The Hill End goldfield, NSW, Australia ?early metamorphic deposition of auriferous quartz veins

Abstract

Gold-bearing quartz veins in the Hill End goldfield, NSW Australia, comprise bedding parallel vein sets and lesser cleavage parallel and fault controlled veins which are hosted by a multiply deformed Late Silurian slate-metagreywacke turbidite sequence. Open to ptygmatic folds and boudinage are characteristic features of the veins. Metamorphic P, T estimates of 2.9 kb and 420°C during Early Carboniferous deformation and vein emplacement are obtained from the calcite, ferroan-magnesian calcite geothermometer and the Si-content of white mica. Fluid inclusions from vein quartz represent unmixed H2O-rich and CO2-rich low salinity fluids which have been trapped close to the solvus of the H2O-CO2-(NaCl-CH4) system. Homogenisation temperatures (range 260–361°C) therefore represent true trapping temperatures. A preliminary sulphur isotope study of the vein sulphides indicates that the underlying turbidite sequence has acted as a source of sulphur (range −2.8 to 17.8 per mil). Formation of most veins early in the deformation and the lack of an obvious igneous intrusive source suggests that the gold, as for the sulphur has been derived from the metasedimentary sequence. Deposition of gold has resulted from complex destabilisation due to H2S loss during transient vein opening and fluid pH changes accompanying CO2-consuming wallrock reactions.