New Caledonia: Geology, Geodynamic Evolution and Mineral Resources
This memoir summarizes current knowledge on the geology of New Caledonia, its geodynamic evolution and mineral resources, based on published and unpublished information. It comprises ten research papers, each addressing a particular geological assemblage or topic. After an introductory chapter and a review of the published geodynamic models of evolution of the SW Pacific, Chapters 3-5 focus on the main geological assemblages of Grande Terre: the pre-Late Cretaceous basement terranes, the Late Cretaceous to Eocene cover, and the Eocene Subduction-Obduction Complex, one of the largest and best-preserved in the world. Chapter 6 is devoted to the Loyalty Islands and Ridge. Chapter 7 deals with the mostly terrestrial post-obduction units, including regolith. Chapter 8 deals with palaeobiogeography and discusses plausible scenarios of biotic evolution. Chapters 9 and 10 provide a comprehensive review of New Caledonia's mineral resources. The volume will be of interest to stratigraphers, sedimentologists, marine geologists, palaeontologists, palaeogeographers, igneous and metamorphic petrologists, geochemists, geochronologists, and specialists in tectonics, geodynamic evolution, regoliths, ophiolites and economic geology.
Chapter 9: Mineral resources and prospectivity of non-ultramafic rocks of New Caledonia
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Published:June 16, 2020
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CiteCitation
P. Maurizot, B. Sevin, S. Lesimple, J. Collot, J. Jeanpert, L. Bailly, B. Robineau, M. Patriat, S. Etienne, C. Monnin, 2020. "Chapter 9: Mineral resources and prospectivity of non-ultramafic rocks of New Caledonia", New Caledonia: Geology, Geodynamic Evolution and Mineral Resources, P. Maurizot, N. Mortimer
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Abstract
The mineral resources of the non-ultramafic rocks of New Caledonia and its Exclusive Economic Zone can be classified according to their host rocks. The metallic mineral resources are essentially associated with volcanic and magmatic activity. Non-economic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits with Cu and Au are located in the Late Carboniferous Koh Ophiolite and in the Late Cretaceous Poya Terrane. Base metals, Au and Ag of the sedimentary–exhalative type are present in the metamorphic Diahot-Panié Metamorphic Complex, associated with syn-rift volcanism. An Au–Sb metallogenic province is associated with the post-obduction Late Oligocene granitoids and co-genetic hydrothermal silica–carbonate (listwanite) zones in the Peridotite Nappe; Au is disseminated in the granites and Sb occurs as lodes in the silica–carbonate. Among the non-metallic mineral resources, barite, gypsum, magnesite, phosphate, clays, dimension stones, limestone for use as cement and as a neutralizer, and aggregates are all present. Gemstones such as jade and chrysoprase are only used locally. Late Cretaceous coal, which was briefly exploited in the past, is now considered to be a source rock for an offshore potential oil and gas system. Petroleum prospectivity is currently focused on the Fairway Basin. Several low-enthalpy thermo-mineral springs with a weak geothermal energy potential are known on Grande Terre.
- Carboniferous
- chromite ores
- copper ores
- Cretaceous
- disseminated deposits
- geothermal energy
- gold ores
- host rocks
- igneous rocks
- magmatism
- massive deposits
- massive sulfide deposits
- Melanesia
- Mesozoic
- metal ores
- metallogeny
- mineral deposits, genesis
- mineral resources
- mineralization
- New Caledonia
- nickel ores
- nonmetal deposits
- obduction
- Oceania
- Paleozoic
- petroleum
- plate tectonics
- potential deposits
- reserves
- Upper Carboniferous
- Upper Cretaceous
- volcanic rocks
- Grande Terre
- Fairway Basin
- Poya Terrane
- Pouebo Terrane
- Koh Ophiolite
- Peridotite Nappe
- Diahot-Panie metamorphic complex