Despite having been a target for volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits since the 1960s, few resources have been defined in the Archean Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia. Exploration challenges associated with regolith and deep cover exacerbate the already difficult task of exploring for small, deformed deposits in stratigraphically complex, metamorphosed volcanic terranes. We present results of drillcore logging, petrography, whole rock geochemistry and pXRF data from the King Zn deposit, to help refine mineralogical and geochemical halos associated with VHMS mineralization in amphibolite facies greenstone sequences of the Yilgarn Craton. The King Zn deposit (2.15 Mt at 3.47% Zn) occurs as a 2-5m thick stratiform lens dominated by iron sulfides, in an overturned, metamorphosed volcanic rock-dominated sequence located ~140km east of Kalgoorlie. The local stratigraphy is characterized by garnet amphibolite and strongly banded intermediate to felsic schists, with rare horizons of graphitic schist. Massive sulfide mineralization is characterized by stratiform pyrite-pyrrhotitesphalerite at the contact between quartz-muscovite schists ('the footwall dacite') and banded quartz-biotite/amphibole±garnet schists of the stratigraphic hanging-wall. A zone of pyrite-(sphalerite) and pyrrhotite-pyrite-(chalcopyrite) veining extends throughout the stratigraphic footwall. Footwall garnet-amphibolites are of sub-alkaline basaltic affinity, with a central zone dominated by chlorite±magnetite interpreted to represent the Cu-bearing feeder zone. SiO2, CaO, Fe2O3T, MgO and Cu concentrations are highly variable, reflecting quartz-epidote±chlorite±magnetite±sulfide alteration. Hydrothermal alteration in stratigraphically overlying intermediate to felsic rocks is characterized by a mineral assemblage of quartz-muscovite±chlorite±albite±carbonate. Cordierite and anthophyllite are locally significant and indicative of zones of Mg-metasomatism prior to metamorphism. Increases of SiO2, Fe2O3T, pathfinder elements (e.g. As, Sb, Tl), and depletions of Na2O, CaO, Sr, and MgO occur in footwall quartz-muscovite schists approaching massive sulfide mineralization. Within all strata (including the immediate hanging-wall), the following pathfinder

Irish-type deposits comprise carbonate-hosted sphalerite- and galena-rich lenses concentrated near normal faults. We present new data from the Tara Deep resource and overlying mineralization, at Navan, and the Island Pod deposit and associated Main zone orebodies, at Lisheen. Tara Deep mineralization predominantly replaces Tournasian micrites and subordinate Visean sedimentary breccias. The mineralization is mainly composed of sphalerite, galena, marcasite and pyrite. A range of Cu- and Sb-bearing minerals occur as minor phases. At Tara Deep, paragenetically early sulfides exhibit negative δ34S values, with later phases displaying positive δ34S values, indicating both bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR) and hydrothermal sulfur sources, respectively. However, maximum δ34S values are heavier (25‰) than in the Main Navan orebody (17‰). These mineralogical and isotopic features suggest that Tara Deep represents near-feeder mineralization relative to the Navan Main orebody. The subeconomic mineralization hosted in the overlying Thin Bedded Unit (TBU) comprises sphalerite replacing framboidal pyrite, both exhibiting negative δ34S values (−37.4 to −8.3‰). These features indicate a BSR source of sulfur for TBU mineralization, which may represent seafloor exhalation of mineralizing fluids that formed the Tara Deep orebody. The Island Pod orebody, at Lisheen, shows a mineralogical paragenetic sequence and δ34S values broadly similar to other Lisheen orebodies. However, the lack of minor Cu, Ni, and Sb minerals suggests a setting more distal to hydrothermal metal feeder zones than the other Lisheen orebodies. Pb isotope data indicate a very homogeneous Lower Palaeozoic Pb source for all Navan orebodies. Lower Palaeozoic metal sources are also inferred for Lisheen, but with variations both within and between orebodies. Carbon and oxygen isotopic variations at Navan and Lisheen appear to result from fluid-carbonate rock buffering. The emerging spectrum of mineralogical and isotopic variations define proximal to distal characteristics of Irish-type systems and will assist in developing geochemical vectoring tools for exploration.

Through the implementation of an online survey, run at the end of April 2020, researchers at the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG) explored the immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the minerals sector workforce. With more than 1,000 respondents, the survey provides insights into the impact of an unprecedented global event at a crucial point in its development. Seven weeks after the World Health Organization’s declaration of the pandemic, 65% of survey respondents agreed that COVID-19 had a significant impact on their work. Overall, 32% of respondents had experienced negative impacts on their employment, having either lost their jobs or been furloughed/temporarily laid off, or were working reduced hours. Geographically, the greatest impact on employment was in Africa, where 45% of respondents suffered negative effects. More often, younger respondents (ages 18–30) reported lost jobs (14%) whereas older survey participants reported working reduced hours (21%, ages 46–60). Respondents working in mineral exploration were most affected (40% suffered negative job impacts), but the impact across base, industrial, and precious metals was broadly similar for all participants; government employees were least affected but were not immune (10% on reduced hours). The level of concern about future job security due to the COVID-19 crisis varied, with 35% of respondents being more or very concerned or having already lost their jobs, 43% had little or no concern, and 22% were moderately concerned. The survey captured the experiences and perceptions of individual workers, providing a perspective different from information available in corporate statements and official statistics.

þÿ C O i s o t o p e t e m p e r a t u r e c o n s t r a i n t s f o r c a r b o n a t e p r e c i p i t a t i o n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e þÿ I r i s h -t y p e L i s h e e n a n d N a v a n Z n P b o r e b o d i e s . A p p l i e d E a r t h S c i e n c e T r a n s a c t i o n s o f t h eInstitutions of Mining and Metallurgy: Section B. Applied Earth Science is available online at: www.tandfonline.com

<p>The Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Geoscience (EDIG) initiative was created to better understand the experiences of the geoscience community with respect to prejudice, inequity, bias, exclusion, sexism, and discrimination. EDIG aims to provide a platform for learning for the wider geoscience community and promote progressive action to make geoscience more inclusive and equitable.</p><p>As part of our initiatives, we organised the virtual EDIG conference in December 2020 entitled: A time to listen, learn, and act. This virtual event aimed to facilitate learning on equality, diversity, and inclusion related topics relevant to the geosciences. It hosted sessions on where we have come from, where we are now, and where we are going. The conference especially focused on raising awareness around the challenges experienced by minoritized geoscientists, helping to involve more people in these conversations. The conference hosted 17 speakers on a range of different topics, from the history of diversity in geoscience, to how we can become more inclusive, to how we can move forward together, as well as a workshop on unconscious bias sponsored by the Institute of Geologists of Ireland (IGI) and the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geology (iCRAG).</p><p>Prior to the EDIG conference, we launched a global survey to carry out research on equality, diversity, and inclusion in the geosciences. The survey asked people about their own experiences (or lack of) around EDI related topics. The survey received a large response, with 708 participants from 58 countries. The main themes from the survey data were used to structure our conference programme.</p><p>We will present the results of this survey, and our experiences of the EDIG conference. With these and future events we hope to bring together several online initiatives, establish a community of support and learning, and to help us all come together to make the geosciences more welcoming, accessible, inclusive, and equitable.</p>