The Minerals Systems Atlas groups known (Australian) mineral deposit types (mineral subsystems’) within a mineral system context on the basis of perceived common, regional-scale metallogenic processes,following the scheme proposed by Geoscience Australia (Table 1; Fraser et al., 2007; GA Record 2007-16). These processes and resultant mineral deposits may have occurred in more than one geodynamic (tectonic) setting, but a knowledge of the specific setting is not required in order to select data.

Ore components are extracted from the lithosphere by variably evolved basinal (ʻconnate’) hydrothermal fluids, to be further transported and concentrated in the crust in appropriate physical or chemical traps:

Carlin-type Au

Clastic-dominated Pb–Zn

​Iron formation Fe

Li-rich oilfield brines Li

Mississippi Valley-type Pb–Ag–Zn

Red bed Cu–Co

Rollfront paleochannel U–V–REE

Unconformity-related U

Volcanic-associated massive sulfide Cu–Zn–Pb–Au–Ag

Ore components are extracted from the lithosphere into metamorphic hydrothermal fluids, to be further transported and concentrated in the crust in appropriate physical or chemical traps:

Cobar-style Pb–Zn–Cu-Au

Hydrothermal vein-hosted REE

Iron oxide–copper–gold (IOCG) Cu–Au–Fe

Mt Isa-type Cu

Orogenic Au

Manganese

Ore components are initially extracted and carried by magmas, but subsequently released to an exsolved hydrothermal fluid, to be further transported and concentrated in the crust in appropriate physical or chemical traps:

Epithermal (adularia–sericite) Au–Ag

Epithermal (advanced argillic) Au–Ag

Intrusion-related Au

Iron oxide–copper–gold (IOCG) Cu–Au–Fe

Porphyry Cu–Au–Mo

Skarn Au–W–Mo–Cu

Ore components are extracted and transported by magmas, and concentrated within these by igneous processes:

Alkaline intrusion-related potash

Anorthosite-hosted Fe–Ti–V

Carbonatite-hosted REE

Diamonds – intrusion hosted

Flood basalt-associated Ni–Cu–PGE

Komatiitic-hosted nickel Ni-Cu-PGE

Mafic (ultramafic) intrusion-hosted Ni–Cu–PGE

Merensky Reef-type Ni–PGE

Ophiolite-hosted Cr–Ni

Rare-element pegmatite Li-W-Sn

Podiform chromite

REE and P-rich nepheline syenite

Stratabound Cr–PGE

Ore components are extracted and transported by variably evolved, near-surface basinal fluids or distally derived magmatic or metamorphic fluids, and concentrated by chemical precipitation at the sediment-water interface in marine environments:

Mn–Ni–Co-nodules

Iron formation Fe

Sedimentary manganese

Sedimentary phosphate

Sedimentary sulfate

Ore components are physically or chemically transported by low-temperature surface waters, and concentrated in appropriate physical or chemical traps in the surficial terrestrial or near-shore marine or very near-surface terrestrial (supergene) environment:

Aluminous clays

Channel iron deposits (CID)

Clay-adsorption REE

Evaporite brine-related Li

Evaporite brine-related potash

Lateritic bauxite

Lateritic Ni–Co–Mn

Paleoplacer Au–U

Placer Au

Placer diamond

Placer Sn–Ta

Placer Ti–Zr–Th–Hf

Playa lake-hosted gypsum

Supergene enrichment Au–Cu–Pb–Zn, U