Gounkoto, P-64 and P-129). The widespread
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207
Py
Mnz
Qtz
Ank
100 m
Sch
Py
100 m
appearance of tourmaline in the eastern parts of the K-
dougou-Kniba inlier is demonstrated by regional soil geo-
chemistry surveys which map a significant boron anomaly
along the entire 200-km strike length of the Senegal-Mali
shear zone (Lawrence, 2010). The second style of hydrother-
mal alteration observed at Gara is an intense phase of pink al-
bitization. Like tourmalinization, sodic alteration also has a
regional extent, commonly associated with the Falm grani-
toids to the west of the Senegal-Mali shear zone (Bassot,
1997). On the deposit scale, albitization is observed in distal
zones up to 150 m away from the ore zone, in chemically re-
active calcareous graywacke-phyllite sequences (Fig. 3B).
The tourmaline alteration is largely structurally controlled
and confined to a 40- to 50-m-wide zone in proximity to the
ore zone, within the quartzwacke units.
Tourmalinization: The intensity of tourmalinization varies
considerably within the Gara quartzwacke sandstone, from
a strongly tourmalinized zone (3080% of the rock com-
posed of tourmaline) at the top of the sequence to a weakly
tourmalinized zone (515% tourmaline) in coarser-grained
sedimentary rocks at the base (Fig. 3B). The upper 5- to 20-
m-thick, tourmaline-rich unit is the ore host. Whole-rock
geochemistry of tourmalinized rock shows enrichment in
MgO, Fe2O3(T), MnO, Na2O, CaO, Zn, Ni, Cu, Sr, La, Ce,
and Nd, and depletions in SiO2 and K2O relative to samples
of the least-altered quartzwacke (Table A1). Mass change
calculations indicate a minimum net mass loss of approxi-
mately 10% was associated with tourmalinization. This
implies that the alteration process created porosity within
the quartzwacke hosts probably through dissolving and
removing of major components, such as Si, to precipitate
the tourmaline.
207
208 LAWRENCE ET AL.

TABLE 1. Representative EDS Microprobe Analyses of Sulfide Phases at Loulo

Wt %

Mineral Deposit Fe As Co Ni S Total At. % As

Tourmaline-bearing deposits
Py GA 46.98 _ _ _ 53.15 100.13 _
Ni-Py GA 44.69 _ _ 1.99 53.22 99.90 _
Ni-Py GA 42.19 _ 0.40 4.70 53.18 100.47 _
Ni-Py GK-HW 40.34 _ _ 7.79 53.12 101.25 _
Ni-Py GK-HW 32.99 _ 1.12 12.11 53.43 99.65 _
Ni-Py GK-HW 31.10 _ 2.21 12.80 53.25 99.36 _
Po GA 59.87 _ _ 2.31 38.45 101.63 _
Po GA 57.44 _ _ 4.45 38.79 100.68 _
Pn GA 33.89 _ _ 33.90 33.10 100.89 _
Pn GA 33.97 _ _ 33.71 32.78 100.46 _
Pn YN 34.98 _ _ 32.77 32.91 100.66 _
Mil GK-HW 1.46 _ _ 63.17 35.49 100.11 _
Gf GA 8.78 43.76 _ 28.90 19.67 101.11 31.80
Gf GA 4.40 42.97 _ 31.73 20.00 99.10 31.75
Gf YN 8.80 45.86 _ 26.64 19.79 101.09 33.44
Gf YN 14.87 43.78 1.52 19.53 21.04 100.74 31.51
Ni-Cb YN 11.22 41.74 14.69 10.58 20.81 99.03 30.51
Cb YN 7.79 41.85 24.68 5.39 20.59 100.30 30.35
Cb YN 3.43 42.45 32.51 1.05 20.35 99.79 31.10
Cb HW-GK 4.84 41.79 25.60 6.70 21.05 99.98 33.34
Cb HW-GK 7.41 41.88 20.53 9.49 21.14 100.45 30.21
Asp GA 33.98 44.05 _ _ 21.55 99.58 31.65
Asp GA 33.99 44.63 _ _ 21.22 99.84 32.10
Asp GA 33.73 44.91 _ _ 21.12 99.76 32.37
Asp GA 33.95 44.85 _ _ 20.97 99.77 32.36
Asp GA 33.83 44.67 0.53 _ 20.98 100.06 32.15

Non-tourmaline bearing deposits

Py YM 45.96 0.74 _ _ 53.34 100.05 0.40
Py YM 43.39 2.89 _ _ 53.19 99.46 1.57
Py YM 43.57 3.00 53.32 99.89 1.63
Asp YM 35.53 43.38 _ _ 21.75 100.67 30.76
Asp YM 35.66 42.52 _ _ 21.63 99.82 30.35
Asp YM 35.29 42.89 _ _ 21.89 100.06 30.51
Asp YM 35.75 42.51 _ _ 21.52 99.78 30.38
Asp YM 35.28 43.38 _ _ 21.20 99.86 31.11

Notes: = below detection limit (<0.20 wt %); pyrite and arsenopyrite analyses at Yalea Main correspond to pyrite-II and arsenopyrite-I grains; arsenic is
also presented as atomic % for use in arsenopyrite geothermometry
Abbreviations: Asp = arsenopyrite, Cb = cobaltite, Ni-Cb = Ni-rich cobaltite, Gf = gersdorffite, Mil = millerite, Pn = pentlandite, Py = pyrite, Ni-Py =
nickeloan pyrite, Po = pyrrhotite; GA = Gara deposit, GK-HW = hanging wall mineralization at Gounkoto, YM = Yalea Main deposit, YN = Yalea North
oreshoot

TABLE 2. Representative EDS Microprobe Analyses of Gold Grains at Gara and Yalea Main (wt %)

N Deposit Location Host Au Ag Total N Deposit Location Host Au Ag Total

1 GA G-I Py 99.84 0.42 100.26 1 YM G-I Py 94.83 4.38 99.22

2 GA G-I Py 99.39 0.33 99.73 2 YM G-I Py 99.12 1.04 100.17
3 GA G-I Py 98.89 0.31 99.12 3 YM G-I Asp 93.59 6.14 99.72
4 GA G-II Py 98.05 1.15 99.20 4 YM G-I Asp 93.87 6.55 100.41
5 GA G-II Py 98.45 1.17 99.61 5 YM G-I Ccp 96.63 3.54 100.18
6 GA G-II Py 98.79 1.18 99.96 6 YM G-II Py 95.74 3.59 99.33
7 GA G-III Py 99.88 0.76 100.64 7 YM G-II Asp 92.34 7.97 100.31
8 GA G-III Py 99.97 0.28 100.25 8 YM G-II Asp 94.78 5.20 99.97
9 GA G-IV Qtz 99.65 0.58 100.23 9 YM G-III Py 96.56 3.68 100.25
10 GA G-IV Ank 99.08 0.64 99.71 10 YM G-IV Chl 94.12 5.64 99.75

Abbreviations: GA = Gara deposit, YM = Yalea Main; gold sites: G-I = inclusions in sulfides, G-II = situated along microfractures in sulfides, G-III = at-
tached to sulfide grain margins, G-IV = free gold in vein-gangue material; Ank = Ankerite, Asp = arsenopyrite, Ccp = chalcopyrite, Chl = chlorite, Py = pyrite,
Qtz = quartz

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 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI 209

TABLE 3. Chemical Composition of Monazite and Xenotime from (overprints sedimentary fabrics such as bedding) and occurs
Mineralizing Veins at Gara, by EDS Analysis prior to gold deposition, as is shown by crosscutting relation-
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ships within the vein stockwork system (Figs. 4A, 7A). The
early-stage generation represents the most dominant alter-
Monazite ation phase at Gara, accounting for an estimated 60 to 75%
SiO2 0.23 0.23 0.78 of the overall tourmaline. This alteration event prepared the
ThO2 2.16 rock for later stockwork formation and gold mineralization
Ce2O3 36.61 35.15 37.40 35.67 36.09 33.85 36.22 33.73
La2O3 21.36 21.34 18.28 17.40 17.50 15.39 21.18 19.54
by increasing the competency of the quartzwacke in relation
Pr2O3 2.70 to the surrounding wall rocks. The strongly tourmalinized
Nd2O3 12.15 12.29 14.38 15.41 15.80 16.35 11.75 10.86 zone is bordered on both sides by narrow (0.54 m), bedding
Sm2O3 1.37 1.89 2.28 2.28 parallel, ductile shears (Fig. 3B), which appear to have chan-
Gd2O3 1.69 nelized B-rich hydrothermal fluids during early-D2 defor-
Fe2O3 0.23 0.83
CaO 0.34 0.22 1.02 0.34 mation. Early-stage tourmaline occurs as cryptocrystalline
P2O5 29.33 29.26 29.15 29.77 29.64 29.32 28.90 28.20 grains generally <10 m in size, accompanied by interstitial
Total 100.02 99.41 99.65 100.13 99.04 100.13 100.34 99.14 secondary quartz, rhodochrosite and, less commonly, mon-
azite (Fig. 7B).
Number of ions on the basis of 16 oxygens
Electron microprobe analyses indicate tourmaline at Loulo
P 3.93 3.95 3.92 3.97 3.99 3.91 3.95 3.79 belongs to the schorl-dravite series (Fig. 8). Early-stage tour-
Si 0.04 0.04 0.12 maline at Gara show dravitic compositions (MgO 8.45-10.36
Sum 3.93 3.95 3.96 3.97 3.99 3.95 3.95 3.91
Fe3+ 0.03 0.10 wt %; Fe/[Fe + Mg] cation ratio of 0.240.33; Na/[Na + Ca]
Ca 0.06 0.04 0.17 0.06 cation ratio of 0.850.94) (Table 4). This phase of tourmaline
Th 0.08 alteration has a different chemical composition from later
Ce 2.12 2.05 2.17 2.06 2.10 1.95 2.14 1.96 generations, with the lowest concentrations of Al2O3 (28.58
La 1.25 1.26 1.07 1.01 1.03 0.90 1.26 1.14
Pr 0.16
31.00 wt %) and the highest amounts of CaO (0.320.69 wt
Nd 0.69 0.70 0.82 0.87 0.90 0.92 0.68 0.62 %) recorded.
Sm 0.08 0.10 0.12 2. The second stage of tourmaline alteration was synchro-
Gd 0.09 nous with the development of the D3 ankerite-quartz-pyrite-
Sum 4.14 4.09 4.10 4.04 4.02 4.15 4.08 4.11 Au vein stockwork (estimated 510% of tourmaline present at
Xenotime Gara). Tourmaline is observed as a vein-filling phase in type I
Rb2O3 1.40 1.40 1.49 1.28 1.26 1.17 0.95 and II auriferous veins. Tourmaline occurs as acicular grains
Y2O3 44.76 46.83 46.85 46.13 47.28 47.12 47.02 45.90 (3050 m), commonly growing at a high angle to the vein
Gd2O3 2.86 1.72 1.56 2.67 1.63 1.18 1.74 2.60 walls, indicating open space filling (Fig. 7C, D). Synmineral-
Dy2O3 5.53 5.21 4.36 5.21 4.53 5.53 5.75 6.59 ization tourmalines are also seen as granular masses in narrow
Er2O3 3.65 3.88 4.21 4.46 4.41 4.38
Yb2O3 5.00 3.73 4.09 4.53 3.59 4.76 4.08
alteration selvages (<3 cm) around gold-bearing veins (over-
Fe2O3 0.54 1.03 1.16 1.00 1.48 printing early-stage tourmaline). The vein-associated tourma-
CoO 0.21 1.30 1.55 lines show distinct compositional variations compared to
CaO 2.09 early-stage tourmaline (Fig. 8; Table 4). This phase is the
P2O5 36.06 36.95 36.41 37.97 35.69 35.08 35.50 37.21 most Al rich (Al2O3 32.2933.96 wt %) and Mg poor (MgO
Total 99.46 99.71 98.68 99.35 99.23 99.29 100.67 99.11
4.615.92 wt %; Fe/[Fe + Mg] of 0.420.50) of the Gara tour-
Number of ions on the basis of 16 oxygens malines, classifying as ferroan dravites and Mg-bearing
P 4.02 4.05 3.96 4.10 3.96 3.94 3.93 4.05 schorls. Synmineralization tourmalines are clearly distin-
Fe3+ 0.05 0.10 0.12 0.10 0.14 guished from other generations in Figure 8A, with the lowest
Co 0.02 0.13 0.16 alkali concentrations (i.e., highest X-site vacancies of
Rb 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.07 0.370.49). The diadochic behavior is controlled by the sub-
Y 3.14 3.22 3.20 3.13 3.30 3.32 3.27 3.14
Ca 0.29
stitution of Na1+, Ca1+, and Mg2+ for Al3+.
Gd 0.12 0.07 0.07 0.11 0.07 0.05 0.08 0.11 3. The last episode of tourmaline growth exists as a re-
Dy 0.23 0.22 0.18 0.21 0.19 0.24 0.24 0.27 placement phase after mineralized pyrite (late-D3 origin)
Er 0.15 0.16 0.17 0.19 0.18 0.18 (Fig. 7E, F). This stage represents approximately 20 to 35%
Yb 0.20 0.15 0.16 0.18 0.14 0.19 0.16 of the overall tourmaline at Gara. Replacement occurs along
Sum 3.97 3.92 4.19 3.88 4.07 4.11 4.12 3.91
the outer margins of type I veins or as more pervasive re-
Note: = below detection limit (<0.20 wt %)
placement in type II veins, as well as in disseminated pyrite
zones close to the vein walls. Late-stage tourmaline is most
frequently seen along the F2 fold limbs, indicating late fluid
Textural and microprobe data (Figs. 7, 8; Table 4) indicate movement along the NNE-trending shears (Fig. 3A). Late-
at least three separate stages of tourmaline alteration: stage tourmaline shares a similar, albeit slightly different,
composition to the pre mineralization stage (Fig. 8; Table 4).
1. The first generation of epigenetic tourmaline growth The tourmaline paragenesis documented here differs signifi-
(early-stage) occurs as a massive replacive phase of the sedi- cantly to the earlier study of Dommanget et al. (1993), which
mentary matrix (altering phyllic phases) (Fig. 7A). The did not identify the presence of synmineralization and late re-
hydrothermal tourmaline cement is texture destructive placement types.

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210 LAWRENCE ET AL.

A B
Py

Mnz

Tur

Tur

Qtz

Qtz
400 m 30 m

C D
Tur

Tur

Qtz
Ank Py
Ank

Tur
200 m 75 m

E F

Tur

Py Qtz
Tur

Py
Ank

Ank
150 m 400 m

FIG. 7. Photomicrographs (PPL) (A, C, and D) and BSE images (B, E, and F) showing the three stages of tourmaline de-
velopment at Gara. A) Pervasive early-stage alteration replacing the host sedimentary rock. Tourmaline alteration is post-
dated by type I mineralized quartz-ankerite-pyrite veins. B) High magnitude image showing the cryptocrystalline habit of
the early stage tourmalines. The rim-core zoning reflects slight increases in Fe toward the outer margins of the crystals. This
zoning pattern is only locally seen at Gara (more prominent at Yalea North). C) and D) Acicular tourmaline crystals hosted
in type I ankerite-quartz-pyrite Au veins. Early-stage tourmaline growth is also shown in (C). E) and F) Pyrite extensively re-
placed by late-stage tourmaline in type II vein. Tur = tourmaline; other abbreviations as in Figure 6.

Albitization: Sodic alteration at Gara occurs as a pre-ore stage
(D2early D3 origin) in pink-orange bleached zones extending
up to 150 m into the wall-rock argillaceous sandstones (cal-
careous graywackes with cyclic phyllite bands) (Fig. 3B). This
style of alteration either selectively replaced particular layers in
the laminated metasedimentary rocks (Fig. 9A) or pervasively
replaced the rock units (Fig. 9B). In the first scenario, carbon-
ate-cemented graywacke beds-laminae were altered by the
dissolution of plagioclase, quartz, and ankerite and precipita-
tion of equigranular albite, with the pink coloration caused by
trace amounts of fine-grained (<200 m) secondary hematite.
Interbedded phyllite layers remained largely unaltered.
Along second-order NNE-trending shears, more intense al-
bitization is recorded in both graywacke-phyllite metasedi-
mentary rocks and, less commonly, the carbonate wall rocks.
These local, structurally controlled, alteration zones are up to
3 m in width and textural obliteration is commonplace. The
homogeneous rock is composed almost completely of sec-
ondary minerals and shows a hetrogranular texture (Fig. 9C).
Late movement and alteration along these wall-rock struc-
tures led to brecciation and further albitization, typically ac-
companied by varying amounts of tourmaline. Alteration as-
semblages consist of albite + hematite ankerite quartz
tourmaline (schorl). Albite forms a variety of textures from
simple twinned albite (An5-Ab95 to Ab95-Or5) to untwinned
anoralbite (Ab90-Or10). Untwinned grains increase in abun-
dance with increasing intensity of alteration. Whole-rock geo-
chemistry shows albitization induced gains in Na2O, SiO2 and
CaO, and depletions in K2O, MgO, Fe2O3(T) and MnO
(Table A1).

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 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI 211

(A) Ca Al (B)
Elbaite
Early stage
Synmineralization stage
Late stage
A

Calcic group Alkali-free Dravite

B D G
Schorl E Dravite
Buergerite

Vacancy group Alkali group

C F H
Uvite

X-site vacancy Na +(K) Al50Fe50 Al50Mg50

FIG. 8. Ternary plots showing the classification of tourmaline minerals at Gara. A) Classification based on the X-site oc-
cupancy, using the Ca-X-site vacancy-Na +(K) diagram of Hawthorne and Henry (1999). Early, synmineralization and late
stage tourmalines plot into separate clusters in the alkali field. B) Classification based on Y- and Z-site occupancy, using the
Al-Fe-Mg ternary diagram of Henry and Guidotti (1985). The shaded area shows the composition of multistage hydrother-
mal tourmaline from other Loulo deposits (Yalea North, P-129, P-64 and Gounkoto) for comparison (data from Lawrence,
2010). Labeled fields: A. Li-rich granitoid pegmatites and aplites. B. Li-poor granitoids pegmatites and aplites. C. Fe3+-rich
quartz-tourmaline rocks (altered granitoids). D. Metapelites and metapsammites with Al-saturating phase. E. Metapelites
and metapsammites lacking Al-saturating phase. F- Fe3+-rich quartz-tourmaline rocks, calc-silicate rocks and metapelites. G.
Low Ca meta-ultramafic rocks and Cr-V-rich metasedimentary rocks. H. Metacarbonates and metapyroxenites.

Yalea Deposit
A B
Deposit geometry
Yalea was discovered by Randgold Resources Ltd in 1997,
after an extensive exploration program. The deposit is situ-
ated 6 km to the southeast of Gara (Fig. 2) and lies along a
third-order shear that strikes N-S over 2 km (Fig. 10A). This
structure formed as result of transtensional D3 sinistral move-
ment along a NNE-trending second-order D2 shear (left-
hand displacement) that hosts mineralization further to the
north at Loulo-3 and Baboto (referred to as the Yalea-trend)
(Figs. 2, 10A). The Yalea mineralized structure is split into
three bodies referred to as Yalea Main (discussed in this sec-
tion) and the smaller Yalea North and P-125 satellite lodes
Ni-Py (briefly discussed later in Satellite Bodies and Minor Targets).
Currently, the Yalea shear contains a mining resource of 6.29
Moz of gold at an average grade of 4.9 g/t (published data
from Randgold Resources Ltd 2011 annual report).
The N-S Yalea mineralized shear is a 10- to 40-m-wide zone
C of strongly metasomatized, brittle-ductile deformed rocks
(Fig. 11). In cross section, the shear dips to the east at 60,
Ank steepening to subvertical at depth (Fig. 10B). The footwall
consists of a thick package (>150 m) of altered and deformed

FIG. 9. The Gara sodic alteration zone within the distal argillaceous sand-
Ab stones. A) Pink albitization of the calcareous graywacke beds or laminae.
Green phyllite layers remain largely unaltered. B) More pervasive alteration
along NNE shears. The protolith sedimentary rock is shown in the bottom
section of the core. C) Photomicrograph (XPL) of the pink altered rock pic-
tured in (B), showing the dominance of secondary albite (gray colored,
twinned and untwinned, grains) and finer interstitial ankerite. Ab = albite;
400 m
other abbreviations as in Figure 6.

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 212

TABLE 4. Representative Chemical Composition of Tourmaline Phases at Gara by Electron Microprobe Analysis

Early stage Vein-associated stage Late stage

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

SiO2 37.30 37.78 37.73 37.09 37.27 37.57 37.70 37.78 37.52 36.42 36.96 36.50 37.17 36.93 37.33 37.28 37.32 37.28 37.30 37.14 37.14 37.49
Al2O3 31.00 28.98 30.31 29.07 29.71 29.60 30.13 29.69 28.58 28.62 33.13 33.42 33.96 33.62 32.89 31.09 31.51 33.50 33.17 31.82 32.19 31.09

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TiO2 0.29 0.70 0.41 0.91 0.50 0.65 0.77 0.78 0.80 0.53 0.48 0.25 0.21 0.28 0.24 0.66
FeO(T) 5.71 6.13 5.84 7.28 6.62 6.99 6.79 6.14 6.66 6.52 7.49 7.57 8.46 8.32 8.33 7.19 7.04 4.77 4.99 5.60 5.71 6.46
MgO 10.05 10.19 9.94 8.45 9.05 9.06 8.89 9.35 10.36 9.25 5.84 5.92 4.69 4.61 4.81 7.55 7.48 8.92 9.01 8.72 8.50 7.82
CaO 0.69 0.61 0.65 0.37 0.32 0.46 0.43 0.50 0.62 0.47 0.22 0.29 0.26 0.29 0.37
Na2O 2.24 2.64 2.33 2.72 2.68 2.61 2.75 2.69 2.48 2.53 1.98 1.94 1.70 1.61 1.85 2.73 2.42 2.20 2.32 2.46 2.55 2.45
LiO2* 0.00 0.15 0.06 0.24 0.15 0.17 0.19 0.24 0.03 0.11 0.22 0.07 0.26 0.29 0.43 0.22 0.19 0.05 0.05 0.29
B2O3* 10.82 10.74 10.81 10.55 10.63 10.70 10.78 10.74 10.70 10.39 10.61 10.59 10.66 10.56 10.55 10.65 10.65 10.87 10.90 10.73 10.77 10.70
H2O* 3.63 2.82 3.64 2.77 2.75 2.78 2.80 2.82 3.68 3.58 3.38 3.31 3.31 3.27 3.40 3.63 3.54 3.51 3.55 3.55 3.57 3.62
Total 101.73 100.74 101.71 99.46 99.69 100.59 101.24 100.72 101.42 98.42 99.71 99.44 100.29 99.29 99.60 100.83 100.40 101.27 101.71 100.61 101.01 100.96

Structural formula on the basis of 24.5 oxygens

B 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
SiT 5.99 6.12 6.07 6.11 6.10 6.10 6.08 6.11 6.09 6.09 6.06 5.99 6.09 6.08 6.15 6.08 6.09 5.95 5.95 6.01 6.00 6.09
AlT 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.05 0.00 0.01 0.00
T total 6.00 6.12 6.07 6.11 6.10 6.10 6.08 6.11 6.09 6.09 6.06 6.00 6.09 6.08 6.15 6.08 6.09 6.00 6.00 6.01 6.00 6.09

AlZ 5.86 5.53 5.75 5.54 5.73 5.67 5.73 5.66 5.47 5.64 5.89 5.87 5.93 5.94 5.92 5.70 5.73 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 5.96
MgZ 0.14 0.47 0.26 0.47 0.27 0.33 0.27 0.34 0.53 0.36 0.11 0.13 0.07 0.06 0.08 0.30 0.28 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05

212
Fe3+ Z 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Z total 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00
LAWRENCE ET AL.

AlY 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.51 0.59 0.60 0.59 0.47 0.00 0.00 0.26 0.18 0.07 0.12 0.00
TiY 0.03 0.09 0.05 0.11 0.06 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.10 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.03 0.00 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.08
Fe2+ Y 0.71 0.65 0.73 0.99 0.85 0.89 0.92 0.83 0.60 0.78 1.03 1.04 1.15 1.15 1.15 0.98 0.96 0.64 0.67 0.76 0.77 0.88
Fe3+ Y 0.06 0.18 0.06 0.02 0.06 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.31 0.14 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
MgY 2.27 1.99 2.13 1.61 1.93 1.86 1.87 1.92 1.98 1.95 1.31 1.32 1.07 1.07 1.10 1.54 1.55 2.12 2.14 2.10 2.05 1.85
LiY 0.00 0.10 0.04 0.16 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.16 0.02 0.07 0.14 0.05 0.17 0.19 0.29 0.15 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.04 0.19
Y total 3.07 3.00 3.00 2.89 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 2.72 2.66 3.02 3.01 3.00 3.00 3.00

CaX 0.12 0.11 0.11 0.07 0.06 0.08 0.08 0.09 0.11 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.06
NaX 0.70 0.83 0.73 0.87 0.85 0.82 0.86 0.84 0.78 0.82 0.63 0.62 0.54 0.51 0.59 0.87 0.77 0.68 0.72 0.77 0.80 0.77
X total 0.82 0.93 0.84 0.94 0.91 0.90 0.93 0.93 0.89 0.90 0.63 0.62 0.54 0.51 0.59 0.87 0.77 0.72 0.77 0.82 0.85 0.84
X vacancy 0.18 0.07 0.16 0.06 0.09 0.10 0.07 0.07 0.11 0.10 0.37 0.38 0.46 0.49 0.41 0.14 0.24 0.28 0.24 0.18 0.15 0.16

Na/
(Na + Ca) 0.85 0.89 0.87 0.93 0.94 0.91 0.92 0.91 0.88 0.91 0.99 0.99 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.95 0.94 0.94 0.94 0.92
Fe/
(Fe + Mg) 0.24 0.25 0.25 0.33 0.29 0.30 0.30 0.27 0.27 0.28 0.42 0.42 0.50 0.50 0.49 0.35 0.35 0.23 0.24 0.27 0.27 0.32
Fe2+/
(Fe2++Fe3+) 0.93 0.78 0.93 0.99 0.94 0.93 1.00 1.00 0.66 0.85 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
cations 18.89 19.05 18.91 18.94 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.04 18.98 19.00 18.69 18.63 18.63 18.59 18.74 18.67 18.52 18.74 18.77 18.83 18.85 18.93

Note: Stoichiometry calculated using the WinClastour software (Yavuz et al., 2006); * calculated from normalization schemes used by the program; T, Z, Y, and X refer to site positions
 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI 213

(A) NNE-trending, 2nd-order,

sinistral D2 shear, following
a P-shear geometry with
P-125 satellite respect to the SMSZ
- situated along a
N-S chloritized
shear Yalea North lode
- hosted in albite-tourm-
aline altered breccias

Yalea Main ore body

- situated along a N-S
dilational R-shear formed
Pit outline
from reactivation of the
NNE shears during D3
transtension

FW HW

Late dextral
E-W fault
Short left-hand displacements
between a series of NNE-trending
shears

FIG. 11. A photograph of the N-S Yalea shear taken from the underground
A B mine, showing the extent of brittle-ductile deformation associated with min-
eralization and hydrothermal alteration. The rock is composed of pink albite-
ankerite clasts, and a matrix of gold-bearing sulfides and accessory silicates
N and carbonates.

Mineralization
200 100 0 200 m
Styles: The N-S Yalea shear is characterized by an early
phase of intense carbonate-albite alteration. This fluid event
(B) A B formed an important element of ground preparation for min-
100 RL
Yalea shear eralization. Late sinistral movement along the shear was asso-
Zones of ciated with brittle-ductile deformation of the altered host,
intense
albitization
Purple patch -100 and mineralization in the form of sulfide stringer zones and
of high-grade
FW
disseminations, plus minor sulfide quartz ankerite vein-
HW
-300 lets. Ductile textures consist of the rotation and alignment of
Footwall
albitization
attenuated clasts parallel to N-S shear fabric (Fig. 11). Fab-
rics displaying a greater degree of ductile deformation are
-500
200 100 0 200 m
linked to higher sulfide and gold abundance, and thus repre-
sent zones of increased fluid migration. In strongly deformed
Dolomictic Calcareous sandstone/
sections of the ore, massive sulfide is associated with gold
marble phyllite sequence grades >20 g/t. Hydraulic fracturing of altered host is also ev-
Arkose Feldspathic wacke ident in the form of fractures and mineralized sulfide veinlets
Mineralization that run oblique to the shear fabric, and crackle breccias
Outer alteration
and inner alter-
zone
which are commonly sealed by silica and sulfides. The range
ation zone of textures observed at Yalea Main is controlled by rheologi-
FIG. 10. Plan and cross sections of the Yalea structure. A) Plan view show- cal contrasts and possible variations in strain along the shear.
ing the structural setting for Yalea Main and satellite lodes. B) Cross section The total sulfide content of the ore body is typically less than
through the southern part of the Yalea Main deposit showing the hanging- 15 vol %. Barren, undeformed, quartz-calcite veins are seen
wall and footwall rock units, and the extent of the alteration halo. SMSZ =
Senegal-Mali shear zone. in both the footwall and hanging wall and postdate all stages
of alteration and mineralization (post-D3 origin).
Ore mineralogy: The mineralogy of the Yalea Main deposit
argillitic calcareous sandstones (similar to the Gara wall contrasts significantly to the ore and alteration genesis docu-
rocks), which strike subparallel to the main shear fabric. mented at Gara. Ore constituents show consistently high As
Hydrothermal-tectonic breccias are located along footwall concentrations with dominant sulfide phases of arsenian
shears. Hanging-wall units comprise feldspathic sandstone se- pyrite and arsenopyrite (70:30 to 60:40 ratio). Tungsten phases
quences including arkosic rocks bordering the ore zone and especially Ni-bearing sulfides and REE phosphates,
(100200 m in thickness), grading into finer grained plagio- which all occur in elevated amounts at Gara, are rare at Yalea
clase-rich wackes in more distal zones. A thin (1215 m) foli- Main. The metal associations of the ore typically comprise
ated, carbonaceous-rich, dolomitic marble caps the ore zone Fe-As-Cu-Au-Ag and minor Sb-W-Pb. Paragenetic studies
in the southern parts of the deposit (Fig. 10B), but is sheared reveal a multistage ore development comprising two main
farther into the hanging wall toward the north. sulfide-Au stages (pyrite-arsenopyrite and arsenopyrite) and a

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214 LAWRENCE ET AL.

minor Cu-rich stage (tennantite-chalcopyrite). The ore para- auriferous pyrite-II stringer zones, as pseudomorphs of
genesis is discussed in detail in the following sections and pre- pyrite-II (Fig. 13B), or crosscuts sulfides associated with ore
sented in Figure 12. stage 1 (Fig. 13C). Minor inclusions in arsenopyrite-II in-
The first stage of sulfide formation at Yalea Main is related clude pyrrhotite, ultrafine-grained gold, and rare galena and
to an early, minor, barren phase of pyrite (pyrite-I; <1% of the jamesonite (<20 m).
total pyrite), which exists as As-depleted disseminations (30 The last stage of sulfide-Au paragenesis is represented by
300 m), free of inclusions, within the carbonate-albite wall- minor Cu-bearing phases. Chalcopyrite-II (25% of the total
rock alteration. The initiation of ore development is linked to sulfides) is seen veining fractured pyrite-II (Fig. 13D), filling
the growth of arsenian pyrite (pyrite-II) in late brittle-ductile interstices between Fe-As sulfides, or less commonly replac-
shear structures and breccias. Crystal morphologies include ing pyrite-II and arsenopyrite-II. Ferroan tennantite (<2% of
cubic, hexagonal, and pyritohedral habits (30 m1 mm, avg total sulfides) is observed as an intermediate phase during the
150200 m), in addition to rare massive pyrite. The chem- transformation of arsenian pyrite to chalcopyrite-II. A third,
istry of pyrite-II crystals differs from the Gara pyrites, with As minor generation of pyrite (pyrite III; Cu-bearing) is seen
present as the dominant substitution phase (0.53 wt % As) along the southern fringes of Yalea Main orebody, replacing
instead of Ni and Co (Table 1). Some degree of vertical zona- sulfides associated with ore stages 1 and 2. Primary Cu-bear-
tion can be seen in the Yalea ore, with pyrite-II increasing ing sulfides have locally oxidized to chalcocite and covellite
downwards. Petrographic evidence shows pyrite-II has an during chemical weathering.
intimate association with numerous phases of arsenopyrite Geothermometric estimates from the Yalea Main sulfide
growth (Fig. 13A-C). Arsenopyrite-I is observed forming con- assemblages are confined to ore stage 1. Arsenopyrite geo-
temporaneously with pyrite-II as euhedral tabular inclusions thermometry (Kretschmar and Scott, 1976; Sharp et al.,
or rhombic intergrowths (10100 m) (Fig. 13A). Inclusion 1985), suggest formation temperatures between 320 and
minerals in pyrite-II and arsenopyrite-I comprise minor chal- 367C (As concentrations vary from 30.35 to 31.11 at. % for
copyrite (chalcopyrite-I), pyrrhotite (more dominant than arsenopyrite-I grains; Table 1). This temperature range is 30
Gara), rare scheelite, and other minerals such as gold (<10 to 130C lower than temperatures recorded from the Gara ar-
50 m). senopyrites (400447C). No temperatures could be calcu-
Ore stage 2 is characterized by a second generation of ar- lated for ore stage 2 because arsenopyrite-II is not coeval with
senopyrite growth (arsenopyrite-II). Arsenopyrite-II is more pyrite growth.
dominant (an estimated three- to four-fold increase in modal Gold occurrence at Yalea Main is temporally associated
abundance) and coarser (up to a few mm) than arsenopyrite- with numerous stages of sulfide growth. Gold is situated in
I. This generation occurs as overgrowths along the margins of pyrite-II (Fig. 13E), arsenopyrite-I, arsenopyrite-II (Fig.
13F), tennantite (Fig. 13G), and chalcopyrite-II (Fig. 13H).
Gold grade is strongly affected by the presence or absence
Mineral Pre-ore Main ore stage Ore stage Post-ore Super-
of these five sulfides, rather than the predominance of one
stage 1. 2. 3 stage gene phase. Gold occurs as included grains (G-I; 40%) (Fig. 13E,
- Wall-rock alteration
F); as small, randomly distributed remobilized particles
Ankerite within deformation cracks with or without late Cu sulfides
Albite (G-II; 55%) (Fig. 13G, H); occasionally as grains attached to
Quartz
Hematite
the margins of pyrite and arsenopyrite crystals (G-III; <5%);
Sericite rarely as free gold in chlorite-sericite alteration assemblages
Chlorite (G-IV; <1%); and as solid solution gold in the sulfide lattice
Rutile (G-V). Approximately 80% of the gold present as grains is
- Vein phases
1. 2. associated with pyrite-II as extremely fine grained particles
(avg grain sizes of 1015 m). Metallurgical test work indi-
Quartz
Ankerite
Calcite cates that the gold confined to arsenopyrite crystals is
- Ore-related phases
1.
2.
3.
largely present as lattice-bound refractory gold (below the
Pyrite
1. 2. detection limit of the WDS analyzer; <100 ppm). The pres-
Arsenopyrite
1. 2.
ence of lattice-bound gold is a typical feature of other ar-
Chalcopyrite
Pyrrhotite
senopyrite-rich ores in the Loulo district (discussed later in
Jamesonite
Satellite Bodies and Minor Targets). Gold is alloyed with
Galena higher silver concentrations than levels recorded at Gara (an
Scheelite avg ten-fold increase), with gold fineness ranging from 920 to
Tennantite 990 (mean of 950) (Table 2).
Gold
- Supergene Alteration
Limonite
Goethite
The composite Yalea Main alteration halo, which extends
Covellite to a 50- to 100-m-wide zone (Fig. 10B), consists of two main
Chalcocite components: a predominant early (pre-ore; early D3) phase
FIG. 12. Ore and alteration paragenetic sequence chart for Yalea Main.
of carbonate-albite-quartz; and a synmineralized phase of
The ore-related phases correspond to both the disseminated and minor vein- sericite-chlorite alteration. Unlike Gara, no tourmaline is as-
ing styles of mineralization (both styles formed contemporaneously). sociated with the Yalea Main deposit.

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 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI 215

A B

Asp-I

Asp-II

Py-II

Py-II

150 m 300 m

C D

Py-II

Asp-II

Ccp-II

Py-II 150 m 150 m

E F
Asp-II

Au Py-II
Au
Py-II

15 m 20 m

G H

Ccp-II Py-II
Au

Tn

Au

Asp-II
25 m 10 m

FIG. 13. BSE images of ore-related phases at Yalea Main. A) Rhombic intergrowths and anhedral inclusions of arsenopy-
rite-I associated with pyrite-II. B) Pyrite-II pseudomorphously replaced by arsenopyrite-II. C) Pyrite-II crosscut by ar-
senopyrite-II. D) Pyrite-II overprinted by chalcopyrite-II. E) A cluster of gold grains included in pyrite-II (G-I). F) Gold in-
clusions in arsenopyrite-II (G-I). G) Gold associated with late tennantite, infilling microfracture in arsenopyrite-II (G-II). H)
Gold spatially associated with chalcopyrite-II (G-II). Tn = tennantite; other abbreviations as in Figure 6.

Carbonate-albite: This style of alteration is analogous to the
distal alteration zone at Gara, although with notably higher
carbonate concentrations. Carbonate-albite alteration is di-
vided into two zones. The inner zone (1040 m) is located
along the N-S shear (Fig. 11) and represents a fluid-dominated
metasomatic system where hydrothermal minerals represent
approximately 50 to 70% of the rock mass (protolith rock
nearly unrecognizable). The alteration assemblage consists of
ankerite and albite (untwinned anoralbite; Ab90-Or10) (in
roughly equal concentrations), plus minor to trace amounts of

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216 LAWRENCE ET AL.

quartz, sericite, and pyrite (pyrite-I). The distribution of TABLE 5. Representative EDS Microprobe Analyses of
these minerals varies throughout this zone, with albite and Hydrothermal Chlorite at Yalea Main
sericite increasing towards the southern parts of the deposit 1 2 3 4 5 6
and carbonate increasing towards the north.
The outer alteration zone occurs in mylonitic and brec- SiO2 26.26 28.96 27.41 27.29 27.34 26.13
ciated footwall argillaceous sandstones. Hanging-wall sedi- Al2O3 22.60 23.49 22.70 21.59 21.39 21.10
FeO(T) 23.99 30.08 30.22 32.01 23.60 33.63
mentary rocks are less chemically reactive and remain largely MgO 16.91 9.90 9.75 9.26 17.82 7.95
unaltered. The intensity of the footwall alteration gradually K2O 0.30 0.20
decreases away from the Yalea shear, where altered minerals V2O3 0.35
represent <20% of the host rock. Higher fluid/rock ratios Cr2O3 0.47 0.67 0.44
occur along narrow (825 m) zones associated with NNE- CoO 0.21 0.20 0.33
Total 89.86 92.74 90.76 90.68 91.02 89.59
trending footwall shears. The outer alteration zone is charac-
terized by a significant decrease in hydrothermal carbonate Number of ions on the basis of 28 oxygens
and the formation of albite (An5-Ab95 to Ab90-Or10) plus Si 5.34 5.81 5.66 5.71 5.48 5.61
minor quantities of specular hematite (2 mm) + goethite Al(iv) 2.66 2.19 2.34 2.29 2.52 2.39
(after hematite) + quartz + ankerite + arsenopyrite. The Al(vi) 2.75 3.36 3.19 3.03 2.54 2.96
color of the albite ankerite alteration varies from pale yel- Fe 4.08 5.05 5.22 5.60 3.96 6.04
low to pink-orange, with a gradual rise in pink bleached Mg 5.12 2.96 3.00 2.89 5.33 2.55
K 0.08 0.05
zones with increasing distance from the ore zone. This V 0.06
bleached appearance is likely caused by a change in Fe oxi- Cr 0.08 0.05 0.08
dation state during wall-rock interaction or the localized Co 0.03 0.11 0.06
presence of fine-grained hematite. Whole-rock geochemistry Sum 19.96 19.45 19.53 19.62 19.99 19.68
Alivc 2.97 2.63 2.78 2.75 2.81 2.88
of the outer alteration zone shows similar compositions to T (C) a 333.2 296.9 312.7 309.9 316.3 323.2
sodic alteration at Gara, with enrichment in Na2O, SiO2, Zn, Fe/(Fe+Mg) 0.44 0.63 0.63 0.66 0.43 0.70
and Sr (Table A2). The inner albite-ankerite zone was not in-
cluded as part of the alteration geochemical study to avoid Note: Alivc = Al in tetrahedral sites according to Kranditiotis and MaClean
contamination from later hydrothermal events (including (1987); T (C)a = temperature estimates calculated using Cathelineau
sulfide-Au mineralization). (1988); = below detection limit (<0.20 wt %)
Sericite-chlorite alteration: Mineralized sulfides at Yalea
Main are texturally associated with minerals precipitated dur- with elevated grades associated with left-hand NNW-trend-
ing potassic alteration. Sericite-chlorite alteration is subtle ing dilational jogs (4th order Riedel shears).
and postdates (overprints) the ankerite-albite alteration in the The mineralogy of the Gounkoto deposit is similar to that
inner zone. The alteration takes on many forms, including at Gara, with an Fe-rich ore assemblage and an albite-tour-
narrow (<5 cm) zones of ductile shears surrounding the ore maline alteration halo (with the addition of extensive Fe oxide
zone (more common at the P-125 satellite), as patchy re- alteration). The mineral paragenesis is, however, more com-
placement of hanging-wall carbonates, as interstitial phases in plex with at least six hydrothermal events recorded. Intensely
massive pyrite-arsenopyrite zones, and lastly as thin green- sheared semipelitic and carbonate sedimentary rocks show
black alteration envelopes (<3 cm) along the margins of au- evidence of (1) early pink albite-ankerite-quartz alteration, as
riferous sulfide stringers and veinlets. Hydrothermal alteration well as (2) an overlapping phase of tourmaline (dravite) alter-
progresses from chloritization to sericitization approaching ation, (3) followed by a magnetite-chlorite (pycnochlorite)
the orebody. Phyllosillicates occur as weakly to strongly foli- tourmaline (schorl) event, then (4) by disseminated hematite-
ated, fine-grained (<150 m) crystals. Locally, chlorite can sulfide-Au mineralization, (5) followed by hematite-magnetite
occur as fibrous radial masses. Chlorite compositions vary replacement, and finally (6) a minor phase of sericite-chlorite
from ripidolite to brunsvigite (Table 5), according to the nomen- (brunsvigite) replacement. Ore phases are dominated by pyrite
clature of Hey (1954). Chlorite geothermometry, using methods and skeletal Ni-Cubearing pyrite, with minor and trace
developed by Cathelineau and Nieva (1985) and Kranidiotis amounts of chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, tennantite, cobaltite,
and MaClean (1987), indicate formation temperatures be- gersdorffite, scheelite, and monazite. Gold-related grains
tween 297 and 333C (Table 5). This range is consistent with are extremely fine grained (mainly <25 m2), and consist of
temperatures obtained from arsenopyrite geothermometry Ag-poor native gold (fineness >980) and a range of tellurides,
(320367C), implying gold mineralization at Yalea Main oc- mainly calaverite (AuTe2) and trace amounts of Bi-bearing
curred between 300 and 370C. sylvanite ([Au, Ag, Bi]Te2) and petzite (Ag3AuTe2).
Mineralization is also observed in the hanging wall of the
Gounkoto Deposit Gounkoto orebody and is characterized by elevated concen-
The Gounkoto deposit, in the southern part of the mining trations of Ni-Co-Cu-Pb-Se-Zn, with respect to the main ore
district, represents the latest world-class discovery at Loulo zone. Disseminated polymetallic ores are confined to a 20-m-
(only discussed briefly in this paper). Gold resources are esti- thick dolomitic marble and consist of abundant nickeloan
mated at 4.62 Moz at an average grade of 4.7 g/t (pub. data pyrite (max 13 wt % Ni), Ni-rich cobaltite, clausthalite, and
from Randgold Resources Ltd 2011 annual report). The shear- chalcopyrite (all present at levels >5% total sulfide content).
hosted orebody is situated along a 2 km N-S sinistral struc- Minor sulfide assemblages include galena, sphalerite, and other
ture, parallel to the neighboring Senegal-Mali shear zone, Ni-bearing sulfides (e.g., pentlandite, polydymite, millerite,

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 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI 217

and ullmannite). Gold is texturally associated with all major
sulfide generations (as inclusions), with elevated grades asso-
ciated with increasing base-metal concentrations. BSE im-
ages of the sulfide-selenide assemblages are shown in Figure
14, and chemical analyses of the Ni-Co phases are presented
along with the Gara data in Table 1.
Satellite Bodies and Minor Targets
Petrographic studies were also carried out on a range of
smaller lodes throughout the permit to help understand the
complicated ore genesis at Loulo and to compare with the
contrasting data collected from the main deposits. The min-
eralization and alteration characteristics of the smaller ore
odies and minor targets are summarized in Table 6. Like
Gara, the P-129 and P-64 deposits are associated with folded
tourmalinized quartzwacke turbidite sequences. Alteration
halos show multistage tourmaline growth with an early phase
replacing the host metasedimentary rocks and as a synminer-
alization phase linked to auriferous vein development and al-
teration selvages. Tourmaline compositions are similar to
Gara; however, higher concentrations of Fe3+ are recorded
(Fig. 8B). Ore petrogeneses are characterized by pyrite-rich
veins and disseminations; minor and trace assemblages dom-
inated by Ni-bearing sulfides, scheelite, (REE)-phosphates,
and telluride phases; and Ag-poor native gold grains (fineness
>980). Although lacking significant tourmaline alteration, the
Gara West satellite contains ore mineralogy comparable to
the main Gara deposit.
In contrast, mineralized zones along the Yalea trend (e.g.,
P-125, Loulo-3, Baboto deposits-targets; Fig. 2), and at Faraba
to the south, mainly exhibit features similar to those de-
scribed at Yalea Main. These bodies contain multiple genera-
tions of sulfide growth, exemplified by a high arsenopyrite
content. A large percentage of the gold associated with the As
sulfides occurs as lattice-bound gold. Gold grains visible
under the microscope tend to be Ag rich (fineness as low as
840). Alteration zones are dominated by K2O-CaO-SiO2
Na2O enrichment, marked by sericite-chlorite-silica albite
assemblages. Dommanget et al. (1993) suggested Loulo-3
shared Gara characteristics because of its spatial association
with tourmaline and gold. However, tourmaline alteration is
minimal at Loulo-3 (the majority mistaken for Fe-rich chlo-
rite) and is unrelated to the mineralization event.
The northern parts of the Yalea N-S shear (Fig. 10A) show
distinct mineralogical differences in comparison to its mother
lode Yalea Main and other deposits along the Yalea trend.
The Yalea North satellite is hosted in breccio-conglomerates
similar to the rock shown in Figure 11; although distinguished
by an influx of Fe3+-rich tourmaline (present as both clast and
matrix components), as well as albite. The mineralized zone
shows a ten-fold modal decrease in arsenopyrite compared to
Yalea Main, with pyritic ores containing elevated Ni-Co con-
centrations (Table 1).
Discussion
Gara-style versus Yalea-style deposits
The diverse mineral parageneses documented at Loulo
clearly show that contrasting styles of orogenic gold mineral-
ization occur within the region. Mineralization can be grouped

A B
Cla Py

Cb

Ni-Py
Cb

Ni-Py Py
Py

200 m 150 m

C D

Cla

Ni-Py
Ni-Py
Py
Py

200 m 100 m

FIG. 14. BSE images of Fe-Ni-Co-As and Pb-Se minerals in the hanging-wall mineralization zone at Gounkoto. A) Sub-
rounded cobaltite grain marginally replaced by pyrite (bottom right) and Ni pyrite (top and left). Clausthalite-I inclusions are
common in cobaltite. B) Cobaltite overprinted by pyrite and deformed Ni-pyrite. C) Nickeloan pyrite pseudomorphously re-
placing the core of a pyrite crystal. D) Clausthalite sealing microfissures in pyrite and truncated by later nickeloan pyrite. Cla
= clausthalite, Cb = cobaltite, other abbreviations as in Figure 6.

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218 LAWRENCE ET AL.

together into two distinct types, referred to as Gara- and

synmineralization) + chlorite + biotite

Yalea-style deposits. The features characteristic of both de-

Multistage tourmaline (pre- and

Multistage Fe3+-rich tourmaline

Multistage Fe3+-rich tourmaline

Chlorite + ankerite + magnetite

posit styles are outlined in Table 7. Mineralization in the

Chlorite + sericite + magnetite

(pre- and synmineralization) +

ization), plus minor ankerite +

+ albite (pre- and synmineral-

premineralization tourmaline
Gara-style orebodies occur as ankerite-rich shear vein stock-
Albite + magnetite + minor

Chlorite + sericite + minor

works and sulfide disseminations hosted in folded tourmalin-

+ hematite + ankerite
Alteration mineralogy

magnetite + hematite
ized quartzwackes (Gara, P-64, and P-129), or as dissemi-
nated lodes along more discrete shear structures (e.g.,

siderite quartz

Silica + ankerite
Gounkoto and Yalea North). These deposits are mainly dis-
tributed in a narrow zone (<2 km wide) along the border with

+ hematite
tourmaline

the Senegal-Mali shear zone (with the exception of Yalea

North) (Fig. 2). Gara-style orebodies are typified by intensely
metasomatized wall rock consisting of albite and multistage
tourmaline alteration. Ore zones are distinguished by Fe-rich

Fe-As-Cu-Au-Ag-Pb-
Fe-As-Cu-Au- Ag-W

Fe-As-Cu-Au- Ag-W

Fe-As-Cu-Au-Te-Bi-
sulfide assemblages (pyrite dominant), and polymetallic
Fe-REE-Cu-As-Ni-

Fe-Cu-REE-Ni-W-
Fe-REE-Cu-Ni-Au
TABLE 6. Mineralization and Alteration Characteristics of the Minor Ore Bodies in the Loulo Mining District

Fe-Cu-Ni-Co-As-

minor and trace phases including elevated concentrations of

As-Mo-Au-Te-Bi
Metal signature

P, LREE, Ni, Cu, and Co. In contrast, the Yalea-style deposits

REE-W-Au

occur as quartz carbonate vein lodes or sulfide stringer

Ag-Pb-Sb
Sb-Se
zones along altered (tourmaline-absent) brittle-ductile shears
W-Au

away from the Senegal-Mali shear zone (max 8 km to the east)

(Fig. 2). These gold ores are typically enriched in As, mainly
as arsenopyrite and arsenian pyrite, and contain extremely
+ scheelite + ferberite + pentlandite + arsenopyrite
Magnetite + chalcopyrite + monazite + gersdorffite

arsenopyrite + monazite + scheelite + tennantite +

low base and rare earth metal concentrations. Wall-rock al-

trace galena ardaite bournonite ullmannite
Pyrrhotite + tetrahedrite + chalcopyrite + gold
Pyrrhotite + chalcopyrite + tennantite + gold

Magnetite + pyrrhotite + chalcopyrite + gold +

teration is characterized by carbonate-silica-chlorite-sericite

+ molybdenite + gold + calaverite + bismuth
gersdorffite + pentlandite + scheelite + gold

albite assemblages.
Chalcopyrite + monazite + arsenopyrite +

Chalcopyrite + gersdorffite + cobaltite +

tsumoite + altaite + hedleyite + bismuth

Magnetite + pyrrhotite + chalcopyrite +

The differences in hydrothermal characteristics between

Magnetite + monazite + chalcopyrite +

the two groups of deposits cannot be explained solely by wall-

rock interactions, as the orebodies occur in similar host rock
Minor to trace ore assemblages

gold + pentlandite + xenotime

sequences. Instead, the diversity in the Loulo paragenesis is

xenotime + pyrrhotite + gold

tennantite + gold scheelite

likely caused by variations in fluid chemistry controlled by dif-

ferently sourced fluids. This idea is supported by fluid geo-
chemical data presented in the companion paper (Lawrence
et al., 2013). The following sections consider how the evolu-
tion of the Loulo gold deposits integrates into the regional
framework of the Kdougou-Kniba inlier. This includes
scheelite

outlining the potential origins of the mineralizing fluids, pay-

ing particular attention to the Gara-style orebodies. Lastly,
the data presented in this paper are discussed in the context
Dominant sulfide phase(s)

of Birimian metallogenesis elsewhere in West Africa, as well

Pyrite (Ni substitution)

Pyrite (Ni substitution)

Pyrite (Ni substitution)

Pyrite (Ni substitution)

as gold mineralization in the Archean Abitibi greenstone

Arsenian pyrite and

Arsenian pyrite and

Arsenian pyrite and

Arsenian pyrite and

province in Canada, to define how the Loulo deposits fit into

the broad spectrum of orogenic gold deposits.
arsenopyrite

arsenopyrite

arsenopyrite

arsenopyrite

Tourmalinization
Hydrothermal tourmaline occurs in different settings in the
Gara-style deposits. They include the following: (1) tourma-
line-rich stratiform horizons (up to 80 vol % tourmaline), with
Ankerite-quartz and chlorite-
Major mineralization style(s)

tourmaline present as a pervasive replacement phase of the

Ankerite-quartz veining and

Ankerite-quartz-tourmaline

Tourmaline-albite breccia-

sulfide-chlorite-magnetite
veining and disseminated

veining and disseminated

host sedimentary units (Figs. 4A, 7A, C), (2) less distinct
Quartz-dolomite veining,
Quartz veins and sulfide
Quartz-ankerite veining

veinlets/ stringer zones

alteration lenses and vein envelopes, (3) vein-filling phases

Massive disseminated
tourmaline veining

along with ankerite, quartz, and sulfides (Fig. 7C-F), and (4)
clast and matrix components of altered tectonic breccias. To
disseminated

explain the occurrence and abundance of tourmaline at Loulo,

Milsi et al. (1989, 1992) and Dommanget et al. (1993) pro-
hosted

posed that the borosilicates have a submarine exhalative origin.

This hypothesis is proved incorrect by this current research
and instead a late-orogenic magmatic model is proposed.
Deposit/target

Both syngenetic and epigenetic models are discussed below.

Yalea North
Gara West

Exhalative model: Studies by the BRGM two decades ago

Loulo-3

Baboto

Faraba

argued that Gara (then known as Loulo-0) and related ore-

P-129

P-125
P-64

bodies were separate from Birimian mesothermal (orogenic)

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 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI 219

TABLE 7. Deposit Classification for the Loulo Mining District

Characteristics Gara-style deposits Yalea-style deposits

Examples Gara, Gounkoto, Yalea North, P-129, and P-64 Yalea Main, P-125, Loulo-3, Baboto, and Faraba

Ore Mineralogy
Mineralization styles Ankerite-quartz vein-hosted, breccia-hosted, and Quartz vein-hosted, quartz-carbonate vein-hosted, and
disseminated orebodies disseminated styles

Major sulfides Pyrite (>90%), Ni Co substitution Arsenian pyrite and arsenopyrite (>90%)

Minor/trace sulfides Chalcopyrite + gersdorffite + pentlandite + arsenopyrite Pyrrhotite + chalcopyrite + tennantite tetrahedrite
tennantite cobaltite clausthalite galena sphalerite galena (trace) jamesonite bournonite
host of other Ni-bearing phases molybdenite

Other ore minerals Abundant monazite + scheelite, and less common xenotime, Trace scheelite magnetite, limited or no appearance of
of interest magnetite (REE)-phosphates

Metal association Fe-Cu-Ni-REE-P-W-As-Au Co-Pb-Se-Zn-Mo Fe-As-Cu-Au-Ag and accessory Pb-Sb-W

Gold sites Gold mainly confined to pyrite in numerous sites; low Gold situated in a range of Fe-As-Cu sulfides; high
amounts of refractory gold amounts of refractory gold (lattice-bound)

Gold fineness Ag-poor (980998; mainly >990) Ag-rich (840960), avg ten-fold increase in Ag

Alteration
Alteration types Tourmalinization (1) and albitization (2) Phyllic (1) and silica-carbonate albite (2)

Alteration assemblages 1. Tourmaline + quartz + ankerite siderite 1. Sericite + chlorite + quartz

rhodochrosite biotite chlorite 2. Ankerite + quartz albite (varying amounts)
2. Albite + quartz + ankerite + hematite hematite pyrite

Mass gains B2O3 + Na2O + FeO + Fe2O3 + MgO + SiO2 + H2O + K2O + CaO + CO2 + H2O + SiO2 + Na2O + MgO
MnO + REE + Ni + Zn

Fluid inclusion types1
1. Hypersaline (~40-50 wt % total dissolved solids), 1. Low salinity (<10 wt % NaCl equiv), H2O-NaCl
high T (>400C), multiphase H2O-rich CO2-NaCl-FeCl2 inclusions
inclusions 2. CO2-N2 CH4 inclusions
2. Mixed salinity (5-21 wt % NaCl equiv) CO2-rich H2O-
NaCl inclusions
3. CO2 N2 CH4 inclusions

1 Data from Lawrence et al. (2013)

gold deposits (e.g., mineralization along the Ashanti belt;
Mumin et al., 1994; Oberthr et al., 1994). Instead, a com-
parison was made with Proterozoic-Paleozoic stratiform tour-
maline-goldbearing deposits (Slack et al., 1993; Lerouge et
al., 1999; Garda et al., 2009). The BRGM model suggested
that tourmalinization occurred as a syngenetic phase via pre-
cipitation from B-rich hydrothermal vent fluids during early
Birimian extension. Tourmaline breccias, like the ones seen at
Yalea North and in the wall rocks at Gara, developed along
synsedimentary paleofractures and represent feeder pipes
formed during upward circulation of the hydrothermal fluids.
Dommanget et al. (1993) further postulated that the exhala-
tive system played an integral part in the gold mineralization
at Loulo, with gold preconcentrated during this syngenetic
event as a disseminated pyrite stage. Gold from this early
(pre-D1) episode was later remobilized during the develop-
ment of the D3 ankerite-quartz-pyrite Au vein stockworks.
The syngenetic tourmaline Au event was bracketed between
2072 7 Ma (207Pb/206Pb zircon age of crosscutting dolerite
dikes; Milsi et al., 1989) and 2098 11 Ma (minimum detri-
tal U/Pb zircon age from the tourmalinized sandstones; Boher
et al., 1992).
The timing and origin of tourmalinization (and gold miner-
alization) outlined by Milsi et al. (1989, 1992) and Dom-
manget et al. (1993) is dismissed here for several reasons.
1. Tourmalinization was epigenetic and linked to late-oro-
genic (D2-D3) strike-slip structures.
2. New textural data at Gara shows tourmalinization was
broadly coeval with the vein stockwork mineralization (Fig.
7). Similar relationships are seen at other Gara-style deposits
(e.g., P-64, Yalea North, and P-129; Table 6).
3. The tourmaline-bearing breccias seen at Yalea North,
and elsewhere, are tectonic (shear-related) breccias rather
than synsedimentary ones.
4. There is a lack of evidence to support the BRGM poly-
morph metallogenic model. Disseminated auriferous sulfides
do not appear to have formed prior to deformation and occur
as halos around the mineralized veins (at least at Gara) indi-
cating contemporaneous formation with the D3 stockworks.
This is consistent with the similar 34S isotope compositions
for both disseminated and vein pyrites (Fouillac et al., 1993;
Lawrence et al., 2013).

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220 LAWRENCE ET AL.
5. The stratiform geometry of the tourmalinization at Gara,
P-64, and P-129 is controlled by lithological contrasts (e.g.,
permeability) and bedding-parallel structures, rather than rep-
resenting a primary sedimentary feature. Similar arguments
regarding the timing and origin of tourmalinization and re-
lated gold mineralization have been debated at the Paleo-
proterozoic Passagem de Mariana deposit, Quadriltero Fer-
rfero, Brazil (Vial et al., 2007).
Epigenetic model: The orogenic gold classification for the
Loulo deposits best explains the structural controls to tour-
malinization and gold mineralization. The hydrothermal tour-
maline at the Gara-style deposits is one manifestation of a
regional boron anomaly that extends for more than 200 km
along the strike of the Senegal-Mali fault system (Lawrence,
2010). The anomaly is well defined, with boron contents 10
times stronger than background levels away from the major
shear, peaking above 200 ppm. One potential source for the
anomaly, and the pervasive growth of epigenetic tourmaline,
is a release of B-rich fluids from fractionated felsic melts
(London et al., 1996). Boron-bearing fluids are common fea-
tures of the late stage evolution of peraluminous granitic
hydrothermal systems (e.g., Cornwall, SW England; Smith
and Yardley, 1996). Hydrothermal fluids capable of transport-
ing significant boron are most likely to be Cl- or Fl-rich
(Slack, 1996), evidence of which are recorded within fluid in-
clusion assemblages in mineralized quartz veins at Gara and
Yalea North (Lawrence et al., 2013).
Alternatively, the boron in the Gara-style deposits could
have been sourced directly from marine sedimentary units and
precipitated as tourmaline from mesothermal, non-magmatic,
saline fluids (such as evaporitic brines). However, the absence
of known evaporites in the Kofi Series, and other Birimian
domains in West Africa, suggests that such a fluid is an un-
likely source for the boron at Loulo. A tourmaline isotope study
(11B, 18O, D) (cf. Marschall and Jiang, 2011) is warranted
to further examine the origin of the Loulo tourmalines.
Albitization
Along with tourmalinization, albitization is also a wide-
spread metasomatic phenomenon in the Birimian crust of the
eastern parts of the Kdougou-Kniba inlier (Bassot, 1997).
Sodic alteration forms a common feature of the Falm gran-
itoids to the west, most notably as albitites along the western
contact of the Senegal-Mali shear zone (Fig. 2). Albite is also
present in alteration envelopes around the Falm iron ore
skarn deposits (along with garnet, clinopyroxene, pyroxene,
and other minerals; Bassot, 1997; Schwartz and Melcher,
2004). Intense pink albite-carbonate alteration (with trace
hematite) is also common to the east of the Senegal-Mali
shear zone, along mineralized structures in the Kofi domain
(particularly the Gara-style deposits) (Figs. 9, 11).
In light of the spatial distribution of albitites in the region,
and the fact that this style of hydrothermal alteration is com-
monly linked to the cooling of intrusive bodies (e.g., Lee and
Parsons, 1997), a granitic-derived source is favored for the
wall-rock albitization associated with the Loulo gold deposits.
The likely albitizing agents are the hypersaline, high temper-
ature (>400C), H2O-rich-CO2-NaCl-FeCl2 fluids, which have
been recorded in auriferous quartz veins at Gara and Yalea
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
North (Lawrence et al., 2013). Albitic alteration is a common
feature of many magmatic-related ore deposits. Intense al-
bite-carbonate ( K feldspar) alteration is a distinctive char-
acteristic of disseminated gold deposits in the Canadian
Abitibi greenstone belt, which are spatially and genetically as-
sociated with syenite intrusions (Robert, 2001). Granitic al-
bitization is also associated with iron oxide Cu-Au deposits
(Marschik and Fontbot, 2001; Williams et al., 2005; Bas-
trakov et al., 2007) and the root zones of porphyry Cu-Au sys-
tems (Lang et al., 1995; Perello et al., 1995).
Metal signatures and correlatives to
Falm iron ore mineralization
The Gara-style orebodies are distinguished by the Fe-rich
nature of the paragenesis (pyrite-rich), the consistently high P-
REE-W concentrations (apatite, monazite, scheelite, and xeno-
time; Fig. 6I-L; Table 3), and the anomalous levels of Cu-Ni-
Co-Pb-Zn (present as sulfides, sulfosalts, and substitution
phases in pyrite; Figs. 6A-D, 14; Table 1). Base metal concen-
trations (particularly Ni-Co-Pb) show a marked increase in mar-
ble host rocks (e.g., the Gounkoto hanging-wall mineralized
zone) with the development of nickeloan pyrite-cobaltite-
clausthalite ores (Fig. 14). This localized enrichment is likely
constrained by rapid increases in O2 or changes in pH during
fluid-rock interaction (Williams-Jones et al., 2009). Similar base
and rare earth metal associations extend into the alteration
zones, as shown by multielement geochemistry data for the
proximal tourmaline zone at Gara (Ni, Zn: 140680 ppm; La,
Ce, Nd, Th: 10140 ppm) (Table A1). The Fe-rich nature of the
Gara-style orebodies is also exemplified by the presence of mag-
netite and hematite (Gara West, P-64, Gounkoto), as replace-
ment phases after pyrite, and the abundance of synmineral-
ized Fe3+-rich tourmaline at Yalea North and P-64 (Fig. 8B).
The distinctive metal signatures recorded in the Gara-style
deposits can be explained by one of two models: (1) the fluids
interacted with metal-enriched carbonaceous sedimentary
horizons (i.e., black shales, which typically contain elevated
levels of Ni, Co, REE, Mo, U, etc.) (Large et al., 2011); or (2)
the metals were sourced directly from nearby intrusions. Al-
though no black shale horizons have been mapped in the Kofi
Series, carbonaceous calcitic and dolomitic marbles do occur
in the wall rocks of the major deposits. However, whole-rock
geochemistry of these units show no elevation in Ni, Co,
REE, etc. compared to other rock types (Lawrence, 2010).
Therefore, the magmatic-source model is favored.
The metal associations recorded in the Gara-style deposits
are similar to those seen in the Falm iron ore district.
Schwartz and Melcher (2004) provide convincing evidence
that the iron orebodies represent late orogenic (postmeta-
morphic) contact-metasomatic skarn mineralization, possibly
with an iron oxide Cu-Au (IOCG) link. The magnetite de-
posits are characterized by major sulfide assemblages of
pyrite and pyrrhotite (both Ni bearing) (up to 10 vol % of the
ore), and minor Cu, Ni, Ni-Co, Pb, Zn, As, Mo, and Bi sul-
fides (Wade, 1985; Milsi et al., 1989; Schwartz and Melcher,
2004). Elevated Ni contents are emphasized by the presence
of nickeloan pyrite, pentlandite, smythite, millerite, and nick-
eline. Despite showing a mafic signature, the iron deposits
are not directly associated with basaltic-gabbroic rocks (Milsi
et al., 1989). Instead, the Ni-Co signature likely reflects a
220
 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI
metal contribution from the dioritic hosts (Balangouma and
Boboti plutons). Current research also highlights the alkaline
P-REE nature of the magnetite ores, with Cl-apatite, allanite-
(Ce), allanite-(Y), monazite-(Ce), xenotime, lanthanite, and
calkinsite all common minerals.
A developing genetic model for the Loulo district
The variation in mineral paragenesis seen at Loulo is
representative of a dynamic hydrothermal system which
sourced fluids and metals from different reservoirs in the re-
gion (illustrated in Fig. 15). These fluids were channelized
along the Senegal-Mali shear zone, with gold deposition
concentrating along higher order structures in the Kofi Se-
ries. The ore and alteration assemblages that characterize
the Gara-style deposits are indicative of a magmatic fluid
contribution. This is supported by fluid geochemical data
presented in Lawrence et al. (2013) that highlight the role
of oxidized, high-temperature (>400C), hypersaline, metal-
liferous aqueous fluids in the formation of the Gara and
Yalea North deposits. Magmatic-derived orogenic gold flu-
ids have been sparsely described in other granite-green-
stone terranes worldwide (e.g., de Ronde et al., 2000;
Robert, 2001; Yoo et al., 2010).
Gara-style ore
- Fe-Ni-CoPbZn
magmatic signature
- pervasive tur-albite
alteration
Iron Hill
Gara
Gara W
P-129
Yalea
3. Falm I-type,
metaluminous, diorite
source and links to Fe
metasomatic skarns
Senegal-Mali Shear Zone
Falm skarn
deposits
P-64
5 2.5 0 5 km
FIG. 15. A map showing the likely fluid sources in the Loulo gold hydro-
thermal system (modified after Fig. 2). Solid stars = Gara-style deposits, open
stars = Yalea-style deposits. Higher order structures off the first-order Sene-
gal-Mali shear zone are not shown due to the scale of the map.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
221
The hydrothermal mineral assemblages at Gara, and re-
lated orebodies, highlight two potential granitic sources. One
source is the neighboring Falm I-type diorites and gran-
odiorites to the west, with gold mineralization possibly linked
to iron oxide skarn development. According to this model, the
Gara-style gold deposits formed in distal zones around the
H2O-metal-saturated oxidized intrusions, with hydrothermal
fluids migrating across the main shear zone to structural traps
in the Kofi metasedimentary rocks. Sulfide geothermometry
at Gara suggests these metal-bearing solutions were of high
temperature (>400C). The high B and W concentrations as-
sociated with the Gara-style deposits hint at a contribution
from a second, more peraluminous derived, magmatic fluid,
likely associated with the Kofi granites. The Gamaye S-type
pluton, situated 20 km to the south of the Loulo mining camp
(Fig. 1), is targeted as one potential source. This B-rich in-
trusion is a two-mica leucogranite, with abundant tourmaline
present in pegmatite zones and in alteration aureoles around
the northern contact of the pluton. Furthermore, unexposed
granites in the Kofi Series have been recognized by recent
geophysical surveys underneath the Gara and Gounkoto-P64
deposits.
Although there is a clear spatial association between grani-
toids and gold mineralization at Loulo, there is a distinct lack
of reliable geochronological data to determine any absolute
N temporal relationships at this stage. However, structural stud-
ies have shown that the Falm and Kofi granitoids were
emplaced during the late stages of Eburnean deformation
(post-D1) (Ledru et al., 1989; Dabo and Afa, 2010). This im-
Baboto
plies that deeper parts of the orogen were at temperatures
sufficient to support anatexis at the same time as the upper
crustal D2-D3, ductile to brittle, transcurrent structures were
developing. Ongoing detailed geochronology research will
Loulo-3 test the genetic relationship between gold mineralization and
Yalea-style ore the emplacement of the Falm and Kofi intrusions, as well
P-125 - derived from met- to help better understand the tectonothermal evolution of the
amorphic fluids
- affinities to Ashanti
Kdougou-Kniba crust.
gold mineralization The magmatic fluid signature seen at Loulo is largely
in Ghana confined to a narrow zone along the eastern border of the
Senegal-Mali shear zone (<2 km). Deposits farther to the
east (with the exception of Yalea North) lack the hydro-
thermal features seen in the Gara-style lodes. Fluid inclu-
sion and stable isotope studies carried out at several Yalea-
style deposits (Yalea Main, Loulo-3, and Baboto) show that
1. Regional gold mineralization was linked to reduced, low-salinity,
metamorphic H2O-CO2-NaCl metamorphic-derived fluids (Lawrence et
fluid
al., 2013). This is similar to fluids responsible for Birimian
orogenic gold ineralization in Ghana (discussed in the fol-
Gounkoto lowing section). Geothermometric estimates from ore and
alteration paragenesis at Yalea Main indicate mineralization
Faraba temperatures between 300 and 370C. These fluids
trapped in the upper crust were likely derived from ongo-
2. Boron sourced from ing upper greenschist-lower amphibolite metamorphism at
Gamaye pluton to the deeper depths.
south or deep-seated
peraluminous Kofi The more regional extent of the Yalea-style deposits away
granites from the Senegal-Mali shear zone (and the Falm grani-
toids) highlights the diminishing input the magmatic fluids
have on the Loulo hydrothermal system farther to the east.
The restricted lateral extent of the Gara-style deposits is
probably the result of cooling of the magmatic hydrothermal
221
222 LAWRENCE ET AL.
fluids during interaction with the country rock along second
or higher order shears. The extensive along-strike nature of
the magmatic fluids, as revealed by the regional boron anom-
aly, likely reflects fluid migration via seismic pumping along
the main shear zone (cf. Sibson, 2001).
Petrographic and lithogeochemical data outlined in this
paper form a basis of a genetic model for Loulo. Detailed
fluid inclusion and stable isotope (18O, 13C, and 34S) stud-
ies by Lawrence et al. (2013) build on the data presented here
to form a more coherent model. This companion study docu-
ments the P-T-X state of the mineralizing fluids and provides
valuable insights into metal transport and deposition. These
combined studies support the hypothesis that both magmatic
and metamorphic fluids played important roles in orogenic
gold mineralization at Loulo.
Comparisons to other Birimian orogenic gold deposits
The As-rich Yalea-style orebodies share mineralogical fea-
tures that are similar to the well-known Birimian orogenic
gold deposits in Ghana. Gold mineralization along the Ashanti
belt (e.g., Obuasi, Prestea Bosgou, and Konongo mines) is
characterized by quartz-arsenopyrite-pyrite vein-hosted bod-
ies associated with brittle fractures along controlling faults,
and disseminated arsenopyrite pyrite lodes in graphitic my-
lonite fault rocks (Mumin et al., 1994; Oberthr et al., 1994;
Allibone et al., 2002a, b). Alkali metasomatism is dominated
by potassic assemblages (K>>Na), such as sericite-chlorite-
biotite-fuchsite albite, rather than the predominance of al-
bite alteration as seen in the Gara-style orebodies. Tourma-
line only forms a minor to trace gangue phase in the alteration
zones. Metal stripping from the host rocks during metamor-
phic de-watering is considered the dominant mineralization
process (Oberthr et al., 1994; 1996; Mumin and Fleet, 1995;
Mumin et al., 1996). The role of reduced metamorphic fluids
in the formation of orogenic gold lodes has been described
from many other gold districts around the world (e.g., Powell
et al., 1991; Pettke et al., 2000; Jia et al., 2003; Pitcairn et al.,
2006).
In contrast, the Gara-style orebodies are distinct from
many reported Birimian gold deposits in terms of metal con-
tents and the chemistry and nature of wall-rock alteration.
Nevertheless, there are some affinities with gold mineraliza-
tion in Burkina Faso (Beziat et al., 2008). The only other ex-
amples of tourmaline-bearing gold mineralization in the Bir-
imian crust of West Africa are the Guibar and Ft Kol
deposits, situated along the Boromo and Aribinda-Essakhane
greenstone belts, respectively. Mineralization is associated
with folded quartz-tourmaline veins (12 cm in width and up
to 50 m in length) along regional-scale shear zones, with gold
intimately associated with Fe3+-bearing tourmaline crystals
(Beziat et al., 1999). Gara-style characteristics are also ob-
served elsewhere in Burkina Faso, at the Larafella and
Lorabou deposits along the Boromo greenstone belt. Dis-
seminated pyrite ores are linked to intense albite metasoma-
tism of calc-alkaline volcanic rocks and metasedimentary
units, with alteration zones up to 25 m in thickness and sev-
eral hundreds of meters in length (Beziat et al., 2008). Addi-
tionally, the Larafella ore is enriched in base metal sulfides
and sulfosalts (Pb, Zn, Cu) (Milsi et al., 1992; Klemd and
Ott, 1997).
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
Comparisons to orogenic gold deposits of
the Abitibi subprovince
Although the ore and alteration styles documented in the
Gara-styles deposits at Loulo (and several Birimian gold lodes
in Burkina Faso) are not common features for orogenic gold
mineralization (Groves et al., 1998; Ridley and Diamond, 2000),
they are not exactly unique to this deposit type. Global Gara-
type correlatives include the Archean gold deposits of the
Southern Abitibi greenstone belt in Canada. The Abitibi de-
posits are commonly spatially related with intermediate-felsic
intrusive rocks (Burrows and Spooner, 1989; Burrows et al.,
1993) and in some cases a genetic link between magmatism
and gold mineralization has been established (Cameron and
Hattori, 1987; Morasse et al., 1995; Robert, 2001). A specific
group of disseminated and stockworkbreccia-style deposits
are associated with composite syentic porphyritic stocks and
dikes (Malartic, Kirkland Lake, Francoeur, Camflo, Siscoe-
Main zone, and Kiena mines). Several authors, including
Couture and Pilote (1993), Morasse et al. (1995) and Robert
(2001), highlight the magmatic hydrothermal nature of these
deposits, similar to those reported for the Gara-style orebod-
ies. Evidence includes (1) early (pre-ore) pervasive albite-car-
bonate alteration (syenites transformed to albitites), (2) the
porphyry-style brecciated nature of the mineralized rocks, (3)
the oxidizing conditions of the mineralizing fluids (atypical for
many orogenic gold deposits), and (4) the enrichment in base
metals such as Cu-Pb-Mo-W-Zn (e.g., Malartic).
Gara-style characteristics are also seen in a separate group
of younger, late-orogenic, gold deposits in the Val dOr min-
ing district, in the southeastern parts of the Abitibi greenstone
belt. The Sigma, Lamaque, Siscoe, and Sullivan deposits are
all host to quartz-tourmaline-pyrite-scheelite stockwork-style
gold deposits, mainly linked to extensional shear systems
(Robert and Brown, 1986; Couture et al., 1994; Olivo and
Williams-Jones, 2002; Olivo et al., 2006). Tourmaline is pre-
sent as a major vein-filling phase in these deposits, as well as
forming a common component of the alteration zones.
Conclusion
The Loulo mining camp, in southwest Mali, is character-
ized by two separate types of orogenic gold mineralization,
on the basis of different structural settings, ore and alter-
ation styles, mineral chemistries, and inferred mineraliza-
tion temperatures. The Gara- and Yalea-style deposits occur
in close proximity to each other, associated with transten-
sional movement along second and higher-order structures
(P and R shears, and related folds) off the terrane bounding,
sinistral, Senegal-Mali shear zone. The first-order shear
zone and subsidiary structures acted as major fluid conduits
which appear to have channelized both magmatic (I- and S-
type mixtures) and metamorphic, gold-bearing hydrother-
mal fluids. The magmatic signature recorded at the Gara-
style deposits is distinct from many other West African
orogenic gold deposits, and share some similarities to gold
mineralization in the Southern Abitibi granite-greenstone
belt, Canada. In contrast, the Yalea-style deposits show typ-
ical Birimian gold characteristics associated with regional
metamorphic fluids. The mineralogical and geochemical
data presented in this paper will, it is hoped, initiate a new
222
 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI
appreciation for the diversity of orogenic gold deposit styles,
especially in West Africa. This study supports the idea that
orogenic gold lodes can form from a variety of fluid and
metal sources, both metamorphic and magmatic. The ore
genetic model for Loulo is developed further in the com-
panion paper (Lawrence et al., 2013).
Acknowledgments
The data presented in this paper are from Ph.D. and post-
doctoral research carried out by D. Lawrence, for which
financial and scientific support by Randgold Resources Ltd is
gratefully received. Special thanks must go to company geol-
ogists including R. Harbidge, A. Williams, and S. Herbert for
their valuable contribution. The authors would also like to ac-
knowledge J. Lambert-Smith (Kingston University) for his
input into the regional geology of western Mali and eastern
Senegal. Thanks go to the technical staff at Kingston University
London for their assistance in electron microprobe analysis
and lithogeochemistry preparation. Lastly, constructive re-
views by G. Olivo and C. McFarlane are greatly appreciated.
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226 LAWRENCE ET AL.

TABLE A1. Whole Rock Geochemistry of the Least-Altered and Most-Altered Samples at Gara

Least-altered Distal sodic Least-altered basal Proximal tourmaline-

argillaceous sandstones alteration zone quartzwackes rich alteration zone

Sample no. G14 G16 G31 G33 G18 G20 G35 G37 G38 G22 G23 G36

SiO2 56.53 54.54 56.38 52.96 59.15 58.41 81.06 85.85 78.81 74.17 72.18 72.92
TiO2 0.50 0.52 0.45 0.59 0.44 0.45 0.26 0.17 0.25 0.22 0.22 0.30
Al2O3 13.70 13.94 11.92 14.09 12.23 12.42 7.09 6.64 7.27 7.42 7.64 9.00
Fe2O3(T) 7.36 5.56 4.13 4.86 3.01 3.46 2.64 2.50 1.78 3.24 3.23 3.22
MnO 0.064 0.082 0.101 0.079 0.049 0.053 0.005 0.004 0.005 0.009 0.019 0.024
MgO 5.69 5.65 5.73 7.68 4.43 4.34 2.69 2.59 3.23 5.43 4.89 4.21
CaO 3.49 5.21 6.58 6.07 6.18 5.88 0.29 0.39 0.48 0.71 0.91 1.22
Na2O 2.46 2.44 3.43 2.37 5.64 5.34 0.12 0.75 0.69 0.61 0.49 1.10
K2O 2.94 2.87 1.78 2.47 1.16 1.11 1.64 1.46 2.76 0.84 0.57 1.10
P2O5 0.18 0.15 0.15 0.20 0.14 0.13 0.06 0.04 0.06 0.05 0.06 0.08
Total 92.90 90.95 90.65 91.36 92.42 91.59 95.85 100.41 95.33 92.72 90.20 93.18

Trace (ppm)
V 143.2 101.2 70.2 84.4 77.6 91.4 95.4 32.9 32.1 32.3 30.3 52.7
Cr 43.2 <10.0 31.2 41.6 <10.0 <10.0 25.3 <10.0 <10.0 <10.0 <10.0 <10.0
Co 591.1 16.5 10.4 14.2 14.1 8.8 5.6 2.6 3.8 14.8 4.1 9.9
Ni 314.8 50.9 33.1 43.7 42.5 44.1 20.3 17.6 13.5 135.7 427.5 133.5
Cu 498.7 6.9 9.7 3.6 3.9 2.4 5.8 4.2 2.4 24.4 36.9 136.9
Zn 950.8 488.4 622.0 622.4 770.7 749.5 33.7 35.2 52.1 681.3 675.7 673.6
Ga 32.4 24.8 16.5 21.9 19.0 22.5 12.6 7.0 16.0 11.3 6.8 14.9
Rb 93.3 72.3 46.1 64.0 36.4 30.1 41.5 10.0 60.5 20.6 <15 44.5
Sr 102.1 129.0 84.0 63.0 123.6 142.6 12.4 37.1 19.0 79.9 93.8 79.5
Y 19.9 16.7 16.5 19.9 16.3 17.0 10.2 9.9 11.9 11.7 12.0 13.8
Zr 153.5 109.0 154.8 129.4 121.1 118.1 139.5 81.7 108.7 115.7 108.7 139.5
Nb 21.4 7.0 5.6 10.4 5.4 5.9 12.9 4.1 6.5 5.9 6.3 5.1
Mo 10.8 2.5 1.6 5.3 2.5 1.5 6.1 2.5 2.5 3.7 3.8 1.2
Cs 3.9 2.1 1.5 1.7 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.3 1.1 1.2 0.1 0.9
Ba 610.6 575.1 333.6 409.3 553.0 444.7 279.8 43.5 377.4 157.3 8.0 331.1
Hf 4.3 2.9 4.1 3.3 3.1 5.7 5.2 2.1 4.0 3.0 2.5 3.3
Ta 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.7 1.4 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6
Th 5.4 4.0 3.8 4.2 3.5 4.1 9.7 2.2 3.0 12.7 12.6 13.8
U 2.1 1.6 1.3 1.2 1.5 1.6 1.5 0.4 0.6 0.9 0.8 0.9

REEs (ppm)
La 28.05 23.76 20.27 23.40 19.36 19.97 24.77 15.37 19.88 94.65 57.83 87.23
Ce 54.36 47.36 41.65 47.53 42.48 42.13 53.07 28.65 40.38 136.93 97.92 135.25
Pr 6.64 5.68 5.18 5.92 5.39 5.19 6.51 3.42 5.01 17.64 12.36 14.30
Nd 26.50 22.20 21.36 23.49 22.87 20.71 24.84 12.92 19.42 78.84 50.43 76.59
Sm 5.49 4.29 3.97 4.56 4.30 4.04 4.78 2.26 3.34 14.21 7.36 13.01
Eu 1.43 1.27 1.00 1.33 1.17 1.14 1.10 0.59 0.91 2.85 2.65 2.76
Gd 5.08 4.02 3.96 4.26 4.01 3.56 3.62 2.47 3.09 7.00 5.81 4.97
Tb 0.69 0.58 0.56 0.68 0.60 0.56 0.43 0.35 0.38 1.46 1.48 1.44
Dy 3.76 3.46 3.20 3.87 3.40 3.32 2.19 2.06 2.35 4.25 3.78 4.72
Ho 0.79 0.70 0.62 0.82 0.72 0.67 0.45 0.42 0.45 0.42 0.61 0.50
Er 2.21 1.82 1.86 2.18 2.09 2.05 1.14 1.19 1.38 2.26 2.71 2.50
Tm 0.33 0.27 0.17 0.30 0.29 0.33 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 0.20 0.16
Yb 1.98 1.72 1.92 2.19 2.05 2.02 1.23 1.15 1.49 3.29 2.41 2.37
Lu 0.33 0.29 0.30 0.34 0.30 0.33 0.23 0.15 0.23 0.17 0.24 0.21

Note: Mineralized veins were removed from tourmalinite samples to avoid contamination of the alteration signature

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 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE LOULO MINING DISTRICT, MALI 227

TABLE A2. Whole-Rock Geochemistry of the Least-Altered and Most-Altered Samples at Yalea Main

Least-altered footwall argillaceous sandstones Outer sodic alteration zone

Sample no. YD23 YD25 YD28 YD35 YD26 YD30 YD54 YD55 YD57

SiO2 45.11 47.47 52.78 53.50 65.27 54.99 59.03 69.81 61.72
TiO2 0.47 0.55 0.56 0.59 0.66 0.69 0.44 0.25 0.24
Al2O3 11.98 13.55 13.38 10.47 12.30 13.76 13.03 10.35 9.85
Fe2O3(T) 5.67 5.99 4.48 5.10 1.87 2.81 2.91 2.48 4.82
MnO 0.056 0.075 0.067 0.099 0.029 0.043 0.061 0.050 0.077
MgO 4.27 7.36 6.41 4.94 2.52 3.85 3.29 1.94 2.59
CaO 13.76 6.48 5.79 8.38 3.61 7.12 5.85 3.86 5.85
Na2O 1.82 1.45 2.83 3.11 4.68 6.90 4.27 4.54 5.41
K2O 2.25 3.12 2.10 2.06 2.41 0.88 1.92 0.89 0.19
P2O5 0.06 0.15 0.13 0.13 0.09 0.20 0.11 0.07 0.05
Total 85.45 86.19 88.53 88.38 93.43 91.25 90.91 94.25 90.81

Trace (ppm)
V 87.9 100.4 89.9 86.8 111.6 100.4 85.1 58.6 29.2
Cr <10.0 40.1 35.8 72.9 169.5 11.1 <10.0 <10.0 <10.0
Co 15.7 20.0 21.4 8.4 3.9 3.6 7.2 8.0 49.5
Ni 45.3 52.1 47.0 24.2 60.1 24.6 25.7 28.2 33.5
Cu 3.4 4.1 25.4 8.1 7.5 2.5 198.9 43.6 24.3
Zn 488.3 621.7 599.3 624.0 19.4 <0.1 1963 8137 229.9
Ga 19.8 20.3 18.6 15.2 20.6 15.0 17.7 14.7 8.7
Rb 56.2 71.3 43.7 41.8 44.1 12.2 39.4 13.3 1.4
Sr 114.2 32.9 72.6 84.8 158.0 77.6 120.6 120.7 181.2
Y 17.3 19.0 13.3 19.5 14.5 16.9 17.9 15.9 9.0
Zr 77.8 98.9 110.5 415.5 183.3 296.3 171.6 110.6 84.9
Nb 4.5 7.3 7.0 9.0 8.2 7.7 5.9 4.1 4.6
Mo 1.5 1.8 3.6 6.0 3.5 1.0 70.1 3.0 4.4
Cs 2.3 2.0 1.5 0.9 0.5 <0.1 0.7 0.2 <0.1
Ba 320.3 272.4 210.3 290.8 162.0 40.2 237.4 276.9 50.6
Hf 2.2 2.9 2.9 10.3 4.5 7.9 4.5 2.9 1.9
Ta 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5
Th 3.9 3.8 3.7 5.2 1.2 5.7 3.4 1.9 2.5
U 1.4 1.7 1.5 1.7 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.0 0.7

REEs (ppm)
La 36.29 24.14 7.05 15.97 12.90 24.04 25.70 4.27 19.89
Ce 75.30 51.56 16.50 37.02 27.93 54.16 55.39 6.75 40.54
Pr 8.99 6.46 2.19 4.75 3.50 7.01 6.64 0.91 4.90
Nd 34.03 26.49 8.46 19.91 13.84 28.44 26.06 3.46 18.15
Sm 5.94 5.55 2.05 4.19 2.90 5.08 4.89 1.09 3.23
Eu 1.62 1.53 0.61 1.11 0.68 1.24 1.03 0.48 0.69
Gd 4.97 4.96 2.25 3.86 2.72 4.24 4.40 1.67 2.74
Tb 0.60 0.72 0.40 0.72 0.42 0.49 0.61 0.45 0.32
Dy 3.47 3.95 2.47 3.64 2.69 3.24 3.43 2.80 1.78
Ho 0.70 0.71 0.53 0.80 0.49 0.68 0.70 0.55 0.37
Er 1.81 2.00 1.42 2.32 1.45 2.11 1.89 1.80 1.07
Tm 0.28 0.24 <LLD 0.28 0.16 0.31 0.27 0.24 <0.1
Yb 1.88 1.78 1.51 2.20 1.37 2.18 1.89 1.91 0.99
Lu 0.29 0.28 0.25 0.34 0.28 0.34 0.30 0.30 0.14

Note: The inner albite-ankerite alteration zone was not analyzed to avoid contamination from later overprinting hydrothermal events

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