Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Publication
    Controls on Metal Distributions at the Lisheen and Silvermines Deposits: Insights into Fluid Flow Pathways in Irish-Type Zn-Pb Deposits
    The world-class Irish Zn-Pb(-Ag) deposits occur within one of the world’s major metallogenic provinces. While it has been well documented that these orebodies are structurally controlled, exactly how fluids migrated from source to trap is still poorly understood. Using 3-D modeling techniques, the current study investigates metal distribution patterns at the Silvermines and Lisheen deposits to gain insights into fluid pathways and structural controls on mineralization. Distinct points along segmented normal faults are identified as the feeders to individual orebodies, allowing hot, hydrothermal, metal-bearing fluids to enter host rocks and form orebodies. These points are characterized by highly localized and elevated Ag, Cu, Co, Ni, and As concentrations as well as low Zn/Pb ratios, which increase away from the feeders. Metal distributions are initially controlled by major and minor normal faults and subsequently affected by later oblique-slip dextral and strike-slip faults. High-tonnage areas without typical feeder signals are interpreted to be structural trap sites, which are distal to fault-controlled feeder points. This study highlights both the importance of a well-connected plumbing system for metal-bearing fluids to reach their basinal traps and the control that an evolving structural framework has on spatial distribution of metals.
      393Scopus© Citations 13
  • Publication
    3-D Modeling of the Lisheen and Silvermines Deposits, County Tipperary, Ireland: Insights into Structural Controls on the Formation of Irish Zn-Pb Deposits
    (Society of Economic Geologists, 2019-02-01) ; ; ; ;
    Faults are important structures in the formation of many mineral deposits, often acting as conduits for ore-forming fluids and sometimes providing, or generating, the bounding structures to associated mineralizing sites. Using 3-D analysis and modeling of the Lisheen and Silvermines deposits within the Irish ore field, we investigate the geometry of normal fault systems and their implications on the origin and nature of associated deposits. These Irish-type deposits are carbonate hosted and developed within the hanging walls of normal faults arising from an Early Carboniferous episode of north-south rifting, with relatively limited amounts of later deformation. Structural analysis of high-quality mine datasets indicates that fault segmentation is ubiquitous with left-stepping segments arising from north-south stretching developed above generally ENE-NE-trending fault arrays, which are subparallel to older Caledonian penetrative fabrics and structure within underlying Silurian and Ordovician rocks. Fault segments occur on different scales and have a profound impact on structural evolution, with larger scale segments and intervening relay ramps defining distinct orebodies within deposits and smaller scale segments and relays potentially providing paths for upfault fluid flow. The difference in behavior is attributed to the integrity of associated relay ramps where intact ramps represent orebody-bounding structures, and smaller breached ramps provide enhanced associated hydraulic properties and act as vertical conduits. Hanging-wall deformation along the rheological boundary between host-rock limestones and underlying shales has an important control on the localization of earlier dolomitization and/or brecciation and later mineralization adjacent to this contact, and on the migration pathways for basinal brines and mineralizing fluids.
      535Scopus© Citations 17
  • Publication
    The bovine tuberculosis cluster in north County Sligo during 2014-16
    Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB, caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis) is endemic in the Irish cattle population, and the subject of a national eradication programme since the late 1950s. During 2014, a substantial area-level bTB outbreak developing in north County Sligo, necessitating the need for an enhanced response. This paper describes this outbreak, the response that was undertaken and some lessons learned. Results: In the north Sligo area between 2014 and 2016, 23 (31.9%) of restricted herds had 4 or more reactors to the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT)/animals with bTB lesions disclosed during the restriction, and the majority (55.5%) of test-positive animals were identified as standard reactors to the SICTT. The herds restricted during 2014–16 were typically larger than other herds in the study area and introduced more animals during 2013. M. bovis was also detected in local badgers, but not deer. Conclusion: This paper describes a substantial outbreak in north County Sligo over a 3-year period. A coordinated area-based approach was a key feature of the outbreak, and substantial resources were applied to bring the outbreak under control. No definitive source was identified, nor reasons why a substantial number of herds were infected over a relatively short period. A coordinated regional approach was taken, and a number of lessons were learned including the need for urgency, for a team-based approach, for a consistent message when dealing with the public, for an area-based approach, for a degree of flexibility for the breakdown manager, and for molecular tools to assist in answering key questions relating to the source and spread of M. bovis to many herds during this bTB outbreak.
      204Scopus© Citations 1