Characteristics of the leached capping or gossan

Lithogeochemistry is used during the detailed reconnaissance stage to delimit the

alteration zones as we have outlined above. It is also used in more detail, once the target
has been selected, to characterize the leached capping (Anderson, 1982). Field estimates
are made of the limonite and copper mineralogy of the capping. From these, estimates
are made of the maximum and minimum copper grades of the former sulphide zone.
Detailed mapping of the limonite and copper mineralogy and geochemical analyses for
copper in the rock lead to semi-quantitative predictions of the primary grade and grade of
the chalcocite enrichment zone. These predictions can be proven only by extensive
diamond drilling. Anderson (1982) quotes figures for comparisons at 18 porphyry copper
properties in southwestern USA. Here drilling results showed that over 75% of the
primary-grade predictions agreed within 30% of the actual (drilling-determined) values
and over 80% of the chalcocite-enrichment predictions agreed within 20% of the values
obtained by drilling. Although capping interpretation is very useful it is not a universally
applicable definitive method of porphyry copper evaluation. The petrology of the cap may
be affected by carbonate host rocks below the surface which inhibit copper migration or
faults may be present which offset the sulphide mineralization. Consequently the cap
evaluation must form only part of an integrated survey involving geology, geophysics,
geochemistry and, subsequently, drilling.