Hercules - Geology & Resources

Geology

Hercules is comprised of outcropping Lower Middleback Jaspilite (or “BIF”), common to the Middleback Ranges. As well as Carbonate facies BIF, (thin bands of fine grained magnetite with alternating carbonate and silica bands).

Based on iron ore deposits in the Middleback Ranges in which mineralisation is thought to have occurred via supergene enrichment of BIF and/or hydrothermal replacement, IronClad considers the following as the key targeting parameters for mineralisation at Hercules:

Regional structures relating to the major iron deposits in the Middleback Ranges are controlled by large-scale N-S shears.
Synclinal settings appear to be favourable, by analogy with the Middleback Ranges. Furthermore, the western limbs of the synclines and possibly a spatial association with mafic dykes are empirically important.Fold hinges are also a prospective target for the larger ore bodies due to the thickening of the prospective stratigraphy.
Cross-cutting structures appear to be important for localising high grade iron ore.In particular, NW-SE structures.
Localisation of iron deposits at the margins of linear magnetic anomalies.
Evidence of supergene enrichment of primary magnetite to hematite.
Nearby presence of Hiltaba granite intrusion (as possible source of iron-rich fluids similar to the source of the skarn iron mineralisation at Wilcherry).

All the above features are observed and interpreted at Hercules. Three types of BIF related iron ore mineralisation is present at Hercules, massive enriched hematite (high grade, DSO), lower grade hematite BIF and magnetite BIF.