Mapping'and'logging'porphyry'Cu'and'

epithermal'deposits:'
Why'and'what' The purpose of mapping is to
understand the distribution of
hydrothermal alteration, veins,
their character, and to
ascertain if the system is tilted.

It takes time, but it is cheap

compared to dragging in a drill
and just targeting geophysical
Richard M. Tosdal, Ph.D., PGeo and geochemical anomalies
PicachoEx LLC (U.S.A)
rtosdal@gmail.com

SEG student chapter, UNI, Lima, Peru, October 2015

Why map, log, and sample? Ann Mason porphyry Cu-Mo —

800 Mt @ 0.45% Cu
Area of initial
exploration

!  Explora9on'for'minerals'is'predic9on'of'ore'in'the'
subsurface'(3rd'dimension).'''
!  Rock'bodies'are'3Cdimensional'
!  Geological'maps'are'2Cdimensional'with'3CD'informa9onCC'
"  Best'way'to'predict'the'subsurface.'
"  Used'to'verify/quan9fy'geophysical'data' Can save exploration significant money and
' embarassment.
Scale'must'vary'from'detailed'(ore'prospect)'to'regional' Did not understand the post-mineral
(large'district)' deformation and just assumed system was
upright, so they drilled the sericite alteration
 Exploration for porphyry Cu
Cri9cal'elements'to'map' Predictable alteration assemblages and sulfide zonation

Barren core
!  Lithology,morphology-&-age-of-rocks-
Metals → Cu-Au / Cu-Mo → Cu only→ Zn-Pb
"  Pre6-versus-post6ore-units- trunca:ng -ore-
!  Structures:--ore-veins,-pre6,-syn6,-and-post6ore-faults-
"  Predict-posi:on-of-ore-in-subsurface- Magnetite – bornite-gold – chalcopyrite – pyrite
!  Hydrothermal-minerals,-ore-minerals,-oxidized/leached-rocks-
"  Zona:on-used-to-predict-ores-in-subsurface- Advanced argillic
!  Geochemical-and-mineralogic-gradients-
!  Construc)on*of*4-D*geological*models*(predic)ve,*includes*3-D* ↓
and*Time).* Potassic→ Propylitic

System should be designed for recording these data systematically

↑
without needing a cypher machine to decode. Phyllic

Porphyry & Epithermal Systems Hydrothermal minerals reflect P-T-ph conditions during permeability
creation and destruction
Epithermal-environment-
Epithermal- Porphyry Cu hydrothermal

kaolinite
smectite
interlayered
alteration & ores at 1 to >6 km Low pH Neutral pH 0
depth

clay
Central high sulfide & metals

Boilin
Increasing low pH, high fS2

g poin

illite
alteration upward in system

t for
Transition from deep PCD to 500
shallow epithermal; Role of

depth
Depth
(m)
non-magmatic fluids

epidote
curve
traditionally restricted to dilute
groundwater (meteoric)

(pure
Low pH 1000

wate
Neutral pH

r)

biotite
100 200 300
T (°C)
 Alteration assemblages can be used to predict temperature and
Early Alteration - Batu Hijau thus help to locate within epithermal system
EXPLORATION TOOLS FOR PORPHYRY & EPITHERMAL DEPOSITS, MANKAYAN Cu-Au DISTRICT
Lepanto,
Philippines
Chang-et-al.,-2011-
From Garwin, 2000
From Garwin, 2000
sulfidation state, depending on its composition (Jannas et al.,
1999), although the presence of chalcopyrite indicates the
former. Claveria (2000) noted a geochemical zonation in most
ore-related elements in Cu-Au zones, without discriminating
ores and wall rocks, from the southeast to the northwest along
the trend of the Lepanto deposit. For example, Au, Cu, Sb,
AlterationSe,
assemblages can toward
and Te generally decrease be used to predict
the northwest and Ca
Late Alteration - Batu Hijau decreases distinctly, whereas Ag and Zn slightly increase.
thus help to locate within epithermal system
The Far Southeast porphyry deposit
The Far Southeast porphyry is a concealed deposit. The top
of the porphyry-type mineralization is at an elevation of ~900
m, ~550 m below the surface, roughly coincident with the
base of the enargite Au mineralization of the Lepanto ore-
body. At an elevation of 100 m below sea level, the porphyry
orebody is elongate in the direction of the regional northwest-
trending structure. The Cu and Au grades are concentric
around dikes and irregular intrusive bodies of melanocratic
quartz diorite porphyry (Concepción and Cinco, 1989) em-
placed in the basement. Potassic alteration consists of a biotite-
magnetite ± K-feldspar assemblage and is associated with
veins of vitreous, anhedral quartz. This alteration is partially
to pervasively overprinted by alteration assemblages of chlo-
rite plus hematite and/or white mica sericite-clay-chlorite
(SCC; Sillitoe and Gappe, 1984). There is no definitive para-
genetic evidence linking Cu sulfide minerals to the early veins
of vitreous, anhedral quartz veins (Hedenquist et al., 1998).
However, petrographic evidence shows that Cu sulfides are
associated mainly with a later event characterized by the for-
mation of euhedral quartz crystals with anhydrite (Heden-
quist et al., 1998; Imai, 2000). Cathodoluminescence images
show that the early anhedral quartz is overgrown by euhedral
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 1371
From Garwin, 2000
FIG. 4. Cross section throu
(location shown in Fig. 1), illust
nature of the silicic and adva
zones at the unconformity be
and Imbanguila units (modif
1956; Garcia, 1991). The main
~70 percent of the Lepanto en
hosted by the Lepanto fault. T
ore was from strata-bound bod
conformity, as well as above an
and in subsidiary east-west str
the Lepanto fault (Garcia, 1991
formity is intersected by erosi
approximately parallel to the t
fault, the quartz-alunite altera
(Fig. 1), commonly forming cli
to the southwest of the Lepanto
neath the quartz-alunite zone, t
acteristically dickite ± kaolinite
at the northwest end of the air
quartz (P. Redmond and J. Reynolds, pers. c
the latter associated with sulfide deposition
clusions of illite (Hedenquist et al., 1998). Ble
lite, centimeter to meter wide, accompany
quartz-anhydrite-white mica-hematite-pyr
bornite veins, both of which cut sericite-cla
temperature
ation. Gold in the FarandSoutheast deposit is
grains of electrum associated with chalcopy
(Concepción and Cinco, 1989) and locally is
Bi-Te−bearing tennantite (Imai, 2000). Upw
from the core of economic porphyry minera
vasive sericite-clay-chlorite assemblage gra
mica-dominated with minor pyrophyllite loc
blage in which pyrophyllite is abundant, va
nied by quartz, anhydrite, and kandite m
nacrite, and kaolinite). This pervasively alter
lain and locally cut by a silicic zone with l
hosts the southeast extent of the Lepanto ore
nite halo includes a variable assemblage of
pore, dickite, and/or pyrophyllite (Hedenqui
The relationship between the Lepanto high s
deposit and the Far Southeast porphyry dep
Early ideas suggested that Lepanto was yo
temperature alteration of the underlying porp
litoe, 1983). Dating by Arribas et al. (1995),
that the biotite of the porphyry-related potass
the alunite in the halo to the silicic host of the
orebody were essentially the same age, 1.41 ±
1.42 ± 0.08 Ma (n = 5), respectively. This stud
demonstrate a coeval age of potassic alterati
deposit and its overlying advanced argillic
 Understanding paragenesis allows Mapping vein orientation and density vectors toward core of
prediction of grade in epithermal vein buried porphyry Cu system
11000
11000 N
N

5000 EE
3000 EE

7000 EE
5000
3000

7000
SCOTT
LODE ML1575
ORCHID ML10246

TY
CINDY CI INE
RA RL Fo
Footw
otwall
VE WE
all
PO
ANNE Z3
Z3
NANCY
VERA JANDAM ZED
V1
V1

N
L VEI
BEL
T NANCY VERA
10000
10000 N
N
A RE NORTH SOUTH 10000
10000 N
N
RG
MA
ML10215
VN1
MAG
E
AN AMG
DI PJ1 37'

250 0 250 500 JANINE 8'

JUMP-UP

7000 EE
5000 EE
metres

7000
5000
ANNE NANCY NORTH NANCY VERA VERA SOUTH JANDAM ZED

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°S
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1000
1000 RLRL ! !
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! ! ! ! 1000
1000
! RL
RL

truct
! !
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!! !! ! ! ! ! !
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ure
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
!! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
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>50 g x m Au ! ! ! ! !
! ! !
! ! ! ! !
>15 g x m Au ! ! !
!
>1 g x m Au
! !
!
3000 EE

7000 EE
5000 EE

Mined Out Area

3000

7000
5000

ML1575 ML10215 ML10246

359,000t @ 11.6 g/t 544,000t @ 15.4 g/t 1,124,000t @ 14.4 g/t 153,000t @ 9.2 g/t
(134,000oz) Inferred (270,000oz) (519,500oz) (45,500oz) Inferred

512,500t @ 12.0 g/t 2,065,000t @ 13.4 g/t 1,238,000t @ 13.3 g/t

RESERVE
(197,500oz) + MINED
(889,000oz) Inferred (529,000oz) Inferred PES_Z_081

Mapping vein
One'key'is'recognizing'altera9on'minerals'' orientation and
1.  Biotite: fine-grained, disoriented flakes of brown, density vectors
greenish, in mafic mineral sites: toward core of
2.  Hornblende, or Pyroxene or rarely plagioclase altered to buried porphyry –
biotite epithermal system
3.  Associations: anhydrite, Cu-Fe sulfides, carbonate, rutile system
4.  Sericite: fine-grained, can be confused with illite (K-rich
clay);
Replaces mafics or feldspars (plagioclase > Kspar)
Associated with quartz, pyrite or Cu-Fe sulfides

Allows exploration geologist to easily navigate in P-T-

pH space Verde'West'
porphyry'systems,'
Refugio'district,'
Maricunga'belt,'
Chile'
 •  Lateral veins can be very In quartz-adularia vein systems, identification and mapping of which
distinct or subtle paragenetic stage carries grade is the first step
•  But always follows the
regional fracture mesh
•  Increase abundance,
grade, and higher T
pathfinder elements
toward mineralized core

Mapping by Wallier (2006)

Manatial Espejo, Argentina

Supergene-overprint-on-serici:c-overprint-on-K-silicate-
PQM Core Logging
Commonly character of the
alteration mineral assemblages
Seeks-to-describe-intrusive-geology-(PCD),-altera:on-
and vein are still visible where
and-sulfide-mineral-distribu:on-facies-
lower temperature or
-
weathering driven alteration is
Characterize-the-system-for-explora:on--
superposed
(discovery-of-more-ore)--
-
and-mining--
(rock-strength-etc.)-
'
Logging'seeks'to'document'the'spa9al'and'temporal'
distribu9on'of'these'assemblage'
'
-

Chlorite6sericite-overprint-on-
Supergene-overprint-K-silicate- 2nd-bio:te6cpy6mag-
 From*A.*Harris*
Multiple porphyry intrusion should be identified Deposit Paragenesis
Observed phenocryst assemblage Potassic (K-feldspar and biotite assemblages)

?
Primary phase type, size and abundance

Secondary phase Propylitic

Accessory phases ?
Phyllic
Use standard rock classification for intrusive rocks
•  Plagioclase (mm, %) ?
•  K-feldspar (mm, %)
•  Quartz (mm, %)
Cu-Au

Also important to observe:

unusual crystal morphology
xenoliths (e.g., mafic xenoliths)
primary igneous textures

As a first pass, record other features (e.g., compositional zonation, quartz eyes etc.) P2 Porphyry Early P3 Porphyry Late P3 Porphyry NW Porphyry
Source: Proffett, 2003 Bajo de la Alumbrera

Sequence of events and controls on porphyry grade

From*A.*Harris* Hydrothermal Alteration Assemblages

Mineralogy and styles

Observations need to include:
•  alteration type (dominant mineral/mineral assemblage)
•  dominant
•  subordinate

•  mineral assemblage
•  texture
•  intensity
•  distribution

P2 Porphyry Early P3 Porphyry Late P3 Porphyry NW Porphyry

Bajo de la Alumbrera
 Geochemical dispersion model in porphyry Cu system
Hydrothermal'Altera9on'Assemblages' •  Gradients are narrower than in vertical context
•  Many elements are depleted in PCD core whereas
Mineral'assemblage' some are enriched at two fluid interface
' •  In propylitic marginal zone, primary rock exerts
Original'component' Typical'altera9on'replacement'product' major influence on trace elements present

Magne:te,-ilmen:te-and-:tano6magne:te- Pyrite,-leucoxene,-:tanite,-pyrrho:te,-
hema:te-

Pyroxene,-amphibole,-olivine,-and-bio:te- Chlorite,-illite,-quartz,-calcite,-pyrite,-anhydrite-

Plagioclase- Calcite,-albite,-K6feldspar,-quartz,-anhydrite,-
chlorite,-illite,-kaolinite,-montmorillonite,-
epidote,-sericite-

Anorthoclase,-sanidine-and-orthoclase- K6feldspar,-albite,-sericite-
Quartz- Microcrystalline-quartz-

Always'keep'in'mind'what'the'‘original’'mineral'could'have'been,'as'typically'

KCbearing'minerals'alter'to'similarly'KCbearing'minerals…'

Tosdal, Dilles, Halley, 2011

Use'the'SWIR'instruments'to'map'fine'grained'sheet'silicates'
Hydrothermal Alteration Assemblages •  Change-in-the-2200-nM-
peak,-and-composi:on-of-
Alteration textures white-mica,-which-reflects-
pH-of-altera:on-
Commonly observed textures in porphyry environment include: assemblage-
•  replacement textures
•  pervasive •  Dark-rocks-are-difficult,-
•  selective (selective-pervasive or disseminated) and-are-not-easily-
•  vein-halo analyzed-by-the-
•  microcrystalline instruments-
•  infill textures (vein)
•  incomplete, massive, layered (comb-texture, •  Applica:on-in-weathered-
crustiform, cockade) rocks-is-challenging-as-low-
•  breccias temperature-H2O-rich-
clays-are-very-reflec:ve,-
and-can-mask-higher-T-
sheet-silicate-minerals-

•  Cau:on-–-Instrument-is-
NOT-a-subs:tute-for-hand-
lens-mineral-and-textural-
iden:fica:on!-
 SWIR'instruments'can'help'iden9fy'the'altera9on'minerals'
Geochemistry'zoning'in'a'porphyry'Cu'system'
Linking SWIR and geochemical data to alteration mineral assemblages can
help with mapping
Feldspar-Sericite K/Al vs Na/Al Molar ratio Plot
Detec:on-limits-for-the-
Orthoclase
assay-method-are-
cri:cal!-Must-use-an-
ICP6MS/AES-method,-
par:cularly-for-the-
reconnaissance-phase.-
K/Al (Molar)

-
SWIR-mapping-is-fast-
and-cheap;-
Phyllic Potassic -
Muscovite Use-it-on-all-your-drill-
Illite samples.-

Albite
Argillic

Kaolinite, Montmorillonite Na/Al (Molar)

Geochemical mapping
ICP-geochemistry-and-SWIR-
are-effec:ve-tools-for-mapping-
mineralogy-and-chemical-
haloes-around-porphyry-
systems.-
-
The-detectable-haloes-are-
surprisingly-large.-
-
The-geochemical-zona:on- Quellaveco, Peru
pa_erns-are-consistent-and-
predictable-from-deposit-to- Silver Bell
deposit.-
- Structure in porphyry
Veins in porphyry Cu
Cu
For-surface-reconnaissance-
geochem,-a-400m-by-400m- deposits
Controls vein development and porphyry
intrusion
sample-pa_ern-should-be-
sufficient--to-detect-the- Forms due to hydrofracturing of rock as fluid
system.- exsolved from porphyry stock
-
Referred to as stockworks, which implies
Regolith-is-a-big-factor;- random arrangement of veins.
Choose-the-sample-media- Bingham
carefully!- PCD veins are far from randomly oriented!
 Riedel-diagrams-–-a-totally-misunderstood-and-totally-over6
Importance
used-and-totally-non6applicable-figure-
1.  Constrains drilling orientation - maximize intersection of
veins Although-the-concepts-are-
sound,-the-environment-
2.  Volume and density correlates with grade - mapped and they-describe-is-totally-
recorded during logging will provide vector to system unrealis:c-(isotropic-
core rocks)-and-SHOULD-NOT-
be-applied-rou:nely-as-
analy:cal-procedure-when-
mapping-deformed-or-
hydrothermally-altered-
rock-masses.-These-rocks-
are-anisotropic-with-
fabrics-that-will-control-
forma:on-of-new-fabrics-
-

Constrains whether or not PCD system is tilted

•  Andersonian mechanics - Earth surface does not support a shear stress
•  Tension veins in the upper couple of kms form generally close to 90°
to the Earth surface.
•  Thus, veins, dike margins, etc, that form as tension cracks form
generally with steep dips and locally with subhorizontal orientations
Map'and'log'to'guide'explora9on!'
Develop'appropriate'sample'protocol'and'analy9cal'package'
Help'interpret'any'airborne'or'surface'geophysics'
Cheap'and'effec9ve'if'done'systema9cally'
Can'save'money'during'development'and'mining'