The gold mineralization at the Mine exhibits features analogous to mesothermal or “orogenic” gold deposits typified by Archean deposits of the Abitibi region, Canada. Features characteristic of the gold mineralization at the Mine include:
• A strong spatial association to large scale shear zones;
• Relative late timing during active compressional deformation;
• A strong spatial association with large scale shear zones;
• Formed during greenschist metamorphic conditions;
• Association with a propylitic-phyllic alteration assemblages; and
• Principally hosted in quartz-ankerite-pyrite veining.
Gold mineralization at Aurora is divided into four main mineralized zones; Rory’s Knoll, East Walcott and Walcott Hill, Mad Kiss and Mad Kiss West, and Aleck Hill and Aleck Hill North.
All the deposits display an association of gold mineralization with quartz veining and pyrite, locally as much as 10%. The auriferous veins developed relatively late in the deformational history and occur as brittle stockworks in more competent host rocks, e.g., Rory’s Knoll diorite and lesser quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes, and as foliation parallel, ribbon-like veins that vary in width from a few centimetres to rarely up to one to two metres wide.
At least three major generations of veining have been observed:
• Early quartz carbonate veins which are typically foliation parallel and folded or truncated.
• Brittle extensional arrays ........
