Following The Pathfinders (Acme Lab)

CareCommitmentPerformance
Following the Pathfinders: Cu & Au Exploration
Presented by
Acme Analytical
Laboratories
John Gravel, MSc, PGeo

Co-Chairman – CEO
AND
Lauren Greenlaw, BSc
Regional Geochemist
South American Tour - April 2009

 Styles of Cu & Au Mineralization

◦ Porphyry Cu±Mo±Au
◦ Skarn Cu±Mo±Au
◦ HS Epithermal Au-Ag±Cu
◦ LS Epithermal Au-Ag
 Geochemical Exploration Tools
◦ Rocks
◦ Soils and Sediments
◦ Vegetation
◦ Water
 ICP-ES/ICP-MS Analytical Packages
◦ Geochemical Analysis
◦ Assay Analysis
◦ Whole Rock Analysis

Cu & Au  Focus on Cu & Au Mineralization important

to the SA Cordillera
Mineralization
◦ Oxidized Intrusion Related (OIR) porphyry /
skarn / epithermal systems.
⁻ (Other deposit styles such as orogenic related,
reduced intrusion related, VMS, etc. will not be
discussed here)
 Examine the chemistry of Mineralization

and Alteration

Generalized
Continental and oceanic convergent
Model of plate tectonics High-Sulfidation
Oxidized EPITHERMAL
Intrusion Related Components of large hydrothermal
Low-Sulfidation
systems centered in and over high-
Porphyry EPITHERMAL
level (< 5km), intermediate to felsic
Skarn porphyry intrusions
Epithermal Calc-alkaline to Alkaline composition
mineralization
Generally young (Upper Tertiary) SKARN
After Heinrich et al., 2004
Sillitoe and Hedenquist, 2003
PORPHYRY

Alteration and Mineralization

Based on Guilbert and Lowell, 1974, Canadian Institute of Mining and
Large to
alteration
Giant deposits
system Based on Guilbert and Lowell, 1974, Canadian Institute of Mining and Matallurgy Bulletin,
Matallurgy
vol.68, 1974,Bulletin,
figs1,2,3,vol.68,
p.100 1974, figs1,2,3, p.100
•10’s
Up to of kilometres
millions to on
a few
a
billion
side tonnes of ore
Generally
• Zoned low grade
(tenths of a percent to
⁻ Potassic
several percent combined
Cu ±Au(Qtz, ) K-Spar, Bio,
±Ser, ±Anh)
Zoned
⁻ Phyllic
⁻ Inner Core
(Qtz, Ser, Py)
(Cp, Py, ±Mb, ±Au)
⁻ Argillic
⁻ Ore Shell
(Qtz, Kaol, Chl)
(Cp, Py, ±Mb, ±Au)
⁻ Propylitic
⁻ Pyrite Shell
(Chl, Epi, Carb, Adul,
(Py, Cp, ±Mb, ±Au)
Alb)
⁻ Peripheral Shell PORPHYRY
(Cp, Gal, Sph, Py, ±Au,
±Ag)

Geochemical Footprint
Element Pattern
Zn, Pb
Mo
Cu
Au, Ag
 From proximal to distal
Cu > Mo > Pb-Zn > Au-Ag
 Similar vertical zonation

Cu > Mo > Pb-Zn > Au-Ag
 Major Element pattern
K increases towards centre
Na decreases towards centre
 K2O / Na2O ratio

A sensitive vector pointing
towards centre of intrusion

Alteration and Mineralization

Irregular shaped bodies
Distal:
Distal: Proximal:
Proximal:
but occasionally tabular Incr
Incr Si,
Si, Cu,
Cu, Zn,
Zn, Ag,
Ag, Co,
Co, W,
W, As,
As, and
and Sb
Sb Au,
Au, Cu,
Cu, Mo,
Mo,
following favourable (Te,
(Te, Bi,
Bi, As),
As), decr
decr REE
REE Pb,
Pb, Zn,
Zn, W
W
beds.
•Can be rich in Cu or
Cu+Pb+Zn with minor Au
or enriched with Au, As
and pyrite.
• Common constituents
include W and Mo
• Geochemical footprint
revealed by increasing Si,
Cu, Zn, Ag, Co, W, As, Sb SKARN
towards the deposit.

Intimately associated
with porphyry intrusions
in alkaline to calc-
alkaline magmatic arcs High-Sulfidation
•Very high level in volcanic
EPITHERMAL
dome complexes centred on
hydrothermal breccias
•Focused by arc-tranverse
structures
• Deposits characterized by
pyrite-rich sulphide
assembladges
• Can host world-class Au
±Cu deposits such as El

Indio (Chile) and Yanacocha
(Peru).

Alteration
Distal Proximal Central
Alteration can be quite extensive
and zoned. Product of initial Argillic Advanced Vuggy
highly acidic and sulphate-rich Argillic siliceous
magmatic fluids/vapours core
emanating from a deeper
mineralized porphyry system and
evolving (mixing with meteoric
waters) to less acidic solutions.
Saunders and Hames , Auburn University, Geochronology of Volcanic-

Hosted Low-Sulfidation Au-Ag Deposits, Winnemucca-Sleeper Mine
Area, Northern Great Basin,

Mineralization
Proximal
Distal Au-Ag, Cu,
Mineralization displays a Incr Hg, Bi, Sb, Si, Al, Fe, S As, ±Te
strong vertical zonation
from lower Cu-rich
(enargite-covellite-Au)
grading upwards over
100’s of metres into
disseminated Au-Ag
below the lithocap.


Intimately associated
with calc-alkaline,
alkaline to sub-alkaline
intrusive complexes in
extensional (rift) tectonic Low-Sulfidation
settings EPITHERMAL
• High level in volcanic units
• Focused by regional faults
• Extensive carbonate
alteration
• Banded Qtz veins indicative
of boiling
• Significant deposits include
Cripple Creek (Nevada) and

Cerro Vangardia (Argentina)

Alteration
Alkalic systems marked by

extensive carbonate alteration
grades inward to sericite / K-spar
alteration.
Sub-alkalic systems display
prophylitic alteration grading to
argillic to inner sericite/illite-
adularia.
Mineralized veins are hosted by
quartz-chalcedony / adularia with
banding indicative of boiling.


Mineralization
Proximal: Distal:
Au-Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, As, Te, Hg, Sb Incr K, Rb, Decr Ca, Sr, Zn
Au mineralization may form as both

disseminated and structurally controlled
high-grade systems.
Alkaline-hosted deposits have Au:Ag >1
and an assemblage of Te, V, Pb and Zn
Sub-alkaline deposits have Au:Ag <1
and accompanied by Zn, Pb, Cu, As, Hg
and Sb


SUMMARY Deposit Primary Pathfinders

Elements
Porphyry Cu, Au, Mo, Ag, K, Rb, Na, Ca,
Other less common (Re) Sr, Zn, Ba
Indicator Elements
Skarn Au, Cu, Mo, Pb, Si, Cu, Zn, Ag,
Li, Cs, Cd, B, Al, Ga, Zn, W Co, W, As, Sb,
In, Tl, Sc, Y, Te, Bi, REE
La±REEs,Th, U, Ge,
HS Epithermal Au, Ag, Cu, As, Hg, Bi, Sb, Si,
Sn, P, Se, Cr, W, F,
Te Al, Fe, S
Ni and PGEs
LS Epithermal Au, Ag, Te, V K, Rb, Ca, Sr,
Alkaline Pb, Zn
LS Epithermal Au, Ag, Zn, Pb, K, Rb, Ca, Sr,
Sub-Alkaline Cu As, Hg

Generalized model of primary and secondary

dispersion halos surrounding a mineral deposit
Element-transport
Common Samplingmechanisms
Media Mechanical
Rock
erosion
Plant
Bio Vapour
Soil & Sediment
transport
tissue transport
Seismic
Groundwater pumping
Groundwater
transport

Choosing the Tool

100’s m2 Target
1’s - 10’s km2 Prospect
100’s – 1000’s km2 Camp
1000’s – 10,000’s km2 District

Relative Area of Investigation
ts
ta &
s
er
n
ck
tio
en
ge ils
at
Ro
W
m
Ve So
di
Se

Rocks Can be applied at any scale from defining elevated

background associated with metallogenetic districts or
mineralized camps to prospect and target scale for
defining the ore body.
Determination by broad-spectrum multi-element

Geochemical Analysis at district, camp or prospect
scale for evaluation of trace to ultra-trace levels of
commodity and pathfinder elements
Determination by Whole-Rock Analysis at camp,

prospect and target scale to evaluate lithogeochemical
signature and vectors to alteration/mineralization.
Determination by multi-element Assay Analysis at

prospect and target level to evaluate commodity and
trace and/or deleterious constituents

Sediments Generally applied for defining elevated background

associated with mineralized districts and camps to
anomaly follow-up at the prospect scale. Use of both
fine sediment and heavy detrital material to trace
mineralization

Geochemical Analysis at district, camp or prospect
scale for evaluation of trace to ultra-trace levels of
commodity and pathfinder elements. Ultra-trace level
analysis especially important for defining large basins
or very subtle anomalies.
Determination by multi-element Assay Analysis at

prospect scale when abundant mineralized material is
shedding into the stream environment by mechanical
(eg. placers) or hydromorphic means.

Soils Generally applied for defining elevated background at

the mineralized camps scale to anomaly follow-up at
the prospect scale. Increasing use in large scale
sampling for state or country-wide geochemical
atlases for establishing baselines in mineral potential
and environmental studies. Recent work in deep-
cover terrains proving effective for identifying buried
deposits.

Geochemical Analysis for evaluation of trace to ultra-
trace levels of commodity and pathfinder elements.
Occasional determination by multi-element Assay

Analysis when overburden contains very high
concentrations of commodity or constituent elements
from underlying or up-slope mineralization.

Vegetation Like soils, generally applied for defining elevated

background at the mineralized camps scale to
anomaly follow-up at the prospect scale. Added
benefit of integrating geochemical pattern over a large
footprint and tapping a deeper source (especially in
exotic overburden terrains).

geochemical analysis for evaluation of ultra-trace
levels of commodity and pathfinder elements.
Analysis of the ash product (after igniting plant tissue)

allows lowering of detection limits for evaluation of
subultra-trace levels of pathfinder elements or
concentration of commodity elements (ie. Au) from a
large sample.

Water Can be applied at any scale from defining elevated

background associated with metallogenetic districts or
mineralized camps to prospect and target scale for
defining the ore body where surface or groundwaters
have interacted with mineralization.

Geochemical Analysis for evaluation of trace to
subultra-trace levels of commodity and pathfinder
elements
Determination of anions (Cl-, NO3-,SO4-, etc.) to

examine by-products of water-rock interactions and
chemical/biological reaction of mineralization.
Example) Spence Cu-Mo porphyry has a significant

Mo-Re plumb in groundwater down-gradient.

Summary

ICP-ES Measurement of element concentrations using

spectral analysis of wavelengths and intensities of
light produced by sample solutions aspirated into a
plasma operating at 8000°C. Simultaneous analysis of
30+ elements over a 5-order concentration range.
Geochemical Analysis from sub-ppm to per cent

concentrations in solutions from weak leaches to
strong mineral-acid digestions (ie. aqua regia, 4-acid)
Assay Analysis from sub-per cent to high per cent

concentrations in solutions from strong mineral-acid
digestions (ie. aqua regia, 4-acid)
Whole-Rock Analysis from ppm to high per cent

concentrations in solutions from fusions (lithium
borate) dissolved in acid solution

ICP-MS Measurement of element concentrations using a

quadrapole to segregate atoms and count the number
of strikes on a target by a stream of atoms generated
by sample solutions aspirated into a plasma operating
at 8000°C. Simultaneous analysis of 70+ elements
over a 7-order concentration range.
Geochemical Analysis from sub-ppb to sub-per cent

concentrations in solutions from weak leaches to
strong mineral-acid digestions (ie. aqua regia, 4-acid)
Assay Analysis from sub-ppm cent to sub-per cent

concentrations in solutions from strong mineral-acid
digestions (ie. aqua regia, 4-acid)
Whole-Rock Analysis from sub-ppm to sub-per cent

concentrations in solutions from fusions (lithium
borate) dissolved in acid solution
WATER Detection Detection Detection Detection Detection
ANALYSIS
Limit Limit Limit Limit Limit
Au 0.05 ppb Cr 0.5 ppb K 50 ppb Pr 0.01 ppb Ta 0.02 ppb
GROUP Ag 0.05 ppb Cs 0.01 ppb La 0.01 ppb Pt 0.01 ppb Tb 0.01 ppb
Al 1 ppb Cu 0.1 ppb Li 0.1 ppb Rb 0.01 ppb Te 0.05 ppb
2C As
B
0.5 ppb
5 ppb
Dy
Er
0.01 ppb
0.01 ppb
Lu
Mg
0.01 ppb
50 ppb
Re
Rh
0.01 ppb
0.01 ppb
Th
Ti
0.05 ppb
10 ppb
Ba 0.05 ppb Eu 0.01 ppb Mn 0.05 ppb Ru 0.05 ppb Tl 0.01 ppb
Direct injection of
Be 0.05 ppb Fe 10 ppb Mo 0.1 ppb S 1 ppm Tm 0.01 ppb
Sample solution
Bi 0.05 ppb Ga 0.01 ppb Na 50 ppb Sb 0.05 ppb U 0.02 ppb
ICP-ES/ICP-MS Br 5 ppb Gd 0.01 ppb Nb 0.01 ppb Sc 1 ppb V 0.2 ppb
Ca 50 ppb Ge 0.05 ppb Nd 0.01 ppb Se 0.5 ppb W 0.02 ppb
Cd 0.05 ppb Hf 0.02 ppb Ni 0.2 ppb Si 40 ppb Y 0.01 ppb

72 elements Ce 0.01 ppb Hg 0.1 ppb P 20 ppb Sm 0.02 ppb Yb 0.01 ppb
Cl 1 ppm Ho 0.01 ppb Pb 0.1 ppb Sn 0.05 ppb Zn 0.5 ppb

Subultra-Low
Co 0.02 ppb In 0.01 ppb Pd 0.2 ppb Sr 0.01 ppb Zr 0.02 ppb
detection limits

GEOCHEMICAL Detection Detection Detection Detection Detection
ANALYSIS
Limit Limit Limit Limit Limit
Au 0.2 ppb
Au 0.2 ppb Cu 0.01 ppm P 0.001% V 2 ppm Rb 0.1 ppm
GROUP Ag
Al
2 ppb
0.001%
Fe
Hg
0.001%
5 ppb
Pb
S
0.01 ppm
0.01%
W
Zn
0.01 ppm
0.1 ppm
Re
Sn
1 ppb
0.02 ppm
1F-MS
Ag Hg2 ppb
5 ppb
As 0.1 ppm Ga 0.1 ppm Sb 0.02 ppm Be 0.1 ppm Ta 0.05 ppm
B 1 ppm K 0.001% Sc 0.1 ppm Ce 0.1 ppm Y 0.01 ppm
Ba 0.5 ppm La 0.5 ppm Sr 0.5 ppm Cs 0.01 ppm Zr 0.1 ppm
0.5 , 15, or 30 gram
Bi 0.02 ppm Mg 0.01% Te 0.02 ppm Ge 0.1 ppm Pt 2 ppb
Aqua Regia
Ca 0.001% Mn 1 ppm Th 0.1 ppm Hf 0.02 ppm Pd 10 ppb
ICP-ES/ICP-MS Cd 0.01 ppm Mo 0.01 ppm Ti 0.001% In 0.02 ppm
Co 0.1 ppm Na 0.001% Tl 0.02 ppm Li 0.1 ppm
Cr 0.5 ppm Ni 0.1 ppm U 0.01 ppm Nb 0.02 ppm

53 elements
Ultra-Low detection limits
Attacks non-refractory minerals

Demand:
ASSAY Assay and ultratrace determination on the same
ANALYSIS sample required a new analytical package.
Solution:
GROUP New Group 7AX incorporates an assay digestion with
ICP-ES and ICP-MS analysis to deliver both high and
7AX low-end values.
Detection Detection Detection Detection
1 gram Limit Limit Limit Limit
Ag 0.1 ppm P 0.001 % Cd 0.1 ppm Sb 0.1 ppm

Aqua Regia
Al 0.01 % Pb 0.001 % Co 0.1 ppm Sc 0.1 ppm
ICP-ES/ICP-MS Ca 0.01% Ti 0.01 % Cr 1 ppm Se 1 ppm
Cu 0.001 % Zn 0.001 % Ga 1 ppm Sr 1 ppm
Fe 0.01 % Hg 0.02 ppm Th 0.1 ppm
35 elements K 0.01 % Au 1 ppb La 1 ppm Tl 0.1 ppm
Mg 0.01 % As 1 ppm Mo 0.1 ppm U 0.1 ppm
Mn 0.01 % Ba 1 ppm Ni 0.1 ppm V 2 ppm
Na 0.01 % Bi 0.1 ppm S 0.1 % W 0.1 ppm

WHOLE-ROCK Detection Detection Detection Detection Detection
ANALYSIS
SiO2
Limit
0.01% C
Limit
0.01% Sr
Limit
0.5 ppm
Limit
Sm 0.05 ppm

As 1 ppm
Limit
GROUP Al2O3 0.01% S 0.02% Ta 0.1 ppm Eu 0.02 ppm Bi 0.1 ppm
4A-4B
Fe2O3 0.04% Ba 1 ppm Th 0.2 ppm Gd 0.05 ppm Cd 0.1 ppm
CaO 0.01% Be 1 ppm U 0.1 ppm Tb 0.01 ppm Cu 0.1 ppm
MgO 0.01% Co 0.2 ppm V 8 ppm Dy 0.05 ppm Hg 0.1 ppm
0.2 g 0.5 g 0.2 g Na2O 0.01% Cs 0.1 ppm W 0.5 ppm Ho 0.02 ppm Mo 0.1 ppm
LiBO2 Aqua LECO K2O 0.01% Ga 0.5 ppm Y 0.1 ppm Er 0.03 ppm Ni 0.1 ppm
fusion Regia Analysis MnO 0.01% Hf 0.1 ppm Zr 0.1 ppm Tm 0.01 ppm Pb 0.1 ppm
ICP-ES/ digest TiO2 0.01% Nb 0.1 ppm La 0.1 ppm Yb 0.05 ppm Sb 0.1 ppm
ICP-MS ICP-MS P2O5 0.01% Rb 0.1 ppm Ce 0.1 ppm Lu 0.01 ppm Se 0.5 ppm
Cr2O3 0.002% Sc 1 ppm Pr 0.02 ppm Au 0.5 ppb Tl 0.1 ppm
LOI 0.1% Sn 1 ppm Nd 0.3 ppm Ag 0.1 ppm Zn 1 ppm
Total
43 11 Carbon
THANK YOU
elements elements Sulphur

Following The Pathfinders (Acme Lab)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Following The Pathfinders (Acme Lab)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CareCommitmentPerformance

Following the Pathfinders: Cu & Au Exploration

John Gravel, MSc, PGeo

South American Tour - April 2009

 Styles of Cu & Au Mineralization

South American Tour - April 2009

Cu & Au  Focus on Cu & Au Mineralization important

 Examine the chemistry of Mineralization

South American Tour - April 2009

South American Tour - April 2009

Alteration and Mineralization

South American Tour - April 2009

 Similar vertical zonation

 K2O / Na2O ratio

South American Tour - April 2009

Alteration and Mineralization

South American Tour - April 2009

±Cu deposits such as El

South American Tour - April 2009

Saunders and Hames , Auburn University, Geochronology of Volcanic-

South American Tour - April 2009

Saunders and Hames , Auburn University, Geochronology of Volcanic-

South American Tour - April 2009

Cripple Creek (Nevada) and

South American Tour - April 2009

Alkalic systems marked by

Saunders and Hames , Auburn University, Geochronology of Volcanic-

South American Tour - April 2009

Au mineralization may form as both

Saunders and Hames , Auburn University, Geochronology of Volcanic-

South American Tour - April 2009

SUMMARY Deposit Primary Pathfinders

South American Tour - April 2009

Generalized model of primary and secondary

South American Tour - April 2009

Choosing the Tool

1’s - 10’s km2 Prospect

100’s – 1000’s km2 Camp

1000’s – 10,000’s km2 District

South American Tour - April 2009

Rocks Can be applied at any scale from defining elevated

Determination by broad-spectrum multi-element

Determination by Whole-Rock Analysis at camp,

Determination by multi-element Assay Analysis at

South American Tour - April 2009

Sediments Generally applied for defining elevated background

Determination by broad-spectrum multi-element

Determination by multi-element Assay Analysis at

South American Tour - April 2009

Soils Generally applied for defining elevated background at

Determination by broad-spectrum multi-element

Occasional determination by multi-element Assay

South American Tour - April 2009

Vegetation Like soils, generally applied for defining elevated

Determination by broad-spectrum multi-element

Analysis of the ash product (after igniting plant tissue)

South American Tour - April 2009

Water Can be applied at any scale from defining elevated

Determination by broad-spectrum multi-element

Determination of anions (Cl-, NO3-,SO4-, etc.) to

Example) Spence Cu-Mo porphyry has a significant

South American Tour - April 2009

South American Tour - April 2009