Integration of Stress–Strain Maps in Mineral Systems Targeting for IOCG Mineralisation within the Mt. Woods Inlier, Gawler Craton, South Australia

Abstract

The application of finite element analysis is used to simulate the relative distribution and magnitude of stress–strain conditions during a geologically brief, NNW-SSE-oriented, extensional event (1595 Ma to 1590 Ma), co-incident with IOCG-hydrothermal fluid flow and mineralisation across the Mt Woods Inlier, Gawler Craton, South Australia. Differential stress and shear strain maps across the modelled terrane highlight regions that were predisposed to strain localization, extensional failure and fluid throughput during the simulated mineralisation event. These maps are integrated with other datasets and interpretation layers, one of which is a proposed structural–geometrical relationship apparent in many world-class IOCG deposits, including Prominent Hill, Olympic Dam, Sossego, Salobo, Cristalino and Candelaria. These deposits occur at steeply plunging, pipe-like intersections of conjugate extensional systems of faults, shears and/or contacts, wherein the obtuse angle may have been bisected by the maximum principal extensional axis (viz., σ3) during mineralisation. Several other layers are also used for the generation of targets, such as distance from major shear zones, favourable host lithologies, and proximity to tectonostratigraphic contacts of markedly contrasting competency. The result is an integrated target index or heat map for IOCG prospectively across the Mt. Woods Inlier.