A chemical model for the concentration of gold in volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits. (CODES publication 12)

Abstract

Study and review of the gold distribution in selected volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits (Rosebery and Hellyer in Tasmania, Mt. Chalmers in Queensland and Millenbach in Quebec) indicates that gold has two distinct occurrences in these deposits: (1) a gold-zinc-lead-silver association which is commonly found in the upper part of zinc-rich massive sulphide lenses (e.g. Rosebery and Hellyer), and (2) a gold-copper association which is commonly present in the stringers and lower portions of copper-rich deposits (e.g. Mt. Chalmers and Millenbach). In each deposit one of these occurrences dominates almost to the exclusion of the other.