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Journal of the Geological Society; 2001; v. 158; issue.6; p. 895-911;
DOI: 10.1144/0016-764900-131
© 2001 Geological Society of London

Regular Article

Biogenicity of gold- and silver-bearing siliceous sinters forming in hot (75°C) anaerobic spring-waters of Champagne Pool, Waiotapu, North Island, New Zealand

BRIAN JONES, ROBIN W. RENAUT & MICHAEL R. ROSEN

1 Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada (e-mail: Brian.Jones{at}ualberta.ca)
2 Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada
3 Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Wairakei Research Centre, Private Bag 2000, Taupo, New Zealand

Scientific editing by John McArthur.

Champagne Pool, a large hot spring at Waiotapu in North Island, New Zealand, is rimmed by a subaerial sinter dam and a shallow subaqueous shelf that is composed of orange sinter rich in metallic sulphides. Orange siliceous flocs, also rich in sulphides, are in constant circulation in the spring pool and form loose sediment on the shelf. The orange sinters and flocs are rich in As, Sb, Tl, and Hg, and have high concentrations of Au (>100 ppm) and Ag (>330 ppm). Most metallic sulphides are amorphous and disseminated throughout the sinter, instead of forming distinct mineral phases.

The shelf sinters are domal and resemble stromatolites. The neutral chloride waters (pH 5.5; temperature 75°C), however, are virtually anaerobic. Examination of the sinters by scanning electron microscopy confirms that they are laminated and contain an abundant, low-diversity assemblage of filamentous, bacilliform, and coccoid microbes. The flocs are similarly composed of very small, silicified filaments. Silicification involved replacement of the cell walls and extensive encrustation by opal-A. Based on size and morphology, these microbes are probably anaerobic bacteria or archaea. By providing substrates for nucleation of the silica, the microbes are indirectly contributing to the formation of the gold-bearing sinters.


Keywords: New Zealand, sinter, stromatolites, gold, epithermal deposits.




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