PETROGRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS FOR 13 SAMPLES FROM KERTA INDONESIAN EPITRERMAL PROJECT,

By Jargaljav Gombojav

Mineralogical Laboratory, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd March 13, 2008

SUMMARY 13 samples from Kerta, Indonesian Epithermal Project were examined for petrography descriptions. These descriptions focused on detailed study for mineralogical contents and primary nature of altered rocks on the basis of texture and structure characteristic for each rock types and alteration mineralogy. Information concerning ore and opaque minerals was observed in polished slabs. INTRODUCTION Petrography observations were conducted on the polished thin sections using transmitted and reflected light microscopy. For observations of alteration clay minerals were used SWIR spectrometer. Brief summary of the results presented in table1. Sample #
PK_01

Rock name
Pumice tuff

Composition
Fragments: pumice clasts, trachydacite, quartz Matrix: pumice materials, qtz, ab, cha Opaque minerals: py, rut, hem Fragments: Qtz, pl, lithic clasts Matrix: qtz, cha Fragments: qtz, rock clasts Matrix: qtz, cha Opaque minerals: py, rut, Secondary: jar Fragments: qtz, pl, lithic fragments Matrix: qtz, cha, smec, ill Opaque mineral: jar, py Fragments: quartz 5%, plagioclase 3-5%, lithic clasts 5% Matrix: coarser quartz, fine quartz, kaolinite Opaque minerals: pyrite, hematite Fragments: qtz, rock clasts Matrix: qtz, op, cha Gold: a few grains?

Alteration minerals
qtz-ab-py, cha

Texture/structure
clastic

PL_01

PL_02

Silicified, dacite hydrothermal breccia Silicified, rhyolite hydrothermal breccia Silicified lapilli tuff

qtz, cha

pseudo brecciaed, blastoporphyritic with crustiform-colloform matrix blastoporphyritic, with crustiform-colloform matrix

Qtz-cha-jar, py

PL_03

Smec-ill, qtz, chl, jar, py

blastoporphyritic, crystalloclastic

LP_04

Silicified lapilli tuff

Qtz, cha, kao

blastoporphyritic, crystalloclastic with crustiform-colloform matrix

LP_05

Silicified breccia

Qtz, cha, op

blastoporphyritic, crustiform-colloform matrix

LP_06

Silicified rhyolite porphyry

Phenocrysts: qtz Ground mass: microcrystalline cha, coarser grains qtz Gold: 1 grain?, Ag-a few grains? Fragments: qtz, silicified rock clasts Cement: cha, ill Opaque minerals: hem Fragments: silicified rock, qtz Cement: cha, Fe-oxide Opaque mineral: py Fragments: qtz, rocks Matrix: cha, ill-kaol, Fe oxide Phenocrysts: pl, qtz Ground mass: pl, qtz, illkaol Fragments: andesite clasts, pl Matrix: qtz, jarosite, illite, amorphous silica Fragments: dacite clasts, pl Matrix: qtz, jar, ill, amorphous silica

Qtz, cha

blastoporphyritic with recrysstalized micro granular ground mass

LP_07

Silicified hydrothermal breccia

Qtz, cha, ill, hem

blastoporphyritic, crystalloclastic

LP_08

Tuff breccia

Cha, Fe-oxide

clastic

LP_09

Silicified, hydrothermal breccia Granodiorite porphyry

Cha, ill-kaol

pseudobreccia

LP_10

Qtz, ill-kaol

Crowded porphyritic

LP_11

Hydrothermal andesite breccia

Qtz, jar, ill, amorphous silica

pseudobreccia

LP_12

Hydrothermal dacite breccia

Qtz, jar, ill, amorphous silica

pseudobreccia

LP_13

Hydrothermal Fragments: qtz Qtz, cha brecciaed, crustiformrhyolite Matrix: qtz, cha colloform matrix breccia Abbreviations used; qtz-quartz, pl-plagioclase, cha-chalcedony, smec-smectite, ill-illite, py-pyrite, jar-jarosite, rut-rutile, hem-hematite, kaol-kaolinite, Fe-oxide-iron oxide

Petrography on 13 samples suggests the rocks are acid composition of volcanic rocks as well as rhyolite and dacite and their breccias, clastic rocks. These rocks mostly replaced by quartz that accompanied by variable amounts of chalcedony, opal like aggregates, amorphous silica, illite, pyrite, kaolinite and smectite. For these rocks common banded crustiform-colloform textures and replacement cryptocrystalline aggregates to granular quartz. Recognition of those textures of quartz is very important for distributions zones that most host epithermal mineralization. Please address questions, comments, or corrections to the OT Min Lab.

Sample: PK_01 Rock name: Pumice tuff Texture: clastic Composition: Fragments: pumice clasts 20%, clasts of trachydacite 5%, quartz 10% Matrix: pumice materials 25%, albite 10%, quartz 20%, chalcedony 5% Opaque minerals: pyrite 5%, rutile rare, hematite rare Chalcedony veins Fragments are presented by quartz, pumice, volcanic rock clasts and a matrix (left photo PPL). Clasts characterized by angular and sub rounded shapes up to 0.5mm3.0sm size. Pumice clasts consist of fine rounded aggregates chalcedony in the pumice materials.

Clasts of trachydacite presented by ground mass consisting of non crystallized aggregates of quartz and feldspar or oriented micro laths of feldspar with quartz. There are distributed fine aggregates of pyrite (isotropic, black fine aggregates on left photo PPL).

Quartz clasts form angular and sub rounded grains.

The primary matrix of the rock composed of cryptocrystalline pumice materials with numerous bubble cavity that partly replaced to small quartz and albite crystals with 0.2-0.3mm size. Left photo (plan polarized light) shows the primary texture for matrix with bubble cavities.

Secondary quartz, albite replaces the matrix of the tuff (left photo, PPL).

Pyrite widely distributed in the matrix and form anhedral, small rounded, growth zoning with radial and concentric development. Some of grains filled primary cavities. In minor amount occur rutile and hematite. The rock cut by late chalcedony veins.

Sample: LP-01 Rock name: Silicified, dacite hydrothermal breccia Texture: pseudo brecciaed, blastoporphyritic with crustiform-colloform matrix Composition: Fragments: Quartz 10%, altered plagioclase 5%, lithic clasts 5% Matrix: secondary quartz 35%, chalcedony 30%

The rock is strong silicified and but there are preserved fragments of quartz, altered plagioclase with 0.6-2.5mm in size. Quartz phenocrysts embayed by micro granular quartz and cryptocrystalline chalcedony aggregates, which entirely replaced the matrix. Some quartz fragments sharp angular shape.

Relicts of plagioclase fragments are defined by tabular shape of crystals. Plagioclase and lithic fragments replaced to cryptocrystalline chalcedony aggregates.

The matrix generally altered to micro granular quartz aggregates with 0.02-0.06mm size and randomly replaced by cryptocrystalline chalcedony. Secondary open spaces such as vesicles and amygdales are common and filled often with coarser granular quartz. In some part of the matrix is characterized by elements of crustiform-colloform texture, which display repetitive bands of different composition of coarse, comb and cryptocrystalline chalcedony.

Comment: Crustiform texture of quartz displays reflect fluctuating fluid conditions during precipitation by epithermal environment.

Sample: LP-02 Rock name: Silicified, rhyolite hydrothermal breccia Texture: blastoporphyritic, with crustiform-colloform matrix Composition: Fragments: quartz 5%, rock clasts 5% Matrix: quartz 40%, chalcedony 45% Opaque minerals: pyrite 5%, rare rutile Secondary: jarosite 5% Fragments in this rock presented by rare quartz fragments with sharp angle or rounded rims 1-3mm size.

The matrix composed of quartz aggregates with crustiformcolloform texture that is characterized by parallel bands with concentrated zones. 1euhedral buck quartz: crystals have rhombohedral euhedral habit 2bands of parallel quartz fibers 3bands of cryptocrystalline chalcedony aggregates

The bands randomly distributed in the rock and there are common cavities filled in centre by coarser euhedral buck quartz that rimmed by bands consisting of fibers and cryptocrystalline chalcedony

In the rock is common presence of micro crack in different directions (left photo PPL).

Pyrite and rare rutile disseminated in the matrix as fine grains. Comment: The presence of the rhombohedral and fiber quartz face is evident for planar domains on broken surfaces in minor local cavities. Sample: LP-03 Rock name: Silicified lapilli tuff Texture: blastoporphyritic, crystalloclastic Composition: Fragments: quartz 15%, relicts of plagioclase 10%, lithic fragments 20% Matrix: quartz 25%, chalcedony 20%, smectite-illite 10% Opaque mineral: jarosite 1%, pyrite-rare

The rock is characterized by numerous fragments of quartz, plagioclase and rocks with different sizes. Quartz and lithic fragments occur as rounded and sub rounded grains and plagioclase form tabular euhedral grains with primary zoned crystals that display hematite distributions inside fragments. Fragments of plagioclase and rocks completely altered to smectite-illite (SWIR spectrometer) and cryptocrystalline chalcedony. Fragments vary up to 0.3-5mm in size and dominated fragments with 2-5mm sizes. The matrix composed of micro granular quartz aggregates. Hematite occurs as in the fragments and matrix. Comment: Early smectite-illite alteration preserved within some parts of the rock that replaced by chalcedony-quartz.

Sample: LP-04 Rock name: Silicified lapilli tuff Texture: blastoporphyritic, crystalloclastic with crustiform-colloform matrix Composition: Fragments: quartz 5%, plagioclase 3-5%, lithic clasts 5% Matrix: coarser quartz, fine quartz, kaolinite Opaque minerals: pyrite, hematite This rock consists of fragments of quartz, plagioclase and lithic clasts in 0.5-4mm in size. Quartz embayed by fine quartz of the matrix. There are occur plagioclase relicts that entirely altered to kaolinite (SWIR spectrometer).

The matrix completely replaced by secondary quartz that causes specific texture. Subeuhedral, coarser grains of quartz form bands in the smaller aggregates quartz and within bands, individual crystals of subeuhedral quartz have perpendicular directions to the band (crustiform-colloform texture). (Left photo: 1-sudeuhedral coarse quartz, 2-radial fibers of chalcedony, 3-cryptocrystalline quartz)

In some parts of matrix developed elements of cockade (primary growth texture) and radial spherical textures (recrystallization texture). These different elements of texture show the multiple generations of quartz.

In the hand specimen it is clear that remained part with early kaolinite alteration, especially by plagioclase fragments, where matrix replaced by fine aggregates of quartz. In the rock randomly distributed pyrite with cubic and anhedral crystals and some of crystals of pyrite replaced by hematite. Pyrite mostly associated with coarser quartz aggregates.

Sample: LP-05 Rock name: Silicified hydrothermal breccia Texture: blastoporphyritic, crustiform-colloform texture Composition: Fragments: quartz 10%, rock clasts 5% Matrix: quartz, opal, chalcedony, gold-a few grains

The rock pervasively altered to quartz, opal and chalcedony. But in some part preserved a few fragments of quartz clasts with mostly sharp angled rims (Left photo, PPL). They vary 0.5-2.0mm in size.

In the matrix developed mostly cryptocrystalline opal aggregates and in some parts occur crustiformcolloform bands consisting of thin bands of radial chalcedony fibers, coarser subeuhedral quartz grains (inner bands) and cryptocrystalline aggregates of opal. The cryptocrystalline opal aggregates are filling dominated parts of the rock.

In some parts occur elements of radiating concentric fibers of spheroids or half spheroids.

In the sample found a few gold grains with 10-36 micron size.

Sample: LP-06 Rock name: Silicified rhyolite porphyry Texture: blastoporphyritic with recrysstalized micro granular ground mass Composition: Phenocrysts: quartz 5% Ground mass: microcrystalline chalcedony 20%, coarser grains quartz 75%, gold 1 grain, a few grains Ag? The rock consists of quartz phenocrysts and ground mass. Quartz phenocrysts are characterized by rounded and sub rounded crystals with 0.8-1.5 mm sizes. Around some phenocrysts usually form rims of recrysstalized micro granular quartz aggregates. In the ground mass dominated micro granular quartz with microcrystalline chalcedony that shows a recrystallization chalcedony to coarser quartz.

In the sample found 1 grain gold and a few grains of more white, soft grains suspected as Ag.

Sample: LP-07 Rock name: Silicified hydrothermal breccia Texture: blastoporphyritic, crystalloclastic Composition: Fragments: quartz, silicified rock clasts Cement: chalcedony, illite Opaque minerals: hematite This rock composed of fragments of silicified rocks, quartz and very fine grained matrix. Fragments vary up to 0.8-5.0 mm size and they presented by rock cements replaced to micro crystalline chalcedony and some of fragments altered to micro granular quartz aggregates. Quartz fragments occur as sub rounded or anhedral grains with embayed rims. The cement presented by cryptocrystalline chalcedony and illite and in the cement occurs hematite.

Sample: LP-08 Rock name: Silicified tuff breccia Texture: clastic Composition: Fragments: silicified rock 60%, quartz 20% Cement: micro granular quartz 15-20% Opaque mineral: pyrite This rock is rich fragments that poorly sorted and they presented by silicified rock and quartz fragments with size 0.5-10mm. There are dominated fragments of silicified rocks and they form sub angular, rounded shapes that show a sign of modification during transport. Quartz fragments characterized by sharp or sub rounded margins. Those fragments cemented by micro granular quartz aggregates which filled the spaces between fragments.

Rounded, small pyrite spherulites are distributed within some silicified rocks fragments.

Sample: LP-09 Rock name: Silicified, hydrothermal breccia Texture: blastoporphyritic, pseudobreccia Composition: Fragments: quartz 5%, fragments of rocks 15% Matrix: cryptocrystalline chacedony, illite-kaolinite, iron oxide

The rock consists of fragments of quartz, silicified, altered rocks and a matrix. Fragments of rock are dominated in amount and they presented by silicified, microcrystalline chalcedony aggregates. Size of fragments varies 0.5-1.5 mm.

Quartz fragments form angular, poor sorted grains with 0.2-0.8mm size. The matrix consists of very fine, cryptocrystalline aggregates of chalcedony. By the ground mass or some fragments partly developed kaolinite-illite (SWIR spectrometer) and iron oxide aggregates.

Comment: In thin section it is clear, that primary pumice origin of the rock completely replaced hydrothermal alteration.

Sample: LP-10 Rock name: Granodiorite porphyry (sub volcanic) Texture: crowded porphyritic Composition: Phenocrysts: plagioclase, quartz Ground mass: relicts of plagioclase laths, secondary quartz, illite-kaolinite The rock strong altered and but preserved phenocrysts presented by plagioclase and quartz which distributed in the ground mass. Plagioclase phenocrysts altered mostly to quartz and partly to illitekaolinite aggregates.

Quartz phenocrysts are characterized by anhedral grains and usually corroded by fine grained quartz which replaces plagioclase.

The ground mass composed of small plagioclase prismatic grains with 0.2-0.4 mm size that preserved in some places. By the ground mass pervasively developed micro granular quartz, illite-kaolinite (SWIR spectrometer).

Sample: LP-11 Rock name: Hydrothermal dacite breccia Texture: pseudobreccia Composition: Fragments: dacite clasts, plagioclase, quartz Matrix: quartz, jarosite, illite, amorphous silica The rock composed of altered dacite fragments with 2-8 mm size and plagioclase. Fragments dacite consist of plagioclase phenocrysts 1-2.0mm in size and altered ground mass composing of small laths of plagioclase with quartz. Some of fragments leached out and form cavities. Quartz fragments occur as small angled grains among amorphous silica matrix.

The matrix of the rock consists of amorphous silica materials that causes in the rock pseudobreccia texture. Early jarosite, illite (SWIR spectrometer), coarser quartz alteration remained as pseudo clasts in the rock. In the rock occur pores which rimmed by coarser granular quartz.

Sample: LP-12 Rock name: Hydrothermal rhyolite breccia Texture: brecciaed, crustiform-colloform matrix Composition: Fragments: quartz Matrix: quartz, chalcedony,

The rock composed of quartz fragments and matrix. Quartz fragments presented by angular and sub rounded grains with 0.2-2.5mm. Some quartz fragments oriented along laminations of opal like micro cryptocrystalline aggregates that completely replaced the matrix.

In the rock occur elements of crustiform-colloform texture that caused by gradation of 1-coarser quartz bands (left photo) with bands of 2-chalcedony fibers and 3-cryptocrystalline chalcedony bands.