Ore Geology Reviews 143 (2022) 104777

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Ore Geology Reviews

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Geology and geochronology of the Don Javier Cu-Mo porphyry deposit,

southern Peru
Zhenchao Ye a, b, Jingwen Mao a, c, *, Minjie Lu d, Xiaosan Zhu d, Nian Chen a, Hantao Wei e,
Wenqiang Jin f, Xuyang Meng g
a
MNR Key Laboratory for Exploration Theory & Technology of Critical Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
b
Junefield Group S.A., Avenida República de Panamá 3545, San Isidro, Lima, Peru
c
Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
d
Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
e
Development and Research Center, China Geological Survey, Beijing 100037, China
f
Tianjin North China Geological Exploration Bureau, Tianjin 300170, China
g
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: The Don Javier porphyry Cu-Mo deposit is located in the Yarabamba district of the Arequipa region, Peru, which
Don Javier represents the northwestern end of the Paleocene-early Eocene Cu belt of the central Andes, extending from
Porphyry deposit northern Chile into southwestern Peru. The deposit occurs around the contacts of a dacite porphyry stock
Geology
emplaced into the pre-mineralization and Yarabamba granodiorite batholith. The intrusions display a telescoped
Geochronology
Peru
sequence of alteration, from shallow sericitic to deeper chloritic-sericitic, with minor remnant potassic assem­
blages, which are surrounded by propylitic zones. EB-, M-, EQ-, SQ-, and D-type veinlets occur in all alteration
zones. The higher Cu and Mo grades are mainly associated with the widely distributed sulfide-quartz veinlets
within the potassic and chlorite-sericite overlapping zones. The mineralized zone measures ~500 m in width
(NE-SW) by ~800 m in length (NW-SE). Uranium-Pb zircon ages show that the Yarabamba granodiorite plutons
were emplaced at ~ 64.6 Ma and subsequently intruded by the inter-mineralization dacite porphyry intrusions
at ~ 59.9 to 59.5 Ma. Molybdenite Re-Os ages indicate that the deposit formed between ~ 60.5 and 59.6 Ma.
Younger molybdenite Re-Os ages (~45.4 to 44.4 Ma) obtained in the deep parts of the altered rocks suggest that
the deposit might have been overprinted by later hydrothermal activity in the Eocene. The success of exploration
at Don Javier emphasizes that traditional methods such as geologic and geophysical mapping followed by timely
drilling tests can still be effective in a mature metallogenic belt.

1. Introduction
The Paleocene-early Eocene porphyry Cu belt of southwestern Peru
hosts several world-class copper deposits as exemplified by the Toque­
pala, Cuajone and Cerro Verde mines (Cooke et al., 2005; Sillitoe and
Perelló, 2005; Fig. 1). Don Javier is located 12 km southeast of the Cerro
Verde deposit and forms part of the Yarabamba district of Arequipa,
Peru (Melgar, 2015; Wu et al, 2013; Zhao et al., 2018).
This paper describes the geological characteristics based on detailed
field mapping at the 1/5,000 scale (Fig. 1) and core logging of>136 km
of diamond drill holes. New molybdenite Re-Os ages for mineralization
and zircon U-Pb dates for granodiorite plutons and inter-mineralization
porphyry intrusions help constrain the relationship between the por­
phyry Cu mineralization and the complex period of magmatism. Finally,
we summarize the evolution of the Don Javier deposit and compare it
with other porphyry deposits of the Paleocene-early Eocene Cu belt.
Implications for exploration are discussed.
2. Discovery history
The Don Javier deposit was discovered in 2009 by Junefield Group S.
A., after a comprehensive evaluation program including geologic,
geophysical, and geochemical studies, followed by drill testing.
The first geological and geochemical investigations in the area were

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: jingwenmao@263.net (J. Mao).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2022.104777
Received 6 September 2021; Received in revised form 8 February 2022; Accepted 11 February 2022
Available online 15 February 2022
0169-1368/© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Z. Ye et al. Ore Geology Reviews 143 (2022) 104777

Fig. 1. a. Location map of the Don Javier deposit in the Paleocene-early Eocene porphyry Cu-Mo metallogenic belt of southern Peru. Regional metallogenic belts and
major deposits (modified from Acosta et al., 2016). b. Regional geologic map of southern Arequipa and Moquegua Provinces in Peru (modified from the Peruvian
geological map at a 1:1,000,000 scale, Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico, 2018).

carried out by the Cerro de Pasco Corporation in 1955, in conjunction
with a drilling program that was designed to test for porphyry Cu-Mo
mineralization. Sporadic exploration surveys were conducted by the
individual mining entrepreneur Masataka Endo between 1979 and
2009. Based on the results, Junefield Group Company began a more
comprehensive exploration program. Between 2009 and 2012,
geophysical exploration comprised dual-frequency induced polarization
(DFIP; He, 1996), magnetometry, chargeability and resistivity surveys.
Using the coincidence of low-resistivity and high-DFIP anomalies, the
exploration team was able to identify the primary project target for
subsequent drill testing. Geochemical exploration included 1,545
surface rock chip and channel samples that were collected and analyzed
for multiple elements, including Cu and Mo. A total of 138,011 m of core
was drilled in 136 holes at Don Javier, on an approximately 70 m × 70 m
grid.
At a 0.3% Cu cutoff grade, the total indicated resources were esti­
mated at 182 million metric tons with 0.45% Cu, 0.02% Mo, and 2.96 g/
t Ag, containing 819 thousand metric tons Cu, 36.4 thousand metric tons
Mo, and 538.7 metric tons Ag; additional inferred resources were esti­
mated at 121 Mt with 0.39% Cu, 0.01% Mo, and 2.11 g/t Ag, containing
471.9 thousand metric tons Cu, 12.1 thousand metric tons Mo, and
255.3 metric tons Ag (Webster et al., 2013). No further exploration has

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Fig. 2. Geological map of the Don Javier porphyry Cu-Mo deposit area.

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Z. Ye et al.
been performed since 2013. The property is still owned by Junefield
Group and is currently in the preliminary economic assessment (PEA)
stage. A detailed development plan includes an advanced cavability
study for block caving mining and a new resource update using current
metal prices.
3. Regional geology and mineralization
The Don Javier deposit is located on the southwestern slope of the
Western Cordillera in southern Peru, at the northern tip of the Central
Andean Paleocene-early Eocene porphyry belt (Acosta et al., 2019; Sil­
litoe and Perelló, 2005). This metallogenic belt stretches across southern
Peru and northern Chile, parallel to the South American plate boundary,
and represents the Andean calc-alkaline magmatic arc, which developed
above the subducting Nazca oceanic plate and the South American
continental plate margin. The region is characterized by a Precambrian
metamorphic basement that is overlain by Mesozoic-Cenozoic volcanic
and sedimentary rocks (Coira et al., 1982). The sequence is intruded by
Jurassic and Cretaceous intrusions of the Coastal Batholith, which is
subdivided into the Cretaceous Tiabaya and the Paleocene Yarabamba
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Ore Geology Reviews 143 (2022) 104777
Fig. 3. Lithologic units at Don Javier. a.
Weak propylitic alteration of equi­
granular granodiorite of the Yarabamba
Superunit. b. Magmatically corroded
quartz phenocryst in dacite porphyry
under plane-polarized light. c. Weak
sericitically altered dacite porphyry,
showing disseminated pyrite, chalcopy­
rite and plagioclase phenocrysts. d.
Tourmaline-bearing hydrothermal
breccia. e. Hydrothermal breccia with
dacite clasts and galena + sphalerite
cement. f. Hydrothermal breccia with
tourmaline and pyrite cement. Abbrevi­
ations: Py (pyrite), Ccp (chalcopyrite),
Pl (plagioclase), Qz (quartz), Tur (tour­
maline), Gn (galena), Sp (sphalerite).
Superunit (Cobbing and Pitcher, 1972; Mukasa, 1986; Myers, 1975). In
the study region, the corresponding batholith and coeval volcanic rocks
are the Yarabamba Superunit and the Toquepala Group, respectively
(Simmons et al., 2013).
Many porphyry Cu deposits in the Central Andes were formed during
uplift resulting from crustal shortening and thickening that accompa­
nied compressive tectonism (Perelló et al., 2003; Sillitoe et al., 2019;
Sillitoe and Perelló, 2005). Complex regional deformation, with NW-SE
folding during crustal shortening, created the dominant structures
within the region. A major regional structural element is the Incapuquio
fault system which extends through most of southern Peru as a 10 km
wide structural corridor with a strike-length of 400 km that is accom­
modated by sinistral or dextral motions (Quang et al., 2003). This
regional fault system has a long-lasting, complex history and controlled
numerous world-class porphyry Cu deposits in the Central Andean belt,
including the Cerro Verde-Santa Rosa (3,571 Mt at 0.40% Cu and 0.01%
Mo), Cuajone (2,626 Mt at 0.47% Cu and 0.02% Mo), Toquepala (3,530
Mt at 0.47% Cu and 0.03% Mo), and Quellaveco (1,598 Mt at 0.57% Cu
and 0.02% Mo) deposits (Singer et al., 2008), as shown in Fig. 1.
Z. Ye et al. Ore Geology Reviews 143 (2022) 104777

(caption on next page)

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Fig. 4. Hydrothermal alteration and veinlets at Don Javier. a. Potassic alteration overprinted by chloritic-sericitic alteration with EB veinlets b. Potassic alteration
overprinted by chloritic-sericitic alteration with EB- and EQ-type quartz veinlets. Note that the residual potassic alteration mineral is biotite. c. Potassic alteration
with pink K-feldspar. d. Sericitically altered dacite porphyry. e. Sericitic alteration with sulfides under crossed polarized light. f. M-type veinlet with chlorite
alteration halo in chlorite-sericite altered granodiorite. g. Dacite porphyry with EQ-type quartz veinlet and disseminated pyrite. h. Sericitically altered dacite
porphyry with EQ-type quartz veinlet under crossed polarized light. i. CPQ-type veinlets cut an earlier MQ-type veinlet. j. Banded MQ-type veinlets. k. Sericitically
altered dacite porphyry with MQ-type and CPQ-type veinlets. l. CPQ-type veinlets cut an earlier MQ-type veinlet. m. CPQ-type veinlets cut an earlier MQ-type veinlet.
Note that the CPQ-type veinlet has a discontinuous sulfide centerline. n. CPQ-type veinlets cut slightly earlier banded MQ-type veinlets. o. Banded MQ-type veinlets
with chalcopyrites and pyrites. p. Chalcopyrite-molybdenite assemblage under reflected plane-polarized light. q. Banded CPQ-type veinlets. r. D-type veinlet with
coarse pyrite and sericite alteration halo. s. D-type veinlet with coarse pyrite and sericite alteration halo. Abbreviations: Kfs (K-feldspar), Chl (chlorite), Ser (sericite),
EB (EB-type veinlet), M (M-type veinlet), EQ (EQ-type veinlet), MQ (MQ-type veinlet) CPQ (CPQ-type veinlet), D (D-type veinlet).

4. Deposit Geology
4.1. Pre-mineralization lithologies
4.1.1. Labra member sandstone
Upper Jurassic sandstones are the oldest exposed rocks in the study
area and belong to the Labra Member of the Yura Group sequence. The
Labra Member is composed of thick-bedded, light-colored, fine-grained
quartz sandstones cropping out in the eastern and southern parts of the
deposit (Figs. 2, 3a). Locally, the sandstone hosts joints and fractures
filled with tourmaline and quartz, aligning with the other breccias at
Don Javier along a N30◦ W strike. The sequence is finely stratified into
layers ranging in thickness from 15 to 20 cm, with a total thickness
varying from 25 to 40 m.
4.1.2. Coastal Batholith, Yarabamba Superunit
The Paleocene Yarabamba Superunit of the Peruvian Coastal Bath­
olith is an intrusive complex that was emplaced as numerous plutons
generally exhibiting steep walls (Myers, 1975). At Don Javier, the Yar­
abamba Superunit is subdivided into granodiorite and diorite plutons.
The granodiorite is the primary host rock for mineralization, whereas
the diorite shows local outcrops in the southern and eastern parts of the
study area (Fig. 2). The Yarabamba plutons are light to dark gray with
subhedral, equigranular texture and characterized by the mineralogical
association of plagioclase – hornblende – potassium feldspar – quartz –
biotite. Grain sizes average 0.1–1.2 mm in diameter, with a maximum of
approximately 2.5 mm (Fig. 3a).
4.2. Porphyry intrusions and hydrothermal breccias
The main mineralization-related lithological units at Don Javier are
dacite porphyries and associated hydrothermal breccias that emplaced
into the Yarabamba plutons.
size up to ~ 10 cm. (Fig. 3e-i). The clasts are mainly granodiorite and
dacite wall rock lithologies in the mineralized zone. Matrix-supported
and clast-supported breccias are all common. The matrix contains
tourmaline, quartz, and sulfides, such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena and
sphalerite (Fig. 3e-i). Moreover, veinlets are not common in the clasts.
Disseminated sulfides occur in the clasts or locally infill cavities. The
breccias are typically affected by hydrothermal alteration with sericite
and chlorite, which are commonly present in both clasts and matrix.
4.3. Post-mineralization dikes
A number of post-mineralization dikes intruded the deposit and
cross-cut mineralization. Based on their petrological characteristics, the
dikes can be divided into andesitic and aplitic compositions. The dikes
are generally unaltered and controlled by NW- and NE-trending faults.
They can be observed in the drill core and only crop out in the north­
eastern (Fig. 2) and western parts of the study area. No mineralization is
associated with the late dikes.
4.4. Structure
Three sets of steeply dipping faults are observed at Don Javier,
predating (NNW-striking) and postdating (NE-, ENE-striking) the
mineralization (Fig. 2). The NNW-striking set striking N15◦ -0◦ W (Fig. 2)
apparently controlled the emplacement of the dacite porphyry complex
and the hydrothermal fluids along veinlets around a maximum of
mineralized veinlets oriented at approximately N15◦ W. The NE-striking
fault set at approximately N60◦ E is perpendicular to the NNW set. These
prominent faults facilitated the vertical movement of blocks after
mineralization. The ENE-striking set of faults strikes N80◦ E and repre­
sents a major fault system found in the southern area of Don Javier
(Fig. 2). These faults have strike lengths of 0.5 to > 2 km and accom­
modate vertical block movement of mineralization.

4.2.1. Dacite porphyry intrusions 5. Hydrothermal alteration and mineralization

The Don Javier dacite porphyries crop out along a 300–800 m wide
and > 2 km long corridor that is controlled by regional NW-trending
faults (Fig. 2). The dacite porphyries contain plagioclase (20–50
modal%), quartz (3–7 modal%), and biotite (3–8 modal%) phenocrysts
set into a microgranular groundmass. Plagioclase phenocrysts are
anhedral to subhedral, with lengths up to 5 mm (Fig. 3c). Quartz phe­
nocrysts up to 4 mm in length have been magmatically corroded to
rounded or subrounded grains (Fig. 3d).
4.2.2. Hydrothermal breccias
The most common mineralization-related hydrothermal breccias at
Don Javier are spatially associated with the porphyries (Fig. 2). They
form pipe-like bodies with subrounded to subangular clasts of variable
5.1. Hypogene alteration
Based on detailed drill core logging, four types of hypogene alter­
ation (potassic, chloritic-sericitic, sericitic, and propylitic) have been
recognized at Don Javier. Potassic alteration can be recognized only in a
small amount (~2 vol%) of drill core and is mainly preserved at depths
in the granodiorite below 2000 m a.s.l. (Fig. 5c-d). An assemblage of
hydrothermal K-feldspar, biotite, and minor quartz defines the potassic
zone. This alteration type generally formed fine-grained, pinkish min­
eral aggregates (Fig. 4a-c) due to the presence of K-feldspar and is
associated with magnetite, chalcopyrite and minor bornite. At Don
Javier, the potassic alteration is mainly overprinted by the later chlorite-

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Fig. 5. Interpreted 3D section (left) and 2D section (right) at Don Javier. a. 3D lithology model. b. Lithologies with isotopic ages projected to the section. c. 3D
hydrothermal alteration model. d. Hydrothermal alteration section. e. 3D oxidized zone with grade distribution section. f. Oxidized zone with grade distribution
section. The left 3D columns and right 2D columns show the same section line, as shown in Fig. 2.

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Fig. 6. Veinlet classification and distribution in alteration zones at Don Javier: a. Drill core length and relative percentage with different types of veinlets. b.
Percentage with different types of alterations. c. Interpretation of veinlet distribution and key descriptions. Abbreviations: EB (EB-type veinlet), M (M-type veinlet),
EQ (EQ-type veinlet), SQ (SQ-type veinlet), D (D-type veinlet), K (potassic), Chl-Ser (chlorite-sericite), Ser (sericite), Prop (propylitic), Bt (biotite), Kfs (K-feldspar),
Qz (quartz), Mag (magnetite), Hem (hematite), Py (pyrite), Ccp (chalcopyrite), Sp (sphalerite), Gn (galena), Mol (molybdenite).

sericite assemblage and strongly associated with the Cu-Mo minerali­
zation (Fig. 4a-b, 5c-f).
Chloritic-sericitic alteration is generally located in the deeper parts
of the deposit and overprinted the potassic alteration zone. A large part
of the chlorite-sericite alteration zone, spatially associated with the
higher Cu and Mo grades, might be the result of the replacement of the
original potassic alteration (Fig. 5c-f). Chlorite-sericite alteration is
observed in ~ 10 vol% of the drill core below ~ 2400 m a.s.l. (Fig. 5c-d).
It is recognized by a light green color. Plagioclase is wholly or partially
replaced by sericite (Fig. 4a-b), and biotite and hornblende are replaced
by chlorite.
Sericitic alteration is dominant and occurs in>50 vol% of the drill
core, surrounding the center of the deposit (Figs. 5c-d) and has strongly
affected the upper parts of the fine-grained hypabyssal dacite (Figs. 4d-e,
d). Plagioclase, mafic phenocrysts and matrix are replaced by illite to
illite/smectite aggregates, resulting in a pale whitish rock with residual
anhedral quartz grains (Fig. 4c-d, q). The associated sulfide is mainly
pyrite with minor chalcopyrite.
Propylitic alteration is widespread at Don Javier in the distal por­
tions of the dacite porphyries and surrounding granodiorite and is
recognized by a greenish color (Fig. 5c-d). It occurs in ~ 25 vol% of the
drill core, but the alteration zone is > 1.5 km wider than the drilled area
based on our field observations. The propylitic alteration is character­
ized by a chlorite-epidote-calcite mineral assemblage. The propylitic
zone contains traces of pyrite and is generally barren (Fig. 5c-f).

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Fig. 7. Late Pb-Zn mineralization and two molybdenite-bearing samples for Re-Os dating at Don Javier: a. Hydrothermal breccia with dacite clasts and galena +
sphalerite cement. b. Pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite-galena-tetrahedrite assemblage under reflected plane-polarized light. g. Molybdenite-chalcopyrite in MQ-type
and SQ-type veinlets (sample S10). h. Molybdenite-chalcopyrite in MQ-type and SQ-type (sample S12). Abbreviations: Py (pyrite), Ccp (chalcopyrite), Sp (sphal­
erite), Gn (galena), Ttr (tetrahedrite), Mol (molybdenite).

5.2. Veinlet classification and distribution
At Don Javier, five types of veinlets related to alteration and
mineralization have been identified and are present in nearly 40 vol% of
the drill cores. The veinlets are divided into three stages based on their
cross-cutting relationships: Stage 1, early biotite (EB-type) and magne­
tite (M-type) veinlets; stage 2, early quartz (EQ-type) and sulfide-quartz
(SQ-type) veinlets; and stage 3, D-type veinlets. The veinlet classifica­
tion follows Gustafson and Hunt (1975; D type), Gustafson and Quiroga
(1995; EB type) and Arancibia and Clark (1996; M type).
Stage 1 is the earliest stage and comprises EB- and M-type veinlets.
The distributions of EB- and M-type veinlets are limited to only 1 vol%
and 4 vol% of veined drill cores, respectively (Fig. 6a). The EB-type
veinlets are characterized by hydrothermal biotite, K-feldspar, and
quartz (Fig. 4a-b). They are mainly preserved in the potassic alteration
zone and can also be observed in all other types of hypogene alteration
(Fig. 6a-c). They formed at higher temperatures, earlier, and deeper than
the EQ-type veinlets. The M-type veinlets are hydrothermal magnetite
veinlets (Fig. 4f) locally associated with minor quartz, pyrite and/or
chalcopyrite. The veinlets are normally irregular and variable in width.
They are mainly observed in the potassic, propylitic, and sericitic
alteration zones, and, in some cases, in the chloritic-sericitic zone
(Fig. 6a-c).
Stage 2 is the Cu-Mo mineralization stage, which is particularly rich
in Mo. The EQ- and SQ-type veinlets formed during this stage and are
observed in all hypogene alteration zones, especially in the sericitic zone
(Fig. 6b-c).
The EQ-type veinlets occur in 13 vol% of veined drill cores (Fig. 6a).
They are filled with fine granular quartz and locally pink to white K-
feldspar and/or albite and generally do not have a central line along the
veinlet axis (Fig. 6b-d). Sinuous veinlet wall edges and disseminated
chalcopyrite are the main features. They are most randomly oriented
and discontinuous, with widths usually ranging from 1 to 10 mm.
Disseminated pyrite and hydrothermal biotite are common in the quartz
veinlets. In the deep zone, the EQ-type quartz veinlet is likely in tran­
sition to EB type (Fig. 4b). The EQ-type veinlets are usually cut by other
late veinlets. Locally, they contain chalcopyrite ± bornite ± pyrite ±
anhydrite along the margins.
The SQ-type veinlets are abundant and occur in 41 vol% of the
veined drill cores (Fig. 6a-c). They are composed of coarse-grained
quartz and are characterized by relatively straight wall edges and py­
rite ± chalcopyrite ± molybdenite in the axis of these veinlets or in
irregular bands parallel to the walls. They generally do not have alter­
ation halos. Based on the sulfide assemblage and texture, the SQ-type
veinlets are subdivided into molybdenite-quartz (MQ-type) veinlets
and chalcopyrite-pyrite-quartz (CPQ) veinlets. The MQ type is

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Fig. 8. Horizontal slices through the Don Javier porphyry Cu-Mo deposit at elevations of 2400-, 1900-, and 1400 m elevations, showing distributions of Cu (>0.2%)
and Mo (>50 ppm).

Table 1
Sample descriptions for U-Pb and Re-Os dating.
Sample Lithology Location Description Latitude Longitude
no.

S30 Dacite Drill hole DJ-056 at 99.4 m Sericite altered dacite porphyry with sulfide. 16◦ 37′ 3.95′′ S 71◦ 27′ 5.02′′ W
porphyry depth
S31 Dacite Drill hole DJ-055 at 625 m depth Dacite porphyry with well-formed plagioclase, quartz and biotite 16◦ 36′ 53.85′′ S 71◦ 27′ 25.96′′ W
porphyry phenocrysts.
S32 Dacite Drill hole DJ-058 at 83 m depth Sericite altered dacite porphyry with sulfide. 16◦ 37′ 4.21′′ S 71◦ 27′ 9.80′′ W
porphyry
S34 Granodiorite Drill hole DJ-052 at 121.5 m Yarabamba granodiorite, dark-gray with a subhedral, equigranularity 16◦ 36′ 55.45′′ S 71◦ 27′ 23.36′′ W
depth texture.

characterized by molybdenite in the quartz veinlets (Fig. 4i-q). The
molybdenite is disseminated and/or occurs in multiple bands within and
parallel to bands of quartz, commonly near the margins (Fig. 4i-o),
which has been well observed in other porphyry deposits (Cernuschi
et al., 2013; Rusk et al., 2008). The absence of chalcopyrite and pyrite in
MQ-type veinlets is not uncommon. The MQ-type veinlets are usually
cut by CPQ-type veinlets (Figs. l-n). The CPQ-type veinlets contain
abundant chalcopyrite and pyrite and much less molybdenite, and the
sulfide centerlines are continuous or discontinuous (Fig. 4k, m, q).
Stage 3 is the last mineralization stage and predominantly contains
D-type veinlets. This type of veinlet occurs in all alteration zones and is
abundantly distributed in 41 vol% of the drill cores (Fig. 6a). The

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Z. Ye et al.
Fig. 9. Zircon CL imaging of selected minerals illustrating the various shapes and structures of analyzed grains.
veinlets are composed of coarse pyrite ± chalcopyrite ± quartz with
extensive greenish-gray sericite alteration halos (Fig. 4r-s). The veinlets
are continuous and multidirectional. Locally minor sphalerite ± galena
± calcite occurs in these veins. Overall, the D-type veinlets at Don Javier
are low Cu grade. However, they contain appreciable amounts of Cu,
which are spatially associated with EQ- and SQ-type veinlets in the high
Cu grade (>0.3% Cu) mineralization area.
5.3. Mineralization and grade distribution
The mineralization developed as quartz-chalcopyrite ± pyrite (EQ-
and SQ-type) veinlets (Fig. 4a-b; 4 g-q) and as disseminations
throughout stockworks and breccias (Fig. 3e-f, 7a) around the contacts
between the dacite porphyry intrusions and granodiorite plutons
(Fig. 5a-f). Using a 0.2% Cu cutoff projected to the surface, the Co-Mo
mineralization zone at Don Javier measures a maximum of ~500 m in
width (NE-SW) by ~800 m in length (NW-SE), as shown in Fig. 8. Within
this zone, the highest Cu and Mo grades occur in the NW part above
~2000 m a.s.l. and the central part below ~ 1900 m a.s.l. (Fig. 8).
Along drillhole #DJ-091 at depths from 700 m to 2149 m, the main
associated alteration type is chlorite-sericite. Potassic alteration is
observed at depths from 1942 m to 2110 m, showing that the deepest
zone is still well mineralized, with an average grade of > 0.3% Cu over
the deepest 400-m-long interval.
The higher-grade bodies are mainly associated with the EQ-type and
SQ-type quartz veinlets that developed in the potassic alteration zones.
However, the potassic alteration was strongly overprinted by later
chloritic-sericitic alteration at Don Javier. Therefore, the chloritic-
sericitic alteration zone spatially associated with the high-grade area
might correspond to the earlier potassic alteration zone. The Cu and Mo
distributions correlate reasonably well, but the higher values of these
two metals are inconsistent below ~ 1500 m a.s.l. (Fig. 8). The higher Cu
values are in the center of the mineralization zone, while the higher Mo
values are in the northwestern part (Fig. 8). This distribution suggests
decoupled introduction and precipitation of metals in the deeper portion
of the deposit. The Cu-Mo correlation coefficient for the entire deposit is
0.38. Minor late Pb-Zn mineralization is observed in the matrix of
breccias in the shallow part of the deposit (Fig. 7a-b).
5.4. Supergene processes
At Don Javier, the supergene enrichment zone has not been well
developed. The leached cap is only 1–5 m thick and consists of
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Ore Geology Reviews 143 (2022) 104777
supergene argillic alteration with limonite and boxwork after sulfide
mineralization without the formation of a notable chalcocite enrichment
blanket. This composition is different from those of other nearby de­
posits with similar ages, such as Cuajone, Quellaveco and Toquepala
(Clark et al., 1990), and Cerro Verde (Quang et al., 2003; Stegen et al.,
2018), which have a much thicker leached cap with supergene Cu
enrichment. The leached zone averages 70 m in thickness and locally
attains depths of 250 m in the Cerro Verde deposit (Quang et al., 2003),
which is 12 km to the northwest of Don Javier.
6. Samples and analytical methods
Three dacite porphyry samples were collected from holes DJ-056,
DJ-055, and DJ-058. One Yarabamba granodiorite sample was taken
from hole DJ-052. Sample details are shown in Table 1. In addition, five
molybdenite samples from drill cores were selected for Re-Os dating.
Samples S09 and S10 (Fig. 7c) are from hole DJ-012 in the northwestern
upper zone of the mineralized body in the sericitic alteration zone, at
depths of 88.8 m and 216 m, respectively. Samples S08, S12 (Fig. 7d),
and S15 are from the deeper mineralization zone in hole DJ-041, with
chloritic-sericitic alteration and stockworks containing molybdenite-
chalcopyrite grains ranging in depth from 1002 m to 1018 m.
6.1. Zircon U-Pb dating
Zircons were separated from their host rock using conventional
mineral separation methods at the Shougang Geological Survey. All
zircons were photographed under transmitted and reflected light and
imaged using cathodoluminescence (CL), to reveal their external and
internal structures. Uranium-Pb analyses were conducted using laser
ablation multicollector inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry
(LA-MC-ICP–MS) at the Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Acad­
emy of Geological Sciences (CAGS), Beijing. Analytical conditions for
the laser ablation system and the LA-MC-ICP–MS instrument, and data
reduction have been described previously (Hou et al., 2009). Concordia
diagrams and weighted mean ages were generated using IsoplotR soft­
ware (Vermeesch, 2018). The U-Th-Pb concentrations were calibrated
using the GJ-1 and PLE zircon standards and the SRM 610 series of
glasses (Hinton, 1999; Jackson et al., 2004; Sláma et al., 2008). The
zircon analyses are illustrated in 206Pb/238U versus 207Pb/235U diagrams
(Ludwig, 1998).
Z. Ye et al. Ore Geology Reviews 143 (2022) 104777

Table 2
LA-MC-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb data.
207
Spot Th U Th/U Pb/206Pb 1σ 207
Pb/235U 1σ 206
Pb/238U 1σ 207
Pb/235U Age 1σ 206
Pb/238U Age 1σ

(ppm) (ppm) (Ma) (Ma)

S30-1 66 85 0.78 0.0558 0.0089 0.0676 0.0105 0.0095 0.0003 66.4 10.0 61.1 2.0
S30-2 94 120 0.78 0.0683 0.0077 0.0832 0.0079 0.0094 0.0002 81.1 7.4 60.5 1.6
S30-3 197 266 0.74 0.0514 0.0036 0.0655 0.0046 0.0093 0.0002 64.4 4.4 59.7 1.2
S30-4 137 213 0.64 0.0536 0.0055 0.0668 0.0063 0.0096 0.0002 65.7 6.0 61.3 1.4
S30-5 73 113 0.64 0.0703 0.0078 0.0841 0.0088 0.0093 0.0003 82.0 8.3 59.6 1.8
S30-6 57 97 0.59 0.0548 0.0100 0.0673 0.0106 0.0095 0.0003 66.1 10.1 60.7 2.1
S30-7 95 156 0.61 0.0642 0.0076 0.0779 0.0094 0.0090 0.0003 76.1 8.8 57.5 1.6
S30-8 569 451 1.26 0.0592 0.0039 0.0750 0.0050 0.0093 0.0002 73.4 4.8 59.5 1.2
S30-9 90 188 0.48 0.0745 0.0077 0.0918 0.0093 0.0093 0.0002 89.2 8.6 59.7 1.5
S30-10 59 82 0.72 0.0658 0.0123 0.0752 0.0129 0.0095 0.0003 73.6 12.2 60.6 1.7
S30-11 53 56 0.93 0.0586 0.0126 0.0677 0.0139 0.0093 0.0004 66.5 13.2 59.9 2.6
S30-12 208 274 0.76 0.0596 0.0055 0.0742 0.0069 0.0093 0.0003 72.7 6.5 59.6 1.8
S30-13 225 197 1.14 0.0520 0.0044 0.0687 0.0069 0.0094 0.0003 67.4 6.6 60.5 1.9
S30-14 53 68 0.78 0.0637 0.0148 0.0749 0.0160 0.0094 0.0004 73.4 15.1 60.1 2.4
S30-15 187 170 1.10 0.0577 0.0051 0.0697 0.0059 0.0092 0.0003 68.4 5.6 58.8 1.6
S30-16 82 131 0.63 0.0522 0.0060 0.0637 0.0068 0.0093 0.0002 62.7 6.5 59.7 1.6
S31-1 161 168 0.95 0.0541 0.0056 0.0704 0.0076 0.0095 0.0003 69.1 7.2 60.7 1.6
S31-2 273 341 0.80 0.0461 0.0037 0.0568 0.0043 0.0093 0.0002 56.1 4.1 59.5 1.3
S31-3 501 464 1.08 0.0483 0.0034 0.0597 0.0041 0.0092 0.0002 58.8 4.0 59.1 1.2
S31-4 685 562 1.22 0.0514 0.0034 0.0655 0.0040 0.0094 0.0002 64.4 3.8 60.2 1.1
S31-5 817 885 0.92 0.0487 0.0029 0.0601 0.0043 0.0090 0.0002 59.2 4.1 57.6 1.4
S31-6 254 331 0.77 0.0546 0.0038 0.0668 0.0041 0.0092 0.0002 65.7 3.9 59.0 1.3
S31-7 349 333 1.05 0.0464 0.0040 0.0581 0.0052 0.0090 0.0002 57.4 5.0 58.0 1.1
S31-8 232 273 0.85 0.0518 0.0071 0.0624 0.0080 0.0091 0.0003 61.5 7.6 58.5 1.8
S31-9 768 680 1.13 0.0496 0.0025 0.0651 0.0036 0.0096 0.0002 64.0 3.4 61.4 1.5
S31-10 446 483 0.92 0.0523 0.0040 0.0650 0.0050 0.0090 0.0002 63.9 4.8 57.6 1.1
S31-11 83 95 0.87 0.0721 0.0120 0.0893 0.0162 0.0095 0.0003 86.8 15.1 60.9 2.2
S31-12 134 130 1.02 0.0718 0.0078 0.0896 0.0095 0.0095 0.0003 87.2 8.8 60.8 1.8
S31-13 149 166 0.90 0.0571 0.0058 0.0711 0.0076 0.0093 0.0003 69.8 7.3 59.9 1.9
S31-14 354 328 1.08 0.0567 0.0040 0.0690 0.0050 0.0092 0.0002 67.8 4.7 58.9 1.6
S31-15 530 500 1.06 0.0469 0.0037 0.0600 0.0045 0.0094 0.0002 59.2 4.3 60.1 1.1
S31-16 248 253 0.98 0.0493 0.0053 0.0618 0.0063 0.0093 0.0002 60.9 6.1 59.4 1.3
S31-17 211 237 0.89 0.0487 0.0047 0.0641 0.0059 0.0095 0.0002 63.1 5.7 61.2 1.5
S31-18 463 304 1.52 0.0488 0.0061 0.0631 0.0091 0.0096 0.0004 62.2 8.6 61.6 2.3
S31-19 133 204 0.65 0.0621 0.0065 0.0829 0.0103 0.0093 0.0003 80.9 9.6 59.5 1.9
S32-1 57 105 0.54 0.0535 0.0081 0.0654 0.0093 0.0092 0.0003 64.3 8.9 59.1 2.0
S32-2 184 192 0.96 0.0643 0.0062 0.0757 0.0070 0.0091 0.0002 74.1 6.6 58.1 1.6
S32-3 65 110 0.59 0.0500 0.0054 0.0643 0.0064 0.0095 0.0002 63.3 6.1 61.2 1.6
S32-4 47 64 0.73 0.0872 0.0160 0.0932 0.0154 0.0092 0.0004 90.5 14.3 58.9 2.2
S32-5 290 232 1.25 0.0597 0.0053 0.0775 0.0070 0.0094 0.0002 75.8 6.6 60.4 1.3
S32-6 95 210 0.45 0.0506 0.0051 0.0624 0.0062 0.0092 0.0002 61.5 6.0 59.3 1.5
S32-7 113 147 0.77 0.0684 0.0058 0.0867 0.0078 0.0092 0.0002 84.4 7.3 59.3 1.5
S32-8 93 154 0.60 0.0528 0.0059 0.0656 0.0071 0.0092 0.0002 64.5 6.8 59.3 1.4
S32-9 47 65 0.72 0.0644 0.0108 0.0815 0.0137 0.0090 0.0003 79.5 12.8 58.0 2.1
S32-10 66 92 0.72 0.0504 0.0075 0.0618 0.0089 0.0096 0.0003 60.9 8.5 61.4 1.9
S32-11 134 193 0.69 0.0580 0.0059 0.0717 0.0073 0.0093 0.0003 70.3 6.9 59.8 1.8
S32-12 140 142 0.99 0.0549 0.0067 0.0648 0.0071 0.0090 0.0003 63.7 6.8 57.7 1.8
S32-13 126 157 0.81 0.0686 0.0091 0.0889 0.0127 0.0092 0.0003 86.5 11.8 58.8 1.7
S32-14 147 182 0.81 0.0766 0.0091 0.0880 0.0093 0.0091 0.0002 85.7 8.6 58.7 1.5
S32-15 145 197 0.74 0.0558 0.0046 0.0710 0.0056 0.0093 0.0002 69.7 5.3 59.9 1.5
S32-16 438 312 1.41 0.0535 0.0046 0.0683 0.0059 0.0094 0.0002 67.1 5.6 60.5 1.2
S32-17 102 171 0.59 0.0732 0.0064 0.0927 0.0085 0.0094 0.0003 90.0 7.9 60.3 1.6
S32-18 156 254 0.61 0.0773 0.0076 0.0963 0.0099 0.0093 0.0003 93.3 9.1 59.7 1.7
S32-19 326 260 1.25 0.0566 0.0042 0.0701 0.0049 0.0093 0.0002 68.8 4.6 59.5 1.3
S32-20 146 227 0.64 0.0618 0.0057 0.0770 0.0072 0.0093 0.0002 75.3 6.8 59.7 1.4
S32-21 138 215 0.64 0.0539 0.0049 0.0675 0.0061 0.0093 0.0002 66.4 5.8 60.0 1.5
S34-1 201 191 1.05 0.0600 0.0058 0.0878 0.0096 0.0104 0.0002 85.5 8.9 66.6 1.5
S34-2 212 236 0.90 0.0486 0.0055 0.0654 0.0071 0.0103 0.0002 64.3 6.8 65.8 1.6
S34-3 381 359 1.06 0.0514 0.0040 0.0714 0.0057 0.0101 0.0002 70.0 5.4 64.5 1.3
S34-4 255 306 0.83 0.0465 0.0037 0.0637 0.0049 0.0102 0.0002 62.7 4.6 65.6 1.4
S34-5 1310 856 1.53 0.0493 0.0017 0.0688 0.0028 0.0101 0.0002 67.6 2.6 64.7 1.0
S34-6 1115 717 1.56 0.0483 0.0024 0.0678 0.0035 0.0102 0.0002 66.6 3.3 65.4 1.0
S34-7 350 290 1.21 0.0497 0.0041 0.0695 0.0054 0.0102 0.0002 68.2 5.2 65.4 1.4
S34-8 299 308 0.97 0.0471 0.0041 0.0625 0.0054 0.0098 0.0002 61.6 5.2 63.2 1.3
S34-9 278 269 1.03 0.0530 0.0051 0.0706 0.0066 0.0098 0.0002 69.3 6.3 63.0 1.2
S34-10 234 259 0.90 0.0760 0.0068 0.1093 0.0112 0.0101 0.0003 105.3 10.2 64.5 1.7
S34-11 250 263 0.95 0.0486 0.0039 0.0695 0.0060 0.0101 0.0002 68.2 5.7 64.9 1.3
S34-12 300 292 1.03 0.0539 0.0042 0.0744 0.0059 0.0101 0.0002 72.9 5.5 64.7 1.2
S34-13 514 394 1.30 0.0513 0.0039 0.0686 0.0047 0.0100 0.0002 67.4 4.4 64.1 1.4
S34-14 172 199 0.86 0.0556 0.0047 0.0772 0.0069 0.0101 0.0003 75.5 6.5 64.9 1.8
S34-15 322 314 1.02 0.0552 0.0063 0.0724 0.0076 0.0098 0.0002 71.0 7.2 62.6 1.5
S34-16 638 455 1.40 0.0544 0.0033 0.0732 0.0043 0.0098 0.0002 71.8 4.1 63.1 1.1
S34-17 175 217 0.81 0.0591 0.0072 0.0797 0.0089 0.0102 0.0002 77.9 8.3 65.4 1.5
S34-18 259 252 1.03 0.0503 0.0059 0.0674 0.0075 0.0102 0.0003 66.2 7.1 65.7 2.1
S34-19 115 152 0.76 0.0577 0.0076 0.0743 0.0091 0.0100 0.0003 72.7 8.6 64.2 2.1

12
Z. Ye et al. Ore Geology Reviews 143 (2022) 104777

Fig. 10. Concordia diagrams of zircon analyses from dacite porphyry (S30, S31, S32) and Yarabamba granodiorite (S34).

13
Z. Ye et al. Ore Geology Reviews 143 (2022) 104777

Table 3
Re-Os isotopic data for molybdenites from Don Javier deposit.
187 187
Sample No. Drill hole Depth (m) Weight (g) Re (ng/g) Normal Os (ng/g) Re (ng/g) Os (ng/g) Age (Ma)
Measured 2σ Measured 2σ Measured 2σ Measured 2σ Measured 2σ

S09 DJ-012 88.8 0.02500 20,141 150 0.0010 0.0319 12,659 94 12.73 0.15 60.3 1.0
S10 DJ-012 216 0.01147 54,900 504 0.0021 0.2721 34,506 317 34.80 0.64 60.5 1.4
S08 DJ-041 1002 0.00522 50,645 346 0.0047 0.0616 31,831 218 31.61 0.20 59.6 0.8
S15 DJ-041 1017.3 0.02560 267,873 7353 0.0009 0.1118 168,363 4622 127.5 0.9 45.4 1.4
S12 DJ-041 1018 0.02527 271,959 9347 0.0010 0.0517 170,932 5875 126.5 1.0 44.4 1.6

6.2. Molybdenite Re-Os dating
The Re-Os isotope analyses were carried out at the Re-Os Laboratory
of the National Research Center of Geoanalysis, Chinese Academy of
Geological Sciences. Sample preparation, chemical separation, and
analytical procedures followed those described in previous studies (Du
et al., 2004; Markey et al., 1998; Shirey and Walker, 1995). The
analytical reliability was tested by analyses of the Certified Reference
Material JDC standard with the formal name GBW04436 (Du et al, 2004;
Stein et al., 1997).
7. Results
7.1. Zircon U-Pb geochronology
Zircon crystals from the inter-mineralization dacite porphyry (sam­
ples S30, S31, and S32) exhibit similar characteristics. They are trans­
parent and colorless, ranging in length from 30 to 400 μm, with an
elongation ratio of 1:1 to 7:1. Zircons from the Yarabamba granodiorite
(S34) are also colorless, but some are darker under the microscope,
ranging in length from 25 to 110 μm, with an elongation ratio of 1:1 to
4:1. The CL images show that most grains have oscillatory concentric
zoning (Fig. 9), which is indicative of a magmatic origin. All analyses
were conducted on the rims of the zircon grains.
The results are presented in Table 2. Concordia diagrams and
weighted mean plots are shown in Fig. 10. The errors in both diagrams
are plotted as 2σ. The 206Pb/238U ages were chosen as preferred ages for
all four samples to calculate the weighted mean age. The ranges of
206
Pb/238U ages obtained from samples S30, S31, S32, and S34 are 61.3
± 1.4 to 57.5 ± 1.6 Ma, 61.6 ± 2.3 to 57.6 ± 1.4 Ma, 61.4 ± 1.9 to 57.7
± 1.8 Ma and 66.6 ± 1.5 to 62.6 ± 1.5 Ma, respectively. Their calculated
weighted mean ages are 59.9 ± 0.4 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 0.3), 59.5 ± 0.3 Ma
(2σ, MSWD = 0.7), 59.6 ± 0.3 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 0.3) and 64.6 ± 0.3 Ma
(2σ, MSWD = 0.6), respectively.
These results are consistent with field observations of the four sam­
ples, with the dacite porphyry (samples 30, 31, and 32) yielding ages of
59.5 ± 0.3 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 0.7) to 59.9 ± 0.4 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 0.3),
and the early granodiorite host rock (sample 34) yielding an age of 64.6
± 0.3 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 0.6).
7.2. Molybdenite Re-Os geochronology
The Re-Os data for the five molybdenite samples are presented in
Table 3. The sample weights range from 5.22 mg to 25.60 mg. Two
groups of ages were obtained from the five samples. Samples S08, S09,
and S10 yield the first group of Re-Os ages of 59.6 ± 0.8 Ma, 60.3 ± 1.0
Ma, and 60.5 ± 1.4 Ma, respectively, with a weighted mean age of 60.0
± 0.3 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 0.9). The Re and 187Os concentrations of mo­
lybdenites range from 20.1 ppm to 54.9 ppm and 12.73 ppb to 34.8 ppb,
respectively.
Samples S12 and S15 yield the second group of Re-Os ages of 44.42
± 1.6 Ma and 45.44 ± 1.4 Ma, respectively, with a weighted mean age of
45.0 ± 0.5 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 0.9). The Re and 187Os contents of mo­
lybdenites range from 267.9 ppm to 272.0 ppm and 126.5 ppb to 127.5
ppb, respectively. The measured common Os in these molybdenites
ranges from 0.001 ppb to 0.0047 ppb, which is insignificant relative to
radiogenic Os.
8. Discussion
8.1. Evolution of the Don Javier deposit
The Don Javier deposit displays typical attributes of porphyry Cu-Mo
deposits in the Andean copper belts, including types of hydrothermal
alteration, veinlet classes, and mineralization features. A weighted mean
U-Pb age of 64.6 ± 0.3 (2σ, MSWD = 0.6) Ma was obtained for the
Yarabamba granodiorite, and ages of 59.5 ± 0.3 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 0.7)
to 59.9 ± 0.4 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 0.3) were determined for the inter-
mineralization dacite porphyry intrusions. The dacite porphyry ages
are ~ 5 Myr younger than the Yarabamba granodiorite and overlap
within the margins of error with the Re-Os age of 60.0 ± 0.3 Ma (2σ,
MSWD = 0.9) for the mineralization, suggesting a common magmatic-
hydrothermal event of dacite porphyry emplacement and associated
Cu-Mo mineralization. Thus, we interpret the U-Pb age of 64.6 ± 0.3 Ma
as that of the host rock granodiorite, the U-Pb age of 59.9 ± 0.4 Ma to
59.5 ± 0.3 Ma for inter-mineralization porphyry emplacement, and the
Re-Os age of 60.0 ± 0.3 Ma for the mineralization. The mineralization
and porphyritic magmatism at Don Javier approximately correspond to
the Incaic I (59–55 Ma) magmatic pulse (Benavides-Cáceres, 1999).
Furthermore, two other molybdenite Re-Os weighted ages of 45.4 ±
1.4 Ma and 44.4 ± 1.6 Ma were detected in the deep mineralization
zone. These younger ages correspond to the later Incaic II (43–42 Ma)
magmatic pulse (Benavides-Cáceres, 1999). However, corresponding
contemporaneous porphyries are not identified, and those two periods
of molybdenite formation cannot be strictly related to causative mag­
matism (Fig. 7c-d). These two samples are spatially near to the sample
S08 (59.6 ± 0.8 Ma). No younger molybdenite is detected in the shallow
zone, while old molybdenites are detected in the deeper and shallower
zones (Fig. 5b). We consider the Paleocene mineralization (~60 Ma) to
be widespread at Don Javier, and limited Eocene hydrothermal activity
(~45 Ma) might partly affect the deposit.
Based on the above geological observations, geochronology results
and regional geological information, we summarize the evolution of the
Don Javier deposit as follows, as illustrated in Fig. 11.
The Yarabamba granodiorite was emplaced at approximately 64 Ma
into Mesozoic volcanic and sedimentary country rocks around Don
Javier (Fig. 11a). The later compressive magmatic pulse in the Incaic I
tectonic phase (59–55 Ma) correlates with the intrusion of dacite por­
phyries at Don Javier associated with Cu-Mo porphyry mineralization
and occurred approximately 5 Myr (ca. 60 Ma) after the emplacement of

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Z. Ye et al. Ore Geology Reviews 143 (2022) 104777

44 Pre-mineral intrusion
Porphyry
46 Alteration
Mineralization
Sericite Ar-Ar
48 Zircon U-Pb
Molibdenite Re-Os
50

52

54

56

58

Age (Ma)
60

62

64

66

68
A B C D E F AB C D E F A B C D E F A B C D E F G H I A B C D E
70
Cerro Verde- Don Javier Cuajone Quellaveco Toquepala
Santa Rosa (this study)

Fig. 12. Summary of isotopic ages from Cerro Verde-Santa Rosa, Don Javier,
Cuajone, Quellaveco, and Toquepala (Clark et al, 1990; Mukasa, 1986; Nath­
wani et al, 2021; Quang et al., 2003; Sillitoe and Mortensen, 2010; Simmons et
al, 2013; Zweng and Clark, 1995). Errors are shown at 2σ levels. The ages used
are listed in Table 4.

the Yarabamba granodiorite plutons (Fig. 11b). The porphyry

emplacement and veinlet formation were controlled by NNW-striking
structures ranging from N30◦ E to N15◦ E.
Approximately 15 Myr after the formation of the Don Javier deposit
(ca. 45 Ma), approximately during the Incaic II tectonic phase (43–42
Ma), the mineralized center was uplifted to a shallow level. A younger
magmatic-hydrothermal pulse during this time might have partly
overprinted the previous hydrothermal system and reset the original Re-
Os age (Fig. 11c).
Once hydrothermal activity ceased, the deposit continued to be un­
roofed (Fig. 11d). Most overlying rocks have been eroded, but a part of
the Jurassic Labra member sandstone remains in the eastern part of the
deposit, indicating that the mineralized system was preserved for a long
time by the surrounding Yarabamba pluton and was exposed late.
Hence, there was not enough time to develop an extensive supergene
oxide zone at Don Javier.

8.2. Timing of magmatism and mineralization in the Paleocene-early

Eocene Cu belt

A summary of isotopic ages in the Paleocene-early Eocene copper

Fig. 11. Evolutionary scheme for the Don Javier porphyry Cu-Mo deposit: a.
Emplacement of Yarabamba granodiorite and erosion of the covered Precam­
brian metamorphic basement, Cretaceous volcanic rocks, and sediments. b.
Continued erosion, emplacement of dacite porphyry intrusions and associated
porphyry Cu system in the Incaic I tectonic phase, probably reverse motion on
the NNW-striking fault zone. c. Continued erosion, probably superimposition of
Eocene magmatic hydrothermal activity in the Incaic II tectonic phase. d. Uplift
and unroofing of the deposit, supergene weathering, and probably normal
motion on the late sinistral faults.
belt of southern Peru is presented in Fig. 12 and Table 4. Previous work
showed that the pre-mineralization Yarabamba Superunit of the Coastal
Batholith was emplaced in the Late Cretaceous to Eocene, with U-Pb
ages of ca. 67–59 Ma (Mukasa, 1986; Nathwani et al., 2021; Sillitoe and
Mortensen, 2010; Simmons et al, 2013; Fig. 12; Table 4). The U-Pb age
of 64.6 ± 0.3 Ma for the Yarabamba granodiorite plutons at Don Javier is
consistent with this time interval. The zircon U-Pb ages of
mineralization-related porphyry intrusions in this region are ca. 61–53
Ma (Mukasa, 1986; Nathwani et al, 2021; Sillitoe and Mortensen, 2010;
Simmons et al, 2013; Fig. 12; Table 4), which overlaps with the age of
porphyry intrusions at Don Javier (59.9 ± 0.4 Ma to 59.5 ± 0.3 Ma).
These results also indicate that long-lived precursor batholithic mag­
matism existed before the formation of the porphyry Cu system in the
Andes (Sillitoe, 2010).

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Z. Ye et al. Ore Geology Reviews 143 (2022) 104777

Table 4
Summary of radiometric ages from Cerro Verde-Santa Rosa, Don Javier, Cuajone, Quellaveco, and Toquepala deposits.
Deposit No. Age type Age Error Method mineral Refference

Cerro Verde A Yarabamba granodiorite 67.2 1 U-Pb Zircon Mukasa, 1986

Cerro Verde B Yarabamba granodiorite 62.1 1 U-Pb Zircon Mukasa, 1986
Cerro Verde C Alteration 62.0 1.1 Ar-Ar Sericite Quang et al., 2003
Cerro Verde D Alteration 61.8 0.7 Ar-Ar Sericite Quang et al., 2003
Cerro Verde E Porphyry 61.0 1 U-Pb Zircon Mukasa, 1986
Santa Rosa F Alteration 62.2 2.9 Ar-Ar Sericite Quang et al., 2003
Don Javier A Yarabamba granodiorite 64.6 0.3 U-Pb Zircon this study
Don Javier B Mineralization 60.0 0.3 Re-Os Molibdenite this study
Don Javier C Mineralization 45.0 0.5 Re-Os Molibdenite this study
Don Javier D Dacite porphyry 59.9 0.4 U-Pb Zircon this study
Don Javier E Dacite porphyry 59.6 0.3 U-Pb Zircon this study
Don Javier F Dacite porphyry 59.5 0.3 U-Pb Zircon this study
Cuajone A Regional granodiorite 65.1 0.8 U-Pb Zircon Simmons et al., 2013
Cuajone B Premineral diorite 64.2 0.9 U-Pb Zircon Simmons et al., 2013
Cuajone C BLP porphyry 56.2 0.7 U-Pb Zircon Simmons et al., 2013
Cuajone D LP1 porphyry 55.6 0.6 U-Pb Zircon Simmons et al., 2013
Cuajone E LP3 porphyry 53.5 0.5 U-Pb Zircon Simmons et al., 2013
Cuajone F Alteration 52.8 1 Ar-Ar Sericite Clark et al., 1990
Quellaveco A Yarabamba monzonite 67.2 0.79 U-Pb Zircon Nathwani et al., 2021
Quellaveco B Premineral granodiorite 59.5 0.24 U-Pb Zircon Sillitoe and Mortensen, 2010
Quellaveco C Early porphyry 58.4 0.53 U-Pb Zircon Sillitoe and Mortensen, 2010
Quellaveco D Intermineral porphyry 55.9 0.31 U-Pb Zircon Sillitoe and Mortensen, 2010
Quellaveco E Late porphyry 55.5 0.33 U-Pb Zircon Nathwani et al., 2021
Quellaveco F Intermineral monzonite porphyry 54.9 0.2 U-Pb Zircon Nathwani et al., 2021
Quellaveco G Early porphyry 54.4 0.21 U-Pb Zircon Nathwani et al., 2021
Quellaveco H Latemineral porphyry 54.4 0.63 U-Pb Zircon Sillitoe and Mortensen, 2010
Quellaveco I Alteration 54.3 2 Ar-Ar Sericite A.H. Clark, 2003 (writ. Comm)
Toquepala A Regional diorite 61.4 0.8 U-Pb Zircon Simmons et al., 2013
Toquepala B Dacite porphyry 56.8 0.6 U-Pb Zircon Simmons et al., 2013
Toquepala C Dacite agglomerate 56.1 0.4 U-Pb Zircon Simmons et al., 2013
Toquepala D Latite porphyry 54.3 0.6 U-Pb Zircon Simmons et al., 2013
Toquepala E Alteration 56.1 1 Ar-Ar Sericite Zweng and Clark, 1995

Porphyry Cu mineralization in the belt began in the Paleocene at
approximately 63–62 Ma and continued until ~ 52 Ma (Clark et al,
1990; Quang et al, 2003; Sillitoe and Perelló, 2005; Simmons et al, 2013;
Zweng and Clark., 1995; Fig. 12; Table 4). At Don Javier, the mineral­
ization age of 60.0 ± 0.3 Ma overlaps with the inter-mineralization
dacite porphyry ages within the 2σ uncertainty and is slightly younger
(~2 Myr) than the age of the neighboring Cerro Verde-Santa Rosa de­
posits (~62 Ma; Quang et al, 2003; Fig. 12). The ages of the porphyry
deposits in the southeastern Peruvian Paleocene-early Eocene belt seem
to be ~ 5–7 Myr younger than those in the northwestern part (Fig. 12).
Although more evidence is needed to reveal the formation time of the
younger molybdenite, we preliminarily interpret it to be a product of the
episodic magmatic activity that accompanied arc migration to the
northeast in southern Peru.
8.3. Regional exploration implications
Based on recent exploration successes, planning exploration pro­
grams to discover new deposits in mature and well-endowed copper
belts is a promising next step (Sillitoe, 2010). The discovery of the Don
Javier porphyry deposit twelve years ago confirms the metallogenic
potential of the Paleocene-early Eocene Cu belt of southwestern Peru
and emphasizes that traditional exploration methods, such as geologic
mapping, geophysical surveys and timely drilling tests, are still effective.
In the Peruvian geological map of the Puquina quadrangle
(Avendaño and Fernández, 2000), a 3 km2 N45◦ E-striking quartz-
tourmaline breccia body was mapped, which corresponds to the
location of the subsequently discovered Don Javier deposit. This cor­
respondence confirms that tourmaline breccias can be closely related to
porphyry deposits, and these breccias have been used as an indicator of
concealed economic Cu deposits in Andean porphyry belts (Baksheev
et al., 2012; Dill et al., 2012; Frikken et al., 2005; Quang et al., 2003;
Sillitoe and Sawkins, 1971; Sillitoe, 1973; Spencer et al., 2015; Warnaars
et al., 1985).
The Cerro Verde-Santa Rosa, Cerro Negro, and Don Javier deposits
constitute a metallogenic district with aligned porphyry deposits of
similar age and characteristics (Fig. 13), parallel to the subduction
trench along the Paleocene-early Eocene porphyry Cu belt. The Don
Javier deposit is located at 3000 m a.s.l., approximately 300 m higher in
elevation than the neighboring Cerro Verde-Santa Rosa deposits.
Nevertheless, the main higher-grade mineralization zone at Don Javier
is 300 m below the present surface, suggesting that these deposits might
have all formed at a similar depth. Additional undetected porphyry
systems presumably might exist between these known deposits, which
has been partly confirmed by the exploration of other prospects, such as
Cercana (Fig. 13), where historical drilling results revealed porphyry-
style hydrothermal alteration and modest Cu-Mo mineralization.
9. Conclusions
The Don Javier porphyry Cu-Mo deposit is located in the Paleocene-
early Eocene porphyry copper belt of southern Peru. The deposit is
genetically related to dacite porphyry intrusions that were emplaced
along the Incapuqio fault system concurrently with compression and

16
Z. Ye et al.
Fig. 13. Schematic cross section through the Cerro Verde-Santa Rosa, Cerro Negro, and Don Javier porphyry Cu-Mo deposits, southern Peru, including the Cercana
prospect. The mineralization extent of porphyry Cu-Mo deposits is shown schematically.
concomitant uplift in the late Paleocene (59.9 ± 0.4 Ma to 59.5 ± 0.3
Ma), corresponding to the Incaic I phase (Benavides-Cáceres, 1999). A
telescoped sequence of alteration zones, from early potassic to late
sericitic alteration with various types of veinlets and hydrothermal
breccias, is broadly centered on the porphyry intrusions and hosts the
main Cu-Mo mineralization.
The Re-Os dating of mineralization (60.0 ± 0.3 Ma) confirms that the
deposit is contemporaneous with regional Paleocene porphyry Cu-Mo
deposits as well as with other porphyry Cu clusters or alignments
extending along the length of the Central Andes from southern Peru into
northern Chile. A younger Re-Os age of 45.0 ± 0.5 Ma indicates that the
mineralization may have been overprinted by late magmatic-
hydrothermal activity.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial
interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence
the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgments
This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of
China (No. 41820104010) and the China Geological Survey (No.
DD20190448). The careful reviews of Federico Cernuschi and the other
anonymous reviewer substantially improved the quality of this manu­
script, and their efforts are sincerely acknowledged. We thank Wen-Jun
Hu, Juan Usca, Oswaldo Nieto, Leonardo Tevez and all our colleagues at
17
Ore Geology Reviews 143 (2022) 104777
Junefield Group. We would particularly like to thank César E. Vidal and
Alberto Manrique for their constructive comments on the early version
of this manuscript.
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