Abstract
Improved understanding of the evolution of the Archean Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, indicates a collage of crustal fragments formed through both autochthonous and allochthonous processes. Komatiite-associated nickel sulfide (KANS), volcanichosted massive sulfide (VHMS) Zn-Cu and orogenic Au deposits are associated with specific crustal domains. KANS deposits are concentrated in terranes with evidence for pre-existing crust. In contrast, VHMS deposits are associated with rift-like zones of isotopically primitive crust. Gold mineralization predominates in domains with evidence for komatiite magmatism, melts sourced from subduction-modified mantle, and lithospheric-scale orogeny. Development of the mineral systems likely reflects interaction of specific geotectonic processes with the pre-existing crustal and mantle reservoirs.
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Cassidy, K.F., Champion, D.C., Huston, D.L. (2005). Crustal evolution constraints on the metallogeny of the Yilgarn Craton. In: Mineral Deposit Research: Meeting the Global Challenge. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27946-6_229
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27946-6_229
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