Mineral Systems in the Mount Isa Inlier

Northwest Queensland contains several world class mineral deposits, being one of the worlds leading producers of Zn, Pb, Cu and Ag. Rather than focus on mineral deposit models, as has been done in the past, we are using the mineral system approach (Barnicoat, 2008), where the whole system is studied at a variety of scales and a variety of processes, which culminate in the deposition of mineralisation. Seven Mineral Systems are identified, namely: 1. Shale/siltstone/dolomite hosted Zn-Pb-Ag systems - Western Fold Belt. 2. Ag-Pb-Zn in high-grade metamorphic terrains - Eastern Fold Belt Province. 3. Structurally-controlled epigenetic iron oxide-Cu-Au - Eastern Fold Belt and Kalkadoon-Ewen Provinces. 4. Structurally-controlled epigenetic Cu±Au mineralising system - Western Fold Belt Province. 5. Phosphate Mineralisation in the basal Georgina Basin sequence. 6. U and Rare Earth element (REE) mineralisation. 7. Fe Ore - South Nicholson Group.

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