Hydrothermal gold mineralization in the Witwatersrand basin

The origin of the gold mineralization in the Witwaterstrand basin of South Africa—the largest known gold province—has been controversial for decades, with arguments favouring detrital 1,2 (placer), modified placer 3,4 and hydrothermal 5,6 origins. Here we present the results of an extensive geologic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1997-04, Vol.386 (6627), p.820-824
Main Authors: Barnicoat, A. C., Henderson, I. H. C., Knipe, R. J., Yardley, B. W. D., Napier, R. W., Fox, N. P. C., Kenyon, A. K., Muntingh, D. J., Strydom, D., Winkler, K. S., Lawrence, S. R., Cornford, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Geology
Gold
High temperature
Humanities and Social Sciences
letter
Metal geology
Metallic and non-metallic deposits
Mineralization
multidisciplinary
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Stone
Temperature
Uranium
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Summary:The origin of the gold mineralization in the Witwaterstrand basin of South Africa—the largest known gold province—has been controversial for decades, with arguments favouring detrital 1,2 (placer), modified placer 3,4 and hydrothermal 5,6 origins. Here we present the results of an extensive geological study of Witwatersrand rocks which show that the gold (and associated uranium) mineralization is hydrothermal in origin and postdates a regional high-temperature alteration event. Alteration processes identified on a small scale can be mapped out regionally as roughly strata-bound zones of acid metasomatism extending far into the basin: the fluid flow responsible for this alteration was concentrated in small-scale structures localized along lithological boundaries. We find that the gold precipitated as a consequence of interactions of the fluid with shale-derived hydrocarbons present within the basin.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/386820a0