Geology

Deposit Geology

The geology at Rodnikova is similar in nature to that at Asacha, with the deposit consisting of a number of north-south trending veins hosted by a brittle dolerite intrusion, which is emplaced into a suite of volcanic rocks. Other volcanic rocks in the surrounding area have been interpreted to post-date the diorite but pre-date the veins. As at Asacha, it is postulated that the deposit is contained within a collapsed or eroded volcanic edifice.

Map of the area geology (new window).

The veins occupy a north-south structural trend and occur as a number of parallel veins the principal of which are steeply dipping, while further to the west the veins display moderate dips to the east. It is postulated that these veins may converge at depth to form a single vein. Post-mineralisation landslides have obscured the southern continuation of the veins although their presence has been confirmed by drilling.

As at Asacha, Rodnikova is classed as a low sulphidation adularia-sericite epithermal type vein deposit with the gold being predominantly associated with dark sulphidic bands within the quartz veins.