What Is/Was Pipeclay And How Is It Formed?

Prospecting Australia

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Yes, I thought about that before posting, but seeing where the post is, it's appropriate. 🧐😁😂
 
Better pics:
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Thanks for that info and the diagram is excellent
 
If you find any of these around your area MB, you have a good chance of finding AU.
We named them "Volcano's" small low mounds that appear to have formed from a fissure. The rocks are unlike any surrounding them.

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Is that a kimberlite pipe?
 
Looks like an intrusive rock probably an igneous vent. Igneous intrusions can be rounded (vents or pipes), wall like (dykes) or flat sheets (sills).
The type of igneous rock that is intruded can vary from basalt to granite to kimberlite among a wide variety of types depending on the composition of the source magma.
Basalts and Kimberlite erupt at the surface while granite does not.
Basalts originate from quite shallow magma chambers whereas Kimberlites originate from much deeper sources in the mantle as much as 150km deep. As such Kimberlites erupt under greater pressure, more violently and with greater speed bringing with it exotic content like diamonds, garnets etc. Diamonds burn quite easily when subjected to high temperatures and oxygen. They can survive in Kimberlite because the eruptive process is so fast that it can cool and trap them before they are oxidized.
Could be a Kimberlite vent or pipe but they are much rarer than basaltic vents so the odds would be against it.
PS Any vents, dykes indicate possible fracturing of nearby rocks which could be favourable for later reef and gold deposit formation.
 
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