Mineral. Deposita (Berl.

) 10, 195--204 (1975)

© by Springer-Verlag 1975

Hydrothermally Altered and (Copper) Mineralized Porphyritic

Intrusions in the Serbo-Macedonian Massif (Greece)
Herrn Prof. D r . - I n g . habil. Hermann Borchert
z u m 70. G e b u r t s t a g a m 2. F e b r u a r 1975 gewidmet

F. KOCKEL, H. MOLLAT, and H. GUNDLACH

Hannover, F.R.G.
Within the pre-alpidic consolidated Serbo-Macedonian Massif several paleo-
gene hydrothermally altered porphyritic stocks have been found and invest-
igated. The subvolcanic activity was ascertained to be confined to three main
centers. Hydrothermal alterations within the stocks and as haloes in the
surrounding country rock are widespread, the phyllic and the propylitic
alteration facies being predominant, whereas the potassic facies seems to be
lacking. Geochemical investigations in the Krousia Mountains and in the
Eastern Chalkidiki traced in some of the altered stocks and alteration haloes a
sulfide mineralization of porphyry copper type with pyrite, chalcopyrite,
galena, sphalerite and some gold. The economic value of this metallogenic
province is not yet fully established.

Introduction intrusions lie within the crystalline Serbo-

In the Greek part of the Serbo-Macedonian
Massif, a prealpidic consolidated block East
of the Vardar zone, 30 major young, post-
metamorphic intermediate and acid intrusions
and subvolcanic stocks have been localized and
investigated through the combined activities
of the Federal Geological Survey of Germany
and the National Greek Institute for Geology
and Mining Research (cf. reports by ANTONI-
ADIS et aL 1971, 1972; MELmONIS 1972).
The investigations of these partly porphyritic
intrusions have been stimulated by the fact,
that some of them host interesting mineraliza-
tions of the porphyry coppertype (ZAcHOS1963).
Regional Setting and Petrology
The main centers of the intrusive stocks are
shown in fig. 1. They concentrate
a) in the Eastern Chalkidiki Peninsula,
b) in the Kerdilion- and Vertiskos Mountains,
c) in the Krousia Mountains South of the
Bulgarian and Jugoslavian frontier.
With only a few exceptions all the young
Macedonian Massif and avoid the adjacent
mesozoic Vardar zone. They are in respect of
regional position, petrology and age comparable
with those described by IVANOVand ZIDAROV
(1968) in SW-Bulgaria.
In the Eastern Chalkidiki (fig. 2) about 60
stocks and major dykes crosscutting the cry-
stalline schists are arranged in a NNE-SSW-
striking belt, varying from less than 10 m to
more than 5 km in diameter. None of the
intrusive bodies have been affected by regional
metamorphism, and none show any relationship
to the regional schistosity. Thus contrary to
the opinion of NlcocAou (1960) they are
clearly discernable from the pre- to synorogenic
granitoid intrusions in the neighbourhood,
which are affected by the regional metamor-
phism and schistosity.
Along the axis of the belt the most basic rocks
occur, i.e. pigeonite-hornblende-biotite diorite
and hornblende-biotite diorite porphyries.
Towards the flanks the more acid rocks prevail,
mainly hornblende-biotite- and biotite quartz-
diorite porphyries as well as granodiorite por-
phyries. All transitions between granitic and
196 F. KOCKEL, t-I. MOLLAT, and H. GUNDLACH

Tertiary sediments
Upper pa/eozofc and mesozoic
cover (,,Vardar Zone")
Serbo-macedonian Massif

Rila-Rhodope Massif

Tertiary ~gneous rocks

0i i
50 k m

. . . . . . o .

Gulf

Stroto~i

__, ~ ! i i o.~ : & ! . .~. !k - - - - - x ~ - ' : ~

.:::!:v.::::
..: ......

Fig. 1. T h e s o u t h e r n part of the Serbo-Macedonian Massif and its posttectonic intrusions

Hydrothermally Altered and (Copper) Mineralized Porphyritic Intrusions
t -,
I
I
I Stro~
ochorien._, i
/
) ~
\ ~ - - ~ Pipebreccb
.~.-,_..177 ..-........!
.. . #............
.. ...,...: ,,...]
! 0
\ \
\
\
\
Fig. 2. Posttectonic intrusions in the Eastern Chalkidiki
porphyritic texture occur. Pipe breccias with
porphyritic and crystalline components and
tuffaceous matrix have been found.
East of the belt of porphyritic intrusions, two
more extensive granitoidic bodies occur, which
for various reasons have to be regarded as
contemporaneous to the porphyries. North of
Stratoni a biotite-hornblende granodiorite with
dioritic parts occurs (see NlcoLaou 1960),
West of lerissos a biotite (hornblende)-granite
has long been known. Both batholites are
characterized by a rather homogenous internal
structure and by a wide aureole of aplitic dyke
swarms. Xenoliths of porphyritic rocks have
been found in the Stratoni granodiorite and
granitic components within the pipe breccias.
197
~ I
• &eaxene-bJ>h?e-ehbl-blahTe-4arffe
Phaena-quartzdbrileporpkjrj
~ Apliticvein swarm
y:~.~C) Hydrolhermdaltemflcnofintrus/ves
"~;-.~ andcrysta//inebasemenr
Cu OeochernicalCu-aflome/,j/
5/~m
For the petrological classification of the rock~
in the Eastern Chalkidiki compare the quartz-
alkalifeldspar-plagioclase diagram in fig. 3,
following STP,~CKEISEN 1974. Based on the
modal composition, the rocks have to be plotted
in the monzogranite, granodiorite, tonalite,
quartz monzodiorite, quartz diorite and diorite
field.
In the Vertiskos and Kerdilion Mountains
only 4 post-tectonic intrusions have been
located - 2 biotite-hornblende diorite bodies
and 2 very small granitic dykes. Porphyritic
rocks are entirely lacking.
In the Krousia Mountains altogether 18
predominantly porphyritic stocks have been
investigated, a further two have been found in
 198 F. KOCKEL,H. MOLLAT,and H. GUNDLACtt

ces in petrochemical composition North and

South of the Bulgarian-Greek border.
9O
The Niggli-diagrams (fig. 4a-d) show a typical
3b Monzegronite
Granoalortte
pacific grouping, in which the more basic
5 To~olit e
9" Quartz monzodior~ members of the suite are lacking (cf. BuRRI
Io* Quartz diorife
I0 Diorite and NmGLI 1945) and correspond very well
60
with the plottings of the volcanic rocks from
• lnlrusives the Greek islands by DAvis (1957). Following
Q Porphyries
the chemical classification proposed by IRVlNE
and BAI~AGAR (1971) the suite in the Serbo-
Macedonian Massif is a typical by calc-alkaline
20 one, with " c o m m o n " or potassium rich
members (fig. 4e-g).
--'-.S

Fig. 3. Some plutonites and porphyrites of the
Eastern Chalkidiki in the Quartz-alkali-feldspar- the porphyries are regarded to be of Paleogene
plagioclase diagram (STRECKEISeN1974)
the Kerkini Mountains (P. ANTONIAIXS1974)1).
The stocks occur in a wide zone ranging from
the Southern end of Lake Doirani in the N N W
to the Strimon basin in the ESE (comp.
M~LIDONIS 1973). Hornblende-diorite por-
phyries, biotite quartz-diorite porphyries and
biotite granodiorite porphyries prevail, rocks
with granitoid texture are less abundant. Pipe
breccias with tuffaceous matrix are known. As
in the Chalkidiki the stocks and dykes crosscut
the regional schistosity and are not affected by
regional metamorphism.
Petrochemistry
In fig. 4 all petrochemical data available includ-
ing those published by IVANOV and ZII)ARov
1968 from SW-Bulgaria and by NII(OI~AOtJ
1960 from Stratoni have been plotted. The
plottings dearly show no fundamental differen-
i Oral communication.
Age
The exact age of the intrusions in the Serbo-
Macedonian Massif is not known. In Bulgaria
age as they crosscut Priabonian sediments.
The granitoid intrusions of the so-called Pirin
type regionally connected to them are, neverthe-
less, supposed to be of Laramic age, i.e. upper-
most cretaceous to Lowermost Tertiary
(ZAGoaCI~IEVet al. 1971).
In Greece the intrusions are at least younger
than the last regional metamorphism and
orogeny which affected the Serbo-Macedonian
Massif in Midjurassic times and the innermost
Vardar Zone at the end of the Lower Cretacious,
and they are older than the Late Miocene to
Pliocene fillings of the intramontane basins.
Radiometric K / A t biotite dating carried out
on the Stratoni granodiorite furnished a model
age of 29,6 mio y. (PAPADAKIS1971), which
might correspond with the geological age of
the intrusion. Nevertheless the Strimonikon
occurrence (KoCKEL and Wm~:ri-I~e, 1968) and
the Sitsi Kamen occurrence (MARATOS 1967),
which is accompanied by ignimbrites and
effusive nappes, seem to be younger and may be
contemporaneous with the plio-pleistocene
occurrence of Ko~uh in SW-Bulgaria (PETROV
1960).

Fig. 4. Petrochemical classification of the posttectonic intrusions in the Serbo-Macedonian Massif.

a) QLM-Diagram after BuR•I and NIGGLI 1945; b) Kp-Cal-Ne-Diagram after BtJRRI and NIGGLI 1945;
C) normative plagioclase composition and K-feldspar-plagioclase ratio (after BuRRI and NIGGLI 1945);
d) variation diagram fm, c, al, and ale versus si (after BuRRI and NmGLI 1945); e) AFM-diagram (A ~Na2
O--K~O; F=FeO--O, 8998 F%Oa; M = M g O in wt %) (boundary after IRVlN~ and BARAGA~ 1971);
f) An-Ab-Or-diagram (boundaries after IRvnq~ and BA*tAGAR1971); g) Alkalies-silica diagram (dividing
line after IRVlN~ and BARAGAR1971). >
a) O b) Kp

o E-Chalkidiki, Porphyries
• E'Cholkidiki, Infrusiyes
+ Kerdilllon
- Besikion
= SW-Bulgaria

H L Ne ~I Qs 03
co/

c) d)
t o,5 0,9 K/'F
AntO

~2
3C 7:3

5~ .5:5

7~
Z8
9(
¥~"Plag 2do 3bO

e) F f)
An

A H Ab Or"

g)
/
ALCALINE / SUBALCALINE

• ++
A
B
r~ /' - o = =o ee

?,
• = A
o¢
.2" o ,o
/ c • •

+ ++1/
/
50 55 eO 65 ?S %

SIO z
 200
Hydrothermal Alterations
Many of the porphyritic stocks and dykes, the
pipe breccias and parts of the surrounding
crystalline country rock, are intensely altered
by hydrothermal activity, whereas the granitoid
bodies with the exception of the Stratoni
granodiorite and the Pirin type granite of
Bresnitsa in SW-Bulgaria (ZAcoRCHEV et al.
1971) are generally unaltered. Following the
classification of LOW~LL and GUILBel~T (1970)
their predominant alteration facies is the
"phyllic" facies (paragenesis of newly formed
minerals: quartz, sericite, hydromica, pyrite,
chalkopyrite). Limonite-filled fissures, forming
a dense network in the porphyritic stocks are
very characteristic of this alteration facies. In
the peripheral parts of the alteration haloes
within the country rock, the "propylitic"
facies is dominant (paragenesis: quartz, caoli-
nite/montmorillonite, chlorite, epidote, carbon-
nate, pyrite, galena, and sphalerite). In no case
has the innermost "potassic" alteration facies
been observed.
The alteration haloes in the Eastern Chalkidiki
are indicated in fig. 2. No alteration occurs in
the Vertiskos and Kerdillion Mountains. In the
Krousia Mountains (Table 2) 15 of the investi-
gated stocks show signs of alteration and only
in two cases (Pontokerassia and Jerakario)
extensive alteration haloes in the country rock
occur.
Visible Mineralization
In all the altered stocks and haloes, and even
in some of the unaltered bodies a marked
pyrite concentration can be observed, which in
some cases lead to the staking of claims. Visible
copper mineralization - mainly azurite and
malachite - is restricted to Skouries in the
E-Chalkidiki and Vathi, Jerakario and Ponto-
kerassia in the Krousia Mountains. Copper also
occurs absorbed in the limonite of the fissure-
filling.
At Skouries (E-Chalkidiki) in boreholes and
galleries chalkopyrite and a considerable gold-
content have been traced besides pyrite. At
Fisoka, a borehole in the center of the altered
stock showed a fissure-bound and disseminated
pyrite mineralization, with some chalkopyrite,
chalcosite and some gold. A borehole at the
F. KOCKEL,H. MOLl.AT,and H. GUNDLACH
margin of the alteration halo revealed fissure-
bound galena and sphalerite and pyrite. At
Pontokerassia drillholes have traced a consider-
able amount of chalcopyrite.
It is worthy of note, that in the vicinity of the
porphyry districts of the E-Chalkidiki and of
Pontokerassia numerous occurrences and de-
posits of vein-type massif mixed sulfides are
known, forming an irregular ring around the
copper-containing porphyries. It is not yet
clear, if these vein-deposits have a genetic or
temporal relation to the copper mineralization
in the porphyritic stocks.
Geochemical Prospecting
Based on the results of a regional geological
investigation, a geochemical soil and hardrock
sampling program was drafted, limited to the
now known altered porphyritic stocks and
alteration haloes. Thus a time-consuming
strategical stream sediment sampling program
was rendered unnecessary.
Samples were taken at intervals of 20 m along
lines selected according to accessibility (follow-
ing ways, foot-paths, creeks, mountain ridges
etc.). At each sampling point, as far as possible,
two samples were taken: one hard rock sample
and one soil sample. The hard rocks samples
were not taken at random, but preferring those,
containing limonitic fissure fillings in order to
trace the copper absorbed by the limonite. Thus
any trace of mineralization should have been
detected, even at the risk of somewhat too high
results of analyses. The soil samples were
collected from the B-horizon, where it could be
distinguished. If the soil covering was too thin,
soil samples were not taken. If the soil covering
was too thick, hard rock samples were dis-
pensed with.
The samples were treated in the usual way and
the - - 8 0 mesh fraction analysed with an E E L
140 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
installed in a provisional laboratory for Cu,
and partly for Zn, Pb and Ni. Evaluation of
geochemical data was accomplished by graphical
method (LEPELTIER 1969). All data from the
Krousia Mountains and the Eastern Chalkidiki
respectively (the latter split into two groups,
according to the different petrology of the
intrusions) have been treated as homogeneous.
Thus regional background and threshold
Hydrothermally Altered and (Copper) Mineralized Porphyritic Intrusions 201

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202 F. K[OCKEL,H. MOLLAT,and H. GUNDLACH

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Hydrothermally Altered and (Copper) Mineralized Porphyritic Intrusions
values, valid only for the alteration haloes and
the stocks themselves have been calculated
(see Tables 1 and 2).
In the Eastern Chalkidiki several well defined
Cu-anomalies have been traced in the Fisoka-
Dilofon-Alatina area, the most prominent of
which has a diameter of 250 m. The much
larger alteration zone comprising the Central
Tsikara diorite porphyry stock and its surround-
ings have been proved to contain no significant
Cu-enrichments.
In the Krousia Mountains, more prominent
Cu-anomalies have been found near Ponto-
kerassia, at Jerakario (see fig. 5) and Mono-
lithi (see Table 2), of which the Pontokerassia
anomaly seems to be the most interesting one.
Economic Aspects
Up to the present no detailed follow-up work
has been carried out in the geochemical anom-
alies. In the Fisoka-Alatina area IP-measure-
ments by OIKONO~aOU (National Greek In-
stitute for Geology and Mining Research) have
furnished prominent geophysical anomalies as
well in the geochemical anomaly as in a marginal
Fig. 5. Copper anomaly within the alteration halo of Jerakario
203
position along the North-South-striking fault
bordering the alteration halo towards the East.
3 drill-holes, 2 spudded in the very center of
the geochemical anomaly and one in the
Eastern marginal part of the halo proved
primary sulfide mineralization, mainly fissure-
bound, but also of disseminated character.
Pyrite is the main ore mineral, accompanied by
some chalkopyrite and chalcosite, whereas in
the marginal borehole galena and sphalerite
prevail. No proper investigations of the cores
have so far been carried out by the company
in charge of the drilling, but the average
Cu-content is said to be in the range of 0,1 °/o
with a considerable amount of gold.
In the Pontokerassia area neither geophysical
investigations nor an extension of the geochem-
ical sampling program has been carried out.
6 shallow drill-holes are said to have proved an
average of 0,3% Cu with maximum values
of 0,6%. No data on the contents of other
elements are available. Nevertheless it is
assumed by the authors, that the gold content
in the placer deposits of the Gallikos river
might stem from the Pontokerassia porphyry
copper occurrence which lies entirely within
the catchment area of this river.
.- Boundary of alteration
/ hQtoe
Porphyry stock with
sitification
J Line of sampling
~~ ",1000ppm Cu in soil
• 250 ppm Cu in soil
I~ ~b{A=120 B=80ppm Cu]
A Visible Cu- minerali-
zation
geologicat mopping :
K, Ioonnidis
204 F. KOCKEL et aL : Hydrothermally Altered and (Copper) Mineralized Porphyritic Intrusions
The promising Jerakario area has not yet been
investigated.
Thus as a result of the geological and geochem-
ical survey additional to the long k n o w n
Skouries deposit in Eastern Chalkidiki and a
lead indication N o r t h of Stratoni, a further
four p o r p h y r y copper occurrences have been
f o u n d in p o r p h y r i t i c stocks in the Serbo-
Macedonian Massif. T h e y are all rather small
in extension and, so far proved, to be of a low
grade type. Still more investigations, especially
geochemical follow up work, [[P-measurements,
and more extensive d i a m o n d drilling are
requires to draw definite conclusions on the
economic value of this p o r p h y r y copper
province.
References
ANTONIADIS, P., GUNDLACH, H., IOANNIDIS, I~.,
KOCKEL, F., MITSAKI, V., MOLLAT, H.,
WALTHER, H. W. : Prospektion auf Kupfer in
Porphyritst6cken der 6stlichen Chalkidiki.
BfB/IGSR unpubl, report, Hannover/Athen
1971
ANTONIADES, P., GUNI~LaCH, H., IOANNIDES, K.,
KOCK~L, F.: Geochemische Prospektion aui
Lagerst~itten vom Typ porphyry copper im
Raum zwischen dem Doirani-See und Strimo-
nikon. BfB/IGSR unpubl, report, Athen/
Hannover 1972
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des mediterranen Orogens I. Vulk. Inst. Imm.
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(1970)
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Mountains. IGSR unpubl, report, Athen 1972
-- Geologic structure and mineralization of
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Ann. Geol. Pays Helleniques 24, 323-393 (1973)
NIKOLAOtJ, M. M.: L'intrusion granitic dans la
r6gion de Stratoni-Olympiade et sa r41ation
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ques 11,214-265 (1960)
PAI'ADAKIS,A.: On the age of granitic intrusions
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Geol. Pays Helleniques 23, 297-300 (1971)
P~TttOV, P.: Geologische und hydrogeologische
Beobachtungen um den erloschenen Vulkan
Ko~uh in SW-Bulgarien. Tray. Geol. Bulgar.,
Ser. Stratigr. et Tectonique 1, 295-318 (1960)
STRECKEISEN, A. : Classification and nomenclature
of plutonic rocks. Recommendations of the
lUGS subcommission on the systematics of
igneous rocks. Geol. Rundschau 63, 773-786
(1974)
ZACHOS, K.: Discovery of a copper deposit in
Chalkidiki peninsula, N-Greece. Geol. Geophys.
Res. 8, 1, 26 (1963)
ZaooRcuEv, I., Z~DAROV,N., ILIeV, J., SLAVOV,J.,
Sa•a_Tov, J.: On the tectonics of the Pirin
Horst. Jb. staatl. Wirtschaftsvereinigung "Geo-
logische Erkundungen" 20, 227-260, Sofia 1971
Received November 27, 1974
Dr. F. KOCKEL,Dr, H. MOLLAT,Dr. H. GUNDLACH
Bundesanstalt ftir Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe
D-3000 Hannover 23
Postfach 230 153
Federal Republic of Germany