Pre-Conference Workshop | WS02   View all workshops

Structure and Diversity of Orogenic Gold Deposits

Date: August 25-26, 2023

Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm

Location: Hilton London Metropole | London, United Kingdom

Presenters: Dave Rhys, Stephen Cox, Richard Goldfarb, and François Robert

Attendee Maximum: 60

20% of spaces are reserved for students and offered at a discounted rate.

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Description

This workshop will review the style, structure and setting of orogenic gold and related deposits, which are the most prolific sources of primary gold production globally from both Precambrian and Phanerozoic metamorphic belts. Structural controls on fluid flow, vein formation, deposit localization, structural architecture, and the effects of progressive deformation on orogenic gold deposits and districts will be reviewed.

We will also address the diversity of deposit styles in metamorphic belts, including variations in orogenic gold styles (e.g. Iron Formation-hosted gold deposits, disseminated versus vein styles), early and/or atypical deposits in Precambrian belts, and the relationships with intrusion-associated deposits. The course will finish with discussion of what defines an orogenic deposit and the practical geological parameters for orogenic gold exploration targeting and evaluation within this diverse deposit group.

Attendees will receive certificates of participation. View all workshops.

About the Presenters

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David Rhys

Consultant

David is a consulting geologist based in Vancouver, Canada. He has worked for nearly 30 years in the mining industry applying geological studies with a structural focus to exploration, development and mining. David has extensive experience in gold deposits, having worked globally on numerous gold districts of various types for a variety of clients including both major and junior companies. His focus is on advanced projects and active mining operations, aiding in the interpretation of mine site ore controls and applications of mine geology to local and district scale exploration activities and training to geological teams.

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Stephen Cox

Australian National University

Stephen is an Emeritus Professor in the Research School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University. His research interests are primarily in the coupling between deformation processes and fluid flow in crustal regimes, with applications to ore genesis and crustal mechanics. His research is pursued via field-based studies, microstructural, microchemical and stable isotope analyses, high-pressure / high-temperature rock deformation experiments and numerical modelling. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree from the University of Tasmania and a Ph.D. degree from Monash University. Stephen was the SEG Distinguished Lecturer for 2007.

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Richard Goldfarb

Colorado School of Mines

Richard Goldfarb received his BS in geology from Bucknell University, M.Sc. in hydrogeology at University of Nevada-MacKay School of Mines, and his Ph.D. in geology at the University of Colorado. He was a research geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey for 36 years where his studies focused on global metallogeny, geology of ore deposits in the North American Cordillera with emphasis on orogenic gold, lode gold deposits in China, and geochemical applications to the understanding of ore genesis. He has served as a President of the SEG, Chair of the SEG Publications Board, member of the Editorial Board of Economic Geology, and Chief Editor of Mineralium Deposita. He was awarded the SEG Silver Medal in 2011 and SEG R.A.F. Penrose Gold in 2023, Kutina-Smirnov Medal by IAGOD in 2014, and the Gold Medal by SGA in 2022 for his various contributions to economic geology. Presently, Rich is a research professor at China University of Geosciences Beijing and Colorado School of Mines, and is an independent consultant to the exploration and mining industry.

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François Robert

Consultant

François holds degrees in Geological Engineering, M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees from Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, Ph.D. focusing on the now classic orogenic Sigma gold-quartz vein system in Abitibi. After a post-doctorate at the University of Michigan, he spent 12 years at the Geological Survey of Canada studying the geology and settings of gold deposits in deformed terranes. He then spent 22 years with Barrick Gold, the last 12 as Chief Geologist - Global Exploration, where he gained significant exploration experience. He now works as a part-time consultant to the Minerals Industry. He has published numerous papers on greenstone gold deposits, and has received multiple national and international awards, including the Waldemar Lindgren, SEG Silver, and Ralph W. Marsden awards from SEG.

Schedule (Preliminary)

Day 1 - Friday, August 25

  • 8:00am - 8:05am: Welcome and outline
  • 8:05am - 10:10am: Orogenic gold deposits - A global perspective (Goldfarb)
  • 10:10am - 10:30am: Break
  • 10:30am - 11:30am: Orogenic gold deposits – Lessons from the Phanerozoic (Goldfarb)
  • 11:30am - 12:30pm: Diversity of styles and settings of gold deposits in Precambrian metamorphic belts (Robert)
  • 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch
  • 1:30pm - 3:20pm: Diversity of styles and settings of gold deposits in Precambrian metamorphic belts (Robert)
  • 3:20pm - 3:40pm: Break
  • 3:40pm - 5:00pm: Structural framework for Au-bearing metamorphic belts (Rhys)

Day 2 - Saturday, August 26

  • 8:00am - 9:30am: Controls on fluid flow and flow localisation: structural controls on lode distribution (Cox)
  • 9:30am - 10:10am: The mechanics of failure and permeability enhancement: effects on lode styles (Cox)
  • 10:10am - 10:30am: Break
  • 10:30am - 12:00pm: The dynamics of failure and flow in high fluid flux regimes: injection-driven swarm seismicity and implications for ore formation (Cox)
  • 12:00pm - 12:30pm: Diversity in structural controls and relative timing of deposits in orogenic gold districts (Rhys)
  • 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch
  • 1:30pm - 3:00pm: Structural controls gold districts (continued), with implications for classification of different deposit styles (Rhys)
  • 3:00pm - 3:20pm: Break
  • 3:20pm - 4:00pm: Review of characteristics and models for gold in metamorphic belts (All presenters)
  • 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Discussion and Q&A: characteristics, subtypes, and implications for exploration for orogenic and other metamorphic belt hosted gold deposits (all presenters, audience participation)

Registration

Early Deadline: June 30, 2023
Regular Deadline: August 11, 2023

  Early Regular
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All prices are in United States dollars (USD). SEG reserves the right to cancel this event should minimum attendance numbers not be met by June 30, 2023. All registrants will be given a full refund should SEG cancel the course. Cancellation policy, event photography, dietary restrictions, and more are detailed in the SEG Conference terms and conditions.
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