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Kanowna Belle Gold Mine, Kanowna Goldfield, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire, Western Australia, Australiai
Regional Level Types
Kanowna Belle Gold MineMine
Kanowna GoldfieldOre Field
Kalgoorlie-Boulder ShireShire
Western AustraliaState
AustraliaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
30° 36' 14'' South , 121° 34' 46'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Locality type:
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Williamstown161 (2018)18.6km
Kalgoorlie31,107 (2014)18.7km
Boulder5,178 (2017)21.5km
Stoneville2,841 (2016)34.2km
Coolgardie802 (2016)55.5km


Gold mineralisation is chiefly in a felsic to intermediate porphyry and polymictic conglomerate

The Kanowna Belle Gold Mine is 20 kilometres north-east of Kalgoorlie, and two kilometres west south-west of the historic gold workings at Kanowna. It is surprising for such an intensely explored area over a period of almost one hundred years, the Kanowna Belle deposit was only discovered in 1989.

Its ownership has been convoluted. The deposit was discovered by Delta Gold in 1989. An open pit mine opened in 1993 by Delta and Pancontinental Mining. An amalgamation of leases saw the Golden Valley Joint Venture between Delta and Peko Gold. Delta bought out Peko, then merged with Goldfields Ltd to form Auriongold. This company was in turn purchased by Canadian miner Placer Dome. In 2006, fellow Canadian miner, Barrick Gold Corp acquired Placer Dome. Barrick owns several gold mines in Western Australia.

Gold mineralisation at Kanowna Belle was not immediately apparent, and it took several years of investigations to work out what was happening underground. The deposit was missed by the prospectors around 1900, as no evidence of it exists on the surface. It lays hidden under a weathered. leached, non-gold saprolitic bedrock. It is also off trend for the normally north-west to south east trending greenstone belts of the region. Further, its geology was different to most deposits in the region.

It has been described as a series of stacked lenses and some gold shoots, overlain by a supergene blanket of gold mineralisation. The supergene zone is 35-45 metres below the surface. The main lenses are named Hilder, Coyle, Lowes, Troy, and Hanging Wall Shoots. They are named after early Kanowna pioneers. A detailed description of the lenses is beyond the scope of this summary. The lenses/shoots run parallel with the Fitzroy Fault, which appears to have had a major bearing on how the deposit formed. The stacked lenses or shoots strike north-east, dipping moderately at 60 degrees to the south-east, striking up to 600m and to 1000m depth.

The supergene blanket is 1-10 metres thick, and extends horizontally beyond the lenses. The deposit contains widespread and variable carbonate-sericite, sodium and silica alteration. Pyrite is disseminated and sometimes veined and makes up 1-5% weight of the rock. Other sulphides and tellurides are very minor at less than 0.1% weight combined. The reference does not list the species. Gold is only occasionally visible, and needs to be processed to be extracted from the ore.

The deposit is hosted in the Boorara Domain, being a sequence of mafic and ultamafic lavas, with felsic volcanics, sediments, and conglomerates of the Gindalbie Formation. The country rock at Kanowna Belle is course fragmental mass flow sediments, interbedded with ultramafic rock showing fragments of older weathered rocks of different types as conglomerates (clast and polymict), felsic fragments, all intruded by Quartz and feldspar-phyric porphyries.

The original open pit accessed the old Ballarat and Last Chance vein systems. The open pit is now closed, and underground mining is taking place. The three underground mines are called Kanowna Belle, Kanowna and Kundana. The last one is sub-divided into Raleigh, Rubicon and Hornet Mines. The public can view the mining operations from two lookouts.

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


15 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 Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

β“˜ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
Reference: Pasi Eilu (2003) Exploration for orogenic gold deposits. Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining 2003 Rovaniemi, Finland December 2003
β“˜ Arsenopyrite
Formula: FeAsS
Reference: Barrick Gold. Information board at public lookout at the mine. (It states gold is associated with arsenopyrite ore) Anand, R. R., & Dell, M. (2005). Kanowna Belle gold deposit, Western Australia. In Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems (pp. 270-272). CRC LEME Perth.
β“˜ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
Reference: Anand, R. R., & Dell, M. (2005). Kanowna Belle gold deposit, Western Australia. In Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems (pp. 270-272). CRC LEME Perth.
β“˜ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
Reference: Anand, R. R., & Dell, M. (2005). Kanowna Belle gold deposit, Western Australia. In Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems (pp. 270-272). CRC LEME Perth.
β“˜ 'Chlorite Group'
Reference: Sugiono, D., ThΓ©baud, N., LaFlamme, C., Fiorentini, M., Martin, L., Rogers, J., ... & McFarlane, C. (2021). Integration of multiple sulfur isotopes with structural analysis unveils the evolution of ore fluids and source of sulfur at the Kanowna Belle Archean orogenic gold deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 1-20.
β“˜ Famatinite
Formula: Cu3SbS4
Reference: Sugiono, D., ThΓ©baud, N., LaFlamme, C., Fiorentini, M., Martin, L., Rogers, J., ... & McFarlane, C. (2021). Integration of multiple sulfur isotopes with structural analysis unveils the evolution of ore fluids and source of sulfur at the Kanowna Belle Archean orogenic gold deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 1-20.
β“˜ Goethite
Formula: Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH)
Reference: Anand, R. R., & Dell, M. (2005). Kanowna Belle gold deposit, Western Australia. In Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems (pp. 270-272). CRC LEME Perth.
β“˜ Gold
Formula: Au
Reference: Pasi Eilu (2003) Exploration for orogenic gold deposits. Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining 2003 Rovaniemi, Finland December 2003 Sugiono, D., ThΓ©baud, N., LaFlamme, C., Fiorentini, M., Martin, L., Rogers, J., ... & McFarlane, C. (2021). Integration of multiple sulfur isotopes with structural analysis unveils the evolution of ore fluids and source of sulfur at the Kanowna Belle Archean orogenic gold deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 1-20. Anand, R. R., & Dell, M. (2005). Kanowna Belle gold deposit, Western Australia. In Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems (pp. 270-272). CRC LEME Perth.
β“˜ Gold var. Electrum
Formula: (Au,Ag)
Reference: Sugiono, D., ThΓ©baud, N., LaFlamme, C., Fiorentini, M., Martin, L., Rogers, J., ... & McFarlane, C. (2021). Integration of multiple sulfur isotopes with structural analysis unveils the evolution of ore fluids and source of sulfur at the Kanowna Belle Archean orogenic gold deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 1-20.
β“˜ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
Reference: Anand, R. R., & Dell, M. (2005). Kanowna Belle gold deposit, Western Australia. In Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems (pp. 270-272). CRC LEME Perth.
β“˜ Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Reference: Anand, R. R., & Dell, M. (2005). Kanowna Belle gold deposit, Western Australia. In Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems (pp. 270-272). CRC LEME Perth.
β“˜ Maghemite
Formula: (Fe3+0.670.33)Fe3+2O4
Reference: Anand, R. R., & Dell, M. (2005). Kanowna Belle gold deposit, Western Australia. In Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems (pp. 270-272). CRC LEME Perth.
β“˜ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Reference: Pasi Eilu (2003) Exploration for orogenic gold deposits. Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining 2003 Rovaniemi, Finland December 2003
β“˜ Muscovite var. Fuchsite
Formula: K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Reference: Pasi Eilu (2003) Exploration for orogenic gold deposits. Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining 2003 Rovaniemi, Finland December 2003
β“˜ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Reference: Pasi Eilu (2003) Exploration for orogenic gold deposits. Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining 2003 Rovaniemi, Finland December 2003; Stanton-Cook, K.(1992): Kanowna Belle Gold Deposits- exploration and history. (Talk given to the Geological Society of Australia Annual Conference), Delta Gold NL (1992) Sugiono, D., ThΓ©baud, N., LaFlamme, C., Fiorentini, M., Martin, L., Rogers, J., ... & McFarlane, C. (2021). Integration of multiple sulfur isotopes with structural analysis unveils the evolution of ore fluids and source of sulfur at the Kanowna Belle Archean orogenic gold deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 1-20.
β“˜ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Reference: Pasi Eilu (2003) Exploration for orogenic gold deposits. Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining 2003 Rovaniemi, Finland December 2003
β“˜ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
Reference: Pasi Eilu (2003) Exploration for orogenic gold deposits. Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining 2003 Rovaniemi, Finland December 2003 Sugiono, D., ThΓ©baud, N., LaFlamme, C., Fiorentini, M., Martin, L., Rogers, J., ... & McFarlane, C. (2021). Integration of multiple sulfur isotopes with structural analysis unveils the evolution of ore fluids and source of sulfur at the Kanowna Belle Archean orogenic gold deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 1-20. Anand, R. R., & Dell, M. (2005). Kanowna Belle gold deposit, Western Australia. In Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems (pp. 270-272). CRC LEME Perth.
β“˜ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Reference: Pasi Eilu (2003) Exploration for orogenic gold deposits. Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining 2003 Rovaniemi, Finland December 2003 Sugiono, D., ThΓ©baud, N., LaFlamme, C., Fiorentini, M., Martin, L., Rogers, J., ... & McFarlane, C. (2021). Integration of multiple sulfur isotopes with structural analysis unveils the evolution of ore fluids and source of sulfur at the Kanowna Belle Archean orogenic gold deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 1-20. Anand, R. R., & Dell, M. (2005). Kanowna Belle gold deposit, Western Australia. In Regolith Expression of Australian Ore Systems (pp. 270-272). CRC LEME Perth.
β“˜ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
Reference: Pasi Eilu (2003) Exploration for orogenic gold deposits. Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining 2003 Rovaniemi, Finland December 2003
β“˜ Scheelite
Formula: Ca(WO4)
Reference: Pasi Eilu (2003) Exploration for orogenic gold deposits. Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining 2003 Rovaniemi, Finland December 2003
β“˜ 'Xenotime'
Reference: Sugiono, D., ThΓ©baud, N., LaFlamme, C., Fiorentini, M., Martin, L., Rogers, J., ... & McFarlane, C. (2021). Integration of multiple sulfur isotopes with structural analysis unveils the evolution of ore fluids and source of sulfur at the Kanowna Belle Archean orogenic gold deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 1-20.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
β“˜Gold1.AA.05Au
β“˜var. Electrum1.AA.05(Au,Ag)
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
β“˜Arsenopyrite2.EB.20FeAsS
β“˜Chalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
β“˜Famatinite2.KA.10Cu3SbS4
β“˜Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
β“˜Goethite4.00.Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH)
β“˜Hematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
β“˜Maghemite4.BB.15(Fe3+0.67β—»0.33)Fe3+2O4
β“˜Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
β“˜Rutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
β“˜Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
β“˜Scheelite7.GA.05Ca(WO4)
Group 9 - Silicates
β“˜Albite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
β“˜Kaolinite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
β“˜Muscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
β“˜var. Fuchsite9.EC.15K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
β“˜var. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Unclassified Minerals, Rocks, etc.
β“˜'Chlorite Group'-
β“˜'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
β“˜'Xenotime'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hβ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hβ“˜ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Hβ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hβ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hβ“˜ GoethiteΞ±-Fe3+O(OH)
CCarbon
Cβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oβ“˜ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
Oβ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Oβ“˜ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oβ“˜ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oβ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oβ“˜ RutileTiO2
Oβ“˜ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Oβ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Oβ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oβ“˜ HematiteFe2O3
Oβ“˜ Maghemite(Fe3+0.670.33)Fe23+O4
Oβ“˜ GoethiteΞ±-Fe3+O(OH)
NaSodium
Naβ“˜ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Naβ“˜ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
AlAluminium
Alβ“˜ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Alβ“˜ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alβ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alβ“˜ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Alβ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alβ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
SiSilicon
Siβ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Siβ“˜ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Siβ“˜ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siβ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siβ“˜ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Siβ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siβ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
SSulfur
Sβ“˜ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Sβ“˜ PyriteFeS2
Sβ“˜ FamatiniteCu3SbS4
Sβ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
KPotassium
Kβ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kβ“˜ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Kβ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caβ“˜ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
Caβ“˜ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Caβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
TiTitanium
Tiβ“˜ RutileTiO2
CrChromium
Crβ“˜ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
FeIron
Feβ“˜ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Feβ“˜ PyriteFeS2
Feβ“˜ HematiteFe2O3
Feβ“˜ Maghemite(Fe3+0.670.33)Fe23+O4
Feβ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feβ“˜ GoethiteΞ±-Fe3+O(OH)
CuCopper
Cuβ“˜ FamatiniteCu3SbS4
Cuβ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
AsArsenic
Asβ“˜ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
AgSilver
Agβ“˜ Gold var. Electrum(Au,Ag)
SbAntimony
Sbβ“˜ FamatiniteCu3SbS4
WTungsten
Wβ“˜ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
AuGold
Auβ“˜ GoldAu
Auβ“˜ Gold var. Electrum(Au,Ag)

References

Sort by

Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A)
Stanton-Cook, K.(1992): Kanowna Belle Gold Deposits- exploration and history. (Talk given to the Geological Society of Australia Annual Conference), Delta Gold NL (1992)
Sugiono, D., ThΓ©baud, N., LaFlamme, C., Fiorentini, M., Martin, L., Rogers, J., ... & McFarlane, C. (2021). Integration of multiple sulfur isotopes with structural analysis unveils the evolution of ore fluids and source of sulfur at the Kanowna Belle Archean orogenic gold deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 1-20.

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Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

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