Ore Textures

CONTENTS
P,d." .. .............................. . i,'

1. lntroduction .......... . ............................. ........................
. ...................... . .................... . ................ 2
2.! c..""a!51at,mmt .. . ........... 2
2.1 Fi ... t onl<" ",t<,,;a - co'ifid,"u biliMillg ................ ..... ........... .. .. .
2.20 Mil1<"al supr'imp",MI ioll - srqu"'lial ifill . " "" ................ " """ ........ " , ... ,
2.211 Stmct,,,ol,ul,,,,impqsilioll' cross Clmillg "';IIS. brca ........ .
2,3 o,du erilma _ SiI,p"iall o,"''';lIg
2.30> lItismole/,os /v1l,,,,"1I ,,11, ... lioll all i'ifill compoll"''' ........ ....... , , , , , , , ........ .
1..31> IlIcOIlSislml all,rollm cClifiguratiolls
2,k JlII,rolia" of allf,aljoll
2. 4 T/j,d o,de' c, il"io o""'prilll'g - ",'",alossrmblagrs ........ """, ......... ,
2,5 FOllrln o,du criluia h,dim:1 Ol"'prilllillg - Irml"''''''''' i"dica/ors
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
J
3. nting tulu,ts - bro.der se. '" perspecti\'<'S ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4
3. J BrO<la !Aal, puspn:lh-e; 4
3.2 Rw,dillgobit-rt"liplls ... ............ """"", ................. """, ........ ", .... 4
4, Fi rsl oroercriteri. miner.1 supe,imposi ti(}n .... , ...... ..........................
,
Slqumllal i'ifill.
"" .... ". "" ... 5
T .. "tur .... nd Probl .. m. PI.tes 1-3 ........... , , ........ ............. "' ............. . .. .
5. Fi,st (},de.nite,i, , Iro,tu.,t ,u!,<"i mposi tiOI1 .. , ...... ...........................
erOS Clllling , .. i". -./ock" " ,k sl)ll,.,;.
T U l ures .nd Pmblems PI.tes 4lt ............................................... .

"
t2l7
6. First .. ri. slructur.1 superimposi lion ........................ , ................. 28
Brt;a - f,ag"""" of <,o,ly slog' mill"alis<>ljoll coli loi"rd Willll" 1.lr, stag'"
Tu lu' .. s . nd Probl em . PI.t .. s 12 15 ........... , ........................ "........... 28-35
7. S .. cond orde, "iter. . .............. .
S".pidoll a,ousi"S. Parolld Ol""p,illli"S ,,,ills.
IW",olio" ",;.matc/tillg, "com;,I,,, . lIuaUolI alldfe' ;'ifill srq"'""". allrralioll of ollrraUolI,
l'l.tes 16-22 .................................. . . ... .
8. Acknnwledgements
9. Rd .. ",nces .......................... " .......... ................................ 5 1
PLATES
St . r.'riel hn ""., In'ineb.nk. north QU""..,I.M,
Seoqu<fltial infiU
2. I'.ingo gold mine. a..rlers T"", .... ,"Si.,.... north Queen>1;rnd. Australi. (5<'<>11 t.<>de).
Seoq"." ti.1 inf,U - .pither"",1 OIyl<.
3. Teller SOld m,,...,, Tel! ... , W .. 'em Austr.le., Au,,,. I,. (M 10 R""I),
nhU. Stnxtur.1 .up"rimrosition _ eros> cu.ting ,'e,n
4. Kidston gold mi"", Eina:;lcigh rcgion.. north Au,tTal i .
St .... ctura I sUp"rimp<ition,,ei ...
5. IV ..., ... ",.d. ''''' mi,...,. C.,ntur)' "'Si"", north Que<-nsl.nd, A"",.li .
Struclur.1 .uperimposih",,,.ins, s....p;.,ion arous;"s _ '.y"",'rk inliU.
6, CrasbeTg rupper.gold mine, Ertsbe<g distri<:t, lri.n).)'o, Indonesi.,
St'Utur. 1 ." perimpos ilion,'ei ns, .. "" 1 ",,,,k
7. re. Ridg<'. seuthe .. t Mis<ouri, USA,
Struc'ur.1 supenmp<ition-"" ins, stock",orl<o,
S. Rod Dom. coppe1'gold mi"", Chillag.,., Mrlh Qu"""''''nd, Aus".li.
Structu ro I superimp<i tion .",;"". stock",()\'l . ,
9. )umna tin mine, 1"' i1\l!b;lnl , north QueensLond, A",,,.li .
Struc.ur.1 superimp<,hon"'eins, Su.pidon .rou.ing _ ""Mering TIIt.1 infill.
10. Unkno",n tin mine, E,,.n Kanga"", I-lill. tinfield, north Queen.land
Structural superimposition"ei"". pa<oUel ,...,'; v. tion.
1 L M, ls.a copper",.d'i"" .. il,'er mi"", Mt 1 ... no" hQu..-nsland. AustroU.,
StrL>Ctu ... l.uperimp<ition-\'ein, brecci.,
]l, l>o,;r.eti gold mine. K"h'on di.trict, Charte ... To"",, .. , not,h Q .. .., ... I.nd, Austr.Ii .
Structur.1 .uperimposition _ bre<ci.
13. Ra, ..... wood gold mining di.,riet, non" Qu""""I,nd. A,,'tr.li. 2 ,'ein, C''P'''',.ri. Gold)
Struct"r. 1 .uperimposition (000 mineral .uperimposit ion) _
14. Mi>l. l . tunss'.n mi"., Em"ford, north Queensl.nd, Au,tr.lia.
Stnxtural .uperimposi'ion (.nd mi""".1 .up"rimf'O"ition) _ br<eci.
15. Unl nown tin mine, E",. n, K.l ng."", Hill. norlh Qu"""'land, Austr.li .
Stru<!ural sUp"rimposition-,'ein>, brecci.
16. Ra,'eruwood gold m;n;ng di".;"t, north Qu..,,,,,land, A""cali. (SYC I'it' C.'!"'nt.ri. Cold).
SU'pido<> .rousi ng - romplex o\'''rprin'ing. ''''cli" .. ion, ...... <tu<al sUp"rimp<ition-,'eins.
17. Ra,' ...... wood S<>ld mining d'''''ct. no"h Australia. (Sud Reef _ SYC Pi', C.rpet'''ri. Cold)
s....pieion ."""ing - comptex ",'.rprin'ing. paral ,,1 ",acti,.ti"", Structurol .uperimposi.ion."ein.
18. R.,,,,,,,,,ood gold mining distr;"t, north Queen,land, Austr. li. (Nol.". j'il, C.rpet".ri. Cold)
Smpidon . rousing _ romple< ",o>tprinling p ... I..,1 r""et",.tion,. . I",..,;on ",i,match,
St'Uturol.uperimposition' "",
19. s.::...nsons tin mine, Mount Mowbray di",><t, I"\>cl>.nk- north Qu<."-""I.nd, Aust"li .
Su.pi";on arousing - inconsi<tent .Ue-r.tion _ ",erprinting. parall.1 .eocli\-.ti"". Stru"",.1
su peri m rosi ti",,,' e' n,.
!!J, Alb,te .11",.""", Mal"'" l;ap \,;,..,'" Ck>n<urry ""ion, north Qun:l.nd, A" ",.I,.,
s....picion .rou.ing - i""onsisten' .Ite,"';on, comrl'" o,'erprinting, aUe .. 'ion 01 .llerati"" $t,,,,,,,ral
.upenmp<' tion-, 'eins.
21. r.gmont. I d.i"" pros>t Cloneu")' rcgion, north Ou""",I.nd, Au' t,.lia.
s...picion .rou,ing _ inronsist"'" .I t",otion, oUeration 01 .I"'r.lion. S'ruc'ural sUp"'i"'positiOl1-,'.ins.
22. Tick J-t ill g<>ld mine, Ooncurry rcgion, '\Orth Qo.,etn'll.nd, Amt .. li .
Su.pieion ",ou.in.!; - . IIOrotion 01 .I",wion, laye''''''trol.
l
1 l NTRoDuCTroN
01 ou, co"ceplS concernins lhe 01 syslems a t1d thei, 'oC<

I,aelu,ing, a,i", Imm Como",n ob",,"'.lion l hal hyd,olh",mal fluids """m to p, .. dpilal<' d
minN,, 1 diiie.ent time>_ ty """'y n,;n",at dep<>$;' wilt p .,,, ide 3" "f
eullins "eins, ",hich a,e as t\\'o (o, a single) 01 h)'drothNma (luids
lI' ilh an pe.iod 01 . ock f.acl u,ing. c"-'ss euuins 'dalions hip is an ex""'ple 01 an o""F,i"ling
and implied timins rdationship aUows th, til'O ,",'i ns to N' eatalogu,oJ as" t"mporal
slteh as Stase I a"d St"S" 2. The pro -ss 01 construetins a time "'-"<l"ence is lo as 'cstablishins the
p..ragenetic S<XJ UCrlCC'
Ne."I)' e,-ery exhibHs son,.. th ....... to st.,ses 01 d,\'(,lopment. whieh .... (I""t the dese association
bchl'cen long li,'<XI hyd rolher",al s)'sl"ms ""d .. ssocial"d t"'lonism. Some dCpMilS 01 th .. epilhel mal or
porph)'ry st}'I, m.l), (',hibit n"n1<"'OU' , tagcs, ,,(I,,li nl; "N)' ac ti\'( 'o Ir.Ktu,ing (us"aU)' du" lo lhe boilil1!; ,,1
n"ids) ",hieh continucs ,"t,',miltentl)' thro"ghout histo,)' of nuid (low.
An ,md,,st.mding o/ o""'p,intins and Ih";, p.lr"s"n"ic i mplicalions is th, basi" lor aU ore d(posil
studi,os. It "'o"ld Ix> lair lo "ate thal until lhis a,]'<-'Ct is "'e U ao)' furlher s",ditos regardins ,ueh
de"'s a, fluid ,nelusi""s, "lable '" ,adi '>;eniC i,oIO]'<-"" alte,ali" " S,,,,,h,,mistry ""d flu ,d "",deling, ,un the I'er)'
Waw , i, k '" ""lIinS ,,11 from" n incurrl'Ct 'Iis sil"aliun i, n,,' eh mo,,' >mmUIl Ihan mn,!! ni
is prepared to .1dmil ! 'rom a praetical ]'<-,sp.-clive lhe eompr"he ns,on of p.H.1genetic "'-"<l"cncing is "'lUdll )'
Impo",,,n. l' i"" ly lt p'o"ldt." ,he ea,l)' Iniormattm \\'hth ""\'es 10 Sl\'" ,he explo,.nlon te.1m ",me con""p' 01
th,> t)']'<- "f " nd," in\'loslig.ltion, ""d i1 ",ill cume os no su'pri.., tn man' g""; 10
just ho\\' mall)' ti ""OS this h.lS N'Cn misil1krprd,"<I. s..'Condly ",ilhin ally m"lI iph.,se sys lem it is "",)'
imp<>rlallt 10 unde",lalld ",hieh phases are ",luall}' Ore bcoring. and 1" romp,,,hend Ihei, s patial d istribul'o n.
From !"-";p.-cti ,,,, it b<"Comes a prinl<' gl"Ologic,,1 "-"<lltirement. lo fu ll)' ddin"al" "nd interprct Ihe man)"
IMclS i,,,,,,I,,,'<I cOl"e"'ing "'-erprinling and pa' 3gcllctie ""'luencins. The lCXl u' ... p,o\"d" daM c'm,erni"s
sl'uet,,'al fl"id composition, ,lr"elur.,1 eOl1 l'ols, distributiOIl, mi ne,., 1 zoning, 1" I11 p<l,al alld
th,rm.11 h,sto,y 01 flui d flow, a"d a hMl 01 rel.lled s"bllel,es thal sharpeo compreh"nsion aod h"oce
tarscling and ,ontinuing res.:arch.
C,,,,' n lhe abo\'e it ,,"ould be nalu", l lo assum. lhal b-oth lhe academie t<'.lehing S)'Sle", ""d the .. 1
.. ' plo. al ion ,ommunil)' "'''u Id SIrt..,;s lhe imp,.,rla"", o lhis asp.-c!. Resrellully Ihe "",,,Id is a bus), plMe, ", it h
ae"d"mi,l h.w il1S a I",S" amo" nt to fil into a Ih,.,.,-Io,,' and indus tr)' ha,-ing to find o,,'
qtliekl)'. grolog,SIS would co"dude lh,,, l h"", is ,oom lor i"' prol'eme"l, a"d this offered io
thal spi,i!. I' h, rocks ",ill speak, bul it al",a)'s lake; lime 10 lea", a loreig" lansuase
Fo,t""." .. I)' ",ithi" 11", domain 01 o\'e'p,i"li"g a.-.l parase"esis, praclie .. lI)' all lhe a re lo N'
mad, at " ' Sllal ale. 11 is m"eh "asie' to sorl things ,,,JI .l t 'ock la,, Ihan b.me .. lh a miO' ''';:''I'''
Rock sl.lbs and dr ill eore ar,' also prime treas" .... 's, as both pro'-,de smooth ",,,fdees enabling dose
obse"'''tion. AII 01 11", aN" 'C Me ,eadil)' a,'ailable i" mo,le' plo,ation ""d ",ine "n,' iro"me"ls, a"d ",he" used in
eombin;,lion are "'ea!"-,,,s lo, rt"Wl"ing QW'rpr intins and h,n(, S<"<lu"ncing rocl sl.lb i,
Ihe ",ost "ndertJl ilise<J, ano! tht knd''fle)' lo leap fro", 'ock f.lee (or dril l eore) to the microscop'-'
lrequentl)' lurns an ca-<il y ",Iubl., problcm i"IO co"lusi"g situ"lio"s,
lo k""p,l1g ",ith the rest of this serics the texl is aim,"scr""lio,lS ",hieh e"n be made t'ither by t')'e O' ",ilh a
ha"d I""s. The h,\\"e N"''' ..,1,'CICod to sho'" a ,a"g" 01 mi"<'talisatio" styl,.,;. and plote d .. ",riplions hM"
N,,'n II'rill"n .l t I""glh lo indi, al" app'oaeh arld tho"ghl prOC('S.."-OS i",-oh.oJ.
ORE TIOXTURES VOLUME 3 0VERI'RI;"''fING TEXTURES I
2 O VERPR1NTl NG CR!TERIA
2.1
\\'ilhin Ihe 01 this boook te.m o"c'print;ns
to ,l nl' l,>,hora I ob ... " ,.lion whieh ,a<l uti sed
lo i"fer Ih,lI one mintr.,1 (or S",up "f minc r,lls) h,,,
been d"posited latN lhan anolh,>r, The .im in all
m .... p'intins obst>"'"lions.;, to esl"blish a St."<luer.ce 01
d"posit io" ",hi,h is rd "rred to as
p<lfas.,neti, ,tud y. O\,"rprinting obst>"'"lions art' Ihus
Ih" building block> ",hkh produee a pa ragenesis. The
enli.e p.oress is absoluldy lundamental to anyont
",ho is It)"ing lo ,.,;I.l blish exaeUy '",hal is soinS on'
",ithin an)' lor", 01 h)'d rolhe.mal-min",,,lisi nS 'plem
O"erp rinting "it,>ri. ""'l' simple in Iheo,y, but
i<"nd lo be ,Ihe. eomp lex in prae lice. The'" " re
nu", ,, rou, sm. 1I traps a", a it ing l he ,,,,"'a. )' o,
ine'perien'ed ob"'''e., il"d as p,c"iousl)" sl oted
good groundins in Ihe diffe",,,ee beh"""n inlill and
alkr"lion coneept. i> es;e nti.L In pr.",lin> " r., nse 01
teehni,!u"s an' utilised. ",h ieh ."nge I.om l i.st to
fo"rth o.d,>. dept>ndins " pon th., degre", of
i n le,p "'l.\li"n,
2.2 h esl orde' criteri., (Confide""" bui Iding)
Mi ""ral supc,imposition
Hyd' Olht'rmal fl uids tr.",,.,inS 'op,>n' ehannd"'.,)'s
may (infill ) ana wlwre On,'
,ninc.al be _" to ha"e opon
.,,' obv;ous timinS CM' be
infem"a No"ll"ous arc si""n in Volome 1
o( this .... ies, and "thers are in Ihis !exl
(Plate-s 1-3).
(b) Sl' uelural supcri",posi tion
Rock o. ",incral failtore oceurring a pe,i od of
hydroth",,,,al dtpos il ion. \\' i ll .nd/o .
Itasm .. nt pr<>,'ioosl)' formro ",i"c.al . This co,nmOn
silu.tion prol' id"s a ranse 01 ne\\' (o"erp' int inS)
channel\\'3)'S fot fluid flo", .1nd 'fhe net
result p.o\'id,.,; Ihe l\\'o mosl eommon crite,;a utilised
lo sepa , l" O"t pe.iod of mineral depo,it ion f.om
.nothe"
(i) C.os. eutl ins \'ein s)'stems (euh ", ith s<>pa k
inflll l a Iteration comp<,,,,,nls). (1'I,' les .... 11).
(ii) Fr asn,.."ls (breccia) of earl)'
mnlai" .. od \\'ithin !he n",w (1'lales ]2-15),
2.3 Second ord"r criteria (Su.pieio" aNusinS)
Anl' struchm' ",h ich has Jcled as a conduct for ,1
h)'d' otherm.,1 fluid .,nd subs& uent depos ilion, is "cr)'
----
1 ORE TEXTURES 3 OVERl'Rl,'.JT1NG TEXTURES
prone lo ... aetivati o " dll. inS a subse,!uent r", k
fraeluti"s In simple I,>.ms laolls, ""ins, b"""d.
zo"es lo fo,m Ihe \\'eak li nks in Ihe chain ",hieh
h eps on t>.eaking in same place. It is .... ,y
common for a suceession 01 mine , lisins c"ents to
occupy the "",me zon., of sl .. " tur,,1 "'e"kne-ss . tnd tm,
simpl, struelural ,,'pedmposil ion crite.i a presented
abo"e may becom" .>'the, <lbs"",,,>, Gi"en th.1 Neh
inflox 01 flu id ",ill r.,sull in a "el\' infill
", it h a lkration 01 ,>ithe.
or pre"iously host 'OCleS. it is not
so.p.isinS that eomplex siwalion. mal' occu'-
ObS"T\' al ions that raise .".picions 01
OI'e'printi"g ;"dude the struOmal supe.imposition
criter i., m"ntion"d abo\'e, as lI'e1l as le .. ob" ious
.ilualions surh aS:
(.) Mi.malehes betwecn a lteration and i"fi ll
rumponcnlS oot 01 p'opo.tion) . l"eludins:
(i) Small eh'<1nclway Sl,uelures (usuall),
trA"ersing IMgl>r Meas
of .lIcr,lI;on.
(ii) alterati"n ",hieh dot'. <101 appea. lo
i"crea ... signifieantly )t al all) as il appro. ,h,>s "
eh;tnne l"'ay slruetu,e (I' ein, she.t,
' tria nsular , "S")
(ii i) Veins (uso. II) fi"t as inlill st,uetur"s)
",hich a lthough ,e n t.;,lly loe a ted ,Ho,ond
altcration ",ithin the majorily of tll<' ro,k,
'",andl>' the .,lt erat ion zone to produce
gro.sll' as)'mmet'i, sit"ati ons
(iv) Asymmetrie mism;tlching also orcurs in infil l
""'I0c"ces. All hough th ... p is no 'eason why
m inerals should deposit s)'mm .. lr;eally on ca,h sid, of
an op,>n ins. Ihe.e ore m."l' situ"tion, ",Itere t ite
ob,.,r".,r inluil i,'e!y ,uspects this should oce". ",ilhin
Ihe st)' le of s !,,-'Cimen beinS An extt.
On side is al",.ys su.pieious,
(b) Inconsistcnl ., lleralion con/igurati"IIS
Th.,,,, a", many \'arialions!o Ihis bul il is "e')'
eommon fo ,n .lte .;tlion >,one to ol'e'prin! pre-
c.,isting .lIe.ation. lllh, SKond completel)'
o"erpri<lts the fiest at so",.. p<,ints, b,, 1 p."li.,Il)
o'er p.int' al olhers, the obser"er ", ill be pre",nted
",ith differ("nl palk.ns ,'1 diff", .. " l points.
Thus "'or kins fmm tite ho"t roek in",ards 1"",.rdS th,>
SIl'I"-'Ct,od ch.",,,,,, zone ", il l S"'" diffe",nt .e.ulls _'1
diffe"'nl poinlS.
1
(e) Alter .'ion "f alter.,ion
T" ""me ex'eft' i. a " .. iat;on "" ,h. aoo,-e, bu' i, .
quile common 10 prodUCIS whieh ret.in Ihe
textl"e 01 pre'-iously .ltereJ rock.
Exomples 01 order (suspicion .rollsins)
He si"en throughoul the plat"s, ",ith some ""Ieded
situ.lt ions being illustr.,eJ in PI. tes 16-22.
2.4 Thi rd order criterio (lndirect overpri,,'ing)
Almol any 00' of eore. Or brse rock sl.b. Silu.k-d in Ihe
marginal rone; 01 struclurally ronlrolleJ ore ",ill exhibil
i,;olaleJ , 'einlets ",ith alteralion/ inlill assemblages whieh
are ol,,"iously differenl lo caeh olher _ The Solme silualion
will occur ,,"i lh isol aled "eins!>'einlel' IOCdleJ in 1""0
diflerenl pl.cu. The p'e."nee of ''''0 d iflerenl
assembl.ges suggt-SIS Iwo d iflcrenl sl.ges, bUI OO"iously
g"'<'S no hmong ",tormahon.
Another very Commo" suspion arousing indic.lor is a
sudden ch.rg" 01 cryslallis,'ion Slyle ",ith in an
apparentl)" conlinuous .equenlial inlill sequenee_ A
sud den frum eo."'" "ysl31line eomb quorl? lo
finely lay<'rcd 'eollolorm' style. ,,"ould be a eommon
example(l'l.t< 1)
25 Fourlh order crileri. (Indireet o"erprinting-
lemperalure infere'ncel.
\Vhere !he above isolaled '-einlel silualion OCCurs, il is
o considerable assistanee il the obsen' er has sOrne
,oneepl 01 high lemperalure verSIIS lo,," lempot' r.ture
."cmblages_ 1>-10'1 par.genetic sequenee. represenl
declining flu id lemperalure sequenees. A biot ite rich
' ssembledge would nOTmally indieate mueh higheT
temper.lure Ihan one whieh "'.s predominantly cI.y, It
doc. nol necess.rily 10110"" Ihal the biolile is earHer,
bul il is 3 good wOTking hypothesi s _ This 01
criterio needs lo l>e used ,,"ilh ea"tion, .nd hence Ihe
ourth order grouping.
OIl.E TEXTUII.F.S 3 0VERPRINTI":G TEXTURES J
3 T EXTURES
,..rer to
inlerpri'lalions regarding In .. time ,;equ ... ncing
01 hydrolht'rm. e\'enls. Ho",,,, .. r. i1 is imporl.nl lo
pereei" e Ih.'1 Ine time obSCr\ations a..,
ofler lhe opporlunit) lo 10010 ot e. eh slagf scp..1r. tdy
(or in eombinalion) lo esl .l blish a ",idH r.lnse of
parame' NS roneerning Ih .. slr",I"r.l 1 and
fluid hblory of an indi"id "al ore Adm;!tc..:lly
lhe amOlml 01 "i,ual informalion can be
re lates to and 01
obser\ .. r, but Ine opportunily remdins :o consider
relaling lo ore senesi, from r.nse of
inlerrelah.-d perspecli n 'S. Thest" include:
(A) $tructural ..... oJution as reflecled by Ih. sl)' Ic{sl of
fracturing. This (ould be !"eSlated as underslandins
Ihe de"elopmenl of fluid channdways. 3nd h<'1"ICe
:muelural (Olllrols.
(b) composilion e"ol ulior of Ihe ore
as refl<"Cted by 11", composiliol1 of Ihe infill
dnd their altNalion
assemblagt'S.
Stas"
Infill'
(e ) Fdetors rel alins to physic. 1 .. ters of Ihe
ore n"i ds. Temperatur .. are readily
Iro'" ,he: dcpo.i'ioM I
I'aramelers re lalins lo pr<'ssurc and pr ... ssure
are present in lexluros thal can
r .. loted lo proc .. sses of hydra ulie
hydraulic br<"<:dalion a,d boiling. In
(ases "ven the crystal s;z.s and .hapes
can be related lO possi ble
fluid o. ph. Sf separations.
This is true wil h <"drIZ
(Dong al, 1995).
3.2 Recordi ng
h is alw.ys ",be to record ob"' r\'atioos, and Ihi. is
PMlin, arly Ir ue in o"erpr inling sl udies. Many
si lual ions and / or subt le, and il ;s
crucial lo look carefull y and nol t" Iry lo force
concl usion. Irum unclear exampltS. 11 os q" ,l e
surprisins jusI how many opparently elear / simple
stuaHon r .. in facl complex. A u,d ul pra(l ;cal
sug.estion, ;s to (OI\Struet a table as indie.led belo,,".
SlructuroJ Commenl
(Name) fRock Iypc all"rNI
"Chloril .. " Quarlz, chlorile. ChlorilC,
pyrite minor ""rici le?
and carbonate
(Ba,;;, lt) Irregular
oo,.
Pink vein I'ale pink Darke. pink
minerals. Sharp (Cranlte)
edse aSainst expres.sed by
aheralioo pinkins
of fd dspars
lnfill . It is "ery raro tha! S<"luenlial infill ordercan
be eosil)' obser\"ed on one .... mple. If aro
apparenllhey can be l"l'Corded. For examplo- - Quartl
"""'1',; ",<><1 by .. , or (Chlorito, Pyrit ..
unce.l.in liming) .. t,.
4 ORE TFXfURES VOLUME 30VERPRIl\'TING TEXTURES
Small " .. in
between
2-3cm wide inlill and alleralioo
blurred.
L..a.rge "ein Suspecl pink
6-&m wide. nlm and alteration
Infill predomina les. BTC albite or
No breccialion. K-spar?
HiSh fluid Cul mall
pressure jacking ehlori le vejn, wilh no
fracture open? apparenl effect '
,
,
4 I F1RST ORDER CRITER1A- MI NERA L SUPERIMPOSIT10N
SEQUF.NTIAL
.1na p""'lcm, l'ldt( ... 1-3.
1"lill le,h,r<'S pro\'id,- "'t .... \'" Iu.,bl .. ;nf",m.ll i""
co"cerning the s",quen"jng 01 mineral d ....
W,lhin ,ingll' sldse DI delX"'i1ioo ;1 is comm<>l'
lOO" mi ..... 'al. lo pnoripil"" as crystdl> or Earl)'
orme<! cf)'>uls or la}"<"f'S t>e<;o",.. "ock.oali"" for
.u<x...-ding p,...,ipi'al;"" and IR <IN] ,itl""ions ,1 is
r .. lati-clyeas}' lo <1 .. , .... ",,, .. 3 st>qu<mial sequ .. nc ...
This is mosl easily in IMgC 5<31" u,il k ...
wh,eh a .... 'mi)' p3rti.!!y inflll.>d. S,'Qlo;iS1>
",ou ld be f"mili.r "';th exampk .. which
"",u, in Valley sl}'l" en";mnmen!>_ WIl .. "
Ih,' fluid spaee is compll',e' }' "filled . scqu .. nti.1
d .... ucliOlls .r., 3 liUI .. mor(' dilfieuh. bu! can g .. ,,<-rally
be .-.:hie, ed ",ith onl)' minor problems_ f()t
infiU d.e p..,.,...,tO'd in Volu"", t ...... it ii
,,"'th noting tI"'t this is .. moch nq;1.-".:tcd skill.
Within ,("in nd b,,'cda nyst.ls
"uet""t" as isolJlcd indi\'idu" ls, than 'S ti",
cont inuo"s I.yers ",hich sO ohen in
In this "i""'lion il C.n ""'y dilfkll lt
lo fjnd ex.mpl"S 10 de,,,I )' illuSlrat" the complel<'
rclJlion>hip:. bo.-tw,'t"Il IIw Ih_lo mint"r.ls ..-hich
ha>e Th" can usu.lI )' be
rl'SOl"NI by inspecling .. t..rge numbe< of ... mplc5 <JI
p.>rtkolaT SI.g .. aod slowl)' ...... sing "'-'1
'o"-"'S.o..-Ih' Ob""" '" ",, should nol
eXf"-"C1 lo di"",,,, 1"" full 0;<"'1""""'" Imm one .pinwn,
.",d in many caso:s ..-ill be Idl wilh" fe", URCcrlAinl>CS
conccmi"s deposilio",1 timi"g beh, .... 'n t"'o 0' mo.e
01 the mine'dls. COlllnwn minerals whieh gi"..,
p.'tieulM problcms .re Ihe rhakopyr il.-/ p)"'.hotil ..
""ir. n..."", fm;lX'fItI)' prodpil.tc rogt>t"" nd "",itht,.
lilb to fo,m <"t)sl .. ls. It is .. 1 .. , quite poss,ble fOf
min .. ral s lo b .. p, .. cipi 1inS s im"l.aneousl)' o.
eontinu"'-'sJy throughout. lhis ob ... iously
COflIr .. diclory Ole.-printing
Theorctkally th" si",,,lt.neo,,. o. eontin"o",
p,edpitation problem (Qui d mah Ihe eoneept ,,1
><'qllcnli .. 1 o.-erprinting of li",il,' ,ah,, 0' im""""ible
lo .ppl)' as .. p,actie.1 n'illit y.
HO\\"",'r from t"...,I)' yurs of "XP<'fienc<". 1"" " ." ....
c .. n a>su ... the ,e.<k-r tlwl in Ih<.-" '.sl maorit)' 01 ca"..,.
min<'uls nonnally p<'p,tate in .. s.imple S<>qu,'ntial
m. m",, whi,h is r<adil ), dedu""",, with .. ...
of t"" p.inciple> of inlill "-"'ognition.
A murh more p'oblcm i! is
,,.li,."<I thot J "oid su, h a la'g" ,' uS
'" op.m ro",,,,,,. lila)' n"Cfh" m;ne,al p<ipitalion
0'1", a lonS perind of li"", and t"" ... is no su.'.nl""
lhat the """'Iuenc. 01 p<;pit.tion deduce<! . etual!}
... nt. a sinSI 1"Se. Qb, lously the I.'ge' the
,'oid . paee lhe mo ... tht opportunily e, ists for thi s to
OCe,",. Altho"gh ,ef'detu.ing m,' y ocr'''R'CI ""d
a n,,1V St.lS" being inl,O<I" e,><I, it is off"" nN ...
.... ithin th<- \'oid sp.o'''. (11 10 f,a,tu"" ..
Th",e are .. 1 .... ys of .. p,obl,'m
of Ihi s ".tUTC but th" firSI is to b .. alVare of
the possibilit )'.
An "arl)' warning "S" .. l ;s o.".lIy sinn by thc
tnlu,.' and 0' miner.logi'.' eh .. lVithin 11,..
... The inm'r "'sion. of Ihe \'ug m,, )' ""ord .,
,h",p t{", lural chang" in ,,)'st,, 1 si'.e_ .. t;"el )' tll<'
mi neralosy may sudd ... nly chanse. In m.n}
e .. ses both textural .. 11<1 mineralogie .. 1 ehanges QCCU'
... hieh ra;se suspi<ion, \\'ith .. litlle knowlcdge oi
lempe'.tu ..... of deposition. it may be ob\';ous that
,e.)' h'gh p.oduets He
. """"""'ed by 11)'" t"n'I'<,at" ... assemblages_
A n,o,e rondu.he 'I'solution is almus l ol ... a).
. ,h'",",,(I b), inSpe<:ting ",o ... spt."Ci mens_ If the .. "Ct
po,ti"" of infill in f..:t .. difle,ent slage, it ... ill
.ppear as a di.li",t entil)' el ... ","",e ",ithin th<- n<'\\'
fractu.ing. .. "d it uso.lI)' possible 10 find il ero,,,
eu";ng th<- p.e, 1OO.ly fOl1Tl<-"d m .. letUl .
OII.l TF.XlUIU:S VOt.UMF l OVU;:J'IU"TtNC TI'XI LIU.!> S
PLATE J
SEQUENTlAL Wilh ea,h 1<"<'lon;" br .. " k a .... 1 of infiJl ,an b<:
SI. ['alrick l in nea' Ir, ineb.n k, oorth
QueensJ"nd, AlI,trali .
T
hiS speeimen has beco sel""le<! to iIlustrale Ihe
problems 01 ><-'<!",ntial infill. 11 ",ill airo se,,'e as a
good ex"mpl .. of in/iU lexlures.
Thl- Spt,<iml-n is rompose<l . l most entirely of
",hich sho"'s consider"ble "ariOl iOll in both (olour
and "ylc 01 ayslalli ... tion. 11,e bll lk o/ the qua,tz is
c"" rSely crystallin.: (omb quartz) although the ..... are
se"eral epis.odes of fin," granro deposilion producing
a l'yereJ effect. Thi, is prominenl in the mid p1.,I ..
region. Most of n,," is in layered format. but
there is a disHnd le'tural ch" nge in Ihe cenlre of lhe
,' ein, ",here (oarSe ",hite cryst.ls nucleate in a
r .. lati"ely randolT\ m.nner. The fina l st age of
deposition is cassilente (black) ",hich exhibils so", ..
m.goifi,ent triangu!;" texlures (s..", Volume I) as ;1
fill. in. bel"'""n qll.rtz Cfy.t. ls.
of Ihe ab<."'e is rcad il y visible but Ihe real
question is: 'Ho'" many .tases of dcposition .re
repres.ented here?' U >eems Ihat a large ca"ity has
prog .. ,ssi,-cly filled. The ddiniti,,,, of a ,Iage lea,'es a
liUte lo be desireJ, bul is generally I.ken as a sroup of
mineral precipitat" ",hich ha,'e be .. n deposited
durins. conlinuou. fluid flo", . l'his is imp<>Ssiblc lo
e<tablish by seienl ific obse."ation. and in practie .. "
tage is defined, by separating out the ou",be. of
times rocks 't""tonic.lly' react i vated,
6 ORE TEXTUH5 TEXTURES
In Ihe abo"c example lhe eagle "yed observer Cdn
interpeet a te<:tonic break by ,areful ly inspt"<'ting lhe
""<Incnce in the "sion of the ,mal! side "ein (bonom
Ielt). Se"cral la,ers of s itica sce", lo ha"e bel-n
depositeJ before this "ein opened, althongh c'-en al
Ihis seale Ihe .it .... tion ;s not tOI.\ly clear . l e gr(>S.S
chaoge in sl yle in the c .. nt.al ", il h
introductioo 01 cassilerile, is also cxt ... ", .. ly
susp;"iou., (-'-en lhough nO CrOSS clIniog rc lotion,hip
can be ooserved,
The snddcn chan!e from coaroe cr)'Slal lormal 1<.> fine
layer formal. is .1'0 su, piciou. denolins a ,han",
from isolated nuelealion to mull iple nucleal;on sit'-'S.
Obviousl)' I he total ans",e, caonol be Meu.ald)'
deductoJ from this spe<:imcrI, .nd ,"ore would ha'-e lo
be coll ecled fron, the 1",.lit)'. However, the' e is
en"ugh lo su'ped al leaSl th.ee stages ",ith se\'\-ral
,ha nges of ,hcrrical "od / or physical par.melers.
Cassil .. rile is ... Ial ively hiSh temperature minera l
(say plus 200'C),
11,e", is also., ",inule "oss ,,,Uin!\ sitiea vein (bou"m
leh) which tr.ver;.es the side layers 01 the small \'ei"
."d ,,,,, Id lin\ lo Ihe centre quarl_? Tlle ca vit y
de\'elopment across Ihe , .. nl,e seems to be la te
lea(hing effe<:l' Qnc lale fine black I.,)'e. Sl",ms lo be
absent f,om Ihe tep Sl'<!""nce'
o
I
1cm
I
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRINTING TEXTURES 7
PLATE 2
SEQU[:\'TIAl. INFIl.l.-EI'ITHER_\IAI. STYLE
l'."'go gold min .. , Ch .. lers norlh
Au,lr.l ... (Seou l.ooel
T
hlS been seleCl ed 10 lIIuSIr.le ,he
problem, o/ infoll in ar ..
c!wroKler''''''' by an numoc, o/ .... h al""
illuSlra'", Ihe finely
cru.li/ormfcoll%rm .. ring ",hich OCC.rS in nMny
gold,iI"", 'yslems.
'y<I,-ms ""'uni"g in high le\'<"I 'ok."iC
"'1\'i,,,nm,,"IS ore /,equenll y lo
n1lllllpl .. . "d f or conlinuou. fluid 110"'. \\hic"h un IH-
by 1<"'lonk acli"ily. ineluding
,iolenl bollin" Jn.d el enls. r .... iodic" bolling
during a conlinuous fluid flo,,' C.n in r.pid
...-mi-,hylhmk deJ'fuilion lo prodlKt' finel )' la, .. red
cru,l,form an.d col lofonn ledu' ..... 8'K<;.Jlion _1)'1es
indud .. """pi .,.,, ... and f.ult prodU( 1S.
ra,,'d \\' ilh Ihi, ,i luJlion 11"",e ;5 ollen hUle po;nl in
Iryine In arr",.,-Iy 11-", numbe. ni ;ndi\"idu,,1
in Ihe mdn"er. I1 <ould eJ sily
, OKF.1UIURFS \'OLL\IF.JO\'[RPRINTllIiC IEXTLRt:S
u"-"d hit)' Jnd I.r)' Ih'o,,;houl Ih.- S)".lem, as
dlff, ..... "fI1 regioos boil an.d/ o. f .oclu ... al di/fe"",t times.
TI..- sp<'Cimen illu, tr.l .... probk-m and
it becomes almosl /ul .. t,)ing to sort out Ihe
."d inliU ;.equencin;. o.._pile 11>.- I.ry
el" 11-", obserw. will quickl), run inlo
prol>!<-n ... I.,.ing lo pi<- lhe. .Ior)' l"!le:ht-'. Ubl'iously
il dep<"fIds upon how d .... !"'r"t .. ly ti .. """Iu""",. is
r<"<Juired. The bcginllO-'r can ... _! !11.\t in 9').9".
01 ca,,-s i< lI'ith s u,h
sl.Hcments del""';li",,' b:ing
<,,,oug" tlature 01
m.tI)" ollhese deposil. th,- .clu.1 gold is olt .. n
..striete<! lo a I'er)" ndrrOIl (or .... " .... 1 , 'e,)" "anoll')
I;m, Nnds. This ;, .a .... ly in ...:ienliftc
acco",," II' hich o/t .. " ' udge' o. igno'" Ih
The wal! rock in Ihe obo,'e
plal" 'fin .. grained ' silicififi! ' \Olu"ics. The
deposil consi_t< of a I ",n wh"" ;s
bon.onza in lhal som" "-",tion,,. sIKh lhe Seoll
Lod", ..,.>eh Ihrer figure gold I alurs. I'ilgh g.ade tones
oUen coloun'd Sil". as",oc;"le with
fin., g .>ined ,,,Iphid,,,,.
o
I
lcm
I
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRlNTING TEXTURES 9
r LATE 3
SI QUE"ITlAL INFILl. STRUC 1 URAL
SUl'flU\tI'O$ITIQ'\I - CROSSCUlTI:>:G V!::I' .
r ... r.,< goIJ mi ...... T"lf .... w'-<l .. m ",,,,,,.11
(\110 Rnf).
1>0','" includ,'<l lo .. mor"

mmrl .. , 01 ""'l","l i.,I",l ill
by I r"n" ,,";. 11 ,,,,',-,, 111.> crikri. 01 ,,,j.,,,<,,1
>l'p<',i'UI">sili,,n ,H1ol .lruelu.,,1 ,up' -" ;"'I,.."il ;ol1,
Th(> 1 .. '1 sl d ... depiclS ''''''1'1 .. 1. \ l'''' ....:tion.
11> .. 1>0" .och are urbon.te unils ",hiel> are u
, ,.ibk a, dork un 111<' 101' ronIMI.
TI,., b .... 1 ........ comn, .. ...., ,,-Ih g .... )'I ... hitr 'Iu.rIJ
and lo a mid ...... 01 (sr .. y/ " hi1 .. ,
.. (1)._ ,. .. 11",,) and p)',jl .. (""Ir >,,110 .. ')_
Thi, po',,.,, "p",.rols into .. fin ... gr.in.>d zonf ,,1
'1""'1>. p> "1 ... ",,111 mino. ct...lcop> rit ... T"" (o"'pl ..
"1' 1"" .....:tion 01 promi",,,,! b. ",h 01 gr.""I
p} .H .. -' "'"t., leil., s.ey ... i., Is (d"lomite .H1d
"nd nch,<.>.k 1., )'". of py.i tc/ch"lwp),il ,'
",hid, iSSi""I, .. in le, tu", lo Ihe .egion juSI 1",' "", Ih ..
promin .... 1 ",kit., 1011<'.
nI(' sh"", 111<, del. ils 01 Ihe "ppe, .",d
lo"' .... of the ,eln.
'I'h lo""" ,..,..;t,O" (boUom ,isht) compoS<'d 01
g ... yl " hile qu.,t . ",hkh is ele.,I} >om" ro.m 01
Inlill. Iln:"Son.ol outli"..,;.,. p.o,balh he-'''S"""I
oullUlO.'S. COIT<><kd Ioot;ing g ins.", .. 1I e' K1m1 ,><1
oullined by eHellent tri."gul te>!u, .. , of
ch.1k"'P)" I"py"le infilling around the hM)
I)'. ih c'Y,t., 1 ..t>.po'" '"p,:: .... 1 Ih., ! il " "d."I.,",
p.io. lo rh. rcop)".ite. The sr,.IIl S are .Iso
ch",,'ct .. ,iso.-d b)' \'.'g,"e d.rK , im, ",hieh ,ugg.",1 """'"
ro,m nf ,Ik.dlion (silie., r<""ysl" lli,inS1) ."I"l inS lu
d. p .... ilion. It is .Iso .'pp",ent IhOl th.
,omp ... n,'nt ocusionatly (111) Iht>"6" th,'
q"M17 <J),.lol< (bottom ,iShl). A b'o"'n n';"er.,1 i.
.1"" p ........ m a. inliln
The le,lu.r is difficuU lo inl ... p,el of Ir..-
'1u .. ,I" cry,I.ls apf'<'d' lo nuelul" from no ob, io".
s ubslr.I . .. '" ck .... lr e.di .... Ih.!n 11'1<' , ,,'phld.,,,.
and f,om I h .. i, appe3,.nce s .... m lo b .. ri l h ...
fras n,.""" r,hibltins mild corros""'. or a nct..-ork of
&rowing in 'Andom lo,m. !. T),., 1.11,-.
"'o"ld p'o' ide the ' '''1" i'''d lo p.od"c" Ih<,
COI"'" ", Iphide infilt, The Ctllting
.,ulphide ,,,/;/;<,,, mild
di,lu'ben,,' l'ilh<,. prio' lo. o ' accomp,'nyi ns. Ih,'
nuid for , .. Ifi d. de".."ilio". H"S the n"id
flow / p""Ol"' - d i"uptcd "nd mild l)' CO..,><I.>d
t,.ling .il". p.io' to sulphid .. deposilion?
JO ORE TEX1URES VOlL \lE 30\'ERI'RIt.. II"G TE), I LRES
T),., inl .. bt;-.:ome< 1'> .il .. d<.>min;;ml
And bolh Iht M1.r of '1u tz and
tnt ... ,'ItI.1 "old 'p.cr {Ir ... ..., In Thb i.
,00"i.I<-01 f .. alu", of the ."",f , .. in !4)' r,. of 1),.,
MIO ... , f. 1 Tel l .... ob"o,,<ly " 'qui.es som ..
Th .. t .. ""rr suSS .. ' ls mo.e upid
Th .. e nt ire '"Pf'<" ... ",tion of 11 ... >pedm .. n
man)' 1 .. ' 1"",1 p",bl,n'., Tht-
p),.i le'lllMI,(chakopy.i'-) I .. ,h, ,," a,,' f" .. ""nl but
.He dil''' pled (oy"'primed) by p"""in .. nt, " "guely
n-i" of f in.. dull, , p)'r il ... .Iso
of (whi t .. ),
In d,-\.> iI Ihe finN p)' ,it .. .. " art- )mp<>S<'d of
1') ril"c'1SI.ls of ........ l) ,.ri.bl .. ,uin sizr . and
il diffieuh lo inlr,p'.-r II'h .. t),.,. 1),.,> 'fpr<.,..nl an
,,,filling or on .h" l ion ,omponrnl The w,ilr.
" 'oule s usf"-"<'I pid nuelul ion with ,nhlt Ming
domir . nt. dhhough Ih .. rr;. imp'eio n 01 shea,
SI) 1 .. i n Ihe fa b.ir .ugg .. ,;ng pyrile
(ou ld .lso be p."sfnl. The problem b ..
, .. ,o,. .. d by eye,
11, .. c .. bon.l .. ( ..... hite) comp", ... nl "bo .pl"-'ars to be
.. infitl \\'h",,, it Ir.,""",s Ihe ",idl" nf the
'ock, .nd sl)' I .. g.1.ht. ... a.e p liclJ la.ly
promi"""l abo, .. tI><' uppt', fin<' py" t., 1.)',-" (1"1' "'fl)
".hieh ,o"l d ". ,,11 rel. le lo o,iSn .. 1 m.in
f'''':lo,in,_ TI... ",hIle" I"J'S. In.ond
tM fin<' py.il .. s.,n _U"<'St _""."ng f.brie
".ith this LOIIr. le c.rbon.ole
lo .. 1),., bulk of th.- """n py"Ie< .... kop)Ii I<'"
sl lie. ,l.Ig<'S. bu. prcdal .. lr..- fiocr py, il .. l.y'-'1'S.
It i. conccd..d nol e' e,) n,ighl .g''''' on Ihe
. .. rleldils. bU1 Ih .. ,,'nerdl of o pc'n
s pace infil! gr.ding ' rom '''''''>'t' lo finN mo, ing
up"'a ' ds. \\"ith 1.1 .. , "t"g., 01 fille. and/or shc ... ?
tt'laled componenl s occ urrins w;lhin the 10p
is 1'''.,. ... ''1 Ihro"gho,,1 al1lh, und'>''1'n"nd
"'POSJ'es of lhis ,.-in. Sch"..hl .. al", " ",mded
",me poinls wilhin Ih" "110
rr..- Tdf,-. 8"" ..... 1'1' of cresnl ..... ddlr " ....
struCIU'es ... 1.tOO to lold oull" ... " ""lu; .."
interr,eUIi"n ". ilhln Ihe abo.r IUlu 1 ,,,nlr,I,
Euly high fluid p,t'SSUT<'" h.'e prob.obly pl.y.-d
mdjo, u d r rol .. in op .. nins up the app'opri . le
s t,,,Clu, .. 1 .. s. ".i lh Idt.-, ... r! 'fl. t.'d fdbri e
b.-coming locused in Ihe uppt' . po.lioo. 11 is no! Ihe
inl .. nt of Ihis d."",.iplion to "pt.", " I,lIe f".lhe . bul
.i mply lo illu>I'31" Iha l Ih .. p"".."s ... f
""""cr.;t,,nd inS '""c'p.inti,,S l . "", <olllbi, .. Hon of
infill. and slnocl" , 1 f",r'pt'ctil' c", opt.ns
up a \"lid .. ",. Im of CTuci" I gen .. lic th inkinS'
o
1
lcm
1
5. FIRST ORDER CR1TERl A - STRUCTURAL SUPERIMPOSITION.
CROSS CUTIING VEINS - STOCKWORK ANO OTHER VEINS STYlES
TEXTURES ANO PROBlEMS. PlATES 411
e""" " '''i''1; ",'''' ,"o "" .. "''''' ,,.,' i ..... ,,1
"',j,,,,', .",,1 ",".,11, 1'"."-,,,,
w,\" r,",' rn*,k"' .. ')''''"'''' " ...... ,,1
., ",1.,,1,",, 1, 1",, "umo,.,,1 "'W" I'M
";,'h ,",' d i,'""",, d;(f"".." ,"" <'" 1><'
"."11)' ,t ifl ... ",I ""I. 11"", ,,- , ,he< . ,,,.
,,,ft,,, ')"C'"'' by ' oc'i , "") n " OU,,'
,"yol"" "n,I,l f'k "II .,nJ
d'p'''>L"n, Th,' ,'"c' o, m,')' 1><'
' '''oL 1\
SO' oJ " .'"\'l<' "" Id 1><. "pi ,.-.. "",. 1 ,y"""""
wlw ... "'1".",,1 ", .. ,., . h,,,.' hn",
'f"" n", ",,,It in io,'"' i,' ,, 1
;",/;",.10,, 1 "'p, ,,,,,',I ,, ,,,mr l,"
o""p, i,,"nS ,,' ,n ulti l.".c"'o
,'oll"I",m ,...'n, . S,m' l. " ,,", ,",n", ,,.-,-u,
". i 'o i" 1""""_' ". '''I'P' ,,,>d f""rt'''"
mol,,,,,,,,,,", .. "".Ol .. m Ii",;n "'M, I, ,,Iu '
' h,' i, 'o ,,,' hic" " ',
R"i",.""",,";. ,h, ",u.,1 .,,-,,1
" l'K-" III' ,,
,,,,,,,,, il)' l"mf'<oJ i"'o "n,' , ,,'S"
TI", 'pp",,<h ,o,,"'d n'" ",,-4 ," .,,,
,.,,", ... lo, "O' "'.U,, M,o)
"",ro,,'), ,k.-k"""l> oH" ""il w"",",
.p,' '', w;'h ,"'o '''",pi" , ""," I' in;
1" .. , ,, , 01 I'<"plw'i'"
" " ,,,,, ",,",' 'n.o """'I!";'."'"
..... '11 wi' h i". "w" ",,,'m
".' '., I",, ",c' P''''c' ,,1 inl ...", ,,,,,,,
n.. t. .. ,-, ",,,,, l. "',!t,. ,,, oto" "."
; I I;";;- i" 'hc' """ pk"' ... ,H ,h ..
Om," .. ..,d 'h< i,., o,;.,,"
T, ,.,." . ,, .".
An ,.b'ur' , co,,,,
, il.-, ,, ';n ... l, ,ut> ,,, .. ,.-.. .. , ilk" ni"
"f"'''''i''''''' ...... I>.>k' ."",,-.,1, .,,,,,,,
",;n m.w w,lh",,'
i1 ,."",,,-,,, ." ;;'k. ""in. lh;,
,.."il<- "".H,"" f, l". """,,1 imp"'''K.' ,,
ru t 011, (S,,> ,,,,-, , ...... )
In .. ""'. < ..... d ;. _
onIy impr.><tioNe .... , imJ"""ible, ."J ,o.
, l>., "f'f''''''' ,,1 ,..., ,,"",
"".',."',,, 1, 'Iu"" ius<
d,''''-'pli' c' ,'"." c"", "'I .. ",,.h r>
<.n .... n. .... _ , ",-"un' "f
OC<..." .. ,''''u,1 ";"",1 """l.,"""
I-...J "" lo< "1'"11)' """"",,1 wi><o o,m,1
,,'., uhh .... ,o_ .,.". .. , ,-. i", >r'.' p,'''k"I"I)"
,l>.' of
L" , f',lelu'" "'.>clO,.,,,,"
"''''''' ,-,'m . A "',,-
",-,,, f"''!'";.l'" """"" ,' """" ""in,
.nJ I;n. In., '-.; .... "H ,',lho' k n.,
nd ,f" ... , <." ,"""-.... 1 ....... "."",
TI>< 1'1."" ",I",k "','"'r"" ,,1
_-t,,,,,,," ... ilh tr,'k' ';.' ""U
k.-< . .. '_
PLATE 4
SfRUcrURAL SUPERIMPQSITIQN-VEINS
](i dston gold Einaslcigh region, norlh
Qu""nsland, Auslrdl id,
T
hiS plate has be<!n sekde<! to illustrate that er",s
cultiog rdationshil'" are not always as simple as
might be in systems d"min.>teJ
by siHca. lt al"" shows some Iypkollomina l,>d ,tyl"
quottz ' eins. which are \'Hy characteri,tic of
porphyry molylxlenum systcms_
The relatio"ship the quartz \'eins wihin this
plat<- i. quil<' a mind puzzle.
The c,>ntra l ",>in 10 cut e\'crythi ng and is
composed of fairly uniform d,,,k g"ey siJiea_ Th,,, is
httle ",,1 e\'ide""" lo delineale Ihe proporlions o infill
\'e.sus altcTation. although Ihe relal ively gooJ
matching walls sUAAest infill prl>domin"tlO;: . Apinst
Ihis il seems tltat some selecti\'e alterat i"n has
oceurr,>d 01 ,'cin intcrsoxtion 31 the top ri;ht. A
very close inspe<:lion "" .. o "'-'ry sm"n d.rkcr ,ilie"
vein within the central vein which is , 'isibk in thc
upper reion 01 Ihe platc and appcars lO contain wafer
thin slivers 01 Ihe host \'ein?
The ",ntral vcin ,..>emS 10 occupy a fault as no,"",
o the veins on either side can be conlidmtly matchl>d
The welllaminated (light and dark layered) ,,<>in
appears to be symmetrical sequential
inhll and th,> dark spots ore probably molylxlcoite.
The sharp malching edges suggest Httle if ony
"ltCT3tion_ Nonc 01 Ihe Olhers "eins conviocingly
match this inlill Sl'qU'>nCl>,
" - ORE' TEXTURES VOL' 'U",""",o"""",.,o",.,""mN"C"""'= """""
to the I"p rigot .on\l' dem('nl, of th ..
alx",e S&Juence (espL><:idlly tl> the ext",mc right), bul
" 't'mS to be cut by another geoerJl inn of at a
sh"lIow This i. L'itl",r co" "fl, or is rmmi,,); up
of the maio ce"trdl \'ein. link ""i n
j".t b,' lo'" t ois interse,tin)!; , '('in seto graphicall)'
illustrat.." the problem 01 d,'Ci,ion moking
whi.h "'''ge to gmup il ",ith.
This rould continu<' all Ihe "ther
small ",ithin lile <tnckw<>rk, However. it is
apP''''T\t th.,t p"'cisc "f he number nf
stage, i, dillkull_ 11 is "iso .pP<',,'nt .11 of
look \'er)' .imilar in "nd the sy,t<'",
v.'ould be' interp.ct<'d as" ,nnt inuou$ fluid fin"
iotimately a,,,,,,iat,>d with mu lli p,," r<-,.i,,,,s 01 b.itt l"
fracture . Fluid pres.ure is difficult to bul
""-'ms cnouh ," hold "pMt> fine grai"eJ
nalu ... 01 the laminatcd sil "nd mot,t>o.l' T\ it, suu,,,t
r,'pid depooilion with multiple ,ites, Th<""
obse ... S<.' ri ,s uf What is t""
cause 01 the repe.te<! brittl e 'r.et",,-, ",hich lo
be pMt <)f a cnntinueJ tectnnic n ' enl ",ithin .1
reloti\'ely short p<'riod uf tim,> \'o/hat i, the cau<e of
rapid and/or fine );r. ineJ Why i,
alte.ation so Why is laminaton "nd
probably molybdcnit, d<'l'osili,,,, nO! pr('S('nl in th,
c<-"'tral .-ein ,ystem? Why is the st"ck",,,.k
3 vcin p",allel i<m ",ithin the darker si lk"
st"S' 'S? Why is Ihis styl<- uf "" inin); so ch.racterist ic nf
porphyry relate<! molylxlenum dq,osits'
Mol)'bdcnite is gencrally regarded as a high
temperaturc, magmotk n'late<! minccol Th, roc k os
actually a fragmenl wit hin lhe main brecda pip<>,
o
I
1cm
I
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRI NTINC TEXTURES 1.3
PLATE 5
STR UCTURA L SU!'ERI1\.II'OSITJON VEJI'<S_
SUSI'ICION AROUSINGAsnl l>IETRIC INHLl.
1V0Ison, Icad "'ne mine_ Cenl"'y ,egion, nO'lh
Q"""nsland, A"sl r,llia_
T
his plat<> has b,"en incl"d"d to il ,,,Sl ral,," Ihe
difli.ulties i'l\'ol\'ed in ob.en' ing cross wlting
",rocre Ihe mineralogy 01 .,,<ces.ive
phases ls simi l.1 r, This ls <'SlX'Cia ll y trllC 01 siliea ,-e in,
plate il lllslrak'S seve,al s tages 01 silica veillins,
,,-hi.h consist 01 inlitl ",ith \'('ry liUle allerJli'm. Oe .. "
.ut off-s,% have oce",red, invol"ing very lill lc SOUS"
dlccl._ The micro(ra(ks ha\'e upelled under fluid
p,eure, such thal Ihey hove rcasonably ",ell
malching ",all s_ This criterion i. o/ten ustxl lo identily
i"fill /rom alter.1tlon. Al"", ,h'-ers 01 ",all mck are
included wilhin some o/ the smallcr ",'ins, a" d in
SOrne (ases seem lixc' as 'flo.uing' frasments (centr.11
region), No one seemS to h.'-e offered wn\'incing
expl.n.tion for 'floaling- fr'sment. in silic. "ein,
",hich Our frequently al mueh ''''ger seales. In "lan)'
Ih"y arc 01 high se and ,hould sink! Are thq
heid 'part by fiuid p"-"SSure long enough for lo
pre<:ipilJ te oflen as comb quarlz! !)OC.,. Ihe ,lllea go
IhrOl.gh a gel ph.1"" al ",me poinl>
11,.. most oo,' ious stage is ,ep"-osented by the ",id,>1
I' ertica l veins, wdh Ih" pal e crea m material
eonsist"nll y On Ih" Idt hond ,ide, The ne"m
makriol (caroo",. t,,') imme<li"tely amuses .uspidon
as it is as ymmetri(. Is Ihi s a later "ein
14 Ol1E TEXTURFS \'OLUME 3 OVERI'RIt\:TING TEXTURFS
ereeping up tI>;, side, or is Ihe ,ili"a ' -ein opcning on
One side 01 a p,e""xistlng "n' -rhe", is ' -ery
lill le CI' idcn", lo Sllpporl eilher hypotl-.. ,sis, It ls not,"<I
thilt Ihe carbo"i1te I' e in is at d ifferent
dist.nees a",ay from ti", dark "'al l rock margin .1
different poinlS, Ihat al some poinls (Iop)
I' iangular textur,"d c rea'" in/ill st""ms to fill up
N'hw"n he "ysl., ls. Thi, lavours a laler origin
for the c."bonale_ AgainSI Ihis the.,., ar" a fe", polnts
",he,,, the carbonate vei" i, di".mtinuous, ",ith
pat.h"s of , iliea b"tw"'-'n Ihe gaps. On b.1lance lhe
aulho, /,l\"ours ti,.. lirsl hypolhesis.
Th," obvious offsets of the main veln, conlain a St.'Cond
sllica SI.,S" ",hich is slightl y dar ke, . A third ,"'-en
darker .t,'g" 01 snica '''g'es aerosS at about 5<:,'ent)'
(00110'" middl,, to righl mlddle), -rhi, .Iso
cOnlaln, lale "",oonolc infil l and Iragment(s) 01
Ihe st'Cond ,Iage slJiea,
Re.1ders invil,xI lo nol., lhe seale and reflerl upon
how dillicult Ihis ,,"ould be lo OOst,,,-,, under no,mal
conditi"ns_
o
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lcm
I
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRlNTING TEXTURES 15
PLATE 6
STKucrUKAL SUI'EKI mO,,-VElNS,
STOCK\\'OKK.
Gra,ber. copper".old di,triet, Iran
Indone.i".
T
hi. plat" induded to illustrak the
tl','t can oceu' lI"ithin po'ph)",)"
copp ... r stock\\"ork. It is deli ,teJ)' nO! for faint
The stod''''ork is so ink",.. that is litl l ...
re<:ognis.,ble rock textute remaining.
The lale.t slage ,ecosnisabl .. is malachik
' .... "hing lrom A eopper ,ieh fluid
has p.mdratc'" a small crdck dlong co"t,ct of
qUolIlz "dn (bollo", Idl) ,,'SultinS in micro inill along
tire crack, and ",ino' aheration of pink felds""rs.
Tire obvious sitie" n'in (bottom ,iSht) has been
o"erpri"led b)' a "ackle style 01 b,eedation,
fl uids thr<.>ughout the roe k ."d
p,edpitati"g p)"rit., (1",,1., )',,1I0\\') and eh"lcop)"rit,'
(b,.ss )'dlo",) as micro-infilL in. spiden"eb
slockwork. It se.,rnS th.t pyrite pre<:ipil"tio" pre<edes
ehalcopy,ite, althollsh this is question<lbl<' . N"
ah .. rdtio" i. e"ident. Note that at sOrne points
sulphides oc,upy. crack in Ih.' centre 01 a quart,. w in
This situation i. common aud if"""u in isol.,ti<.>n c,ln
e.sil), misguide the obsc"..,..
The quartz .ppeu to h,,,"e no
and compo .... d uf suga,)' s,ey and
"'hite inIL relatinl)' high ",idth 5uggests high
pres."re fiuid conlrol?
The ... r o the plat" (top let) is ",cupied by
I'ery small blark mkrol'eins of biolile ocwrrins as
infill . L6S <.>b,iou' are the g'<:y/bl.;ek micro,eio.
Jo ORE TEX ll .. t<ES 3 OVERPRINTI1':G rEXTURES
ro,,,,d ... d graios of m"snetite, "nd Ihe "'m'MntS of.
f1n<' grain,.,j porphyriti, ign,..,IlS ror:k
Ahhough timiog i 1 contr.d i,tory,
th" of the black bioti l e "ein. ,,,t the
maSndit". ThiS tin)' "'Sp)' ... i, le')"
typica l of .""ondar)" bio1ite in porphyr)' coppe".
.lthough usuall), refe,red lo as potassi,
ah.'ralion th,,) a,tual ly potassic infilJl bi"til,
occut<; wilhiu the mafie miner,,!s of the
host ror:k. The "'lua, ... / ublong black elols in lhe 101'
Ielt ,om.'r, " re prob.,bly hornblende con,'e'led t<.>
""'r fin" aggreg.la'S of Th .. wnwrsion bhrrs
the edgt'S of originall ), ShMP bord .. rl'<i
It is that th ... pink fdd.por. dl,o
alteration produ<:ts of p l.,giod." ..... rnd ar ... no",
cha nged to potassium r .. ldspar, (The
biotil"/pot"";,,m fcldsp"r co".titut,s
the ,I""sic potassic alk,ation 01 porphyr)" ,opper
sy, I.'ms. In lhe ",ore mafi. po'ph)',i ... , biolite
pre,'ails in rd"tion to potassillm fe ld5par)
mag""tit .. thu> 'epr ... ,ent. the "arliesl stage of
slockwork br""ation/altcr;rlion. S""II ,ni"o,"'in,
are "isible, "nd 11", rounded ",ag"et ite sr.lins .H"
alt.'ration of th ... host roek Icldspar;.
The gene,al sequ.'nc<' of stdges - masnet;lebiol it ...
a dcclining ... linit)' "nd
temper,'hrre ""'l"en",' (6OQ'C to 35O"C?) I'he inte". it)'
of "tock"'o,king implies rcpeat.'d fr.rctUfins (semi
r.ndom shatteTing) by a p'o<;es> 01 ,epe"ted high
e,,,,rs)" releaS<'. (e.s relea ... " Itydraulic
u' ... rp'es.uring?). The ex.;ct lor
fr,,, turing in porph),r), c"pper is unk"o,,"n, It
i5 qu ite conm'on Of t\\'o st"g''S 01 identical
to overprint ead, other, suggest ins a strong link
btoh,'c<'n frJCluring Jnd fluid rele,l>e.
o
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1cm
I
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRINTINC TEXTURE5 / 7
PLATE 7
STRUcrU RA L SUl'ERIil.II'OSITION-VEINS,
STOCK\\ORKS.
RidS.' Missou,i, Am",ic," ,
Spo"Cim"n don.1tro by D" R. E, Myen;
T
hiS pL'lc has b.,,,,n selc-rled lo ill"sl,.,I" Ih"
.,ud d ll/ic"lties ,,,' eu
", ilhin \\'ell dcr;ned slock"'o,k s)'Sle",s. The 'NI
q,,,,,,tion he'c is uSI h",," n,.my , I .. ses of br<-rdatiou
.H1d inli ll a'e i',,"ol,.., .. '
Ois'cgarding Ihe minule ,''''lic,,1 a .. eks ",hich look
Hkc ' -c" I.'k "c'in" Ih" Slagc i, clearly
,ep,e""nled by Ih" syslem of .. nsled (,iSht lo Idl)
",'ins which c'mloin a ,'Miable mine, .. losy indudins
'1uarlz (\\'hite-gr.')' ",ilh ""SS al centre ,iShl) fine
sr. i ncd g,ey (m.,s,,..tit,,, sulph idc's) an,1
equ., II)' sroined a,ca, (epidole!). The
.t .. se is hf;! 1 domi".'lc-d, and it is diffic,,1t lo dis.:",n
any alterati"" effecl>, The", i. a "ery Sood c" .'",ple
(cenl re kft) "f an abrupt risht ansle I"m ",here the
st"se s",inss i"lo. p' ... ' -ein ",ie,,13Ii,)01
It is a litlle difinJlI lo ""erlain the ,t.,se Nck,
bul it seems 1" be .' d",k-Io monled Srey (silica-
sulphide magneti le) vein system, best set'n in Ill<'
bollom lefl h.nd com ... r WhCTC it clcarly culS both Ih,"
pink and g''''''' mal ... riaL and is in ,m Cl't by Ihe Srey
mal,oria l d ... snibed abol'e. This st"Se b p,esenl as
small (bottom leH) "nd 3S
"eI",orks (E-IV, aeross ",id sl id,, )_ is
I'he pink ",all rock ..... ms lo suf/t"r \'<.'ry litU",
Wh,"rNS Ihe s reen beco",es d ."ke" Th"
d ... ker " lte,.,lion is paelicularly "ol iccable in
the E-IV ",icruf'''Clu,e ndwo,k (c ... "lrt')
18 ORE TEXlURf5 3 TEXTtlRES
The slaSt" is p robab ly Ihe e h'Mesl, being
by Ihe ,'ery "i", .. 1 s"-,,,n (epidole) in bolh
brt"eci 'nd mierovein formal. 'lhe,e a,e nu" .. ,ro"s
exa"' f les of ",ell infill (s"",n ('pidote, \\'ilh
dark", S""'n 'luael>.) ",!>ieh e .. " be ..... n n"cleal in!; 00
,ein \'.".,lIs .md . rou"d frasonc"ls_ 11 is poible Ihat
Ihere ",hiler '1"arlz in Iht, 'nlre of
I n, (boUom Ielt) . Altera assodalcd wil h th is
i,,(ill 5.',,",S negligible, rr"gn",nlS
pink .nd d ... k s,een/bl.lCk .,,,d Ihe breca app'ars lo
be slyle. pr<')b.,bly a,>oci"led ",ilh hiSh pressl''''
IIt"d ,"Iroducllo", (h)'dr,l\JI,c J3(K'''gJ
'1h ... twly hislor)' <.>f Ihe rock is besl "en in 11><- top Ihird
of 11><- pl,lI"', Thc ,"pidote ,laSe clearl)' m-erp,inlS" d",k
black >lage (siliea!) which ""'urs as bR-rcia frasmenlS
""d a, as)'mmelrie Ihin edse, on veins whieh ha" e
been r''Of''',,,-d by 11", ,"pidole hydmfr oeking_
Also rresenl in Ihe top eh hand quadr",,, a", mi"ule
pi "k infill vdus (feldspor') which cut 3 du ll S,ey
(silica-mas"elile) backg,ound nadie-mesh nd"'",.
b'ecci., sysle", _ Thi s sySlem appears lo h.1\'c"
consice,able dark sil ic , llc",lion compon,,"t, From
thi s e,amin"lio" it ,,"ould ",m Ihal Ihe rock has been
brokcn lO p and su bj ecled 1" h)'drothermal fl"id
'y,teons on le .. sl six occ.sions. 1'-<0 doubl Ihe ,e"de,
\\'oule queshon 100me of the abono, .lS il is a
complex o'-erprintins situahon re'lui, inS , .... ,y good
OO"",,,at;ou .,nd t"xlren", c."e. 1'h" spt-rimen has been
induded to make e,aetly this poinl. Very (""<l"enl ly
.11 is nol oo,' iou" and more Spt'<imens, togethe, wilh
c<.>"I,dlro pelroloS)' are r"'1uirro ''' Ile oriSinal "xl.: is
a lilll, enigmalic, The pink cryslals are prt",,,",ably
fddsf " rs, Iht, ",hilc' blebs are py,ile, lI'ilhin .. \'ery
r;"" g,ained malri . , A spe,ies of po,phyryilic
"ok.ni, or porph),ry ,uggeslro,
o
I
lcm
I
ORE TEXTURE5 VOLUME 3 OVERPRI NTING TEXTURES /9
PLATE 8
S-rRUCJURAL SUI'[RL\II'OSITION-VEI NS
srOCI(\\,OR KS.
Red Dome coppc,-sold mi"c . Chillagoc. "o,lh
...
T
his pute h.os been induded "s .. good 01 a
o' Np'inlms Slc 11 .1..,
Ihol ",ilh "isible eomponents. timing
,elatio,,,hips dnd alll"Ation/infill di,li[\('lion "><l ui ,.."
' <cry ( ..... Iul .. Iion!
1'he toOst ,I.S" ",,,h,n Ihis ,ocl< is by lhe
prominert e .. 01 bomil ... TI ... ,
S.n, .. SIOSl' i. at many othe, points as
impe,si,ten t lines (mie,,,,,.,in.) 01 da . k Spol .
O'(,1sion.1 da rk . poI S, ond alisn",enls of
dHfuse "ein-!i" .. _pots/blotehes. The lalle, a , ..
prt>miner.1 ""th,n a H',h,al )'.-110'" b.>n.d (g.,,,,,I) ')n
tt,., riShl twnd sid ... This sl)'l .. uf 1 .. 'lu .... is mmmon
i, sk.,ns. .nd .11 of Ihe duk m.te".1 is m.,kins
subtle ehanne'",. }s. Th .. of inlill
'c,sus a'le,.lion is impos.ible. "lthouSh il is ell',,,
,hM mosl of Ih,' 'pol s a,e "1I .. ' '' lio,,. So",e inlill
be p'ese,t in 11", nl. i" ,,'in'
The p .... ding stoge i. '''p.e .. ,nt by Ihe narro",
mi('n.-".,ns (g'e) qU.,t7) ",hieh run fW .nOSs 11>.-
pIAt .. _ Th .. , .. ur inlill "'Allsl. and b.-st
di Ihe ">p 01 Ihe plate. CtOM' inspe<:tion
01 Ihi . '''Ii'on ,,'''eals thal d" s pite inilial
'lU"rlZ "" in does "01 .,elu"l ly eul
IhrouSh lh., Similar ,elation,hps a'e more
OO"ious lo", ards 1"" boOM' 01 Ihe pIAI..
lIolh bo,nitf .od ,e,ns o,-c,p.int the
'di"", "ague diffuSl' l .. tlow ,eins (,iSht
'c,lic. ). antl lop lel! <O"""), Sighl ,.ariations in
bu l Ihe infl ll / a lte,ation
di, hn,lion is "01 el"", m"" lIy "lIc,.'lionl.
The y .. tlo", ouTS.S of gar""t
(boltom.."...,tre) .
./O 0Ii:[ TEXTURlS VOI.U\fF J OVEIU'II:INTING -r EXTUIo: ES
Al Ihi . point tif. b.come" diffic"ll! Th" obvious
m" te,i.l s"re S,,,,,,,I (red-c"nl ....
""d ",hite (",ollaslo"ite). dCdfly
OH' Ih.' red sanlel (1K>IIom.ldt quadranl) . C.,dul
iMpedion 01 Ih .. ;e"..,.1 ",hile eolou, of roel<
,e,uls g,ey ' _o"es, ",hieh mass
"""II,,.lonit .. of u"k"o""n ho.t
h"s ou,red.
Inl ilt/ al te,ation d ist i"clio" of t he
<tase is imp os.ible, althou;h obvi o usly
alte,al ion p.edomi" .. les.
h ' l-n e1ose, obs""' alion , .. " eal s Ihal Ihe ,ed
gMne is cut b)' <lMI< grel'" micro
,dn Sl ructu'es (P) .o",n,') . The,;., a,,' seen in
Ihe region of the red &a,nel / ",ol l;, s lo" , te
erosse uttins vei n relationship ( bOllom Idt
and Ihe "'ollaslonito .1<0 (u ls Ihe da,k
g,...,n py",,,,ne micro"eins?
Th .. "-'3d ... ma y " ' ell be , .. aehing poinl 01
skepl elsm b)' Ihis , Idge, bul this sequ""c" ed n
aClually be obw"ed Iron' olhe, ,oeks in the
nl;"e .'e . a n" is " '(ording t ", o u"e, p ,inlin!i
.Idse, of de, elor men t.
Th.- s/'ort lo"" paugme;;,s
l. Red gamet ",,,s (dllerat,on predomi, ... nt, lextur.l
, . ri.ttion S(>me infill?)
2. D,,.k !i"",n eins (alte,al'''''
NOI ... ",11)' vi,ble).
). lVoll,lstonile (mo.lly.s alt",.,tio". nlinor ;nlill)
4. Ydlo,,' g"-""" gamn , .. in. (mosUy a,
<;. Qtu.rtt ,eins (infill).
6.1I"mile \'eins (m<>Sll y
miJlO' infilJ.
Ob, iQusly "'o'e 'f'inlcn, ' equi'cd to
1110 ... informatio" O" ti .. , slag"', ."d "",11 ,ocl<
roml""'ition. The s!,,-,<,imen is 110",,,,,,, a ,.ery good
for hani"g obso.-r>AtiorYl ,;lills!
o
I
1cm
I
PLATE 9
STRUCTURAL SUPERIMPOSlTION-VEINS.
SUSl' lcrON AROU51NC - WANDERINC CENTRAL
INFILL
Jumn. li" mi". , rnin .. norl" Qu .... nsl and.
Australia.
T
hiS spt'Cimen kas !>toen indudO'd \o lIustrat .. tha!
m'err .inti"g \'I.'i" sltuC!u("t'!; can cuns iderably
mOr .. com?I .. lo unr.,-.. I is popularly supf"""'d.
It is .. I",ay. gO<>d thni,!"", lo wo.k from tite latesl
<""en! through 10 th<- ..
On this spimt.'11 the lalest en'nl seems 10 a series o
inconspicuou. tiny pal .. bro ..... " , .. ins .. )
..... hieh a .... btost M'\'n in Ih .. lo ........ 'ntral regon wh<> ....
tltey cut through the da n: grt'y ",hite zone u w"tI as
bolh quar lI and he da. k bla .. k (q uartz-
tou. mali" .. ) ,-.. in . In this , .. ,ion th .. y a ... n'ill
dominated and wt lhoul al teration h.;olos. .. r,
this is a trap for IIw i ...... perimeed aS IN s;IOrrK" ,-.. illS in
Ih .. uppt'. ' .-gion produce ''gula, alteralion frins'"
of orans" (rUSly? ... ) and creamy orans ..
malerials This lo be al lhe
of gret'l1ish scricite in lile twm rocl<. Tho.> laltf>r
15 sorne form of th ...
... .....-icili,...J
Thu. lhe alleralion US<Kial ... d wllh lhis slag ... ls
dependenl upon Ihe rock Iype. Wilhin Ihisconlcxl iI is
probabl ... Ih. 1 Ihc , onspicuous orans ... I, ... am cenlra l
"'fin' ls in 11>('1 p.lIrt of Ihis assemblagf, ... pr..sentins
al\t>ralion associalfll wHh an E-W ' rAclu ... ,rossing a
SIaSt Infill AUt.alion
(Narnel (Rack type oU"redJ
Siderite Siderile Sid"';te
7. 0n, of rflal ively una ltcred hOSl . A g""d
example of a fal .... , .. nl ral channrl ls pt\'Sefll, wilhin
lhe Io"'er narrow blAck \'ein. CI""" inspectk>n
a minu\t> p.lIk' brown ,Tin of lhe ,id.rite slase
wa"""-'ting along II!. horizonlal da", !ourlNli .... infill
bu' co",,t inS lO lhe "e"ol srsl.....,.
The nHI se! of , .. iM .r .. Ih .. dark horitonlal sel
wh"h eonsisl of d a r k inHI! and
"ariable amuunl. of Srey/ white (sil k a) and dark
(lourmali nt') alter"tion. The latler is probabl y
altering an original f"ld.pathk COmpOnffll in Ihe
rock and mar S d .. oul inlo Ihe . f.i ei le
m ..... 'ione<! aben .. . lt i, ob\'iousl y a . Irong .11 ... alion
in rcla1on to lhe . mall ;nfil! ehannels.
This slage asain lIluslrales Ihe n,"'" for ,..ry cardul
InSption of seeminSl y eross cultins ' fins. as Ihere
are many examples wlw. " lhe \'elns cul
.. arlie. '1uarlz , .. bul lurn lO qua.I ? nfil!
Wi l hou l a lt c.alion. Thi s ;5 common in m.ny
si lualions and can ea511r Si"" Ihe wrong " pression
lo a superfidal glo"'".
Th.' ... rllesl "ein sel is Ihe ve;n.
whieh conl.;n occasonal dark (tourmline) ctnlral
zones and coarsely crystall ine (omb slyl .. quutz.
The .... in. display no ,,11 .. ration and their <tlali,"
wid lh 5uggesls a hiSh fluid pressu ... . Th ..... is . Iso.
hinl 01 a brown miner. 1 (cassiteri le) al somf poinlS.
A para scnelicl Slruclura ,onlrol ch.rl is
shown below. This formal is ,.",y unl ul fo.
recordins dal .
Struc\ur. 1 Style Commtnl
Microvein nctwork SmaU sc:ale
mm sale (sericitise<l? wall rock) mm srnll'
NiJ (Silica-
!ourmaline roeks)
Nll (Quartz v..ms)
Tounnaline Tourmaline Quarlz lourmaline Subparallel Alleration
mm sal .. ("";dtise<l? wal! roek) s)'Slem 01 small edeosi, ..
Originally discontinuous
lri<bp.11hic san<btone) mkrovrins.

Quartz tourmali .... Nil Subparalll'l Fluid ...
lourmaline cassi\t>rite? v .. inIets around high?Combquartz
cmscale. Icm wide
11 ORE TEXTURES VOUJME J OVERPRINT1N(: TEXTURES
o
I
1cm
I
PLATE ]0
STRLCfURAI. SLPERI"II'OSlTI01\'VEI1\'S,
PARALlll. RIoACfIVATlON.
... n too mi"", E"'an hnficld,
nouh Qu..-.""'l ......
Mn ",1,'Ct,'" to tllt,
dirlicJlty in establishing
, .. l .. !ionship, in ",he'e infill ;< "ot
.ccompa -,i"d by signific."t ah"',1tion. 11 al . ..
11I",trot",. llIueh o,"rt""k",d ,t uat ion, lIt t ltat
Iddspathic .1 11 ... alio". a,e aomp ."I,,<1
by leld.p,lthic Inlill.
The ",.11 ,ock (bottom le/I) is comp ..... d o/ pat.
(pillk/ wh,te) fin" g,alned g,anl te, compuo.ed mo-tl)'
01 leldsp .... (pmk/ " hite).r>d q".rt7. (grt'y). Th, s has
Mil altcn.'<l (bottom ,ighl ) to a ",t...,t,,e
rork ... Irh tllt, o<igillal 1"ld,,,,,,,, con,'err'''g to ... hit"
albit r . Th, inliU eompoll{'nt lo, this is rep't"SO. ... tt'<l
by Ih .. CN'",' ",hite albile as.oclatt'd wilh bl.ck
s pols 01 (anlt .. ,ite and g,ey C .. 'elul
.. bse" .. IOo" ... 111 ,e'eal small cryslals ,,1 oblong
"Ibile proj,ocHng nlo Ih" .m.U "I,."sul",' c.l\'III.",
( .,ilerir, crpla Is.
!4 ORe \'OLL'I EJO\'ERPRI ,'lTl'IJC TUfLKf,S
Sobsequellr Iraclorlng alo"lI c .. ,,"al a"d
ma'gi"al ,egion of the 'eln, ha, pr"O\-ldt'" lor
Iluid dcposl llng <oa, ... < <l lt',ile in an
ana,to."o,I"S micro,ei" mesh. rhis is nol
.occumpanied by .n)' ob, lous .1I .... ll.on and f'06Sibl)'
occu,. i" dose lime lo Ihe ussile,ile
,,tth 111<- ",f,11
Th" o' Ig"')'l "PP<'MS lo ,., atl iolitl
(top "nd ml.Jdl,,) ""<lIr,ios.s c,)"I.,ls, .,lrhOl'gh il is
p;mib" that S<>ntc <:>f Ihe pa Icr albll" rleh sli,"r. (top
Idl) N' p."li. lll' ,ilici /i,d, Th,' timing 01 th"
,t .. se is a tilll" d lfl i(ull 10 di"e", II
1<> pa,ti,llinins
.1 5<'\'('ral poinl", Ho" .. "", on balanc.. ,1 "",-'1llS mo,e
prnbdbl .. tha! a hillh pre,su'e fluid ha, .. "plo'l .. d
p,e'-iousl)' oceupi",d
. ,mpll' roreN (hyd ,of,aclo,"") I .... m Opt"n.
Thc p'ominent o, .. nge (lower is Ir"n
.tal"iog ,,,aIN lo g ... u"d " .. Ier .. long
the ni" mMgln .
o
1
1cm
1
PLATE 11
STRUcruRAL SUPERlMPOSITION-VEIN, BRECCIA
Mt Isa copper-lead-zinc-silver mi ne, Mt Isa, nort h
Queensland, Australia.
T
hiS specimen has bren selected lo iIlustrate a very
clear cut case of overprinting relationships in
breccia formato
The mast striking feature is the comprehensively
shattered crackled white material (dolomite) which
is associated wit h a network of micr ove ins
con ta ining cha lcopy rite (ye ll ow), and dark
material(?) . The microvein network Iinks to more
substa nti ve blotches dominated by chalcopyr ite
and mi nor pyri te (paJer yellow).
It is very difficult to determine whelher or not the
cha1copyrite represents nHU or alte ration. This is a
cammon problem with chalcopyrite which very rarely
forms c1early recognisable crystals. The substra te
dolomite (white) also gives very Hule help in lerms oE
providing clearly recognisable crystals projecting inlo
potential chalcopyrite filJed vugs. Sorne oE the ragged
edged doLomite and smalJ fragments? (mid to lower
right) suggest that dolomite may have been dissolved
prior lo chalcopyrite deposition or simply altered lo
chalcopyrite? However, without furlher data it is
impossible to be certain of the proportions o infill
versus alterati on, concerning chalcopyrite. The writer
would suspect both are present.
The fracture system controlling chalcopyrite also cuts
Ihe dark (si liceous) fragments, and although nol
26 ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRINTlNG TEXTURES
lotally clear may link with some dirty grey dolomite
micr ovei ns (bottom r ight) associa led wit h grey
spotting (alteration) within the fragment.
The relationship between the dark siliceous fragments
and the whi te dolomite is especially interesting. Taken
at face value there is a lmost no evidence lo suggest
thal the fragments are being altered. They have sharp
edges, and there are several examples of fragments
which are microveined by dolomite. In these cases the
s ha r p wa ll s ca n be ma lched, and /or parlially
matched, leaving Ihe overall impression of high
press ure flu id jacki ng wilh s ubsequent coa rse
dolomite infill. The current concepts at Mt Isa which
r egard mos t oE thi s dolomit e as alt eration
(replacement) certainly merit re-examination.
The siliceous na t u re oE the fragmen ts is also very
suggesti ve o alteration prior lo fragmentation.
All of this suggests a three stage paragenesis oE:
Early dark silica alteration (channelways uncertain?)
Major fracturing and teclonic brecciation involving a
high pressure flu id which preci pita tes dolomi te
(moslly infill).
Major fracturing and brecciation/crackling linked lo
the introduction of the copper rieh fluids. (proportions
of infill v alteration uncertain).
This specimen is t ypical of much oE the cop per
orebod y. Obviously sorne good petrog raph ic
observation is required lO sharpen this perception.
o
I
lcm
I
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRINTING TEXTURES Ti
6 FIRST ORDER CRITERIA - STIWCTURAL SUPERI MrosIT1QN.
811 CCClA (f IlAGi\IENTS OF EAII L Y ST AGI, i\1 1NEIIAUSATI0N COl\'TA1NEO WITl-I IN LATER ST ACES).
TEXTURES ANU 1'1I08 LEMS PL\.TES 12-1 5
... K ... "I'.'''on ..r '" "p,,""nS ,,"h,'ns 1 ... ""S'""'', o .. Hu,d, ......... 1
1<) o..t"","", uI "''''' "'''u...,., """ ......
..... """".p, .. ihr_ , h,. <ro,." ...... Ould .. , lor" ,.'d, .. , .. ... "11. i U .... hon 01 bolh
-'" '." .... "h' .... .,,, . nd , ....... I .. , ..... " . nd . . ....... i, h p, ... ,p' .... - p. i"., \\"ho.
.oh' .. ,n, .................... ,""""'-'f'> ,,' ilh,. , .... 'OId, f lu,d 110 .. "'ull ........ ' .. 1I'<I .)"', ..... whoch " .... 10.
.... . ,"."""" d.f,"" .....
,,,, boo) ,,,'h 'h. b" .. ""
",11 ,.,J,I"
""h .. ,,,, .. lo,,",, b_ti .. ; i, 1""1"""')
OH" ul ,h .. "'o', JHlkul1 ,<"", .. 1
'''K' b<J i ... "f b,.i., i
u>I ... II) , .. ... S"", . p,""u<,"S "')
." .. '" d .. ,,,.,,,,,,,, ,,' .. 11 ... ,,,,,, 1,,,1;11.
.".".i ... 11 .... io . " <.o " ""'_
.."""",Ir dil''''ull 'o dr<lp"'"
.1> ... ,"", '" inf,1I
,..,.., .. , .... In " ,,,. omO< Indo-N
'h ... . .. num"o\"'''''''rl .... h ...
h''''d .. o, .... ,," no' ... n
B .. ,, " .vd,,, 1"'p", i.I .. f. ull .. 1''''0
t>m"<I .. ,) "', 1"'l, ..... I)' ,,1 ... uI .....,''''. 1;00,
.. nJ "eW fluiJ flow ,
mn')'ntl""l: Tht
l. <""'I" n b '. "''''P''"''"
. iluo"""" "b, .. , .. i. ,.",","
. J,; .. d 00 ' m,,'<d;. ' . I) ",,,.;,,
'nd MOVI ",,",,,,d. 1"" <d,. , ....... Th<
Ju"",, "'n' " .. ". 01 p>J...-,,,,,,- flu,d "" ) 1" " .1', .... o ... "ud )' " ..... ' .1>0 I"'''p .... ) .. io
I"tI .. II,' fon .... " .. " .. '" oup) , .... 1'><'" H .. I) ,,, <on,.in , "' ... 01 ... n",
e ...... ,;,," p ..... ",., m i , 01 'o,d ,'00.1., lH .. ,l.orlv ,1 ... ,., .... "' .... . 1 ... 1"'" ..... ,,, ... ,, .. S '"R. 1 .. " II . n.d . 11., .. ,_
1"'"'''' ""'_ .. ..,-tI ........ u' ,I ... ", .. ' r ... . . I .. I"s ... n',. ,." 1,,, .. """"'C ........ ;0.. ( ... inliU) ... .o.!MIo. . .. ...
r. ",.nl .. 1 r", ... ",) ", .. 1 .. "." Th
, .. " .. lo"" ," " .1 . p.opo ... on . .,."
,,1 Ih". <o"p""."" i,
'"'''''''''' lb. .. 'o., ..
u.u .. l .. lI .. b, "" .. ",. ,,1 .. <d
"n" .. ,1 011> ", .. ,.d ,oel Th. hoShl)
l"',m .. bl ... ,,,I!, r", m, .. 1"',11 Jocu'
of __ 1 u""' .......... --.: ... Tht F""""'"
Ift>O .......... 11 ..,.-10.. ,""" "'" ""
... ... ... I- . ... _ ... oou .on.d , .... """""", .... < ....
Ih ........ ." Ih .... ., ..
e ............ po-.. .... o.,.,,.,
Un .... h"J ""'1" "'''''1 .. "Iu" <."pI<,
r. ) .11.-1 1r"S""""
mul"pl) ... ,,,, ... J b,,,,e .. '0 ....
(b) O .. ........... h iZh l . . ..... <d .... " ,ood
I."!i""""" """ .1_ "", .... . ,-.. .. .... . .. d 1"""."
r LATE 12
STIIUCIURALSUl'ERI1>II'OSITON HRECCI A
Di,racli Sold mine. Ri""lon cn.al1ers T""'ers.
nt)I1h Qu. .. Austral",.
Specml" don .. tt.'<l by Dr. GIY. Cl .. k ..
T
hiS 'I",,,i,,,,,,, ha. bot",,, sel .. dcd lo "''''')
,,1 Ihe p'<.>blems .ls>o<;ialcd ... ilh '" cr prin',ng in
brecd .. """k TI.".",.", th."", rh ...... of hydrotl ...
/luid i"I,oduction i", ol\'t'd. ""d th, .. c Iy pu 01
W"rking ... ilh is
f" ',!IJ""!!)' " .. ,eh di/lictdl Ihan i .
conn'i ,ed. a nd 111." )' b , .. eci as o,"c,lookcd .
Read,,", a,(' i.",ile"'" lo les! lhei' obse,\'.ui"nal ""
11>(" oppo>it, pldt ... belo", 'Nding the d<"la il bel" ....
The . I.l;" i. lhe mOSI ob.-i"us. wrn;lsling 01
C .. It:.lf ( ... hll,) .. nd minor siliu (S''')' ) i"foll ... ilhu.,t
orrup)in;. c .. d,'" si)'''' brKri .. tiun.
SUsc is .""",11)' ",t't'p<inlcd b)' .. nolher crackle
Ira<:lu,ms ",hieh is U"mi",,(3)ise<! and J>O><>ibly uuscd
by bL>, ling ,""ti,,,)'.)
n... mldd ", ,t .. ge is besl obsen'od b)' IrolCki"g Ih-< ' ''''''
yell" ... bull m.\le,ial> .... I,;ch a ... "ar)'ins rombll1.uiQtlS
oi St'r;'::il,,.,1(! PY'''' TIll'SC actually alllink l<.>gdher in ,1
cumple, "d ... o rk. dt bol h a eo,,,,,,, ."d fine 01
Ir.1 ch"i"lI. -rhe dil/e,enri ation belw .... " i"l i l]
oher.>li"" ",ilhin lhis , 'a,!;" is difficul' . and n,,! ' e., II )'
poSSibk-. Intuili\'ely ji Sl'(>mS Ihat pyrilt' is in""lwd JS
mllll. bUI it .1 .... proba bl)' "'-'curs os an .lIe,alio"
produ<;1. Serici',' is de .. rl) in"<:>!,'<-d, '" .h, ..... tiQn.
l 8 ORE TFXTUIUS \OlL\l F } OVERI'II.INTINC !EXTloIIFS
",., mode ol b,<"<ri.tioo i. a <t'lCl;"'ork oi briUh.' fr.o<ture
... hieh seems ' o ha,e in .... ln-d lhe prodlK'tOt1 01 ,'e,y
,m.1I fragm .. n' ;, "f " .. 11 rock f,ouf,"
.-.daled ,,' ith .. eru.hi"s/ _he.,"S """, .. """'f ). This
matriA forms """ ",. in locus 1...- .11 ..... 1101\ (1Of' rhu of
pl.>'e).nd fluid fl" ....
\Vhen Ihis b'N'Cio is elimin cod lh ...... 1 oi lhe rock
and is ,,, mp,,sed 01 d"fined da ,k
Ir.s",enlS .>nd s,ey 1),., ' nil .. .
a r<.' ",ell ",i, h btoing ",,11 ro"ndt-d.
One g.,mitc' l.agl1w111 h an a lIacl",d ,'<Igt' and
other s m.111..-, .i lic.l I,.,smenls ;,r" p ........ nt Tlle m"I,ix
01 Ihe carly br<.'cd., i. "cry d,lfuh lo di""ern Ihro"Sh
lhe (l"crprinh"s ""rit:ili( al ({"rati ...... n Sttn" ,ili'O",'
AI\<o I'.S""",I at Iht-
10p righl seems 'o bt< di ll ..... '" ."d p<.i bl )' .iliu
.. 11<'...-.1). AII of Ihis th.lI !ht- ,,,,1)' bre.x;" IN)'
... ,,11 b.- oi Ih.- h)' d roth.-t-mal inl N"' (milk>d ) ' .ri.-ty .
It is possible Ih.1 """'" 'lidflC.li<>"
OCCtl"t.'d bt'/"r{" thi S II thiS .. so. il
..-ould i"'pl)' anolh...- pIl . ... prwa'<lmg the ;ntt't'pn.'1ed
hydoolhern\al b .... "";., .
\\' ; s" ",,,,li d mo,," 1')' lo lind 1", ,,
",,'rp,i nled maleri.,1 ol l h .. ,-, ;,,1)' $I.'S ....
tlw .. , i. "n"" gh ",ithln Ihe pl.u,;, lO 1,.,,1 'he Qbs<,,,.,,, lo
"usp""t ,1Il b .. ,..( i., pi"" ",\Vi"",,, ... ,,t'
SeIe<:li\'e ... yng is ""1" i,('<1 'o I,. Ihe gold. Th,'
middle pyr ite ri(h .. Is mOSI probabk
c. ndid"te.
o
I
1cm
I
: PLATE 13

STRUCfURAL SUI"ERJMJ'OSJTION (ANO
MJNERALSUPERJ.\1 POSTTION) BRECCJA
R.Wen5wood goId mining district. north Qurensbnd.
(A",a 2 vrin Carpentaria GoId).
T
hiS sfecimcn has booen included as an example 01
complex inlill overprinling and brl-ccialion whkh
long history 01 deposition within " "ein
structu ....
\'Jith sit .... tions 01 this style it is always ,."')' diffocult
to know where to slar l. The working
principie (from Ihe [atest lO earliesl) is nOl always
.pprop .... te. It i5 oftCf\ mo ... to settle 00 onc:
small that i. el .... , and then selec! anothe .
Thi. can ohen I>(! done by working lTOm dear crystal
sh"pes to the mine. al to be dcpositcd, or
allernati,'ely I. om a laye. which ;s coal ing eilhe.
CT)'sIals O" bmken material.
A mOSI Ilriking lealu", he sltongly brecdated
material (lowe. Idl hnd edge). This ;,
pn.'dominalcly fi""ly comminuted sphale.ite (block)
and .rs.nopyrite (silver) within a black (siHca?)
malrix. The f. agmenlS are sharply angular lO wel1
. ound.>d, and give a vcry good idea 01 how the two
dilfe.ent sulphides break "p. The breccia brea..,
thmugh p.-..--existing sulphidcs, "nd Iragments ha,'e
.. h ..... n ffltcf'fll lly tra nsported. Sorne style 01
"xplo.i,.,/intrusi,'., b.ecdat ion (milling) un be
inl"rrcd u a bte stage e-'''''I.
In Ihe Idl hand 10p COrner a conl inuou. rim 01
.rsenopyrile (silver) with semi lo good crysl.l lorm
COOI. 0\'.".. large sphalcril" (dark). """ I"tter secms lo
"xhibit D cryst. l shape, although it d<Je!l look a liltle
along the mMgins, Thc a.-s<:nopyrite rim is
directly o,-er grown by chalcopy. ite (yellow)
a5!oOCI.tw .... ilh occaslonal good erystals sh.pes 01
pyritc (role yellow)_
JO ORE T10XTURES 3 OVUU'RINTINC T1XTUItES
Di. ee! sequcncing is difficult here. Hu the
bcen fracturcd to fonn isoIated dumps?
IVhich C.me first. chalropyrie (If pyri le? The
p .... le..,... interpl"1!1ation i. that t .... arsenopyrit" has
bcen disrupted and lhal t .... pyrite !I slighUy earlier, in
pyritc-chalcopyrite IMring,
The p.lc bulr material _ oiderile? (ri;ht hand ,ide) i.
quite cleorJy ;nlill .... ith good tri"ngular lextures, nnd
dea r ly some 01 the ".rler
has h<len disruptcd
prior lo s iderilt deposition. Tite 20/20 ,' ision
may jusI ..,e an occas;onal mi.eo thin
arsenopyrit" layer coa ling sorne ot Ihe py"te
"ide.i'''? FragmenlS 01 the
pale buff sideril e occu . in the finely breccialcd
(blacl:) malerial mentioned (middle-righl hand
edge). Sorne lozcnge shnrd-li kc erC.m "ystal.
also appear in Ihis "-'8iOl1, and seem to 00.,1
II>e sideri le. but prcdale? tl>e ,'iolent b"-"CCia lion.
Thei r ?rccise a.sodat;on is oot elear.
Ot,..i<:usly. few more rocks might elear up iOmc o
Ihe p,oble!llll. Howe-"r. t .... smorasbo.d approoch
has pJrtialJy tM problem, whkh is one
01 l il ling wilh periods 0 1 selecl"e
f. agmentat ion . sequen Ce appeo rs 10 be
oph.leri te (possiblc fr.gmentation) a.senopy.ite
( proto ble f.agmentation) pyrile -chalcopy r ilc
(dcfiritc fragmenta'ion) sideri le-c.Jci'e
fragmenta t ion) dark . ilea. Mueh 01 the
fragmentation is probilbly in response 10 high
prcsures w;thin ,' ugs ratlte. than direct tc<clon;c
brec(l.tion. The more \'igorou. 'explosive' event
(ould be by fluid boiling "nd slreaming
gas (CO,!) di""h.r!! ...
o
1
1cm
1
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRINTlNG TEXTURES 31
PLATE 14
snwcrul<A L SUPlo/U \11'OSITON (AND Id INEI<A L
SUP(RIMI'051T10N) - IlRI:OCIA
n,i"". (muford. "".111 Q ....... nsland.
AuSl li .
T
hiS has 1><.",,, indudctl lo the
prime valuc of br\!<'(";a in pa sc.-q uen<:inS'
\\"orking ", ith breeda are
finol l)' to dete,m;, ... the m""t ' .'"nt .. ".-nt, and then lO
.... 0.1< b.>ck"d.ds "'Hhin th" ,-"mainins
f'.gm ... nls. Th" p'oc"," eont inues as diffe.ent
fragments ""'''''''' isoLotOO. ' n eompl,,,, b"""'-;atinn ,1 is
sometm...,. p.a'hul to jusI " o . L in small
( .... he ... IhinSOl a,,' elea. ) and the .. piea !he
".""lIs l<.>get'"",
'11", ",os! "",ent .. \'cnl on Ihi ! is the eent" , 1 ",hilc
n-i" dia;on,lIy ro", top left to bOllom
right. The pielu.e is a hit ' ", confused by the
iro" .Iainin;.. bul Ihe ,("in . ",,,ist. of cenl,al
sil("a ",ith a tining of gre)'-)jI"t"Cn-buff l1"orite. Al Ihis
poinl thr situaHon 1>0111<"< fOnfu,,;ns as thr t,,o sid<-<
of Ihr lining do no! n .. "h "try \\"ell. A thin 2011(' Iop
Ie(t) of ne;lmy l1uo"te runs aloos t .... lop OOge oIlhe
lo,,"e. linin);- ,md although d.ffI"ult to I.aee ",-""mS lo
cut off a vei n of p., I" g,cy-sr""R-b" ff (Ir", .i lc
I,."",-,.ing diagonally Irom bOllom I,'fl Ir) Ir)p .ighl .
TIte ",-"1 ,.,sull is dl"g"'" of confusion as to ... heth ...
the<" a,e O"" O, t\\"o gen" .. li"ns "f Ihe g,ev"g",en.
bufl Ouorit" (1,,"0 ,usp.>elt.-d).
"'o,Ling b.Kk",ards I>ome. dilrlCI,'l hum he,e. lhe
basal sr.-gm .... t (b.Is.- of ronlai", 5<','era'
I (nottled bufl g ..... n) dnd
",u""'''us les,; olwious 1,.'gn",nI5 (g,e)' sreen 1" g'ey
whitd. Good infill n"<'ogni liQn is ",<!uirtxl .1 Ihis ""inl
lo n-.:og"i.c ti", sm,,1I bl a,k '-"'yst"I. (wol/.anr ile)
gro",ing in as..oci'li"" ",ilh dark bl"e grey si lica. A
se"",al (. dmiH.-dly (onluSl) of
g,ey stliu progrhSin lo ",hile silica Os I,"",!u,ntly
picL"d OUI. TIte ",nlframile in bol"- and d">1',t"
t .... sn-m, lo b<- a coIIt-n. ... , infin
J! Of;:1 rt:XTURESVOt.LMf
Thr-' frasme"I, OO'ioo'ly and el",", lo ""m ..
nf Ihci, o,igi n> a ... in Ihe t<>p .iShl 'rgion. liere
1 .... mot lled bufl gr'ff<l is (Ie .. ly .urrounded
by g''')"-green silica aS a "a.lie. b'..oc ... . Thls
been f.asnrenlOO lo p.oduce Ihe f.asmen! mh
",ith lhe desaibNI .bo\.
A good ""ampk- i, .......... 01 all ,-".Iy b,ee'''' fug"""'I.I
mid cenl ... Idl, "fhco motlltd bulf-g""'" mal,-",ial b ro ....
s.ain,-d granile ",all ,,,d, Se'c'.! parlidlLy . ilici fied
e, .,mpk'S "" rocJlc-.:r, und Ihr-'re is J hinl Ih.t
"'dy ha", I><.",n I>y ",hi t, .ilie. b,...,,';'
gen,'r. tion prior 1" II\(' gil")' g"",n SilKa'
lhe diffocuh brecc'" s,tualio" ;s ""en fu' l ...... e'lended,
",ilh th .. re .. li ... tiOR thal .. Complel e suge 01 pal ..
""",-"".Id g"""" nuonte " 110P edge). 1'111. IS fuI
by lhe lale Slage ,'''ns-, .nd app"ars to on lop
of Ihe "oIlramite ddrl< sHit. stage.
i ,mple "n this 1'1.11., lo ill".I lI.,.
minim"m 01 our , tag(" Df b'....:r i.t ion and infill. n",
fin e g ined g.anile ha. been f. as men ted and
inlillOO by srey s' .... n .il ca 1<laS.l). This h.os in lu.n
bcen frasm.nled and in(llted by Ihe "'olr,amit,,_
s.ey- whi te silica (sta,, 11) . The g.een (Iuoril.
"'P'<"Soents anot"". ;nfiLl p,,"abl)' ,elalOO to .nOl,,",,'
brf'(ci.tion (SI_Se 111 ) and this has bef-'" cut by the
("'y s ..... n , ''';M VI).
Gi",' n thal Ih,", , ,,,,Id t ",o genN.tion< of Ih,
and Ihal bolh e .rly sili<: ii<:alio"
se,ici l isah"n of the ",all ,ock. art'
po.sible, Ihe'e could lit' aS ma"J' aS se"'n sugrs
i,,,"ol.ed! Ob.;ously "",.e .... mples ,,"ould cla.if)
som. of tt... . 1I be nOled Ihe
,,"olf.amite-s i1ica Mag." qutie separ .. Ir"m
Iluo. it" sl as..,.. Th. f. om
' CiR. and asain iLh"tr_In th" pro!",n.il)' 01. 10
co" st.mtly fo "" foc,,1 p"i"ts fo' rdragnlenlati"" and
lle'" flr>id no"" b.eeci.l is ne ... lr all
""n'posed of infill "' ; Ih ve')' lilll" alter.lI ion dl....:I.,
1I alte.ation had bo."("n m.jo. compone"I il is nOI
h.rd to imagi .... 110", d ,fflcull it ,,'ould be to un.a,'rl'
Ih" SI),lo:s of brec, iation are . n"lh. r
. Spt " ' hieh nttd< ""n5lde.alloo!
o
I
1cm
I
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRI NTI NG TEXTURES 33
r LATE 15
STRIJCTURAL - VfINS.
BR[CCIA
.... n ti" mine. K.ng.""" Hill< ti"lldd,
norl" Qu('t'Il.I,,,>J. Australia.
5p<-'Clm<!11 dO" .. I,'0""(' o/ Ihe f'ust ralions ;,,,.ol,,,d ",,;th I"w
ans,", CTO!II> cutting sili<:a ri<:h , '<,ins.nd al>o 10 {")o.hib,1
d,/(kul!! in obs<>ning br<"Cd . Th .. qu..slion lo bl'
ans"",e-d is hu ... m.Il}' Sldges ... "" prese"r?
The pIJ!' ronl,,;n" mullir'" S<""'falions 01 silic:. ,ic"
"cin, ,.,,,n,: 01 whio:h ..., 1""01,'00 WII" acromp."'y,ng
.h" Vision is parliJlly obs."u'cd by ...
(iron oxidc) sl"ini ng duc lo ",,,.U,,,,i ng. ",h,""
.. 1 nuids h.,'c sele.:ti\'Cly c".",,,,,k..:l "I..,ng "c"
m"'gi," ,,,d eI"'""h",,,_ This is prnmi'\('11 1 in Ih .. ",id
leI! o/ ti", plOIC, ddj "eenl lo a promin""l siliu i"lill
silic .. has a Y
b,."chin$ lo.m ""d is disliogui,h<-<I by ro.ors.' comb
'l""<{" i"fi ll. \\'ilhi" romb lri .. ngula.
,,1(\ ,.,-i l i<." u .. n... d .. ,k mineral
unid .. ,,!ili ..... bu! ..... m. lo be pro"" lo " ... IIll",;ng.
is no cI .. ar cul .. h ... alion associ.I<-d ""th this
Slag'" ,dn ",idlh. lo:ndS 10 s uUesl a lairly high
nuid pn,,"ure ,..hieh h pu,.hed H ... ", .. 11;; dp.>n '1'1 ...
!.ock of goug", or indude<! f.agm...,ts lu.llw>r it
",as orig,n.1l1y _ "'00 01 ",1.li,..!)' .imple ",",kinS
t"", thoon .1 m.jo. f. ul! 1.0"".
lo"'tr b'. '1<h of (hi. ,,,,,, b SI.1);, (ba..: . ."iddlc) is
cut off by a ' ale imil , aUhou);h sli);hll), ",hile. silk.,
, .. io in l he bOll o'" riSht hand com" . Adose
of lhe comb Stage win, bt-Io", the
of l he Y ihap .. , ,,,'cal. ""'r narro'" ",hit, sili'.
m;,:""',,ins ",ithio the comb These p.>.dll .. ltn..
romb qUlnl ,do,.oo un 0111)' be t,.oce(! "';Ihin it. 1)0
1 .... )' "'f"">""ll lh .. e""", clIllinS sl.se in 1"" boltom
right hard romn?
11 lltiro .1.S< is slrilinslr n.pn>S<'flle<! b} U", n.1 'ro"
(n-rtical) b;lOO of d k o'.t"rial .Id..cenl to the Y
in Ih..- (..,1' " 01 lhe Thi. Slage i. an in
f.","" tbn. I1 " Pl"'drS lo ha"" " double bl "ck
",lIh d ,, hit .. (enl 'e a t some poinlS, bUl pr o.- ..
i"'po iblu lo 1 .. . wi, h lh"' ''1I1>
" ious componc nls.
j4 OKElllXl uRES I LXIURES
Th .. pro bl .. ms bn:ome e'- .. n mo .... ' ulr ,,-h"n the
,- .. i0<6 01 lho, Y sh"pe<!
(omb iosp<'Ch.-d, Fo' .. Ih .. bonom
Irft hilAd _lo. is COmf'O"'.-.I of "'gur 5<"''''
01 ",h;eh ... em lo in the of
",,1 in "" 01 sugd'r
S'''''U_"' slightl)' pink sili,a, Thl. br,'Cci., lO bI:-
a ""'j' .halle,ro IC<'d<" . lIo..-in); e.sy inS"-'Ss
lo dn stage iolill altera l;on Smil ..
is nott-d lo Ih<' Ti);hl 01 11", donsaw
d k O'!Ot'dl p.>lCh.
E.-e" tlls da. k on cloS<' inSp .. 'lion i.
fTasnICnl .. y and rons;,1S of da.k g ..... n
m.t .. ri .. l) (ontainins ,t'ddi. h mi ....... I.
",h;,:h ""'y link ",ilh lhe s.lica lo the mmedial ..
left """,h also cont" ios t .... mlne.al. Thls.1I
suue;ls anoche laS" of .. ), "S6OC;"I'-'<l
",ith ehlo.i 'i, a ll< tio,,_ The "'all ,,,el. Me prob.lbly
lhe srey ",I\il" fra);m"nt.,1 mate.ia!,. mcl.,);.e)''''.ck .. )
St...,n OS a , 'e.( i,"1 . pind le Sh01pcd Sli'-CT, ",hieh USl
touches (he middl" .ighl I",nd side of the plat,, anci
euen', dlmosllh<' 1,,1I 1<'''glh 01 pl,, "-'
Al Ihis poinl Ih .. ob"" .. ... ",m p.obably h."r
eollap,.,d in ( o nlu.ion, ",hieh "'.s tlt" .ea..,n for
sellinS Ihis ()b"ioos ly thtnss.", no!.os e.os)' .os
lhey """m, " ' ilh ow.printing ,,,os/ bn-i.:tlion_ More
,.,(I:s",oold help!
n... ro""I!! Lnl<'.p ... tation Js:
l . F.agmenlal metas' .. ) ",,,ke ",all , <xk (crnlre
.iShl spindle)
2. Silica i"fi ll ",Jlh d", l ehlo';I.,
all,.,l (ion (ld t a tld ,i);h! 01 "nt .. )
3. Si lk. (sug,uy pinl ) infill and dI!C tion (bollom
Idt)
Dark mi(rOltin (cent'e) possibly pMI of 2
aoo" .. ?
5.. Sil", .. infill romb "cio (Y . It.tped)
6. Siliu inlill ,eio (bollom Tighl aod
possiblr ... ' ithin t he- comb quarll ,";n)
o
1
lcm
1
7 SECOND O RDER eRITERlA; SUSPIClON AROUSING
TEXTURES AND ASSOClATED WI TH VEI N RE-OPENI NC, I NCLUDI NC-QVERPRI NTI NC
I NFILL, ALTERATI QN- INFILl M I SMATCHINC, I NCONSI STENT ALTERATI ON SELVACES
ANO AL TERATI ON QF ALTERATI ON.
PLATES 16-22
7.1 The following section of
illuslralions has becn st>lectcd lo
lIustra le slI spicion aroll sing or
second order ,ritera.
The majoril y of Ihese occur where prc-
ex i s ting c h ilnnelway slruclures
(usuall y \' eiI15) have been reilcti\'illed.
The reacti \'ation o( planar structures,
naturall}' focuSl's Ihe failure SUrfil C('s in
il pilfalleJ, or St'lllipiU.ll1el, nli1nner lO
the original fracture. Mosl common!y
faiJ ure occurs along \' ('in rnargins, or
directl y up Ihe ce nt ral zone, and
ranges froln non di s r upli \'c s imple
frilclllT(' propilSillion lo di s rupl i ve
brecciillion. In mos l Cilses, Ihe
rCilc l ivil lion will il lso resu[1 in new
frilcture s urfaces within Ihe
sur rollnding hos t rocks. These art'
especiillly concent rated afollnd Ihe
fr inge Lones of tht' original fracl ure.
Mos l of Ihe new fea lures are bes l
approached by looking for , and
col hx ling spcrimens whilsl in Ihe field,
and this should be Ihe first appf()'lch al
normal visual sc.1Ie. Thus al outcrop or
drill core seale Ihe first aclion should
be lo move away from Ihe cenlre of
minerali sa lion, and seck isolated
microveins within llniform hos! rocks.
The objec t ive is always lO Iry and
decide which infi ll assemblages belong
lO which alleralion a sscmblScs.
Forlunlely inf ill assc mbl ages .1fe
usuall y les!; affcclt'd by changes in hosl
rock Ihan .lIteration asscmblagcs, and
in thl' rilrc cases of multiple hosl rocks
it qui c kl y beco mes apparen! !1M!
\ ' arial ions i n aheration do in r.1et
belong lO onc mineralising and
s imply rcflee l Ihe chcmis l ry of
differcnl hosl rocks.
Ir Ihe obsen'cr onl y has an individual
slab/specimcn of rock, and is unablc lo
mo"c Ihere are Olany helpful slIspicion
arous ing circllOl sl ances (set' sl'ction
2.3).
PLATE 16
SUSPICION AROUSI NG COMPLEX
OVERPRI NTING, PARA LLEL REACTlVATlON,
STRUCTURAL SUPERIMPOSITION-VEINS.
Ravenswood gold mining district, north Queensland,
Australia (SYC Pit? Carpentaria Gold).
Th is s pecimen ha s been included lo illustrate the
common s iluation of re pea led re-opening, and
infilling of Ihe s.lme fracture system. 1I also ilJustrales
just ho\\' difficult this can be lO decipher. The problem
is compounded when each s tage con tains simila r
components.
The narro\\' ve in system tra verses a s li g hl ly
'weathered ' granitic rock, composed of quartz (grey-
white) and feldspar (pink-orange iron stained) \\'ith
minor biotile? (rusly brown). The feldspa rs are slightly
argillised and minor acid leaching has occurred via
so me of Ihe crack syslems. These Iraverse Ihe vein
hori zontall y and link lo lo\\' angle fractures (lefl hand
side). No clear alteration halo borders Ihe vein system.
A close inspection of the vei n indicales Ihat it conlains
al leasl three separate components.
The upper-left vein SI.."Cti on is noticeable, as it contains
very well developed wh ite quarlz crysta[s growing
irregulady from Ihe vein wall, succeeded by pyrite
(pale yellow). Thi s region is closely associalcd wilh
36 TEXTURES VOLUME 30VERPRINTING TEXTUI{ES
small elongate brown components (mil d ly oxidised
marcasite?). Thi s assembla ges can be Iraced along
mos l of Ihe lefl hand s ide of Ihe v('in, and Ihen
beco mes vague, bul re-appears in the bottom righ!
hand edge. The botlolll righl hand occurrence is
clearly c ut off, by an assemb lage of slightl y g reyer
silica associated with arsenopyrite (sil ver). This ca n be
traced along mosl of Ihe righl hand side of Ihe vein,
and is visi ble again lo Ihe righl of the fir s l stage
assemblage allhe IOp of Ihe plale.
The arsenopyrile-grey qua rtz slage is in lurn cul by
a noth er vcin, whi ch is less \\,e[1 defined, and
composed of occa sional dark brown (s phalerile)
cryslals, associated wilh paje buff (siderile?) malerial,
and probably pale yellow pyrite and quartz.
The relalionships between Ihese stages are oflen very
confll sed and difficult to deci pher. Indeed Ihe alllhor
is by 110 means positive Ihal Ihe above interprelalion is
tota ll y corree!. Thi s serves lo illus trate jus i ho\\'
effecti vely vei ns of si milar composil iol1 can ' hide' as
Ihey ove rprint along the sa me controJling slruclural
weakness. Once again inspection of more exa rnpl es is
required lo confirm initial suspicions. This example
also illustrales Ihe need for very carC'ful observa lion.
The vein is gold bearing, and it is nol cerlain which of
Ihe slages is gold relaled!
o
I
1cm
I
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERI'RINTI NG TEXTURES 37
PLATE 17
SUSPICION AROUSING - COMPLEX
OVERPRINTING, PARALLEL REACTl VATION.
STRUCTURAL SUPERIMPOSITIONVEINS.
Ravenswood gold mining districl, north Queensland,
Australi a (Buck Reef - SYC Pil, Carpentaria Gold).
T
hiS plale [lustrales good second arder suspicion
arousing criteria which Icad to observer lo suspecl
t\Vo stages of mineral isation.
The firsl reaclion lO the rack is lo note Ihe sulphide
rich infill channel, and the aHendan! dark alteralan
zonc. The hosl rack is tonalite, and Ihe alteration is
biotite. Biotite alteration is conventionall y associaled
with minute veins in porphyry copper systems, bul is
actuatl y quite widespread in many other magma tic
associaled fluid syslems (especially skarns) and can
assume major propor tions. The suspicion arousing
ci rcumstances relate lo lhe micro*lhin veins, which
exlend al low angles nlo Ihe host rock. These are
composed of py ri te s i li ca? (inf i ll), bul ha ve no
alteration halo. Given the intensity of Ihe black biotile
alteration this is an obvious anomaly.
38 ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRINT1NG TEXTURES
Close inspeclion of the infill channel reveal s !wo
d istinclly different malerials. Coarse grained pyrile
crystals form one associalion with hinls of black
triangu la r textures (biolite?) occurr ing around Ihe
centre lef! regon. A second association contains grey
wh ile maleria l (silica) wilh fi ner elongale s tringy
pyrite. A small vein cross clltting Ihe biotile alteration
appears lo link lO Ihis (bottom righl).
The re lationship between Ihe t\'Vo infi lling slages is
difficult lo discern. Intuiti vely, the aulhor suspects Ihe
biotite relalcd material lo be earl y util ising Ihe indirecl
criterion concerning temperature of deposit ion. Biotile
alteration/infi ll implies high temperature
This plale is another good example of refractu ring
along a pre*existing c hannel\'Va y, and again
emphasizes Ihe need for good underslanding of Ihe
infiJl /alteration linking. Infill textures at Ihis scale a re
freqllenl[ y overlooked.
o
I
lcm
I
PLATE 18
SUSI'I CION AKOUSI NC CO.\ll 'LEX
OVERI'RINTINC PARALLEL REACTIVAT1QN,
AI.T[RATlON STI<UCTURAL
su I '[ R 110.1 J'OSI nON v E:-IS.
Y'"t'"" ... ood gold mining di'trie!. norlh
Ausl ral'" (NoI.tns Gold).
T
hi< .. h b .... n inc1udw for '"'0 , ... SoM.
firstl y il has .uspicion HO" ""g
oH" prinling cril .. sondly i l will mah' Ih ..
po;nl Ih,,1 il is un",b" lo Iry resoh-c in
IIw <t' nlral 'egions <>1 """'pri nting \ein srs''''''' .
\vI",,, 1." ."<1 ",;Ih conflicts 01 mi"nal,hing "".
o' pos.lbl" cmS ... "Wng indical;ol1', Ihe obser\"<T is
ad\ '-cd 1<> n .......... Ob;er\'ation al Ihe "ein
(nal ... 1.0""" o ... 1""",h .. , ... may quily solal ..
ndi> id".l and ",,'aloli.h nfill f alt .. ralion
Tl\I." plal .. contains ''''0 sul phid .. ,-tins .. -hieh ron:. i"
' phal .. ,it,-(d k) .rsenopy. it .. (sil, ... ) .nd mino.
py"'" (f"I .. ),,,110"'). Th" sph.I".il ..
s ih try n.s h ... du .. lo d .-a' "g" T .... se
. ppt lo b<. inlill mi"" r.. a nd al firsl ,i Shl Ih"
.l"><mOpy .. ".,en,,, to li"" lhe ", .. lis 01 1M ehMIIW:1.
I h,,, a ... su,picion
p.oblems ,,",,1> this _mingl), n.,hor .. 1 .. ngem .. ,,' 01
I>igh temp. . ""." o'"'r.ioled by
Fi,"lIr Ih".e i. a dishrbing 01
on 111 .. sid" walls 01 bolh \ dns lo". .. ds
Ihe '01' 01 lllt- pl"'e ... nd >ccondly 1!>e ..... 're
thal .. may bt in tin)' .... in. Iha'
,!>e sph..o1o>rit... The """"111
in .. 1 . ounded a)"SI.1 (o.m . nd
illd" id ... 1 gr.,,,,, lo b.- brokn """' in , ..... urP'"
....,1,,,,, of righl h..Ind Th .. no is no!
..:1 ORL lU;l\JRES \ (M.L\IE J O\ERI'1I.INTINC
lo be o .t in. bul f.onl otl".. 'pt'<:imc',s Ihis
is indeed Ihe c .... , The .. rs.e"op).il" is lale . "d a
fu"u'" is ulili sing Ihe . ph .. le ri, .. ,ein ",alls lo
cha"",,1 in Ihe a.senopy.i, ... , The su.p;':;"" u cusing
eril"rio .ono giving l!>e co.....,' s,snal!
The siluoli"" "" ding al' ..... I''''' p.oring. t..wmes
more suspid"" .rou.ing. n..- o.ig,n.1 roe!. is
,,,,,,,,lit.., .. nd ,,,," d.r"". ruck "nib p.om;nen, on 1 .....
bollom ""nl.e .. nd bollom cenl .... ighl lorlt'S mos'
d ..... l)" ..... o.ig' ... 1 I",'urr.
l h .. sph .. I..ite/a.senopyrtte ,'<.'ins clN rI)" p'e .... nl a
p.oblem ''''"n if Ihe)" a.e '" """ At
"'oSI poinh lhey se..,,,, lo .el.>1e lO Ihe )"" lIolI'ioh
oll"."tion, bul 11", 10p I .. fl ,1 i"fill is
in di."", ro"'",,' ".ilh ".dll and 1""'" is no
)'dlo,," .. lIeraIiO"_ This ahe.ation mi sma tch i, .gain
suspkion a rousing. Th .. )" .. 110"" (se.idle ) alt.,.-a tio"
could jus, be motchNI lo Ih .. a ...... or mo.e
li kdy is ",I .. ,.d 10 the mkroth,n (Pl'ril"' ) "";ns.
N .. ithe. a no pa.'icubrl)' cOI",i"";ns! s..,' .. ra l :>oinls
c .. n be obsen....t ............ II!.- d g ........ minnol in II!.-
h"", ro'" is slo",l) e""'e"'''S into tM dull .... .,.,y.
), .. 110,," g . .... " .... k il ... E' .. n Ih .. o. igi nal .ock i5 nol
",hal il se<'1I1S as Ihe S ........ mi ...... al n>p...-...nls
chlori,iscd fcldspalS aM ehlorilised homblcnde!
In s imp le la nguage Ihe.e ... " Mousing
rri tNia e\'Cf)"whe.e_ Ih" ..... ",d pmb.1bl)"
fo". stages .\fe possib"" This ;s the ""0"1:\ sp .... , imen
fo. "'"rp.inling resoluli"", .nd 11", .hould
slop aUt'mpling miss<>n imp<...,.ible . nd mO' e lo Icss
ronlusins si'nalions in , .... immed,.I .. "acinil)" THIS
SITUATION IS AII of this fa l. lo arlS" ...
, ..... vital question '" ' Whictl slaS'" ;s sold ,..aring!
o
[
1cm
[
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRINTINC TEXTURES .J I
PLATE 19
SUSI'ICION AROUSING - INCONSISTENT
AllUlA'110N - COl\lI'tEX OVERI'RINT'lNG.
I'ARAI I.J, I. Rf.ACTIVATIONSTRUCfURAL
VEIN5.
$o'fMons tin M"unt .\towbr,l )' di s lrkr.
In i"<'b.>nl<. norlh
T
hiS pl.oIe h.,. be .. "" ",k",t.d lo .. ,hi bi! a .... picion
,'r"Qusi"S ")1lSi,len! a
Tlle ",.11 'oc" (bol1om le/t) is gr"oi"' comp"",-"I 01
/eldspM .. ). q03rt>; (gr .. y' and miu
(bmwn), 11", nlOSI ob"ious ... tu,e s a "do (t"VI
",hieh COIuains "er)' deM """"'" ........ 1'"
,,",m,,.,h..,. as darl blarl.b,o",,, equant of
c.ssil ..,.,t .. " 'tl! .. .. n ""' .... Ioped tri."sul .. tUluR'S 01
infilling pot.,."ium fuldsp.r (pink).OO "1 .... '17, (gn.'Y)'
"""' ,llt"r.tion ""ir tI",1 links lo lhe nfiU is th<-
pinl pol,ls.ium r"ld,par. """n lo .11 .. ,
gra",t .. Idd. "", and pos.>ibly (1"1' lefl).
A p,ubl"m ari_ as tm, from
nnI,.1 i"foll IQ undltc .... '<I granile is QwiQu.ly d iflerent
in th. 10p leh h.md corncr lo in Ih. ixJtton, 'igh!.
"J"his is d .,sie inro".isten' " 1lc,at ion configur tio"
'dising 1m, su.pki .... Ih.t I""Q are in\"QI,NI . A
'"<'ry ureful of serin uf minute
micro"eos p.,.lIdinS Iht main infoll Slmelu", (bot
_n mid leh .... f , ilk. , leld. pa, and ,.'"
e<>ss iler ile). re,.,.l s IhU the y ." .. aLly cut Ihe
anomak>us g"'y .h ... ,olioo n... grey allerati(lll
( mid lo bOllon. ,ighl) is in fae l p"" io ...
.,-hieh ......... OH: rpnnlNl by lhe
s t. S .... It is composro of silica (g ..... y) and se,icit ... (darl
g'eyb,o"",, ,o,, . "J"he infill IMi,ing to this
.llt,ratiun is nut "isiblc "n thi. plate, b,,1 is '.mfim",d
as siliea eI ... where "" the .""!",,ty. central niill
ZOlle 01 cdssiterilelddsp-lr q ua'lI. actu:llly has t,..o
diff"",nt ",.11 ""h. ThesE" th<. granit .... s d,.,;.::ri!>ed
abo'e. ana the p'''''' ou''y alt ... red silie. ... 'kitc ,ock
(bollom lell ). T"he leldspar aller.li"" ",ilhin ti"" lal1",.
i5 ""Iec"wly pielil1g oul l he ..... "" tht fril1gt""S.
A quart il1fill ,,, i n (bollon, 1.,(1 ) ",ilhoul an)"
. ssociat.od ahtration tep'''''''nt a thi td s tage
(unlirntod).
o
!
1cm
!
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRI NTING TEXTURES 43
PLATE 20
SUSPIClON AKOUSING - INCONSISTENT
ALTERA TlON, CO"II'LEX OVERI'RI r-.'TING,
ALTERArlO,\ OF AL TERATION. srRUCTURAL
SUPERI M PQSITlON-VEINS.
"Ibite Malk-e Gap Clon<urry "'&'00,
norlh Q",'<,,,sl,,nd. Auslralia.
donaled by Dr. I'.J. \Vm,,,,s,
T
hS ,,,,k h.I ' ind uded as it Ih"",,
o\'t'rp,inting "nd gi, c.,; " \'c,)' good
example 01 ti,, "er)' (Oll1mon siluat io"
;> .In ",hiel> gi,.,s Ih,> elue lo
,,'p.Hating an ,'pp",\-nl l)' single ,tase into [",o.
The ",al! rod, (bOllO"'. ,ent r .. ) is composcd 01 fi n.-
g,. ned ., Ibite (grey) wl h <:><X3sional pink (/dd,p .. ?),
",hite (quartz), and dark(?) spols. It S< ... ms to ... a
Sp<-,<il'S of ah",ed n,cta,.,J menl.
The mosl obdous sl,'ge is Ihe e.Hhest d",k ""in
(OOlhm. Idt), whid, i, , trikingly owrp,int,"<I b}'
whildpink (top , ight) _ lVi lh \'Ny
inspection d",k ",'in can di"id"d i"to lovo
d i!fe,,,,1 domain,_ Centrally "aguc zo"'-", of
d .,k bl.ock (amphibok.,;) infilt and surruunJing zonoes
of sli ghtly l,,"s d.uk alle,alio" (silka. amphit>ol,
o"c'p,inling m.'k,i., ls (whik/ pink) dearly exi,t
as ",ith the ",hile, (al bilc) ocen,ring as a"
. Ikrat io" "r tlw ","c k. At firs! sight Ih., "hile
44 EX1'UIo: I:S I'OlUME 3 OI'ERI'RINTII>:G TEXTURf.s
(albile) "",noS lo .,"'-u, as" fringe lo Ihe pi .. k natNi.1
a nd a n i"itia l i nl"'p"'lation ",onld a"ess t his as a
zoned Jltera!ion fro"t, Ho,,"c\'(" ir Ihe <:>bscn' N
ca,d"lIy I,aeh all aronnd the f,onl. is point
(<<'" Ir,,-Iop) ti", pink actuaJly comes J ir<'CII)'
into mnta,! ",ith h05t . ock ",ith no int,'"',,,nin6 ",hite
The pink material is in fad oeCl".ing as "
"'p",.,le st.'ge "nd oceurs;os a" a lte,.'lio" of Ii'o> ",hite
albite, anJ prob.,bly the alle,,"<1 ime,,1
Sepa ra li"g out Ih, i nli Jl z<:>ne" to too ",ilh Ihe 10"0
fcldsp.,,,, is very diflieu lt. .",d this ;s "s"ally Ihe
in sySkms.
Thc white albite i nl ill is ust "isible (boll orn right)
il is di,tingni shed by a stigh tly co.""'_g,.,in
s;ze. and a <olou. in ",lati"" to Ihe adjacent
" lle.ation. IVilhin the ,,"<1 ",aleri.11 the ",.iter<"d""ot
diffe.enli.t, i" fill fmm a lteration.
The pink-red m.lIe,ial ",hieh looh lih is in
f.1(1 h,ma lit.,/al bi tc (1',) . lVilti.,ms) ",hieh su,...,; lo
illuslrate the problem of id"ntifyi ng pink alteralion,
The dark grey eounl'y ,o is .1 lso "Ibite "nd
,,1 the reg io"al sodie aUe ,lion
asscmblag" so in Clo","urry regioo.
o 1cm ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRINTING TEXTURES 45
__________________ ________________ __JI
PLATE21
SUSI'IClON INCONSISTENT
Al URATlON. ALTERATION OF ALTEKATIOI\ .
STRUCI' URAL SUI'ERI1>II"051T10N-Vl:I NS.
I'tgmont, Ic.;odnc Cloneu'f)' nogion, nonh

5pim .... don . tOO by Dr. 1'.1. Williams.
1,lole h. , bt...,n ..,I"", .. d lo lI o,t t," subU ...

o''''p,;,,';ng with good of
;nn"' S;Sh>111 .1t"'Ati"n halos. and alt"ra'iOfl of
alter.llion . It ",jll of s pecial "leTu I lo
,,,.,,lers. as il is pdrt "f ,he >y.t<'''' ",hi eh
"n(I,,li,.,; Ihe I'egmon! Icad_z;", p""'f>'.'CI.
The 1>0,,1 !"OC"(s) ..., fi,\( grair.ed meta""'mentM in
t ......... oo lo >illY-silnd. si, .. Tang .... 1-.- ..... ron'posro
01 '.1')''''8 rombi .... ,ions 01 mi.,."..I" p.1t.. grttrl
(f"ldspa,?j pale grey (quartzJ dark black-grcen
(chlorit ... biolit .. ?) and gJ..ssy red (goo..-nt1?).
Th .. <.>b,-;o", chan" .. '",.}' is r .. by
d.,k i nfill -n .. in s tr uel u.e (cent'e . ;ght). Thr
m.I ... i.b (g"-')' 'l"Mlz and bl.ock 10". 0"'li .... ) "",m lo
rel ale lo ,ery iHegular alterallo" ",hl;h is
mosll y while, wilh some irregubrly Mle
)'ello\\" co"'po"e"I$. The aeh", 1 ,'cj" is im".,rSi,lent.
a"d 01 darl bufl ",ateridl
\\"ilh ilS app<Orenlle.mi nation ,<>gion in ",id
.... ORf TLXI UR[!, \'Ol.L\l EJ OVEIWI!INTINGTlXTURf:S
The leh hand side Iwo ctcarl)' dilf .. 'enl
51),10$, one of ",hich t.ends is
mosll)' y .. llo\\" ",ilh ",hi le fringu and
leuur.lly .esembles Ih .. ah,>ratioo desc.i bed . bo\'(>.
It seems (ontrolll'd b)' minul" ' ... l k.1 mkroc .ocks,
and o'erp.inls. n '>Hl ier (gre)', greywhile)
s ubho. izonlal all ... alion. mal ... i.1 i5 K
a r>d wi th al,on il .ppt'''''' lo be
.. place<! by the yellow.", h,te Isetoe,le). I h .. IS an
of alk tioo of alleralioo aod despile Ihe
(onfus ion relaliog lo simil.,r eolour looes,
esl.1blis hes Ihal ... l\\"o lolall y di s t i n"l
alter" lion sl)' le . and Iheir rd,li\'e liming.
11 is lilll,> dillicult 10 Ih" obdolls d .. l infil!
c h.nnd (centre-righl) lo .. il her a lte.alioo, ond Ihe
" ' hok question 01 fluid challrlelwa)' s a nd ingress i.
not rO'SOI"able on Ihi s r,,(l. (lb, ,ollsl), mi"""racks.
and ,arialion. in hosl g in .. /eh .. mis'r)'
h. "" pl. )' ed a mOlor rol .. , wilh .Hualion
prl'dominaling 0' er nlill.
This rocl has been euminl'd undcr lhe microsc0p"
and lhe ea.l)' K.leldSp<Or Q\'erprinle<!
b)' Ihe <ericile. AllhoURh Ihe i. no 101.11)'
d . ", 00 lhe hand s p"cimen. there ' '''pidoo
arou,i ng drcumSlances 10 SUgj,'<1 lhe pr.,;er1("O 01 Iw"
o\'(:rprinling (and pos.,ible more?) .y.lems, ,eI .. "li,""ly
" Iilising simila r p"rme.,bilil)' ;.ones.
o
I
1cm
I
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERPRINTI NG TEXTURES 47
PLATE 22
SUSI' IClO,'\' AROUSINC - Al TEKATlo,,\' 01'
ALHRATlON, LA YER cm.n ROl.
Tkk 11,11 80l d mi",-, Clo,,'u,.)' ,egioo. nor lh
Ou<"-"bldnd, Australia.
T
hlS !>.os Mn ;"",,dfd to muSlra,,- re,a',,''''Y
00"':;",,' o,-e'p"nting whi,h is ess..-ntially laye.
11 a lso s ho,,", a subll ... of
alter.lhon alkring ,.Ite,.uion.
Th,- ",igina'''. """ Tick IIilI gold mine.
lhe pinl< rock . Ihe gold b".ring unit. It is
, t>mp<,,....:f 01 albi'e Ipale dno ...d pink) and sil i,.
(gr .. )"). n.., 1"'0 mdio< componCflb ,.""Y consid ...... bly
in bolh forma, and quan!;t) , bul s .... m lo ha, ..
aequir"d !h ... ir ,onfigura',,,,, ,i. inlen . .. duct il ..
dd"'mation Th o,iginol nah .. " 01 Ihe roek is
conlt",tious. wilh opinions ',lOgl"8 lrom d" al'e,f.'d
"'1".::-<'01.1111'" 01 el,k Ignl'<lll' d,-rivdl;'", t ho"gh lo
,..;,di"", ,ich 1.,1..,
Th. S lualion is nol maJe an,' ,' a si". by Ih.'
o""l'rinling alle tion (middll' to 1,,,.., ...gion), Ths
1'''-'''''''''''' mosl the original II'xtures and resulls in a
of g'('Y (quartr.)
4 ONI' IUTUIIES \'OLL\IE30\'LN!'MtJ\ITINC l'fXTLMES
(...:.'poli t.,) dMk g'N'" "I<>rite?) ",itl> red
bro\\'n iron l' hr d.n' e, lO,,,,,; link !(>);.'th,r
""d "-1'r. ... 'nl lhe n, .. in eh.nn,I ... a)'. controllins fluid
('nlry. A mi"ul" pal., sreen ... ithin , he e",nlral
portion rould bt- an >nfill Ebwwhe ... (JI'> IIw
properl)', the grN"n -cape"t .. rich can bt
,.,..., lak"'S out ,he ftltl ... lInk roek on mator
rontroll,.d front
'n,,, b,o"''' iron whkh 0<:(1l)"5 al many p",n' <
...llhin th ... plal.> is al", an Q"c'p,inl, ""d OCCIl"", an
" It"r.,tion of bolh Ihe pi,,1. and sr.",,,. A ,m. 1I <>SS
cuning miero,'ein ;s ... ell d"played (le/! hand _ide'
cenl ... ) aS in cross Ih. srcen rock and 1"'-'
darl? and/ or ... m,,,,nt al!>tc (pink) ron'p<><I<'fll. This
a lt"rali"n oceu" .poradi;;all)' alons the boundar)
b.,lwN"n th(' two major <1. unit. (pink and g'('of"n)
and (mm r",1d ",lalion>hiiS s no! d"", lo "ealhering.
11", 101' "f Ihe .. ,I (JIers " (h.nge in roek Iyf"' .
'fhis "nit i. primaril)' (\\'hite Sr.'Y) "nd
chl"rile? (dark s"-,,,n.black) ",hkh s<",ms ,,, h.1\'e lit",,,
"'f."" .-.I by Ih" iron ",id., (brown)_ A
,<e,n"')"" uf (g"-'Yb1",,) s "isibk- (Iop Idl).
o
I
1cm
I
ORE TEXTURES VOLUME 3 OVERrRINTING TEXTURES 49
8 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This Ihird laken more li",,, lo produce Ihan oolh 01 Ihe prcdt'C .... sors. Ot,,"ioo.ly the ""thors d"S!nl
into mitd demensia h,1S r<'S" lkd in ,Io\\"e' I,mg't";';_ Ho"-"v", many people h,1\'e assistcd considce,'bly. The
sponsors belo,,".re vital conuibulors ",ho make "v"rylhing poss ibt, .. "nd Simila' ;I( kno,,"ledgements are due to
Ihe p,oducti')ll k am_ D, Ga"in Clarkc c<>nt ributcd enormon.ly in rock col iL'Ction. ",Icetion "n.1 prepar.,lion.
Roge< Y,' Idham ,'ga, " prodoced tht, fi<s1 class plates, and Belz ,," r es tled ",ith endle., un readabl,'
"",nu""pt . Dr Peter I'ollard contl1ued lhe "maki ng Ihing. prOCt'SS" \\" ilh ed itorial "",,'<:es, "nd "ery
s.'rio". Ih;lI1ks d"e lo the w ll ing gra phic d'S gn lalent. of D,wid Llo}'d. 1>''ny of my ,oll,'agues ha".,
donat,-d . ",-'Cal (photogeni,r rocks, ;lI1d Ihank$ d"c to Dr R, Mycr'S, Dr I' ,J, Willams ""d Dr G.I\' CI,ukt,
Sponsors:
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY RESEARCHIRESO URCE
UN1T(ECRU
A6ERFOYLE RESOURCES
A6X
ACACIA RESOURCES
AUSTRALASIAN I NST ITUTE OF MINING ANO
MET ALLURCY (NOR1"11 QUEENSLANO
6RANCH)
ARIMCO
AURORA COl.O I'TY LTD
6AITtE MOUNTAIN (AUSTRALI A) I NC.
61-1 r
CYI'RUS COLO A USTRALI A CORI'.
DELTA COLO Nl
C REAT CE TRAL MINES
HO.\IESTAKE A USTRALIA
M IM EXI'LORATION r TY LTO
M" LEYSltON GOLD MINES
NE\\'CREST MINING AUSTRALIA) I'TY L TO
NORMANDY EXI'LORATION L TO
NORTII FLl NOERS EXI'LORATION
NORTII LTD
I'ASMINCO EXPLORATION
FREEI'ORT I NDONESI A
I'LACER EXPLORA TlON L T O
I'LUTONI C MINI NG
RCC LTD
ROSS J\-11N I NG NI.
RTZt SOUTH AMERICA)
SONSOFGWALl A
WEST ERN MI NI NC CORrORATlON
VoIlI"''''; J _ J ha,,,. ,,"11 J",Jd"C'Fil ""a" dIO"" , Tile al/lilor ac/llal/y Sl'J 0111 lo prodllce" ",""",,i O" brtw,a-brokFlI rks.
lf ',i, dOllblfll1 lifrslyle fOIlI;'",,.,, tI,;s ,"bj1 ,,;JI fi lwJly ". adJrr;;Sl'l! 111 ,,,,,,,,,,,, 4 - JO? 51'0"';0'" bti, .. rr!
51) ORE TF. XTURI'S 3 OVERI'RI1\'TII_G n.xrURES
9 : REFERENCES
Dong. c., MQTri:l()r"l, C.IV. and S. 1995. in .,pid....,. ..... 1 , .,ins. ct.ssiflcation.
origin and impliNtion. F.ronomicG .. ()logy. V. 90. p. 1841-1856.
Taylor, Ite. 1m. Ore TeXlull."S Volume 1 lnfi ll. Economi<: Crology Unit. Ceology o.,p;orlml'11l. .meo;
Cook Un'...sily o North Quc.m.sland. 2-4p.
Taylor, R.G. 1994. Ore TeXlull."5 Volume IJ Aller3tion. Eronomic Res<>arch Unll, Crology Oep;ortment.
James Cook Uni"ers ilY nf NO.l" Q.>("(>1lsland. SSp.
ORE TEXHJRES VOUJME 30VERl'RlNTlNG TF.Xl1JRES 51

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CONTENTS

P,d." .. .............................. . i,'

01 ou, co"ceplS concernins lhe 01 syslems a t1d thei, 'oC<

1>0','" includ,'<l lo .. mor"

plal,' t..s indud .. d 10 l lus tral .... 11 ...

1,lole h. , bt...,n ..,I"", .. d lo lI o,t t," subU ...

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