Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
4, 329339, 2002
PT Austindo Nusantara Jaya, Graha Irama, 3rd Floor, Jl. HR Rasuna Said, Kav. 1-2, Jakarta 12950, Indonesia
[e-mail(SP):sukmandaru@austindo.co.id]
1 Present address: 38 Lemonwood St., Greenwoods Executive Village, Cainta, Rizal 1900, Philippines
2 Present address: P.O. Box 50713, Tucson, Arizona 85703, U.S.A.
Received on January 28, 2002; accepted on July 5, 2002
Abstract: The Cibaliung gold project is located at the central portion of the Neogene Sunda-Banda magmatic arc. Gold-sil-
ver mineralization in the area is hosted in a thick sequence of sub-aqueous basaltic andesite volcanics with intercalated sedi-
ments intruded by sub-volcanic andesite to diorite plugs and dykes, and subsequently cut by a cluster of diatreme breccias.
These host rocks are unconformably overlain by dacitic tuffs, younger sediments and basalt flows.
The gold prospects in Cibaliung occur within a NW-trending structural corridor that is 3.5 km wide by at least 6 km long.
It is fault-bounded and is considered to be a graben. Two aligned NNW-trending sub-vertical shoots, Cikoneng and Cibitung,
host the currently defined resource within the steeply dipping vein system with a minimum strike length of 1,300 m. As of July
2001, exploration has defined an inferred + indicated mineral resource of approximately 1.3 million tonnes at 10.42 g/t gold and
60.7 g/t silver at a 3 g/t Au cut-off. This equates to approximately 435,000 ounces of gold and 2.54 million ounces of silver.
Gold-silver mineralization occurs as quartz veins characteristic of the low-sulphidation epithermal adularia-sericite
type. Progressive dilation with a general increase in gold grade has produced multi-stage veining and brecciation that grades
from early to late stages as: pre-mineral fluidized breccia, quartz vein stockwork, massive vein, crustiform vein, colloform-
crustiform vein with progressive increase in chloritic clay bands, clay-quartz milled matrix breccias with a progressive
increase in clay content, and syn- to post-mineral fault gouge with vein clasts. Wall rock alteration is characterized by pro-
grade chlorite+adularia flooding that is locally overprinted by a low temperature argillic alteration (smectite, illite and mixed
layered clays). Generally, the argillic alteration becomes weak with depth. The major mineral constituents of the veins are
quartz, adularia and clay. In the early gold-poor hydrothermal stages, quartz and adularia dominate with minor calcite and
clay (smectite, poorly crystalline chlorite, interlayered chlorite-smectite and illite-smectite). In the later gold-rich hydrother-
mal stages, clay with variable amounts of carbonate increases whereas the abundance of quartz and adularia decreases. Gold
occurs mainly as electrum while silver occurs as argentite-aguilarite-naumannite and electrum, and rarely as native silver,
sulphosalts and tellurides. Sulphides generally comprise <1 vol % of the vein, with pyrite as the most common species.
Together with pyrite, traces of very fine-grained base metal sulphides dominated by chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena are in
most cases intimately associated with electrum and silver minerals. Partial supergene oxidation generally extends down to
about 200 m below the surface at Cikoneng and further down to more than 300 m at Cibitung.
The hydrothermal system responsible for the gold-silver mineralization in the area may be related to rhyolitic magmatism
focused on a volcanic intrusive center during back arc rifting that formed a graben or pull-apart basin. The dominant mechanism
for the higher grade gold deposition is fluid mixing of up welling metal-bearing hydrothermal solutions with relatively near sur-
face cool, oxygenated condensate and/or steam-heated meteoric fluids, as opposed to retrograde boiling. The strongly focused
dilational structural environment is thought to have been the mechanism for focusing fluid flows, both up welling and descend-
ing, forming pipe-like mineralized bodies in the rhomboidal dilation zones. It is interpreted that mineralization took place under
low temperature conditions (<150-220C) at a minimum depth of around 200-250 m below the palaeo-water table.
Keywords: epithermal gold, low sulphidation, Cibaliung, Indonesia, Cikoneng, Cibitung, vein, dilation
329
330 C. A. ANGELES, S. PRIHATMOKO and J. S. WALKER RESOURCE GEOLOGY :
9260000mN
(Marjoribanks, 2000).
A sequence of younger east-
erly dipping sedimentary rocks
0 2 km
overlies the above rock units SCALE
(Marjoribanks, 2000). They are
more or less equivalent to the Basalt flows
sedimentary units shown on the CIKONENG Sediments Post-Mineral
existing geological map, namely CIBITUNG ...
...... Dacitic tuff (Cibaliung tuff)
the Late Miocene Bojongmanik Honje volcanics Pre-Mineral
Formation and the Pliocene Vein
Cipacar Formation (Sudana and Fault
Santosa, 1992). The lower unit
9250000mN
Circular pattern
is composed of conglomerate,
calcareous sandstone and clay- Favorable
Structural Corridor
stone, and limestone with some
lignite intercalations. Bedding 580000mE
570000mE
dips are steepest, around 20-30,
in the extreme west, and are Fig. 2 Local geology of the Cibaliung project area (Modified after Marjoribank,
sub-horizontal in the east. The 2000).
upper unit sits upon the lower
unit with a pronounced scarp consisting of EPITHERMAL
various tuffaceous sediments and tuffs. VEINS NE
There are isolated thin sheets and ero- SW V V V V V V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
+
sional remnants of basalt flows of probable + +
+ +
Quaternary age in the north and northeast + +
+
+
+ + + + +
flows thicken towards the east and were + + ++
+ +
+ +
probably derived from volcanic centers +
+ + ++
+ + +
569400mE
9254600 mN
N
clusters of plug-like to dyke-like bodies
generally 1 to 120 m wide, 20 to >300 m
long with depth extensions from 20 to 0 200m
Cikoneng
>200 m. They are more prevalent in the 2 1 Vein Vein zone
northern part of the drilled area, e.g., 7
3 Drill Hole Location
12 4
Cikoneng (Figs. 4 and 5). The breccias con- 5 Drill hole location mentioned
sist of angular to rounded clasts of pre-min- in the text
eral rocks set in rock flour or detrital vol- 1. AC.04
Cit 6 2. AC.05
canic matrix. The clasts are mainly basaltic 9253800mN
e luk 11 Cibitung 3. CDDH.09
andesite, fine volcaniclastics, porphyritic Riv 13 Vein
4. AC.03
er 8,10
5. AC.36
andesite, diorite and rare granodioritic rocks 9
6. AC.39
7. AC.01
(e.g., drill holes AC-04/277.45-279.45 m, 8. AC.18A
AC-05/314.5-316.0 m and CDDH-09/344- 14 9. AC.06
Cibeber 10. AC.13
350.0 m). The breccias vary from mosaic to Vein 11. CDDH.35
570200mE
12. AC.02
slab breccias, to rotational breccias and to 13. AC.07
Melinjo
fluidized-milled matrix breccias. Carbonized Vein 14. CDDH.23 & CDDH.48
wood clasts are identified in some of the Fig. 4 Cikoneng-Cibitung vein zone and drill hole locations.
breccias (e.g., drill holes AC-03/ 45.3m,
AC-04/291.5-295.5m, AC-05/ 314.5-316 m,
AC-36/10.75-12.25 m and AC-39/246.35- 1 Early Hydrothermal Stages 2 Late Hydrothermal Stages
247.65 m). This indicates that the breccias
have vented to the surface incorporating
wood fragments into the interior of the brec- Cikoneng Shoot
Cikoneng Vein
cia bodies after the eruptive phase of the dia- (Cymoid Bend)
treme formation.
The HMMBs are spatially and genetical- Dominant Left-
Lateral NNE
ly associated with the andesitic intrusions. Dominant Right- Faults
They are emplaced right after the intrusives Lateral WNW &
Extensional
but before the development of epithermal (Right-Lateral) Fi .
Cibitung Shoot
veining. They are definitely pre-mineral but NNW Faults
some later ones are possible precursors of
epithermal vein mineralization as evidenced N N
Cibitung Vein
by the presence of fluidized milled pyrite-
rich breccias cut by the veins, e.g., drill hole 4
AC-01/225 m (Leach, 2000) and breccias
with a hydrothermal matrix of quartz and Fig. 5 Schematic model of Cikoneng-Cibitung shoot development.
sulphides, e.g., drill hole AC-18A/308 m.
All of the above pre-mineral rocks are unconformably tuff was derived (Marjoribanks, 2000). It is also proba-
overlain by a thin veneer of the post-mineral Cibaliung ble that the Cibaliung Tuff is co-genetic and co-eval
Tuff, generally covering the NW-trending graben area with the latest stage of diatreme formation.
except along the dissected drainages (Marjoribanks,
2000). The tuff is generally a few meters thick at the dril- 4. Local Structure
led area, but may reach up to 30 m. A thin layer of uncon-
solidated colluvium/alluvium consisting of pre-mineral The gold prospects in Cibaliung occur within a NW-
rocks and quartz vein material is common at the base of trending structural corridor that is 3.5 km wide by at
the tuff. This is indicative of erosion of the pre-mineral least 6 km long (Fig. 2). It is fault-bounded and is con-
rocks including the veins prior to the deposition of the sidered to be a graben (Marjoribanks, 2000) or pull-
tuff. apart basin that was subsequently filled up by post-min-
Circular patterns within the Cibaliung Tuff as inter- eral dacitic tuffs (Leach, 2000). The two aligned sub-
preted from aerial photos are located northeast and vertical shoots, Cikoneng and Cibitung, are located on
northwest of the drilled area (Fig. 2). These patterns can the southwestern edge of the graben as dilational jogs
be interpreted as evidence for volcanic cauldron col- on a NNW-trending, steep dipping oblique-slip fault
lapse structures, and may be the vents from which the zone, hosting the currently defined resource.
vol. 52, no. 4, 2002 Cibaliung Epithermal Gold Deposit, Indonesia 333
10
1 from a hydrothermal system domi-
0 nated by up welling hot hydrothermal
Abbreviation : Q: quartz, Ad: adularia, Cb: carbonate, Chl: chlorite, Cy: clay, Sul: sulphide, fluids, to one dominated by cool con-
Bl: bladed
densate or surficial steam heated
Fig. 6 Sequence of hydrothermal stages (Modified after Leach, 2000). waters (Leach and Corlett, 2000). It
is to be noted that not all vein zones
Ore shoots in the Cikoneng-Cibitung area occur in have all of the stages shown below.
complex dilational jogs and cymoid bends formed at 2a) Stockwork to sheeted quartz-calcite-adularia vein
intersections between NW, NNW and NNE fault systems (<0.5 g/t Au) - occurs along the margins of the main
(Walker, 2001). Mineralized zones are of considerably epithermal vein system. In addition, the later formed
greater vertical than lateral extent. The unusual geometry quartz veins grade downward into sheeted/stockwork
is thought to result from the combined dilation effects of veins at deeper levels (e.g., at 140 m RL in drill hole
the three major fault sets. During the early relatively gold- CDDH 09), and laterally flare into sheeted /stockwork
poor hydrothermal stages, the right-lateral arc-parallel veins at shallow levels between Cikoneng and Cibitung
NW fault sets were dominant, thereby creating large-scale shoots (e.g., drill hole CDDH 35) and south of Cibitung.
NNW dilational vein jogs (Fig. 5). The sheeted to stockwork veins generally consist of mas-
During the later gold-rich hydrothermal stages, the sive quartz-adulariacalcite veins that locally grade into
left-lateral NNE set predominated, creating the two crustiform banded textures in the central portions of some
high-grade shoots where the NNE set forms jogs on the veins. These veins are typically barren of significant gold
early relatively gold-poor NNW vein structures. Syn- to mineralization.
post-mineral fault movement offsets mineralization. 2b) Massive vein (<2 g/t Au) - consists of coarse-
These offsets occur along sub-vertical causative jog grained intergrowths of quartz, adularia and varying
structures cutting the Cikoneng and Cibitung shoots. abundance of calcite, with negligible sulphides. The
coarse-grained nature of the vein is indicative of slow
5. Alteration and Mineralization crystal growth within a relatively passive, and relatively
high temperature, hydrothermal environment. Wall rock
A successive sequence of hydrothermal stages has vein breccias consisting of wall rock clasts set in mas-
been defined (Leach, 2000; Leach and Corlett, 2000). sive to crudely banded quartz-adularia matrix are genet-
As illustrated in Figure 6, the stages are as follows: ically associated with these veins and are found at the
1) Pre-mineral fluidized breccia - this event is occa- edges of the vein zones near its contact with the wall
sionally present near the veins (e.g., drill holes AC- rocks. Both the massive and wall rock vein breccias
01/222.3 m, AC-06/154.35 m and AC-13/324.75 m). rarely contain significant gold mineralization.
This style of polyphasal crackle to fluidized brecciation, 2c) Crustiform banded vein (<3 g/t Au) - consists of
that grades from early clay to later quartz/silica/pyrite- rhythmic bands of coarse quartz and/or adularia that
rich breccias, is a common precursor to many epither- alternate with bands of finer grained quartz-adularia.
mal vein systems (Corbett and Leach, 1998). These flu- The crustiform textures are indicative of more rapidly
idized breccias, usually narrow and discontinuous, are changing conditions as the up welling hydrothermal
perceived to be later than the bigger bodies of fluid fluctuates between cooling quickly (depositing
HMMBs, which are generally weakly altered to chlo- fine-grained bands), possibly through boiling, and slow-
riteepidotecarbonate. ly, thereby depositing coarser grained bands. The local
334 C. A. ANGELES, S. PRIHATMOKO and J. S. WALKER RESOURCE GEOLOGY :
occurrence of quartz after bladed carbonate indicates them (Walker, 2001). The early, massive to banded quartz
sporadic boiling conditions in response to sudden pres- veins are effective host rocks for the mineralized shoots,
sure releases. Sulphides occur in only trace amounts and readily fracturing in response to crosscutting NNE right-
only minimal gold mineralization is encountered. lateral strike-slip faulting. Shoots formed when movement
2d) Crustiformcolloform banded vein (~1 - >30 g/t on the NNE faults became dominant and jogs formed
Au) - grades from early crustiform-colloform bands of where they crossed the NNW faults (Cikoneng) and
quartz and adularia, to later ones in which there is pro- WNW faults (Cibitung).
gressive increase in the abundance of bands that contain Potential ore-grade material is almost invariably carried
clay (smectite and/or chloritic clay, i.e., either chlorite- in the retrograde stages 2d, 2e and 3, with the bulk hosted
smectite or poorly crystalline chlorite), calcite and locally by stage 2e materials. In general, the highest grades are
kaolinite. The colloform bands are indicative of deposi- hosted in the vein-breccias where the matrix is quartz
tion of amorphous material, and subsequent re-crystalliza- dominated. Significant gold grades are occasionally host-
tion, and form in response to very rapidly changing condi- ed by stockwork directly in the hanging wall contact of
tions (either boiling or quenching). Although adularia can the shoots, and in stockworked wall rocks within the
be deposited either through boiling or cooling, smectite shoots. Both the Cikoneng and Cibitung shoots display a
and kaolinite clays, especially with carbonate minerals are central core of maximum dilation, defined by grade multi-
strongly suggestive of deposition by mixing with cool sur- plied by thickness contours (Connolly diagram), with a
ficial waters. In places, very fine-grained sulphides are steep southerly rake within the mineralized structure
associated with thin dark quartzadularia bands and local- (Fig. 7). Both the Cibitung and Cikoneng shoots appear
ly grade to >10-20 g/t Au. Some of the later clay-rich on deposit scale to contain continuously mineralized
bands are also sulphide-rich and are associated with zones consistent with the shoot-scale nature of the
grades of >10 g/t Au. Relatively abundant visible gold (up deposit-controlling dilational jogs.
to 1-2 mm) was noted in dark kaolinite-sulphide-rich Syn- to post-mineral fault movement offsets mineral-
(especially chalcopyrite and sphalerite) bands in drill hole ization. Offset occurs along sub-vertical causative jog
AC-01/223224 m. structures cutting the Cikoneng and Cibitung shoots,
2e) Clay matrix breccia (~5 - 30 g/t Au) - occurs as and also along conjugate, sub-vertical NNW faults cut-
hydraulically emplaced breccias in which quartz-adularia ting the Cikoneng shoot at high-angles (Fig. 5).
vein clasts are set in a fine-grained clay (mainly smectite
5.1. Shoot geometry
or chloritic clay)-calcite-quartz-sulphide matrix. These
breccias consist of crackle, rotational, mosaic and flu- Cikoneng and Cibitung that host the currently defined
idized breccias that indicate progressively increasing resource occur as sub-vertical shoots within a NNW-strik-
degrees of fracturing, clast rotation and transportation. ing vein system of considerable width, i.e., <5 to 18 m,
These breccias are typically high grade, with the grade steeply dipping to the east (Fig. 7). The Cikoneng shoot is
increasing with the increase in matrix to clast ratios. In located at the northern end while the Cibitung shoot is at
later more clay-rich breccias, there is a progressive the southern end, about 400 m away (Figs. 4 and 7). Most
decrease in quartz content that is inferred to represent a of the gold is confined at +120 to 0 m RL at Cikoneng
decrease in the input of the up welling fluids and this is and at +120 to 140 m RL at Cibitung (Fig. 7). Silver
accompanied by a corresponding decrease in gold grades. generally increases at depth, reaching >80 g/t at +40 to 0
3) Post-mineral fault gouge (<1 - 10 g/t Au) - this cuts m RL at Cikoneng and 0 to 40 m RL at Cibitung.
many of the earlier vein stages as either sizeable gougy The widths for both shoots are almost the same.
highly fractured zones or clay (smectite)/pyrite-filled frac- Cikoneng is about 2 to 10 m wide while Cibitung is 1 to
tures extending into the adjacent mineralized veins. When 8 m wide. In terms of strike length, Cikoneng is 200 m
adjacent to a mineralized vein intercept, the fault gouge while Cibitung is 140 m long. Both shoots extends
may contain vein material, thereby termed fault-vein. down to >300 m and are still open at depth. Cibitung is
Locally, fault-veins can carry significant mineralization. relatively simple in geometry, i.e., one main shoot with
Although mostly post-mineral, fault-vein commonly no splays and splits. Cikoneng is more complex. It has
grades into smectite/chloritic clay-matrix dominated vein one main shoot at the central portion and splays to sev-
breccia and is therefore partly syn-mineral also. Faulting eral narrower sub-shoots to the north and south. The
along the edge and interior of the shoots is common, as main shoot also has several hanging wall splits (Fig.
would be expected because the mineralized structure 8A). The largest split is about 2-4 m wide and located at
facilitated transfer of fault movement across the jog. Section Lines 5120 - 5240mN.
The early stages 2a, 2b and 2c quartz veins display con- The two shoots, together with their peripheral vein
siderably longer lateral dimensions than the mineralized and stockwork zones define a known vein/stockwork
shoots (retrograde stages 2d, 2e and 3) contained within system with a minimum strike length of 1,300 m. North
vol. 52, no. 4, 2002 Cibaliung Epithermal Gold Deposit, Indonesia 335
Axi ot
s
Sho
Axiost
-200mRL
4490mN
5200mN
Sho
<3 30 to 50
HOLE LOCATION 3 to 10 50 to 100 0 100m
45.27 m g/t Au 10 to 30 > 100
Fig. 7 Cikoneng-Cibitung Connolly diagram (true width in meter Au grade at 3 g/t cut-off).
A
018
160mRL
DH_
AC-
CD
AC-020
AC-040
18A
AC--0
CD
160mRL
CD
DH_
--013
DH
00
_
01
42
AC
2
0
_0
DH
CD
CD
DH_
00
6
4. 0m 1167
99. 80mRL
.55m
19
9.2 0mRL
0m
25
1.8
0m
0mRL
80mRL
29
5.9
. 0m
0 m
6 .1
30
- 80mRL
160mRL
375
.30
m
0m 0 50m
1.0
(A) 0 50m 37
5m
(B) 400
.40m
?
Fig. 8 Geology and alteration of the representative cross-sections. (A) Cikoneng (5200mN) and (B) Cibitung (4490mN).
336 C. A. ANGELES, S. PRIHATMOKO and J. S. WALKER RESOURCE GEOLOGY :
of the Cikoneng shoot, the vein structure appears to sulphide/selenides and hessite are intergrown or host
split into several lower grade veins and pinch out at inclusions of electrum (APS, 2000c). Grain size ranges
depth. South of Cibitung, the vein flares into a zone of from <1 to up to 260 m, but generally average about
stockworking at surface consolidating into several gold- 25 to 50 m. It is finer grained, about 7-10 m, where it
poor fault/vein zones at depth. occurs as inclusions in sulphides and coarsest where it
Discontinuous gold-silver mineralization is also rec- overgrows sulphides and fills cavities in quartz-adularia
ognized in two other vein systems, the NE-striking bands. The mean gold fineness ranges from 422 to 670,
Cibeber and N-S-striking Melinjo, located about 600 m which is typical of epithermal deposits (Corlett, 2000;
WSW of Cibitung. They comprise several sub-parallel 1 APS, 2000c).
to 2 m wide veins with minimum strike lengths of 200 Silver occurs mainly as Ag sulphide/selenide and elec-
to 300 m. Both systems have been tested down to about trum and rarely as native silver, polybasite, hessite and
130 m below the surface. stromeyerite. Scout electron microprobe studies (S.
Williams, pers. com., 1997; APS, 2000b; Corlett, 2000)
5.2. Ore mineralogy
had shown that some if not most of the argentite (Ag2S)
5.2.1. Vein: Gold-silver mineralization associated with identified microscopically is actually aguilarite (Ag4SeS)
base metal-bearing sulphides is generally accompanied and naumannite (Ag2Se). Silver sulphide/selenides may
with the later hydrothermal stages 2d, 2e and 3. occur as intergrowths with chalcopyrite and sphalerite
Precious metal deposition is mainly associated with and rarely pyrite, polybasite and galena. Inclusions of
clay-rich bands where they alternate with late stage electrum in Ag sulphide/selenides are also common.
quartz-adularia bands. Gold and silver also occur in Native silver has been identified especially in the deep-
trace amounts in early quartz-adularia bands and er portions of the shoots where Ag grades are very high. It
extends into the late stage formation of clay-matrix is usually associated with galena and sphalerite.
breccias (Leach and Corlett, 2000). Polybasite [(Ag,Cu)6Sb2S11], a Ag sulphosalt, was noted
Sulphides generally comprise <1 vol % of the vein, together with chalcopyrite, tennantite-tetrahedrite and Ag
with pyrite as the earliest and most common species. sulphide/selenide in drill hole AC-01/222.44 m together
Besides pyrite, micron-sized arsenopyrite (S. Williams, with visible electrum (Leach and Corlett, 2000). Hessite
pers. com., 1997) and marcasite were noted (Leach and (Ag2Te) usually occurs as free grains, sometimes contain-
Corlett, 2000; S. Williams, pers. com., 1997). Very fine ing inclusions of electrum. Although they occur in close
grained sulphides, usually only tens of microns in diam- proximity, hessite has not been seen intergrown with chal-
eter, had been identified by ore microscopy and micro- copyrite, sphalerite and galena (APS, 2000c). Stromeye-
probe work to be a mixture of base metal sulphides rite (AgCuS) was noted also in drill hole AC-01/222.44
together with electrum and silver minerals (Leach and m. It is associated with late carbonate fill, locally inti-
Corlett, 2000; APS, 2000c). mately intergrown with aguilarite (Corlett, 2000).
The base metal sulphides are mainly chalcopyrite,
5.2.2. Wall rock: Pyrite is the only sulphide present in
sphalerite and galena, and minor to trace amounts of bor-
the wall rock lithologies. It occurs mainly as dissemina-
nite and tennantite-tetrahedrite. Sphalerite is generally
tions and rarely as fracture fills and stringers. It is abun-
iron-poor and may contain cadmium (to 2.2 wt%). Pyrite,
dant near to the veins and in smectite and illite domi-
chalcopyrite, bornite and sphalerite commonly host inclu-
nant alteration types at the hanging wall side, averaging
sions of electrum. Intergrowths of electrum have been
about 1 to 3 vol %. In chloritic to propylitic alteration,
noted with chalcopyrite, bornite and galena. Intergrowths
pyrite is less, about <1 to 1 vol %.
with Ag sulphide/selenides are noted also with galena,
bornite and sphalerite. Altaite (PbTe) is also suspected as 5.3. Gangue mineralogy
inclusions in bornite in drill hole AC-02/89.8 m.
5.3.1. Vein: The major vein mineral constituents are
Gold occurs mainly as electrum, with a close spatial
quartz and adularia, especially in the early hydrothermal
association with silver minerals (APS, 1999, 2000b,
stages. Minor amounts of carbonate are sometimes pre-
2000c; Leach and Corlett, 2000; Corlett, 2000). It occurs
sent, mainly as calcite and occasionally as rhodochrosite.
as free grains intergrown with clays and carbonate that, in
Rhodonite may also be present with rhodochrosite (Leach,
places, fill cavities in quartz-adularia bands; as inter-
2000). In both the later retrograde hydrothermal stages
growths and overgrowths on quartz-adularia; and as inclu-
and at the deeper portions of the vein system, clay (smec-
sions in, overgrowths on, and intergrowths with sulphide
tite, poorly crystalline chlorite, interlayered chlorite-smec-
minerals, especially in the clay-rich bands (Leach and
tite and illite-smectite), chlorite and carbonate are locally
Corlett, 2000). Most of the electrum occurs as over-
significant vein constituents. At Cibitung, paragonite was
growths or intergrowths with other sulphide minerals
detected in drill hole AC-07/244.6 m (Leach and Corlett,
while very little is free in clays or carbonates. Rarely, Ag
vol. 52, no. 4, 2002 Cibaliung Epithermal Gold Deposit, Indonesia 337
2000). The occurrence of 10.1 illite at 66.7 m in drill (Fig. 8A) and may also be in direct contact with the vein
hole CDDH-23 (at 50 m from the current surface) at zones (Fig. 8B). Due to insufficient petrographic work, it
Cibitung indicates a minimum of 200-250 m erosion is not clear how far laterally the chlorite+adularia zone
since mineralization (Leach and Corlett, 2000). extends away from the vein zone. This alteration zone is
There is no apparent zonation in clays at Cikoneng, quite extensive though, as all rocks at the drilled area are
with smectite and minor interlayered chlorite-smectite affected. This may be due to the permeable nature of the
being the only clay minerals detected, even over depth volcanic pile (APS, 1999). It is inferred that further away
intervals of 160 m. These clays indicate that precious from the smectite dominant and chlorite+adularia zones,
metal mineralization took place at temperatures of the alteration fades away as weakly developed chlorite-
lower than 150C and near neutral pH conditions (pH 5- calcite and then to unaltered rocks.
6) (Leach and Corlett, 2000). On the other hand, miner-
alization associated with illite and interlayered illite- 6. Supergene Alteration
smectite at the upper parts of Cibitung implies higher
mineralization temperatures of around 180-220C at Weathering associated with supergene oxidation is
slightly acidic conditions (pH~5). generally shallow, about several meters below the sur-
face. Within the vein zones, however, complete super-
5.3.2. Wall rock: Prior to epithermal vein mineraliza-
gene oxidation generally reaches down to 40 to 80 m
tion, weak thermal metamorphism to metasomatic alter-
deep. The base of partial oxidation is deeper in Cibitung
ation has affected the Honje volcanic pile due to the intru-
(>300 m) than in Cikoneng (~200 m).
sions of the andesite plugs and dykes (APS, 2000a). This
The major change in the depth of oxidation occurs at
is evidenced by petrography done on drill hole CDDH-
the southern end of the Cikoneng shoot (Micromine
48/123.3 m at Cibitung. The replacement assemblage
Consulting, 2001). The weathering profile follows the
comprising albite/K-feldspar-quartz-magnetite-garnet-epi-
surface topography until it crosses the fault zone where
dote-clinopyroxene is indicative of conductive heat trans-
it extends at depth following the structure. Clearly,
fer while an associated quartz-magnetite-albite-epidote
weathering has permeated to greater depths exploiting
vein mineralogy indicates a metasomatic component dur-
the fracture zones.
ing this stage of alteration.
The reason for Cibitung having deeper oxidation is
During the early hydrothermal stages (2a, 2b and 2c),
not yet clear. Possible explanations are that it is nearer
alteration of the wall rock lithologies is characterized by
to the main river or the fault zone is more intense com-
pervasive chlorite and adularia with variable minor
pared to Cikoneng, or a combination of both. There is
amounts of quartz and zoisite and/or epidote. Minor over-
not much change in the vein mineralogy during oxida-
prints of later smectite-illite and/or smectite are common
tion except for the replacement of the minor amounts of
including sporadic occurrence of laumontite (zeolite)
sulphides by limonite and concomitant leaching out of
calcite. From considerations of the crystallinity of the
the base metals and silver. There seems to be no major
illitic clay and the presence of zoisite and laumontite,
supergene re-mobilization and enrichment of gold in the
temperatures of hydrothermal alteration (and mineraliza-
oxidized portions of the mineralized veins.
tion) are considered to be in the order of 220 to 250C
(APS, 1999).
7. Discussion and Conclusions
During the later retrograde hydrothermal stages (2d,
2e and 3), pervasive smectite-dominant alteration over-
Gold-silver vein mineralization in Cibaliung is charac-
prints the chlorite+adularia alteration. This alteration
teristic of the low-sulphidation epithermal adularia-
type comprises variable amounts of smectite, interlay-
sericite type (Hayba et al., 1985; Bonham, 1986) or the
ered illite-smectite and chlorite-smectite, poorly crys-
epithermal quartz gold-silver vein style (Corbett and
talline chlorite, carbonate and rare occurrence of
Leach, 1998; Leach and Corlett, 2000). Just like all miner-
prehnite and anhydrite.
al deposits, however, Cibaliung has some subtle differ-
In terms of zonation, smectite dominant alteration
ences, which makes it unique. Firstly, the early extensive
forms an envelope around the vein zones. At Cikoneng
quartz-adularia-rich veins do not carry appreciable
(Fig. 8A), it is generally wide at near surface (~300 m at
amounts of precious metals, whereas precious metals
+160 m RL) and narrows down at depth (50 m at 80 m
associated with adularia-quartz stage has been reported
RL). At Cibitung (Fig. 8B), it is narrower and irregular in
from the Hishikari deposit (Izawa et al., 1990; Nagayama,
shape, i.e., <5 to 15 m at the hanging wall side and <10 to
1993; Hayashi et al., 2000; Etoh et al., 2002; Imai and
40 m at the footwall side. Away from the smectite domi-
Uto, 2002). It is the later relatively narrower clay-rich
nant zone, chlorite+adularia alteration predominates. It
veins and breccias that define the mineralized shoots.
also occurs as remnant patches within the smectitic zones
Secondly, the mineralized shoots are of considerably
338 C. A. ANGELES, S. PRIHATMOKO and J. S. WALKER RESOURCE GEOLOGY :
greater vertical than lateral extent, a feature not commonly non. This has to be due to the potassic nature of the up
found in epithermal vein deposits. The unusual geometry welling hydrothermal fluid (Leach, 2000). Rhyolite
is thought to result from the structural and hydrological intrusions and extrusions are common in the back arc
complexity in the formation of the veins. Lastly, the pres- setting of Sumatra and Java (Leach, 2000), and rhyolite
ence of selenides as the main silver minerals is also not domes crop out approximately 10km north of the
common. Cibaliung is not alone in this respect. Silver Cibaliung area (Prihatmoko, 2000). It is therefore spec-
selenides have been documented at similar deposits such ulated that the hydrothermal system at Cibaliung is
as Gunung Pongkor (Milesi et al., 1999) and Hishikari, related to rhyolitic magmatism at depth in back arc rift-
Japan (Izawa et al., 1990; Corlett, 2000). ing setting (Leach, 2000).
The probable age of the gold-silver vein mineraliza- It is postulated that the early quartz-adularia-calcite
tion at Cibaliung can be constrained to a narrow range. vein stages were deposited from a hot, up welling boiling
Since the veins formed during the hiatus between the fluid, whereas the later clay-sulphide-carbonate vein
folding/uplift of the Late Miocene Honje Formation and stages were deposited from the mixing of these upwelling
deposition of the Cibaliung Tuff (Marjoribanks, 2000), fluids with cool surficial waters. Gold-silver and base
the lower age limit of the mineralization is Late metal mineralization are not associated with the early
Miocene. The upper age limit is Quaternary since the quartz-adularia veins, in the similar way that the quartz-
Quaternary basalts are definitely post-mineral. A pre- adularia assemblages at Broadlands, New Zealand are vir-
liminary dating (40Ar/39Ar) of two hydrothermal alter- tually barren of mineralization (Leach and Corlett, 2000).
ation samples from drill holes AC-13 and AC-15 yielded It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the domi-
11 Ma (Agung Harijoko, written com., 2001). This con- nant mechanism for gold-silver and base metal sulphide
firmed that Cibaliung vein system has a significant age mineralization at Cibaliung is the mixing of up welling
difference to the ages of the mineral deposits in the Bayah metal-bearing solution with cool, relatively oxidized
Dome, e.g., 2.05 0.05 Ma for Gunung Pongkor (Milesi near-surface fluids (Leach, 2000; Leach and Corlett,
et al., 1999), and 2.5 0.6 to 1.5 0.01 Ma for Ciawitali, 2000). The strongly focused dilational structural envi-
Cirotan and Cipangleseran (Marcoux and Milesi, 1994). ronment is thought to have been the mechanism for
So far, the related igneous activity responsible for the focusing fluid flows, both up welling and descending,
gold-silver mineralization has not been identified. forming pipe-like mineralized bodies in the rhomboidal
Although the andesite intrusives and associated het- dilation zones.
erolithic milled matrix breccias are pre-mineral, some Based on hydrothermal clay species, it is interpreted
of the later fluidized breccias (i.e., hydrothermal stage that the temperatures of the gold-poor hydrothermal
1) are suspected to be precursors of epithermal vein sys- stages (2a, 2b and 2c) are in the order of 220 to 250C
tems (Leach, 2000). These breccias have been noted (APS, 1999), while those of the retrograde gold-rich
also at Pongkor (Milesi et al., 1999). Marjoribanks hydrothermal stages (2d, 2e and 3) took place under
(2000) inferred that the gold mineralization is associat- lower temperatures (<150 to 220C) at near neutral pH
ed with a volcanic intrusive center. The center, defined (5-6) conditions (Leach and Corlett, 2000). The miner-
by the 3 2 km annular potassium radiometric anomaly alization temperatures during the retrograde stages at
at the eastern edge of the vein system, is now largely Cibitung (~180-220C) are higher than Cikoneng
concealed below the Cibaliung Tuff. The center, if it (<150C), while the pH at Cibitung is slightly lower,
exists, formed during the hiatus between the i.e., from about pH 5 to pH 5-6 (Leach and Corlett,
folding/uplift of the Honje Formation and deposition of 2000). The inferred difference in mineralization temper-
the Cibaliung Tuff. atures is caused by different hydrological regimes rather
In other epithermal vein deposits of Java and South than any fault displacement between the two vein sys-
Sumatra, such as at Pongkor or Rawas, gold-bearing tems. The higher temperatures of mineralization at
quartz veins are associated with late normal faults which Cibitung may reflect closer proximity to the source of
cut the rim of circular cauldron-collapse structures mineralized fluids, or less significant input of surficial
(Marjoribanks, 2000; Milesi et al., 1999). Some other waters during mineralization.
indirect evidences of the volcanic intrusive center are the Although more laboratory data such as fluid inclusion
circular patterns interpreted from aerial photos and a and isotopic studies are required, the above models will
coincident positive potassium radiometric anomaly and certainly help future workers in vectoring towards the
aeromagnetic high. The NW-trending structural corridor high grade shoots within apparently barren quartz veins
through the area of gold mineralization may well have in the area. These models highlight that mineralization
been focussed by this volcanic intrusive center. in epithermal quartz Au-Ag systems is not uniform
The pervasive adularia replacement of the mafic to along the vein structures, and that mineralization is
intermediate rocks at the drilled area is a rare phenome- dependent on unique conditions to precipitate precious
vol. 52, no. 4, 2002 Cibaliung Epithermal Gold Deposit, Indonesia 339
metals from an up welling hydrothermal fluid (Leach, tion epithermal gold deposit, Japan. Resource Geol., 52,
2000). The absence of gold in an epithermal vein does 7378.
not necessarily indicate that the vein is uniformly absent Hayashi, K., Maruyama, T. and Satoh, H. (2000) Submillimeter
of mineralization throughout. scale variation of oxygen isotope of vein quartz at the
Hishikari Deposit, Japan. Resource Geol., 50, 141-150.
Acknowledgements: The authors express their apprecia-
Hayba, D. O., Bethke, P. M., Heald, P. and Foley, N. K.
tion to the management of Austindo Resources Corpora-
(1985) Geological, mineralogical and geochemical charac-
tion NL and International Antam Resources Ltd. for teristics of volcanic-hosted epithermal precious-metal
allowing us to publish this paper. We are indebted to all deposits. in Berger, B. R. and Bethke, P. M. (eds.)
the technical staffs who have helped in the data collec- Geology and Geochemistry of Epithermal Systems. Rev.
tion, discussions and interpretations. Econ. Geol., 2, 129-167.
Special mention is extended to Terry Leach, Roger Imai, A. and Uto, T. (2002) Association of electrum and calcite
Marjoribanks, Graeme Corlett and Anthony Coote, our and its significance to the genesis of the Hishikari gold
consultants who formed the core of the ideas presented deposits, southern Kyushu, Japan. Resource Geol., 52, 381-
in this paper. Constructive reviews by John Carlile, 394.
Terry Leach, Drew Henry and Colin Davies are also Izawa, E., Urashima, Y., Ibaraki, K., Suzuki, R., Yokoyama,
T., Kawasaki, K., Koga, A. and Taguchi, S. (1990) The
gratefully acknowledged.
Hishikari gold deposit: High-grade epithermal veins in
Quaternary volcanics of southern Kyushu, Japan. Jour.
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