Stratabound phyllosilicate zones associated with syntectonic copper orebodies at Mt Isa,Queensland

Three distinctive stratabound phyllosilicate zones are present at the margins of the syntectonic Mt Isa Cu orebodies and their host rock, the ‘silica‐dolomite’, in northwestern Queensland. The zones show close spatial relationships with adjacent stratiform Pb‐Zn ores within the overall host, the dolomitic Urquhart Shale. The Pb‐Zn orebodies may be either sedimentary‐exhalative or, as suggested recently, late diagenetic in origin, whereas the Cu ores were formed during the third regional deformation event. Talc‐stilpnomelane layers within the footwall of the silica‐dolomite, and biotite‐rich layers at the margins and adjacent to the silica‐dolomite are present in sideritic intervals within the dolomitic sequence. These Fe‐carbonate‐rich layers correlate with the Pb‐Zn orebodies, but have a much greater lateral extent. Chloritic layers occur along the hanging wall contacts of several Pb‐Zn orebodies with overlying silica‐dolomite lobes. Microstructural and petrographic studies suggest that the phyllosilicates grew at the silicification stage during early syn‐D3 alteration that also formed the silica‐dolomite and its Cu orebodies. The stratabound distribution of talc, stilpnomelane and biotite is explained by the chemical control of the sideritic beds on silicification. The origin of the Fe‐carbonates is not known and may be either sedimentary or diagenetic. The chlorite zones may have developed because of more extensive fluid‐rock interactions controlled by higher permeabilities along the brittle shale and ductile galena layering within the Pb‐Zn orebodies.