Olympic Dam
South Australia (Stuart Shelf), Australia
IOCGCu-U (Au, Ag, REE)
- Type
- Supergiant IOCG (iron oxide copper-gold)
The largest IOCG deposit in the world. The polymetallic mineralisation lies in a hematite-rich hydrothermal breccia within Mesoproterozoic crystalline basement (1.59 Ga). The main minerals are chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite, with disseminated pitchblende, gold, silver and rare earths. Discovered in 1975 by Western Mining Corporation, it is mined by BHP.
δ238U in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : NBL CRM 112-A
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −0.56 / 0.04 ‰ | 40 | whole rock (all breccia facies) A narrow range, distinct from the Athabasca (around +0.2 ‰), consistent with the host granitoids (-0.18 to -0.32 ‰) and the upper continental crust. The Olympic Dam uranium signature thus appears to reflect crustal sources (felsic volcanics and granitoids). No correlation with lithology or alteration degree. | Kirchenbaur et al. 2016, Uranium and Sm isotope studies of the supergiant Olympic Dam Cu-… | |
| −0.2 / 0 ‰ | high-grade ore (U above 5 wt%) The subset of the most uranium-rich ores (over 5 wt%), slightly higher than most samples. A possible signature of partial reduction of the oxidising fluids. | Kirchenbaur et al. 2016, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta | ||
| −0.56 / −0.23 ‰ | low-grade ore (U below 0.7 wt%) The subset of the poorest samples, identical to the host granitoids, confirming the crustal origin of the mobilised uranium. | Kirchenbaur et al. 2016, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta |
238U/235U isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NBL CRM 112-A
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 137.766 / 137.848 | 40 | whole rock (absolute measurement) Absolute value of the 238U/235U ratio, measured by double spike. A reference for inter-laboratory comparisons. | Kirchenbaur et al. 2016, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta |
Deposits of the same type
- Olympic Dam Australia
- Singhbhum Copper Belt India
- Khetri Copper Belt, Chandmari India
- Khetri Copper Belt, Madan Kudan and Kolihan India
- Bafq district Iran
- Grängesberg and Blötberget Sweden
- Kiirunavaara (Kiruna) Sweden
- El Laco Chile
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Olympic Dam, isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/olympic-dam-s114/ (accessed 2026-10-06).
@misc{isofind2026olympicdamisotopesignatures,
title = {Olympic Dam, isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/olympic-dam-s114/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06}
}Updated : 2026-10-06