Gawler Craton Gold Mineral Systems: Challenging pre-conceptions, a well overdue cage rattle!

Australian Institute of Geoscientists > Events > exploration, Gawler craton, geochemistry, Geological Survey of South Australia, gold, mineral systems, regional geology, South Australia > Gawler Craton Gold Mineral Systems: Challenging pre-conceptions, a well overdue cage rattle!

Gawler Craton Gold Mineral Systems: Challenging pre-conceptions, a well overdue cage rattle!


AIG’s South Australia Branch is now holding regular Geopub meetings in Adelaide on the first Thursday of each month at Cooper’s Ale House at the Earl, Pulteney Street Adelaide.

October 2019: 3 October 2019, 6:00 pm for 6:30 pm talk

Presentation by Justin Gum, Exploration Geologist, MAIG

The Geological Survey of South Australia has undertaken a holistic review of the gold mineral systems of the Gawler Craton to determine if the concept of a Central Gawler Gold Province has stood the test of time. While the Hiltaba magmatic event has been integral to the formation of many deposits, there is evidence of earlier mineral systems present, which have been overprinted by this later magmatic event.

The review has suggested four new mineral systems related to specific orogenic events. These new models suggest many areas have been overlooked in their potential to host gold mineralisation. In addition, many areas have seen only preliminary surface geochemical exploration, which has been of dubious quality.  Several examples are presented, which have implications across wide areas of the Gawler Craton.