Sulfidic Endowment in Granite-Greenstone Terrain in the Northern Part of EDC: Possibilities of IOCG—Type Mineralizing Episodes

Abstract

Dharwar craton hosts several sulfide deposits, yet none of them is being worked at present largely for want of economic feasibility, and to some extent inadequate understanding of their full potential. They are also good prospects for gold exploration. In the present paper, six sulfide mineralized sites in the northern part of Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC) are reviewed from the point of their style of mineralization and appraising them from the point view of iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) type affiliation, which would open up new vistas for their understanding through integrated and holistic approach. It would enable to evaluate the metal potential including by-product values. The six prospects include Thinthini, Machanur, Yerjanthi, Gogalgatti, Mincheri and Gaudur with sulfide endowment and gold indications. All these prospects have more or less similar lithological, structural, mineralogical, fluidal and alterational characteristics closely resembling IOCG settings. Their timing and other similarities possibly indicate a major crustal scale event of brecciation associated with ascent of magmatically derived hydrothermal fluids and extensive epithermal alteration of host rocks. These aspects prompt for detailed revaluation of the said prospects to understand their ore potential.