Chemical fingerprinting of hydrothermal zircons: An example from the Gidginbung high sulphidation Au-Ag-(Cu) deposit, New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Hydrothermal zircons occur as an integral component of the alteration and mineralization assemblage in the Gidginbung high sulphidation Au-Ag-(Cu) deposit in the Lachlan Fold Belt, Australia. Their hydrothermal origin is demonstrated by (1) their paragenetic relationships to ore and mineral assemblages within the orebodies, (2) the higher concentration of zircon within the orebody relative to that of the host rocks, (3) the presence of ore and alteration minerals as solid mineral inclusions within the zircons, (4) similar fluid inclusion compositions in these zircons and the associated ore and gangue minerals, and (5) their trace element composition and zonation as measured by the CSIRO-GEMO..