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HGL 470 Proposal

This document outlines a proposed major project to study the structural geology of the Forest Gold Mine located within the Mayflower shear zone in Kadoma, Zimbabwe. The project aims to better understand the structural controls on gold mineralization at the mine. Methodology will include geological mapping, rock sampling, petrographic analysis, and GIS-based data analysis and interpretation. The project expects to produce detailed maps of lithologies, structures, and mineralization patterns, as well as analysis of the structural controls on gold deposits in the area to inform future exploration.

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58 views

HGL 470 Proposal

This document outlines a proposed major project to study the structural geology of the Forest Gold Mine located within the Mayflower shear zone in Kadoma, Zimbabwe. The project aims to better understand the structural controls on gold mineralization at the mine. Methodology will include geological mapping, rock sampling, petrographic analysis, and GIS-based data analysis and interpretation. The project expects to produce detailed maps of lithologies, structures, and mineralization patterns, as well as analysis of the structural controls on gold deposits in the area to inform future exploration.

Uploaded by

courage chakanetsa
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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University of Zimbabwe

Name: Courage Chakanetsa

Department: Geology

Module: HGL 470

Lecturer: Dr M Meck

Major Project Proposal

Topic: The structural appraisal of Forest mine Gold deposit within Mayflower, Shear Zone
Kadoma.
Introduction

The Archaean Midlands Greenstone Belt of Zimbabwe has been a significant gold producer.
Forest Mine is located in Kadoma Mayflower shear Zone within the Midlands Greenstone belt.
Geological structures such as shear zones, folds and complex interaction of folding and shearing
have been proved to control gold mineralization at regional and mine scale in the Archean
Greenstone Belts of Zimbabwe (Campbell and Pitfield, 1994). However, in many cases, the
locality of gold deposits can be influenced by lithologies, in addition to structural controls

(Campbell and Pitfield, 1994).This research seeks to describe the geology of the area

around Forest Mine, describe the structures and deduce the deformation around
the mine.

Below is a map that shows the area where this study is to be conducted
Figure 1; Location of the area of study,

Problem statement

Forest mine and Owl Mine are located in proximity to each other, within the Midlands Greenstone Belt.
Macregor (1930) found out that there was a N-S fault trending from the Owl Mine which had been the
main trouble at the mine. Forest mine is therefore located North of Owl Mine, and along the possible
strike of fault. Forest mine furthermore therefore has erratic reef displacement and anomalous gold
concentrations. As a greenfield site, there is no detailed geological information within and around
Forest Mine. Therefore the project aims to appraise the structural geology of Forest Ore body within the
mayflower shear zone. This will help in reducing any risks and hazards during further surface and
underground mining.

Objectives ;

1. To describe the structural patterns around the Forest Mine and relate them to regional and
other local structures.
2. To assess whether gold is being structurally or lithologically controlled.
3. To correlate gold mineralization to the geological structures in the area.
4. To establish a descriptive and exploration model for gold mineralization at
the mine area.

Hypothesis

The fault arousing ground instability problems at Owl Mine is the same one that is also giving
problems at Forest Mine with its splays resulting in erratic reef displacement. This faulting could
have resulted in Gold remobilisation and concentration in this area, resulting in the anomalously
uniformly high gold grades.

Research questions

1. Is the Northern extension of the Owl Mine fault causing the same problems being
experienced at Forest Mine?
2. What deformation event can be linked to gold deposition and concentration in this area?
3. Is the gold structurally or lithologically controlled?
Methodology

Lithological and structural mapping

Surface mapping to be done on 40km² Area around Forest Gold Mine . This is done to establish
the local geology, depict geological structures and lithologies in the area around Forest Gold
Mine. A topographic base map of this area to be extracted from the 1: 50 000 topographical map
of Zimbabwe.. Mapping guides such as beacons, vegetation and drainage systems to be used.

These maps will be digitized and overlayed with sample data using ArcGIS 10.4.1.

Sampling

Chip sampling and assaying samples from outcrops .Assay samples to be collected at

outcrops, regardless of shearing intensity so as to establish the controls of


mineralization.

Petrography

Hand samples collected from the field will be cut into thin sections at the University of
Zimbabwe Geology Department. Samples to be made into thin sections and be analysed using a
microscope to identify microstructures and improve mineral description.

Data analysis and interpretation

1. Cross sections
2. Stereonets. To obtain trend in which the structures are dipping or striking.
3. Overlay of Structural map chip samples’ assays with grades. The QGIS software to be
used to overlap the produced geological map with assay results from rock chip samples.
4. .Analysis of assay results to be done so as to establish the controls of mineralization in
the area of investigation.

Expected results
•A detailed surface map outlining mineralization patterns, lithologies and geological structures.

•A detailed description and analysis on the effects of geological structures and their control on
gold mineralization within the area of study.

•A possible updated exploration strategy for gold mineralization at Forest mine.

Work plan

Task Timeframe
Month1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6
Mapping and
digitising
Sampling
Petrographic
Analysis
Report writing

Budget

Item Cost $US


Geological mapping and digitizing 100
Sampling 150
Petrographic Analysis 80
Travel 200
Stationary 5
Personnel 75

Total 605

REFERENCES

Campbell, S. GD and Pitfield, P. E 1994.Structural controls of gold mineralisation in


Zimbabwe Craton-Exploration guidelines. Zimbabwe Geological Survey. Bulletin 101

FOSTER, R. P. 1990. Tectonic, thermal and chemical evolution of a late Archaean auriferous
shear zone, Dalny mine, Zimbabwe. GAC-MAC Annua, Meeting, Program with Abstracts, A22.

CATCHPOLE, S. J. 1987. Gold mineralisation related to


shear zones in the Venice Group of mines near Kadoma, Zimbabwe. In: African Mining.
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 71-88

MACGREGOR, A. M. 1930. The geology of the country between Gatooma and Battlefields.
Geological Survey of Southern Rhodesian Bulletin, 38.

PITFIELD, P. E. J. & CAMPBELL, S. D. G. 1990. Integrated exploration, Midlands goldfield


project: Preliminary results. In: BAGLOW, N. (ed.) Annals of the Zimbabwe Geological Survey,
15, Harare, 21-33.
ROBERTSON, I. D. M. 1976. The geology of the country around Battlefields, Gatooma district.
Geological Survey of Rhodesia Bulletin, 76.

R. J. Herrington. Late Archaean structure and gold mineralization in the Kadoma region of the
Midlands greenstone belt, Zimbabwe

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