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 northern Paparoa Range may also
be related to hydrothermal activity along the detachment fault zones.