Reconnaissance geochemical exploration in the vicinity of
low angle detachment faults which bound the core of the Paparoa metamorphic core
complex yielded Au up to 14 ppm, with 35% of greywacke, granitoid and quartz
vein samples in the northern range exceeding the 0.01 ppm detection limit. Au is
associated with Ag, As, Sb and Cu anomalies consistent with epithermal-type
mineralisation. The Ag and Cu anomalies also distinguish this mineralisation
from older, mesothermal Au deposits widespread in the Ordovician 'slate belt'
greywackes, which comprise much of the upper plate of the core complex. Baryte,
molybdenite, fluorite and stratiform U mineralisation in the northernPaparoa Range may also be related to hydrothermal
activity along the detachment fault zones.