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Flying Fox Mine (Flying Fox Ni Mine), Kondinin Shire, Western Australia, Australiai
Regional Level Types
Flying Fox Mine (Flying Fox Ni Mine)Mine
Kondinin ShireShire
Western AustraliaState
AustraliaCountry

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04425490017272250178969.jpg
Flying Fox Mine

Flying Fox Mine, Kondinin Shire, Western Australia, Australia
04425490017272250178969.jpg
Flying Fox Mine

Flying Fox Mine, Kondinin Shire, Western Australia, Australia
04425490017272250178969.jpg
Flying Fox Mine

Flying Fox Mine, Kondinin Shire, Western Australia, Australia
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
32° 25' 24'' South , 119° 41' 23'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-32.42339,119.68991
GRN:
S22E73
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
BSk : Cold semi-arid (steppe) climate
Mindat Locality ID:
122826
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:122826:0
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Located approximately 100 kilometres east of Hyden. Flying Fox is an active underground nickel mine operated by Western Areas NL. Production by the latter commenced in 2006; previously, the mine was owned and operated by the Finnish company Outokumpu from 1992 to 1997.

It is a komatiite hosted nickel deposit (similar to the Spotted Quoll mine), 10-50 metres thick, dipping 40 degrees east south-east. The volcanosedimentary succession has metamorphosed to amphibolite facies. Deformation has sheared and dismembered the ore-body into eleven distinct ore shoots. These are found at the base of the komatiite sequence overlying deformed metasedimentary rocks.

This long suffering ore-body has undergone six phases of deformation. During this the Ni sulfides reverted to monosulfide solid solution, and were mechanically relocated along the footwall sedimentary rock-komatite contact by up to 5 metres, offset into the footwall sedimentary rocks by up to 300 metres, and entrained in the granitic magma, creating atypical granite hosted sulfides.

Massive to brecciated sulphides with metasedimentary amphibolic chloritic granotoid, and metadunite fragments form the majority of the ore. Much has been altered to supergene violarite and pyrite, richest at the basal contact between the ultramafic unit and adamellite intrusions. Overlying this is disseminated sulphides a few metres thick grading at 1.3% Ni, mainly pentlandite and pyrrhotite.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


18 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Actinolite
Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘ Andalusite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ Cummingtonite
Formula: ◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘ Diopside
Formula: CaMgSi2O6
ⓘ Enstatite
Formula: Mg2Si2O6
ⓘ 'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Graphite
Formula: C
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite
Formula: K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ Pentlandite
Formula: (NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Sillimanite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ 'Tourmaline'
Formula: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ Tremolite
Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘ Violarite
Formula: Fe2+Ni3+2S4

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘGraphite1.CB.05aC
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘPentlandite2.BB.15(NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
ⓘViolarite2.DA.05Fe2+Ni3+2S4
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘSillimanite9.AF.05Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘAndalusite9.AF.10Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘEnstatite9.DA.05Mg2Si2O6
ⓘDiopside9.DA.15CaMgSi2O6
ⓘCummingtonite9.DE.05◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘActinolite9.DE.10◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘTremolite9.DE.10◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite
var. Fuchsite		9.EC.15K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Tourmaline'-AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ'Garnet Group'-X3Z2(SiO4)3

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ Cummingtonite◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
BBoron
Bⓘ TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
CCarbon
Cⓘ GraphiteC
OOxygen
Oⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Oⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ Cummingtonite◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Oⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Oⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ SillimaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Oⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ Cummingtonite◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Mgⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Mgⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Mgⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ SillimaniteAl2(SiO4)O
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Siⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ Cummingtonite◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Siⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Siⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ SillimaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
SSulfur
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Sⓘ ViolariteFe2+Ni23+S4
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Caⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Caⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Crⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
FeIron
Feⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ ViolariteFe2+Ni23+S4
NiNickel
Niⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Niⓘ ViolariteFe2+Ni23+S4
CuCopper
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Australia
Australian PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Marston, R. J. (1984) Nickel mineralization in Western Australia. Mineral Resources Bulletin 14. Geological Survey of Western Australia
Collins, J. E., Barnes, S. J., Hagemann, S. G., McCuaig, T. C., Frost, K. M. (2012) Postmagmatic Variability in Ore Composition and Mineralogy in the T4 and T5 Ore Shoots at the High-Grade Flying Fox Ni-Cu-PGE Deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Economic Geology, 107 (5) 859-879 doi:10.2113/econgeo.107.5.859
Collins, J. E., Hagemann, S. G., McCuaig, T. C., Frost, K. M. (2012) Structural Controls on Sulfide Mobilization at the High-Grade Flying Fox Ni-Cu-PGE Sulfide Deposit, Forrestania Greenstone Belt, Western Australia. Economic Geology, 107 (7) 1433-1455 doi:10.2113/econgeo.107.7.1433
www.westernareas.com.au (n.d.) http://www.westernareas.com.au/operations/forrestania-australia/flying-fox.html
Zoja Vukmanovic (2013) Microstructural Characterization of Sulphide and Oxide Minerals in Magmatic Sulphide ores. PhD Thesis University of Western Australia.
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