Nickel and Zn seem to accumulate in this part of the profile where smectites disappear. The fresh mineralization consists of quartz veins within a shear zone containing additional amphibole, chlorite and mica, plus small amounts of sulphides. Gold is present both as free Au in the quartz and in the sulphides. In the overlying weathered zone, the sulphides are replaced by mixtures of goethite and rutile. Amphibole and chlorite are gradually replaced by smectites and kaolinite, passing upwards to kaolinite and goethite.
Mica is residual, though it is altered to hydromica.
Some halite has precipitated from groundwaters permeating the shear zone. Lateritization occurred under humid conditions during the Cretaceous to mid Miocene. As the sulphides weathered, Cu, Zn, As, Au, Pb and W were mobilized. Although the Au included in the sulphides was redistributed, Au in the quartz vein remained in situ . Previously deposited secondary Au was also partially re-cemented in the fractures within goethite.