Epithermal sinters of Paleozoic age in north Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 1989 Epithermal sinters of Paleozoic age in north Queensland, Australia N. C. White; N. C. White 1BHP-UTAH Minerals International, P.O. Box 619, Hawthorn, Victoria 3124, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. G. Wood; D. G. Wood 2P.O. Box 425, Spring Hill, Queensland 4000, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. C. Lee M. C. Lee 3BHP Gold Mines Limited, P.O. Box 101, Dunedin, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information N. C. White 1BHP-UTAH Minerals International, P.O. Box 619, Hawthorn, Victoria 3124, Australia D. G. Wood 2P.O. Box 425, Spring Hill, Queensland 4000, Australia M. C. Lee 3BHP Gold Mines Limited, P.O. Box 101, Dunedin, New Zealand Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1989) 17 (8): 718–722. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0718:ESOPAI>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation N. C. White, D. G. Wood, M. C. Lee; Epithermal sinters of Paleozoic age in north Queensland, Australia. Geology 1989;; 17 (8): 718–722. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0718:ESOPAI>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Silica sinters deposited from hot springs have been found associated with volcanic rocks of Late Devonian to late Carboniferous age in north Queensland, Australia. These deposits have many features in common with modern hot-spring sinters, such as those of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand. They occur associated with subaerial volcanic rocks and are locally found with air-fall tuffs and fluvial and lake deposits in which hydrothermal eruption breccias are common. The associated rocks are extensively hydrothermally altered and are cut by silica veins showing characteristic epithermal vein textures; the silica veins contain low-salinity fluid inclusions trapped at epithermal temperatures, and there is evidence of boiling.Textures preserved in the sinters are identical to those found in modern sinters; they include columnar structures similar to bacterial stromatolites described from Yellowstone National Park, as well as striated surfaces apparently resulting from silica deposition on filamentous algae. Plant fossils, including Oxroadia gracilis, are abundant. Criteria applied to identify these ancient sinters may be applied to other possible sinter deposits and may provide evidence indicating the level of exposure of the former geothermal system, which may be an important guide in exploration for epithermal precious-metal deposits. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.