Fig. 5: Time-specific mantle fertility beneath the Yilgarn Craton 2675–2655 Ma.

A conceptual and simplified cross section (not to scale) illustrating a shared fertile mantle beneath both the South West Terrane and the Kalgoorlie–Kurnalpi Terranes. Commonalities across different types of mineralisation and granitoids in these terranes indicate a shared origin from the same craton-wide fertile mantle, characterised by (i) Bi–Te enrichment, (ii) positive Δ³³S values, and (iii) evidence of a hydrous lithospheric mantle. Formed through crustal recycling, this enriched lithospheric mantle contributed metals, volatiles, and sulfur to a metallogenic continuum active between 2675 and 2655 Ma. See main text for discussion of the apparent separation of this fertile domain by a broad zone of negative Δ³³S in the Youanmi Terrane. Plan view and colours adapted from Fig. 1.