Geology and geochemistry of gold-copper iron oxide systems: Tennant Creek and Starra Districts. Volume 1 (CODES publication 6)

Abstract

In mid-1984 a three-year collaborative research project was set up between the Geology Department of the University of Tasmania, and C.S.I.R.O. Division of Mineral Physics and Mineralogy to study gold mineralisation at Tennant Creek. The principal aim of this project was to evaluate the possibility of developing isotopic and trace element criteria which would be useful in distinguishing gold-bearing hydrothermal ironstones from barren ironstones. The initial results of the project proved very encouraging and in mid-1986 six companies joined the project by contributing $2,000 towards the 1986/87 research costs. Since then a further three companies have joined, and the research work has expanded to include other gold-copper-iron oxide systems at Starra and Trough Tank, Queensland, which have similarities with the Tennant Creek deposits. The purpose of this workshop is to present our current research results on the Tennant Creek and Starra goldfields to the participating sponsor companies, and to discuss a plan for future research in these and other districts. Our research results have proved to be very exciting with significant direct application for future gold exploration in the Tennant Creek and Starra districts. The research results also provide pointers for developing exploration models for similar gold-copper-iron oxide deposits in other districts of Australia.