The Jervois Cu-Pb-Zn Deposit – Arunta Region, NT

Understanding protolith rock types and timing and style of mineralisation is crucial in exploration for deformed and metamorphosed sediment-hosted base metal deposits. In the Jervois projects we developed geochemical vectors towards protolith rock types and alteration and built a 3D structural-lithological model of the deposit.

The Jervois Cu-(Ag-Au-Pb-Zn) deposit is situated in the Arunta Region in central Australia, which has been known since 1929, but mineralisation was poorly understood until recently. The improved understanding led to the economic Rockface ore body discovery in 2015.

In a series of projects (2014-2018), working closely with the mineral exploration company, was aimed to characterise the style of mineralisation of the Cu-Ag-Au-Pb-Zn deposit, and define geochemical and mineralogical alteration vectors towards exploration. Further, the projects goal was to build a regional structural 3D model of the host lithologies and individual ore bodies.

The primary mineralisation in the ~1790 Ma amphibolite-facies metasedimentary and metavolcanic succession was characterised as stratabound sediment-associated (siliciclastic-felsic towards bimodal-felsic) VMS deposit that formed prior to metamorphism and deformation. A secondary enrichment and remobilisation along structural trends occurred during deformation. Strong alteration halos associated with mineralisation were identified and aid exploration targeting.

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Publications/reports:

Schmid, S., Schaubs, P., Otto, A., 2018. Characterisation of mineralisation at Rockface and Reward North, Jervois Cu‐Pb‐Zn deposit, NT, Australia. CSIRO EP185553, pp. 88 (confidential)

Bennett, M.R., McGloin, M.V., Schmid, S., Schaubs, P., 2017. Jervois Cu-Ag-Pb-Zn-Au mineral field. In: Phillips, N. (Ed). Australian Ore Deposits, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne, Monograph 32, 557-560.

Schmid, S., Schaubs, P., 2015. Advanced characterisation of mineralisation at the Jervois Cu-Pb-Zn deposit, NT, Australia. KGL Resources Report, CSIRO EP133416, 92pp. (confidential)

Schmid, S., Schaubs, P., 2014. Characterisation of mineralisation style at the Jervois Cu-Pb-Zn deposit. KGL Resources Report, CSIRO EP1410259, 79pp. (confidential)