Exploration significance of regional and local scale hydrothermal alteration patterns in greenstone belts

Summary

Gold mineralisation is particularly related to the evolution of shear zones and fault systems during and following regional deformation and metamorphism.

Because hydrothermal alteration and related mineralisation are a direct result of the thermal evolution of these terranes, the mineralisation potential of a greenstone belt may be indicated by examining its pattern and history of alteration.

Therefore, this project focussed on the complex alteration history of Archaean Western Australian greenstone belts.

Keywords: metamorphism, hydrothermal, gold, shear zones, Archaean, supracrustal, greenstones