TEHTURRL ZONING

IN
EP ITHERMRL QURRTZ UE I NS

Gregg Morrison, Dong Guoyi, Subhash Jaireth

KLONDIKE
ExPLORATION SERVICES
 TEHTURnL ZON I Nil
IN
EP-ITHERMnL QUnRTZ UE I NS

Gregg Morrison, Dong Guoyi, Sub hash Jaireth

KLONDIKE
EXPLORATION SERVICES
 © Klondike Exploration Services

This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research
criticism or review, as permitted under the copyri ght Act. no part may be reproduced by any
process without written pemlission,

ISBN 0 646 24142 7

General enquiries and purchase requirements should be addressed to:

Klon dike Explorati on Services
7 Mary St
TOWNSVILLE QLD 48] 0
AUSTRALIA

Telephone: (077) 21 5793

Facsimile: (077) 21 2003
 T ABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No

INTRODUCTIOl\

CLASSIFICATIOl\ OF QUARTZ TEXruRES 2

THE ORIGfN OF SOME QUARTZ TEXTURES 5

Primary growth textures 6
Recrystallisation textures 6
Replacement textures 7

OTHER MINERALS 8

THE TEXruRE ZONING MODEL 9

ORIGIN OF TEXTURAL ZONES 12

Boiling zone 14
Mixing zone 15
Recrystallisalion and replacement 16

DISTRIB UTIOK OF GOLD GRADE 17

APPLICAI3ILITY OF THE ZONiNG MODEL 18

REFERENCES 18

PLATES 21

INTRODUCTION
Most recent exploration of epith ermal
veins has utilised the analogy with
geothermal systems to interpret fluid
conditions and position within the system
(e.g. Henley & Ellis, 1983). In particular,
laboratory studies on samples of wallrock
have bee n used to identify alterat ion
mineral assemblages which have then
been compared with assemblages in active
geothermal systems (e.g. Leach, 1987).
The difficulty with this approach is that
the field geologist cannot readily identify
many of the critical minerals so that there
is a time la g between mapping or core
logging and interpretation of the alteration
mineral ogy. Our experience with
exploration of a wide range of vein types
in north Queensland is that the textures of
vein quartz offer the field geologist not
on ly a rapid reconnai ssance too l to
evaluate the character of minerali sing
environments but also a means of
iden tifying mineralised locii within vein
systems (Dowling & Morrison, 1990).
Recent reconnaIssance, coupled with
detailed work on selected occurrences
suggests there is a consistent suite of
textures that characterise many epithennal
veins. Fonnal definition of these textures
provides a frame of reference for the
systematic description of samples .
Petrologic work has allowed
interpretation of the origin of many of the
textures and the definition of genetic
groups within the classification.
1
In simple veInS there is a consistent
pattern of distribu tion of textures and
consistent assemblages of textures that
can be used to define a vertical textural
zoning model. Such a model can be
rat ionalised in terms of fluid evolution in
boiling geothermal systems and hence
directly compared with the model of
Buchanan (1981) to define position
within the system and the most likely
locus of gold. In addition, an empirical
evaluation has been made of a number of
systems with significant assay data to
determine which textural assemblages
most commonly have significan t gold
grades. In mineralised simple veins th ere
are specific textural assemblages that
carry grade. [n complex multi phase
systems, ore shoots may contain several
textural assemblages that are distinct from
the assemblages in the adjacent barren
lode and have their own internal zoning
pattern . Thus the quartz model should be
capable of detennining vertical position
within a boiling epithennal vein system
and pred icting the loc us of gold
mineralisation.
In practice, development of a textural
zontng model for a prospect requires
careful and systematic observations on
broken surface material, drill core or
chips. While recognition of all tex tural
types present is important, the relative
abundance of textural types and their
tim in g relationships are essential to
establishing textural assemblages. The
textural assemblage concept is the same as
tr.at for metamorphic facies or alteration
2
mineral as semblages. While individual
samples can be assigned to a textural zone
based on their textural assemblage the
boundaries between zones are gradational
o r overlapping so that j udgement is
requ ired in defining zones th at will
distinguish intervals of different origin or
gold grade.
The purpose of this guide is to provide an
illustrated reference to the common
textures in epi thermal veins, to provide a
scale model for the distribution of textural
assemblages within an idealised vein and
to iden ti fy the textures and tc.xtural zones
tha t most commonly host gold
mineralisation.
CLASSIFICATION OF QUARTZ
TEXTURES
The classification of epi thermal quartz
tex tures has been developed from a
r eview of textures described in the
literature and from an evaluation of our
sample collections. The textures described
are thos e readily identifie d in hand-
specimen M any also have distin ctive
features in thin -section which have been
incorporated in th e definitio n where
appropriate (Ta ble I). The basis of the
descriptive classification is the nature of
crystal aggregates but the tex tures have
been grouped into three major classes to
aid interpreta tion of th eir origin and
environment of formation Crable 1, Pl ates
1-22). Primary growth textures represent
initial op en-space vein fill. There is a
natural subdi vision of the Primary growth
textures into those ch arac teristic of
cryptocrystalline qu artz (ma ss ive
chalcedonic, banded chalcedonic and
conoform) and tho se ch aracteristic of
crystalline quartz (saccharoidal, comb,
zoned crystals). The members of these
textural groups commonly occur together
and in some cases there arc gradations
from o ne texture to anoth er.
Recrystallisation textures reflect the
transformation of amorphous silica or
chalcedony to quartz. They are most
comm only assoc iated with crypto-
crystalline quartz textures and may partly
obscure them where rccrystall isation is
extensive. Rep lacement textures represent
partial or comp lete pseudomorphs of
other minerals by si lica minerals wi thi n
veins.
The form of individual grains rather than
aggregates ca n also be a usefu l
classificati on tool. Within an epithermal
vein there is a complete gradation from
amorphous silica to cryptocrystalline to
crystalline qu artz wi th a variety of crystal
habits Cfable 2). Some textural classes
such as mass ive ch alcedo nic or
saccharoidal are defined as consisting of
only one grai n form. Other textural
cl asses, particul arly crustiform texture,
have combinations of grain forms. For
th ese textures, estimates of the relative
proportions of different grain forms are a
useful guide to pos ition within a textural
zone. The overall progression is to more
crystalline quartz and to more equ ant
crystals with depth.
 3
TABLE 1: CLASSTFlCATION OF QUARTZ TE}""TURES

PRIMARY GROWTH TEXTURES

CI-~EOONIC
Cryptocrystanine quartz with a waxy lustre and commonly a fib rous microscopic habit.
Mas sive chaleedonie (plates 1, 2)
A uniform dense aggregate of cryptocrystalline quartz.
Banded chaleedonie (agate) (plates 3,4)
Cryptocrystanine quartz characterised by colour hands with an irregular cloudy form.

SACC][AROIDAL (plates 5, 6)
Vitreous to milky massive granular aggregate hav ing the appearance of sligar in hand specimen. Uniform or
variable crystal size often wilh finer grained cures to ovoid suoaggrcgates.

COMB (plate 7)
Groups of parallel or subparallel crystals oriented perpendicular to vein wans thus resembling the teeth of a
eomb. Normally crystals have euhedral terminations at their free ends.

ZOl'."ED CR YSTALS (Plate 8)

Grou ps or bands of crystals where individual crystals have alternating clear and milky zones. Milky zones arc
usually crowded with fluid or solid inclusions.

COLLOFORM (plates 9, 1 I)
Fine rhythmic hands each with a kidn ey -like surface and commonly radiating internal form (i .e . reniform
habit). Typical of chalcedony in crustiform hands.

CRUSTIFORM (Plates 10,11)

SLlcccssivc bands oriented parallel to vein walls and defined by differences in mineralogy, texture or colour.
Cockade (Plate 12)
Com.:entric crustiform bands surrounding isolated rock fragmcnL"i.

RECRYSTALLlSA TIO:l/ TEXTURES

MOSS (Plates 13, 14)
fine botryoidal (grape-like) aggregates wi th a massive irregular form sim ilar to moss vegetation. In thin
section individual spheres typically have a cryptocrystalline core and a crystalline rim . In the core, impurities
or fluid inclusions define a concentric or radiating pattern and in the rim the extinction is radiating .

MICROPLUMOSE (Plate 15)

A splintery or feath ery appearance within individual quartz crystals seen only as differences in maximum
extinction position when viewed under the microscope with crossed nicols.

REPLACEMENT TEXTURES
MOLD (Plates 16, 23, 24)
The impression left by the dissolution or partial replacement of a soluhle phase within a quartz vein. Typical
of carbonmes, sulfates or adularia.

BLADED
Crystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz aggregates arranged in a bladed or platy form. Three sUhtypes arc
defined by the morphology of the bladed agg rega te.
Lallice-bladed (Plates 17, 18)
A network of intersecting blades with polyhedral cavities partly or totally filled with quartz crystals . In
thin section each blade consists of aggregates which arc usuall y arranged along a set of parallel or
subparallel planes.
Ghost-bladed (Plates 19, 20).
B1adcs arc dispersed randomly within a granular aggregate and arc differentiated from the matrix by the
grain size of the included quartz and/or by outlines of impuri ties.
Parallel-bladed (plates 21, 22)
Blades are parallel within a group hut adjacent groups may have different orientation s thus giving an
overall granular pattern in handspccimen.
4

TABLE 2: fORMS OF SlLICA AND QUARTZ

AMORPHOUS SILICA
Silica that lacks crystalline structure or a characteristic external fonn .

CRYPTOCRYSTALLIT{E
Crystals that arc too small to be distinguished under the ordinary microscope

NEEDLE
Needle shaped or acicular crystals with a c-axis to a-axis ratio greater than 10: 1.

PRISMATIC
Crystals with one dimension markedly longer than the other two.

Long Prism: crystal with a c-axis to a-axis ratio of 5 to 10: 1

Nonnal Prism: (.Tystal with a c-axis to a-axis ratio of 2 to 5: 1
Squat Prism: crystal with c-axis to a-axis ratio less than 2 to I

EQUANT
Crystal s with the same or nearly the same diameter in all directions.
All axial ratios less than 1.5: 1

For the purpose of the classification, only
textures within veins have been
considered. Altered, particularly silicified
wallrock which is a common consitituent
of many epithermal lodes docs not exhibit
a range of textures useful for classi-
fic atio n and so is treated as part of
wallrock alteration. Breccias which are
common in both lodes and vcins, nced
also to be trcatcd separately. Tcctonic
breccias dominatcd by wallrock fragments
and variably overprinted by hydrothermal
alteration ca nnot be evaluated from the
point of view of quartz textures. How-
ever, hydrothermal brecci as developed
within veins or by overprinting of
existing veins do commonly have infil!
quartz textures that can be compared with
the classification. In dcsignating tcxtures
or textural assemhl ages in breccias a
dist inction is madc between clasts and
matrix, and symbols are added to
designate areas within lodes or veins
where breccias are prcsent. The clast and
matrix textural assemblages can normally
be compared with those in the host vein
so that the degree of clast movement and
the timing of hydrothern1al brecciation can
be evaluated.
THE ORIGIN OF SOME QUARTZ
TEXTURES
The origin of quartz textures can panly be
explained by interpretation of th e
behaviour of quartz, chalcedony and
amorphous silica in hydrothermal
solutions. As summarised by Fournier
5
(l985a), quartz is the most stable form of
silica in hydrothermal systems. Faceted
quartz crystals gene rall y grow in
solutions which are slightly sup er-
saturated with respect to quanz, indicating
relatively slowly changing conditions.
Where quartz preci pitates in open space
direc tl y from hydrothermal solution, it
exhibits crystal faces and locally with
growth zones of inclusions and all c-axes
of quartz arc roughly perpendicular to thc
surface upon which growth initially
occurred.
Chalcedony may form either by direct
precipitation from hydrothermal solution
or by tran sformation of amorphou s silica
to crystalline material. Intermediate silica
supersaturation with respect to quartz is
required for chalcedony to precipitate
directly from solution, and it appears to
form and persist only at temperatures
below about I80 a C.
Th e dep ositio n of amorph ous silica
requires a high degree of silica
supersaturation with respect to quartz. In
detail, where the degree of silica
supersaturation in respect to amorphous
silica reaches a factor of about 2.5,
homogeneous nucleation is likely to occur
throughout a solut ion (Weres el al.,
1982). Silica polymers grow past critical
nucleus size, and finally coagulate or
flocculate, producing gelatinou s material
which later is transformed to amorphous
silica. The amorphous silica which
formed through this procedure usually
3
contains a large amount of water and
sometimes exhibits spheroidal ge l
structure. If degrees of supersaturation
are not great enough to allow the
formation of colloidal particles, the
deposition of amorphous silica takes place
directly on pre-existing solid surfaces
from aqueous solutions. The rcsulting
material is dense, vitreous silica which
contains much less water than that initially
deposited from gelatinous material.
Primary growth textures
Massive cha kedonic texture forms under
conditi ons of intermediate si lica super-
saturation with respect to quartz. Low
temperature (below about 180°C) during
and after deposition is responsible for the
low cryst allinity maintained in this
texture.
A gate (fibrous banded chalcedonic quartz)
is formed by crystallisation from an
initially uniform lump of silica gel when
differentiation (or self-organisation) is
well developed during the crystallisation.
At low temperatures, because of the
extreme slowness of nucleation rates of
silica min erals, high degrees of silica
supersaturation can be maintained in the
solution for quite long periods of time.
Th is favours the deve lopment of
oscillatory differentiation of gelatin ous
material, forming agate banding.
Comb texture is typically formed in open
space from a hydrothermal solution which
is slightly supersaturated with respect to
quartz, but undersaturated with respect to
chalcedony (Fournier, 1985a). This slight
silica supersaturation is possibly brou ght
about by slow cooling of the system and
uniform growth from multiple nucleii
along a vein wall.
Zoned cryst als imply mildly fluctuating
environments during crystal growth
marked by zones of fluid and/or solid
inclusions in the crystal.
Colloform texture in chalcedonic quartz is
inhe rited from original silica gel. The
strong surface tension of the silica gel is
responsible for the rounded or kidney-like
external surface.
Crustiform texture is so common that it is
co nsidered a diagnostic feature of
epithermal veins (Buchanan, 1981 ).
Repetitive ban ds of different composition
or texture reflect fluctuating concen-
trations of elements in solution and
fluctuating fluid conditions durin g
precipitation. These fluctuations are
commonly ascribed to period ic boiling of
the hydrothermal fl uid.
Recrystallisation textures
All silica minerals except quartz are
metastable. After deposition, they have a
tendency to transform to quartz. The size
and general appearance of qUartz formed
after amorphous silica or chalcedony
depends upon many factors including the

nucleation mechanism, initial water
content of amorphous silica, temperature,
and composition of the pore so lution.
Time, high temperature, high pH, high
salinity and the presence of dissolved Mg
have all been found to favour the
transformation of amorphous silica to
chalcedony or quartz (Fournier, 1985a).
Amorphous silica that is deposited at
depth is likely to convert relatively rapidly
to chalcedony or quartz , owing to high
temperature.
M os s texture preserves an original
spheroidal ge l texture during re-
cry sta llisati on to chalcedony or qu artz.
The sp heroidal gel structure may be
formed either by rhythmic deposition of
si lica gel around a nucleus such as a
foreign particle, or an early silica particle,
or by secondary di ffu sion durin g drying
of water-rich gelatinous materi al. Very
high degrees of silica supersaturation,
which lead to the formation of highly
viscous gelatinous material, and relatively
hi gh temperatures, which favour re-
crystallisation, are required for the
formation of moss texture.
\1icroplumose texture has been noted by
Adams (1920), who called it "feathered"
or "fl amboyant", and considered it to be
restricted to surficial environments.
Sander er al. (1988) illustrated samples
from some epithermal veins, which show
plumose extinction in the rim o f comb
quartz with a clear euhedral core. They
sugg es t this texture could result from
7
ei ther; recrystallisation of chalcedony or
amorphous silica which formed a coating
on euhedral quartz; or by accumulation of
domains of quartz crystallites which grew
individually in open space before being
coated. Th e first point (recrystallisation)
perhaps is also applicable to thos e
samples which show well developed
plumose extinction throughout quartz
crystals and scattered randomly within
granu lar quartz aggregates. In this case,
micro-plumose texture perhaps represents
either an inrerme dia te stage of
recrystallisation or the product of
imperfect recrystallisation.
Replacement textures
From the comparison of morphological
features between quartz and possible
primary minerals (like carbonate, sulfate,
etc.) we suggest that most lattice bladed
texture results from replacement of bladed
carbonate by quartz. The extreme thinness
of blades, lamellar partings, rhom-
bohedral cleavage and wedge-like
termination are characteristics of primary
braded carbonate. The transformation
appears to involve overgrowth of the
blade by fine comb-like quartz grains as
well as comb-like growth along lamellar
partings within the blade, presumably
during its dissolution (Plate 18).
In ghost-bladed texture the blade form is
on ly defined by concentrations of
impurities retained from the original
mineral during replacement by quartz
8
(Plate 19). The replacing quartz 1S
granular and interlocking and not
influenced in grain form or distribution by
the original bladed texture (Plate 20).
Parallel bladed texture, could result from
replacement of granular calcite by quartz
along repeated lamellar parting planes.
The lamellar parting, which is parallel to
the basal pinacoid of carbonate crystals, is
thc most prominant of all morphologic
features of carbonate in epithermal
environments. Replacement proceeds
along these planes more easily than along
rhombohedral cleavage planes, as noted
by Adams (1920). This selective
replacement yields a set of parallel
structures within bladed pseudomorphs
which are displayed under the microscope
either by different grain size of quartz, by
preferred orientation· of quartz grains or
by different contents of impurities (Plate
22). The orientation of cleavage planes of
individual blades is the same within each
group, which indicates that each group
represents a single carbonate crystal.
OTHER MINERALS
Minerals other than quartz are common in
epithermal veins. Their distribution and
their textures are a useful aid to the
interpretation of textural zones 10
epithermal veins.
Adularia is a variety of K-feldspar with a
weakly triclinic crystal structure and a
pseudo-orthorhombic crystal form. It is
most common in epithermal veins as
white or pink rhombic crystals lining
comb quartz veins or in crustiform bands
(Plates 25, 34). It has also been observed
as moss aggregates associated with moss
quartz and chalcedony in crustiform
bands (Plate 32) and as aggregates of
needles forming discrete crustiform bands
(Plate 23). In many examples, the
adularia is variably replaced by kaolinite
or quartz.
Amethyst is a transparent to translucent
purple to pale violet variety of crystalline
quartz. Its colour is generally interpreted
to result from the presence of Fe. It is
common in epithermal veins, particularly
in crustiform bands where carbonate is
present and in bladed replacement of
carbonate (Plate 19). However, it is not
consistently part of or limited to these
associations and hence has not been a
very useful guide to textural zones.
Carbonate minerals are common in
epithermal veins and exhibit a wide range
of compositions and textures that can be
used to interpret textural zones. In
addition, most carbonate minerals may be
dissolved and replaced by quartz under
epithermal conditions so that there is also
a range of quartz replacement textures that
aid interpretation of textural zones. Some
other relatively soluble minerals such as
sulfates, fluorides and zeolites also occur
in epithermal veins and they also exhibit a
range of primary and replacement
textures. However, they are not common

enough for their full textural variation to
be described.
for carbonates, crystalline and granular
aggregates, bladed aggregates (Plate 28)
and moss aggregates are most common .
Crystalline c arbonate forms massive
zones associated with chalcedony in some
veins. It is commonly replaced by parallel
bladed quartz. More discrete crystals may
be dispersed through chalcedony (Plate
16) or grow in crustiform ba nds or
cavities associated with crystalline quartz
(Plate 36). Bladed carbonate occurs on its
own (Plate 28) in association with
massive cha lcedo nic quartz where it is
variably replaced by quartz (Plates 17,
18, 29) or in crustiform bands where it is
also variably replaced (Plates 19, 20).
Fine granular and moss carbonate is
associated with moss quartz 1n
crustiform~colloform bands.
S u lfid e minerals define a distin ct
mineralo gical and chemical zon ing pattern
that is an integral pan o f Buchanan's
epithermal vein model (Fig. 1) At hand
sp ecimen scale there are on ly general
textural vari ations. Fine grains of
disseminated pyrite occur in samples with
massive chalcedonic, bladed and moss~
saccharoidal quartz. Delicate bands and
patches of very fine grained sulfides,
sulfosa lts and selenides arc associated
with coll oform-crustiform banded quart z
(Plate 26, 32, 34). Discrete, euhcdral
grains of simple sulfides (Pyrite,
arsen opyrite, chalcopyrite, sph alerite ,
9
galena) are most co mmonly ass ociated
with crystalline quartz in massive or
crustiform ag),'Tegates (Plate 27)
TilE TEXTURE ZONING MODEL
A systematic evaluation of the vertical and
horizontal distribution of textures within a
number of epi thermal veins has led to the
devclopment of a textural model (Fig. I).
Seven textural zones have been defined
from th e recognition of textural
assemblages and these have been b'TOuped
into three superzones. The superzones
represent fundamental changes in
predominant textures whereas the zones
within each superzone are defined by
changes in su bsid iary minerals or the
relative proportions of textural types . No
texture is necessarily excluded from any
of the zones but the zones are named for
the predominant textures.
Th e Cha lcedonic Supcrzo ne (CB) is
dominated by chalccdonic quartz. The
three zones within it are defined by the
relative proporti o ns of associated
carbonate or bladed pseudomorphs after
carbonate. The uppcrmost or Ca rbo nate
Zon e has not often been observed and
may be obscure in outcrop because of
weathering of carbonate. Th e zone
con sists of massive crystalline or granular
carbon ate with bands or masses of
chalcedony. Weathering pits or mold s
after carbonate crystals may be present
(Plate Hi) in the chalcedony and may
include some parallel bladed quartz
 a

o [ 00 Empty (CJ~)'s)

Rc.n; gold
USll~lIy
PYlltc
III
\ 7.c:olitc'i, Calrite
CI .. ys (Ag~te)
Calcitr:
CR YSTALLINE CARBO:-.lATJ: (± agate ± par;dkl bladed ± molds)

LAlTICE BlAl)ED -I BlADED CARBO:'-';ATE (± agate± amethyst)

100
\ Zeolites
Ag," CII
/ Subnite
Realgar
\ PR /
Gold in pYlitc
Ag-sulfosalts
Qnmz
MASSIVE CHALCEDONIC (± lattice bladed ± mosS±agate)

Calcitr:
200 \ / Pyrite
(Dar, H) MOSS + ClfAlCH){):--'lC > C:RYSTAI.L~·E (± lattice bladed
200 Pyrargyrite
Proustite ± sulfide bands ± moss adularia)

\ / Argentite
Elcc1:mm
cc

\ AD
/ PREC:JOUS METAl.
QmIT?
Adlliaria
Sericite
CR YSTALLIKE > MOSS + CHALCEDON!C (± needle ;ldularia
i - sulfide bar.ds}_ disseminated s!llfides)
L"lTERVAI. A'Em,_"
1O0 l'Ylite
Liectnlln
(Cal, ChI, Fl)
l
400
\
DOlLING lEVEL

\
\
I
BASEMETAI.
ThtrERVAL
1
1 G,"",
Sphalerite
Chalcopyrite
Argr:ntite
Qu:utz
J'1uorite
Pyrite

PynhOlite
Pyrite
Arsenopyritc
x
i Cmmm> "".n "om_ '.,"U~ "~"CM"

250 CRYSTALLLNE QUART/. + CARBONAl1:: (crustiform)

500
I
DEVIl I T("c) Fig_!: Scale m{xlel for zoning of textures, alteration, ore and gangue mim:ralogy in a typical ooiling zone cpnhcrmal VCln_ Based on the model of
1M) Buchanan (1981) with temperature reflecting the level for boiling under hydrostatic conditions of a fluid containing 2.84% NaCL Alteration
zoncs PR = propylitic; SI = Silica; AD = Adularia; ILL = Illite; SER = Sericite; eEL = Celadonite; AI. c_ Alunite-kaolinite pyrite. Sec Buchanan
(1981) f or details.(?'1pitallettcrs in texture column refer to super zones: CH = ChaJcedonic; CC Crustifonn-Collofonn; X = Crystallinc

formed by primary or second ary
replacement of the carbonate. The overall
texture is massive to crudely banded.
The Bladed Zone grades from the
Carbonate Zone by an increase in the
relative proportion of bladed to massive
carbonate and associated pseudomorphs.
The most common form is massive
chalcedonic quartz with patches or crude
bands of lattice-blades (Plate 29). Clear
crystalline quartz or amethyst may be
present be tween blades (Plate 29).
Toward the Carbonate Zone bladed
carbonate, molds after bladed carbonate
or part ially replaced blades may occur.
Toward the Massive Chalcedonic zone the
proportion of lattice blades to chalcedony
decreases and the blades are generally
smaller and more confined to bands.
In the Massive Chalcedonic zone
chalcedony dominates. In handspecimen
the chalced ony appears massive but on
polished surfaces an irregular swirling or
crudely banded character is defined by
colour ch anges (Plate 30). In the upper
part of the zone some of the bands may be
laniee bladed. In the lower part of the
zone banding may be more reg ular and
hence more like agate. Elsewhere the
chalcedony may have moss texture in
patches.
The Crusti form ·Colloform Super70ne
(CC) is marked by the development of
consistent banding. Th ere is a wide range
of textures and minerals within the
11
Superzone but they are almost entirely
disposed within bands. The Superzone is
somewhat arbitarily divided into two
zones based on the relative proportions of
bands with chalcedonic and moss textures
as opposed to crystalline (saccharoid al,
comb and zoned crystal) textures. The
upper zone has chalcedonic and moss
bands dominant over crystalline bands
and has associated moss adularia, bladed
carbo nate, lattice blades and fine grained
banded sulfides (Plate 31, 32). Colloform
banding is ben er developed in this zone
because of the abundance of chalcedony.
The lower zone has crystall ine ban ds
dominant over chalcedonic and moss
bands and has associated needle
crystalline adularia and disseminated
crystalline sulfides as well as sulfide
band s (Plates 33, 34). Within th e
Crustiforrn-Colloforrn Superzone there is
not only a change from dominan t
chalcedonic to dominant crystalline quartz
but also a ch ange in dominant qu artz
crystal form from saccharoidal to zoned
crystals to clear comb (prismatic) crystal s
going downward.
The Crv s tall i ne Superzone IS
characterised by the association of
crystalline quartz with crystalline adularia,
sulfides and carbonate. Chalcedonic,
colloform, moss and bladed textures are
virtually absen t, but crustiform bands are
common. The crystalline quartz is
dominantly clear and pri smatic but zoned
crystals and saccharoidal quartz are
present loc ally. Within the Superzone
12
there is a general decrease in the
proponions of sulfides and adularia and
increase in the proponion of crystalline
carbonate interstitial to crystalline quanz
going downward. The break to dominant
interstitial carbonate is used to distinguish
the crvstalline quartz + adularia + sulfide
and c[ystalline quartz +carbonate zones.
The textural model (Fig. I) can be
compared with the alteration, ore and
gangue zoning model proposed by
Buchanan (198 1). Empirically there is
good comparison between the general
sequence of minerals and textures and this
allows cross-checking when trying to
establish vertical position within a
system. Most occurrences represent only
a portion of the idealised model and most
well mineralised occurrences have
addi tional complexities related to
brecciation and multiphase overprint.
In using the overall model the first step is
to establish a spatial and paragenetic
zoning sequence for the depo sit being
evaluated. Where good vertical exposure
or drill information is available a vertical
sca le can be assigned to the zones and
compared with the scale assigned by
Buchanan (Fig. I ). The scale calculated
by Buchanan (198 I) assumes boiling of a
fluid with an in iti al 2.84 weight per cent
NaCI. This is an average for the deposits
for which Buchanan compiled data and
hence is a sensible but arbitary reference.
In evaluating occurrences the scale can be
adjusted to reflect the actual position of
known zones , or adjusted using the
equation provided by Buchanan (198\)
where fluid inc lusio n data allows
interpretation of salinity for the
occurrence.
In most well mineralised occurrences,
particularly bonanza veins, ore is
developed in discrete shoots within lower
grade or barren veins or lodes. From
experience to date, ore shoo ts are
characterised by assemblages of texture
that distinguish them from th e adjacent
veins. The ore shoots tend to be
dominated by textures from the
Crustiform-Colloform Superzone and
often contain breccias with clasts and
matrix whose textures also represent this
Superzon e. The adjacent ve in may
represent any of the textural zones but is
generally limited in terms of the number
of zones present and the range of textures
within each zone. Many barren lodes also
consist of variab ly silicified and
brecciated wallrock and this needs to be
distinguished from chalcedonic or other
vein quartz before a textural evaluation is
attempted.
ORIGIN OF TEXTURAL ZONES
The Buchanan model (Fig. I) is scaled as
a single pass boi ling system and the
zoning patterns are interpreted in terms of
the behaviour of fluid undergoing boiling.
Similarly the textural model can be
interpreted in relation to boiling. The
Crystalline Superzone r epresent the

portion of the model below the level
where boiling takes place. The Crusti-
form-Colloform Superzone represents the
two phase or boiling interval and the
Chalcedonic Superzone represents the
interval in which steam derived from the
boiling interval condenses or mixes with
the local groundwater.
The zoning of quartz (and calcite) textures
in general should depend on the solubility
of and the kinetics of dissolution and
preci pit ation of various forms of silica
and calcite. Although there is en ough
information on the solubility of silica and
calcite in hydrothermal fluids (Fournier,
1985a) there are very limited data on the
kinetics of dissol ution and precipitation of
these minerals (Rimstidt & Barnes, 1980;
Brady & Walther, 1990; Dove & Crerar,
1990; Morse, 1983).
Experimentally determined solubi lities of
common silica minerals in pure water at
vapor press ure increases with tem-
perature. At each temperature amorphous
silica is more soluble than chalcedony and
chalcedony more than quartz (Fournier,
1985a). At 25°C increased pressure has
little effect on the solubility of silica but at
higher temperatures (>300°C) the
solubi lity rapidly increases with pressure.
Below 300°C most dissolved salts except
Na2S04 cause a sligh t decrease in the
solu bility of amorphous silica. Addition
of l'\a2S 04 increases the solubility
apparently through the formation of silica-
sulfate complexes (Fournier, 1895a).
Above 300°C the solubility of quartz is
13
known to increase with increase in the
salinity of fluids (Fournier, 1985a). As
II4Si04 remains the dominant form of
dissolved silica in acidic to neutral fluids,
the solubility remains independent of
changes in pH. Observations based on the
geothermal fluids have shown that at
temperatures> 200°C quartz controls the
silica saturation in fluids. Chalcedony
which has higher solubility than quartz,
starts con trolling the silica-saturation at
lower temperatures (Fournier, 1985a).
Thus dep os ition of amorphous si lica,
which is a common precipitate in these
environments, requires high levels of
silica-supersaturation with respect to
quartz. This can be achieved under
specific conditions in the epithermal
environment.
Tn contrast to silica, the solubility of
calcite (and other carbonates) is a function
of not only T, P but also of the solubil ity
of C02 in the fluids and partial pressure
of C02. At temperatures >175°C Henry's
law constant (KH ; Ratio of fugacity of
C02 and the mole fraction of C02 in the
fluid) increases with fall in temperature
indicating that on cooling C02 partitions
in favour of the gaseous phase. Below
175°C, KH falls with falling temperature
thereby reversing the trend and C02 starts
favouring the fluid phase (Ellis &
Golding, 1963). The experimentally
determined solubility of calcite decreases
with increase in temperature (retrograde
solubility) and increases with isothermal
increase in the salinity and partial pressure
of C02 (Ellis, 1959; 1963). At a fixed
14
temperature the solubility of calcite in a
fluid in equilibrium with its vapour phase
increases with increase in the partial
prcssure of C02 until me02 ~ 1 molelkg
(Segnit et ai., 1962). At a fixed total
pressure, an isothermal increase in the
conc entration of C02 increases the
solubility of calcite until me 0 2 ~ 1
mole/kg and decreases at higher
concentrations of C02 (Sharp & upwards is not expected to change much
Kennedy, 1965). These studies show that
loss of C02 and dilution are the main
factors controlling deposition of calcite,
whereas cooling of fluids makes the
fl uids undersaturated with respect to
calcite causing dissolution of earlier
precipitated calcite.
Boiling zone
Typical epithennal fluid is a C02~bca ring,
pH~neutral fluid with an average salinity
of < 1 wt % eq NaCl (Hedcnquist &
Henley, 1985). Such a fluid, while
moving upwards along the channel way,
undergoes reversible expansion and at
some point, when. the vapour pressure of
the fluid exceeds the hydrostatic pressure,
starts boiling (irreversible adiabatic
expansion). Along the channelway,
dcpe ndin g on the shapes of the
channel way (constrictions and bulges) the
fluid can undergo les s vigorous
irreversible expansion known as throttling
(Barton & Toulmin, 1(63). The depth at
which th e ascending fluid undergoes
boiling depends on the temperature,
salinity and the concentration of dissolved
gases. Pure water at 250°C will start
boiling at a hydrostatic depth of 460 m
whereas 10 wt % eq NaCl fluid will boil
at a shallower depth of 390 m (Haas,
1971). In contrast, water containing
dissolved C02 will start boiling earlier
i.e. at greater depths. In the epithermal
environment, the compos ition of
successive batches of fluids moving
although lower temperatures of these
fluids might move the zones of successive
boiling upwards. Additi onall y, selective
and partial sealing due to silicification of
rocks at the shallower levels will also
move the boiling zone upwards.
13clow the immediate boiling zone, where
the fluid cools gradually by reversible
expansion, relatively slow conditions of
precipitation dominate and the silica
saturation is con trolled by quartz.
Therefore this zone is expected to be
characteri sed by the depos ition of
crystalline quartz (Superzone X) which
could be accompanied by base metal
sulfides .
In the zone of boiling marked by rapid
loss of volatiles, increase in pH and
cooling, the condi tions of deposition are
much more rapid. Rapid loss of C02
causes precipitation of calcite, whereas
increase in pH results in the formation of
potash~fcldspar. Significant cooling due
to adiabatic expansion can make the fluid
supersaturated with respect to chalcedony
and amorphous silica and cause

amorphous (gel) silica to precipitate.
Rapid rates of crystallisation are also
reflected in the type of potash feld spar
(adularia) characterised by a high degree
of disorder in the crystal symmetry.
Zones of crustiform+colloform banded
quartz very common in the Superzone
CC, reflect repeated episodes of boiling.
Breccia veins with fragments of earlier-
formed banded quartz also indicate
successive boiling events.
If the adi abatic expansion is intensive and
the flu id cools whi le rapidly ascend in g to
the surface, it can become supersaturated
with respect to amorphous silica and
deposit gel-silica in the form of sinters or
silicify the porous, groundwater-rich rock
generating the silica cap commonly
observed in many epithermal deposits.
Experimental studies on the crys tal
growth of calcite have indicated that
calcite growing in fluids marked by fall in
the activity of carbonate ions have acute
rhombohedral shapes (Kirov et ai.,
1970). Therefore calcite depositing due to
boiling and loss of C02 and associated
drop in the activity of total carbonate and
increase in the activity of calcium are
expected to form massive granu lar
aggregates rather than tabular (bladed)
forms. Rapid deposition following rapid
nucleation will also assist in the formation
of fine-grained granular aggregates.
15
Mixing zone
In geothermal systems shallow levels are
marked by a well-developed zone of
mixing. In a large number of epithermal
deposits mixing between two different
fluids has been indicated by fluid -
inclusion and stable isotope studies
(Hayba et ai., 1985; Hedenquist &
Henley, 1985). Within geothermal
systems, three end-member flu ids have
been recogn ised (Hedenquist & Hen ley,
1985): C02-bearing chloride fl uids (the
main ore-carrying flu id); steam heated
meteoric fluids of acid sulfate-bicarbonate
composition; and mix ed oxidising
chloride-sulfate fluids.
In the epithermal environment the initial
mixing of near-neutral chloride fluids
rising rapidly after boiling and cooling
can lead to the formation of a silica-cap
due to sil icification of the meteoric water-
rich aquifer rock. This silica cap, due to
high porosity and fracturing mainta ins
mass and heat transfer between the
meteoric and near-neutral chloride fluids
in the earlier stages of its formation.
Subsequent boiling events result in the
condensation of the acidic gases in to the
cooler, oxidiscd meteoric fluids causing
argillic and advanced argillic alteration.
Experimental studies have shown that
quartz (a nd amorphous silica) in acid
fluids at 200 0 to 350° C dissolves and
precipitates very slowly (Fournier,
1985a). The presence of 1-1+ ions in acidic
fluids also inhibits the polymerisation of
16
dissolved silica. Therefore it is possible
that the acid sulfate-bicarbonate fluids
keep silica dissolved, the concentration of
which in the fluids might additionally
keep on increasing due to argillic
alteration of silicates, causing extreme
supersaturation with respect to
amorphous silica. The formation of silica-
sulfate complexes might be an additional
factor increasing silica-supersaturation of
the fluids. Mixing of these acidic fluids
with ncar-neutral chloride fluids (pH
neutralising) will precipitate amorphous
silica, recrystallising into massive
chalcedony (Superzone CH).
Superzone CH is characterised by large
quartz blades replacing carbonate. The
precipitation of calcite at shallow levcls is
very problematic, mainly due to the
retrograde nature of its solubility. It is
possible that mixing of C02 released due
to boiling of fluids at deeper levels with
cooler meteoric fluids might cause
precipitiation of calcite due to an increase
in the total carbonate concentration in the
fluids. At lower temperatures most of the
partitioning of C02 goes in favour of the
fluid phase. Therefore C02 dissolves
more readily to give l-I2C03 which at
lower temperatures dissociates more
intensively, leading to an increase in the
activities of I-IC03- and C03-2 ions. If
this is true, then the experimental studies
of (Kirov et al., 1970) suggest favourable
conditions for the formation of bladed
aggregates of calcite. It is possible that
bubbling of hotter plumes of C02 in the
meteonc f1uids within the aquifer might
cause these fluids to become saturated
with respect to calcite ' beeause the
solubility of calcite decreases with
Increase In temperature. If the
groundwater aquifer is represented by
calcareous rocks, mixing of the meteoric
fluids with hot fluids moving upwards
along the channelway could induce calcite
deposition.
Overprinting by later, more silica-
saturated acid-sulfate fluids will start
dissolving calcite and replacing them with
amorphous silica, later recrystallising into
chalcedony or fine-grained crystalline
quartz. The presence of amethyst in this
zone can also be related to mixing where
Fe+ 3, due to more oxidising conditions,
dopes silica giving it a purple colour
(Fournier, 1985a). The breakdown of
iron-bearing carbonates can serve as a
good source of iron.
Recrystallisation and replacement
Replacement textures commonly seen in
gangue minerals of epithermal deposits
are mostly related to the replacement of
calcite (carbonates) by quartz. Calcite and
all other carbonates can be easily replaced
by silica due to their retrograde solubility.
Thus overprinting by cooler f1uids will
dissolve carbonate precipitated earlier and
reprace it with silica. The large amounts
of C02 released from boiling fluids move
faster than the residual fluid due to their
higher volatility. These channels of C02

gas will readily. dissolve any carbonate
because the isothermal solubility of
carbonate increases with increase in the
partial pressure of C02.
Moss and microplumose textures formed
by recrystallisation of amorphous silica
are most common in the massive
chalcedonic and moss-chalcedonic zones.
Experimetal studies have indicated that
time, high temperature, high pH, high
salinitiy and the presence of dissolved Mg
favor recrystallisation of amorphous silica
(Fournier, 1985a). The plumes of hot
vapour, with C02 and H2S released due
to boiling, passing through the columns
of earlier precipitated silica could be a
good source of high temperature needed
for recrystallisation. In addition, the
residual fluid which is relatively more
saline and has a higher pH could also
cause recrystallisation.
DISTRIBUTION OF GOLD
GRADE
In the Buchanan model there are specific
intervals that host base and precious metal
mineralisation (Fig. 1). In the textural
model the precious metal interval
essentially corresponds to the Crustifoffil-
Colloform textural Superzone and the
basemetal interval overlaps the crystalline
> moss + ehaleedonic zone and the
crystalline quartz + adularia + sulfide
zone (Fig. I). In practice this
generalisation holds very well. Most
importantly, the Chalcedonic Superzone
17
which is poorly mineralised overlies the
well mineralised Crustiform-Colloform
Superzone. In mineralised systems the
general experience is that samples from
the Chalcedonic Superzone carry
anomalous gold grades whereas samples
from the Chalcedonic Superzone 1Il
poorly mineralised systems are barren.
Poor assays of samples from the
Crustiform -Colloform Superzone are
generally discouraging for the system as a
whole, but ore shoot characteristics,
particularly vein breccias, should be
carefully checked. Within the Crustiform-
Colloform Superzone, subsidiary
textures, particularly sulfide bands and
moss or needle adularia, are strongly
associated with high b'Tades in a number
of studied systems. The ideal sample for
grade has well developed crustiform and
colloform bands, with or without breccia
texture, but with good sulfide bands,
moss or needle adularia and saccharoidal
or zoned crystal quartz.
Assaying of character samples has
demonstrated that within individual
deposits there is a consistent grade range
for each texture assemblage. For
example, at Wool gar the assemblage
bladed carbonate + bladed pseudomorphs
+ massive chalcedonic which char-
acterises the surface exposure of the Lost
World vein rarely has grade better than
0.7 glt Au. In contrast, the assemblage
crustiform + colloform + zoned crystals +
moss adularia + sulfide bands intersected
in drill core in the same vein typically
assays better than 4 glt Au. Character
18
sampling of this type can be used to
establish a grade distribution model that is
uscful for evaluating untested veins or
parts of veins within the same system.
APPLICABILITY OF THE
ZONING MODEL
Most of the examples used to establish
both Buchanan's (1981) model and the
textural model presented here would be
classified as adularia-sericite type veins in
the scheme of Hayba et al . (1985). For
acid-sulfate deposits the mineralisation is
more commonly hosted in silica-sulfide
replacement bodies and irregular lodes
than in discrete simple veins. The veins
that are present generally have only a
limited range of textures comparable to
those in the lower half of the mode!.
Similarly there are a number of studied
vein districts in the Philippines,
Indonesia, Fiji and Colorado where there
is a predominance of crystalline and
saccharoidal quartz, more carbonate
sulfates and sulfides in crustiform and
cockade textures, less adularia and less
chalcedonic, bladed and moss textures.
The common geologic features of these
occu; rences is a setting in andesitic
stratovolcanoes and/or a close genetic link
between veins and intermediate to alkalic
intrusions. It is well documented that
many geothermal systems hosted in
andesitic stratovo1canics arc higher
temperature, have a greater magmatic
fluid component and have a different
hydrologic regime compared with their
counterparts in rhyolitic calderas (e.g.
Henley & Ellis, 1983). These differences
are reflected in the texture and mineralogy
of the associated epithermal veins. A
textural model more appropriate to these
systems needs to be established.
REFERENCES
Adams, S.F., 1920. A microscopic study
of vein quartz: Econ. Geo!., v. 15, p.
623-664
Barton, P. B. Jr., & Toulmin, P., 1961.
Some mechanisms for cooling
hydrothermal fluids: U. S. Geological
Survey, Professional Paper, 424-D,
p. 348-352.
Brady, P. Y., & Walther, 1. Y., 1990.
Kinetics of quartz dissolution at low
temperatures: Chem. Geo!., v. 82, p.
253-264.
Buchanan, L. J., 1981. Precious metal
deposits associated with volcanic
environments in the southwest:
Arizona Geo!'Soc.Digest, v. 14, p.
237-261.
Dove, P. M., & Crerar, D. A., 1990.
Kinetics of quartz dissolution in
electrolyte solutions using a
hydrothermal mixed flow reactor:
Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v. 54,
p. 955-970.
Dowling, K. & Morrison, G.W., 1990.
Application of quartz textures to the
classification of gold deposits using
North Queensland examples:
Econ.Geo!. Monograph 6, pp 342-
355.
Ellis, A. J., 1959. The solubility of
calcite in carbon dioxide solutions:
Am.J.Sci., v. 257, p. 354-365.
Ellis, A. J., 1963. The solubility of
calcite in sodium chloride solutions at
high temperatures: Am.J.Sci., v. 261,
p. 259-267.
Ellis, A. J. & Golding, R. M., 1963. The
solubility of carbon dioxide above
100°C in water and in sodium
. chloride solutions: Am.J.Sci.,v.261,
p.47-60.

Fournier, R. 0., 1985a. The beha viour of
silica in hydrothennal soluti on s: in
Berger, B. R. & Bethke, P. M. (cds)
Geo lo gy and geoc hem istry of
epithermal systems, Reviews in Econ.
Geo!. v. 2, p . 45-51.
Fournier, R. 0., 19 85b. Carbonate
transp ort and depositi on in the
epithennal environment in Berger B.
R.& Bethke, P. M. eds, Geology and
geochemistry of epithennal systems:
Reviews in Econ. Geo!. v. 2, p. 63 -
71.
Haa s, J. L., Jr., 1971. The effec t of
sali nity on the max imum thermal
gradients of a hydrothermal system at
hydrostatic pressure: Econ. Geo!. , v.
66, p. 940-946.
Ilayba, D.O., Bethke, P. M., & Foley,
N. K., 1985 . Geologic, mineralogic
and geochemical characteristics of
volcanic -hosted epithenn al precious-
metal deposits: in Berger, B. R., &
Bethke, P. M., (eds) Geology and
geochemistry of epithermal systems:
Society of Econ omic Geo logists ,
Reviews in Economic Geology, v. 2,
p. 129-168.
Hedenqu ist, J, W., & Hen ley, R. W.,
1985. The importance of C02 on
freezing point measurements of fl uid
in c lusions: Eviden c es fr o m
geothenna1 systems and implica tions
for epithermal ore depositi on, Econ .
Ge~., v. 80, p. 1379-1406.
Henley, R. W., & Ellis, A. 1., 1983.
Geo th ermal systems, anc ient and
modern: Earth Sciences Reviews, v.
19, p. 1-50
Kirov , G. K., Yesselinov, I., &
Chernova, Z. , 1972. Condition s of
formation of calcite crystals of tabular
and acute rh ombohedral habits:
Kristall and Tech nik, v. 7, p. 497-
S09.
Leach, T.M ., 1987. Petrol o gical
evaluation of the Golden Plateau and
Central ExtendcdlWhite Hope areas of
th e Cracow Mining Region:
Unpub.report for Costain Australia
19
Ltd., by C hartered Mineralogical
Services.
\1orse, J. W., 1983 The ki ne tics of
calcium carbonate di sso lu tion and
precipitation: In Reeder, R. J. , (ed.)
Carbonates: mineralo g y and
chemistry, Reviews in Mineralogy, v.
11, p. 227 -264.
Rimstidt, J. D., & Barnes, H. L., 1980.
The kinetics of silica-water reactions:
Oeochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v. 44,
p.1683-1699.
Sander, \1.Y. , 1988. Crystallisation and
rccrystall isation of growth· zoned vein
quartz crystals from e pithermal
system s - imp li cat ion for fluid
incl usion stud ies: Econ.Oeol. , v. 83,
p. 1052-1062.
Segnit, E. R., Holland. H. D., &
Biscardi, C. J., 1962. The solubility
of calcite in aqueous solutions - 1, The
solubility of calcite in water between
75° and 200°C at C02 pressures up
to 60 atm: Geochim. Cosmochim.
Acta, v. 26, p. 1301 - 1330.
Sharp, W. E., & Kennedy, G. c., 1965.
The system CaO-C02-H20 in the two
phase regio n calci te and aq ueous
solutio ns: Jour. of Geology , v. 73, p.
39 1-403.
Weres, 0., Yee, A., & Tsao , L., 1982.
Equations and type curves for
predicting the polymcrisation of
amorphous sili ca in geothermal
brines: Soc.PetroLEng.Jour., p 9-16.
 2

PLATES
 PRIMARY TEXTURES

Plate 1. MASSIVE CHALCEDONIC

Cryptocrystalline quartz (chalcedony) with a massive form, typical waxy
lustre and conchoidal fracture. Bimurra, North Queensland.

Plate 2. MASSIVE CHALCED01\'1C

Dense heterogeneous aggregate of cryptocrystall ine quanz with local spherical
or banded domains and coarser (recrystallised?) patches. Quartz Hill , North
Queensland; crosscd polars, field of view 5.4 mm.

Plate 3. BANDED CHALCEDOl\"IC

Delicately colour banded chalcedony (agate) with local co11oform bands and
cross-cutting crystalline (comb) quartz veins. Fragment in vcin breccia,
Quanz Hill, North Queensland.

Plate 4. BANDED CHALCEDONIC

Fibrous internal habit with fibres oriented orthogonal to band margins and
optical continuity of fibres between subbands. Typica l character of banded
and some massive chalcedony. Same sample as Plate 3, Quartz Hill, North
Queensland; cross polars, field of view 5.4 mm.

Plate 5. SACCHAROlDAL
Massive fine grained crystalline quartz aggregate with thc appearance of
sugar. Grain size is variable and is highlighted by the coarser terminated
crystals in the cavities. Antamok Mine, Baguio district, Philippines.

Plate 6. SACCHAROIDAL
Interlocking subhedral grains of near uniform grain size. Local finer grained
aggregatcs act as nucleii to crude rosettes of elongate crystals. Same specimen
as Plate 5; crossed nicols, field of view 5.4 mm.
3

5
 PRIMARY TEXTURES

Plate 7. COMB
Clear to l,'Tey quartz band consisting of tightly packed subparallel crystals
oriented perpendicular to the band wall giving the appearance of a comb.
Crystals have euhedral terminations at one end only (bottom side of this band)
and some internal banding defined by more milky quartz. Sample is
crustiform colloform banded vein with chalcedonic and comb quartz bands,
Quartz Hill, North Queensland.

Plate 8. ZONED CRYSTALS

Euhcdral quartz crystals witb alternating clear and milky zones parallel to
growing crystal faces. Milky zones are crowded with fluid inclusions. Note
the pale purple (amethystine) inner part of the band and the wedge-shaped
crystals formed by competition for space between adjoining crystals. Part of a
crustiform quartz vein, Quartz Hill, North Queensland.

Plate 9. COLLOFORM BANDS

Fine banded chalcedony with a botryoidal form in cross-section and a kidney-
like plan surface. This is the typical form of chalcedony in crustiform bands.
Quartz Hill, North Queensland.

Plate 10. CRUSTlFORM BANDS

Alternating fine bands parallel to vein walls consisting of clear-grey comb
quartz and white crystalline adularia. The internal part of the vein is more
crudely banded with moss and comb quartz. Scott Lode, Pajingo Mine, North
Queensland.

Plate 11. CRUSTlFORM-COLLOFORM BANDS

Classic examples of the crustiform (alternating) and colloform (botryoidal)
bands considered characteristic of epithermal veins. Blue and white bands are
chalcedony, grey and purple bands comb quartz (locally zoned crystals) and
creamy yellow bands adularia. Cirotan Mine, Java, Sample courtesy of D.J.
Kirwan.

Plate 12. COCKADE

Crustiform bands of comb quartz, chaledony and sulfides overgrowing
wallrock and other vein fragments. Typical of vein breccia ore sboots
associated with crustiform-colloform veins. Ten level, Cirotan Mine, Java.
7 8

9 10

11 12
 RECRYSTALLISATION TEXTURES

Plate 13. MOSS

Massive to crudely banded aggregate of spheroidal grains with an overall
appearance similar to moss vegetation. Pajingo, North Queensland, drill hole
JMD 173 at 27 m.

Plate 14. MOSS

Grape-like aggregate of spheroidal grains outlined by concentrations of
impurities. In the lower half of the plate the spheroids are overgrown and
variable replaced by clear crystalline quartz which partly preserves the
original spheroidal texture. Pajingo, North Queensland, drill hole JMD 173 at
46 m: plane polarised light, field of view 5.4 mm.

Plate 15. MICRO-PLUMOSE

Feathery appearance in domains within quartz crystals related to formation of
crystallites during recrystallisation of chalcedony. Grand Central Vein,
Wool gar North Queensland; crossed nicols, field of view 5.4 mm.

REPLACEMENT TEXTURES

Plate 16. MOLDS

Massive chalcedony with polygonal cavities representing weathered out
carbonate rhombs. Elsewhere such cavities may be partly or completely filled
with granular or bladed quartz aggregates due to hydrothermal or weathering
processes. Lost World Vein, Wool gar, North Queensland.

Plate 17. LATIICE-BLADED

A network of intersecting blades with polyhedral cavities partly lined by
quartz crystals. This texture represents either direct pseudomorphs of original
bladed carbonate or partial replacement of massive crystalline carbonate along
fracture surfaces, cleavage or twin planes followed by dissolution of
rcmaining carbonate. Bimurra, North Queensland.

Plate 18. LATIICE-BLADED

A network of intersecting blades where cach blade consists of a series of
parallel seams separated by quartz crystals or crystallites. The crystals and
crystallites have grown symmetrically about the seams and perpendicular to
them. Same sample as Plate 17, Bimurra, North Queensland; crossed nicols,
field of view 5.4 mm.
13 14

15 16

17 18
 REPLACEMENT TEXTURES

Plate 19. GHOST-BLADED

Blades identified in handspe~iment by concentrations of impurities rather than
the pattern of quartz crystallisation (c.f. Lattice-bladed). Original Fe carbonate
has been replaced by quartz, preserving a bladed form and highlighting it
with concentrations of red and yellow iron oxides. Replacement o~curred
prior to or during crystallisation of the adjacent crustiform band which
contains amethyst and zoned crystals. Woolgar, North Queensland.

Plate 20. GHOST-BLADED

Subhedral interl oc king quartz gr ai ns with superimposed bladed texture
identified only by concentrations of iron oxides. Drill hole GCD8 at 27 m
Grand Central Vein Woolgar, North Queensland; crossed n i~ol s, field of
view 5.4 mm.

Plate 21. PARALLEL-BLADED

Parallel blades of quartz organised in groups such that adjacent groups have a
different orientation. Blades represent replacement along multiple lamellar
parting planes within original coarse carbonate grains. Lamellae in this
example represent both rhombohedral cleavage (two interesecting sets) and
basal pinacoid (one parallel set) . Blade groups define the original coarse
grains of massive carbonate. Bimurra, North Queensland.

Plate 22. PARALLEL-BLADED

Aggregate of quartz grains showing prcferred orientation in parallel sets and
through going partings between sets. Partings correspond to basal pinacoid
cleavage in a carbonate grain that has been completely replaced by quartz.
Photomicrograph of same sample as Plate 21, Bimurra, North Queensland;
crossed nicols, field of view 5.4 mm.

Plate 23. MOLD

Radiating ag6'Tegate of aciclllar (needle-like) cavities transgressing crustiform·
colloform banded quartz. Cavities here are highlighted by grinding powder
but do contain some granular quartz and kaolinite suggesting they represent
weathered adularia needles that originally 6'Tew in the banded quartz. Pajingo
Mine, Korth Queensland.

Plate 24. MOLD

Linear cavities and partings forming boundaries to aggregates of elongate fine
quartz grains and preserved as lin ear inclusion free zones in coarse quartz
grains. Cavities locally contain kaolinite and fine granular quartz. Suggests
partial hydrothermal replacement of adularia needles by quartz and partial
hydrothermal replacement or weathering of remaining adularia to kaolinite.
Same sample as Plate 23, Pajingo Mine, North Queensl and; crossed nicols
field of view 5.4 mm.
19 20

21 22

23 24
 OTHER MI:'I'ERALS

Plate 25. ADULARIA

Salmon pink crystalline adularia in crustifonn bands with chalcedony, comb
quartz and fine sulfides. Multiphase breccia lode in andesite, Golden Plateau
Mine, Cracow, Queensland.

Plate 26. FINE SULPHIDES

Fine grained sulfides and silica as fracture fill and replacement in andesite host
(lower part of plate) as a margin to a crustiform-colloform band (lower centre)
and as fragments in vein breccia (centre and upper). Golden Mile Lode,
Cracow, Queensland.

Plate 27. COARSE SULPHIDES

Vein breccia clasts with bands and cockade overgrowths of coarse grained
marcasite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena and comb quartz. Cirotan Mine, Java.

Plate 28. CARBOKATE LA TTrCE BLADES

A network of intersecting blades of calcite separated by polyhedral cavities.
The texture of lattice-bladed quartz (Plate 17) is directly comparable
suggesting it may originate as a pseudomorph of lattice-bladed calcite.
Komata Mine, Coromandel , New Zealand.

TEXTURAL ZONES

Plate 29. ZONE CHbl

Massive chalcedonic quartz with well developed lattice blades and parallel
blades. Partial rccrystallisation to clear crystalline quartz in lower half (grey)
and crystalline quartz infill to lattice. Lost World, Woolgar.

Plate 30. ZONE CHma

Massive cha1cedonic quartz with irregular swirling colour bands (centre left)
and weakly banded milky section (right). Lost World, Woolgar.
2S 26

27 28

29 30
 TEXT URAL ZONES

Plate 31. ZONE CCma

Crustiform and colloform banded quartz with bands dominated by moss
texture (cream , pink). Bands of chalcedony (grey) and zoned quartz crystals.
Dark seams between bands represen t weathered sulfides. Typical of high
grade ore, Scott Lode, Pajingo, drillhole JMD 17323 .0 m (3 gltAu over I m)

Plate 32. ZONE CC

Crustiform--colloform with bands of saccharoidal-comb quart z (white) with
d isscmi nated su lfides; massive to moss chalcedonic qu artz (buff); moss
adu laria (cream); and sulfide-sulphosalt partings (black). High grade Au-Ag-
Se ore, K ushikino, Japan. Sample courtesy Jo hn Dow, Newmon t.
Indones ia.

Plate 33. BRECCIA IN ZOt\'E CCsa

Clasts of crustifoml-colloform banded vein quartz-sulfide (centre and upper
right) and veined and silicified wall rock (left) ovcr!,'Town by crustiform bands
of fibrous chalcedony (grey) and saccharoidal quartz (white). are zone, Scott
Lode, Pajin go, drill hole JMD 242 at 63.5 m (7.92 glt Au over I m)

Plate 34. BRECCIA FRO~1 CC-Xad TRANSITIOl\

Clasts of silicified wall rock (righ t centre) and saccharoidal quartz-sulfide
(right upper) overgrown by crusti form bands and cockades of zoned quartz
and crysta lline adu laria. Golden Plateau open pit, Cracow, Queensland.

Plate 35. ZONE Xs

Multiphase, crudely crustiform vein consisting entirely of zoned quartz
crystals and coarse granular sulfides (sphalerite, pyritc, galena, chalcopyritc).
Silvcr-basemetal but gencrally not gold ore. Id arado vei n, San Juan
Mountains, Colorado. Sample courtesy of D.J. Kirwan.

Plate 36. ZONE Xca

Crystalline comb quartz with weak crustiform tex ture due to milky-clear
variation in quartz. Carbonate infill in vugs. Barren or low grade zone, Scott
Lode, Pajingo drill hole JMD 234 at 129 m (0.69 glt Au over 1 m)
31 32

33 34

35 36
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This volume was originally produced in 1990 by the authors for the Gold Research Group at
James Cook University as part of AMlRA Project P247 - Epithermal Gold Deposits in
Queensland.

The classification and zoning model was synthesised from reconnaissance work on numerous
veins and sample suites (G.M., D.G. & N.M.Tate) and detailed studies on deposits (R. Bobis
- Scott Lode, Pajingo; J.Digweed - Wool gar; R.Porter - Pajingo outside lodes; M. Worsley -
Cracow).

Access to deposits, provision of sample suites and financial support for the overall research
project was provided through AMlRA by the following companies:

Aberfoyle Ltd Australian Consolidated Minerals Ltd

Aztec Mining Company Ltd Battle Mountain (Australia) Inc.
Carpentaria Exploration Company Central Pacific Minerals NL
Chevron Exploration Corporation Cracow Mining Venture
CRA Exploration Pty Ltd Cyprus Gold Australia Corporation
Dalrymple Resources NL Elders Resources
Geopeko Golden Shamrock
Hunter Resources Keela-Wee
Kidston Gold Mines Metana Minerals NL
Nedex Pty Ltd Newmont Australia
Billiton North Broken Hill Peko
Otter Exploration Pancontinental
Paragon Gold Pty Ltd Placer Pacific
Poseidon Ltd RGC Ltd
Ross Mining NL RTZ
Western Mining Corporation

The original edition was typed by S. Warren and mocked up in the Printery at James Cook
University.Thanks also to Jan Morrison and Nick Tate for the cover design. All this support is
gratefully acknowledged.