Structural controls of auriferous reefs at Fairview Mine, Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa
| dc.contributor.advisor | Kisters, Alexander F. M. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Gloyn-Jones, Jonathan | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Earth Sciences. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-11-19T09:44:20Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-12-07T06:51:01Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-11-19T09:44:20Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-12-07T06:51:01Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2018-11-19 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2018. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Auriferous shear zone hosted gold mineralization at Fairview Mine, along the central-northwestern margin of the Mesoarchean Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB), is correlated with regional-scale fluid migration and focusing during progressive F3 folding of the Ulundi Syncline during the late-stages of compressional D3 deformation. Gold-sulphide mineralization at Fairview Mine is hosted in low-grade metaturbidites of the Fig Tree Group on the NW limb of the regional-scale, doubly-plunging and distinctly arcuated or refolded (F3) Ulundi Syncline that is bounded against the structurally underlying Eureka Syncline by the ductile-brittle Sheba Fault. Exceptionally well-mineralized orebodies (10-60 g/t) are centred around geometrically contrasting brittle-ductile shear zones, termed “reefs”, with distinct orientations, host lithologies, wall-rock alterations, kinematics and timing. This study focusses on two distinctly dissimilar reef structures, namely the main ore shoot of the Main Reef Complex (MRC), that hosts the bulk of the gold mineralization with grades in excess of 40-60 g/t, and the Hope reef, one of a number of smaller, but still economically significant reefs with average grades up to 10-20 g/t, situated above the MRC, collectively referred to as “hangingwall reefs”. This study is aimed at characterizing these orebodies and their relation to host rock structures, kinematics along the controlling structures and the controls of fluid focusing, mineralization and ore shoot formation. The overarching aim is to formulate an integrated conceptual structural and kinematic framework for the controls of mineralization for both the Hope reef and the MRC. Gold-sulphide mineralization of the Hope reef is associated with quartz-carbonate veining and a chlorite-sericite-carbonate-albite wall-rock alteration that is centred around an up to 2.5 m wide, shallow southeast-dipping (045/15 SE), brittle-ductile fault zone localized within Fig Tree greywacke units, some ca. 200 m above the Sheba Fault. The formation of shear and extensional vein sets documents fault-valve behaviour along the low-angle thrust, driven by close-to-lithostatic fluid pressures and under very low differential stresses (<5 Mpa). High-grade ore shoots in the plane of the shallow reef delineate lithologically and structurally controlled interconnected fault-fracture meshes that correspond to the development of frontal-ramp duplex structures. Kinematic indicators suggest an origin of the Hope reef as an optimally orientated low-angle, top-to-the-NW thrust that likely formed as a secondary accommodation structure during continued NW-SE subhorizontal shortening after the F3a lock-up of the Ulundi Syncline. Gold-sulphide mineralization of the MRC is associated with a graphite-carbonate wall-rock alteration and is localized in the immediate hangingwall of the steep easterly dipping Sheba Fault within discrete steeply plunging ore shoots contained along a gently undulating system of spaced, low-displacement, broadly bedding-parallel faults and shear zones. Fabrics and structures in the ore shoot record combined top-to-the NW thrust sense and dextral strike-slip kinematics and strongly constrictional strains, interpreted to indicate dextral-transpression and associated steep extrusion of the rocks during progressive NW-SE (D3) shortening. The main ore shoot corresponds to dilational jog geometry that developed during dextral-transpressive, bedding-parallel shearing consistent with the flexural-slip refolding (F3b) of the Ulundi Syncline. High-grade pockets within the jog correlate with sheared, commonly dismembered, graphite-rich and sulphide-mineralized shale units, testifying to the preferential fluid focusing and strain localization into incompetent shale units during deformation. Cross-cutting relationships with other auriferous reefs from the Fairview Mine complex indicate a late timing of the MRC-type mineralization, underlining the complex fluid focusing and utilization of differently orientated structures with different kinematics during progressive deformation, and either episodic or protracted fluid flow events consistent with the main phase of upright regional folding (D2/3) during the late accretionary evolution of the BGB. The orebodies at Fairview Mine share many structural, mineralogical, and fluid geochemical similarities with Phanerozoic-aged orogenic gold deposits, highlighting the importance of the regional-scale mechanical coupling between rheological contrasting lithological packages and progressive folding and thrusting, enabling prime loci for strain localization, focused regional-scale fluid migration and efficient mineralization trap site development within the BGB. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Goudhoudend skuifskeursone aangebied goudmineralisering by Fairview Myn, langs die sentrale noordwestelike marge van die Mesoarcheaanse Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB), word gekorreleer met regionale-skaalse vloeistofmigrasie en fokus tydens die progressiewe F3-plooi van die Ulundi-sinklien tydens die laat stadiums van kompressiewe D3 vervorming. Goudsulfiedmineralisering by Fairview Myn word aangebied in lae-graad metaturbidiet rotse van die Fig Tree Groep op die NW-flak van die regionale-skaalse, dubbelduikende en duidelik geboekte of herplooide (F3) Ulundi sinklien wat begrens word teen die struktureel onderliggende Eureka sinklien deur die brosheid-duktiliteit Sheba Verskuiwing. Uitermate goed gemineraliseerde ertsliggaam (10-60 g/t) is gesentreer om geometries kontrasterende brosheid-duktiliteit skuifskeursone, wat "riwwe" genoem word, met duidelike oriëntasies, gasheerlithologieë, wandgesteenteverandering, kinematika en tydsberekening. Hierdie studie fokus op twee duidelik uiteenlopende rifstrukture, naamlik die hoof ertsstrook van die Hoof Rif Kompleks (MRK), wat die grootste deel van die goudmineralisering behartig met grade van meer as 40-60 g/t, en die Hope Rif, een van die 'n aantal kleiner, maar steeds ekonomies beduidende riwwe met gemiddelde grade tot 10-20 g/t, geleë bokant die MRK, gesamentlik na verwys as 'dakkant riwwe'. Hierdie studie is daarop gemik om hierdie ertsliggame te kenmerk en hul verhouding tot gasheerstrukture, kinematika langs die beheerstrukture en die beheer van vloeistoffokus, mineralisasie en ertsstrookvorming. Die oorkoepelende doelwit is om 'n geïntegreerde konseptuele strukturele en kinematiese raamwerk vir die beheer van mineralisasie vir beide die Hoop Rif en die MRK te formuleer. Goudsulfiedmineralisering van die Hoop Rif word geassosieer met aarkwarts-karbonaat en 'n chloriet-serikiet-karbonaat-albiet wandgesteenteverandering wat rondom 'n 2.5 m wye is, vlak suidooshellinge (045/15 SE) gesentreer word, brosheid-duktiliteit verskuiwingsone gelokaliseer binne Fig Tree grouvak-eenhede, sowat ongeveer 200 m bo die Sheba Verskuiwing. Die vorming van skuif- en ekstensiewe are stel dokumente verskuiwingklepgedrag langs die lae-hoek stootverskuiwing, wat deur middel van naby-litostatiese vloeistowwe en onder baie lae differensiële spanning (<5 Mpa) gedryf word. Hoëgraadse ertsstroke in die vlak van die vlak rif bepaal litologiese en struktureel beheerde onderling verbindingsfouture wat ooreenstem met die ontwikkeling van dupleksstrukture aan die voorkant. Kinematiese aanwysers dui op 'n oorsprong van die Hope Rif as 'n optimaal-georiënteerde laehoek, bo-na-die-NW-stootverskuiwing wat waarskynlik as 'n sekondêre akkommodasiestruktuur gevorm het tydens voortgesette NW-SE sub-horisontale verkorting na die F3a opsluiting van die Ulundi sinklien. Goudsulfiedmineralisering van die MRK word geassosieer met 'n grafiet-karbonaat wandgesteenteverandering en word gelokaliseer in die onmiddellike dakkant van die steil oostelike dip Sheba Verskuiwing binne diskrete steil-steilerts-lote wat langs 'n liggies golwende stelsel van spasiëring, lae verplaatsing, breedweg gelaagheid-parallelle verskuiwings en skuifskeursone. Stowwe en strukture in die ertsstrook rekord gekombineer top-tot-die NW-stootverskuiwing en dextrale strekkingsglip kinematika en sterk samestellende spanning, geïnterpreteer om dextrale transpressie en gepaardgaande steil extrusie van die rotse aan te dui tydens progressiewe NW-SE (D3) verkorting. Die hoof erts skiet stem ooreen met die dilatatie jog meetkunde wat ontwikkel is tydens dextral-transpressiewe, gelaagheid-parallelle skeer in ooreenstemming met die buigingslip herplooide (F3b) van die Ulundi sinklien. Hoëgraadse sakke in die jog korreleer met afgeknipte, algemeen afgebakende, grafietryke en sulfied-gemineraliseerde skalie-eenhede, wat getuig van die voorkeur vloeistoffokusering en spanning lokalisering in onbevoegde skalie-eenhede tydens vervorming. Oorkruisende verhoudings met ander goudhoudend riwwe van die Fairview Myn kompleks dui op 'n laat tydsberekening van die MRK-tipe mineralisasie, wat die komplekse vloeistoffokusering en benutting van verskillende georiënteerde strukture met verskillende kinematika tydens progressiewe vervorming onderstreep, asook episodiese of uitgerekte vloeibare gebeurtenisse in ooreenstemming met die hooffase van regop regionale-skaalse plooiing (D2/3) tydens die laat aangroeiings evolusie van die BGB. Die ertsliggaam by die Fairview Myn deel baie strukturele, mineralogiese en vloeibare geochemiese ooreenkomste met orogeneties goudafsettings van Fanerosoies-oue, wat die belangrikheid van die meganiese skakeling tussen streke tussen reologiese kontrasterende litologiese pakkette en progressiewe plooiing en stootverskuiwing beklemtoon, gefokusde regionale-skaalse vloeistofmigrasie en doeltreffende mineralisasie lokvalontwikkeling binne die BGB. | af_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | 123 pages : illustrations, maps | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/104927 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Ore shoot -- Main Reef Complex (MRC) | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Auriferous reefs -- Fairview mine Barberton Greenstone Belt -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Orebodies -- Characterization | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Hope reef and the MRC -- Mineralization | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Structural controls of auriferous reefs at Fairview Mine, Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |