Sediment Hosted Primary Tin Deposit Associated with Biotite Granite and Fault Zone at Gunung Paku, Klian Intan, Upper Perak, Malaysia

Abstract

AbstractGunung Paku near Klian Intan, Perak, is a primary tin deposit in Malaysia mined since 200 years ago, contributing 3–5% of tin ore concentrates previously, and recently over 70% of the Malaysian tin. Gunung Paku is located within the western Tin belt of Peninsular Malaysia associated with biotite granite (184–230 Ma) of the Main Range Granitoid which extends up to the southern part of Peninsular and Central Thailand. The primary tin mineralization style at the Gunung Paku is mainly associated with widespread occurrence of sheet‐like quartz veining systems parallel to the strike of the host rocks and confined within a narrow N–S trending fault zone. The mineralization formed within a thick sequence of metasedimentry rock that belongs to the Baling Formation of Palaeozoic age. The host rock of weakly metamorphosed argillite generally experienced strong tropical weathering that resulted in a thick sequence of light grey to light brown oxidized profile. The mineralized veins range from simple quartz‐cassiterite, quartz‐tourmaline‐cassiterite to complex quartz‐cassiterite‐polymetallic sulfide veins. Wall rock alterations at Gunung Paku are mainly characterized by the hypogene type alteration consisting of silicification, tourmalinization, chloritization, sericitization and kaolinization normally adjacent to mineralized quartz veins and brecciated‐fault gouge zones. Pyrite, arsenopyrite, cassiterite, rutile, chalcopyrite, trippkeite (CuAsO4), scorodite, covellite and other secondary iron‐oxyhydroxide are the common metallic minerals that accompanied the tin mineralization. Other minor occurrences include trace amounts of complex lead‐bismuth‐antimony‐molybdenum bearing minerals.