Geology and mineralazation in the southern Lachlan Fold Belt: Chewton goldfield and Wattle Gully Mine: A model for gold-quartz mineralization in slate belts

Abstract

The Mt Alexander-Chewton-Fryerstown mineralized belt occurs in a L-Mid Ordovician turbidite sequence (~ 600 m thick) comprising quartz-rich sandstones, greywackes and slates. On the basis of detailed structural and stratigraphic mapping the region is divided into three N-S trending structural blocks bounded by high angle reverse faults. The strongly deformed western block is characterized by tight folding, strong development of slaty cleavage and numerous westerly dipping reverse faults on eastern anticlinal limbs. This block contains the goldfields.