Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c4f8m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T02:39:29.980Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Microtextural evaluation of nickel sulphide gossans in Western Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

D. E. Roberts  and
G. A. Travis
D. E. Roberts
Affiliation:
Roxby Management Services Pty. Ltd., P.O. Box 405, Unley 5061, South Australia
G. A. Travis
Affiliation:
Aurex Pty. Ltd., 42 Ardross St., Applecross 6153, Western Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The discovery in 1966 of Ni sulphide deposits at Kambalda, Western Australia resulted from the interpretation of siliceous limonitic material containing up to 1·0% Ni and 0·3% Cu as the gossanous expression of Ni sulphides. In many cases analysis for Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, Cr, Mn and Pb will distinguish Ni–Cu gossans from other oxidised sulphide assemblages and pseudo-gossans. However, most geochemical classification schemes cannot always distinguish strongly silicified or sulphide-poor Ni gossans from Fe sulphide gossans enriched in Ni and Cu or from some nickeliferous oxidised and lateritic products which have no sulphide source. Ambiguous cases may be resolved by analysis for Pd and Ir but this method is expensive and requires very sophisticated analytical techniques.

The use of reflected light microscopy to examine microtextures preserved in the surface gossans from a supergene pyrite-violarite-marcasite sulphide assemblage has allowed the refinement of geochemical classification schemes. The preservation of supergene zone textures by pseudomorphous Si–Fe replacement often permits the original sulphide proportions and Ni–Cu grade to be reliably assessed. Relict microtextures are usually preserved, even in pale coloured, highly siliceous gossans containing less than 0·01% Ni.

Keywords

Archaeanpentlanditepyrrhotitesilicificationsupergeneviolariteweathering.
Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 77 , Issue 1 , 1986 , pp. 81 - 98
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andrew, R. L. 1980. Supergene alteration and gossan textures of base metal ores in southern Africa. MINER SCI ENG 12, 193–215.Google Scholar
Barrett, F. M., Groves, D. I., & Binns, R. A. 1976. Importance of metamorphic processes at the Nepean nickel deposit, Western Australia. TRANS INST MIN METALL 85B, 252–73.Google Scholar
Bavinton, O. A. 1981. The nature of sulphidic metasediments at Kambalda and their broad relationships with associated ultramafic rocks and nickel ores. ECON GEOL 76, 1606–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blain, C. F. 1978. Wadi Wassat gossans. TRANS INST MIN METALL 87B, 14–20.Google Scholar
Blain, C. F. & Andrew, R. L. 1977. Sulphide weathering and the evaluation of gossans in mineral exploration. MINER SCI ENG 9, 119–50.Google Scholar
Blanchard, R. 1968. Interpretation of leached outcrops. BULL NEVADA BUR MINES 66.Google Scholar
Bull, A. J. & Mazzuchelli, R. H. 1975. Application of discriminant analysis to the geochemical evaluation of gossans. In Elliot, I. L. & Fletcher, W. L. (eds) Geochemical Exploration 1974 1, 219–26. Amsterdam: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Burt, D. R. L. & Sheppy, N. R. 1975. Mt. Keith nickel sulphide deposits. In Knight, C. L. (ed.) Economic geology of Australia and Papua New Guinea I Metals, 159–68. AUSTRALAS INST MIN METALL MON 5.Google Scholar
Butt, C. R. M. 1982. Weathering and the Australian landscape. In Smith, R. E. (ed.) Geochemical exploration in deeply weathered terrain, 9–18. Perth: CSIRO Division of Mineralogy.Google Scholar
Campbell, I. H., McCall, G. J. H. & Tyrwhitt, D. S. 1970. The Jimberlana Norite, Western Australia—a smaller analogue of the Great Dyke of Rhodesia. GEOL MAG 107, 1–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clema, J. M. & Stevens-Hoare, N. P. 1973, A method of distinguishing nickel gossans from other ironstones on the Yilgarn Shield, Western Australia. J GEOCHEM EXPLOR 2, 393–402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donaldson, M. J. & Bromley, G. J. 1981. The Honeymoon Well nickel sulphide deposits, Western Australia. ECON GEOL 76, 1550–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ewers, W. E. & Hudson, D. R. 1972. An interpretive study of a nickel-iron sulphide ore intersection, Lunnon Shoot, Kambalda, Western Australia. ECON GEOL 67, 1075–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gresham, J. J. & Loftus-Hills, G. D. 1981. The geology of the Kambalda nickel field, Western Australia. ECON GEOL 76, 1373–416.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Groves, D. I. & Whittle, A. W. G. 1976. Mineragraphy applied to mineral exploration and mining (Workshop Manual, Feb. 1976). Adelaide: Australian Mineral Foundation.Google Scholar
Groves, D. I., Hudson, D. R., Marston, R. J. & Ross, J. R. (eds) 1981. Nickel deposits and their host rocks in Western Australia. ECON GEOL 76, 1289–783.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hancock, W., Ramsden, A. R., Taylor, G. F. & Wilmshurst, J. R. 1971. Some ultramafic rocks of the Spargoville area, Western Australia. GEOL SOC AUST SPEC PUBL 3, 269–80.Google Scholar
Hotz, P. E. 1964. Nickeliferous laterites in South Western Oregon and North Western California. ECON GEOL 59, 355–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Joyce, A. A. & Clema, J. M. 1974. An application of statistics to the chemical recognition of nickel gossans in the Yilgarn Block, Western Australia. PROC AUSTRALAS INST MIN METALL 252, 21–24.Google Scholar
Keele, R. A. & Nickel, E. H. 1974. The geology of a primary millerite bearing assemblage and supergence alteration at the Otter Shoot, Kambalda, Western Australia. ECON GEOL 69, 1102–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kilburn, L. C., Wilson, H. D. B., Graham, A. R.Ogura, Y., Coats, C. J. A. & Scoates, R. F. J. 1969. Nickel sulphide ores related to ultrabasic intrusions in Canada, In Wilson, H. D. B. (ed.) Magmatic Ore Deposits 276–93. ECON GEOL MON 4.Google Scholar
Loftus-Hills, G. D. 1975. Ora Banda lateritic nickel deposits, W. A. In Knight, C. L. (ed.) Economic Geology of Australia and Papua New Guinea I Metals, 1010–1. AUSTRALAS INST MIN METALL MON 5.Google Scholar
Marston, R. J., Groves, D. I., Hudson, D. R. & Ross, J. R. 1981. Nickel sulphide deposits in Western Australia: a review. ECON GEOL 76, 1330–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marston, R. J. & Kay, B. D. 1980. The distribution, petrology and genesis of nickel ores at the Juan Complex, Kambalda, Western Australia. ECON GEOL 75, 546–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, J. E. & Allchurch, P. D. 1975. Perseverance nickel deposit, Agnew. In Knight, C. L. (ed.) Economic Geology of Australia and Papua New Guinea I Metals, 149–55. AUSTRALAS INST MIN METALL MON 5.Google Scholar
McQueen, K. G. 1981. The nature and metamorphic history of the Wannaway nickel deposit, Western Australia. ECON GEOL 76, 1444–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Naldrett, A. J. 1973. Nickel sulphide deposits–their classification and genesis, with special emphasis on deposits of volcanic association. CAN INST MIN METALL TRANS 76, 183–201.Google Scholar
Naldrett, A. J. & Gasparrini, E. L. 1971. Archaean nickel sulphide deposits in Canada: classification, geological setting and genesis with some suggestions as to exploration. GEOL SOC AUST SPEC PUBL 3, 210–26.Google Scholar
Nesbitt, R. W. 1971. Skeletal crystal forms in the ultramafic rocks of the Yilgarn Block, Western Australia: evidence for an Archaean ultramafic liquid. GEOL SOC AUST SPEC PUBL 3, 331–50.Google Scholar
Nickel, E. H. 1973. Violarite, a key mineral in the supergene alteration of nickel sulphide ores. AUSTRALAS INST MIN METALL WEST AUST CONF PERTH 1973 PAP, 111–16.Google Scholar
Nickel, E. H. 1982a. Weathering of sulphide bodies: generalised gossan profile and mineralogical and textural considerations. In Smith, R. E. (ed.) Geochemical exploration in deeply weathered terrain, 39–52. Perth: CSIRO Division of Mineralogy.Google Scholar
Nickel, E. H. 1982b. The mineralogy and geochemistry of the Whim Creek gossan. PROC AUST INST MIN METALL 282, 33–45.Google Scholar
Nickel, E. H., Allchurch, P. D., Mason, M. G. & Wilmshurst, J. R. 1977. Supergene alteration at the Perseverance nickel deposit, Agnew, Western Australia. ECON GEOL 72, 184–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nickel, E. H., Ross, J. R. & Thornber, M. R. 1974. The supergene alteration of pyrrhotite-pentlandite ore at Kambalda, Western Australia. ECON GEOL 69, 93–107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Page, M. L. & Schmulian, M. L. 1981. The proximal volcanic environment of the Scotia nickel deposit. ECON GEOL 76, 1469–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pyke, D. R., Naldrett, A. J. & Eckstrand, O. R. 1973. Archean ultramafic flows in Munro Township, Ontario. BULL GEOL SOC AM 84, 955–78.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, D. E. 1977. Microtextures in the evaluation of nickel gossans in Western Australia. Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, James Cook University of North Queensland.Google Scholar
Roberts, D. E. & Travis, G. A. 1973. Textural evaluation of nickel sulphide gossans. AUSTRALAS INST MIN METALL WEST AUST CONF PERTH 1973 PAP, 97.Google Scholar
Robinson, W. B., Stock, E. C. & Wright, R. G. 1973. The discovery and evaluation of the Windarra nickel deposits. AUSTRALAS INST MIN METALL WEST AUST CONF PERTH 1973, PAP, 69–90.Google Scholar
Ross, J. R. & Hopkins, G. M. F. 1975. The nickel sulphide deposits of Kambalda, Western Australia. In Knight, C. L. (ed.) Economic Geology of Australia and Papua New Guinea I Metals, 100–21. AUSTRALAS INST MIN METALL MON 5.Google Scholar
Ross, J. R. & Travis, G. A. 1981. The nickel sulphide deposits of Western Australia in global perspective. ECON GEOL 76, 1291–329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schultz, K. 1975. Carr-Boyd Rocks nickel–copper deposits. In Knight, C. L. (ed.) Economic Geology of Australia and Papua New Guinea I Metals, 125–28. AUSTRALAS INST MIN METALL MON 5.Google Scholar
Sheppy, N. R. & Rowe, J. 1975. Nepean nickel deposit. In Knight, C. L. (ed.) Economic Geology of Australia and Papua New Guinea I Metals, 91–7. AUSTRALAS INST MIN METALL MON 5.Google Scholar
Smith, R. E. (ed.) 1982. Geochemical exploration in deeply weathered terrain. Perth: CSIRO Division of Mineralogy.Google Scholar
Thornber, M. R. 1975a. Supergene alteration of sulphides. 1. A chemical model based on massive nickel sulphide deposits at Kambalda, Western Australia. CHEM GEOL 15, 1–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thornber, M. R. 1975b. Supergene alteration of sulphides. 2. A chemical study of the Kambalda nickel deposits. CHEM GEOL 15, 117–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thornber, M. R. 1982. The chemical processes of gossan formation. In Smith, R. E. (ed.) Geochemical exploration in weathered terrain, 33–8. Perth: CSIRO Division of Mineralogy.Google Scholar
Thornber, M. R. & Wildman, J. E. 1979. Supergene alteration of sulphides. 4. Laboratory study of the weathering of nickel ores. CHEM GEOL 24, 97–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thornett, J. R. 1981. The Sally Malay deposit: gabbroid-associated nickel–copper sulphide mineralization in the Halls Creek mobile zone, Western Australia. ECON GEOL 76, 1565–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Travis, G. A. 1975. Nickel–copper sulphide mineralization in the Jimberlana Intrusion. In Knight, C. L. (ed.) Economic geology of Australia and Papua New Guinea I Metals, 75–8. AUSTRALAS INST MIN METALL MON 5.Google Scholar
Travis, G. A., Keays, R. R. & Davison, R. M. 1976. Palladium and iridium in the evaluation of nickel gossans in Western Australia. ECON GEOL 71, 1229–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Viljoen, M. J., Bernasconi, A., van Coller, N., Kinlock, E. & Viljoen, R. P. 1976. The geology of the Shangani nickel deposit, Rhodesia. ECON GEOL 71, 76–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Viljoen, M. J. & Viljoen, R. P. 1969. The geological and geochemical significance of the Upper Formations of the Onverwacht Group. GEOL SOC S AFR SPEC PUBL 2, 113–51.Google Scholar
Wakefield, J. 1976. The structural and metamorphic evolution of the Pikwe Ni–Cu sulphide deposit, Selebi–Pikwe, eastern Botswana. ECON GEOL 71, 988–1005.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watmuff, I. G. 1974. Supergene alteration of the Mt. Windarra nickel sulphide ore deposit, Western Australia. MINER DEPOSITA 9, 199–221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whittle, A. W. G. 1972. Gossan interpretation as a method in exploration. GEOL SOC AUST (JOINT SPECIAL GROUP MEETING, CANBERRA, 1972) B1–B4.Google Scholar
Wilmshurst, J. R. & Fisher, N. 1982. Classification scheme for ironstones. In Smith, R. E. (ed.) Geochemical exploration in deeply weathered terrain, 70–2. Perth: CSIRO Division of Mineralogy.Google Scholar
Woodall, R. 1974. Nickel resources of Australia—Summary. MEM AM ASSOC PET GEOL 25, 399–409.Google Scholar
Woodall, R. & Travis, G. A. 1970. The Kambalda nickel deposits, Western Australia. COMMONW MIN METALL CONGR 9TH LONDON PUBL 9, 517–33.Google Scholar
Zeissink, H. E. 1969. The mineralogy and geochemistry of a nickeliferous laterite profile (Greenvale, Queensland, Australia). MINER DEPOSITA 4, 132–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar