Epithermaldeposits

• ShallowmagmaͲrelated
hydrothermalsystems
• Commonlyformin
subaerialvolcanicarcs
HighSulfidation • MinedforAu&Ag,locally
spectaculargrades
EpithermalDeposits • Twomajordeposittypes:
Characteristics,settingsandgenesis • highsulfidation(HS)
DavidRCooke,NoelCWhite • Intermediateorlow
andZhaoshan Chang sulfidation(ISorLS)

PascuaͲLamahighͲsulfidationepithermaldistrict,Argentina Gomkonoravolcano,Halmahera,Indonesia

• Orebodieshavevariable
Hydrology morphologiesbutsharethe
commonfeatureofbeingzonesof
Whatdoes“Epithermal”mean?
palaeopermeability

• Studiesofmodern
geothermalsystemshave
providedanunderstanding
ofsubsurfacehydrology
Veinbreccia,Emperor,Fiji.
• Referstodepositsformedatlowtemperature
• “Epizonal”referstodepositsformedatshallow
depth
• Theterm‘epithermal’wascoinedbyLindgrenin1933
basedonobservations of
• mineralogyoforesandalteration
• texturesoforesandalteration
• andinferences about
• temperatureofdeposition
• depthofformation
AmethystVein,Creede,Colorado
Wecanrecognise epithermaldepositsby
• Theircharacteristicminerals andtextures
• Theircharacteristichydrothermalalterationmineralogy
andzoning
Fromthesewecaninfer thatthey
• Formedatlowtemperatures
(100oͲ 320o,typically170oͲ280o)
• Developedatshallowcrustallevels
(typically<1kmbelowthewatertable)
GoldenCross,NewZealand
Thereisno SINGLE criterionthatallows
ustosayadepositisepithermal
ClassificationdependsonMULTIPLE features
Whatcanweexpect?
ƒ Epithermaldepositsshowavarietyof
depositstyles– theyarenotallthe
same!
ƒ Thedifferentdepositclassesarenot
fullycharacterizednorfullyunderstood
– wearestilllearning!
ƒ Notallepithermaldepositscontain
economicgold– somearedominated
byothermetals,notablyAg,Zn,Pb,Cu,
Sn
ƒ Somearecloselyrelatedtointrusions,
somearenotͲ therelatedintrusions
neednot beporphyrycopperͲrelated
intrusions
ƒ Terminologyisvery confused!
Hydrothermalbreccia,Baijiantan,China
Howdowerecogniseepithermaldeposits?
• Inepithermaldeposits,simpleobservationstellus
alot
• Itisimportanttorecognisekeymineralsand
textures,andunderstandwhatproducesthem
• Fromthosewecaninterpretwhereweareinthe
system,andthelikelydirectiontowardsore
• Keytoolsforeffectiveexploration:hammer,
handlens
• Keyknowledge:products,processes,howto
interpretthem,andthediversityofrealdeposits
THISISWHATWEWILLFOCUSON
Vuggyquartz,Yanacocha district,Peru
Epithermaldepositclassification
Terminologyhaschangedovertime:
• Hotspringdeposits
• AdulariaͲsericiteandacidsulfatedeposits
• AdulariaͲsericiteandaluniteͲkaolinite
deposits
• HighͲ andlowͲsulfurdeposits
• HighͲ andlowͲsulfidationdeposits
• HighͲ intermediateͲ andlowͲsulfidation
deposits
• …andmanyothers
Hydrothermalbreccia,GoldenPlateau,Cracow,Queensland
 Epithermaldepositclassification
Epithermaldepositclassification
Don’tworry,thereisasimple,practicalapproach:
• Today’sacademic • HighͲsulfidationdepositshavemineralogyandtexturesthatare
classificationintohighͲ distinctfromtheothers
intermediateͲ andlowͲ
sulfidationisbasedon • IntermediateͲ andlowͲsulfidationdepositshavemany
mineralogy similarities,butdifferencesinmetalcontentandmineralogy,
• Therearetwohuge andslightdifferencesintextures
problems: • Simpleobservationsmostlyallowclassificationinminutes!
1. Depositschange
sulfidationstateover Rhodochrosite,Kelian,Indonesia
time(sowhatdoyou
callit?)
Einaudietal.,2003 2. Classificationrequires
detailedstudy(takes
Doyouwanttowaitmonths before time!)
youknowwhattocallyourdeposit?

EpithermalGoldDeposits:Production+Reserves(~2000)
LocationofPrincipalEpithermalGoldDeposits

Inter. sulfidation

TETHYSBELT Alkalic LS subtype

Vi?
 Highsulfidationdeposits
– wellunderstoodtoday

Norte

Oeste
HighSulfidationEpithermal Sur
CerroYanocochaPit Encajon

Deposits • OneofthebiggestgolddepositsonEarthisYanacochain
Peru
• Produced3.3Moz(100t)in2005
• Totalresource>60Moz(1800t)
• ItisaclusterofatleastninehighͲsulfidationepithermal
deposits
• Todaythisdeposittypeisamajorexplorationtarget,yet30
yearsagoitwashardlyrecognised

Ahistorylesson:Ransome1907 Agreatstart,butthen…
EconomicGeologyv.2p667Ͳ692

Buchanan’s1981classic
modelforepithermal
deposits
http://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/pan/6a07000/6a07600/6a07642r.jpg NOMENTIONofhighͲ
sulfidationdeposits,even
• Described“TheassociationofalunitewithgoldintheGoldfield
thoughtheywereinhis
District,Nevada”
database!
• Recognisedthreeoccurrencesofalunite:
• “bytheattackofsulfurousvapoursonfeldspathicrocks”
[TODAY:STEAMͲHEATED]
• “duetotheactionofpercolatingsurfacewater,charged
withsulfuricacidbytheoxidationofpyrite”[TODAY:SUPERGENE]
• from“solutions(that)wereessentiallyemanationsfroma
solidifyingbodyofdaciticmagma”[TODAY:HYPOGENE]
 Morestepsforward…
• Stoffregen1985and1987studiedSummitville
deposit
• Haybaetal.,1985andHealdetal.,1987
summarisedcharacteristicsof“acidͲsulfatetype”
epithermaldeposits
• Hedenquist1987definedhighͲsulfidationtomean
“highsulfuroxidation”
Vuggyquartzwithluzonite,Lepanto
HowtoClassifyDeposits
Shouldweclassifydepositson:
1. Featuressuchasmineralogyofparageneticstages,
fluidinclusioncharacteristicsorisotopicdata,
requiringlonganddetailedstudy?
2. Featuresthatcanbereadilyobservedinthefield
andcanguideexploration?
FineͲgrainedvuggyquartzͲalunite,Lepantolithocap
Toogoodtolast…
• Hedenquistetal.,2000; Hedenquistetal.,2003;
Einaudietal.,2004;SillitoeandHedenquist2004all
playedwithterminology
• Nowitisamess!
• DoeshighͲsulfidationmeanhighsulfuroxidation(i.e.,
fO2)orhighsulfurfugacity(i.e.,fS2)?
• Isadeposittypedefinedsolelybymineral
assemblages?
Siltstoneclastbreccia,Buffaloorebody,Chinkuashih
HowdowerecogniseHSdeposits?
Bytheircharacteristicfeatures:
• Formofdeposits
• Mineralogyandzoningofore
• Mineralogyandzoningofhydrothermalalteration
• Chemistryandchemicalzoningofore
Let’sreviewtheirmaincharacteristics…
VuggyquartzͲalunite,Lepanto
 Highsulfidationdeposits Highsulfidationdeposits

LaCoipa highsulfidation
AuͲAgdeposit,Chile Pierina AuͲAgdeposit,Peru

Wheredotheyoccur? Characteristics
Ore AuͲAg(Cu)
• CalcͲalkalinemagmaticarcs
Metals As,Sb,Bi,Pb,Hg,Te,Sn
• Mostlysubaerialenvironments,rarelysubmarine Alteration alunite,kaolinite,
pyrophyllite,diaspore,
• Proximalvolcanicsettingscommon illite,chlorite,epidote
• Manyinvolcanicrocks (advancedargillicalterationcommon)
Textures Replacement&voidͲfill,
• Increasinglyrecognisedinbasement (massive&vuggyquartz,
massiveveins)
Form Disseminated,veins,
breccias

Andeanvolcanicarc,northernChile

CerroLaGrandevein,Collahuasidistrict,
Chile
 HSoremineralogy HSoremineralogy
frequencyofoccurrence(abundance)
Pyrite ubiquitous(abundant)
Sphalerite common(veryminor)
Galena common(veryminor)
Chalcopyrite common(minor)
EnargiteͲLuzonite ubiquitous(variable)
TennantiteͲTetrahedrite common(variable)
Covellite common(minor)
Chalcocite common(minor)
Orpiment rare(veryminor)
Realgar rare(veryminor)
Arsenopyrite rare(veryminor)
Cinnabar rare(veryminor)
GoldͲaluniteintergrowths,Tambo,Chile
Electrum common(minor)
Metallicmineralsinclude: electrum,enargite– NativeGold common(minor)
luzonite,chalcocite,bornite,chalcopyrite,
tennantiteͲtetrahedrite,tellurides(calaverite,etc.) Tellurides uncommon(variable)
HSore,RosarioVein, afterWhiteand
Collahuasidistrict,Chile Hedenquist,1995

Colquijirca,Peru Colquijirca,Peru Kelly,Philippines Kelly,Philippines

Calv
Cpy
Glfd En

Cpy

Tenn
Au

enargite enargiteandpyrite 200Pm 250Pm

Lepanto,Philippines PuebloViejo,DominicanRepublic Kelly,Philippines Collahuasi,Chile

Glfd
Cv

Cpy
Au

Py
luzoniteͲcementedbreccia Colloformandbrecciatedsphaleriteveins Pyrite– chalcopyrite– bornite– chalcocitevein
 Colquijirca,Peru EnargiteͲpyriteandsilicification
aroundveininvolcanics

Silicificationwith
dickiteandpyrophyllite

Lepanto,Philippines
Scalebarsincentimetres
Vuggyquartzandalunite Bornite andcovellite

CavityͲfillingoctahedralpyrite Massiveenargite
 andenargite

Covelliteandenargite

Massivepyrite

Lepanto,Philippines Lepanto,Philippines
Scalebarsincentimetres Scalebarsincentimetres
 HSganguemineralogy Highsulfidationdeposits– mineralogy
frequencyofoccurrence(abundance)
Alunite (H=4)KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Kaolinite/Dickite (H=2Ͳ 2.5) Al2Si2O5(OH)2
Pyrophyllite (H=1Ͳ 2)Al2Si4O10(OH)2
QuartzͲaluniteͲalteredrhyolite,LaCoipa,Chile Diaspore (H=6.5Ͳ 7)aAlO.OH
Quartz ubiquitous(abundant)
Svanbergite (APS)SrAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6
Chalcedony uncommon(minor)
Calcite absent(exceptoverprint) Woodhousite (APS)CaAl3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6
Adularia absent
Illite uncommon(minor) Enargite /Luzonite (H=3)Cu3AsS4
Kaolinite common(minor)
Famatinite (H=3.5)Cu3SbS4
PyrophylliteͲDiaspore common(variable)
Alunite common(minor)
Barite common(minor) Advancedargillic alteration&HSmineralisation,Rosario,NChile
afterWhiteandHedenquist,1995

Cajamarca,Peru LaCoipa,Chile

Mineralogicalzoning
HIGHSULFIDATION

Disseminated Altered
massive host Kaolinite(pyrophyllite?)
ore rock ± sericite/illite

smectite
residual(vuggy)quartz weatheredresidual(vuggy)quartz
(hypogeneAuͲAgore) (oxideAuͲAgore)

Gidginbung,NSW PuebloViejo,Dominican
Republic

Chlorite
calcite
epidote

residualquartz Quartz, illite/chlorite

(vuggy&massive),alunite, alunite
sulfides,sulfosalts,AuͲCuͲ
(Ag)
aluniteͲdickite +/Ͳ kaolinitealterationof residual(massive)quartz blackchalcedony– pyrite– enargitevein
dacite (Tambo,Chile) 1Ͳ 10m alterationcutbypyritevein Incarbonaceousmudstone&breccia
ModifiedfromSillitoe,1993
 Vuggyquartz(intenselyacidͲ
leachedvolcanics)

Residualquartz,Pierina Hypogenealunite,ElTambo

Arribasetal.,2000

Silicifiedvolcanics

Lepanto,Philippines
Scalebarsincentimetres Residual(vuggy)quartz,Summitville
SlideCourtesyofJeffHedenquist QuartzͲalunite,Summitville

Howmuchalunitecanyousee? Vuggyquartzandadvancedargillic
alteration,Lepanto,Philippines
• Hostrockswithlowalkalicontents(e.g.,andesites)produce
lowamountsofalunite
• Hostrockswithabundantalkalis(e.g.,rhyolites)produce
abundantalunite
• Thiscangiveusefulinformationaboutdepthofalterationand
characterofbasement

Vuggyquartz,Akeshi,Japan;Au6g/t
PuebloViejo, Magerang,Indonesia
DominicanRepublic Advancedargillicmineralogy

pyriteveinwithvuggyquartzandquartzͲ
pyrophyllite alunitealterationhalos
Alunite(bladed) Alunite(pseudoͲcubic) APSmineralinalunite
Tambo,Chile Collahausi,Chile

alunite

barite

alunite

Zunyite&pyrophyllite Diaspore Dickite

Peripheralepidotevein
withchlorite– illitehalo Advancedargillicalterationminerals,Palinpinon,Philippines

Summitville,CO: vuggyqtzwithalunitehalo
AlterationZoning
NansatsuͲtypehighsulfidationepithermaldeposits

commonly2Ͳ3metres

Silicic Clay Propylitic

alteration alteration alteration
vuggyto
massive Steven&Ratté,1960

pH quartz 2 kaolinite 3 kaolinite 4 illite 5 chlorite

alunite alunite illite smectite albite
pyrite carbonate
kaolinite Epidote
dickite sphene
Vuggyqtzzone (SlideCourtesyJ
GOLD AfterWhite,1991 pH~ >6 4Ͳ 6 2Ͳ 4 <2
flaresupward Hedenquist)
 WhiteIsland,NewZealand:drowned Alunite– Significance
fumaroles,2007

pH0.2

Alunitecrystals,Chinkuashih,Taiwan

Implies: Theseconditionscanoccurfrom
• Acidconditions • Magmaticgases(HS)
• Highsulfate concentrations • NearͲsurfacecondensationofboiledoff
acidicstream, • Availablealkalis gases(HS,IS,LS)
pH~0.6 • Supergeneoxidation(anysulfiderichrock)
AMIRAP1060 – Freeportworkshop– November2012
ConfidentialtosponsorsuntilDecember2015

Lithocap(± HS)settingsonly LSsettingsonly

(steamͲheatedblanketpossible) H2S+2O2 o H2SO4 Pyrophyllite– Significance
SteamͲheatedwaters,
LS,IS,HSpossible

2.STEAMͲHEATED

(HCl,SO2)
1.MAGMATIC Itsformationrequiresacidconditions
BUT…
• Ifatquartzsaturation,T~300oC
• Ifsupersaturatedw.r.t.quartz,Tlow
AnysulfideͲrichsetting
Inpractice
• Pyrophyllite+dickite/kaolinite
3.WEATHERING meanshightemperatures
Sillitoe,1993 • Pyrophyllite+chalcedonyor
amorphoussilicameans lowT
 TemperatureoC PNIRS Australia ~US$25,000
Mineral 100 200 300 China ~US$17,000
pH Alunite
Mineralstabilities
Jarosite
Halloysite
Kaolinite
Dickite Mineralassemblages
Pyrophyllite allowustoestimate
Diaspore

A c idi c
Zunyite,topaz temperatureandacidity
Anatase 1300– 2500nm
Rutile
Cristobalite
Quartz
PIMA
Sinter
Pyrite lithostatic
SpecTERRA 350Ͳ2500nm
Marcasite
Smectite 200 TerraSpec
Illite/smectite

N eutral
Chlorite/smectite
400
Illite
USA ~US$55,000

Depth, m
Chlorite
Epidote 600 hydrostatic
Biotite (water + 1 wt% CO2 )

Adularia
800
Calcite
Mordenite 100 200 300 USA ~US$55,000
Temperature, oC
Laumontite

A l k alin e
Wairakite Itisnoweasiertostudyalteration
mineralogyusingportableinfraͲ
Epithermaloredeposition 350Ͳ2500nm
Hedenquistetal.,1998 redspectrometers

SWIRspectracanbeusedto VerticalmetalzoninginhighsulfidationCuͲAudeposits
illite
• Identifyalterationminerals
• determinetheircrystallinity
NaͲalunite
• Estimatechemicalvariations
Au Ag As Sb Bi Cu Pb Zn Te Se Hg Mo W Sn
KͲalunite • SomeadvantagesoverXRD
• Butsomedisadvantages
pyrophyllite
too

• Measurementsarefastand
diaspore
cheap
Levels 0.00XͲ 0.XͲ X00Ͳ X0Ͳ XͲ X0Ͳ XͲ XͲ XͲ XͲ 0.0XͲ X X XͲ
• Suitableforlargesurveys (ppm) X00 X00 X0,000 X0,000 X00 X0,000 X0,000 X00 X00 X00 X000 X000

basedonunpublisheddatabyN.C.White
MAY2000
 WhiteIsland, NW Earlierprofile SE
Taupo VolcanicZone– NewZealand Present Metaldeposition
profile
NewZealand Likelyoriginofejecta
– modern Spring
Taupo
WHITEISLAND 0
Volcanic analogueforHS
Auckland Zone
BayofPlenty
deposits? 50
500
0 200
km

Lake
Depth(m)

Rotorua 100

Pressure(bars)
Tarawera
1000
N
WhiteIslandVolcano
Liquid TwoͲ Vapor Degassing Hedenquistetal.(1993)
phase magma
BROADLANDSͲ
OHAAKI
Lake • HighͲTfumarolesandacidspringsincraterfloor
Taupo GEOTHERMALAREAS

Delineatedbydrilling • Ejecta containpervasiveandfractureͲcontrolled

Delineatedbygeophysics
Otherthermalarea
cristobalite – alunite– anhydrite– pyritealteration
Tongariro VOLCANO
Ngauruhoe
• Alunite,anhydrite,AlͲchloriteandpyriteinveins
Ruapehu 0 25 50 75km

• Anhydrite‘seal’
ModifiedfromHedenquist(1986) Ohaaki PowerStation

WhiteIsland Fluidinclusiondata
Metalflux Highsulfidationdeposits
Ͳ20
• Dailyfluxofmetalsinthemagmaticgasplume:
Lepanto
• 280kgCu/day Nansatsu 20
• 0.1kgAu/day Ͳ15 Rodalquilar
LaMejicana
• Onemillionouncesofgolddischargesin~850 ElIndio

years 15
Ͳ10
• Isoredepositionoccurringinthesubsurface?
10
• WhiteIslandshowsthatcalcͲalkalinemagmas
Wt %NaCl equivalent

Ͳ5
areviablesourcesofmetalsandligandsforHS
5
deposits
Temperatureoffinalicemelting(°C)

0 0
0 100 200 300 400 500
Homogenisation temperature(°C)

Bladedalunite,Palinpinon
VolcanicFumarole,WhiteIsland,NewZealand geothermalfield,Philippines CookeandSimmons(2000)
 Oxygenanddeuteriumisotopedata Sulfurisotopedata
Highsulfidationdeposits Highsulfidationdeposits

0
'34SH SͲSO 2 4
Volcanicvapors
Sulfides Sulfates G34S6S Temp(°C) H2S/SO4
Ro
Ͳ20 Ro PV
Pueblo Viejo Iw
Rodalquiliar Felsicmagmas
Ͳ40 Nevados delFamatina Ka
Lepanto 220– 4202– 6
Nansatsu Nansatsu 200– 2403
Ͳ60
PuebloViejo 180– 260Ͳ
Lepanto
LepantoͲ alunite
Ͳ80 Julcani
Acidicfluidsinhigh LaMejicana Ͳ quartz 210– 2705

GD (‰,SMOW)
sulfidationdeposits
LaMejicanaͲ sericite Rodalquilar
Ͳ100 220– 3305
Alunitealterationstage

Ͳ120 Oremineralizationstage -10 0 10 20 30

Alteration/mineralisation G34S(‰,CDT)
Ͳ140
Ͳ20 Ͳ15 Ͳ10 Ͳ5 0 5 10 15 20
G18O(‰,SMOW)
ModifiedafterArribas(1995) Arribas(1995)

HighsulfidationdepositsͲ Genesis Metalsolubilities– gold

200
SAu • Goldhasstrongprograde
• Magmaticheatand
160
volatilesource solubility asAuCl2Ͳ
acidsulfatewaters craterlake 120
solfatara AuHS(aq)

80

40 • Goldhasretrogradesolubilityas
• Acidalterationin Au(HS)2Ͳ
Auconcentration(ppb)

acidchloride AuCl2Ͳ
upflow&lateral 0 Au(HS)2Ͳ andAu(HS)2Ͳ ,ifm(6S(aq))
200ºC waters/brines 250 275 300 325 350 375
outflowzones staysconstant
300ºC Temperature(ºC)
400ºC 300ºC

50
• Bisulfidecomplexesareeffectively SAu
• Volcanismmay 40
disruptordestroy
destabilisedbyH2Sloss fromthe AuHS(aq)
30
hydrothermalsystem fluid,orbyoxidationofsulfur
20
Au(HS)2Ͳ

2 km
10
Auconcentration(ppb)

AuCl2Ͳ
Magma
• Chloridecomplexesareunaffected 0
2km 0.00001 0.0001 0.001 0.01
bychangesin6S(aq) concentrations SSconcentration(molal)
 Strongly Weakly Weakly Strongly
Acidic Acidic Alkaline Alkaline
Ͳ26 Goldsolubilities:pHandredox
o xidis e d

kaol
alun
Ca+2
anhy
Acid,Oxidised

anhy

H SO4Ͳ
SO42Ͳ
calcite
Aspectrumoffluid Ͳ28 kaol Highsulfidationdeposits Lowsulfidationdeposits Highsulfidationdeposits Lowsulfidationdeposits
H S O4 Ͳ

l
n
Ͳ26 Ͳ26
compositionsoccur reduced oxidised 300°C

anhy
H2 S Hematite 0.5wt%NaCl
Ͳ6 HSO4Ͳ Ͳ6
0.004mSS

calcite
inepithermal Ͳ28
HSO4Ͳ
Ͳ28 oxidised
Ͳ30
environments Hematite H2S AuCl2Ͳ (aq)
Pyrite Ͳ5 Ͳ5
NearͲ H2S SO42Ͳ Ͳ30 reduced Ͳ30 10ppb
• HSdepositsare Ͳ32 oxidised SO42Ͳ
neutral HSͲ H2 S Ͳ4 SO42Ͳ Ͳ4
relatedtoacidic Ͳ32 oxidised Ͳ32 AuHS (aq) H2S
RH

Pyrite H2S
fluids reduced HSͲ HSͲ

Logf(O2)
Ͳ34 Ͳ3 Ͳ3

logfO2
Ͳ34 Ͳ34 1ppb
• IS/LSdepositsare Magnetite
Magnetite Ͳ2 reduced Ͳ2
associatedwith Ͳ36 Ͳ36
Ͳ36 Pyrrhotite reduced
nearͲneutralpH Au(HS)2 Ͳ
Ͳ1 (aq) Ͳ1
fluids Pyrrhotite Ͳ38 Ͳ38
0.1ppbAu
300°C
Ͳ38 0.5wt%NaCl
AuCl2Ͳ (aq)

ms
ms
Kf

kaol
• Metaltenorrelates T=300ºC HSͲ 0 0
0.004mSS H2S HSͲ
Sal=0.5eq.wt.% Ͳ40 Ͳ40

HSͲ
H 2S

ms
ms
Kf

kaol
torelativeacidity 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
SS=0.004molal
andoxidation Ͳ40 pH pH
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
potential:(m(SO42)
pH
/m(H2S))

Goldsolubilities:Tvs redox Goldtransport

Epithermalfluids
12 12 12
A: p H = 6 B: p H = 4 C: p H = 3

alun
k aol
0.5 eq wt % NaCl 5 eq wt % NaCl 25 eq wt % NaCl

S O 42 Ͳ
H S O 4Ͳ
SS = 0.004 m SS = 0.01 m SS = 0.01 m
Goldspeciation:

anhy
c alc ite

C a+ 2
C a+ 2
anhy
10 10 10

c alc ti e
Au Cl2 Ͳ • Reduced,dilute,SͲrichwaters
Hematite Hematite
Hematite • Au(HS)2Ͳ (aq) orAuHS (aq)
8 8 8
Au Cl2 Ͳ • HighͲTbrines:
SO 42Ͳ

S O 42 Ͳ
H S O 4Ͳ
• AuCl2Ͳ (aq)
6 Au Cl2 Ͳ 6 6
SO 42Ͳ HS O4Ͳ HS O4Ͳ
0.1 ppb
H 2S • Gases:

Ͳ RH
Ͳ RH
Ͳ RH
H 2S H 2S H 2S
1 pp m
Au(HS)2 Ͳ
4 4 AuHS(aq) 4 • AuS(g) (?)
Pyrite Au(HS)2 Ͳ 100 ppb 10 ppb
Au(HS)2 Ͳ Mt Goldtransport
2
Mt 2 Mt 2 AuHS
100 ppb
10 ppb Pyrite 1 ppb Au Cl2 Ͳ • Goldtransportedashydrosulfide complexes
Pyrite
H2 O( g) H2 O( g) H2 O( g) Po inLSͲ ISdeposits
0 0 0
H2 (g) H2 (g) H2 (g)
10 ppb
1 ppb
0.1 ppb • HowisgoldtransportedinHSdeposits?
Pyrrhotite Po
Ͳ2 Ͳ2 Ͳ2
50 100 150 200 250 300 350 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
T (° C) T (° C) T (° C) OldFaithfulGeyser,Yellowstone,USA
MagmaticͲhydrothermalfluidsintheshallowcrust HSdeposits– genesis
GAS PHASE
low density ALTERATION OREDEPOSITION
high SO2, HCl A Fumaroles B1 B2
low NaCl, metals
0
Coolmeteoric
(km) water Ores
Alteration Mixingwith
envelope shallowmeteoric
Acidsulfatewater
MAGMATIC withlowAusolubility
water
Partitioning changes AbsorptionofhighͲP Meteoricwater
vaporproduces transportsgold
with changes in P, T reduced,acid asAuHS(aq)??
FLUID HeatedgroundͲ
lowsalinitywater Heated
1 water withhighAu
solubilitiesas
groundͲwater
AuHS(aq) convectivecell
Magmaticvapors Alteration Heated
(incl.SO,HCl)
2 groundͲwater
Vuggyquartz
Acidbrine
LIQUID PHASE Alunite
Gasphase transportsgold
Kaolinite metaltransport asAuCl2Ͳ ??
higher density Magmatic Sericite Magmatic
2 brine
low SO2, HCl KͲsilicate brine

high NaCl, metals

Atshallowdepths(<4km)
aqueousmagmaticfluids
splitintotwoseparatephases White,1990 ModifiedafterArribas,1995;Heinrichetal.,2004;White,1991

Golddeposition Theporphyry– epithermalinterface

Lowandintermediatesulfidationdeposits
• Boilingistheprincipalmechanism
• Mixingmayoccurduringcollapseofthe
hydrothermalsystem

Highsulfidationdeposits
• Unequivocalevidenceforfluidmixingatsome
deposits
• Boilingisaviablemechanismfordepositswhere
goldistransportedasabisulfidecomplex

Electrum,telluridesandbasemetalsulfides,Acupan,Philippines •Cathedral Peak, Cerro Casale

 TheporphyryCuͲAumodel
Epithermalsuperposition
Progressiveuplift&erosion
Changefromlithostatictohydrostaticload

HSbreccia/
stockwork

Adv.Arg.
Chloritic Alteration
Alteration LSvein

Propylitic
Alteration
HSmassive
sulfidelode
Sericitic
Alteration KͲsilicatealt.&
CuͲAuͲMo
1km stockwork

Porphyry
Stock

Modifiedfrom
Sillitoe(2010) EpithermalveincuttingPCDveins: 1km
Sillitoe(1995)
http://geode.ethz.ch/abcd_apuseni.html

Upliftandexhumation GusanoTexture
gusano=worm

• Gusanotextureisincreasingly
reportedfromHSdepositsin
SouthAmerica
• Gusanoconsistsofpyrophyllite,
Chlorite diasporeandaluniteinasiliceous
matrixformingapatchyorwormy
Propylitic texture
Alteration
• Itcanoccuratthebaseofthe
vuggyquartzalterationzoneas
KͲsilicatealt.& transitiontounderlyingaltered
CuͲAuͲMo
1km stockwork
rocks
Porphyry • Itisalsoreportedtooccuratany
Stock levelinsomedeposits
Modifiedfrom
QzͲbnͲcpveinscutbyepi 1km • Itsoriginisobscure
Sillitoe(1995) Bantug,Philippines Coka Kuruga,Serbia
vein,Ridgeway
 TopazͲ Butte,Montana Proximitytoporphyry:Butte,Montana– Planview

ReproducedfromReedetal.(2013)

AMIRAP1060 – Freeportworkshop– November2012

ReproducedfromReedetal.(2013)
ConfidentialtosponsorsuntilDecember2015

FromOssandon
etal.(2001)
Chuquicamatadistrict,NorthernChile
WestFissure

Chuquicamataporphyry
(mineralised)
FortunaGranodiorite
(barren)
 AcidͲleachedzonewithlimonitestainingand DisseminatedAu– Ag
Proximalrelationship nativesulfuratcontactbetweensupergene& mineralisationin
hypogeneore lacustrinesediments
ofHSandporphyry QH
X QA
V X
deposits V V V X Dacite QA V
Andesiteflows dome X QH
QA QA V
IA QA QA
X V V
V V QK V X
QA Au– Aginvuggy
quartz QK IA
QA QA
QA
500m IA
Au– enargitein QA
LS Au – hydrothermalbreccia QK QA QK
Ag veins
Au– enargitein
QA IA massivepyrite
QA QD

LSZn– Pb– Ag– QD QA

Auveins IA QD

Vuggy QP
0 quartz
QD IA
FromOssandon etal.(2001) 500m Topofbasement QD QS

IA QP +
QD
QS
+
ALTERATION +
QS Pyrite– enargite/bornite
IA:Intermediateargillic Zn– Pb– Agmanto + +
IA replacementbody
+ QS
K:KͲsilicate + + K
K DisseminatedCuͲsulfides
QA:quartz– alunite Limestone +
QD:quartz– dickite ++ K
+ ChalcopyriteinKͲsilicatealteration
QH:quartz– halloysite + ± intermediateargillicoverprint
+ +
QK:quartz– kaolinite porphyry
QP:quartz– pyrophyllite stock
QS:quartz– sericite
ModifiedfromSillitoe(1999)

Porphyry– epithermalsuperposition
Telescopingmechanisms
ProgressiveupliftanderosionduringmagmaticͲhydrothermalactivitypromotes
transitionfromlithostatictohydrostaticloadandepithermaloverprinting

RosarioHS
vein
LSEpithermal
Rosario overprint
Porphyry SeawardͲdirected
sectorcollapse

Biotite
alteration
1km

1km

1km 1km

Gradualtransition Instantaneoustransition
e.g.,gravitationalcollapseofanuplifted e.g.,sectorcollapseofanalteredvolcanic
mountainrange edifice
ReproducedfromSillitoe,2010
Collahuasi,Chile(Mastermanetal,2005) Lihir,PNG(Sillitoe,1994)
Vuggyquartzwithdickite infill,Lepanto,Philippines