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Widgiemooltha 3 Deposit, Widgiemooltha, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, Australiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Widgiemooltha 3 Deposit | Deposit |
| Widgiemooltha | Town |
| Coolgardie Shire | Shire |
| Western Australia | State |
| Australia | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
31° 30' 34'' South , 121° 34' 25'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Widgie 3 Open Pit; Widgie 3 Ni Mine
Located 3 kilometres south of Widgiemooltha. The Imperial, Cardiff Castle, and the Mount mines are also in the immediate area.
Nickel mine.
Titan Resources in 2005, estimated a resource of 641 000 tonnes of ore at 1.46% Ni yielding 9360 tonnes of metal from below the base of the present small abandoned pit.
Gossan discovered by R.E. Cotton in 1967 in an old gold mining prospecting pit. Serpentinite lense forming a small prominent hill. Some mineralisation arsenical, minor copper.
The ultramafic formation is 600 metres thick of numerous picritic to peridotitic flow units, altered to tremolite, chlorite, serpentine, talc, and carbonate, with lenticular metabasalt, and metadolerite in the eastern part.
Laminated carbonaceous or sulphidic cherty metasedimentary horizons are found between the flows. Grey-green serpentine outcrops on the hill. The ultramafic host contains an irregular shaped lense at the base of the formation, 110 metres long by 30 metres thick. The Footwall is amphibolite containing hornblende prismatic crystals and some chlorite.
Grey quartz-feldspar porphyries intrude parallel to the deposit. Massive sulphide in thin to irregular breccia ore, one metre thick. Primary mineralisation is pyrrhotite, pentlandite, minor pyrite, chalcopyrite, magnetite, skutterudite, bravoite. Minor replacement of pentlandite with violarite at the 290 metre level. Violarite is the major mineral at the base of the oxidised zone. Chalcopyrite veinlets are found at the margins of the massive sulphides. Grades 3-20% Ni, averages 11% Ni.
A small lithium bearing pegamtite was encountered during mining, 2-3 metres wide, containing quartz, albite, slightly pinkish spodumene up to 10 cms long, botryoidal lepidolite to 2 cms across, and 5cm long elbaite with pink interiors and light blue exteriors, and inky blue elbaite to 5 mms long.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
16 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Albite Formula: Na(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ 'Biotite' Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' |
| ⓘ Chromite Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| ⓘ Elbaite Formula: Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' |
| ⓘ 'Feldspar Group' |
| ⓘ Gersdorffite Formula: NiAsS |
| ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group' Formula: ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| ⓘ 'Lepidolite' |
| ⓘ Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ Nickeline Formula: NiAs |
| ⓘ Pentlandite Formula: (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite Formula: (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| ⓘ Pyrrhotite Formula: Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup' Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| ⓘ Skutterudite Formula: CoAs3 |
| ⓘ Spodumene Formula: LiAlSi2O6 |
| ⓘ Talc Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Tremolite Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Violarite Formula: Fe2+Ni3+2S4 |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Pentlandite | 2.BB.15 | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Nickeline | 2.CC.05 | NiAs |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Violarite | 2.DA.05 | Fe2+Ni3+2S4 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite var. Bravoite | 2.EB.05a | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| ⓘ | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 | |
| ⓘ | Gersdorffite | 2.EB.25 | NiAsS |
| ⓘ | Skutterudite | 2.EC.05 | CoAs3 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Chromite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Elbaite | 9.CK.05 | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ | Spodumene | 9.DA.30 | LiAlSi2O6 |
| ⓘ | Tremolite | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Talc | 9.EC.05 | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Biotite' | - | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Feldspar Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Lepidolite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Hornblende Root Name Group' | - | ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| ⓘ | 'Serpentine Subgroup' | - | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| H | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| H | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| Li | Lithium | |
| Li | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Li | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| O | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| O | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| O | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| F | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Na | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| Al | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Si | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| S | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Violarite | Fe2+Ni23+S4 |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Cr | Chromium | |
| Cr | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Fe | ⓘ Violarite | Fe2+Ni23+S4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Co | Cobalt | |
| Co | ⓘ Skutterudite | CoAs3 |
| Ni | Nickel | |
| Ni | ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| Ni | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| Ni | ⓘ Nickeline | NiAs |
| Ni | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| Ni | ⓘ Violarite | Fe2+Ni23+S4 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| As | ⓘ Nickeline | NiAs |
| As | ⓘ Skutterudite | CoAs3 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australia
- Western Australia
- Kambalda Nickel Metallogenic ProvinceGeologic Province
- West Australian ElementCraton
- Yilgarn CratonCraton
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
- West Australian Craton
- Eastern Yilgarn CratonCraton
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Widgiemooltha 3 Deposit, Widgiemooltha, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, Australia