Geology of the Willippa Anticline, central Flinders Ranges.
Created: 13 Nov 2024 Revised: 13 Nov 2024

In the central Flinders Ranges, Neoproterozoic and early Palaeozoic rocks are found outcropping within a series of broad, open, dome and basin-shaped folds. This region contains most of the diapiric structures in the Adelaide Geosyncline, many,...

In the central Flinders Ranges, Neoproterozoic and early Palaeozoic rocks are found outcropping within a series of broad, open, dome and basin-shaped folds. This region contains most of the diapiric structures in the Adelaide Geosyncline, many, but not all, being coincident with the cores of anticlinal domes. The Willippa Anticline is a small, slightly asymmetrical structure located about 50 km east of Wilpena Pound, and lying approximately half way between the Bibliando and Martins Well Domes. All three of these structures may contain unbreached diapiric material. That within the Willippa Anticline is postulated to occur at relatively shallow depth. The surface form of this anticline consists of two closures, the eastern closure being identified during the course of this study.The sedimentary succession as mapped by the author within and adjacent to the Willippa Anticline consists of rocks from the Burra and Umberatana Groups. The core of the anticline consists of Skillogalee Dolomite sediments which represent the most northerly outcrop of Torrensian rocks recognised to date in the central Flinders Ranges. Several unconformities were also recognised within the disconformably overlying Umberatana Group interglacial sequence of stratigraphic units. Copper mineralisation in the Willippa Anticline occurs within evaporitic sediments of the Burra Group and dolostones at the base of the Tindelpina Shale. In both occurrences, metal-rich fluids are believed to have been sourced from underlying diapiric material consisting of deformed Callanna Group sediments. Several cupriferous gossans occur within Burra Group sediments in the core of the western closure at Willippa. They are associated with major fractures near the crest of the structure. The fractures are possible tension features that acted as conduits for seepage from the diapir. The gossans contain abundant boxworks accompanied by highly anomalous copper values of up to several percent. About 4 km northwest of these shows, similar copper values are contained within dolostone and black pyritic shale of the basal Tindelpina Shale Member of the Tapley Hill Formation. Similarly, copper-rich fluids were transported via faults or diapiric breccia to the oxidation/reduction interface represented by the basal Tapley Hill Formation.

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About this record

Record No mesac34737
Topic Geoscientific Information
Type of Resource Document
Category Type
Document Type Mineral Company Report - Mineral Exploration
Contributor
Sponsor Frontier Exploration Ltd
Tenement
Tenement Holder Frontier Exploration Ltd
Operator
Geological Province Adelaide Geosyncline
Mine Name
Stratigraphy
Commodity
Notes
Geographic Locality: Central Flinders Ranges;Willippa Dome
Doc No: Env 08309 R 28

Geographic Locality: Central Flinders Ranges;Willippa Dome Doc No: Env 08309 R 28

Language English
Metadata Standard ISO 19115-3

Citations

Use constraints License
License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
Persistent identifier https://pid.sarig.sa.gov.au/document/mesac34737
Citation Dyson, I.A. Geology of the Willippa Anticline, central Flinders Ranges. Mineral Company Report - Mineral Exploration
https://pid.sarig.sa.gov.au/document/mesac34737

Technical information

Status
Maintenance and Update Frequency
Geographic Reference GDA2020 (EPSG:7844)
Geo bounding box {"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[139,-31.5],[139.5,-31.5],[139.5,-31],[139,-31],[139,-31.5]]]}
Purpose

                    
                    

                    
                  
Lineage