The <scp>Hera</scp> orebody: A complex distal ( <scp>Au–Zn–Pb–Ag–Cu</scp> ) skarn in the <scp>Cobar Basin of</scp> central <scp>New South Wales, Australia</scp>

The Hera Au–Pb–Zn–Ag deposit in the southeastern Cobar Basin of central New South Wales preserves calc-silicate veins and remnant sandstone/carbonate-hosted skarn within a reduced anchizonal Siluro-Devonian turbidite sequence. orebody distribution is controlled by long-lived, basin margin fault system, that has intersected sedimentary horizon dominated siliciclastic turbidite, with lesser gritstone thick sandstone intervals, rare carbonate-bearing stratigraphy. Foliation (S1) envelopes crosscut series late-stage east–west north–south trending faults. Skarn at displays mineralogical zonation along strike, from southern spessartine–grossular–biotite–actinolite-rich associations, to diopside-rich–zoisite–actinolite/tremolite–grossular-bearing through northern most tremolite–anorthite-rich (garnet-absent) association lithologies horizons; lodes also display down dip garnet present associations. High-T, prograde assemblages rich pyroxene are pervasively replaced actinolite/tremolite–biotite-rich retrograde which coincides main pulse sulfide mineralization. dominant sulfides high-Fe–Mn sphalerite–galena–non-magnetic high-Fe pyrrhotite–chalcopyrite; pyrite, arsenopyrite; scheelite (low Mo) locally abundant. metals part mimics changing gangue mineralogy, Au concentrated lower lode systems broadly inverse concentrations for Ag–Pb–Zn. Stable isotope data (O–H–S) amphiboles associated consistent magmatic (or metamorphic) water sulfur input during phase, while hydrosilicates wall rocks comparatively elevated δD mixed δ34S progressive mixing or dilution original waters unexchanged typical low latitude (tropical) meteoritic waters. High precision titanite (U–Pb) biotite (Ar–Ar) geochronology reveals manifold commencing high-T Pb–Zn-rich formation ≥403 Ma, Au–low-Fe sphalerite mineralization 403.4 ± 1.1 foliation development remobilization new 390 0.2 Ma followed thrusting, dismemberment 384.8 381.0 2.2 Ma. polymetallic nature result multiple events extension compression involving both likely formational metal sources.