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SGA2015 - Menzies Et Al - ExoticCu BlackCu PDF
SGA2015 - Menzies Et Al - ExoticCu BlackCu PDF
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Monserrat Barraza
CISEM (Centro de Investigación y Servicios Mineralógicos), Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
Abstract. Exotic-Cu deposits often form in the vicinity of Lomas Bayas as some of the most important examples
the parental porphyry system due to the lateral migration in northern Chile (Münchmeyer, 1996). Mineralisation
of Cu-bearing fluids. Mineralisation in this type of deposit in this type of deposits comprises different species of
comprises different species of copper minerals and copper minerals and mineraloids broadly defined as
mineraloids broadly defined as green- and black-copper
ores. The analysis and subsequent definition of Cu-
black-copper and green-copper ores, colloquially known
bearing minerals from exotic-Cu deposits is extremely as “cobre negro” and “cobre verde”, respectively.
complex due to the fine scaled textures and Black-copper ores are poorly understood and roughly
compositional variation. This is particularly true for so- can be characterized as amorphous or poorly crystalline
called “black-copper” minerals. The QEMSCAN® Cu-bearing oxides, showing variable chemical
analysis of a large suite of samples from such deposits composition. These mineral phases occur closely
has enabled a detailed list of definitions encompassing related to supergene oxide copper minerals such as
the variability of both Cu-wad and Cu-pitch, specifically chrysocolla atacamite, chalcantite, antlerite and
related to the Mn concentrations, as well as numerous brochantite, the green-copper ore minerals, which are
sub-ordinate elements such as Mg, Al, Fe, Si, P, Ca, P,
described separately in Campos et al. (2015). The most
Cl, and S. The confirmation of these definitions has
enabled the correlation between physical ore commonly associated gangue minerals are limonites,
characteristics (i.e. colour and texture) with known kaolinite, quartz, sericite, chlorite, plagioclase and
mineralogy. In addition, QEMSCAN® analyses of exotic- feldspar. Typically, sulphides are not present in exotic-
Cu deposits yield more accurate and precise Cu- Cu deposits.
mineralogy and Cu-deportment, which is especially
relevant to plant mineral processing samples.
2 Methodology
Keywords. Exotic-Cu, Black Copper, Cobre Negro,
Cu-Wad, Cu-Pitch, QEMSCAN, El Tesoro A selection of samples from four deposits in northern
Chile were analysed using automated mineralogy
techniques (QEMSCAN®) housed at CISEM,
1 Introduction Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
These samples comprise various rock fragments ranging
The central Andes of northern Chile and southern Perú from 2 – 10 cm in size. The larger samples were cut
is well known for hosting a premier copper province with a diamond tipped saw and analysed on the
with exceptional metal endowment contained in unpolished surface, whilst, the smaller samples were
numerous deposits, some of which are amongst the mounted in resin, and polished prior to analysis. All
world´s largest copper deposits (e.g. Chuquicamata, La samples were carbon coated prior to analysis.
Escondida) (Sillitoe, 2013). A distinctive feature The analyses were made using a QEMSCAN®
observed in the Atacama Desert is the occurrence of model E430, which is based on a ZEISS EVO 50
exotic supergene Cu-mineralisation that is spatially and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) combined with
genetically related to porphyry systems, whch are the Bruker Series 4 energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS)
source of the metals (Münchmeyer, 1996, Sillitoe, detectors. Routine analysis is performed with a spot size
2005). of less than 1 μm at an operating voltage of 25 kV and a
Exotic-Cu deposits can be formed in the vicinity of beam current of 5 nA. The standard 1000 counts per
the parental porphyry system when lateral migration point were acquired and this yields a detection limit of
component of the Cu-bearing solutions occurs, in approximately 2 wt% per element for each mineral
response to topographically driven groundwater flow classification. Measurements were performed using
(Münchmeyer, 1996), in which case, copper oxide iMeasure v5.3.2 and data reduction using iDiscover
mineralisation (mainly chrysocolla with minor v5.3.2. The samples were analysed in Fieldscan mode at
atacamite, copper-pitch and copper-wad) will be a field size of 1500 μm (approximate magnification of
deposited in the surrounding paleodrainage network as 50x). Multiple analyses were made at different pixel
interstitial cement in permeable gravels sequences or spacing resolution, most commonly 10, 5 or 2 μm to
impregnation along fractures and pores in older observe the fine-scaled textures. The back scattered
basement rocks. The exotic-Cu deposits varies widely electron levels were calibrated from 0-255 where Quartz
in size and can reach up to 3.5 million tons of fine Cu, = 42, Copper = 130, and Gold = 232.
with Radomiro Tomic, El Tesoro, Spence, Mina Sur, and
3 Historical Definitions in the QEMSCAN® mineral list contains numerous sub-
definitions of various specific minerals, for example, Cu-
There have been numerous studies of exotic-Cu sulphides contains definitions for chalcopyrite, bornite,
deposits in Chile, and a general observation of these chalcocite and so forth, each of which has a fixed
results clearly indicate the variability of Cu- structure and thus relatively narrow major and minor
mineralisation and of the definitions used (see Table 1 as element composition. In contrast, the definitions for the
an example). This is problematic when trying to “black copper” minerals has been subdivided in various
evaluate mineralogy and for metallurgical processing, groups, namely, Cu-Pitch, Cu-Mn Pitch, Cu-Wad and
specifically using modern techniques such as Cu-Mn Wad. Furthermore, each group has, in some
QEMSCAN®. This is further compounded by the use cases, up to 50 subgroups to accurately capture the
of non-specific generic mining terminology, such as variability of the Cu and Mn concentrations and their
“black-copper” ore. Black copper ore has been association with various other minor elements commonly
subdivided into various descriptive subgroups, for present. Such classifications are important and
example copper pitch and copper wad (e.g., Fam, 1979; necessary if the QEMSCAN® results are to be used for
Pincheira et al., 2003). Copper pitch a silica-rich Cu- the calculation of elemental concentrations and
bearing phase closely associate to chyrsocolla, (and elemental mineral deportment.
often called “black chrysocolla”), whereas copper wad The group labelled “Cu-Other” in Figure 1 is a “trap”
is primarily Cu-bearing manganese oxyhydrates. classification that represents any Cu-bearing spectrum
Reghezza (2002) uses even more specific subgroups, that does not classify in the other groupings. This is
such as wad-type substances, black copper oxides, most likely due to the presence of minor or trace
polymetallic oxides/silicates, and (Fe, Cu). In either elements (or combinations of both) that have yet to be
case, all of these are generic terms but not clear captured in the definition, or a mixed spectrum from the
definitions. boundary between two phases, which is common in
In addition to these definitions of variable Cu and Mn these samples given the fine-scaled (micron level)
concentrations, it should be noted that Cu-Wad is textures and banding (Figure 1 and 2).
commonly amorphous showing characteristics similar to The complex and variable nature of the Cu-Mn pitch
cryptomelane (K1-2(Mn3+,Mn4+)8O16·XH2O), birnessite and Cu-Mn wad is evident in Figure 1 (from El Tesoro)
(K0.33Mn3.9+7O14·7H2O), and crednerite (CuMnO2) (Mote and Figure 2 (from Mina Sur).
et al., 2001; Cuadra and Rojas, 2001). Furthermore, it Sample AHM-ET-001 from El Tesoro (Figure 1)
was noted by Pincheira et al. (2003) that the Cu-Wad, displays a range of mineralogy, predominantly Cu-
whilst containing Cu and Mn in significant quantities, halides (e.g. atacamite), Cu-carbonates (e.g. malachite),
could also have Fe, Si, and Al as major or minor Cu-silicates (e.g. chrysocolla) and variable compositions
concentrations as well as Ca, Na, K, Cl, P, Pb, Zn, Mg, of Cu-Mn pitch and Cu-Mn wad, all of which form
S, P, Mo, Co, As, U, V and Ni as minor or trace different bands of variable thickness, and sometimes on
elements. Table 1 presents a selection of the historical an extremely fine-scale (10 – 100 µm). The Cu-Mn wad
definitions of Cu-Wad from the literature. and Cu-Mn pitch occur in discrete zones within these
bands, predominantly as globules or inclusions. In
addition, there is no obvious preferred mineral
Table 1. A selection of the definitions of Cu-Wad in the associations, with both the Cu-Mn wad and Cu-Mn pitch
literature. occurring in contact with Cu-carbonate, Cu-silicate or
Location Cu-halide.
Definition Reference
(Chile) Sample VH-MS-002-B from Mina Sur (Figure 2) is
Mny Cux Oz El Abra Moraga (2000) similar. However in this case the Cu-Mn pitch and Cu-
Huinquintipa, Mn wad forms as continuous bands as well as discrete
2CuO MnO2 Garcia et al. (2007)
Collahuasi zones of globules.
Cuadra and Rojas
CuMnO2 Radomiro Tomic
(2001)
The elemental maps clearly show the variability of
Rojas and Müller concentrations for Cu, Mn and Si, and easily
CuO·MnO2·7H2O Damiana
(1994) discriminate the fine-scaled textures. Furthermore, the
Cu-rich Mn-Fe oxides Mina Sur Münchmeyer (1996) association of Fe and Ca with Cu-Mn pitch and Cu-Mn
Cu-bearing Mn Damiana, Quebrada wad is clearly observable. Figure 2 is a EDS spectrum
Mote et al. (2001)
oxyhydrates, Turqueza which highlights the presence of minor elements in the
Variable Mn, Fe, Cu, Si Cu-Mn pitch, in this case specifically Mg, Al, S, Cl, Ca
Mina Sur Pincheira et al. (2003)
and Al
and Co.
A detailed analysis of numerous samples from
various deposits indicates that a cut-off of approximately
4 Results 10 wt% Si can be used for distinguishing between
“pitch” and “wad”. Furthermore, the wad and pitch
One of the benefits of QEMSCAN® is its ability to
definitions have numerous sub-groups. This is primarily
present mineralogical information at various levels of
based on the presence of Mn, which is then further
detail. In particular QEMSCAN® field scans highlight
subdivided based on the ratio of Cu to Mn as well as the
the complex variability of the so-called “black-copper”
incorporation of detectable levels of Fe, Ca, S, Si, P and
ore.
Cl amongst others. Whilst these definitions may be
It should be noted that each of the mineral definitions
somewhat arbitrary, it does aid in defining critical groups
for QEMSCAN® analysis, and thus ultimately for 5 Discussion and Conclusions
mineralogical interpretation, Cu concentrations, and Cu
mineral deportment, all critical parameters for modelling QEMSCAN® is a powerful automated mineral
and metallurgical processing. Furthermore, these groups analytical technique that uses the combined information
do appear to be texturally correct and correspond to from the BSE and low count EDS X-ray signals.
macro observations (colour changes) and BSE imaging. Standard mineral database classifications used in the
QEMSCAN® system can be improved and / or
Mineral Name expanded
Area % depending on the analytical requirements and
Area
Background the information
0,74 19198 requested. Such a process is laborious
Cu-Sulphides 0,00 1
1 cm Cu-Oxides and 0,04
requires1002careful calibration to confirm any new
Cu-Halides classifications.
13,25 345879 This is particularly true for minerals that
Cu-Carbonates
Cu-Sulphates
can 49,90
display
0,00
1302577
a wide
0
range of variable compositions. In
Cu-Phosphates the case
0,00 of Cu-mineralisation
25 updated classifications are
Cu-Silicates 18,23
Cu-Pitch
required
1,63
to 475797
enable
42654
accurate and precise determinations of
Cu-Mn Pitch Cu mineralogy,
4,95 129182 Cu concentrations and Cu deportment, as
Cu-Wad
Cu-Mn Wad
well 0,00
as
3,94
the 54
occurrence
102818
of minor elements, such as Mn.
Silicates+Cu These0,26are important
6658 factors in the mineral processing
Fe-Oxides+Cu 0,04 969
Cu-Other
and plant
7,35
quality
191823
control and monitoring. This study
Fe-Oxides presents
0,01 updated132 classifications for the Cu-Mn pitch and
Calcite 0,08 2058
a Apatite
Cu-Mn 0,05
wad 1232
minerals associated with exotic-Cu
Others mineralisation.
0,29 7464
f g