An analysis of gold mineralization in Norseman-Wiluna greenstone belt, Yilgarn carton, Australia

Located in Eastern gold ore fields terrane of Yilgarn block, Western Australia craton of Australia, the Norseman-Wiluna gold metallogenic belt is the most important gold concentration area in Australia. Three kinds of mineralization can be identified. The altered shear zone±quartz vein type is the most important mineralization type, and the Golden Mile deposit hosted in Golden Mile diorite is a typical example, whose mineralization mainly occurs in the sericite-pyrite alteration zone; the quartz vein stockwork type is typically exemplified by the Mount Charlotte deposit hosted in Golden Mile diorite, whose mineralization mainly occurs in the carbonate-pyrite alteration zone in the periphery of the silicic zone; the laminated quartz vein type is of stratabound characteristics with well developed chloritization. Based on geology and mineralization characteristics of the gold concentration areas and ore deposits, the authors hold that the Norseman-Wiluna gold metallogenic belt contains extensive hydrothermal alteration and its gold mineralization is mainly hosted in Fe-sulfide or arsenopyrite, with Archean greenstone belt, BIF, deep fracture and fold being essential to the distribution of gold deposits. The indicators for exploration are summarized in this paper, and some suggestions for exploration are also put forward.