Application of multivariate statistics to trace element datasets is reviewed using 164 multi-element LA-ICP-MS spot analyses of pyrite from the Moonlight epithermal gold prospect, Queensland, Australia. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) is used to demonstrate that classification of pyrite on morphological and other non-numeric factors is geochemically valid. Parallel coordinate plots and correlation cluster analysis using Spearman's coefficients are used to discover unexpected elemental relationships without making assumptions a priori. Finally, principal component analysis and factor analysis are used to demonstrate the presence of sub-classes of pyrite. Corroborated with geological data, statistical analysis provides evidence for successive generations of hydrothermal fluids, each introducing specific metals, and for partial or complete replacement of different minerals. The data permit reinterpretation of Moonlight as a telescoped system where epithermal-Au (± base metals) is superposed onto early porphyry-Mo mineralization. © 2012 International Association for Mathematical Geosciences.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Earth Sciences
Research Group:	Geology
Research Field:	Mineralogy and crystallography
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences
UTAS Author:	Gilbert, S (Ms Sarah Gilbert)
ID Code:	82482
Year Published:	2012
Web of Science® Times Cited:	72
Deposited By:	Centre for Ore Deposit Research - CODES CoE
Deposited On:	2013-02-05
Last Modified:	2015-01-27
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