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Location: Uppsala (Sweden)
Journal Name: Proceedings to 12th SGA Biennial Meeting
Conference End Date: Aug 15, 2013
Conference Start Date: Aug 12, 2013
Research Interests:
Structural Geology, Orogenic Gold Systems, Lode Gold Deposits, 3D Implicit
Modelling, and Leapfrog Mining<div>()</div>
3 D i m p l i c i t g e o l o g i c a l m o d e l l i n g o f a g o l d
d e p o s i t f ro m a s t r u c t u r a l g e o l o g i s t s p oi n t
v i e w
S t e f a n A . Vo l l g g e r , A l e x a n d e r R. C r u d e n
School of Geosciences, Monash University, Australia
o f
E. Jun Cowan
Orefind Pty Ltd, Australia
Abstract.
Tectonic processes and the resultingdeformation of Earths crust are known to
control andinfluence the location as well as shape of ore bodies.Furthermore, ore
body geometries and associated spatialrelationships provide fundamental clues to
the genesis of ore deposits. Therefore, it is important to establishconsistent 3D
geological models to visualise and analyseore delineation in order to understand the
controls onmineralisation processes. Implicit modelling generatesobjective 3D
geological models directly from drill-holedata. Instead of manual linkage of handdigitised 2Dcross-sections, mathematical interpolation functions areused to
generate 3D isosurfaces. These surfaces canrepresent ore grade shells, lithological
boundaries or structural trends. The 3D implicit model can be used todefine ore
body geometries, grade continuity direction(s)and spatial relationships between
mineralisation,lithological boundaries and major structures, helping toexplain the
structural evolution of ore deposits. Workinghypotheses based on these geometrical
analyses aresubsequently validated in the field. Our case study at AngloGold
Ashantis Navachab gold mine (Namibia)shows that high grade mineralisation
trends obtainedfrom a 3D implicit model can be directly linked to fieldobservations,
suggesting a structural control on goldmineralisation during the growth and lockup
stages in theformation of a nearby regional scale dome.
Ke y w ord s .
Implicit modelling, folding, orogenic gold,Navachab
1 Introduction
The world-class orogenic gold deposits in the YilgarnCraton (Hodkiewicz et al. 2005)
and the famous vein-hosted gold deposits of central Victoria (Cox et al. 1991)are
well known examples of structurally controlled goldmineralisation. These and many
more deposit types, suchas iron ore and V(H)MS, have shown to be generatedand/or
influenced by tectonic forces, resulting indeformation manifested at regional to
deposit scales asductile and brittle features such as folds, faults and shear zones.
Consequently it follows that the shape, orientationand spatial distribution of ore
bodies and their host rocks provide important information on the role
thatdeformation plays in controlling mineralisation.Therefore, the visualisation and
precise positioning of mineralisation, lithological boundaries and
geologicalstructures of an ore deposit are fundamental.
2 Three dimensional geological modelling
Modern computational tools allow us to process vastgeological datasets and assist
in generating 3Dgeological models. Two major modelling methodologiesare
employed, termed explicit and implicit modelling.The traditional explicit modelling
technique is thecurrently accepted industry standard (Cowan et al.2011), and it is
therefore used in most 3D geologicalmodelling software packages. It is mainly
based on themanual definition of boundaries by digitisation. Explicitmodelling
therefore follows a traditional approach by producing a digital version of former
hand-drawn crosssections and linking them to form 3D bodies. Its basicconcept
emerged out of computer aided designapplications (CAD) and is, strictly speaking,
not suitablefor modelling in data-rich and geometrically complexgeological
environments. Indeed, the explicit approachregularly forces the model creator to
manually adapt andsimplify the model to overcome technical problems(such as
invalid triangulations) and to keep within a practical and financially feasible
timeframe.Additionally, explicit modelling cannot incorporatestructural field
auriferousmassive sulfide lenses (ore shoots). The ore shoots wereemplaced near
the inflection line of the regional domessteep NW limb, where shear strain reached
peak valuesduring fold amplification. This is in agreement with themodel proposed
by Kisters (2005) that interprets themassive sulfide lenses as dilational jogs that
openedduring flexural flow along bedding parallel slip planesduring the
amplification of the Karibib Dome.
5 Conclusion
Our case study at Navachab shows that implicitmodelling in combination with
selective structuralfieldwork is a powerful technique to identify andevaluate
structural controls on deposit and regionalscales, thereby improving the
understanding of therelationship between mineralisation and deformation.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank our industry partner AngloGoldAshanti Ltd for their generous
support as well asAusIMM for funding (Bicentennial Gold Endowment).We are grateful
to Jane Allen (AGA ExplorationManager Brownfields, Continental Africa Region),Frik
Badenhorst and Navachab`s chief geologist GrahamBell and his team for their
abundant and helpful support.
Re f e r e n c e s
Cowan EJ, Beatson RK, Ross HJ, et al. (2003) Practical ImplicitGeological Modelling.
Fifth International Mining GeologyConference Proceedings. AusIMM Publication
Series 8:8999Cowan EJ, Spragg KJ, Everitt MR (2011) Wireframe-FreeGeological
Modelling - An Oxymoron or a Value Proposition?Eighth International Mining Geology
Conference,