Mine-Scale Structural Controls on the Mount Isa Zn-Pb-Ag and Cu Orebodies

摘要

The Mount Isa Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag deposit contained almost 30 million tons (Mt) of base metals, prior to mining, in spatially separate Cu and Zn-Pb-Ag orebodies. The origin of the Zn-Pb-Ag ores is debated due to apparently conflicting features at intermediate to microscales. Ambiguity is associated with small-scale features, which can be interpreted either in terms of syndeformation mineralization or in terms of remobilization of a predeformation orebody when considered in isolation of larger scale characteristics of the orebody. Understanding the relationship between metal distribution and the structural framework at the mine scale helps to determine whether the orebody is deformed and leads to a better understanding of its formation.