The origin and development of nickel sulphide bearing 'trough structures' at Kambalda, Western Australia

摘要

Distinctive nickel sulphide hosting trough structures at the Lunnon Basalt/Kambalda Komatiite contact result fromsyn-volcanic extension. An early tectonic extension event formed graben and fissure swarms analogous to those seen in present day Iceland. These graben and fissure swarms channelled subsequent komatiite flows and provided depositional sites for NiS ore. These early extensional structures account for both the linear geometry of teh Kambalda ore troughs, and many of the ore-body scale structures.