Cave Rocks Gold Mine, St. Ives gold camp, Kambalda, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Cave Rocks Gold Mine	Mine
St. Ives gold camp	- not defined -
Kambalda	Town
Coolgardie Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Cave Rocks gold mine is 8.5 kilometres west of Kambalda. It represents St Ives northern most mine along its line of lode. The mine contains a south and north open pit, and subsequently underground declines called North, Central, East and South. An open pit was first developed at the site in 1987 by Western Mining Corporation. Goldfields Ltd has subsequently developed an underground mine at the site.

The ore body strikes for 1050 metres. Goldfields Ltd which owns the St Ives project, acquired the Caves Rocks tenements in 2013. The Jonah Dam prospect has been located on strike to the north north-west. Green Leader and Squeaker prospects are also in the area. Cave Rocks has an estimated resource of 0.5 Moz, in narrow high grade veins. The mine was dry until 2010 when local aquifers were struck in the North N9 decline and then South E62 lode.

There are two gold bearing structures called the East and West Lodes. Both are 5 to 15 metres thick as north north-west striking structures within a tabular amphibolite unit. Black argillaceous sediment horizons are intercalated in the amphibole sequence, the largest called the Central Slate Belt which separates the East and West Lodes.

The West Lode is weakly foliated equigranular rock of albite, cummingtonite, hornblende/paragasite, biotite, quartz, chlorite, carbonate, pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite. The sulphide content is high and gold is associated with the arsenopyrite.

The East Lode is more diffuse, and has more quartz veins. The alteration assemblage is less intense. Small supergene zones occur on the south margin of the West Lode, and the southern part of the East Lode.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

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