University of Tasmania, Australia

Origin of sediment-hosted gold deposits in Mogok Metamorphic Belt, Myanmar

The Mogok Metamorphic Belt (MMB) of Myanmar is located on the eastern edge of the Himalayan syntaxis, where the major east-striking structures of the Himalayan mountain chain bend to a generally north-south orientation. The sediment-hosted gold deposits are widely distributed in MMB along the major N-S trending, transcurrent (transfer) Sagaing Fault. The host rocks of these gold deposits are mostly Carboniferous to Triasic massive to laminated, sometimes pebbly sandstone, calcareous mudstone and siltstone, interbedded with thin limestone. Several granitoid plutons of age ranging from Jurassic to Eocene intruded the Mergui Group along the Shan Scarp region. To date, these deposits have received little scientific studies such as geochronology of host rocks and intrusions and pyrite chemistry. The study involve:

1. Mapping deposit-scale geology of the selected gold deposits along MMB.
2. Studying the deformation that affected the ore bodies and its relation to the tectonic history of the area.
3. Establishing the parageneses of ore and gangue minerals and undertaking LA-ICPMS trace element analysis and imaging of different textures of ore minerals, in particular pyrite to constrain the source of metal and ore fluids.
4. Examining the geochemistry and geochronology of host rocks and igneous intrusions to constrain the timing of magmatism, metamorphism and mineralisation.
5. Developing a genetic model for these deposits that will be useful to exploration geologists in the region.