Orogenic Gold Deposit in Metamorphic Rocks: Minerals and Structural Control at Rarowatu Area, Southeastern Arm of Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

This research aims to examine the relationship between hydrothermal alteration and mineralization (ore mineralogy) in the study area and geological structures in the deformation mechanism. The hydrothermal alteration was determined based on petrographic analysis, and ore mineralogy which was determined based on the ore microscopic analysis. The deformation mechanism is determined by paleo stress analysis using win-tensor, and the direction of principal stress on joints/veins and faults is calculated by the right-dihedron method. Hydrothermal alteration includes silicification, argillic, propylitic, and phyllic alterations; and ore mineralogy consists of stibnite, cinnabar, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, covellite, hematite, and arsenopyrite at metamorphic rocks. The geological structure developed in the study area consists of shear fractures and Wumbubangka right Normal-slip Fault, which is accompanied by Wumbubangka right-slip lag fault and Wumbubangka reverse-slip fault formed in a simple shear mechanism. Crenulation, micro-folds, and porphyroblastic are also recognized in thin sections. The Wumbubangka right normal-slip fault, considered a syn-mineralization structure, formed the transpressional and transtensional geologic structures, forming the quartz vein parallel to and crosscutting the foliation. The correlation between surface geological structures and microstructures indicates that tectonic regimes have controlled the alteration and gold mineralization in the study area.