The Structure and Significance of Anhydrite-Bearing Vein Arrays, Lienetz Orebody, Lihir Gold Deposit, Papua New Guinea

2018 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Sykora ◽  
David Selley ◽  
David R. Cooke ◽  
Anthony C. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
New Guinea

Chapter 28: Lihir Alkalic Epithermal Gold Deposit, Papua New Guinea

2020 ◽  
pp. 579-597
Author(s):  
David R. Cooke ◽  
Stephanie Sykora ◽  
Erin Lawlis ◽  
Jacqueline L. Blackwell ◽  
Mathieu Ageneau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Hydrothermal Activity ◽  
Epithermal Gold ◽  
Mass Wasting ◽  
Heated Zone ◽  
Epithermal Mineralization ◽  
Epithermal Gold Deposit

Abstract The Lihir gold deposit, Papua New Guinea, is the world’s largest alkalic low-sulfidation epithermal gold deposit in terms of contained gold (50 Moz). The deposit formed over the past million years and records a progression from porphyry- to epithermal-style hydrothermal activity. The early porphyry stage was characterized by biotite-anhydrite-pyrite ± K-feldspar ± magnetite alteration and weak gold ± copper mineralization and produced abundant anhydrite ± carbonate veins and anhydrite ± biotite-cemented breccias. These features collectively characterize the deep-seated anhydrite zone at Lihir. Several hundred thousand years ago, one or more catastrophic mass-wasting events unroofed the porphyry system after porphyry-stage hydrothermal activity ceased. Mass wasting may have been facilitated in part by dissolution of porphyry-stage anhydrite veins. Epithermal mineralization occurred after sector collapse, resulting in phreatic and hydraulic brecciation and veining, widespread adularia-pyrite ± carbonate alteration, and formation of mineralized zones at Lienetz, Minifie, Kapit, Kapit NE, Coastal, and Borefields. A NE- to ENE-striking fault array localized several of these orebodies. The pyrite-rich veins and pyrite-cemented breccias that formed during epithermal-stage hydrothermal activity define the sulfide zone at Lihir. This zone mostly contains refractory gold in pyrite, with minor free gold and precious metal tellurides hosted in late-stage quartz veins. A period of diatreme volcanism disrupted the Luise amphitheater during the latter stages of epithermal mineralization. The diatreme breccia complex truncated several of the epithermal ore zones and was crosscut locally by late-stage epithermal veins. Recent geothermal activity produced a steam-heated clay alteration blanket that has overprinted the refractory sulfide-rich epithermal assemblage near the present-day land surface. Gold was remobilized downward from the steam-heated zone into the sulfide zone during argillic and advanced argillic alteration, producing thin gold-rich rims around pyrite grains. This process produced a high-grade tabular enrichment zone immediately beneath the base of the clay blanket.

Fluid chemistry and processes at the Porgera gold deposit, Papua New Guinea

1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Richards ◽  
C. J. Bray ◽  
D. M. DeR. Channer ◽  
E. T. C. Spooner
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Fluid Chemistry

scholarly journals Geology, Wall-rock Alteration and Vein Paragenesis of the Bilimoia Gold Deposit, Kainantu Metallogenic Region, Papua New Guinea

2007 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Onglo Espi ◽  
Ken-Ichiro Hayashi ◽  
Kosei Komuro ◽  
Hiroyasu Murakami ◽  
Yoshimichi Kajiwara
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Wall Rock ◽  
Wall Rock Alteration ◽  
Rock Alteration

Sources of metals in the Porgera gold deposit, Papua New Guinea: Evidence from alteration, isotope, and noble metal geochemistry

1991 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 565-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy P. Richards ◽  
Malcolm T. McCulloch ◽  
Bruce W. Chappell ◽  
Robert Kerrich
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Noble Metal ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Metal Geochemistry

Characteristics and Evolution of the Hydrothermal Fluid in the North Zone High-Grade Area, Porgera Gold Deposit, Papua New Guinea

2004 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 843-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Ronacher ◽  
J. P. Richards ◽  
M. H. Reed ◽  
C. J. Bray ◽  
E. T. C. Spooner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Hydrothermal Fluid ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
High Grade ◽  
The North
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document