PUBLICATIONS COMPA~S BMR L~· •• :rn1NG-SEcnOl.""

090636 (NON_Pl~V .

DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY

BUREAU OF MINERAL RESOURCES, GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS·

BMR Record 1975/92

c.1

Record 1975/92

o E· E LI

HEAVY- MINERAL SANDS ALONG THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA

. ,

by

J . GARD I NER

The informa'tion contained in this report has been obtained by the Department of Minerals and En ergy as part of :the PQlicy of the Australian Government to assist in the explor"ation and development of mineral resour!:es; It may nQt be published in any form or used in a company prospectus or statement Nithout the permission in writing of the Director, Bureau of Mineral Resources, Ge()logy and Geophysics,

Record 1975/92

HEAVY-MINERAL SANDS ALONG THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA

by

J. GARDINER

CONTENTS

Page

ABSTRACT

1 INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgements

1

1

2 THE OCCURRENCE OF HEAVY-MINERALS 1

2.1 The distribution of heavy-minerals 1 2.2 Basic data 2

2.2.1 Collection of dry-mill production figures 2

2.2.2 Assumptions made in the collation of dry-mill production figures 2

2.2.3 Problems associated with the use of dry-mill production figures 2

2.2.4 Company estimates of reserves 3 2.3 Trends 3

3 GEOLOGICAL PROVENANCE 4 3.1 Introduction 4 3.2 Origin of the detrital heavy-minerals 4

3.2.1 Previous investigations 4 3.3 Results of the present study 5

4 CLIMATIC AND OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA 6

4.1 Introduction 6 4.2 Selection of data affecting the development

of the deposits 6 4.3 Climatic and oceanographic trends along

the east coast 7 4.3.1 Climate 7 4.3.2 Oceanographic factors 7 4.3.3 Interaction of climatic and oceano-

graphic factors along the East Coast 8

5 COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY 8

5.1 Introduction 8 5.2 Coastal landforms 8 5.3 Trends 9 5.4 Coastal geomorphic history and formation,

concentration and preservation of heavy mineral deposits 9

5.4.1 Introduction 9 5.4.2 Pleistocene deposits 10 5.4.3 The Holocene transgression 11 5.4.4 Holocene deposits 11 5.4.5 Summary 12

6 CONCLUSIONS 12

6.1 Further investigations 13

(ii)

APPENDIX 1: Production of heavy minerals from coastal sands in eastern Australia

APPENDIX 2: Percentage of rutile, zircon, ilmenite, and monazite in the concentrates

FIGURES

1 2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

. 13 14 15 16

17

18

TABLES

1

Factors influencing heavy-mineral sand accumulation Heavy-mineral distribution along the New South Wales coastline •. Heavy-mineral distribution along the Queensland coastline. Geographical variation of rutile content of the concentrate. Geographical variation of zircon content of the concentrate. Geographical variation of ilmenite and chromite content of the concentrate. Geographical variation of monazite content of the concentrate. Distribution of the major rock types in each drainage basin adjoining the New South Wales coast. Distribution of the major rock types in each drainage basin adjoining the Queensland coast. Triangular plots showing 1. Composition of the

drainage basins 2. Composition of

heavy-mineral con­centrates on beaches adjoining the above drainage basins.

Climatic and oceanographic factors along the New South Wales coast. Climatic and oceanographic factors along the Queensland coast. Distribution of cyclonic activity in Queensland . Coastal Geomorphology, New South Wales. Coastal Geomorphology, Queensland. Location of Pleistocene Transgressive dunes, North Stradbroke Is. Location of Pleistocene Inner Barrier deposits, Kurrimine Queensland. Late Holocene (+6,000 yrs. B.P.) Beach ridges in the Cairns District, Queensland.

v

Variations in the proportions of zircon, rutile and ilmenite - Broadbeach recreational area.

ABSTRACT

Provenance, coastal geomorphology, climatic and oceanographic features influence the nature of heavy-mineral sa~d accumulations., These features are diagramatically shown on.) 1: 2 500 000 scale maps of the New South Wales and Queens­la~d coastlines together with the distribution, size and mireralogy of the heavy mineral deposits.

Bibliographic research and the maps show that (1) local Quaternary history is important in explaining some of the largest concentrations of heavy minerals, (2) the concentration of heavy minerals is aided by erosion and sub­sequent redeposition of coastal sand deposits, (3) heavy mineral concentrates above high tide level are produced by aeolian action, storm waves and/or cyclonic activity, (4) the distribution of major heavy-mineral deposits along the east coast of Australia coincides with the presence of large barrier systems, and (5) the combination of high wave energy conditions, a small tidal range and a shelf approximately 50 km wide appear to encourage the accumulation of some of the largest heavy-mineral deposits.

','

j' i,

"

{.,

1. INTRODUCTION

Before 1965, studies of heavy minerals tended to be reconnaissance examinations of known deposits, or surveys to determine the reserves of various minerals (Beasley, 1949, 1950; Gardner, 1955; Whitworth, 1956; Low, 1957; Connah, 1962; Welch, 1964). Since then, the empha~is has been on the search for heavy minerals in a variety of places, both on the con~ tinental shelf (Brown, 1971), and inland, at sites such as Eneabba, W.A. (Lissiman & Oxenford, 1973).

This paper reports an attempt to analyse, mainly from a study of the available literature, the heavy-mineral sands of eastern Australia: their distribution, the factors controlling their iccumulation, and their geol6gical proven­ance.

To help in this study, a series of maps was com­piled, at 1:2 500 000 scale. The maps show (1) known heavy­mineral deposits, (2) geological provenance, (3) climatic and oceanographic data, and (4) coastal geomorphology, from Normanton, Queensland to the New South Wales/Victoria border. The factors influencing the occurrence of heavy-mineral accumulations, and their interaction, are shown in Figure 1.

References collected during this study have been compiled as an ADP-based bibliography, which will be available soon.

Acknowledgements

I wish to thank Messrs T. Connah, Geological Survey of Queensland f and K. Winward, Geological Survey of New South Wales, for their help in obtaining production figures and references, and Associated Minerals Consolidated Pty. Ltd., and Mineral Deposits Pty. Ltd., for providing information on heavy-mineral mining at specific places along the Queensland and New South Wales coasts.

2. THE OCCURRENCE OF HEAVY MINERALS

2.1 The distribution of heavy minerals

The distribution of heavy-mineral deposits is shown in Figures 2 & 3. The largest known are between Lake Munmorah and Noosa Heads, and on the islands of North Stradbroke, Moreton and Frazer. Other small deposits occur along the south coast of New South Wales and the east coast of Cap~ York Peninsula. No significant deposits have been reported from the west coast of Cape York Peninsula, although areas north from the Norman River have been examined (McKellar, 1957).

-2-

2.2 Basic data

Both dry-mill production figures and company estimates of reserves have been used to show. the distribution, size and type of heavy-mineral deposits on Figures 2 & 3. These figures have been used as they best illustrate the proportions of heavy minerals along the coast.

2.2.1 Collection of dry-mill production figures

Dry-mill production figures h~ve been collected from the 1930s to the present day, although from 1930 to the mid 1940s, the early years of heavy-mineral sand mining, dry-mill production figures are scarce. However the figures available for this period show that production was small (for instance the production in Queensland for 1941 was 1800 tonnes) and ther~fore, the general lack of figures before the mid-1940s probably has little effect on the production figures shown on Figures 2 & 3.· In contrast, figures for the last seven years are extremely accurate. .

Before 1947, figures were recorded as mixed con­centrate instead of as individual heavy-mineral components. However, for this study, the mixed concentrate was broken down into proportions based on the percentages of heavy minerals within the beach or dune concentrate.

2.2.2 Assumetions made in the collation of dry-m111 production figures

To calculate the size and mirieralogy of deposits at particular locations, it was assumed that throughput and period of wet-plant operation at each site indicated the pro­portion of concentrate contributed to the centralized dry mills. However, as mining areas al6ng the coast have been grouped into large~ districts, many of the inconsistencies between smaller deposits have been averaged out.

2.2.3 Problems associated with the use of dry-mill production figures

Totalling production figures has lost some infor­mation regarding the mineralogy of the major heavy~mineral deposits. For instance, the tonnages mined of minor minerals, such as garnet and monazite are so small compared to those of rutile and zircon, that the former cannot be adequately shown on the maps. Also, local trends, such as variations in mineralogy from the present-day beach deposits to beach deposits now several miles inland, cannot be seen. For example, Ward and Newman (1950), workirig in the Broadbeachrecreat-ional area, noted a decrease in the proportion of zircon f~om the present-day coast to older inland beach deposits with a correspondini increase in the proportion of rutile and

-3-

ilmenite (Table 1). Detailed information on the tonnages of heavy minerals mined, and companies working the east coast are given in Appendix 1.

Although dry-mill production figures give some indication of the original proportions of minerals present along the coastline and the relative size of deposits, they can be misleading. For example, because small amounts of chromite are associated with the ilmenite concentrate along the central coast of New South Wales, little has been sold (Gard­ner, 1955). Hence for this area the proportions of ilmenite shown on Figures 2 & 3 are based on the percentages measured from concentrates, not dry-mill production figures (see Appendix 2).

2.2.4 Company estimates of reserves

The estimated-reserve figu~es were taken from company prospectuses, in which calculation of ore reserves is generally based on a cu't-off grade of about 0.5 percent heavy mineral or 0.15 percent each of rutile and zircon. The average grade ranges from 0.31 percent to 0.47 percent rutile (Ward, 1972). Individual companies, however, often interpret the size of reserves in different ways.

Table 1. Variation in the Proportion of Zircon, Rutile, ana Ilmenite, Broadheach Recreational Area. -

Composite Samples '

1-4

5-7

8-10

11-12

Distance in E-W direction covered by bores

230'

280'

355'

125'

2.3 Trends

Zircon

41.2

37.5

36.5

35.4

Rutile

32.4

34.3

34.1

35.1

Ilmenite

23.5

24.6

26.2

25.2

Ward & Newman, 1950

Probably the most notable aspect of the heavy­mineral distribution is the abrupt change from an abundance of heavy minerals in the Swansea - Belmont area to an absence further south. North from Brisbane the change from occurrence to non-occurrence of heavy minerals is gradual.

-4-

Several trends can be seen in the mineralogy of deposits along the coast. North of the Gold Coast, the ilmenite:rutile, and ilmenite:zircon ratios for concentrate increase chromite (Gardner, 1955; Shepherd, 1972). Shepherd has plotted the percentage of chromite in concentrate along the New South Wales coast (Fig. 6) and has shown that there is a peak 'of 8.8 percent near Port Macquarie.

Rutile and zircon percentages increase north of Bawley Point, and decrease north of the Gold Coast (Figs 5 & 6). Zircon percentages show greater variation at sample locations than rutile, and record slightly higher values along the central coast of eastern Australia. Local variations are evident, and further north, along Cape York Peninsula, the proportions of rutile and zircon are markedly different.

The monazite content, like rutile and zircon, appears to increase in the Terrigal - Umina area (Fig. 7), but because monazite is such a small fraction of the heavy-mineral con­centrate this may not be statistically significant. Whitworth (1956) has noted that in the Newcastle - Port Stephens area amounts of monazite are as high as 4 percent of the concen­trate. Garnet occurs in nearly all the sands and has been mined in the Cudgen, Ballina and Evans Head areas. It is difficult to determine if there is an increase in garnet content in this region or if these centres are merely closer to the dry-mill plants where special runs can be made on the Wilfley tables, to extract the garnet. Gold, cassiterite and magnetite have been found at places along the coast, and their occurr~nce is generally ~elated to some local provenance factor.

3. GEOLOGICAL PROVENANCE

3.1 Introduction

Distribution of the major rock types in each drainage basin adjoining the east coast is shown in Figures 8 and 9. Geological information for these maps was taken from the Tectonic Map of Australia, 1960. Very few basins consist wholly of one major rock type, and it is, therefore, difficult to deduce the influence of each drainage basin on the detrital heavy-mineral suites ..

3.2 Origin of the detrital heavy minerals

3.2.1 Previous investigations

The relation between rock types and the distrib­ution of heavy minerals has been examined by Beasley (1949), Gardner (1955), Whitworth (1956), Connah (196Y) and Overstreet (1967). These authors are in general agreement that the most

Fig. 4

km ISOO l - YEPPOON ·(2)

GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION

OF RUTILE CONTENT

OF THE CONCENTRATE i - TANNUM (2)

1600i

1400J

I I

~.~ 12001

311°OO~ ~ I aooj 0.1 '

-FRASER I (2)

--NOOSA HEADS (3)

----NTH S'TRAOBROKE I (3)

GOLD COAST (2)

----YAMBA (4) ---WOOLGOOLGA (2)

-CRESCENT HEAD (2) -------DIAMOND HEAD (4)

. ___ -==='TUGGERAH (3) TERRIGAL- U"'INA (2) ~ 600~

400 I . r-BAWLEY POINT (3)

200· (3j N~r of samples

uud 10 draw graph.

O+-MALLACOOTA INLET (2)

o I 0 20 30 40 50 60 70 SO 90 % RUTILE RECORDED IN CONCENTRATES

Fig.S GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION OF

km 1800 ILMENITE AND CHROMITE ~ CONTENT OF THE CONCENTRATE

16001

--- YEPPOON (2l

--TANNUM (2)

1400 \-

II \ - N00Sf3rEADS

(f) 1200 \ NTH STRAOBROKE I (3) z . ----~ \ • GOLD COAST (3)

~ 1000 ---YAMBA (4) g \ ---WCOLGOOLGA (2) I "ChromM ~/"" h«I~)' ..J \ CRESCENT HEAD (2) mmertll~_ w t "'" /',,,,, ."',"AR" I -,...,.MJ9m ~ I ~ .7 DIAMOND HEAD (4) (3)Num~r of somp/tls ::; , / UStId 10 draw graph, ;;; 6OOj. TUGGERAH (3)

TERRIGAL-.UMINA (2)

- FRASER I (2)

:1 ------- BAWLEY POINT (3)

I -j

o ~ ---MALLACOOTA INLET (2) I o 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 SO 90

% ILMENITE RECORDED IN CONCENTRATES

Rocord 1975/92 % CHROMITE RECORDED IN CONCENTRATES

Fig. 5

km ISOO]

1600 ~

14001

- YEPPOON (2)

---TANNUM (2)

GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION

OF ZIRCON CONTENT

OF THE CONCENTRATE

(f)

z o .... « u o ..J

W ..J 0. ::; « (1)

1200~ 1000

SOO

600

400

-FRASER I (2)

---NOOSA HEADS (3)

--NTH. STRADBROKE I (3)

GOLD COAST (3)

-------YAMBA ~) -----WOOLGOOLGA (2)

- CRESCENT HEAD (2) ---DIAMOND HEAD (4)

--===-=TE=R=R=I"'G"'A"-L-_""U"'M"'INc:-A:-:(l)UGG E R AH (3)

--BAWLEY POINT (3) 200J (3) Number of samp/tls j ustld fa draw graph.

o l -MALLACOOTA INLET (2)

o 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 SO 90

% ZIRCON RECORDED IN CONCENTRATES

Fig. 7 GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION

OF MONAZITE CONTENT

OF THE CONCENTRATE kmlSOO r'fEPPOON (2)

tTANNUM (2)

1600 i

~~ «I

g'I' ~ 0.1

~I

j FRASER I (2) 1400 <

i -------------NOOSA (3)

12001 -NTH STRADBROKE I (3) i GOLD COAST (2)

J ' 1000 -1 YAMBA (3)

-WOOLGOOLGA (2)

SOO 4 ' CRESCENT HEAD (2)

, DIAMOND HEAD (3) , I

600 , TUGGERAH (3)

400 i j rBAWLEY

200 I

~

POINT (2)

TERRIGAL- UMINA (2)

(3) Number of samples used fa draw graph

o t--MALLACOOTA INLET (2)

j -----r~

o 2 4 6 S 10 12 14 16 '8

Ok MONAZITE RECORDED IN CONCENTRATES

--

AUS 2/345

-5-

important source of rutile, zircon, and monazite is Mesozoic sandstone, well .exposed in the Sydney, Clarence, and Moreton Basins, and late Palaeozoic arenaceous rocks. Tertiary volcanics were cited as the source of the ilmenite and magne­tite. The minor heavy minerals, with the exception of chromite, chrome spinel, tourmaline, hornblende, gold and platinum, are metamorphic and it is suggested that they have been derived from schists and gneisses (Whitworth, 1956).

The ultimate source of the heavy minerals was thought to be the New England granites (Beasley, 1949; Gardner, 1955), but Whitworth (1956) suggested that the Precambrian shield was the origin of the rutile and zircon, which were liberated by weathering, redeposited as sedimentary rocks, eroded once again, and finally concentrated on the east coast beaches. Whitworth provided further evidence to refute the theory that the New England granites were the source of heavy minerals, by comparing the amount of thorium oxide in the monazite beach placers with monazite from the New England alluvial tin and tungsten fluvial placers. He found that the amount of thorium oxide in the monazite beach placers was six times greater

) than in the New England alluvial tin and tungsten placers. \ )

3.3 Results of the present study

A quasi~statistical approach has been adopted to correlate heavy-mineral provenance with rock types (Fig. 10). Only four drainage basins, which ~all into Group B, correlate with high rutile plus zircon concentrations. The dominant sedimentary rock within these four drainage basins is Mesozaic sandstone. No correlations are apparent, on the triangular plots, between drainage basins composed mainly of sedimentary rocks and particular heavy-mineral concentrations. Similarly, drainage basins with a high percentage of extrusive rocks do not correlate with specific heavy-mineral beach concentrations.

The lack of obvious correlation between provenance and beach heavy-mineral concentrations may be attributed to three factors: (1) the small number of drainage basins considered, (2) over-simplification of the geology, and (3) the influence of factors unrelated to provenance, which may account for the mineralogy of heavy-mineral beach sand accumulations. Studies of gold deposits at Bermagui, N.S.W. (Hobbes, 1881) and at Jerusalem Ck., N.S.W. (Wilkinson and Slee, 1889) illustrate the close relation between provenance, drainage and minor heavy-mineral occurrence at a local scale, and indicate that the second factor accounts for much of the lack of correlation between provenance and heavy-mineral concentrates. The fact that the grain size of all heavy­mineral deposits along the east coast of Australia decreases from south to north (Whitworth, 1956; Shepherd, 1972) with zircon being slightly finer than rutile may also account for the lack of correlation between provenance and beach heavy­mineral concentrations.

~

II I

-6-

1. CLIMATIC AND OCEANOGHAPI1IC DA1'A

4.1 Introduction

It has been noted (Gardner 1955; Whitworth, 1956; Connah, 1961; Welch, 1964; Hails, 1970) that the concentration of heavy minerals both along beaches and within dunes is due. to climatic and oceanographic factors. The distribution of these factors is shown on Figures 11 and 12.

Published articles were the main source of infor­mation for the maps; climatic data (rainfall and wind activity) are from the Official Yearbook of the Commonwealth of Australia (1973), the Australian Department of National Development Resources Series, Burdekin - Townsville Region (1970) and Fitzroy Region (1965), and the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology. Papers from the Regional Tropical Cyclone Seminar, Brisbane, May, 1973 provided recent information on the distribution of cyclonic activity (Fig. 13). Tidal data was adapted from Easton (1970) and wave height analysis has come directly from a world-wide study by Meisburger (1962). The bathymetry is from the Australian 1:2 500 000 map series.

4.2 Selection of data a.ffecting the development of the deposits ~

Oceanographic and climatic data were collected assuming that each factor directly or indirectly influenced heavy-mineral accumulation. Rainfall, for example, was chos~n because it influences weathering and erosion rates, ri ver discharge, and, hence, the; supp ly of sediment and associated heavy-minerals to the coastal areas. Wind data were included for they not only affect the wave regime, but also secondary heavy-mineral accumulation. The distribution of cyclonic activity has been shown on Figure 13, because dciring storms the sea rises above normal high-tide level, and, hence, heavy minerals deposited under these conditions will be preserved, or previously deposited heavy minerals will be eroded. For example, cyclone Anthea, in December 1971, pro­duced a storm surge 3 m higher than normal sea level in the Mackay area (Bur. Meteor., 1973). Wind data were recorded, for winds redistribute primary heavy-mineral deposits on the beach face, onto foredunes and parabolic dunes.

I Bathymetry was recorded, for it determines wave

form. Similarly, tidal range influences wave action, but most importantly it changes the horizon at which coastal processes operate. Tidal currents also aid sediment movement around headlands. Wave action is important in carrying heavy minerals beyond normal high-tide mark and then carrying the

\

(i) GOMPO$ITION OF DRRi~R'~ J;~'If'

% 50

+0/ 30/

20 /

....-.-...,~ \

~ ~,

ftOGKS

ixrRus "'E fU)C~~ l,.,r~"$'VE / I'\nAMOR~\c.. I.OC.kS

NRMU OF 7JIlRIfi"C-f BIll/liS.

f. BAlS8ANE 2. /itJN'llWa" ~. I-/latJIiESSllfi"f .... /1'1"111/111"-"

It. FITZAOV 'I. HIIC./.,t4V ID. 8VltDEltlii 1/. JllI$r/wH

lis. -rOWIfH." ". 'P1ISG06 17· SHORIJIIIVEN Ig, (..UlRENC£

Record 1975/92

"

tii) (.OMP081T10., OF HE A V'! MINEAAt loNe.ENT/~ME t»i

6ERcJlES A Mt3IN"" THE »RRIItA'E allS11I3.

~ 1\Slc.OlC '"T!

Ci> c: ;.0 rn

-\. 0 '\ .,

&or e,i \ % 507 \ le r ;an \ .11 •

l . ~ , e1 ·f -to \ e\Cli -1.0

elO ~.' (

.2.. !GI!!

\\.MaMlTE' ont~'"

S. Hr/AlT'1l o. ,£..YO£ 7. ftIIOR.IIYf/

12. IlICHM~lItJ 13. TNE4'fJ '". BIIRl'lfT

1<1. HE IJ8E A.T ~. "~"c!l =-1. J..()u<'HII~r

ALJS 2 /360

19£/Cl snit ClG/!U61 pjO:l9~

"IJC'SW. ~UQr~~) Jot SJ'O~O' )ad n.ren~s "~UQJ -"~I .c;,

t,,,"o.n ,auol'~J IVldOJl jO ~?u~(\'Al1J:J ~feJ'At1

-7-

lighter sand fraction back down the beach slope (Beasley, 1949; Gardner, 1955; Whitworth, 1956; Connah, 1961). The islands, cays and reefs making up the Great Barrier Reef have been shown on Figures 11 & 12, for the reef protects this section of the coast from the influence of the S.E. swell waves and contributes sediment to the continental shelf.

4.3 Climatic and oceanographic trends along the east coast

4.3.1 Climate

There is an obvious change in climate from north to south. For example, rainfall in the north is greater th~n in the south, and falls in the summer, while south from Brisbane it falls ~venly throughout the year. The discharge of coastal rivers is correspondingly higher in the north (Thorn pers. comm.). Bird & Hopley (1969) examined the influence of climate on such things as beach regime and materials, and the formation of coral reefs, salt marshes, and coastal dunes on a humid tropical sector of the coast between Halifax Bay and Cape Kimberly, Queensland, and concluded there was little contrast between coastal features here and those of drier tropical coasts to the north and south.

Wind roses show that the predominant winds come from the northeast, east and southeast, and this is reflected in the orientation and location of the larger dune systems on the Queensland coast. For example, the dunes on Frazer Island trend northwest in response to the southeast gales (Whitehouse, 1963) and on Hinchinbrook Island the largest dunes occur at Ramsay Bay which faces east-southeast (Bird & Hopley, 1969).

Cyclonic activity is mostly restricted to the areas north of latitude 280 s, and is concentrated between latitude 150 S and 240 S (Fig. 13).

4.3.2 Oceanographic factors

The width and depth of the continental shelf vary considerably from south to north. From the New South Wales/ Victoria border to Botany Bay, the shelf is narrow, about 30 km to the 200 metre contour, but it gradually widens to a maximum, of 120 km to the 200 metre contour north of Moreton Island (Figures 11 & 12). North from Yeppoon the bathymetry of the shelf is influenced by the Great Barrier Reef.

The tidal range is mostly 2-4 m except for between Townsville and Yepoon, where it is 4-6 m, and at Broad Sound, which has a 10 m tide (Cook & Polack, 1973).

High-wave frequency decreases from south to north. Between the New South Wales/Victoria border and Brisbane 20

-8-

to 30 percent of waves are 2.75 m high or higher; further north, between Brisbane and Ingham, 10 to 20 percent of waves are of this height; and from Normanton to Ingham, less than 10 per cent. The nOrthwards decrease in wave height is caused by the Great Barrier Reef, which changes the wave regime from one dominated by swell waves to one dominated by storm and wind generated waves. From Ingham to Shelburn Bay, where wave heights are least, the reef is within 80 km of the shore, and this reduces the fetch for wind-generated waves and, thus, their height.

4.3.3 Interaction of climatic and oceanographic factors along the east coast

From Normanton to Ingham several climatic and oceanographic factors combine to give a low-energy coastal environment: the shelf is shallow, the tidal range is small (2-4 m) and less than 10 percent of waves are higher than 2.75 m. Further south from Ingham to Yepoo~ the tidal range is greater (4-6 m) and 10 to 20 percent of waves are higher than 2.75 m, although this section of the ·coast is protected by the Great Barrier Reef. Between Yepoon and the New South Wales/Victoria border, the region of largest heavy-mineral deposits, changes occur gradually: cyclone activity decreases, the percentage of waves higher than 2.75 m increases, the tidal range lessens and the continental shelf narrows and deepens.

5. COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY

5.1 Introduction

As the largest and most extensive concentrations of heavy minerals, along the east coast are found in Quarternary sediments, particularly inner and outer barrier deposits and transgressive dunes, maps have been compiled to show the dis­tribution of Quaternary coastal landforms (Figures 14 & 15). Seven coastal landforms have been recognised from a study of aerial. photographs (RC9, 1:80 000 scale), 1:2 500 000 scale maps (topographical and geological) and references.

5.2 Coastal landforms

The seven landforms used to characterize the coastal geomorphology of eastern Australia are: beach ridges, trans-gressive dunes, sand sheets, narrow sandy beaches, pocket beaches, rocky coasts and muddy coasts. Definition of these coastal components is a compromise between common usage and an attempt at a genetic classificati9n.

Beach ridges, which include cheniers, are bodies of sediment built by wave action or more specifically by swash action and are capped by wind-blown sand. Cheniers

-9-

differ in that they generally consist of sand or shell, lying on a clay or marsh base (Curray, in American Geological Institute, 1969). Transgressive dunes, commonly called para­bolic or blow-out dunes, are derived from the erosion of () 1 dpr roredunes. They are wind ori en L{~d and in guneral J to parallel to the direction of the constructing winds. Sand sheets, like transgressive dunes, are derived from the erosion of older dunes, but are characteristically structureless. Narrow sandy beaches may reflect a narrow coastal plain, a lack of sediment, or vigorous plant growth. They consist only of a beach and foredune. Pocket beaches, common along the south coast of New South Wales, are small beaches, often not more than a few hundred metres along between promontories. Rocky coastal sections ~re those where there are no depositional features,and rock crops out to form cliffs and platforms. Muddy coasts are usually associated with low energy regimes such as mangrove swamps or tidal flats.

5.3 Trends

Three trends can be seen on Figures 14 & 15:

(1) Beach ridges are present near almost all river mouths along the east Australian coast and behind present beaches; they are most common between Belmont and the Gold Coast.

(2) Transgressive dune complexes are present along the whole coastline (Watt, 1972); they are most exten­sive between Woy Woy and Frazer Island and at places along the east coast of Cape York Peninsula.

(3) Muddy coasts increase north from Moreton Island.

5.4 Coastal geomorphic history and the formation, concentratlon and preservation of heavy-mineral deposits

5.4.1 Introduction

Although Figures 14 & 15 show a relation between distribution of beach ridges, transgressive dunes, and major heavy-mineral deposits, they do not show the close association between Quaternary coastal depositional history and the form­ation, concentration, and preservation of heavy-mineral deposits. Thus a brief account of the coastal depositional history along eastern Australia, noting associatioris with heavy-mineral deposits, will be attempted.

The preservation of heavy-mineral deposits requires that either the shoreline progrades or the sea level falls, removing the heavy minerals from the influence of wave and tidal activity (Gardner, 1955; Winward, 1975). As the coast-line of Australia reflects stratigraphic and geomorphic res­ponses to sea level changes during the Late Quaternary it is

11

4f,

-10-

important in explaining the preservation of heavy minerals. It is well established that high sea level occurred 100 000 to 120 000 yrs B.P. (Last Interglacial), that subsequently sea level fell, with a maximum retreat 18 000 to 20 000 yrs B.P., rose to near its present level about 6 000 yrs B.P. and since has slightly oscillated (yeeh & Veevers, 1970; Jones, 1973; Gill & Hop~ey, 1972; Thorn, ~t al., 1969;). On radio­carbon-dating evidence, a rise to the present level or higher, about 30 000 yrs B.P. has been suggested, but does not accord with other evidence (Thorn, 1973; Gill, 1974;). The coa~tal geomo~phology will be discussed under the general terms of Pleistocene and Holocene coastal deposition.

5.4.~ Pleistocene deposits

Probably the oldest Pleistocene coastal deposits are the unconsolidated dunes extending from Noosa Heads to Double Island Point and occurring on Frazer, Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands, Qld (Fig. 16). Commonly called the Teewah sands, they have been dated, by the C14 method at more than , 45 000 yrs B.P. (Coaldrake, 1960), but it is thought they are more likely to be 120 000 yrs. B.P. The high percentage of silt and clay within these dunes has led Whitehouse (1963) and Coaldrake (1960) to suggest that the dunes were formed from exposed continental shelf areas, similar to the present tidal salt flats on the protected western side of Frazer Island. The most landward beach ridges on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula, many of which are currently buried beneath alluvial fan material could also be about the same age (Doutch, pers. cQmm.). To date no heavy-mineral deposits have been found within either of these coastal deposits.

However, Pleistocene depositional units, commonly referred to as inner barriers are often associated with large highly concentrated heavy-mineral deposits (Connah, 1961; Hails, 1969; Shepherd, 1972; Winward, 1975). These inner barriers are complex deposits, comprising a series of beach ridges, and/or dune systems, generally parallel to the coast (Fig. 17). They are characterised by (1) wide spacing and subdued relief of the beach ridges, (2) the presence of humate* and (3) strong podsol development. Since the pub­lication of B.G. Thoms' paper (1973), inner barriers are now considered to be associated with a 100 000 to 120 000 yrs B.P. higher sea level instead of a 30 000 yrs B.P. higher sea level (McGarity, 1956; Thorn, 1965; Langford-Smitb & Thom, 1969; Warner, 1971). The relations between these d~posits along the NSW coast and heavy-mineral deposits have been closely examined by Winward and Nicholson. They noted that the richest heavy-mineral deposits in the Trial Bay and Port Stephens areas were found at the rear of the inner barriers.

* The term humate is used here for humie and/or iron-cemented sands

1rat\~re.S&'\le 1)vnt b~fosits

.::.:.'~., ~ .. f0 '-td"t\e ~a~S.

---------

, J

hl~~~ Fl'- lb. "PlelSi-oteflQ 1ra~f'essi~ DLJn~ "bet>OS'I~S Nodh S+radbroke

I~~nd. Record 1915/92 .AUS 2/362

COR A L

SEA

Garners Beach

rfI[JJJJ Outer barler Inner barter

'VI VI Swamp terrain 'VI

.. Hills a rtdges

=~) Caral reef XXx Foreshore sandrock

5 0 5 10miles

Record 1975/92 AUS 2/358

Fig. 17 Coastal features in the vincinity of Kurrimine, Queensland

(After Bird a Hopley, 1969)

.r '~'l\ b tp!J+<;!Cl (. ;,r~, ~}($)'f )rnJmo19f1 ]1\1"1 '(, I "'bI:1

-r~~~'~~='-~ ~~----i6igLsI PJooe'.,1 'l: 0

~: 'l1;1I"!"cl,¢'il ~.;!.1N)) :. : ~: ' .. , ~;w~Qr~l '!~I~~~~ ........ '.

-11-

This concentration, they explained, was due to transgression of the sea, making available for deposition (at the extreme landward margin of the transgression) large amounts of heavy­mineral bearing sands on the continental shelf (Nicholson, 1975; Winward, 1975).

5.4.3 The Holocene transgressiop

The Holocene transgression separated the periods of inner barrier (Pleistocene) and outer barrier (Holocene) de-position. Sea level retreat, traced by the presence of old cliff lines, submerged river channels and beach features at various depths (Phipps, 1970; Jones, 1973), reached a maximum between 18 000 and 20 000 yrs B.P. (Gill, 1971) and then rose to its present level about 6000 yrs B.P. (Thorn, 1965). Current hypotheses suggest that during this rise to the present level co~stal dunes were forming and blanketing bedrock and older dunes. Several C14 dates support these hypothesis of dune growth with sea level rise; they are from a buried soil within stabilized dunes on Kurnell Headland, NSW (8500+ 115 yrs B.P.; Bowman, pers. comm.) and a sandbar north of nungwahl NSW (8850+ 118 B.P.; Gillespie & Temple, 1973). The dunes, particularly those found north of Myall Lakes,NSW, and south of Port Clinton and on Stradbroke, Moreton and Frazer Islands, are often associated with low-grade heavy-mineral deposits. There are many other transgressive dune systems along the coast, for example at Cape Flattery, Cape Bedford, Cape Melville,·Port Clinton, Cape Weymouth and Orford Ness, which are similar in morphology to those containing low-grade heavy-mineral deposits (Whitehouse, 1963). However, they have not been dated and thus may not be associated with the last marine transgression.

5.4.4 Holocene deposits (6000 yrs B.P. to the present day)

The Holocene marine transgression,which brought the sea to approximately its present level between 3000 and 6000 yrs B.P. age, according to Hails (1964), Thorn (1965), Thorn et aI, (1969), Bird (1971), and Cook & Polak (1973), was followed by a period of coastal progradation. Beach ridge and chenier sequences, commonly referred to as outer barriers, characterised this progradation. Often these outer barriers contain high grade heavy-mineral deposits, such as the famous McAuleys Lead at Jerusalem Creek, NSW. According to Nicholas (in Mineral Deposits of NSW, 1975) this lead, which follows an angular discontinuity between two beachridge sets, was formed from the erosion of earlier beach ridges containing heavy-minerals, and reconcentrated when a new beach ridge was deposited.

According to Thorn (1968) progradation of the outer barrier ceased about 1500 yrs B.P. and a relatively stable shoreline was established which encouraged the development

-12-

of large foredunes. Yet measurements of beach profiles and shoreline changes, as evidenced from old maps tend to indicate that at present the coastline is undergoing erosion at a low, long-term rate (McGrath & Robinson, 1972) coupled with dynamic fluctuations of much greater magnitude during and after storms. The Gold Coast and Lagoona Beach, Qld. and the Big Gibber, NSW are examples of areas with erosion profiles. Beaches cur­rently undergoing erosion are often the site of large surficial beach and foredune heavy-mineral d"eposi ts, for example the Cudgen Beach area. Tn fact it appears that at any location along the east Australian coast where inner or outer barriers which contain heavy-minerals~ are undergoing erbsion the present beaches are covered with heavy minerals.

5.4.5 Summar~

The age range, size and stratigraphic complexity of coastal sand deposits increases from south to north. Barriers in southern New South Wales are small (Wright, 1967; Hails, 1969) and were formed after the Holocene marine transgression. North of Woy Woy barriers are larger (~hom, 1965) and are related to both the Pleistocene and Holocetie. From Noosa Heads to the large barrier islands of Frazer, Stradbroke and Moreton the ~ldest unconsolidated coastaldeposit~ are found. Further north from Gladstone, Qld both Pleistocene and Holocene deposits can be found (Bird & Hopley,1969), but the majority of coastal features are Holocene in age, for example in the Cairns district (Fig. 18) (Bird, 1971; 1972) and at Broad Sound (Cook & Polack, 1973).

6. CONCLUSIONS

Correlation of the distribution of heavy-mineral deposits with provenance, climatic and oceanographic factors and coastal geomorphology has showri that:

"(1) the large heavy-mineral accummulations between Woy Woy and Brisbane are bordered by a high wave-energy coast, wi~h a small tidal range and a shelf approx­imately 50 km wide.

(2) . that part of the coast protected by .the Great Barrier Reef seems to be devoid of large heavy­mineral accumulations

(3) Quaternary coastal history is important in explain­ing the location of many of the large heavy-mineral concentrations, for example the largest concentrat­ions are found in areas with the oldest coastal history, i.e. where there are inner and outer barriers and/or transgressive dunes.

(4) the concentration of heavy-minerals is aided by the erosion of earlier inner battier and dune systems and their subsequent redeposition in outer barriers.

(5)

6.1

-13-

this study has given no clear indication of the provenance 01 tne neavy m1neral oepos1Ls and lience there is no explanation f6r the mineralogical changes in the heavy~mineral suites along the coast.

Further investigations

As a consequence of this study it is suggested that further investigations should concentrate on (1) the coastal sand deposits, particularly inner and outer barrier deposits, to determine if the age of these deposits is associated with occurrence or non-occurrence of heavy minerals and (2) one drainage basin and adjacent continental shelf, associated with a well developed coastal plain, to determine the pro­venance of the heavy minerals.

-14-

REFERENCES

Aust. Dept. of. National Development

Beasley, A.W.

Bird, E.C.F.

Bird, E.C.F., & Hopley, D.

Brown, G.A.

Bureau of Meteorology

Carne, J.W.

Coaldrake, J.E.

Connah, T.H.

(1970) Burdekin - Townsville Region, Qld. Resources Series, Climate.

(1949) Heavy mineral beach sands of southern Queensland. Proc. Roy. Soc. Qld. 59, Pt. I

(1950) Heavy mineral beach sands of southern Queensland. Proc.Roy.Soc.Qld. 59, Pt.II

(1971) Holocene features of Trinity Bay, north Queensland. Search, 2(1), 27-28

(1972) Beach ridge plain at Cairns North Queensland Naturalist 38, 4-8.

(1969) Geomorphological features on a humid tropical sector of the Australian coast. Aust.Geogr.Studies, 7(2), 89-108

(1971) Offshore mineral explor­ation in Australia. Underwater Journal & Infor­mation Bull. 3(4), 166-176

(1973) Regional tropical cyclone seminar, Brisbane, May, 1973

(1895) Report on the auriferous beach sands of the Esk River and Jerusalem Ck. County Richmond. Qld.Govt.Mining J. ,45, 144-145

(1960) Quaternary history of the coastal lowlands of south­ern Queensland J.Geol.Soc.Aust., 7, 403-408

(1961) Beach sand heavy mineral deposits of Queensland. Qld.Geol.Surv.Pub., 302, 1-30

Commonwealth Bureau of Census (1972) Official Yearbook of the and Statistics Commonwealth of Australia

No. 58.

Cu 0 k, P. J ., & P u 1 a c k , 11.

Curray, J.R.

Driscoll, E., & Hopley, D.

Easton, A.K.

Gardner, D.E.

Gill, E.D.

Gill, E.D. & Hopley, D.

Gillespie, R., & Temple, R.B.

Griffin, R.J.

Hails, R.R.

-15-

(1973)

(1969)

(1968)

(1970)

(1955)

(1971)

(1972)

(1973)

(1963)

(1964)

A Chl)lliur sl)llUencC at Broad Sound, Queensland, evidence against Holocene high sea leveL Marine. Geol. ,14, 253-268

In The new concepts of con­tinental margins of sedi­mentation. American Geol. Institute

Coastal development in a port of tropical Queensland, Australia. J. Trop. Geogr., 26,17-28

The tides of the continent of Australia. Horace Lamb Centre, Flinders Uni., S.A. Res. Pap. 37, 1-326

Beach sand heavy mineral deposits of eastern Australia. Bur.Miner.Resour.Aust.Bull. , 28

The far-reaching effects of Quaternary sea level changes on the flat continent of Australia. Proc. Roy. Soc. Vic., 84(2), 189-205

Holocene sea levels in eastern Australia. Marine Geol., 12(3), 223-232

Sydney University natural radiocarbon measurements II. Radiocarbon, 15(3), 566

Botany Basin. Geol. Surv. NSW, Bull., 18

A reappraisal of the nature and occurrence of heavy mineral deposits along parts of the east Australian coast. Aust. J. Sci., 27, 22-23

Hobbes, J.T.

Jones, H.A.

Langford-Smith, T. & Thorn, B.G,

Lissiman, J.C. & Oxenford, R.J.

Low, G.H.

-16-

(1.967)

(1969)

Heavy mineral.concentrates in coastal sediments and Pleistocene cliff - dunes, NSW Australia. (Abst) VII International Sedimentological. Congress Reading & Edinburgh.

The nature and occurrence of heavy minerals in three coastal areas of N.S.W. J. Roy. Soc. NSW, 102, 21-39

(1881) Southern District - Montreal Division. Ann. Rept. Dept. Mines, NSW, 63-64

(1973) Submerged shorelines and channels on the east Australian continental shelf between Sandy Cape & Cape Moreton: heavy mineral prospects. Bur. Miner. Resour. Aust Rec. 1973/46 (unpubl.).

(1974) Morphology of part of the central NSW continental shelf in relation to off­shore heavy-mineral pro­spects. Bur. Miner. Resour. Aust. Rec. 1974/51 (unpubl. ).

(1969) In the geology of N.S.W. J. Geol. Soc. Aust., 16, Pt I, 572-580

(1973) The Allied Minerals N.L. heavy mineral sand deposits at Eneabba, W.A. Aust. Inst. Min. and Metall. W.A. Conf. Papers, 153-161

(1957) Summary report on the prin­cipal beach sand heavy mineral deposits, S - W division, W.A. Geo1. Surv. W.A. Bull., 114, 66-80

McGarity, T.W.

McGrath, R.S. & Robinson, D.

McKellar, J.B.

McMath, J.C.

Meisburger, E.P.

Nicholson; D.A.

Overstreet, W.C.

Paterson,· O. D.

Phipps, C.V.G.

-17-

(1956 )

(1972)

(1957)

(1947)

Coastal sandrock formation at Evans Head, NSW. Proc. Linn. Soc. NSW, 81, 52-58

Erosion and accretion of gold Coast Queensland Beaches. Civ. En~. Trans. I.E. CE 14(2 , 158-163

Aust. ,

Report on prospecting Gulf of Carpentaria. Assoc. Minerals Consolo Ltd Geol. Surv. Qid: Libs Unpubl.

Cheyne Bay, beach sands. Geol. Surv. W.A. Ann. Rept., 14-15

(1962) Frequency of occurrence of ocean surface waves in various height categories for coastal areas.

(1975)

(1967)

(1962)

(1970)

U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Report 1719 - RR

Quaternary coastal sediments. In Markham, N.L. & Basden, H:, (eds). THE MINERAL DEPOSITS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, Geological Survey of NSW.

The Geological Occurrence of Monazite. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper, 530, 83-96

The Search for Deposits of Rutile and Zircon. Aust. Instit. Min. Metall. Mineral Sands Symposium Aim. Congo

Dating of Eustatic Events from Cores taken in the Gulf of Carpentaria and samples from the NSW Continental Shelf. Aust. J. Sci., 32, 329-330

Shepherd, M.S.

Thorn, B.G.

Thorn, B.G., Hails, R.R. & Martin, A.R.H.

Veeh, H.H. & Veevers, J.J.

Ward, J.

Ward, J. & Newman, J.K.

Warner, R.F.

-18-

(1972) Mineral Sands Mining on the East Coast. Geol. Soc. of Aust. Specialist Group Meeting Canberra. Symposium C Sedimentation and Ore Genesis in the Nearshore Environment.

(1965) Late Quaternary Coastal Morophology of the Port Stephens - Myall Lakes Area, NSW. J. Proc. Roy. Soc. NSW, 98, 23-36

(1968) Coastal Erosion in Eastern Aust. Aust. Geogr. Studies, 6, 71-173

(1973) The Dilemna of High Inter­stadial Sea Levels During the Last Glaciation; in Broad (Ed.) Progress in Geography, Vol. 5.

(1969) Radiocarbon Evidence against Last Glacial Sea levels in Eastern Aust. Mar. Geol., 7(2), 161-168

(1970) Sea level at 175 m off the Great Barrier Reef, 13 600 to 17 000 yrs ago.

(1972 )

(1950)

(1971)

Nature, 226,.536-537

Australian Resources of Mineral Sands. Aust. Miner. Indust. Quat. Review 25(1), 12-23

Beach Sands Investigation: An Investigation of the variations in the compos­ition of H.M. concentrates in the Broadbeach Recreational area ••.•• Bur. Miner. Resour. Aust. Record. '1949/110 (unpubl.).

Dating Some Inner Barrier Features of Angourie, Northern NSW. Search, 2(4), 140

Watt, B.G.

Welch, R.K.

Whitworth, H.F.

Whitehouse, F.W.

Wilkinson, C. & Slee, W.

Winward, K.

Wright, L.D.

-19-

(1972) An assessment of Coastal

(1964)

(1956)

Sand Drift in New South Wales. NSW Soil Cons. Service J. 28

The Ilmenite Deposits of Geographic Bay. Proc.Aust. Instit. Min. Metall. 211, 25-48

The Zircon-Rutile Deposits of the beaches of the East Coast of Aust. with special reference to this mode of occurrence and origin to the minerals. . Tech. Rept. Dept. Mines, NSW 47-64

(1956) Second Report on the Heavy Mineral beach sands and Related Matters in the area of Frazer Is. Frazer Mineral Sands SNndicate Geol. Surv. Qld. Lib. o. 313 (unpubl.).

(1963) The Sandhills of Queensland Coastal and Desert. Queensland Naturalist, 17, 1-10

(1889) Report on gold in the Richmond Area. Ann. Report Dept. Mines NSW, 202-203

(1975) Quaternary coastal sediments; in Markham, N.W., & Basden, H:, (Eds), THE MINERAL DEPOSITS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, Geol •. Survey of N.S.W.

(1967) The Coastal Barrier System of the Shoalhaven Delta Region. Uni. Sydney Dept. Geog. M.A. Thesis

APPOOtx 1: - PRlDICTlOI Of HEAVY ... ERAlS FRtJI COASTAl SANDS IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA

AREA 1 -LOCATION: PHISAID BAY

(Torres Stratt)

"'lING COBPAltES

o.Not Kaova

AREA 2 -LOCATION: ROCKHA"PTOI

(Port R1 eII .. ds)

.. "-,phyrespty Ltd

* Typ. of H.a!y "' ... al

YEARS. OF II III Ii

1969-1970

-r.

13833 13833

II - 111.n'te, R - Ruttle. Zr - ZIrcon. Rz - "onaztte. Sn .. Cassltertte, Gt - G.-nt, Au - Gold.

TOtiES Of run ",.wt. MINS) - Ata>ROIE TO TYPE Of 'UIERAl R zr - -Rz Sit Gt AIJ Oth.. TOTAL HfAVY MI.~

928& 572& i28i 57i6 - -

1032 . 103i -

MIIID

1032

28 845

~PPENDIX 1: (Contd.l

AREA 3

LOCATION: FRAZER IS~

MINlrJG COMPANIES YEARS OF M iN I NG TONNES OF HEAVY MINERAL MINED - ACCORDING TO TYPE OF MIMEqAL I. R Zr "z Sn Gt Au other TOTAL HEAVY MINERAL

.Queensland Htanlull 1972-1~ 52 832 26 6()4. 21 3()4. 81 MINEO

MInes Pty ltd

100 8?1

AREA. It -LOCATION: INSKIP PEN. - RAINBOW BEACH

.Queensland Tltanlu. 1965.13 "tn8S Pty ltd

(taken over by MIn. Dep) 101 600 118 Hit 91 513 105

306 363

AREA 5

LOCATION: ~OOSA RV. - DCUBLE IS. POINT

.Tltanlull Corp of Aust 1956-61 8 33~ 12 708

.Coastal Rutile Pty Ltd 1970.72 1065 6 212 • Gudgen R-Z Ltd 1972.;14- 37 084- 12 328 18 ~92

TOTAL 3'fQ'8i; 27ffi 31 412 - -102 225

AREA 6

LOCATION: ~ORTON IS~

.Tangalooa8 M'~erals 1951-58 It 363 1 02~ 1 153

6 5~1

APPENDl X 1: (Contd.)

AREA 7

LOCATION: ~OqTH STR~DBROKE IS.

MINING COMPANIES YEARS Of MINING

.Consolldated Rutile 1905-1973

.Associated ~'nerals 1951-1973 • Tazl 1950-1961

TOTAL

AREA 8 -LOCATION: SOUTH STRADBROK£ IS.

.Associated "'nerals 1959-1963

AREA 9

LOCAT (ON: GOLD CO!'ST - CUDGEl; - 8YRON BAY

(A) THE GOLD COAST FROM SOUTHPORi TO COOlANGATTA

.Assoclated Minerals 1945-1972

.Rutlle Sands Ltd 1943-1972

.Mineral Deposits 1941-1967

.Cudgen R-Z 1956-1958

.Paclflc Minerals 1950.1960

.Rut\le Mining Deve.Co 1957-1957 • Curru",bi n Mi nera 1 s 1971-1973 • Ot 111 ngna.' s 1968-1970

I.

1 178 64-1

1 178 64-1

972 972 972

, 760

1 979 6Ts5

R

313 115 162 1+8 218 883 6~ 1+8

28 357

16 64-1 36 080 W 321

784-1 596 1 190 1 341 1 634-

100'5s7

TONNES OF HEAVY MINERAL MINED - ACCORDING TO TYPE Of MiNERAL Zr filz Sn Gt Au Other TOTAL HEAVY II I NERAL

238 370 101 923 1" 198 4-84- 4-92

21 212

13 983 371 119 31 218 1 4-78 544-1 457 1 4-85 1 539 3 843

432m --s44

""NED

2 357 282

49 569

539 903

APP ENuT'\' ,: (Conn.:. I

~ REA 9 (Con' t)

tw; I f;G COMPAN I ES

(8) CUOGEN AREA FROM HASTINGS PT TO TWEED HEADS (I neludes Nor' es Head. Ktngseltff. f1 ngal)

AREA 9 (Con't.)

.Zlrcon-Rut"e Pty ltd

.Rutlle MI"'ng Dev. Pty ltd

.Tltan'ul Alloy Manu Co.

.NSW RutIle Mining Co

.Cudgen R-l (M'n;ng not cont'nuous

breaks .Assoc'ated MInerals

Consolo

YEARS OF ~ I N I NG

1936-1969 1957.1958

1951.1960 1943-1970 194-8-1971 1953-1961 1964-1969)

1953.1967

(C) BYRON BAY AREA FRO~ CAPE BYRON TO HASTINGS PT (tncludes BrunswIck Heads Pottsville Hooball)

AREA 9

.Assoclated MInerals Conso'

.Gudgen R-l 1961-1973 1963-1968

Total Heavy H'n9f'al !'Ii ned frce Gold Coast, Cudgen and Byron Bay Areas

I.

7 863

1 329

9 182 -

15 831

R

77 696 3 048

103 068 225 866 109 ".1

229 231 meso

89 509 1111- 528 204 037

TONNES OF HEAVY MINERAL MINED - ACCORDING TO TYPE OF MINERAL Zr Hz Sn Gt Au Other TOTAL ~[AVY ~INEPAl

116 486 3 181

150 493 246 290 85 111

227 761

708

120 118

829m 1546

12 4-33 132 180 204 613

820 820

,.. I 11 ED

1 589 520

Wf 550

1 052 614 1 4-66 651 2.090 820 2 53~ C~~

APPENDIX 1: (Contd.)

AREA 10

lOCAT ION: LENNOX HEAD -EVANS HEAD AREA

MINING COMPANIES YEARS OF MINING

(A) BAlllNA - lE~NOX HEAD AREA (FROM BALllNA TO CAPE BYRON 'includes Sharps Beach Broken Head'

.Lennox Head Co 1956-1959

.ZIrcon Rutile Pty ltd 1957-1968

.Hlneral Sands ltd 19~8-1 94-9

.Assoclated Minerals Consolo 1966-196'

• Prospector l s 1870 -19007

AREA 10 (Con't.)

(B) TALLOW BEACH

.Zlrcon-Rutlle Pty ltd 1954-

.Cudgen R-Z 1955-1960

.Northern Rivers Rutile 1963

.Associated Minerals Canso 1. 1965-1973

AREA 10 (Can't.)

(C) EVANS HEAD AREA (includes Esk Rv. Jerusa1e. Ck. Richllond Rv.)

.Assoclated Minerals Consolo 1969-1973

• Rucon Ltd 1948-1962

I.

1 184-

T184

TONNES OF HEAV·Y MINERAL MINEO -ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF MINERAL R Zr Itz Sn Gt Au Other rOHl HEAVY ~ INERAl

MINm

3 681 123 590 153 850 852

W 50

11 911 18 189 2 2~0 250z+

139 222 172 089 ---s52 2 24-0 -315 587

4-74-0 8 54-6 32 32 108 31 486

322 784-

78 458 94- 117 115 628 134- 933 ~ -

250 593

72 638 83 4-85 218 10 509 10 507

ft PP ["10 r X1: (ConfdJ

ftR[A 10 (Can't.)

'" I N I N"J COe; P ~ ~ I ES

(C) EVANS HEAD (Con't.)

AREA 10

.Sllver Vallay NL

.Rusan tllnerals

.Propector's

YEARS OF r:INING

1957-1958 1956-1958 1890-1900

Total Heavy ""nera' ""ned from lennox Head, Tallow Beach and Evans Head Areas.

AREA 11 -LOCATION: YAMB~

.Cudgen R-Z Pty Ltd 1969-1971

.DtlHngh'3!11's ~'"in~ Co 1969-1970 .

AREA 12 -LOCATION: WOOLGOQLGA AREA (Includes WooH)

• R.S. Free.an 1955 .Coffs Harbour Minerals

SyndIcate 1943-1945 .Bellinger Titanium Pty

Ltd 1956-1959 • M'neral Oepos,ts 1968-19.69 .

I.

1 1~

2 161 2 161

TOMMES OF HEAVY MINERAL "'NED - ACCORDING TO THE TYPE Of MINERAL R Zr Mz Sn Gt Au Other TOTAL '1(AVY MI'tPAl

951 2 129.

'8'6'1'i7 -

34-1 077

41 751 37 099 7s85O

7

1 117

2 594-4-272

T990

859

9r'851 -

301 873

4-0 985 34 382 15"'367 -

15

1 219

1 860 4-71+

'"T'793

---m

884 2 4-58

8 9050z 8 905 oz

8 9300z

MINED

181 ?96

7')7 lt76

15't \17

17 94-4

APPPiDI X 1: (Contd.)

AREA 13

LOCATION: COFFS HARBOUR AREA (Includes Sawtell)

AREA H

MINING· COMPANIES

.Po'nton Rutile Pty ltd

.Coffs Harbour Rutlle

.Cudgen R-Z

"

LOCATION: CRESCENT HEAD AREA (pt Ploler tc Hat Head)

Crescent Head .Mlneral Deposits North Beach I I

DeH cate Hobby I I

Barry Bay I I

AREA 15

LOCATION: PORT MACQUARIE AREA

.Assoclated Minerals

.Mlneral DeposIts

• Z'rcon-Rutlle Pty ltd

YEARS OF MIN ING

1957.1958 1957.1962 1967

1957-1972 1967·1973 1972.1973 1967

1961-1963 1967.1968 1969.1972 1955 .

I.

78 4-72 11 188 3 307 3 531

101 4.58

10 188

10 188

TONMES OF HEAVY MINERAL "INED - ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF ~I~EP.AL R Zr Hz Sn Gt Au

117 1 4-13

28 791 39 017 jQ""ffi' 3'9'01'7 -

177 819 137 579 606 22 124- 21 200 797 6 536 5 718 261

18 006 15 235 224 485 179 493· 1 664-

21 142 20 643

20 H6 19 784- 203 7 743 14 755 54

W031 55182 257

Other- TOTAL HEAVY M INERA "'I~;m

69 338

507 100

114 558

APPENDIX 1: (Contd.)

"REA 16 -LOCAT ION: LAURI ETON AREA ('ncludes D'alond Head)

AREA 17 -

MINING CO~PA"IES

.Laurhton Rutll e

.Assoc'ated Minerals

.North Coast 8each ~lnerals

LOCATION: TUNCURRY - FORSTER AREA

.Mlneral Depos,ts

~8

LOCAT ION: H&\\/KES NEST - SEAL ROCKS

Hawkes Nest .M'neral Depos,ts Myal1 Rv. 9'99 m bber, Sandbar • • 9luey's 8each • •

YEARS OF MINING

1956-1961 1961-1973

1952-1959

1969-1973

./ 1966-1970

1966-1973 1970

III TONNES OF HEAVY MINERAL MIN£S- ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF ~!I!E~AL R Zr Hz Sn Gt Au Qt~er TOTAL f-iAVY MINER~I

24 101 63 292

10 303 '97"6'96

124- 163 124- 163

124- 014

4.5 840 7 824-

177 678

22 570 68 134-

~ -

131 795 131795

240 4.62

4-6 517 7 311

294- 290

"I~ED

188 400

17 ----rr -"55 975

28

--w 471 996

APPENl.TI).l: ((;unt Q.)

AREA 21

LOCAT ICI.: ~OY \/oY AREA

MINING COMPANIES YEARS OF MINING TONNES OF HEAVY MINERAL MINEO - ACCORDING T: THE TYPE OF ~1'E1Al I. R Zn· Mz Sn Gt ~ Other TOTAL HEAVY ,~INf:;>~1

M PlED

Sol dl ers Beach .Northern Ri vers Rutile Pty Hd 1964-1971 250 5 01+1 9 437 55

far.rlgal Haven • " 1964-1971 1 135 7 722 7 993 1+7 1 385 1'2T63 i'7'GO 102 - -

31 680

AREA 22

LOCATIOI:: SHELL H!.RBCUR A~EA

Bu1lt .Upton Bars 1953-1955 15 She 11 Harbour .Beach M'"'og Aust ltd 1955-1959 6 817 6 335

6 725 63'3'5 13 060

AREA 23 -lOCA'TION: BE~AGl'l.- NAROOMA

• Pros pect ors 1880's 5000~

Total Heavy I'll nera 1 I'll ned frOIl the East Austral i an Coast -

9 169 51?

".T~pf.;tmIX 2

.I-11iCcl~ .. G}!;S OJ< hVnLb , Zln0vl" lLr..l:J;ll'l'~ o. rWNAZI'l':U 11, l'I;~ Gul'.Gl;],\l'f/.A'l'l<.,;;S

------- .... ----~- .. -Locality Hutile Zircon Ilmenite Monazite Other

Heavies

Princess Charlotte 1.4 .9 61.6 36.1 BAy (1)*

Lockhart Rv. (1) 4.4 4.3 41.7 19.6 Lloyd Bay (1) 3.6 23.1 59.5 13.E Alva (2) .3 5.0 69.0 25.7 Hinchinbrook Is (2) 1.8 8.6 57.9 31.7 Cliff Head Ie (1) 1.4 .9 61.1 . 36.1 Oombunghi (2) 3.2 20.4 76.3 Cape Clinton Dunee (9) 2.5 15.6 78.0 3.9 Yeppoon (4) 4.5 9.9 62.3 .1 23.2 Wild Cattle Pt. 9.0 9.0 53.0 19 Tannum Sands (2) 5 20 70 5 Barnett Heads (3) 2.0 3.0 94 2

Frazer Is. (2) 16 24 60 Frazer Ie. (2) 19 21 57 .5 2.5 Noosa Heads (9) 18 20 61 1.0

Lagoona Beaoh (7) 18 20 61 .4 Noose. Heads (3) 17 20 63 .9 Double Is. Pt. (5) 11.2-19.7 12.0-22.2 68.5-69.8 .1-1.2 0-).2

liIoreton Is. (2) 21.5 15.4 47.1 .5 15.5 North Stradbroke 15.8 12.5 50.1 .2 21.4 Is. High Dunes (4)

N .S.I. Below St. (4) 18.8 15.6 39.7 .3 25.6 I'; .S.I. Beach (4) 31.1 22.9 27 .3 18.7

South Stradbroke (2) 33.5 27.8 32.5 5.7 Bribie Is. (2) 19.0 22.1 55.7 .5 2.7

Burleigh (6) 36 30 33 1

Palm Beach (6) 35 35 29 1

1i'ine-a1 Pt. (10) 32 46 21

N orries Head (3) 37 38 30 .9 Evans Head (4) 29 32 22.9 .6 16

\

\ I

Ai', ENDIX 2: (Contd.)

Lo()~lity Rutile Zircon lImeni te ~.onazi te Other Heavi~s

l!,vans Head (3) 30 44 25 1.0 ; Yamhfl (3) 29 58 12.7 .3 !

Yamba (10) 24 65 11 Ballina (3) 24 55 21 .7 Jersulem Ck. (4) 31.3 36.5 16.6 .8 14.8 Wooli (3) 27 63 10 1.0

I f Woolgoola (3) 41 34 24 1.0

Nambucca Heads (3) 31 48 20.2 .8 I Bonny Hills (4) 38.6 40.3 15.7 .3 5.1

Dunbogan (4) 35.2 38.2 17 .5 .3 B.8 I Crescent HeSd (4) 34 40 25 1.0 I

Crescent Head (6) 40 34 25 Hat Head (8) 9.27 32.68 57.6

I . ( , Diamond Head 4) 38.6 28.4 13.2 19.3 Laurieton (3) 31 37 16 .5 15.2 Laurieton (10) 89 40 20 .8

Swan Bay (4) 29.4 35.3 12~4 .2 22.7

Caves Beach (3) 44 33 22 .2

Norah Head (9) 11 70 15 4 'I'uggerah-High 46.2 22.7 14 .8 16.5

Dunes (4) Tuggerah-Low 50.4 30 10 .4 9.2

Dunes (4) Terrigal (3) 38 38 21.0 1.2 1.8

\ Woy \~oy (8) 36.9 26.8 1.8 35.9 Bellambi Beach (3) 37 38 21 .7 3.3 Shoal haven (3) 18 22 59 .8 .2

Bawley Pt (9) 2 16 14 68

BR\>Iley Pt (9) trace 14 10 76

BawleyPt (10) 4 7 40+ (40/~ magnet it e)

I; arooma (3) 7 12 80 .16 .f.'4

"

APP~DIX 2: (Contd.)

Locality Rutile Zircon

Eden Barrier (8) .55 6.66 Nallacoota Inlet (8) 5.47 5.7 Albatross (8) .9 5.0

*Souroes of Figures

( 1 ~

~ ~~ ~~)

Aust. Oil Exploration Ltd (1957) 16 Connah, T.Ho (1961) 7 Gardner, DoE. (1955) 8 Shepherd, M., pers oomm (AlilC Pty Ltd) (9 Connah, ToH. (1958) (10

Ilmenite J.!onazite

.1 43.15 .1

54

Paterson, o. (1962) Overstreet, WoC. (1967) Hails, J.R. (1969) Collected by BMR Officers Whitworth, H. (1956)

Other Heavies

92.60 45.58 40.1

1" .. °00' 144000' .-------------------,10"00.

Prince of Wales I ( Bay ~ (I'

Head I

eay

0<°:'°00><>:,,' ------------,,.,.~---------"''7''-----_l 1 2°00·

Pascoe A

I lloyd Ba.,

Barrow PI

I---!

TYPE OF HEAV Y MIN ERAL MINIMUM AMOUN T OF MINERAL EXTRA CTEO TO MIO- f9'N

_ Ruf/ltl

D ' Zircon

§ Ilmenite

.. Mogn.MtI

_ Gortltl!

E] Cassiterite

H~.:?Mj Gold

_ ofh~r

MINING OATA

~ Sand minill9 opertlfion$ cMlS#Jd

(2) Nllmbttr off(Jr nams reftlfS If} OfY(! f or which prrx!l/Cfion f~fYS 0,.. gillflll in 'hfI a~ndi)( I

o

'000000 """000 :!~oooo )i'!!iOOO >0000 25000

< /0000

Sin of rtISfJl'Y6S ('OIInt!s)

PROPORrlONS OF HEAVY MINERALS BY WEIGHr

Minor hNlIY ",inftrol OCCurr~tlc~ (sizs IJnknowf1)

Fig. 3 Heavy- mineral distribution along the Queensland coosllin.

I Cape /Bedford

Cape Grafton

Johnson R

HinChinbmok I

Record 19~/92

eoy

I ~OOOO' - - 18 <>00'

, ... Q

Rodda f'ttninStlla ~ (2/

L Prince of Wei I c:f r

~----------~~---+-~~~~~~+.;~~~~~--+_-------------_~,.~6~~?~

. . . • ° • ° •

.. ° • • o 0 .;. .

• ° • ° • ° °

0 Sqrjil1lllnfory rocks

D I~IJ$ roCis-ufrusiw

0 .... : ...... Igntlous rods- InfruSM

D Cuofsrnory sllditnSflls

r:;J M. fomorpllic f'Q&ks

- Major wofflrsllH

Fig . 9 Distribution of the major rock type. in each drainage basin adjoining the Qld . coast

AUS 2 /3~6

<>. <7

142°00' 1044000' .::---------------'1.0"00'

TIDES WA VE REGIME

0 - 1",

L2l < '10%

2 - "1 m

tz2l 10-20 % 4 - 6m

~ 20-30 %

6 - 8m

( EOS/OIl, ' 970) ~ 30 - 40% - > 40%

BATHYMETR"Y Pe~nloqe frCQ~Y of OCClJ"~nc~ uf leasl 2(ftJorfers aflhe)'Mr of WOII~S

B f! ";~,, or lligller, _200 _ Dolo from M~;sbur"u, 1962

RAINFALL WIND ROSE

Annual ollerog_ ro",foll . Isahyt ls !fl Mm. (3 pm reodin,,)

Rain falling pr~nal'lfly

In StJmmer

Raill fulllllg ellellly Ihroughoul Me ftor

. Rain foiling pr~nontly ;11 winter

0010: O'flciol reorboak of llIe Commonwealth of AUSTrolio, 19'3

Showm9

t . Wind dirtlClIOfI 10 8p~ of the composs f--- -------2 . Lenglh of lhe cclumns ore praporhanol

fa 11'1. % fnlluMCies of Ih~ wi nds

from Ih. gi -,." dir«IIOII

J . Figu,,_s ",,, th,n ""'!fId ' os~s Ortl flllmbe' o f calm d ay s m eoc" mon;1'I

Fig. 12 Climatic and oceanograph ic factors olong the Old . coast ReCOfd 1975/92

t-:-----------~\\~--+---7~F'-+,--''_liii--t_--------------~!<l.;<:~~10

~ I

, ' ~'" 0 .,/

----~-_t----~~~-------_t------~r:~~::~-~~pL~---------------~~-------______ ~l~OO· "°00'

Narrow sandy b,ach6s

Beach r idge sflf~ms

Parabolic dlJ"~s (Symbol orron~ 10 show oo'nl(ll ion /

Poclrel beaches - small sandy beaches between rocky oolcrops

Coosfal marine sediments - predominantly muds ; Lagoonal d~POS'fs, Mangrove swamps.

Coral

Quaternary deposOs

Fig . 15 Coostol Geomorphology. Qld .

AUS 2/357

., . Q