Published September 15, 2021 | Version v1
Conference paper Open

Lithospheric-scale magnetotellurics over the Eastern Goldfields Superterrane, Yilgarn Craton

  • 1. MinEx CRC, UniSA and EES, Macquarie University, Future Industries Institute, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, kate.selway@unisa.edu.au
  • 2. Centre for Exploration Targeting, University of Western Australia, Crawley,WA, 6009, michael.dentith@uwa.edu.au
  • 3. Geological Survey of Western Australia, East Perth, WA, 6004, klaus.gessner@dmirs.wa.gov.au

Description

Long-period magnetotelluric (MT) data were collected in the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, in a ~200 x 250 km grid that crosses parts of the heavily mineralised Eastern Goldfields Superterrane and parts of the adjacent, less mineralised Youanmi Terrane. Inversions of the data highlight several mid- to lower-crustal conductors, mainly in the Eastern Goldfields Superterrane, and a broad, north-south trending, lithospheric mantle conductor beneath the Youanmi Terrane. Interpretations of the mantle conductor show that the Youanmi Terrane lithospheric mantle must contain more hydrogen and/or metasomatic minerals than the Eastern Goldfields Superterrane. Interpretations of the crustal conductors suggest they can only reasonably be caused by graphite or sulfide minerals. The pattern of conductivity is consistent with models for mineralisation in the region in which fertile, metasomatised mantle was partially melted beneath the Eastern Goldfields Superterrane, with the resulting mineralising fluids and melts subsequently ascending to the crust.

Notes

Open-Access Online Publication: March 03, 2023

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