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Stream-sediment geochemistry as an exploration technique in the Westmoreland area, northern Australia

Created 17/10/2025

Updated 17/10/2025

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Orientation geochemical studies indicate that stream-sediment sampling is a potentially powerful exploration technique in the Westmoreland region of Northern Australia. Uranium, copper, tin, and lead mineralization can all be detected by the use of a combination of sieved samples and heavy-mineral concentrates. Vein-type uranium deposits occur in a variety of rock units in the area. The secondary dispersion of uranium from these deposits appears to be dominantly chemical, and sieved samples are very effective in prospecting; heavy-mineral concentrates rarely contain detrital uranium minerals and consequently are less efficient. Arsenic is a useful pathfinder element for uranium mineralization in some instances. Copper deposits are encountered in both the granites and the basic igneous rocks of the area. Heavy-mineral concentrates are particularly sensitive in tracing copper mineralization. At several localities no anomalous copper was detected chemically in sieved samples, whereas malachite was conspicuous among the heavy minerals. Tin deposits occur in pneumatolytically altered zones within high-level granites and acid volcanic rocks. The chemical analysis of sieved samples and the optical examination of heavy-mineral concentrates for cassiterite are equally effective in prospecting for tin. If sieved samples are preferred, lithium and tungsten are useful pathfinder elements. Lead mineralization of syngenetic origin is associated with the dolomitic rocks of the region. The analysis of heavy-mineral concentrates appears to have great potential in exploration for this type of deposit, but the technique has yet to be fully evaluated. Near mineralization sieved samples contain anomalous lead and zinc; minor enrichment of copper also occurs. Scavenging by secondary manganese compounds leads in places to false zinc anomalies, so great care is required in the interpretation of anomalous zinc values.

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Field Value
Title Stream-sediment geochemistry as an exploration technique in the Westmoreland area, northern Australia
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/279bd0d4-afd4-4ff1-a818-87942aef5af1
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 20/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
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  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Stream-sediment geochemistry as an exploration technique in the Westmoreland area, northern Australia". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/stream-sediment-geochemistry-as-an-exploration-technique-in-the-westmoreland-area-northern-aust