google supergene enrichment sonofdavid or read: http://www.ga.gov.au/about/corporate/ga_authors/ajagg_17_4/CRM_Butt_ajagg174.jsp
You will find that quite the opposite of what you have stated is more often the case. The upper weathered lode is often richer than the lode at depth. Apologies for adding a little realism.