The geophysical discovery of the Abra base metal deposit, Bangemall Basin, Western Australia

Abstract

The Abra base metal deposit is located about 900 km NNE of Perth, W.A. (Fig. 1) at the eastern end of the Jillawarra Mineralized Belt, a structurally controlled zone of mineralized clastic and carbonate sediments forming the oldest rock units of the Middle Proterozoic Bangemall Basin (Muhling & Brakel, 1984). The deposit was discovered following the delineation and interpretation of a coincident source of magnetic and gravity anomalies. Subsequent drilling of this source had outlined a large tonneage, low grade polymetallic mineralized body, regarded as a significant new style of mineralization for its environment (Boddington, 1986).