Applied Structural Geology in Exploration and Mining

Applied Structural Geology in
Exploration and Mining
Mongolia Mineral Exploration Roundup 2014
March 22, 2014

Applied Structural Geology in Exploration and Mining
Ivo Vos, Ph.D., P.Geo., is a Senior Consultant (Structural Geology) with SRK,
based in the Toronto office. Ivo has over 10 years of experience in the regional
and local structural analysis of mineral deposits and has successfully applied his
knowledge to the discovery of new gold deposits in East Africa. He is an expert in
deciphering structural controls on the distribution of mineralization for a variety of
deposit styles, including mesothermal and epithermal precious metal deposits,
nickel sulphide deposits, iron-oxide copper-gold deposits, porphyry-copper
deposits and unconformity-related uranium deposits.
Ivo combines his field skills with deposit-scale 3D modelling, structural and
geological interpretation of geophysical data, and has a special interest in (multi-
commodity) regional exploration targeting studies. He has been involved in
exploration and deposit-scale studies for a variety of commodities in Canada,
East and West Africa, Australia, South America and the Middle East.
Furthermore, Ivo has been actively teaching the Applied Structural Geology
Courses with SRK.
[email protected]
1 ©SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 22, 2014
0800-0815 Welcome and Introduction.
0815-0930 General concepts of structural geology and their

application to mineral systems.
0930-1100 Structural mapping, core logging and 3D modelling techniques

for exploration and mining geologists.
1000-1030 Coffee Break
1100-1200 Structural analysis of faults and vein systems – Part 1.
1200-1300 Lunch Break
1300-1500 Structural analysis of faults and vein systems – Part 2.
1530-1700 Structural analysis of folds and fold systems.

Applied Structural Geology

in Exploration and Mining
CM1 – General concepts of

structural geology and their
application to mineral systems

Welcome and Introduction
Structural Geology Short Course

Ulaanbaatar, March 22, 2014
Housekeeping Notes
• Emergency Exits;
• Bathrooms.

Aims of Course
• Demonstrate why so many ore deposits are
strongly structurally controlled;
• Define the simple principles of “structural

control”;
• Give you the tools you require to do

structural geology in the mining and
exploration environment; and
• Give you the confidence to apply these tools,

and therefore to make a real difference!

What is SRK?
Ulaanbataar, Mongolia
• SRK Consulting is an
independent, international
consulting practice that
offers services from
exploration through
feasibility, mine planning,
and production to mine
closure.
• Formed in 1974, SRK now

employs more than 1600
professionals internationally
in over 50 offices on 6
continents.

SRK’s Services
www.srk.com
SRK’s Structural Geologists

• Approximately 15 professionals based in UK,
Canada, Australia and UK.
• Qualified to MSc or PhD level in structural geology
and mineralisation processes.
• Experienced in the issues in mining and exploration
where structural geology impinges.
• Commissioned to conduct structural evaluations on
projects at all stages (grassroots to advanced
exploration; feasibility studies and production).
• Types of commission: assisting exploration, resource
modelling and definition, geotechnical and
hydrogeological evaluations and due diligence.

Course Presenters
• Senior Consultant - Structural Geology, SRK
Canada
• Principal areas of expertise:
 Regional and local structural analysis of

mineral deposits
 Deciphering structural controls on the
distribution of mineralization
 Multi-commodity regional exploration
targeting studies
• Au-Ag (epi- and mesothermal), Ni-sulphide,
IOCG, porphyry-copper, unconformity-related U.
• Canada, East and West Africa, Australia, South
America and the Middle East
• Professional Geologist (PGeo)

Course Schedule
0800-0815 Welcome and Introduction.
0815-0930 General concepts of structural geology and their

application to mineral systems.
0930-1100 Structural mapping, core logging and 3D modelling
techniques for exploration and mining geologists.
1100-1200 Structural analysis of faults and vein systems – Part 1
1200-1300 Lunch Break
1300-1500 Structural analysis of faults and vein systems – Part 2
1530-1700 Structural analysis of folds and fold systems

CM1 - General concepts of structural
geology and their application to
mineral systems
Structural mapping - why bother?

A Risky Situation?
A man floating along in a hot air balloon began
to realise he was lost. He reduced his altitude
and spotted a person below. He descended
a little more and shouted:
"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a

friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't
know where I am".
The stranger replied,
"You are in a hot air balloon hovering

approximately 10 metres above the Bayan Obo
mine in Inner Mongolia.”
A Risky Situation?
"You must be a geologist", said the balloonist.
"I am" replied the stranger, "How did you know?"
"Well", answered the balloonist, "everything you

told me is technically correct, but I have no idea
what to make of your information, and the fact is I
am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help
so far".
The stranger below responded,
"You must be a engineer".
"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you

know?"
A Risky Situation?
“Well," said the geologist,
“you don't know where you are or where you are

going.”
“You have risen to where you are through a large

quantity of hot air.”
“You made a promise to someone that you have no

idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your
problem, but you really aren't interested in the
information I'm providing.”
“The fact is you are in exactly the same situation you

were before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault”.

Geology Input to the Mining Process
Most operations do
not maximize the
value of continued
geological input.
Many mining companies have not effectively

implemented information visibility inside or
outside their organizations, limiting the amount
and quality of information required to evaluate
risks and make decisions on appropriate
mitigation strategies.

Geology Input to the Mining Process
Geology
underpins
every aspect
of the mining
process

How Does Structural Geology Make a
Difference?
• Direct input on the limits, size and shape of ore
bodies;
• Elevates confidence in predictability of ore

behavior:
• Geometrical – grade control, dilution, targeting;
• Geochemical – grade control, ore
quality/metallurgy; and
• Geotechnical – ground control, dilution.
• Definition of hydrogeological pathways,

geotechnical domains, etc.

The Conceptual Basis of Structural

Control in Mineral Deposits
• All hydrothermal ore deposits require
transport of large quantities of relatively
insoluble metals in solution from some
source region to the site of deposition;
• Metal transport takes place principally by

percolation of the fluid through the rock, and
the low solubility of the metals means that
very large fluid fluxes are required. Hydrothermal and sulphide
depositional model

Metals Abundance in Various Rock Types
Element Ultramafic
Ultramafic Mafic Felsic Greywacke Crust
Cont. Crust
Cu ppm 10 87 30 75
Zn ppm 50 105 60 80
Pb ppm 1 6 15 8
Au ppm 0.0008 0.0017 0.002 0.002 0.003
Ag ppm 0.06 0.11 0.051 0.08 0.08
Solubility of Metals
Cu, Zn = not constrained by solubility in saline
solutions, therefore approximate abundance in rocks.
Au = not constrained by solubility in hydrothermal
solutions, especially those containing S, therefore
approximate abundance in rocks.

Exercise 1:
Fluids and Plumbing

Exercise on Fluids and Plumbing
• Assume:
• Solubility of Au in hydrothermal solution = 0.03 ppm;
• 1 oz = 31g; and
• 1 litre of hydrothermal fluid = 1 kg.
• How much fluid required for a 5 Moz Au deposit?

Exercise on Fluids and Plumbing

Fluid Required
Deposit Solubility Fluid
Grams Fluid (L)
Size (ppm) (tonnes)
Au (Moz) 5 155000000 0.03 5166666667 5166666666667
Remember, these calculations assume 100%

efficiency in depositing the metal
at the deposit site!
5E+12 litres = 5 km3

Fluid Required
Toronto Skydome (Rogers Centre):
Volume roof closed: 1,600,000 m3 1m3 = 1000 litres
1.6 x 109 litres
5Moz Au deposit:
Minimum fluids: 5.0 x 1012 litres
3,125 Skydomes
Another way of looking at this

problem is that 1oz of gold
will saturate an Olympic
swimming pool full of a
typical hydrothermal fluid!

Basis for Structural Control
• Getting the metal to the deposit is first and
foremost a severe hydrodynamic problem;
• A simple analysis of this hydrodynamic

problem provides the foundation for the
principles of structural control; and
• It also leads to a set of simple, practical

structural geological tools for aiding the
discovery, delineation and efficient
exploitation of mineral deposits.
‘Brothers’ Black Smoker

The Basic Hydrodynamic Problem

• So how does the earth manage to channel several millions of
Olympic swimming pools of fluid through the relatively small
rock volume that is to be the mineral deposit?
Bayan Obo deposit – the world’s largest known REE

deposit containing >40Mt REE grading 3.5-4% REE; 1 Mt of
Nb2O5, 470 Mt Fe and 130 Mt of fluorite
A Simple Hydrodynamic Analysis
• The migration of fluid through a porous and
permeable rock mass is described
macroscopically by Darcy’s Law;
Fluid flux = Pressure head x Rock permeability

Fluid viscosity
• Pressure heads have a limited range in the

earth - eg, Plith – Phyd;
• Hydrothermal aqueous fluids have approx Old Faithful, Yellowstone
constant viscosities at upper to mid-crustal

conditions.

Driving Forces for Fluid Flow

• Pressure gradients factor of ~3 (lithostatic versus
hydrostatic):
• Topography;
• Seismic pumping;
• Metamorphic dehydration;
• Magmas emplaced in fluid-saturated rocks;
• Fluids expelled from crystallising magmas;
• Buoyancy:
• Temperature (thermal expansion);
• Salinity;
• Viscosity - range of 1 order of magnitude: Mt St Helens Phreatic
Eruption
• 40-400 µPa*s at T = 100-800ºC and 50-300
Mpa.
Driving Forces for Fluid Flow
• Permeability:
• Porous sandstone (Ø>15%) = 1 darcy (10-12 m2);
• Crystalline granite = 10-10 darcies (10-22 m2);
• Fault at mid-crustal depth = 1 darcy (10-12 m2);
• 10 orders of magnitude!
• Therefore only permeability can vary sufficiently to

permit the large fluid fluxes required to form ore
deposits.

The Principles of Structural Control

• Only abnormally permeable
rocks will permit the fluid fluxes
necessary to form ore deposits;
• Fractured rocks (i.e. fault
zones) are the most likely
conduits for transport of large
fluid volumes;
• But there is a built-in negative
feedback in the system which
will reduce the effectiveness of
the fault zone to pass the fluid
(and metal) volumes required.

• The evidence for this is ubiquitous in paleo-fault zones -
fractures are vein-filled, wall rocks are often highly
altered, gouge zones are tight and cemented - all of
which dramatically reduce the hydrodynamic efficiency of
the zone.


• Therefore, in order to transport the required
metal volumes, the permeability of the fault
zone must be continuously regenerated –
(permeability of an active fault at mid crustal
depth ~4 darcies, or 10-8 m2);
• This leads to the important conclusion that
hydrothermal ore deposits are localised on
faults that were (repeatedly / continuously)
active at the same time the hydrothermal
system was active and metal-pregnant;
• Therefore, the concept of “structural
preparation”, whereby the fault sits around
waiting for the mineralising fluid to come by
San Andreas Fault
is flawed.
Structure active during
mineralization

The Importance of Getting Timing Right

• Application of structural control principles requires that the
timing of mineralisation must be carefully matched with
the history of activity on a fault system.
Regional cleavage cuts high-grade mineralization

• Most (all?) hydrothermal ore deposits form
on or adjacent to active faults/shear zones;
• Especially in gold deposits, economic grade
is broadly correlated with vein/fracture
concentration, which in turn is a measure of
dilatancy in the controlling structure; and
• A key component of mineral exploration is
identifying and locating sites of dilation in
structures that were active at the time of ore
formation.
Sulphide filled dilational

jog, Sudbury, Ontario

• Permeability is unlikely to be the same everywhere on an

active fault zone;
• Permeability will generally be highest where damage
within and around the fault zone is highest;
• This will depend to some extent on host rock type, but will
principally be localised by irregularities (e.g. bends,
branches, steps, jogs) along the fault.
Damage zones around irregularities along fault zone

are zones of enhanced permeability
• Fluid flow is therefore maximized, and
ore deposits are generally localized on
irregularities (i.e., bends, bumps,
branches and jogs) in fault zones;
• Irregularities commonly extend beyond
or sit off the main fault strand, which
explains why deposits commonly occur
on second- or third-order structures
rather than on the main fault;
• Aside from fluid flow, this concept applies to magma

as well. Therefore, intrusions and breccia pipes and
associated mineral deposits also commonly occur
along irregularities.


• Zones of local damage and permeability enhancement in
active fault zones have another key influence on fluid flow
and deposit localization;
• The damage zone undergoes (fracture) porosity
enhancement during each episode of fault movement.
This increase in local porosity causes a transient
reduction in local pore fluid pressure, which will suck fluid
towards the damaged zone.

Dilation
sucks!!
• There are two other important consequences of this local

pressure drop:
• It encourages mixing of fluids sucked from the
surrounding wall rock and along the fault zone;
• It can drastically alter the solubility of metals in the fluid;
• Both of these processes can lead directly to metal
precipitation in the zone of maximum fluid flux.

In summary, irregularities on active fault
zones:
• Provide the very high-permeability fluid
pathways that have the capacity to
transport large volumes of metal to a local
site of deposition;
• Are fluid pumps which suck fluids into the
zones of enhanced permeability; and
• Encourage mixing of locally derived and
equilibrated fluids with (hotter and metal-
saturated) fluids travelling along the fault
zone.

Applied Structural Control Principles
There are three basic steps to applying these
principles at regional to local scales:
1. Determine the timing of mineralization
relative to structural events, and identifying
the event(s) that produced the
mineralization;
2. Mapping/logging/interpreting in 3
dimensions, to determine the structural
setting and pattern of active structures
during mineralization; and
3. Determine the likely shapes, orientations,
and locations of dilational sites on the
active structures.
• Determine the timing of mineralization in the event history

and match it to the history of movement on the fault / shear
zones in the region.

• Carefully map in 3 dimensions those faults considered to
have been active at the time of mineralization, paying
particular attention to even the subtlest variation in strike,
dip or continuity.


• Determine the direction and sense of movement on the
faults, in order to predict the location, shape and plunge of
zones of maximum damage / dilation.
Zone of dilation associated with bend

on sinistral fault
When you have located a mineralizing
structure:
• Determine the displacement direction
and sense, so that you can relate
changes in dip/strike of the fault/shear
to the formation of dilational sites; and
• Relate fault movement and shape to
vein/breccia orientations and
locations in detail; always make sure
you work out how veins / stockworks /
breccias relate to faults.

So how does this apply to your area?


CM2 – Structural mapping,

core logging and 3D modelling
techniques for mine and
exploration geologists


CM2: Structural Mapping, Core Logging, and

Visualization Techniques for Exploration and
Mining Geologists

Basic Mapping Principles

• Structural mapping
SHOULD be part of
everyday
geological mapping
practice…but this
is often not the
case.
• Where do I start?
• What do I map?
• What tools do I
have?
• Why should I Rössing open pit, Namibia
bother?

Ore Body Plunge

So you can
decipher the
plunge of
mineralization!
Long section of Thaduna deposit

showing gold distribution along steep
plunge. Courtesy of Ventnor Resources.
Anchor Resources Bielsdown

Vein Long Section.

Output Geological Domain Model / Map

A 3D geological model (or 2D map) is an artificial representation
of the rock mass in situ, including the components of lithology,
structure and other material properties (mineral, chemical,
geophysical etc.)
It is a simplification of reality designed for a practical purpose.
Example Domains:
• Mineralized / unmineralized (or grade shell domains)
• Structural terranes or geometry changes
• Lithological layers or stratigraphic zones
• Alteration type or intensity
• Permeable / impermeable (hydrology)
• Good / bad mineral exploration target areas
• Structurally complex / simple
• Rock mass weak / strong (geotechnical)


Geological vs. Structural Mapping

Geological mapping Structural mapping
• 90% of effort goes to • Strong emphasis on

primary rock structure, alteration etc;
identification; • Faults, shear zones as
• Outcrop map produced rock bodies;
at end of the mapping • Integrated geological map
campaign; and that works in 3D; and
• Systematic data • Data interpreted during
gathering for later mapping and used to
interpretation. produce working map
during the mapping
campaign.

Structural Mapping
Structural mapping includes:
• Determining the geometry (i.e. orientation +

shape) of rock units, fabrics, discontinuities;
 Mapping contacts is the key
• Determining movement sense and displacement
on structures using available kinematic
indicators;
• Determining the history of (structural) events
 Mapping in 4D
• Then place the mineralization within this context.


Traditional vs. Structural Mapping
…somewhere in Tanzania Should still clearly show

what is data and what is
interpretation.

What tools do we have?

• Stratigraphy
• was originally horizontal and laid down in a particular order
• younging, or “way-up” indicators
• Structural fabrics and deformation
• know how to recognise them
• know what processes they represent
• Geochronology
• cross cutting relationships, structural overprinting,
radiometric dating
• Geometrical principles
• map making and pattern recognition
• structural balancing


Map Patterns
Santos et al., 2011
Au-Cu-Ag Canahuire Epithermal Deposit, Southern Peru

Magnetic Patterns


Keys to structural mapping

• Collect the data you need, not data for data’s sake;
• maintain context of what you are trying to achieve
• Map contacts;
• Work in plan and section at the same time;
• Work in 4D – what is the time sequence ?
• Start interpreting right from the start!
• Mapping is iterative, and geological maps should
constantly evolve
• Stretch the data and make decisions about
relationships; and
• Follow geometrical principles - geology is fractal in
nature, pattern recognition is key.

1. Collect the data you need

• The relative size and importance of features
should be reflected in your map;
• Don’t just map “data”, map and interpret
relationships.
EXAMPLE
In the map opposite from an underground
crosscut (Hillside gold deposit, Australia),
auriferous veins are red and faults are blue.
Which faults are likely to be the main
controls on grade distribution?
(Could also be drill core…)


Vein hosted gold

• Gold is dominantly vein-hosted and grade
correlates closely with vein density;
• Fault-bounded zones of different vein density
are mapped in the cross-cut;
HG
• Domain boundaries can be identified as
mappable faults along the boundary between
high-grade and medium-grade ore; and
• Defining and mapping the domain
boundaries enables geostatistics, resource
estimation and mine planning to be carried out
MG
with greater confidence.

2. Map Contacts
• And be aware of the
nature of the contact:
• Conformable?
• Unconformable?
• Intrusive?
• Faulted?
• Sheared?
• Healed by a dyke?
• Veined?
• Mineralized?
• Where does it go in 3D?


3. Work in plan and section
• Lack of exposure, low topographic relief or limited

drilling limit the amount of control on 3D geological
models. Many possible interpretations may be made
from the same data
• Need to utilize all information available e.g. geophysics,
geochemistry etc. to constrain the model and find the
most probable interpretation
• When adding linework to a cross section, always
consider how that contact/ore zone would appear in
plan view (and vice versa)

Draw block diagrams
1
2
3
20
Colluvium 10
35
Conglomerate
A
Sandstone 5
50
Limestone 50
30 B C
5
Granite
C
C
7 5
5 2 5
5 5 3
5 10
25
50 5


4. Think in 4D
• Tectonic regimes
change over time;
• An understanding of
the event history is
fundamental to place
mineralization in the
correct context; and
• Keep timing in mind.
What age is the veining?

Our interpretations
must capture the
timing of structures


5. Start interpreting right away

• Don’t wait till you have a
huge amount of data and
hope the pattern
appears
• Interpret what you see

during mapping – gives
you something to test
• Provides a context for

future data gathering
and gives you a template
for your 3D model

6. Stretch the data and make decisions

• There is no such thing as a ‘fact map’;
• Only the measured data on the map is
‘true’ – everything else is
interpretation;
• BUT the interpretation is the most
valuable part of the map; and
• A lot of geology is pattern recognition
– outcrop-scale structures are faithful
reduced images of large structure.


7. Follow geometrical principles
• Rocks must occupy 100% of their “space” at all times during

their deformation history = “structural balancing”;
• So we should be able to reconstruct rocks to their non-

deformed state;
• Many cross-sections on published 1: 100 000 & 1: 250 000

maps are markedly “unbalanced” & so must be incorrect.

Traditional Drill Core Logging

verses Core Structural Mapping
Two approaches:
Structural Core Logging
systematic and data-driven
Vs
Structural Core Mapping
less systematic and interpretation-driven
Both approaches are complimentary.


Structural Core Logging

• Systematic description and measurement of drill core, and recorded in a
database, including:
• Contacts (gradational or sharp) for lithology, alteration and mineralogy;
• Structural fabrics (foliations, lineations) and cross-cutting relationships;
• Veins, joints (with infill) and micro-fracturing;
• A large amount of data is amassed, useful for:
• Statistical analyses of structural frequencies and orientations
• Define population orientations (e.g. veins) and determining correlations.
• Main downside is that logging becomes a mindless exercise without
thought and focus on the big-picture objective.

Structural Core Mapping

• Philosophy is similar to field geological mapping - “Map”
domain boundaries, look for pattern changes and Interpret.
• Map and sketch directly on to paper noting any critical
structural information:
• Domain structural pattern changes, folds;
• Cross-cutting evidence;
• Bedding-cleavage relationships;
• Kinematic indicators, lineations / striations etc.
• Focus on areas of interest rather - not systematic.
• Extract data that is critical to the understanding of the system;
• Allows critical relationships to be identified and solved; and
• Particularly useful in exploration environment – ore controls.


Patterns and Relationships from Drillcore

• “Map” the core in section - interpret don’t just collect data;
• Define structural domains from pattern changes and interpret
boundary geometries;
• Predict domain boundary intersections (e.g. fault zones) and
confirm in core.
Class 5
Class 3
Example Domain Classes
Class 2
1. Strongly sheared or brecciated

2. Faulted - displacement or striations
3. Alteration or strong fracturing
Class 1 4. Broken core
5. Residual soil / clay.
Domain

Patterns and Relationships from Drillcore

Typical Examples
• Predict if all veins are mineralized or is mineralization
associated with a preferred orientation or spatial domain,
based on geometry of products of deformation;
• Detect other structures that may be mineralization controlling

structures or parallel to controlling structures, e.g. faults, folds
and foliations;
• Determine local strain axes from kinematic indicators;
• Identify spatial domains associated with fault or joint patterns.
• THESE REQUIRE ORIENTED DRILL CORE.


Orientating Core
• BallMark ® System
• Ezy-Mark Tool
 Three different gravity and
non-magnetic measurements
 Quality Control System

Ace Core Orientation Tool (ACT)

• 3 accelerometers measure the
gravitational direction of the
core tube at any time.
• The user enters the time at
which the core was broken.
• The instrument guides the user
to rotate the tube to the position
it was in at the given time.
• The base of the core can then
be marked.
• Easy to Use
• No consumables
• “Black Box”


Down Hole Geophysics Tools
Acoustic
Televiewer
Optical
Televiewer
• Can generate very accurate orientations;
• Orientation is affected by changes in the magnetic field;
• Picking is complicated by strongly laminated rock;
• Powerful supplementary tool particularly when core
orientation fails or is not done.

Measuring Orientation: α-β-γ Method

α Angle of planar feature relative Lineation
to core axis measured along

longest axis of ellipse.
β Circumferential angle between
orientation reference line and
the long axis of the ellipse.
SRK Convention:
• Looking downhole;
• Upper surface of core;
• Measured to bottom of ellipse; and
• Measured clockwise
γ Angle between a lineation on

Reference
line
the plane and the long axis of Line through bottom

of ellipse
the ellipse. Core Axis
SRK Convention:
• Measured clockwise;
• From bottom of ellipse.


Measuring Orientation: ‘Rocket Launcher’

• Allows measurement of true orientation of structural
features;
• No post-measurement corrections necessary;
• Allows recognition of structural changes (e.g. fabric
deflections) in the core on the fly; and
• Important for core mapping. Core Mapper at Rabbit Lake
Adjustable Core Frame Non-magnetic table
Support rods
(graduated in degrees)
Tightening
screws
Frame to
hold cor e
Hinge
Moveable
compass
Horizontally
rotating arm
Core
Protractor
Hinge Reference line

at base of core
is aligned with ‘V’.

Unoriented Drillcore: ‘the Norm’
• Planes in unoriented core define cones in 3D;

• Extraction of meaningful orientation data is very difficult; and
• Of limited use for correlations in highly deformed areas.

Patterns from α angles only (unoriented)

• Low alpha angle = structure / layering is
nearly parallel to the drill hole;
• High alpha angles = structure / layering is
nearly perpendicular to the drill hole;
• Intermediate angles eliminate the above
two possibilities;
• This can be very useful information during
modelling!
• Measure and take note of changes in the
alpha angle of layering while logging and
look out for fold axes!
Unoriented core can be oriented if it contains a consistent planar element

(foliation, bedding) whose orientation is known to be consistent over the
region of interest:
- Use this as a reference frame to extract other data.
Unconstrained Geometry from Unoriented Core
Holes are inclined, but not oriented


Unconstrained Geometry from Unoriented Core

Without oriented data, many possible geometries
If we know orientation and shear sense, we have a chance!

Patterns from Oriented Core
• We can determine form-lines of complex

geometries and use geometrical North
relationships to assist with the interpretation;

• Reduce many possibilities to few or even
n=10
one; and
n=1
n=1
n=1
n=1
Num to
• Apply proper structural analysis.

Equal area projection, lower hemisph


Patterns from Oriented Core

Oriented core allows:
• Reduce 3 intersections to
one;
• Start using statistical
distribution of orientations for
geotechnical design;
• Interpolation away from
intersection; and
• Increase confidence.

New Age of Oriented Core Data Analysis - GoCad
Vein orientations Foliation orientations


Why do geologists need to think

and visualize in 3D?
• Primarily because geology is a 3D geometrical science;
• Interpretations need to make sense in 3D – the
geometry must be balanced;
• Since deformation is 3D, most structural interpretations
require a good understanding of what is happening in
3D;
• Many of the surficial deposits have now been found and
the future of exploration lies in new discoveries beneath
cover or buried at depth - to make these discoveries it
will be necessary to start considering targeting in 3D;
and
• Rock behaviour in mining is a 3D problem requiring full
3D quantification of structural geometries.

3D Rotation - Visualization
• Shepard and Metzler (1971) mental rotation test:
A B C D E
Which two are the same?
Shepard, R and Metzler. J. "Mental rotation of three dimensional objects." Science 1971. 171(972):701-3


Mental Rotation Test

1.
A B C D E
2.
A B C D E
3.
A B C D E
4.
A B C D E
Geometrical 3D Visualisation Tools

• Geological maps;
• Cross-section construction using
balancing & apparent dips;
• Structure contour analysis;
• Orthographic projection;
• Stereographic projection;
• Computer software;
• Gemcom, Vulcan, Surpac, Datamine, Gocad,
Leapfrog etc.
• Automated interpretation techniques.


Traditional tools - Structure contour analysis
• Concept of structure contours same as

topographic contours;
• Structure contours define the

surface of a geological feature, for example:
• fault,
• shear zone,
• surface of stratigraphic unit,
• contact of intrusion

Structure contour analysis

Structure contours are lines that connect points of equal height above a
datum level that are contained within a structure (bedding, unconformity, fold,
fault etc.)
Image courtesy of Fault Analysis Group, UCD, Ireland)
Structure contours of a planar dipping surface (blue) form straight, parallel,

equally spaced lines

Image courtesy of Fault Analysis Group, UCD, Ireland)
Structure contours of a simply folded dipping surface (blue) form straight,

parallel lines. Their spacing and their elevation changes with the shape and
elevation of the surface.
• Widely spaced structure contours indicate

shallow dip of unit or contact;
(= shallow surface slope of topographic contours)
• Close structure contours indicate steep dip of

unit or contact;
• Curved contours indicate rounding in surface

(e.g. complex folds, intrusions).


Exercise 2:
Granny Smith Structure Contours

Granny Smith Exercise


Granny Smith Exercise

N N

Granny Smith Combined Data

N



N


N


New Age of Structure Contours - gOcad

New Computer Aided Techniques

As geologists we need to embrace these new approaches to
exploration and mining in order to better understand
mineralising systems and ultimately make new mineral
discoveries, however,
– Good fundamental geological skills are still required;
– The importance of good field geology is still important;
The new additional skills required by geologists now and in the
near future will be:
– Good 3D modelling skills using a variety of software
platforms appropriate to the task;
– Good data mining skills and the ability to integrate and
interpret many different datasets from disparate
sources;
Whilst 2D computer techniques will still play an important role
for many years in exploration and mining these will by
necessity slowly be surpassed by an emphasis on 3D
information and techniques.


Modeling Software
• Geomodeller
• Has the ability to accept primary geological observations (such as structural information) to
build a 3D geological model that adheres to built-in geological rules;
• Contact Intrepid Geophysics – Phil McInerney;
• Gocad – Sparse
• Can quickly build structural surfaces from sparse data that represent complex regional-
scale geological objects;
• Contact Mira Geoscience – Gervais Perron;
• GoCad – SKUA
• Is a new implicit geological modelling module from GOCAD, similar to Geomodeller in
terms of built-in geological knowledge;
• Contact Mira Geoscience – Gervais Perron;
• Leapfrog
• 3D interpolation from drillhole data, primarily developed for contouring of assay data,
adapted for geological modeling;
• Contact Zaparo – Andy Abraham;
• GMP’s e.g. Vulcan, Surpac, Gemcom, Datamine

• Produce 3D triangulated surfaces from interpreted polyline input
Other software tools

• GST Components
• 3D geological database and
visualisation system, imports from all
common file formats and offers
superb visualisation capabilities
• Sirovision
• photogrammetric mapping tool for
remote data gathering e.g. pit walls,
allows accurate measurement and
location
• Geophysical Inversion
• 3D inversion software for magnetics,
density and EM data to help constrain
and define geometries of geological
units in the subsurface.


3-D Models and GIS – Do we still need Stereonets ?

Traditional
Stereonet
showing planes
of faults and
intersections
3D model + 3D
GIS. Area of all
west dipping –
plunging
intersections of
major faults on
west wall of pit
Conclusions
1. The quality of geological interpretation is still highly
dependant on fundamental geology skills needed in
exploration and mining.
2. Data collection should be integrated with simultaneous 4D

interpretation towards delivering a practical domain-based
output.
3. New 3D modelling and querying technologies now offer the

ability to rapidly create and update complex 3D models and
interrogate large, complex data sets in 3D.
4. These powerful 3D models still need to be based on good

geometrical constraints, from maps and orientated core, and
geometrical principals enforced by traditional tools.
5. Fostering the fundamental geology skills in conjunction with

new technologies is essential to make new discoveries and to
solve the complex problems earth science poses that extend
beyond and below the surface.



CM3 – Structural analysis of

fault and vein systems

Applied Structural Geology in

Exploration and Mining
CM3: Structural Analysis of Fault
and Vein Systems

Analysis of faults
 Geometry of faults in 3D;
 Fault networks, patterns and
classification;
 Fault growth and dilational jogs;
 Character; Brittle vs. ductile,
alteration, veining;
 Timing;
 Kinematics; Movement sense and
direction;
 Veining


Fault patterns in 3-D

• Faults form 3-D linked arrays that move co-operatively to accomplish
“balanced” deformation of rock masses;
• Too many published interpretations show cross-cutting lineaments and
faults without mutual offset.
Note operation
of 4 faults

Fault patterns in Athabasca Basin, Canada
What is wrong with this interpretation?
From Jefferson et al. 2007


Fault networks
Linked arrays of faults:

• Basin linkage in the North Sea,
off Norway (top);
• Main faults in the Pannonian 200km
Basin, Hungary (bottom). NORTH SEA
HUNGARY
100km

Fault networks
On a global scale,
linked networks of
divergent, convergent
and transform (strike-
slip) plate boundaries
form a first-order fracture
system in Earth’s
lithosphere


Fault networks
Also 2nd order fault system – transfer faults

Fault networks
Strike-slip pull apart basin Normal-detachment fault array
Imbricate thrust duplexes


Conjugate Fault Relationships

• Important Factors:
• Rock type;
• Confining pressure;
• Pre-existing anisotropy or surfaces;
• Subsequent deformation/flattening.
© Marli Miller, University of Oregon
Brittle conjugate faults in sedimentary

rocks
English River Subprovince, Superior Province

30° 30°
Brittle ductile conjugate faults in
migmatitic metasedimentary rocks

Riedel Fault Relationships
P • R shears small angle to main

shear, synthetic movement
• P shears synthetic movement
• R’ shears conjugate antithetic
shears, high angles to main shear
Identification of different fault

orientations and their kinematics
can aid in understanding fault
systems as a whole


Sinistral Riedel Fault System
Cerro Bayo Epithermal

Silver Deposit

Sinistral Riedel Fault System
Cerro Bayo Epithermal

Silver Deposit


Fault Classification
• Faults are classified by their sense of slip.

• Specific differences in the nature of the fault types reflect their orientation
and sense of slip relative to geological layering and the Earth’s surface.

Analysis of faults
classification;
 Timing;
direction;
 Veining.


Fault Displacement
• Fault displacements vary over the fault surface.

• At a broad-scale, the variations are systematic.
• Tip-lines are rarely regularly-shaped.
• Usually faults are not isolated, but part of an array.

Fault Growth
• Despite the geometrical differences between fault types, the
growth of all faults are controlled by two basic processes:
• Fault propagation and segmentation; and
• Fault segment linkage.
• These processes account for nearly all aspects of fault geometry
and fault rock content.


Fault Propagation and Segmentation

(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Courtesy of: Fault Analysis Group,

Tip-line bifurcation: University College Dublin.
Localized retardation in propagation of the fracture

front results in segmented fault array.
Fault Linkage


Fault Linkage: Examples

Dilational jog along low-angle reverse fault
Dilational jog along low-angle normal fault

Segmentation and Dilational Jogs
• Tendency to think in 2D but, in 3D, similar to other fault systems;

• Kinematics are favourable for dilation and fluid flow.


Dilational Jogs

Dilational Jogs


Analysis of faults
classification;
 Timing;
direction;
 Veining.

Fault Zone Heterogeneity

• Fault segmentation and
linkage processes result
in highly-variable width
and content (fault rock
types) of fault zones.
• Fault zone thickness can
range over 3 orders of
magnitude for a particular
displacement.
• Drillhole intersections of
the same fault will not be
the same.
• Consequently, faults are
horrible to correlate from
drillhole information.

Fault Damage Zones and Permeability

Permeability is unlikely to be the same
everywhere on an active fault zone:
• Highest where damage is most
intense; and
• Principally localized by irregularities
(bends, branches, steps, jogs).
Damage zones around irregularities along fault zone are zones of enhanced
permeability

Fault Damage Zone Permeability
Faulkner et al., 2010
Where is the greatest permeability for fluid flow?

Where will the veins, stockwork and highest mineralization concentrate?


Fault Zones and Permeability

• Slip on faults is often triggered by the presence of fluids (e.g.)
groundwater.
• Hence, fluids promote fault movement and further increase of
permeability.
Fluids diminish the

strength of structures

Brittle Faults and Ductile Shear Zones
• Deformation regime depends upon: temperature, pressure, strain rate,

composition and the presence of pore fluids;
• Deformation regime commonly changes during progression of an orogeny.


Brittle vs. Ductile Faults

Brittle
• Discrete discontinuities accommodate
displacement;
• Commonly faults are segmented on a range of
scales; and
• Contain variety of fault rocks (e.g. breccia, gouge)
which partially reflect the strain accommodated
by the fault.
Ductile
• Deformation is continuous with wall rocks;
• Strongly developed planar and linear preferred
orientation fabrics; and
• Strain is reflected in the intensity of the foliation.

Rock-types in faults
Incohesive
gouge and
breccia ±
pseudotachylite
Cohesive crush Cohesive

Breccias and foliated high-
cataclasites ± strain zones
pseudotachylite and mylonites


Rock-types in faults
Breccia and pseudotachylite Cohesive crush breccias and cataclasites
Gouge Cohesive foliated high-strain zones and mylonites

Analysis of faults
classification;
 Timing;
direction;
 Veining.


The Importance of Getting Timing Right

• Application of structural control principles requires that the
timing of mineralisation must be carefully matched with the
history of activity on the fault system.
Folded gold, Rainy River Gold project, Ontario.


• Determine the timing of mineralisation in the event
history and match it to the history of movement on the
fault / shear zones in the region.


Single progressive deformation event

SINGLE
PROGRESSIVE
DEFORMATION
EVENT
This cross-section is
from a gold deposit in
which folds, foliation,
faults and veins
formed during a single
deformation event
Wattle Gully gold deposit, Victoria, Australia

Analysis of faults
classification;
 Timing;
direction;
 Veining.


Kinematic Analysis

Kinematic Indicators
Courtesy: Fault Analysis Group, University College Dublin
• Only way to be sure of the movement on a fault is if we can observe a

displaced marker and a fault lineation.
• Together, these yield absolute displacement.
• Normally we don’t have this information so have to rely on secondary
information – kinematic indicators.


Shear sense
Ground Rules:
• Shear sense can be reliably determined only on sections at high
angle to fault / shear zone and parallel to transport / stretching
direction (i.e. lineation);
• If possible, determine direction of displacement before looking for
shear sense indicators; and
• You must say which way you are facing to be unambiguous.
To correctly observe sense of

shear indicators, look at
plane perpendicular to
foliation & parallel to lineation

Lineations
• Lineations probably are the most useful of
all structures
• 2 basic types of lineations occur in

deformed rocks:
• Intersection lineations; and

(See CM4: Analysis of Folds)
• Stretching, extension or mineral

lineations.


Stretching, extension & mineral lineations

Lineations in fault rocks are the main indicators of
displacement direction.
The 3 most important lineations include:
(1) Slickenlines (grooves, striations) on fracture

surfaces (slickensides) sub-parallel to fault
zone;
(2) Fibre lineations in vein-fill on fault plane;

usually quartz or calcite; and
(3) Stretching / mineral lineations in the

foliation surface in ductile shear / fault zones.

Analysis of faults
classification;
 Timing;
 Kinematics – Brittle Faults;
 Veining.


Lineations on brittle fault surfaces

Lineations are common on fault surfaces,
either:
(1) Due to grooving parallel to the

movement direction called
“slickenlines” (on fault surface or
“slickenside”);
(2) Mineral fibres that grow on the fault

surface parallel to the movement
direction.

Lineated brittle fault rocks

Striations (slickenlines) on fault
surface (slickenside) dipping
steeply
Slickenlines on fault surface, Seabee Gold

Slickenlines on fault surface, Detour Gold project, Ontario. Mine, SK.


Kinematic Indicators: Brittle Faults

Slickenfibres

Fibre lineations on fault surface
Local separation of fault surfaces filled with vein material,

commonly thin fibres or films of quartz or calcite.
(Gap faces in direction of movement of opposite face)


Mineral fibre growth
In quartz, galena and gold –

kinematics during ore
formation!
6191M stope sample, Con gold deposit, Yellowknife

b.
Steps on fault surfaces
Steps perpendicular to
slickenlines and mineral fibres
are assumed to face in direction of
movement of opposite side of fault
lineation
STEP


Steps on fault surfaces (cont.)
How would you

classify this fault?
• Dip or strike slip?

• Normal, reverse,
dextral or sinistral?
West Bay Fault, Yellowknife, Canada

Steps on fault surfaces (cont.)
Steps perpendicular to
slickenlines & mineral fibres;
Surface dips 90 degrees;
What is the sense and
direction of shear?


Exercise 3:
Fault Problems

Exercise 3: Fault Problems





Analysis of faults
classification;
 Timing;
 Kinematics – Ductile shear zones;
 Veining.

Tectonite Fabric Elements
Stretching Lineation
Aligned and stretched clasts
and/or minerals.
Schistosity
Planar foliation defined by
alignment of platy minerals.
• Depending upon the type of strain, the rock may contain

planar, linear or both fabric elements.


Foliation Definitions
• Foliation: a planar fabric that is usually associated with a
deformational origin.
• Slaty Cleavage: typical of slates (e.g., weakly
metamorphosed shales) — individual aligned mica flakes
(too small to observe by eye).
Increasingly coarse
• Schistosity: (schistose foliation): typical of moderately to
strongly metamorphosed schists —individual mica grains
define foliation (large enough to observe in hand
specimens).
• Gneissosity: (gneissose foliation): typical of high-grade
metamorphic rocks —coarser-grained, non-micaceous
minerals predominate —folia tend to anastomose around
pods of minerals more resistant to deformation.

Tectonite Fabric Elements
Strong planar (gneissose) foliation Flattened conglomerate


Stretching lineations
• Stretching, extension or mineral

lineations form parallel to the
elongation, stretching or tectonic
transport direction in deformed rocks.
They are useful as strain or
movement indicators;
• Foliations & stretching lineations are

part of the 3D rock fabric formed by
deformation, i.e. not separate
structures, and reflect the 3D nature
of the strain.

Stretching lineations (continued)

• Markers (e.g. pebbles, fossils, breccia fragments)
provide clear and direct evidence of rock strain and
define stretching / extension lineations;
• Most metamorphic rocks do not contain markers.

However they commonly exhibit elongation of
metamorphic mineral grains that define the rock
fabric (e.g. mica, amphibole). These can be visible
with the eye, but are commonly microscopic and
can be used as a mineral lineation that reflects 3D
strain;
• Stretching lineations are very valuable indicators

of movement or tectonic transport direction,
especially in shear zones.


Stretching lineation
Strong stretching lineation in ductile fault zone
Campbell Shear Zone, Con gold deposit, Yellowknife, Canada
Stretching lineation in quartzite
Indicates vertical (dip-slip) movement

Stretching lineation
Strong stretching lineation (quartz and amphibole) in
vertical ductile fault zone
Porphyroblasts of
staurolite not
lineated!!
What does this
indicate about
timing of ductile
deformation vs.
metamorphism?
Obotan gold deposit, Ghana.
Indicates oblique movement


Sense of shear in individual zone

Foliation in ductile shear zones oblique to zone boundaries
Obliquity reflects sense of shear
Plan View
Caledonian Orogeny, Doughruagh, Ireland

DEXTRAL ductile shear zone
Sense of shear in individual zone

Hornblendite dike (black) has been highly deformed & thinned in shear
zone
Cross-section View
Kamila shear zone, Kohistan, Pakistan


S / C fabrics in fault / shear zone

In ductile shear zones, shear commonly occurs in
“mini” shear zones — heterogeneous strain
Compare to a pack of cards, except that some

deformation occurs between the slip surfaces

S / C fabrics (continued)
The less deformed layers are equivalent to the margins of
the shear zone proper, and may develop an oblique foliation
related to the sense of shear
C-surface
S-surface
Individual shear zones are C-surfaces (“cisaillement”

is French for “shear”),and oblique folia between them are
S-surfaces (“schistocité is French for “foliation”)


S / C fabrics in fault / shear zone

Cross-section View
Plan View
Ox Mountains, Ireland
Cape Ray Fault Zone

Dube et al., 1996
What is the sense of shear?

S / C Fabrics in Fault / Shear Zone

Plan View
Cerro de Maimon,
Dominican Republic What is the sense of shear?

Asymmetrical rigid objects

Clasts of relatively rigid (competent) material like boudins or
large crystals (porphyroclasts or porphyroblasts)
Plan View
Pine Lake Volcanics,

Seabee district,
Saskatchewan

Strain Markers
Cross-section View
Boudinaged veins
in combination
with a lineation
can be powerful
kinematic
indicators.
Campbell shear zone, Con gold deposit, Yellowknife, Canada


Strain Markers
Cross-section View
Cross-section View
Guyana Goldfields Aurora Gold Project

Campbell shear zone, Con gold deposit,
Yellowknife, Canada
Asymmetrical strain (pressure) shadows
3 possibilities:
(1) Asymmetrical elongation of

deformed, recrystallized “tails” of
porphyroclasts;
(2) Asymmetrical fibre overgrowths in

“pressure shadows”;
(3) Asymmetrical lenses of residual,

less deformed matrix, protected by
the porphyroclast.


Strain (pressure) shadows

Plan View

Shear bands
Shear bands may develop in homogeneous, strongly foliated
rocks especially in the most intensely deformed parts of
shear zones
Plan View
Sense of shear in the band is the same as

the overall sense of shear in shear zone

Analysis of faults
classification;
 Timing;
 Kinematics;
 Veining.

Veins in fault / shear zones

• Veins form in or adjacent to
both brittle and ductile
zones, and they are the
most useful indicators of
direction and sense of
displacement.
• Mineralized veins are
especially useful - WHY???
• Veins generally form oblique
to their related fault, and the
sense of obliquity is related
to fault movement direction /
sense.


Veins exploit pre-existing fabric
Folded bedding parallel quartz vein,

Goldenville, Nova Scotia
Bedding parallel vein, Hill End Mine,

NSW, Australia

Fold Geometry – Control on Veins

Flexural slip
Folded vein, Deborah deposit, Bendigo
Schematic model of vein formation Flexural flow
Tangential longitudinal strain
Vein variation, Sheepshead anticline, Bendigo Laminated and extensional veins, Swan
from Cox (2005) decline, Bendigo


Vein styles
Vein Internal Structural Formation
Geometry
Type Features Site Mechanism
laminated structure;
shear fracturing;
foliated wallrock slivers; shear zone or fault;
Fault-fill veins slip surfaces; fold limbs
parallel to host structure extensional opening of
existing fractures
fibres at low angles to vein walls;
filli
mineral fibres at high outside shear zones;
Extensional veins angle to vein walls AC joints in folds
planar veins at moderate angle
extensional fracturing;
to shear zone;
extensional-shear fracturing
perpendicular to fold hinge
Extensional
internal layering: multiple openings within shear zones
vein arrays
2 or more oblique to
Stockworks orthogonal vein sets
non specific tabular to cigar shaped zones
Breccia Veins
Jigsaw Puzzle angular clasts, no rotation along faults parallel to host structure
vein and wallrock clasts;

Fault breccias fault or shear zone parallel to host structure fault slip
rotation and abrasion
Adapted from Robert et al. 1994

Vein styles
From Robert and Poulsen, 2001


Vein styles: laminated fault-fill veins
Schematic representation of
lateral zoning in vein to
wallrock ratio
Sketch of individual veinlets

amalgamating to form larger
laminated quartz lenses.
Sigma deposit, Val d’Or
Robert et al. (1994)

Vein styles: laminated fault-fill veins
Fault-fill veins with carbonate alteration. Fault-fill veins with carbonate alteration.
Motherlode, California Pamour deposit, Timmins
Fault-fill vein. Fault-fill veins with sericite alteration.

Hoyle Pond deposit, Timmins Con deposit, Yellowknife


Vein styles: extensional veins
Robert et al. (1994).
• Planar extensional vein x-cutting shear zone;

• Arrays of sigmoidal extensional veins (tension gashes) in shear zone;
• Planar extensional veins within shear zone.

Vein styles: extensional veins
Extensional quartz-tourmaline vein. Quartz tourmaline vein, Buffalo deposit,

Red Lake. Red Lake
Extensional calcite vein array. Giant

deposit, Yellowknife. Extensional quartz vein array, Black Fox
deposit, Timmins


Vein styles: stockwork and breccia veins

Stockwork and breccia veins can be regarded as composite structures
resulting from a combination of multiple sets of veins and fractures
U-bearing qtz-hem bx, Mt. Gee, Australia Vein stockwork, Black Fox deposit, Timmins

Veins as Kinematic Indicators

• Where high pore fluid pressures
dominate (many hydrothermal
environments), vein orientations
can help determine the kinematics.
• Sub-horizontal veins:
• Contractional.
• Sub-vertical veins:
• Parallel to faults:
extensional.
• Or
• Oblique to faults:
transcurrent.
After Sibson (1990)



Cross-section View
Vein system, Obotan deposit, Ghana

Bogosu Au Deposit, Ghana, West Africa



• The Bogoso Mine
occurs 60km to the
SW of Ashanti along
the same regional
strike-slip fault
system;
• Gold mineralization
occurs at bends
along the strike-slip
system;
• Note vein geometries
associated with
opposing bends!

Veins in fault / shear zones
Vein
(tension gash)


Tension Veins
S-shaped en echelon
tension veins
indicate a sinistral
movement
Z-shaped veins
indicate dextral
movement

Tension Veins


Tension Veins
Plan View

Veins & brittle faults (continued)
compressive stress direction
Dextral movement


Vein networks
a
Relationship between a
reverse (compressional)
fault, dilation and b
veining.
a

Vein networks
fluid expands rapidly in dilating

part of the fault allowing for phase
separation and mineralisation
Relationship between
normal (extensional)
fault, dilation and
veining. "choke" on tight section of fault
fluid pathway
magma/fluid source


Vein networks
Relationship
between strike-slip
(wrench) fault,
dilation and veining.

Vein networks veins

ve ns
NORMAL FAULT
veins
vei ns
Normal Fau t
STRIKE-SLIP FAULT
veins
vei ns
Strike Slip
Fault
Patterns of faulting and REVERSE

FAULT
associated veining Reverse Fault
Indicates vei ns
two different
episodes of Veins characteristic of dextral strike-slip
movement overprinting horizontal veins
typical of compressional or reverse faulting.
faulting This type of relationship indicates two
episodes of faulting.


Exercise 4: Epithermal Vein Geometry



CM4 – Structural analysis of

folds and fold systems


CM4 – Structural analysis of folds and
fold systems



Folds
• Basic geometry;
• Orientations of bedding and axial planar
foliation;
• Fold vergence;
• Intersection lineations as indicators of fold
axes;
• Younging and structural facing;
• Fold sequencing and fold patterns; and
• Recognizing transposition.

Fold Geometry
Symmetrical Fold Asymmetrical Fold
Interlimb angle
Fold axial plane Fold axial plane
For each fold we can measure:

• Limb orientations
• Fold axis (hinge line)
• Fold axial plane
• Interlimb angle

Fold Type – Based on Interlimb Angle
Isoclinal Tight

Fold Type – Based on Interlimb Angle

Open
Close


Fold Geometry
Cylindrical folds:
• Rectilinear hinge line;
• Constant limb orientations;
• Planar axial surfaces.
Non-cylindrical folds:
• Curvilinear hinge lines;
• Variable, but usually systematic,
limb orientations;
• Planar or curviplanar axial
surfaces.

Fold Geometry
Doubly-plunging Folds
Zagros Mountains, Iran (Google Earth)
• Folds are rarely cylindrical;

• Like displacements on faults, fold amplitudes may
vary along strike.

Why do we need to know about folds?

• Many ore deposits occur in orogenic belts and
are geometrically related to the structural
architecture.
• Pre-deformation mineralization: will be folded
along with the host sequence;
• Syn-deformation mineralization: location and/or
plunge or ore shoots commonly related to fold
structure; and
• Post-deformation mineralization: along inherited
structure e.g. faults along fold limbs.
• It is essential to understand the timing
relationship between the deformation events
and mineralization in order to interpret the
structural controls correctly.
Folded Sulphide Ore Zone – Pre-Folding

• Stratiform sulphide
thickened in fold closure
into an accumulation of
sufficient size to form
orebody;
• Plunge of ore is plunge
of folds; and
• Structural analysis can
predict location of fold
hinges and thus aid
exploration targeting.


Folded Mineralized Zone – Pre-Folding
From Kisters, 2005

Folding Makes Space for Fluid Flow

Subhorizontal
extension veins
Fault breaching fold hinge


Tangier anticline, Meguma district, Nova Scotia

Schematic model of vein formation
Caribou deposit, Nova Scotia Goldenville district, Nova Scotia


Flexural slip
Folded vein, Deborah deposit,

Bendigo
Schematic model of vein
formation Flexural flow
Tangential longitudinal strain
Vein variation, Sheepshead anticline, Bendigo Laminated and extensional veins,

from Cox (2005) Swan decline, Bendigo


Post-Folding Skarn Mineralization: Antamina, Peru

Folds and Mineralization

In folded terranes, hinge zones are good targets for a
variety of mineralization styles. Ore plunge is commonly
(but not always) parallel to fold plunge
Where are the fold hinge zones? What is their plunge?


How do we identify folds?

• Bedding orientation
changes across a fold
hinge;
• Younging direction
changes across a fold
hinge:
• Gross stratigraphy;
• Younging indicators.
• Older rocks in core =
anticline; and
• Younger rocks in core =
syncline.

Foliations and Folds

Folds are often intimately related to foliation (cleavage or
schistosity).
Axial planar foliation generally parallels fold axial plane


Axial Planar Foliations and Folds
Axial planar foliation is often constant, therefore a range in

the intersection angle between bedding and foliation
occurs.

Bedding and Axial Planar Cleavage

Cleavage at high-angle
Cleavage at low-angle to bedding in hinge.
to bedding in limbs.
Bedding steeper than

cleavage in overturned
Bedding shallower limb.
than cleavage in
upright limb.
Using bedding-cleavage relationships we can start to

determine the geometry of a fold.

Which way is the antiformal hinge?

Crenulation Cleavage
Outcrop showing bedding

crenulated by small folds
Alignment of fold limbs

forms a crenulation cleavage
Is this outcrop in the

hinge or the limb of a
larger fold?


Foliation Development and Lithology
• Development of a foliation
(cleavage or schistosity)
depends on presence of
platy minerals (e.g. clays,
micas, amphiboles etc.);
and
• Foliation can appear very
different in rocks with
more / less abundant
platy minerals.

Foliation Development and Lithology

The muddy horizons have
developed a cleavage, and
the sandy horizons have not.


Fold Vergence - Parasitic Folds
• The two limbs of an ideal fold are

mirror images;
• This symmetry relationship is a
powerful tool for determining the
position of an outcrop-scale fold on
a large structure;
• Small folds on limbs of larger
structure are generally
asymmetrical; and
• This sense of asymmetry is used
to locate fold hinges.

Fold Vergence - Parasitic Folds
• ‘S’ folds - limbs

• ‘M’ or ‘W’ folds – hinge
• ‘Z’ folds - limbs

Parasitic Folds
‘S’ Folds in Sand/Silts
Parasitic Folds in Psammites
Z
S
M? W
Fold axial planar cleavage

Parasitic Folds (continued)
Additional examples:
domainal development of
parasitic folds


Vergence in the Field
Parasitic folds are

especially useful to
S folds locate the position
of axial traces of
major folds in areas
Z folds of poorly exposed,
tight isoclinal folding

Vergence Reality
Variable plunge
causes apparent
changes in
Vergence.
Compare outcrops A & B
Always determine
vergence when
looking DOWN-
PLUNGE.


View Folds Down-Plunge

This vertical section is up- Down-plunge section gives
plunge (so vergence is true view of fold geometry
opposite to map view) and and same sense of fold
fold profile is stretched vergence as map

Orientations of Major Folds
• How do we determine the orientations of major folds?
• The following data is available from most folds:

• Axial planar foliation;
• Bedding or earlier foliation that defines the fold; and
• Parasitic folds.
• The intersection of these planes yields an intersection

lineation that is parallel to the fold axis.


Intersection Lineation
• The intersection of
bedding and
cleavage form an
intersection lineation,
which is parallel to
the fold axis.
• On fold limbs, the

lineation is best
observed on
cleavage surfaces.

Intersection lineations can be

used to estimate trend and
plunge of axes of major
folds


(from http://nvcc.edu/home/cbentley/geoblog/labels/virginia.html)

Common Intersection Lineations

Bedding/cleavage intersection. Crenulations of an earlier foliation.


• Not to be confused with mineral stretching lineations which

may be either parallel or perpendicular to the fold axis

Bedding-Cleavage Relationship (vergence)

Bedding-cleavage relationships can be used to
determine the position of an outcrop-scale fold in a
larger structure.
LEFT RIGHT
Is the nearest antiform located to the left or right of this

outcrop? (or: what is the vergence?)

Bedding-Cleavage Relationship (vergence)

• Using only bedding-cleavage relationship, the antiform is
inferred to be to the right of the outcrop i.e. vergence is to
the right
Bedding and cleavage at

smaller angle in fold limb
LEFT RIGHT
Bedding & cleavage at

high angle in fold hinge

Structural Facing
• Structural Facing is rather complexly defined as: the

direction of younging resolved in the foliation at right angles
to the fold axis;
• Facing: the direction in which the axial plane of a fold passes

through younger layers. This term applies to the whole fold.
• Younging: the direction towards which a rock unit or layer

decreases in age. This direction changes around a fold.


Geometry and Facing

• Direction of younging in the cleavage plane is the
structural facing (direction);
• Facing provides information on structural history.
The following slides examine each of these outcrops

Fold Geometry at Depth

A B
• Change in younging direction suggests that outcrops are on opposite limbs of a

fold;
• In outcrop A, bedding is steeper than cleavage;
• In outcrop B, bedding is shallower than cleavage.
Fold is synformal but…


Fold Geometry at Depth

.. the fold is also an anticline!
Fold is a synformal anticline.

Facing — Outcrop A
Is the facing direction upwards or downwards?
Graded
bedding


Facing — Outcrop A
The graded bedding youngs upwards, but faces

downwards on the cleavage surface.

Facing — Outcrop B
Is the facing direction upwards or downwards?
Cross-bedding


Facing — Outcrop B
The cross-bedding youngs and faces

downwards on the cleavage surface.

Why facing is important?
Downward facing implies earlier inversion


Exercise 5:
Fold Problems

Exercise 5: Fold Problems


Fold Sequencing
What structures would you

select as being potentially
critical in this outcrop?

Polyphase Folding
Structural sucession
• Primary compositional
layering (S0); S2 &
• Early penetrative foliation F2ap
parallel to layering (S1),
shown by minor veins;
F3
• Isoclinal folding of S0 and S1
around F2 and development of
new axial planar foliation S2;
• Folding of S0, S1 and S2
around F3. No axial planar
foliation is observed. S0/S1


Fold Interference Fold interference patterns

are a function of the relative
orientations of the different
fold phases
Only 2
fold phases!
BUT ALSO:
On the outcrop, the pattern will
depend on the orientation of
the exposed surface
Overprinting Deformation Events: Fold Interference
After Ramsay, 1976
TYPE 1 or Dome-and-Basin
Fold Pattern is produced
where fold axial traces are at
high angle and both fold
generations are upright or
inclined


After Ramsay, 1976
TYPE 2 or Arrowhead /
Mushroom Pattern is
produced where fold axial
traces are at high angle, but
one fold generation is upright
to inclined and the other is
recumbent or reclined

TYPE 2 or Arrowhead /
Mushroom Pattern


After Ramsay, 1976
TYPE 3 or Wavy Tail Pattern

(coaxial) is produced where the
fold axes are parallel or sub-
parallel, and one generation of
fold is upright to inclined and
the other is recumbent or
reclined
Fold Interference
What type of interference pattern
is defined here?
Refolded folds in gneiss, Ruby Mountains, Elko

County, Nevada (From NBMG Photograph Archive)


Analysis of Multiply- Folded Areas

• Start with the last fold
event – fold axes will be
linear, fold axial planes
will be planar; both will
have consistent
orientation over
reasonable area
• Use regional data –
patterns may be more
obvious on large scale
than on pit/mine or
outcrop

• Once you have an

understanding of the
geometry of the last
fold phase, work
backwards to ‘unfold’
previous deformation
phases (e.g. by looking
at bedding/cleavage
asymmetry etc.)



Even the most complex areas
can be puzzled out with a bit
of time and patience

Foliation Generations
• It may be possible to
distinguish between
different generations of
foliation and relate these
to different fold events;
and
• If so, it is possible to
analyze structure using
S2/S1 relations etc. as
analogy to S1/S0 relations
in regions with only one
phase of folding.


• But remember that

foliation is developed to
different degrees in
different rock types –
some may show F2 folding
with no new foliation,
whereas others may have
penetrative S2 foliation
that obliterates earlier S1
cleavage.

• Also remember that some
rocks develop an early
bedding-parallel foliation
- it is common to have
one more phase of
foliation than of folding!
• The foliation may be
related to extension rather
than folding – look for
other evidence e.g.
boudinage.


Transposition: Folding and High Strain

• When the %$#&*# really hits the fan…
layers locally appear to join

up across stratigraphy rather
than along it
Sub-parallel sand lenses in silty shale form depositional(?) texture

with enigmatic origin…

Vancouver Art Gallery

Georgia Street
entrance
Transposed folds are

often more easily
defined by their
‘enveloping surface’



Transposition
Implications for exploration
Mapped distribution of high grade

appears to join up across strike
Enveloping surface defines folded layer

Transposition in Thin Section
• To illustrate the guiding

principal that geological
structures are repeated on
all scales: transposition of
a silty layer in a graphitic
schist. (Long axis of
section 5mm).


Sheath Folds: Folding and High Strain

• Sheath folds have curvi-
linear fold traces, and the
fold axes reverse their (Twiss and Moores, 1992)
plunges around a point;

• Sheath folds initiate as
cylindrical folds with axes
perpendicular to the
transport direction and (Hanmer and Passchier, 1991)
stretching lineation; Grenville Orogen, Ontario
• With progressive shear, the

axes rotate to become
parallel to the stretching
lineation.
(http://ic.ucsc.edu/~casey/eart150/Lectures/ShearZones/15shearZns.htm)

Things to Remember
• Fold symmetry
• Parasitic folds
• Vergence (careful of plunge!)
• Fold–fabric relationships
• Axial planar foliation
• Folded?
• Mineralization?
• Structural facing
• Need ‘way-up’ indicators
• Important for identifying overturned beds, especially where ‘way-
up’, alone, doesn’t work
• Fold sequencing
• Don’t be intimidated by ‘crazy’ patterns
• Be mindful of the orientation of the exposed surface
• Folding and High Strain – Transposition and Sheath Folds
• Enveloping surface
• Competence contrasts
• Rotation of fold axes
REMEMBER:
Folds are fractal. Small scale mimics larger scales. Relationships identified on the
outcrop scale can be applied to the deposit scale and larger.

General Discussion and Questions
THANK YOU!
Баярлалаа



Exercises

Structural Geology Short Course Fluids and Plumbing Exercise
Exercise 1: Fluids and Plumbing

Calculate how much hydrothermal fluid is required to form a 5 million ounce gold deposit.
• Assume 100% efficiency in depositing the gold from the hydrothermal fluid at the
deposit site;
• Assume the solubility of gold in the hydrothermal solution is 0.03ppm;
• Assume 1 ppm = 1 gram per tonne;
• Assume 1 ounce is equal to 31 grams;
• Assume 1 litre of hydrothermal fluid is equal to 1 kilogram; and
• Assume 1000 kilograms is equal to 1 metric tonne.
Method:
1. Convert 5 million ounces into grams;

2. Calculate how many tonnes of hydrothermal fluid are required to form the gold
deposit based on the solubility of 0.03 ppm (0.03 gpt); and
2. Calculate how many litres of hydrothermal fluid this is equal to.
Calculate how much hydrothermal fluid is required to form a 135,000 t uranium deposit
(e.g. MacArthur River)?
• Assume 100% efficiency in depositing the gold from the hydrothermal fluid at the
deposit site;
• Assume the solubility of uranium in the hydrothermal solution is 6 ppm;
• Assume 1 ppm = 1 gram per tonne;
• • Assume 1 litre of hydrothermal fluid is equal to 1 kilogram; and
• Assume 1000 kilograms is equal to 1 metric tonne.
Method:
1. Convert 135,000 t into grams;

2. Calculate how many tonnes of hydrothermal fluid are required to form the uranium
deposit based on the solubility of 6 ppm (6 gpt); and
3. Calculate how many litres of hydrothermal fluid this is equal to.
SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc Mongolia Mineral Exploration Roundup, 2014

Structural Geology Short Course Granny Smith Exercise
Exercise 2: Granny Smith Structure Contours

You are provided with two maps of the Granny Smith Au-Cu deposit, Laverton district,
Australia. One shows a grade map for the Granny Smith deposit. The other shows structure
contours for the granite-greenstone contact at Granny Smith. Gold mineralization is associated
with a major ductile shear zone that occurs at the granite-greenstone contact.
1. Construct a cross-section representing a key high grade gold location along the
granite-greenstone contact, then use it to answer the following questions:
a. Is gold mineralization preferentially located at shallower or steeper sections of

the granite-greenstone contact?
b. What could this tell you about the structural regime during gold
mineralization?
SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. Mongolia Mineral Exploration Roundup, 2014



Structural Geology Short Course Fault Problems
Exercise 3: Fault Problems – Part 1

Fault Analysis Problem 3A: Exercise on mapping & interpreting faults
Is the fault sketched in Fig. 3.1 a normal, reverse or strike-slip fault? Why?
breccia wit h
q uar t z - sulp hide
m at r i x
Figure 3.1: Sketch of fault and drillholes
SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. Mongolia Mineral Exploration Roundup 2014

Fault analysis problem 3B
(a) Does the fault shown in Fig. 3.2 have a prospective site on it? Why?
(b) What assumptions have you made in reaching this conclusion?
(c) What information would you seek in the field?
granit e
f au l t
2 00 m
Figure 3.2: Does this fault have a prospective site?

Fault analysis problem 3C
Is the rock sample sketched in Fig. 3.3 from:
(a) a N-S striking strike-slip fault,
(b) a N-S striking normal fault,
(c) an E-W striking reverse fault, or
(d) a N-S striking reverse fault?
quart z fibre
lineat ion
010
50
Figure 3.3: Sketch of fault outcrop

Structural Geology Short Course Epithermal Vein Exercise
Exercise 4: Drilling Out an Epithermal Vein / Fault

System
The drill section attached summarizes the results of the initial diamond drilling beneath a
mineralized fault + vein which outcrops as shown. Before planning additional drilling, it is
important to try to work out as much as you can about the structural (and other) controls on the
localization of mineralization. Understanding the structural controls will enable you to plan the
most effective and efficient drilling program to outline the mineralization and define the resource.
It is also important to plan drilling to maximize the acquisition of useful information.
After you have examined the drill section, answer the following questions.
1. What is your initial interpretation of the structural controls on mineralization?

2. What additional structural information would you try to acquire in the outcrop and / or
drill core to test and / or refine this interpretation?
3. A visit to the discovery outcrop shows that quartz fibres lineations on the fault plane
pitch very steeply on the fault surface. Narrow quartz veins in the outcrop are vertical
and vein / core axis angles are consistently about 30 degrees. Construct a cross-section
showing the likely structural controls.
4. Has the drilling thoroughly tested the potential on this section? Justify your answer.
SRK Consulting Canada (Inc.) Mongolia Mineral Exploration Roundup 2014

Structural Geology Short Course Epithermal Vein Exercise
Discovery outcrop -
narrow silicified fault zone & veins.
Fault dips 60 degrees East. 35 g/t Au vein sample.
DDH 1 DDH 2 DDH 3 DDH 4
Narrow silicified fault zone –

same as outcrop
4m @ 8 g/t Au.
Fault dips 60 degrees East. Narrow quartz
35 g/t Au vein sample. veins with
various Au
grades.
Dilational Qtz-vein
breccia averaging
25 g/t Au over widths
shown. Narrow silicified fault zone –
same as outcrop
2m @ 6 g/t Au
50m
Narrow, crustiform quartz vein –
Grading 4 g/t Au over 2m.
SRK Consulting Canada (Inc.) Mongolia Mineral Exploration Roundup 2014

Structural Geology Short Course Fold Problems
Exercise 5: Fold Problems

Several folds are illustrated in Fig. 5.1. Sketch the form of bedding on each face of the block
diagrams. Describe and classify these folds. Indicate also the structural facing direction on each
block diagram, where appropriate.
a. 87
51
72
03
overturned bedding
bedding with plunge
fold axial plane strike

and dip
bedding / fold axial plane

intersection lineation
vergence of parasitic fold b.

84
73

Structural Geology Short Course Fold Problems
Figure 5.1: Block diagrams


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What is the workshop about?

What is the workshop about?

What are some of the topics that will be covered in the workshop?

What are some of the topics that will be covered in the workshop?

Applied Structural Geology in

Exploration and Mining

Mongolia Mineral Exploration Roundup 2014

March 22, 2014

1 ©SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

0800-0815 Welcome and Introduction.

0815-0930 General concepts of structural geology and their

0930-1100 Structural mapping, core logging and 3D modelling techniques

1000-1030 Coffee Break

1100-1200 Structural analysis of faults and vein systems – Part 1.

1200-1300 Lunch Break

1300-1500 Structural analysis of faults and vein systems – Part 2.

1500-1530 Coffee Break

1530-1700 Structural analysis of folds and fold systems.

2 ©SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc.

Applied Structural Geology

CM1 – General concepts of

3 ©SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc.

Welcome and Introduction

Structural Geology Short Course

Structural Geology Short Course

• Define the simple principles of “structural

• Give you the tools you require to do

• Give you the confidence to apply these tools,

Structural Geology Short Course

• Formed in 1974, SRK now

Structural Geology Short Course

SRK’s Structural Geologists

Structural Geology Short Course

 Regional and local structural analysis of

Structural Geology Short Course

0815-0930 General concepts of structural geology and their

Structural Geology Short Course

Structural Geology Short Course

"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a

The stranger replied,

"You are in a hot air balloon hovering

"I am" replied the stranger, "How did you know?"

"Well", answered the balloonist, "everything you

The stranger below responded,

"You must be a engineer".

"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you

“you don't know where you are or where you are

“You have risen to where you are through a large

“You made a promise to someone that you have no

“The fact is you are in exactly the same situation you

Structural Geology Short Course

Many mining companies have not effectively

Structural Geology Short Course

Geology Input to the Mining Process

Structural Geology Short Course

• Elevates confidence in predictability of ore

• Definition of hydrogeological pathways,

Structural Geology Short Course