ELSMORE TIN PROJECT

GEOLOGY

Tin mineralisation occurs widely in the Elsmore district, where it is hosted by the late Permian to early Triassic aged Elsmore and Tingha Granites. Large quantities of tin were produced in the district in the late 19th and early 20th century, mostly from alluvial or eluvial deposits derived from the granites, but several hard rock mines were also developed. Primary tin mineralisation, occurring as the mineral cassiterite, is generally strongest in granite that has been altered to greisen (i.e. rock rich in quartz and mica). The most intense greisenisation occurs in discrete veins that form stockwork and sheeted zones, although masses of pervasive, strong greisenisation are also common. The tungsten mineral, wolframite, is commonly associated with cassiterite in the Elsmore district. Specimen quality cassiterite crystals, intergrown with euhedral aggregates and mega-crystals of smoky quartz, are quite abundant within the Elsmore greisen deposit. Much of the historic tin production came from mining of buried paleo-channels, or simply from sluicing of weathered tin-bearing granite.