The metallogenic potential of Australian Proterozoic granites GIS data package

Brief description

This project is based on the recognition that combinations of specific granite types and distinctive host rocks tend to be associated with certain types of Au, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn and W mineralisation. Rarely is Proterozoic mineralisation hosted by granites themselves, for the most part being hosted in the country rock, often three or more kilometres from the nearest known granite. There is an apparent host rock control on the deposition of metals: this can be both compositional and also controlled by the competency of the host lithologies. This compositional host rock control has been documented by Stuart-Smith et al. (1993 - Geology and mineral deposits of the Cullen Mineral field, AGSO Bull. 229) for the Pine Creek Inlier and noted in the eastern Mount Isa Inlier by Wyborn and Heinrich (1993 - The relationship between late-tectonic felsic intrusives and Cu-Au mineralisation in the Eastern Fold Belt, Mount Isa Inlier, Trans Royal Soc Edinburgh, Earth Sci, 83, 201-209). This project collated data on the Proterozoic granites and their comagmatic volcanics, the mineralogical composition of the rocks that they intrude and briefly assessed the style and type of mineralisation present within 5 kms of an outcrop of granite. All data collated in the reports is built into the accompanying GIS, and essentially each item listed in the report is converted into a searchable item within the GIS. This project has aimed to provide the data and interpretations to show the following: 1) Which Proterozoic granites have metallogenic potential, 2) What commodities they are likely to be associated with, and 3) Where the better host rocks are located that are likely to host potential mineralisation.

Related materialThe metallogenic potential of Australian Proterozoic granites. GA Record 2001/012.

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned

Statement: Geological layers of the dataset consist of GRANITE and SEDIMENT coverages that represent distribution of the Proterozoic rocks Australia-wide. The original data of the coverages were digitised from published maps at 1:100,000, 1:250,000 and 1:500,000 scale using ArcInfo software. Only polygons representing units of Proterozoic age were selected for the coverages. Map-Symbol fields of the existing maps were used for selecting the polygons.
Point layer contains ROCKCHEM coverage showing locations of geochemical samples of granitic and volcanic rocks used by the project.
Data source: 1:100,000, 1:250,000 and 1:500,000 scale published geological maps, Geoscience Australia OZROX Database, State Survey geochemical databases
Projection information: the original data were captured in UTM Projection, Australian National Spheroid, AGD66 Datum. For the final release all data were converted to Geographic Projection, GRS80 Spheroid, GDA94 Datum using Geoscience Australia data projection files.
Province compilation scale: 1:100.000 scale - Arnhem Land, Broken Hill, Georgetown, King Island and Paterson; 1:250,000 scale - Albany Fraser, Arunta, Curnamona, Gascoyne, Gawler, Kimberley, Leeuwin, McArthur Basin, Musgrave, Pilbara, Pine Creek, Tanami and Tennant Creek; 1:500,000 scale - Mt Isa and Olary