Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Notes
Geological Survey of New South Wales
No 116
February 2004
147°00’E
148°30’E
34°00’S 34°00’S
Barmedman
GI
LM
OR
E
Reefton
THUDDUNG
FA
U
LT
FAULT
ZO
N Young
RA
E.
GDALE
FAUL
T
SPRIN
Temora
MOONEY M
BERTHO
GI
NG
LM
OO N
OR
Harden
E
E
Sebastopol
FAULT
Y
BE
Cootamundra Cullinga
FA
TH
UL
UN
T
GR
A
FA
FAUL
Junee Reefs
U LT
ZON
T
E
ZON
FAULT
E
Jugiong
35°00’S
147°00’E 35°00’S
148°30’E
0 15 30 km
24682.cdr
Figure 2. Airborne radiometric data obtained by a joint Geological Survey of NSW–Geoscience Australia survey over the Cootamundra 1:250 000
map sheet area, presented as an RGB image.
metal) mineralisation; lateritic nickel–cobalt; sediment- database holds information on the location, mineralogy
hosted magnesite and podiform chromite deposits. Minor and host rocks; and past production, published resources
tin, manganese and alluvial diamonds have also been and references for individual mineral occurrences — and
recovered. Significant gold has been recovered from placer provides a link to the compilation by Fitzpatrick (1979a).
deposits in a number of areas, notably about Young and
Temora. As seen in Figure 1, the majority of mineral occurrences
in the Cootamundra 1:250 000 map sheet area are located
During this review the mineral occurrence dataset was in areas of outcrop. The extent of the regolith cover in the
significantly upgraded from that compiled by Fitzpatrick Cootamundra area can clearly be seen in RGB (red, green,
(1979a, b) and Warren et al (1995). The review was blue) images of the airborne radiometric data (Figure 2).
essentially office-based, although some field verification As a consequence many of the geological units that
was carried out. This process has resulted in subdivision of host significant mineralisation are more extensive than
some previously documented occurrences and the addition as mapped by Warren et al (1996). This can clearly be
of new occurrences to the original dataset of Fitzpatrick observed in the airborne magnetic data (Figure 3). Thus this
(1979a). Furthermore, the information about each occurrence paper will use the interpretation by Bacchin et al (1999) as
has been reviewed and in many cases substantially revised. the geological base to illustrate the extent of geological
As of June 2003, the METMIN database contained records units highlighted by this study rather than the outcrop
for over 550 metallic mineral and approximately 40 gem mapping of Warren et al (1996). The digital dataset for the
and industrial mineral occurrences for the Cootamundra Cootamundra map sheet area is included in Mackey et al
1:250 000 map sheet area (Barnes et al 2004). The METMIN (1999 — Cootamundra GIS dataset).
147°00’E
148°30’E
34°00’S 34°00’S
Barmedman
GI
LM
OR
THUDDUNGRA
E
Reefton
FA
U
LT
FAULT
ZO Young
N
E.
GDALE
FAU
SPRIN
LT
Temora
MOONEY
BERTHO
GI
M OO
NG
LM
Harden
OR
NE
E
Sebastopol
Y
FAULT
BE
Cullinga
TH
Cootamundra
UN
FA
GR
UL
T
A
FA
Junee Reefs
ULT
ZON
FA
U LT
E
FAULT
Junee
COOTAMUNDRA
GUNDAGAI
FAULT
35°00’S
147°00’E 35°00’S
148°30’E
0 15 30 km
24681.cdr
Figure 3. Airborne magnetic data obtained by a joint Geological Survey of NSW–Geoscience Australia survey over the Cootamundra 1:250 000
map sheet area, presented as a TMI (total magnetic intensity) sun illuminated image.
GEOLOGICAL SETTING The oldest rocks in the Cootamundra 1:250 000 map sheet
area are the metamorphosed distal or flysch-type marine
Warren et al (1995) summarised the geological setting of the sedimentary rocks and mafic to ultramafic rocks of the
Cootamundra 1:250 000 map sheet area and this discussion Jindalee Group and the Wagga Group (Figure 1). Warren et al
is based on that review. The Cootamundra 1:250 000 map (1995) inferred a Cambrian to Early Ordovician age for these
sheet can be divided into four separate zones separated rocks. However, more recently Lyons and Percival (2002)
by major faults (Gilmore Fault Zone, Cootamundra Fault, have established a Mid to early Late Ordovician age based
the Mooney Mooney Fault Zone and Thuddungra Fault on the dating of conodonts from cherts. The Jindalee Group
— Figure 1). These four zones are: the Western or Wagga crops out in the southeastern and eastern parts of the area.
Zone; the Western Central Zone; the Eastern Central Zone;
and the Young Zone. Two sequences dominate the Ordovician to Early Silurian
stratigraphy. The first is (un)differentiated quartz-rich
The Gilmore Fault Zone (or suture) is a major crustal-scale distal flysch-type sedimentary rocks of the Wagga Group
fault system. The suture marks the boundary between that outcrops west of the Gilmore Fault Zone. The second
metasediments and S-type granitoids of the Wagga–Omeo is the mafic to intermediate volcanic rocks, associated
metamorphic belt to the west and a complex sequence of intrusions and volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks of the
Ordovician to Devonian sedimentary and volcanic rocks, Junee–Narromine Volcanic Belt. This island arc formed
intruded by I- and A-type granites, that forms the Tumut as a result of calc-alkaline to shoshonitic magmatism that
Synclinorial zone to the east (Wormald & Price 1990). commenced in the Early Ordovician and waned in the
147°00’E
148°30’E
34°00’S 34°00’S
Yiddah
Barmedman
Mandamah
FA
GI ULT
THUDDUNG
LM ZO
O R NE
E
FAULT
Gidginbung The Dam Young
RA
GDALE
FAUL
T
SPRIN
Temora
MOONEY
BERTHO
GI
M OO
NG
LM
Harden
OR
NE
E
Sebastopol
Y
FAULT
BE
FA
Cullinga
TH
UL
Cootamundra
T
UN
ZO
GR
NE
A
FA
Junee Reefs
ULT
FA
Dobroyde
U LT
FAULT
Junee
COOTAMUNDR A
GUNDAGAI
FAULT
Kurrajong
CO AUL
Coolac F
OL T
35°00’S AC
147°00’E 35°00’S
148°30’E
Ordovician (to ?Early Silurian) Mineral Occurrences
Temora Volcanics Boonabah Volcanics Epithermal Au Fault – major
Figure 4. Distribution of Ordovician to Early Silurian volcanic-dominated units and intrusion-related copper–gold mineralisation (geology adapted
from Bacchin et al 1999).
earliest Silurian. Significant copper–gold and gold–silver suggested that the Junawarra Volcanics were of probable
mineralisation is associated with that event. Silurian age based on their tholeiitic geochemistry — as
spidergrams of analyses were similar to Silurian tholeiitic
Warren et al (1995) mapped the rocks in the Dobroyde area gabbros and diorites within the Cootamundra 1:250 000
(Figure 4) as part of the Junawarra Volcanics, assigning map area.
the Junawarra Volcanics an Ordovician age. Wyborn
(1996) noted that the rocks in the Dobroyde area were The Wallundry Suite of I-type granitic intrusions is
chemically distinct from the Junawarra Volcanics and probably related (as ?subvolcanic intrusions) to the Late
informally named this unit the Dobroyde volcanics. The Ordovician to Early Silurian volcanic/volcaniclastic units.
Dobroyde volcanics were interpreted by Wyborn (1996) In outcrop, these bodies intrude undifferentiated Late
to be an Ordovician calcalkaline volcanic unit rather Ordovician sedimentary rocks, whereas a similar body, the
than a shoshonitic unit and may not be as prospective as Mother Shipton Monzodiorite, 1.6 km south-southeast of
other Ordovician volcanic rocks since they are lower in Temora, intrudes the (possibly Early Ordovician) Temora
incompatible elements (Wyborn 1996). Wyborn (1996) also Volcanics (Figure 4).
147°00’E
148°30’E
34°00’S 34°00’S
Barmedman
THUDDUNG
FA
GI ULT
LM ZO
OR NE
E
FAULT
Young
RA
GDALE
FAUL
T
SPRIN
Temora
MOONEY
BERTHO
Reardons
Hill Wallendbeen
GI
M OO
Mee Mar
NG
LM
Bauloora Harden
OR
NE
E
Sebastopol
Y
FAULT
BE
FA
Cullinga
TH
UL
Cootamundra
T
UN
ZO
GR
NE
A
FA
Junee Reefs
LTU
FA
U LT
FAULT
Jugiong
Booths
Reward
Junee
COOTAMUNDR A
GUNDAGAI
FAULT
CO AUL
F
Coolac
OL T
AC
35°00’S
147°00’E 35°00’S
148°30’E
Early Devonian Mineral Occurrences
Cootamundra Group Au–(Ag) Fault – major Dyke
24365.cdr
Figure 5. Distribution of post-Ordovician epithermal mineralisation (geology adapted from Bacchin et al 1999).
10200mE
9800mE
to north-northwest-trending tabular
grid north
cn
19°
eti
Bauloora
Fiery Cross
Barmedman Hard to Find
Phoenix
GI
Reefton
LM
Pioneer–Enterprise
OR
THUDDUNG
E
F.
FAULT
Z.
Young
RA
Mother Shipton
GDALE
FAUL
Bourkes Reef
Amelia Reef
T
SPRIN
Richs Hill Reef
Wombat
Temora Hibernia
MOONEY
BERTHO
Reef
Archdeacon Harden
Reef
GI
M OO
NG
LM
OR
NE
Sebastopol Harden
E
Y
FAULT
BE
TH
Cullinga Christmas Gift
Morning Star Reef Cootamundra Cullinga Extended
UN
FA
Democrat
GR
UL
T
McMahons
FA
FA
Garangula
U LT
E
FAULT
CO AUL
F
Coolac
OL T
35°00’S AC 35°00’S
147°00’E
148°30’E
Mineral Occurrences
As Au–Cu Barite Fault – major
Lineament
0 15 30 km
Trend line
24366.cdr
Figure 7. Distribution of “orogenic” mineralisation and major structures (structures extracted from geology by Bacchin et al 1999).
rocks, the depth of burial at the time of emplacement The veins at Reefton are characterised by irregular vugs, a
of mineralisation, and the host rock chemistry. Deposit few millimetres across, representing usually 1% to 3% but
styles include mineralised zones in dilatant sites within locally up to 10% of the vein. The wallrocks are sericitised
faults and shears and mineralisation in sites where a and strongly chloritised, with significant disseminated
ductility contrast has been important. pyrite (up to 5%) (Baillie 1995). Comb textures are
relatively common, individual quartz crystals having a
Reefton preferred crystal alignment normal to the cavity or vein
wall. Based on these textures, Baillie (1995) suggested that
The Reefton area, 22 km north-northwest of Temora (Figure quartz was precipitated in a static kinematic environment,
7), has a recorded production of 192.6 kg of gold, with the with the predominance of cavities reflecting a relatively
major producer in the area being the Pioneer–Enterprise low-pressure environment.
mine. The main period of production was between 1894
and 1901. Interbedded argillaceous sandstones and slates Most quartz veins have been emplaced subparallel to the
of the Late Silurian to earliest Devonian Yiddah Formation cleavage and commonly display pinch and swell structures.
host the auriferous quartz reefs at Reefton. The area has Where these occur, foliation in the chloritic wallrocks is
been described by a number of workers, including Gilligan deformed adjacent to the necks of the pinched quartz veins.
(1980) and Baillie (1995). By contrast, discordant veins commonly display ptygmatic
Cullinga
The Cullinga area (Figure 7) has been described by Harper Photograph 5. Remains of the stamper battery at the Christmas Gift mine.
(1915), Richardson (1986) and Schwebel (1998) and (Photographer — Peter Downes)
contains a number of gold mines whose origins are poorly
understood. The area was a significant gold-producing
area, having a recorded production of 1.22 t of gold (Clift Silicified, lower greenschist facies calcareous tuffs and
1970). The principal producer was the Christmas Gift mine limestones host the mineralisation at the Christmas Gift
(Photograph 5), with lesser production from the Democrat mine (Figure 7). Gold (with disseminated pyrite, galena,
and Cullinga Extended mines (Figure 7). minor sphalerite and chalcopyrite) is present in foliation-
parallel quartz–calcite veins with epidote and wollastonite
The majority of gold occurrences at Cullinga are developed in the wallrocks (Richardson 1986). Minor chloritic
within a narrow 6 km long zone adjacent to the faulted alteration of the wallrocks has been observed. Harper
contact between the Silurian Blowering Formation (Warren (1915) also observed later cross-cutting quartz veins which
et al 1995) and Mid to early Late Ordovician Jindalee contain gold and pyrite and noted the presence of galena,
Group (Lyons & Percival 2002). When the locations of pyrite, sphalerite and chalcopyrite disseminated through
the gold mines are plotted on the map by Warren et al a “calcareous base” or in irregular bunches. Richardson
(1996) the more significant mines are located within the (1986) suggested a possible paragenetic sequence — with
Blowering Formation (Figure 1). However, using the more pyrite, calcite and gold being deposited first and sphalerite,
recent interpretation of the geology by Bacchin et al galena and chalcopyrite (with pyrrhotite) being deposited
(1999), the mines plot within the Jindalee Group. Basden later.
et al (1978) described the Jindalee Group as consisting of
metamorphosed oceanic sedimentary rocks (now quartzites Harper (1915) and Kenny (1924) proposed that gold
and quartz–mica schist, with lesser sandstone, quartz– mineralisation at Cullinga was related to metasomatic
magnetite rocks, cherts, slate and rare limestone), basalts, replacement as a result of the intrusion of a “porphyry”.
and other mafic and ultramafic units (Basden et al 1978). However, the “porphyry” mapped by Harper (1915) has
To the east are massive porphyritic dacitic pyroclastic been described by Warren et al (1995) as a sequence
rocks (ashfall tuffs), slate, siltstone and sandstone of the of felsic to intermediate volcanic rocks, dominantly
Blowering Formation (Schwebel 1998). Schwebel (1998) (pyroclastic) dacite, that forms part of the Blowering
also noted that a thin siltstone unit is present at the Formation. Richardson (1986) suggested the mineralisation
contact between the Blowering Formation and the Jindalee style and geological setting was consistent with Carlin-
Group, and that a narrow mafic volcanic and volcaniclastic type mineralisation, ie, disseminated, stratigraphically
unit is also present within the Blowering Formation in the controlled, epithermal mineralisation. Richardson (1986)
Cullinga area. also proposed that hydrothermal fluid flow and ore
147°00’E
148°30’E
34°00’S 34°00’S
Thuddungra
West Arm
Barmedman Baileys
Noakes
Thuddungra Thuddungra
East Arm
Ardnaree
FA
GI ULT
THUDDUNG
LM ZO
O R NE
E
FAULT
Young
RA
GDALE
FAUL
T
SPRIN
Temora
MOONEY
BERTHO
Wallendbeen
GI
M OO
NG
LM
Harden
OR
NE
E
Sebastopol
Y
Cullinga
FAULT
BE
FA
TH
UL
Cootamundra
T
UN
ZO
GR
NE
A
FA
Junee Reefs
ULT
FA
U LT
FAULT
ZONE
SHEAR ZONE
Jugiong
JUGIONG
Junee COOTAMUNDR A
GUNDAGAI
FAULT
Vulcan Mine
Coolac
35°00’S Quilters 35°00’S
147°00’E
148°30’E
Silurian Mineral Occurrences
North Mooney Complex Magnesite Cr Fault – major
Ordovician Lineament
0 15 30 km
Jindalee Group Trend line
24367.cdr
Figure 8. Distribution of residual magnesite, lateritic nickel–cobalt, chromite and Fe–Mn mineralisation and related mafic and ultramafic units
(geology adapted from Bacchin et al 1999).
(Diemar 1995). The Noakes deposit is 2.5 km long, averages side of the belt, bounded by the Thuddungra Fault, is the
275 m wide and is up to 8.4 m thick. The dimensions of the Early Silurian Young Granodiorite. On the western side is
Baileys deposit, which is 6 km north of the Mine deposit, the Late Ordovician to Early Silurian Bribbaree Formation.
have yet to be fully delineated. The Jindalee Group is a sequence of mafic and ultramafic
rocks and metasedimentary rocks (Warren et al 1995) that,
Magnesite and dolomite deposits in the Thuddungra in the Thuddungra area, include metabasalt, amphibolite,
area are draped over the Jindalee Group (Figures 1, 8) metaquartzite, chert and intrusive serpentinite and
and the Bribbaree Formation (included as Ordovician talc–carbonate rocks (Wambidgee Serpentinite — Jindalee
undifferentiated sedimentary units — Figure 1), as a result Group).
of long-term weathering and erosion of the bedrock, and
dissolution and redeposition of magnesium and calcium ions Diemar (1998) observed that magnesite at Thuddungra
in a variety of surficial environments. The Mid to early Late occurs in three geological settings. These are:
Ordovician (Lyons & Percival 2002) Jindalee Group forms
a steeply dipping, north-northeast-trending belt some three • small rich pockets of cryptocrystalline vein magnesite
kilometres to five kilometres wide (Figure 8). On the eastern within serpentinite (especially dunite) host rocks;
148°00' E
To Grenfell
clay zone, overlying a limonite clay
zone, which in turn overlies a saprolite
(smectite clay) zone and, below that,
weathered serpentinite and fresh 34°00' S
serpentinite (Figure 11). At least two
periods of weathering with resultant
laterite development have been recorded
(Pursell & Jannink 2001). This has
resulted in the development of a complex
regolith profile with repeated hematite/
limonite/saprolite horizons (Figure
10). Nickel appears to be principally
associated with earthy goethite and
limonite in the higher-grade zones and
with smectite in the lower-grade zones
(Pursell & Jannink 2001).
Thuddungra West Arm
The nickel–cobalt mineralisation in the Ga
Thuddungra area has been derived from s Pip
the Ordovician Wambidgee Serpentinite eli
ne
(C
(originally harzburgite) during the Tertiary. oo
pe
Pursell and Jannink (2001), and in Minfo 69 rB
as
(2001), suggested that acidic groundwaters in
Section to
Sy
were generated by groundwater traversing MAIDI–3 dn
ey)
the Young Granodiorite, to the east of the
Thuddungra area (Figure 9). These acidic Thuddungra East Arm
groundwaters leached the serpentinites,
To
removing silica and magnesium and Yo
ung
leaving enriched amounts of less-soluble
material, including iron, aluminium, nickel
and cobalt. An alternative model is that the
Young nickel–cobalt deposits formed as Ardnaree
34°15' S
cool climate laterites (as proposed for the
Monaro area by Taylor et al 1992) due to Tertiary Ordovician
a weathering rate significantly faster than
Laterite resource Bribbaree Formation
the erosion rate, allowing intense chemical
weathering of the source serpentinites. Devonian Kirribilli Formation
These profiles were preserved because of Hervey Group Wambidgee Serpentinite
the tectonic stability of the region and of
Silurian Jindalee Group
the extensive deposition of later alluvium
over the area. Young Granodiorite
Fault
Silurian granite
PLACER MINERALISATION Road
Section MAIDI–3
Significant gold and minor tin has been
0 10 km
recovered from alluvial deposits within
the Cootamundra 1:250 000 map sheet 24376.cdr
area (Figure 12). The majority of the
production has been from Tertiary to Figure 9. Geological setting of the Ardnaree, Thuddungra East Arm and Thuddungra West
Arm nickel–cobalt laterite deposits northwest of Young (from Minfo 69 (2001), figure 8). The
Recent gravels associated with present
cross section is shown in Figure 10.
and former drainage. Although alluvial
tin production is minor, gold production
from alluvial sources throughout the
Cootamundra map area is estimated to be in the order of Subsequently, significant gold-bearing alluvial occurrences
15 tonnes to 18 tonnes of gold. were discovered in a number of areas, including Lambing
Flat near Young in 1860. Over 7.2 tonnes of gold were
Initially, alluvial gold was found at Wombat (Figure 12) in recovered from the Lambing Flat area in the following two
the Harden–Young area during the early 1850s (Littlejohn, years, with the majority of gold coming from deep lead
undated). deposits.
Another prominent area for alluvial gold was the Temora The Garangula Gold Field (between Harden and Jugiong,
district (Photograph 7), which produced over 3 t of alluvial Figure 12) was a small alluvial field with some hardrock
gold between 1879 and the mid-1880s (Lishmund 1972). production. The auriferous wash was patchy and was found
The main producer was a Tertiary deep lead that was below about six metres of overburden in depressions in a
traced from the Mother Shipton area (southeast of Temora, gully bed and between granite boulders. The average grade
Figure 7) northwards for 5.6 km to the alluvial flats on of the very clayey wash was 10.5 g/t Au. Angular quartz
Trigalong Creek. This lead was worked to a depth of 122 m pebbles were indicative of a nearby reef source. The known
and contained a significant number of large nuggets production was approximately 240 kg of gold. The majority
(Lishmund 1972). Three kilometres east of Temora was a of the gold production was recovered from alluvial sources
second deep lead, the Deep or Frontage Lead, from which from 1894 to 1895 (Clift 1973).
only minor amounts of gold were recovered.
The Barmedman, Reefton (Figure 7) and Gidginbung
In the Springdale area, 17 km east-northeast of Temora, the (Figure 4) areas are unusual in that very little alluvial gold
Exhibition Lead (Figure 12) was worked from 1879 to 1881 was recovered despite significant hardrock goldmining
and produced 38.8 kg of gold (Fitzpatrick 1979a). Wash activity. A buried palaeochannel system is adjacent to the
from the Exhibition Lead varied from 0.2 m to 0.6 m in Wyalong Gold Field and Hiawatha Gold Field, approximately
thickness and averaged about 8.5 g/t. 8 km north, and 20 km north, of the Cootamundra
1:250 000 map sheet boundary (65 km and 77 km
Alluvial gold was also recovered from the Harden area north-northwest of Temora, respectively), which Lawrie
in the 1850s, but few records are available. Most of the et al (1999) suggested may host significant gold placer
alluvial gold produced from that area was included in mineralisation. Similar palaeochannels are apparent in
records for the Young area. One area, Blind Creek, was the aeromagnetic data for the Cootamundra 1:250 000
worked almost continuously from 1883 to 1906, with wash map sheet area, and these palaeochannels may also be
averaging 75 mm to 0.3 m thick at an average depth of 9 m prospective for alluvial gold.
and the gold grade averaging between 4.6 and 7.6 g/t Au.
Limited tin placer mineralisation has been
TERTIARY LATERITE DEVELOPMENT found in the Cootamundra 1:250 000 map
Hematitic (pisolitic) clay sheet area. These include the Budigower,
Merool, Mirroll and Tyagong areas (Figure
Scandium-rich
Limonitic clay 12). The source of the tin mineralisation is
Cobalt-rich
Saprolite (smectitic clay) Nickel-rich briefly discussed later. Fitzpatrick (1979b)
described the more important alluvial tin
Weathered serpentinite deposits and reference is made to those
Fresh serpentinite descriptions.
Figure 11. Nickel, cobalt and scandium associations within the laterite profile of the Young Alluvial diamonds and sapphires have
nickel-cobalt deposit (from Minfo 69 (2001), page 12). been recovered from a number of small
OTHER COMMODITIES
Podiform Chromite
Tin Manganese
Minor tin mineralisation has been identified at a number Stratiform and stratabound manganese occurrences are
of locations in the Cootamundra 1:250 000 map sheet area associated with units of the Ordovician Jindalee Group in
(Figure 13). At the Kalms workings, about 27 km north the Thuddungra, Wallendbeen and Cullinga areas (Figure 8).
of Temora, shafts were sunk on steep to near-vertical, These occurrences consist of clusters of small lenses, often at
fine-grained quartz–chlorite bodies in the Late Devonian or about the same stratigraphic level, over meridional strike
147°00’E
148°30’E
34°00’S 34°00’S
Bl Tyagong
Buddigower an ngong Creek
d Burra
Cr
ee
k
Barmedman
Merrool
Burrangong
Young
Mirrool
Exhibition Lead
Wombat
Temora
Blind
Creek
Wallendbeen
Harden
Sebastopol
Cullinga
Cootamundra
Garangula
Kin
d ra
Junee Reefs
Creek
Deep
Creek
Jugiong
Gobarralong Red Hill
r
R ive
e ek
ee
Cart Road
ns
dg
Coolac Creek
bi
ha
g ru m
ul
a Mur
35°00’S Ho
147°00’E 35°00’S
148°30’E
distances of at least three kilometres. Chert horizons up to S. Lishmund (pers comm 1998) has reported that in-situ
10 m thick are commonly associated with the mineralisation. diamonds have been found within nephelinite near Jugiong.
Fitzpatrick (1975) suggested that the mineralisation formed
as chemical precipitates on the sea floor. Barron et al (1996) have proposed that diamonds formed
by subduction-related processes account for the abundance
Fehn (1986) noted that manganese deposits near the Galapagos of diamond occurrences in eastern Australia. It is unclear
Islands are found in a deep marine environment and formed whether such a model is applicable to the Jugiong area.
from low temperature fluids (<200°C) near an oceanic spreading Scheibner (1974) suggested that tensile stresses associated
centre. The geological description of the Galapagos manganese with the breakup of Gondwana in the Jurassic formed new
deposits provided by Fehn (1986) has many similarities with fractures and reactivated old ones, with some reaching
that for the manganese occurrences and their related host rocks mantle material and tapping alkali basalt magma, evidently
in the Cootamundra 1:250 000 map sheet area. allowing intrusion of lamprophyre dykes found in the
Harden–Jugiong area. These magmas could be the source
Diamonds of diamonds recovered in the Jugiong area.
Gidginbung 435 ± 2.5 — Perkins et al (1990) Zircons from andesite flow in host Gidginbung
Volcanics; U–Pb
2001). It is suggested here that the dates obtained by Perkins Serpentinite) with oceanic crust (Honeysuckle beds).
et al (1990) and Perkins et al (1995) are the minimum ages Ashley et al (1979) and Graham et al (1998) suggested
for mineralisation and reflect the timing of deformation that the Coolac Serpentinite Belt, North Mooney Complex
rather than the timing of mineralisation. If the recent and Honeysuckle beds represent a partially dismembered
dating determinations are correct then these systems may ophiolite suite that formed a floor to the Tumut Trough,
be classified as magmatic–epithermal systems that have and noted similarities between individual serpentinite units
undergone significant modification by later events. and similar units in other ophiolite sequences. Graham et
al (1998) also proposed that the serpentinite belt formed
The Early Silurian Benambran Orogeny resulted in high- as an ‘embryonic’ ophiolite in a backarc basin setting in
temperature/low-pressure metamorphism of the Wagga the Late Silurian or Early Devonian. The ophiolite “event”
Basin sedimentary rocks (Wagga Group) and the closure was short-lived, preventing the development of a ‘typical’
of the Wagga Basin. The contrast in metamorphic grade ophiolite stratigraphy (Graham et al 1998). However, other
between that for the Wagga and Western Central zones workers have proposed different models. Stuart-Smith
implies that the Wagga Zone has been downthrust by (1990a, b) considered the Coolac Serpentinite to have been
at least seven kilometres (Wyborn 1996; Beams & Lesh emplaced into the Mooney Mooney Fault Zone during
1996). It is likely that the Gilmore Fault Zone was active Early Silurian deformation and interpreted this unit as
at that time. Movement along the Gilmore Fault in the either an Alpine-type body occupying a crustal suture or,
Early Silurian is interpreted to be dextral, although later more likely, a tectonic slice derived from the underlying
movement appears to be mostly sinistral (Stuart-Smith Jindalee Group. In yet a further interpretation, Warner at al
1991). A deep seismic traverse across the Gilmore Fault at (1992) suggested that the Honeysuckle beds, North Mooney
Temora has shown that the Gilmore structure dips to the Complex and Coolac Serpentinite formed at various crustal
east (R. Glen, pers comm 2001). Significant copper–gold levels and that the units were brought together during
mineralisation is present within or adjacent to the Gilmore deformation and/or obduction in the Late Silurian to Early
Fault Zone. Some gold mineralisation may have formed in Devonian.
the Early Silurian by fluid flow focused along the Gilmore
Fault Zone and deposited in brittle/ductile structures. Structurally controlled “orogenic” gold and base metal
mineralisation is widespread in the Cootamundra
The Coolac Serpentinite Belt contains small chromite 1:250 000 map sheet area. The geological setting and style
lenses similar to those in the Jindalee Group. Scheibner of these occurrences is largely controlled by the geometry
(1974) interpreted the Coolac Serpentinite Belt as Late of the structure; competency of the host rocks; depth of
Ordovician–Early Silurian upper mantle material (Coolac burial at the time of emplacement of mineralisation; and
147°00’E
148°30’E
34°00’S
Buddigower 34°00’S
Tyagong
Barmedman
Kalms
working
Merrool
FA
GI ULT
THUDDUNG
LM ZO
O R NE
E
FAULT
Young
RA
Mirrool
GDALE
FAUL
T
SPRIN
Temora
MOONEY
BERTHO
Wallendbeen
GI
M OO
NG
LM
Harden
OR
NE
E
Sebastopol
Y
FAULT
BE
FA
Cullinga
TH
UL
Cootamundra
T
UN
ZO
GR
NE
Dulah
FA
Junee Reefs
ULT
FA
U LT
FAULT
Junee
COOTAMUNDR A
GUNDAGAI
FAULT
CO AUL
F
Coolac OL T
AC
35°00’S
147°00’E 35°00’S
148°30’E
Devonian Mineral Occurrences
Late Devonian intrusion Sn Fault – major
Figure 13. Distribution of tin mineralisation and selected post-Ordovician intrusive units (geology adapted from Bacchin et al 1999).
the hostrock chemistry. Deposit styles include mineralised structures generally have a long history of movement.
zones in dilatant sites within faults and shears, and Examples of orogenic gold systems associated with the
mineralisation in sites where a ductility contrast has Gilmore Fault Zone mineralisation include the mesothermal
been important. The mineralisation is typically hosted in vein systems at Junee Reefs and Sebastopol, and probably
auriferous sulphide–quartz–calcite veins within a variety Reefton and Barmedman (Figure 7).
of rock types and is commonly associated with brecciated
veins and stockworks. The major ore minerals are gold, The age and nature of the fluids that formed the structurally
pyrite and arsenopyrite, with minor tetrahedrite, pyrrhotite controlled gold mineralisation at Reefton, Barmedman,
and galena. Pervasive wallrock alteration of carbonate, Junee Reefs, Sebastopol and Temora (Figure 7) are poorly
chlorite, sericite, quartz and pyrite is a common feature of constrained. The timing of mineralisation is uncertain.
the more significant systems. However, the available data support the interpretation
that a significant gold-mineralising event occurred during
A number of significant structures related to mineralisation the Tabberabberan Orogeny in the late Early to Middle
has been identified, with the Gilmore Fault Zone being Devonian. This is based on the geometry of the Junee Reefs,
one of the most significant (Figure 7). These deep-seated Sebastopol and Temora vein systems all being consistent
Tin and associated gold mineralisation in the Wagga Uplift and erosion have resulted in the formation of
Zone is associated with fractionated Early Silurian S-type numerous tin and gold placer occurrences. Gibson
Wantabadgery Granite and Kikoira Granite. Minor tin and Chan (1999) noted that the process of uplift and
mineralisation is also associated with the Late Silurian subsequent erosion in the Forbes area to the north
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