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Merlin Mo-Re zone (Merlin deposit), Mount Dore Mine, Selwyn District, Cloncurry Shire, Queensland, Australiai
Regional Level Types
Merlin Mo-Re zone (Merlin deposit)Deposit
Mount Dore MineMine
Selwyn DistrictMining District
Cloncurry ShireShire
QueenslandState
AustraliaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
21° 39' 6'' South , 140° 30' 7'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-21.65192,140.50206
GRN:
S15E93
Type:
Deposit
Köppen climate type:
BWh : Hot deserts climate
Mindat Locality ID:
220208
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:220208:5
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Discovered in February 2008.
Mineralisation consists of massive, Re-rich molybdenite (without any gangue mineral) within metasediments; this style of mineralisation may be unprecedented on a global scale.
The Mo mineralisation, which overprints an earlier Cu mineralisation, strikes north-northeast and dips east under the Mount Dore Granite.

The Merlin deposit comprises Mo-Re mineralization in the form of molybdenite, with a total mineral resource estimate of 6.4 Mt at 1.5% Mo and 26 g/t Re.
Stage 3: Mo-Re breccias (Merlin): The third hydrothermal alteration stage has a much less complex mineral assemblage and is responsible for the bulk of the Mo-Re mineralization. This stage is characterized by K-feldspar ± chlorite alteration associated with matrix-supported breccias with molybdenite infill. The breccias locally contain chlorite veinlets of unclear timing relationship to the molybdenite and breccia clasts. The clasts are commonly replaced by K-feldspar with minor molybdenite disseminations.
Stage 4: Mo-Re veins (Merlin): This stage consists of chlorite + K-feldspar + apatite ± rutile in association with Mo-Re veins (commonly stylolitic) and disseminations. This alteration formed around the matrix-supported breccias and is more extensively developed in the calc-silicate rocks. The K-feldspar alteration decreases in intensity with depth, whereas chlorite becomes more dominant.

Originally owned by Ivanhoe Australia LTD, then bought by Rio Tinto and put on hold.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


32 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Actinolite
Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ 'Amphibole Supergroup'
Formula: AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
ⓘ Ankerite
Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
ⓘ 'Clay minerals'
ⓘ 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'
ⓘ Cobaltite
Formula: CoAsS
ⓘ Covellite
Formula: CuS
ⓘ Cuprite
Formula: Cu2O
ⓘ Cuprite var. Chalcotrichite
Formula: Cu2O
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Graphite
Formula: C
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ 'K Feldspar'
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
ⓘ Molybdenite
Formula: MoS2
ⓘ 'Monazite Group'
Formula: REE(PO4)
ⓘ Montmorillonite
Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite
Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
ⓘ Powellite
Formula: Ca(MoO4)
References:
Con Constantinides collectionIdentified by Ralph S Bottrill: Visual Identification
ⓘ Pseudomalachite
Formula: Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ 'Rock flour'
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ Titanite
Formula: CaTi(SiO4)O
ⓘ 'Tourmaline'
Formula: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ Tremolite
Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Gold1.AA.05Au
ⓘGraphite1.CB.05aC
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘCovellite2.CA.05aCuS
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘMolybdenite2.EA.30MoS2
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘCobaltite2.EB.25CoAsS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘCuprite
var. Chalcotrichite		4.AA.10Cu2O
ⓘ4.AA.10Cu2O
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘAnkerite5.AB.10Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘAzurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘMalachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘPowellite7.GA.05Ca(MoO4)
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘPseudomalachite8.BD.05Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘZircon9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘTitanite9.AG.15CaTi(SiO4)O
ⓘEpidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘActinolite9.DE.10◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘTremolite9.DE.10◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite
var. Illite		9.EC.15K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘMontmorillonite9.EC.40(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘChrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Amphibole Supergroup'-AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Clay minerals'-
ⓘ'Monazite Group'-REE(PO4)
ⓘ'Tourmaline'-AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'-
ⓘ'K Feldspar'-
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ'Rock flour'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Hⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Hⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Hⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Hⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Hⓘ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
Hⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Hⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
BBoron
Bⓘ TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
CCarbon
Cⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Cⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ GraphiteC
Cⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Oⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Oⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ Cuprite var. ChalcotrichiteCu2O
Oⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Oⓘ CupriteCu2O
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Oⓘ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Oⓘ PowelliteCa(MoO4)
Oⓘ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Oⓘ TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Oⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
FFluorine
Fⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Fⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Mgⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Alⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Siⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Siⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
Pⓘ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
SSulfur
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ CobaltiteCoAsS
Sⓘ CovelliteCuS
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ MolybdeniteMoS2
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
ClChlorine
Clⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Clⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Caⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Caⓘ PowelliteCa(MoO4)
Caⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
Caⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
Tiⓘ TitaniteCaTi(SiO4)O
FeIron
Feⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Feⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
CoCobalt
Coⓘ CobaltiteCoAsS
CuCopper
Cuⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuⓘ Cuprite var. ChalcotrichiteCu2O
Cuⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cuⓘ CovelliteCuS
Cuⓘ CupriteCu2O
Cuⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Cuⓘ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
Asⓘ CobaltiteCoAsS
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
MoMolybdenum
Moⓘ MolybdeniteMoS2
Moⓘ PowelliteCa(MoO4)
AuGold
Auⓘ Native GoldAu
PbLead
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Australia
Australian PlateTectonic Plate

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References

Brown, M. et al. (2010): The geology and discovery of the Merlin Mo-Re zone of the Mount Dore deposit, Mount Isa Inlier, NW Queensland, Australia. SGA News, 27, 1 & 9-15.
www.smedg.org.au (2011) http://www.smedg.org.au/Merlin%20Mo%20-%20Re%20Lazo%20&%20Pal.pdf
[1]Babo, Joao, Spandler, Carl, Oliver, Nicholas H.S., Brown, Mat, Rubenach, Michael J., Creaser, Robert A. (2017) The High-Grade Mo-Re Merlin Deposit, Cloncurry District, Australia: Paragenesis and Geochronology of Hydrothermal Alteration and Ore Formation. Economic Geology, 112 (2) 397-422 doi:10.2113/econgeo.112.2.397
www.turquoisehill.com (n.d.) http://www.turquoisehill.com/i/pdf/2009-11-05_NR.pdf
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