The Cadia gold copper deposits are hosted by a late Ordovician to early Silurian shoshonitic volcano-intrusive complex which forms part of the larger zone of arc-related volcanic and associated intrusive rocks in the eastern Lachlan Fold Belt. Mineralisation at Cadia is hosted by the mid to late Ordovician Forest Reefs Volcanics and the underlying Weemalla Formation and by the late Ordovician early Silurian Cadia Intrusive Complex. Post-mineral cover comprises Silurian Cadia Coach Shale and a relatively thin capping of Tertiary basalts and gravels in some areas. Recognised structural controls include the regional northwest corridor – dilation zone thought to control the emplacement of the Cadia Intrusive Complex and post-mineral faulting in two dominant orientations striking northwest and north-south.

The Cadia East deposit is hosted within the Forest Reef Volcanics and porphyry intrusions. A north-east trending mass of narrow sheet like dykes of monzonitic to dioritic compositions intrude the lower parts of the FRV at Cadia East. These intrusives are largely restricted to the eastern half of the deposit although some narrow dykes and isolated bodies of monzonite have been recognised in the western end. At the upper western end of the deposit immediately underneath the Gibb Fault, isolated narrow intersections have been identified with south dipping mineralised quartz veining. These occurrences are interpreted to be the Cadia Hill Monzonite.

Mining studies and current underground cave mining activities at Cadia East support the appropriateness of the selected mining methods as the basis of the forward Ore Reserve estimate. Ongoing geotechnical studies and monitoring utilising experience and data from the current underground operations provide ongoing key direction for stability, design, and schedule sequence parameters.

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