The appearance of copper-bearing mineralization in the region of Muang Xay, Laos

Abstract

Geotectonic events in the Indochina Peninsula, associatted with the Indosinian orogeny between the Paleozoic and Mesozoic, has created many fold structures and fault areas oin the territory of Laos. Magmatic processes and Earth’s crust deformation enabled arising of rich Cu mineralization. A prospective area for the occurrence of Cu, Ag and Au minerals is the folded region on Muang Xay, northern Laos. The main purpose of geological research of the Muang Xay area was the recognition of chemical and mineralogical composition of rock samples and the evaluation of the area of potential geological resources. During field reconnaissance in 2018, the rock samples were taken from an abandoned mine. It was concluded that primary rocks suffered intense Na-metasomatic processes, preserving primary copper sulphides – bornite, chalcocite and covellite. The content of Cu is up to 49.64% and Ag up to 119.5 ppm. As a result of metasomatism of igneous rocks, diorite or andesite types – albitite was formed. Albitite is composed of medium-grained albite, Mg-chlorite and Cu-carbonates. The prospective research shows that the Muang Xay region has a high potential of metalliferous deposits.