MINERAL DEPOSIT MODELS F06.

Porphyry W

EAD (Africa)

F06. PORPHYRY W
Profile
Synonyms
Stockwork W-Mo; W Veins.

Examples
Boya, Mount Pleasant, Logtung (Canada), Xingluokeng, Lianhuashan and Yanchuling (China).

Precedents
CGS: 19.6 Porphyry Tungsten-Molybdenum.
BCGS: L07 Porphyry W.

Description
Stockwork of W-bearing quartz veinlets and fractures in felsic intrusive rocks and associated country
rocks.

Classification
Porphyry W deposits are associated with granitoid intrusions that have undergone moderate to
significant plagioclase fractionation, and are dominantly S-type / ilmenite-bearing (peraluminous,
sedimentary precursor) in character, although some minor I-type granitoids (magnetite-bearing
metaluminous, igneous precursor) are known to host such deposits. As such, these deposits occur in
two major settings, namely:
• associated with thick continental crust, related to collisional tectonic settings, and emplaced
above deep Benioff zones, and
• related to intracontinental rifting of thick crust. It should be noted that mineralisation
normally post-dates the collision event.

Rock Types
Highly variable - mineralized rocks are predominantly genetically related intrusive rocks, but may also
be related or unrelated sedimentary, volcanic, igneous and metamorphic rocks. Genetically related
felsic intrusive rocks are commonly F-rich (fluorite and/or topaz bearing).

Host Rock Textures

Igneous, porphyritic. Commonly have unidirectional solidification features, particularly comb quartz
layers. Tuffs or other extrusive volcanic rocks may be associated with deposits related to subvolcanic
intrusions.

Age Range
Palaeozoic to Tertiary, but Mesozoic and Tertiary examples are more common.

Depositional Environment
High-level to subvolcanic felsic intrusive centres. Multiple stages of intrusion are common.

Tectonic Setting
Zones of weak to moderate extension in cratons, particularly post-collisional zones in areas of
tectonically thickened crust.
Basins – Intracontinental (rifting portion); Stable Continental Platform.

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GeoSites

GeoSite Domain & Geoset Description Example

G60 Arcs (Continental)
Granite-Quartz Monzonite, Mesozone Logtung, Akchatau
Rhyodacite-Granite
G75 Collision-Anorogenic
Peraluminous Granite, Epizone Shizhouyuan
Peraluminous Granite-Pegmatite

Associated Deposits
Deposits may be part of a spectrum that includes Climax-type Mo deposits as one end-member and
Porphyry Sn deposits as the other. Vein/replacement W, Sn, Ag deposits may be associated, as well as
various skarn deposits associated with genetically related felsic intrusions (but these are not typical
Skarn W deposits).

Mineralogy
Ore mineralogy is either scheelite or wolframite (both may be present in some deposits) ± molybdenite,
bismuth, bismuthinite and cassiterite. Gangue mineralogy includes pyrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite,
arsenopyrite, löllingite, quartz, K-feldspar, biotite, muscovite, fluorite, topaz.

Ore Texture / Structure

Deposit comprises mainly stockworks of crosscutting fractures and quartz veinlets, also veins, vein
sets, breccias, disseminations and replacements. Deposits vary in shape from inverted cup-shaped, to
roughly cylindrical, to highly irregular. They are typically large, generally hundreds of metres across
and ranging from tens to hundreds of metres in vertical extent.

Alteration
Hydrothermal alteration is pervasive to fracture controlled and, is concentrically zoned. However, the
zonation appears to vary from deposit to deposit:
• Mount Pleasant is characterised by the presence of greisen alteration minerals, including
topaz, fluorite and Li- and F-rich micas, and may be associated with high-grade W zones that
grade laterally into fracture-controlled quartz-biotite-chlorite-topaz alteration associated with
lower grade W zones. Propylitic alteration (chlorite and sericite) may extend as far as 1500 m
beyond the mineralized zones. Potassic alteration (dominated by K-feldspar) occurs locally
within the central areas of pervasive greisen alteration.

• Deposits such as Xingluokeng (China) are characterized more by central zones of silicic and
potassic alteration (K-feldspar and biotite), although zones of weak greisenisation may be
present. Sericitic alteration forms a broad aureole around the central potassic zone; irregular
zones of argillic alteration may be superimposed on both the potassic and sericitic zones. In
detail, alteration patterns may be complex. Weathering and oxidation of pyrite produces
limonitic gossans, and oxidation of molybdenite, if present may produce yellow
ferrimolybdenite.

Ore Controls
Ore controls are dominantly structural. Quartz veinlet and fracture stockwork zones surround or are
draped over and are superimposed to varying degrees on small stocks (<1 km2); multiple stages of
mineralization commonly present; felsic intrusions associated with the deposits are typically F-rich.

Grade / Tonnage
Deposit Country Size (Mt) W% Mo %
Mount Pleasant: Fire Tower zone Canada 22.5 0.21 0.10
Mount Pleasant: North zone Canada 11 0.2 0.1
Logtung Canada 162 0.10 0.03
Xingluokeng China 78 0.18 -
Lianhuashan China 40 0.08

Boya (British Columbia): limited size due to thrust fault truncation, no published resource data.
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Low grades require high production volumes that may not be justified by the demand for tungsten. Not
an important source of world W production; some W may be recovered from deposits in China (e.g.
Lianhuashan). Mount Pleasant Tungsten in New Brunswick produced slightly more than 2000 t of
concentrate grading 70 % WO3 from 1 Mt of ore mined from 1983 to 1985.

Geochemical Signature
Elevated W, Mo and Sn associated with host rocks close to mineralized zones. Anomalously high
contents of F, Zn, Pb and Cu occur in wallrocks up to several kilometres from mineralized zones. W,
Sn, Mo, F, Cu, Pb and Zn may be anomalously high in stream sediments and W, Sn and F (topaz) may
be present in heavy mineral concentrates.

Geophysical Signature
Genetically related intrusions may be magnetic lows (ilmenite- rather than magnetite-dominant).
Contact aureole may be magnetic high if pyrrhotite or magnetite are present in associated skarn or
hornfels zones. Radiometric data may outline anomalous U, Th or K in genetically related intrusive
rocks or in associated altered and mineralized zones.

Genesis
• magmatic-hydrothermal. Large volumes of pressurised magmatic, highly saline aqueous fluids
strip W and Mo and other metals from temporally and genetically related magma.
• multiple stages of brecciation related to explosive fluid pressure release from the upper parts of
small intrusions result in deposition of ore and gangue minerals in crosscutting fractures, veinlets
and breccias in the outer carapace of the intrusions and associated country rocks.
• mixing of magmatic with meteoric water during waning stages of the magmatic-hydrothermal
system may result in deposition of some Sn and other metals, particularly in late-stage veins.

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Synopsis
1. Stockwork of W-bearing quartz veinlets and fractures in felsic intrusive rocks and associated
country rocks.

2. Mineralisation is associated with predominantly felsic intrusive porphyries, but may also be
related or unrelated sedimentary, volcanic, igneous and metamorphic rocks. Intrusive rocks are
commonly F-rich (fluorite and/or topaz bearing).

3. Age range is from Palaeozoic to Tertiary, but Mesozoic and Tertiary are most common.

4. The depositional environment is high-level to subvolcanic felsic intrusive centres, in which

multiple stages of intrusion are common.

5. The tectonic setting is zones of weak to moderate extension in cratons, particularly post-collisional
zones in areas of tectonically thickened crust.

6. Deposits may be part of a spectrum that include Climax-type Mo deposits as one end-member and
Porphyry Sn deposits as the other.

7. Ore mineralogy is either scheelite or wolframite, although both may be present.

8. Deposits comprise mainly stockworks of crosscutting fractures and quartz veinlets, but also veins,
vein sets, breccias, disseminations and replacements.

9. Hydrothermal alteration is pervasive to fracture controlled and, is concentrically zoned.

However, the zonation appears to vary from deposit to deposit. Greisenisation is present in some
deposits, and potassic to sericitic alteration at others.

10. Ore controls are dominantly structural.

11. Grade and tonnage is low.

12. The geochemical signature is elevated W, Mo and Sn associated with host rocks close to
mineralized zones.

13. The geophysical signature may be magnetic lows (ilmenite dominant), and radiometric data may
define intrusive rocks through anomalous U, Th or K.

14. Genesis is magmatic-hydrothermal.

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Exploration Criteria
Structure
1. Continental (cratonic) rift zones, extensional setting.
Typical of deposit, but particularly post orogenic zones underlain by thick crust.

2. High level to subvolcanic felsic intrusive centres.

Multiple intrusion frequently present.

3. Dilational structures, such as tension fractures, jogs, flexures, hanging wall splits, domes etc.
Strong structural control on deposits due to hydrothermal fluid system developed along
existing structures.

4. Breccias.
Hydrothermal breccias typical of some deposits, but not common.

Lithology
5. Shallow level (1-3 km from surface) porphyries, as intrusions or stocks.
Typical of deposit, especially multiple intrusions.

6. Country rocks.
Not diagnostic, but deposits are generally contained within contemporaneous and genetically
related volcanic rocks associated with plutonism.

7. F-rich igneous rocks.

Typically associated with deposit.

Alteration
8. Prominent zoned alteration comprising central zone of potassic alteration.

9. Sericitic alteration around potassic core, then typically surrounded by propylitic alteration.
Typical of some deposits.

10. Greisen.
Typical of some deposits, comprises quartz + topaz ± sericite ± chlorite.

Mineralization
11. Anomalously high W, Mo and Sn.
In the central portions of the deposit.

12. Elevated F, Zn, Pb and Cu in wallrocks.

May be up to 1.5 km from mineralisation.

Geophysics
13. Magnetic low.
Genetically related intrusions may be magnetic lows due to ilmenite rather than magnetite.

14. Radiometric U, Th, K.

May outline genetically related intrusive rocks or in associated altered and mineralized zones.

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Numerical Model

Class Criteria # Criteria #

Age Range 1. Precambrian or Phanerozoic
Sedimentology 1. Continental Platform (3,-3) or Intracontinental (3,-3)
Magmatism 1. Peraluminous granitoids (5,-5) or Metaluminous (5,-5)
2. Distal convergent (3,-3) or Intraplate (3,-3)
Structure 1. Sub-volcanic systems (4,-5)
Lithology 1. Felsic plutonic (5,-5)
2. Felsic volcanic (3,-5)
Rock Texture 1. Porphyritic (5,-5)
2. Breccias (3,-2)
Mineralogy 1. Scheelite (5,-1)
2. Wolframite (5,-1)
3. Molybdenite (2,-4)
4. Bismuthinite (2,-4)
5. Cassiterite (2,-4)
6. Pyrite (2,-3)
7. Pyrrhotite (2,-3)
Ore Texture 1. Stockwork
2. Veinlets
Alteration 1. Potassic (3,-2)
2. Greisenisation (3,-2)
3. Propylitic (2,-2)
4. Sericitisation (2,-1)
5. Silicification (2,-1)
6. Argillic (2,-1)
Geochemistry 1. W (4,-5)
2. Mo (3,-4)
3. Sn (2,-4)
4. Pb (2,-4)
5. Zn (2,-4)
6. Cu (2,-4)
7. F (2,-4)
Geophysics 1. Magnetic low (2,-2)
2. Radiometric K (2,-1)
3. Radiometric U (2,-1)
4. Radiometric Th (2,-1)
Associated 1. W Skarn (3,-4)
Deposits 2. Porphyry Sn (2,-2)
3. Porphyry Mo (Climax Type) (2,-4)
4. Polymetallic Veins (2,-2)

Maximum Score: 3625 Score:

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Probability Models

CSF Critical Success Factors : Primary Indicator / Secondary Indicator Prob.

Metals derived from peraluminous granitoids intruded into thick continental crust in either distal
collisional zones above subduction or in rift-related tectonic settings, and fluid source a combination
of magmatic and meteoric hydrothermal systems.
A1. Collisional and / or Rift-related tectonic setting
a) Active Continental Margin / Rift Zone / Continental Platform basin / 0.70
Intracontinental basin
Source

Absent
A2. Felsic magmatism
=
a) Felsic porphyritic plutonism / Sub-volcanic systems 0.95
0.5
b) S-Type magmatism / Peraluminous magmatism 1.00
A3. Associated occurrences-deposits
a) W occurrences- deposits 0.90
Mo-Sn-Pb-Zn-Cu-F occurrences - deposits 0.65
Source Probability P1 = ((A1 * A2 * A3) / 0.5985)
Magmatism focussed into regional extensional structures, and fluids channelled into wallrock
via brittle hydrofractures or structures.
Pathway

B1. Regional structural control on magmatism.

a) Regional strike slip faults / High angle extensional faults 0.60 Absent
B2. Local brittle fracturing =
a) Breccias 1.00 0.5

Pathway Probability P2 = ((B1 * B2) / 0.60)

Evidence of hydrothermal circulation reflected in characteristic alteration patterns.
Migration

C1. Alteration Absent

a) Potassic / Greisenisation 0.60 =
0.5
Migration Probability P3 = ((C1) / 0.60)
Decreasing temperature and / or pressure of magmatic fluids, combined with late-stage fluid mixing
with meteoric water.
D1. Mineralisation
a) Scheelite / Wolframite 0.65 Absent
Trap

Molybdenite / Bismuthinite / Cassiterite / Pyrite / Pyrrhotite 0.60 =

0.5
D2. Associated Deposits
a) W Skarn 0.75
b) Porphyry Mo (Climax-Type) 0.65
Trap Probability P4 = ((D1 * D2) / 0.317)

Overall Probability Ps = (P1 * P2 * P3 * P4)

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References
Kirkham, RV & Sinclair, WD. 1996. 19: Porphyry copper, gold, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, silver.
In: Geology of Canadian mineral deposit types (OR Eckstrand, WD Sinclair & RI Thorpe
(eds.)). Geological Survey of Canada, Geology of Canada, 8, 421-446.

Kirkham, RV & Sinclair, WD. 1988. Comb quartz layers in felsic intrusions and their relationship to
porphyry deposits. In: Recent advances in the geology of granite-related mineral deposits.
Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Special Volume 39, 50-71.

Kooiman, GJA, McLeod, MJ & Sinclair, WD. 1986. Porphyry tungsten-molybdenum orebodies,
polymetallic veins and replacement bodies, and tin-bearing greisen zones in the Fire Tower
Zone, Mount Pleasant, New Brunswick. Economic Geology, 81, 1356-1373.

Liu, W. 1980. Geological features of mineralization of the Xingluokeng tungsten (molybdenum)

deposit, Fujian Province. In: Tungsten geology, China (JV Hepworth & HZ Lu (eds.)).
ESCAP / RMRDC, Bandung, Indonesia, 338-348.

Noble, SR, Spooner, ETC & Harris, FR. 1986. Logtung: a porphyry W-Mo deposit in the southern
Yukon. In: Mineral deposits of northern Cordillera (JA Morin (ed.)). Canadian Institute of
Mining and Metallurgy, Special Volume 37, 274-287.

Sinclair, WD. 1986. Molybdenum, tungsten and tin deposits and associated granitoid intrusions in the
northern Canadian Cordillera and adjacent parts of Alaska. In: Mineral deposits of northern
Cordillera (JA Morin (ed.)). Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Special Volume
37, 216-233.

Sinclair, WD. 1995. L07: Porphyry W. In: Selected British Columbia mineral deposit profiles.
Volume 1 – Metallics and Coal (DV Lefebure & GE Ray (eds.)). Victoria, British Columbia,
Ministry of Employment and Investment, Energy and Minerals Division, Geological Survey
Branch, Open File 1995-20, 101-104.

Yan, M-Z, Wu, Y-L & Li, C-Y. 1980. Metallogenetic systems of tungsten in southeast China and
their mineralization characteristics. In: Granitic magmatism and related mineralization (S
Ishihara & S Takenouchi (eds.)). The Society of Mining Geologists of Japan, Mining
Geology Special Issue, 8, 215-221.

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