Porphyry Copper Mineralization Research Articles

Assessing the geological relationships between the mafic-ultramafic intrusion in the Haib area and the Vuurdood Subsuite, Richtersveld Subprovince

Abstract The Haib porphyry copper deposit is situated in the Richtersveld Subprovince and is host to unique Palaeoproterozoic porphyry copper mineralisation in Namibia. Several lines of evidence, including machine-learning geothermobarometry, indicate that the deposit is exposed at mid- to upper-crustal levels, as constrained from average pressure and temperature estimates of 4 kbar and 870°C, respectively. The Haib porphyry copper deposit is associated with, and is in close proximity to, a mafic-ultramafic intrusion named the Kokerboom Intrusion (KI) in this study. Together with several other mafic intrusions in this region, these intrusions are known collectively as the Vuurdood Subsuite of the Richtersveld Subprovince. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a genetic link between the KI and the Vuurdood Subsuite using lithological characteristics, mineral and alteration assemblages, major and trace element geochemistry and U-Pb geochronology. Pyroxenites from the KI contain magmatic sulphides and have a geochemical affinity with shallow plutonic and volcanic rocks of the Haib porphyry, providing a unique mid-crustal perspective on porphyry copper deposit metallogenesis.

Soil contamination around porphyry copper mines: an example from a semi-arid climate.

Extraction and processing of disseminated metalliferous ores, porphyry copper in particular, results in significant tonnages of waste and can cause severe disturbances and contamination in natural ecosystems. This is particularly important in semi-arid climates where natural soils are often deprived of organic matter and nutrients. This study was conducted on seven sites around Sungun Copper Mine, northwest Iran. Soil texture, EC, pH, and concentrations of nutrients, organic matter, along with 16 metal and metalloids were measured in 94 soil samples. Results showed a gradient of contamination from low contamination in natural hillsides to high contamination in mine waste depositories, Waste Dump and Oxide Dump, alongside Pakhir and Sungun Rivers. Nutrient deficiency occurred in disturbed sites. The main contaminant point sources were Waste Dump, mine pit drainage, and Oxide Dump. The results of Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination showed elevated Cd, Zn, Fe, Cu, Pb, As, Mo, Mn, Co, S concentrations, high EC, and higher sand percentage in the sites affected by mine waste and acid mine drainage. Geo-Accumulation and Potential Ecological Risk Indices indicated that Pakhir riverside, Sungun riverside, and Oxide Dump have severe to moderate levels of environmental risks. Positive correlations between certain metal elements suggest common sources and similar reaction pathways, which may contribute to their similar geochemical behaviour in transport, deposition, and interdependence. Overall, the deficiency of organic matter and nutrients along with the soil sandy texture in contaminated sites of Sungun Copper Mine are the main limiting factors in managing metal mobility and soil remediation.

Characteristics of Ore-Forming Fluids and Genesis of the First Mining Area and Eastern Ore Section of the Pulang Porphyry Copper Deposit, Southeastern China: A Comparative Study

The Pulang copper deposit, formed in the Late Triassic, is the largest porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposit in the eastern Tethys, and its genetic type and mineralization potential have received widespread attention. Identifying the characteristics of ore-forming fluids and the sources of ore-forming materials in the deep and peripheral ore bodies of Pulang is particularly important for constructing a complete porphyry copper mineralization system. Based on detailed core logging and geological observations, this article provides extensive petrographic, fluid inclusion micro-thermometry, laser Raman spectroscopy, and H-O-S isotope data on the veins of the main mineralization stage (B veins) in the first mining area and eastern ore section of the Pulang porphyry copper deposit. The genetic correlation between the eastern ore section and the first mining area is clarified, and their mineralization potential is inferred. The results indicate that the deep vein bodies in the first mining area exhibit multi-stage characteristics, and the fluid in B veins exhibits both high-temperature and salinity characteristics. The magma-derived early ore-forming fluids underwent processes such as boiling and experienced immiscibility during meteoric water mixing, which could be the primary mechanism of the precipitation of Cu, Mo, Au, and other metals. The outer eastern ore section is located in a medium-to-low-temperature hydrothermal mineralization zone far from the mineralization center. This outer eastern ore section is a distant part of the magmatic–hydrothermal system of the first mining area.

Potential of porphyry copper mineralization in the Triassic Yunxian-Jinggu arc, in the Sanjiang orogen, SW China

Porphyry copper deposits are commonly associated with porphyries generated in arc environments. Assessing the contemporaneous arc volcanic rocks provides crucial insights into the potential for porphyry copper mineralization. The Triassic Yidun arc in the northern part of the Sanjiang orogen in southwest China, which formed in association with the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Oceanic slab, hosts several porphyry copper deposits. However, the potential for porphyry copper mineralization in the Yunxian-Jinggu volcanic arc in the southern part of the Sanjiang orogen, which was also linked to the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Oceanic slab, remains unclear. This study reports zircon U–Pb ages, trace element compositions and Hf isotopes, and whole-rock element compositions and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopes of the basaltic-andesitic-dacitic rocks in the Yunxian-Jinggu volcanic arc. Zircon SHRIMP U–Pb dating of the Wenyu basalts and andesites yielded ages of 244.3 ± 1.9 Ma and 242.5 ± 2.5 Ma, respectively. The basalts have arc geochemical affinities with εHf (t) values of 2.3 to 9.3, εNd(t) values of –0.6 to 0.2, and (87Sr/86Sr)i values of 0.7065 to 0.7068. They have high Ba concentrations (∼ 550 ppm), highly variable Ba/La ratios (0.01 to 0.10), and a narrow range of Th/Yb ratios (1.2 to 1.9). These characteristics suggest that the basalts were derived from mantle metasomatized by fluids likely released from the subducted Paleo-Tethys slab. The Wenyu andesites, with εHf (t) values range from 1.6 to 7.0, εNd (t) value of –0.4, and (87Sr/86Sr)i value of 0.7031, along with distinct Pb isotopes, were probably produced through basaltic magmas undergoing crustal fractional crystallization. The Minle dacites, sharing similar εHf (t) value (–1.6 to 10.7) but lower εNd (t) values (–3.1 to –4.9) compared to Wenyu volcanics, are interpreted as derived from partial melting of basaltic magmas with contamination from ancient crustal components. The zircon Eu/Eu* ratios (mostly < 0.4), zircon ΔFMQ value (–0.6 ± 1.1), and bulk-rock Sr/Y ratios (< 10.3) for the Yunxian-Jinggu volcanic rocks indicate that co-genetic intrusions, if present, would likely be less hydrous and less oxidized, making them less favorable for porphyry copper mineralization.

Porphyry–Copper Mineralization of Talnikovoye Ore Field (Okhotsk Segment of the Okhotsk–Chukotka Volcanogenic Belt)

Porphyry–Copper Mineralization of Talnikovoye Ore Field (Okhotsk Segment of the Okhotsk–Chukotka Volcanogenic Belt)

Improving the accuracy of detecting and ranking favorable porphyry copper prospects in the east of Sarcheshmeh copper mine region using a two-step sequential Fuzzy - Fuzzy TOPSIS integration approach

The detection and prioritization of optimal favorable areas for the ground follow-up stage are among the most challenging issues in the early stages of any mineral exploration program. A common approach to identify the favorable mineralized zones is to create and integrate independent evidential predictor layers using knowledge or data driven approaches. The method proposed in current study is not only capable of detecting favorable zones, but also provides reliable ranking of the best favorable areas to focus in the next exploration stage. For this purpose, a two-step sequential Fuzzy-Fuzzy TOPSIS approach, which deploys the merits of both Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) and Fuzzy logic inference methodologies simultaneously, is proposed. In the first step, the favorable porphyry copper mineralizations in the east of the well-known Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper mine, are detected through combining evidential layers including geological, remote sensing data, geophysical and geochemical data using fuzzy logic integration approach. As a result of the first step, a number of twenty prospects with the highest porphyry copper favorability membership were selected and inputted into the TOPSIS and fuzzy-TOPSIS algorithms. Subsequently, the chosen prospects were prioritized and ranked according to their scores acquired by each technique of the aforementioned approaches separately. The performance of each approach was evaluated thorough comparison with the known ground porphyry copper mineralizations. The results indicated the capability of the proposed approach not only in detecting favorable porphyry copper mineralization prospects consistent with the previously detected porphyry Cu mineralization but also rank them based on their priorities.

Machine Learning (ML)-Based Copper Mineralization Prospectivity Mapping (MPM) Using Mining Geochemistry Method and Remote Sensing Satellite Data

The exploration of buried mineral deposits is required to generate innovative approaches and the integration of multi-source geoscientific datasets. Mining geochemistry methods have been generated based on the theory of multi-formational geochemical dispersion haloes. Satellite remote sensing data is a form of surficial geoscience datasets and can be considered as big data in terms of veracity and volume. The different alteration zones extracted using remote sensing methods have not been yet categorized based on the mineralogical and geochemical types (MGT) of anomalies and cannot discriminate blind mineralization (BM) from zone dispersed mineralization (ZDM). In this research, an innovative approach was developed to optimize remote sensing-based evidential variables using some constructed mining geochemistry models for a machine learning (ML)-based copper prospectivity mapping. Accordingly, several main steps were implemented and analyzed. Initially, the MGT model was executed by studying the distribution of indicator elements of lithogeochemical data extracted from 50 copper deposits from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries to identify the MGT of geochemical anomalies associated with copper mineralization. Then, the geochemical zonality model was constructed using the database of the porphyry copper deposits of Iran and Kazakhstan to evaluate the geochemical anomalies related to porphyry copper mineralization (e.g., the Saghari deposit located around the Chah-Musa deposit, Toroud-Chah Shirin belt, central north Iran). Subsequently, the results of mining geochemistry models were used to produce the geochemical evidential variable by vertical geochemical zonality (Vz) (Pb × Zn/Cu × Mo) and to optimize the remote sensing-based evidential variables. Finally, a random forest algorithm was applied to integrate the evidential variables for generating a provincial-scale prospectivity mapping of porphyry copper deposits in the Toroud-Chah Shirin belt. The results of this investigation substantiated that the machine learning (ML)-based integration of multi-source geoscientific datasets, such as mining geochemistry techniques and satellite remote sensing data, is an innovative and applicable approach for copper mineralization prospectivity mapping in metallogenic provinces.

Evaluation of the impact of the intensive exploitation of groundwater and the mega-drought based on the hydrochemical and isotopic composition of the waters of the Chacabuco-Polpaico basin in central Chile

A hydrogeochemical and isotopic study has been carried out to understand the hydrogeological functioning of a small alluvial aquifer in central Chile in a context of mega-drought and intensive exploitation of its waters. Additionally, two mine tailings dams from porphyry copper mining are situated in the area. The prolonged mega-drought, which has lasted for over thirteen years, has resulted in a significant decrease in rainfall recharge and a drop of up to 50 m in piezometric levels, although no serious groundwater contamination problems have yet been detected, except for a rise in nitrate contents (ranging between 23 and 45 mg/L NO3) attributed to return irrigation. Groundwaters are calcium-bicarbonate and calcium-sodium-bicarbonate in composition. The values of δ18O and δ2H of the alluvial aquifer indicate fractionation by evaporation that would be explained by the recirculation of water that occurs in the agricultural areas of the basin, where the excess irrigation water that go back to the aquifer presents fractionation by evaporation. The δ34S and δ18O of dissolved sulfate point to pyrite oxidation, which could be related to the pyrite present in the copper porphyry and recognized in the Andes Cordillera. The 87Sr/86Sr isotopic values of the alluvial aquifer waters are close to the isotopic fingerprint of the volcanic rocks of the Abanico Formation. However, the water from the wells located further downstream in the basin and close to the tailing dams show δ34S and δ18O of dissolved sulfate and 87Sr/86Sr consistent with Miocene intrusive mineralogies of the copper porphyry type. The groundwater chemistry does not show water seepage from the tailings dam. Therefore, a minor contribution of minerals related to the intrusive rocks is proposed, which would originate from the movement of fine particles by the wind from the dams to the valley floor. The 14C activities indicate that groundwater is recent.

Sulfide Trace Element Signatures and S- and Pb-Isotope Geochemistry of Porphyry Copper and Epithermal Gold-Base Metal Mineralization in the Elatsite–Chelopech Ore Field (Bulgaria)

The Elatsite–Chelopech ore field in the northern part of the Panagyurishte district in Central Bulgaria comprises numerous spatially associated porphyry copper and epithermal gold deposits and prospects. In addition to the mineralization and alteration features, trace elements, lead and sulfur isotope signatures of sulfide minerals from porphyry copper, base metal and gold-base metal deposits/prospects have been studied. LA-ICP-MS analyses of pyrite, arsenopyrite and sulfosalt minerals validate them as major carriers for Au, Ag, Sb, Se and Co. Pyrite from the three types of mineralization has specific geochemical characteristics. Pyrite from the porphyry copper deposits/prospects has generally lower total trace element content compared to pyrite from the epithermal prospects, except for Se, Co and Ni. Pyrite from the base metal and gold-base metal veins is enriched in As, Au, Ag, Sb and Pb. In pyrite from the base metal deposits, Co and Ni have contents comparable to the pyrite from the porphyry copper deposits, while pyrite from the gold-base metal veins shows lower Co and Ni. Arsenopyrite from these deposits shows similar features. Similarly, sphalerite from the gold-base metal veins also has lower Co content compared to sphalerite from the base metal veins but higher In and Cu contents. In addition to the close spatial relationships between the Elatsite and Gorna Kamenitsa porphyry Cu deposits and Negarstitsa-West and Dolna Kamenitsa base metal prospects, as well as similarities in the mineralization and alteration styles, the lead isotopic (206Pb/204Pb = 18.61–18.68, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.64–15.65 for porphyry and 206Pb/204Pb = 18.55–18.67, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.64–15.68 for base metal) and sulfur isotopic (δ34S values of −3 to +1‰ for porphyry and δ34S values of −1.7 to +3.5‰ for base metal) signatures of sulfides support the idea of a genetic link between these two types of deposits. The porphyry and base-metal mineralization result from a common major ore-forming event during the Late Cretaceous, corresponding to deep/higher-temperature and shallower/distal/lower-temperature environments, respectively. In particular, more radiogenic lead (206Pb/204Pb = 18.41–18.47, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.67–15.76) and slightly different sulfur isotopic compositions (δ34S values of +3.5 to +10.6‰) of sulfides from the distal gold-base metal veins of Kordunsko Dere, Svishti Plaz and Shipkite might be a consequence of the interaction of the ore-forming fluids with an external older crustal and isotopically positive S source. Alternatively, a different fluid source/event for the formation of these gold-base metal veins may be suggested.

PETROCHEMICAL AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PORPHYRY COPPER MINERALIZATION IN THE ASTANEH ORE DEPOSIT, MIDDLE PART OF THE URUMIEH-DOKHTAR MAGMATIC ARC (IRAN)

Within the Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc in the central part of Iran, the formation of which is associated with the Neotethys closure, there are many porphyry copper deposits and ore occurrences. One of them is the Astaneh porphyry copper ore deposit, located in the central part of the Saveh-Ardestan ore region southeast of Ardestan city. The purpose of this study is to investigate the petrochemical characteristics of rocks and to determine the relationship between the distribution of porphyry copper mineralization and tectonic position of faults within the study area. To achieve the goal, there were used the structural and geological data obtained in the fieldwork, as well as the results of mineralogical and geochemical analyses. The obtained results show that rocks of different composition of the Astaneh ore deposit (andesite, andesite-basalt, basalt, trachybasalt) were formed in the suprasubduction zone, and probably in the environment prior to the collision of the of continental plates. Paragenetic relationships and mineralogical analysis show that the evolution of mineralization of the Astaneh ore deposit can be divided into three stages: pre-ore, hypogene and supergene mineralization. Geochemical research based on the study of the content of the major chemical elements in the rocks of the region shows that igneous rocks belong to calc-alkaline basalts and geodynamically can be attributed to the products of magmatism of the ensial island arc. The results concluded that the main stages of the formation of a porphyry copper ore deposit in the study area attain maximum spatio-temporal similarity with the tectonomagmatic phases of the development of the Neotethys Ocean. In addition, the Southern Ardestan fault, running through the study area and intersecting the basement structures, forms wide permeable zones favorable for the formation of porphyry copper deposits therein.

Developing a new social impact assessment model for deep open-pit mines

Various open-pit mines, particularly porphyry copper mines, are anticipated to reach depths of more than 1000 m, and short knowledge of social impacts at such depths is a significant challenge for the mining industry's future. In the present study, 37 social impact factors of deep open-pit mines are recognized as the first step for a Social Impact Assessment procedure. As a 37 × 37 matrix for weighting the importance level of each factor will be complicated and unreliable, these factors are classified into 10 categories and weighted using the Z-Fuzzy Delphi AHP technique. 26 experts worldwide were recognized as qualified for the study, among which 14 questionnaires were returned. The Cronbach coefficient was calculated to check the level of uniformity of the questionnaires, and the value was determined to be 0.925 for I (Importance) and 0.911 for R (reliability), which shows a high level of uniformity in the expert's predictions. By applying Z-numbers, and using fuzzy Delphi mathematics, the uncertainty of the experts' opinions was highly reduced. The results showed that the most critical social impact categories in deep open-pit mines are workplace safety (13.8%), employment (10.9%), and revenue generation (10.7%). Next, the social impact factor's score was determined using the scenarios described in this study. Finally, the methodology was applied to the Sungun Copper Mine (SCM) in the northwest of Iran for verification. The Social Sustainability Score (Ss) for the SCM was determined to be 6.364, which shows a medium level of sustainability. Finally, the proposed methodology can be used to determine the social responsibility level of any metal mining project.

Porphyry copper mineralization triggered by sulfate reduction and alkali metasomatism: Constraints from an experimental investigation

The potassium silicate (K-silicate) alteration zone is the main ore contributor in porphyry copper deposits worldwide. Knowledge of element behaviors in the alteration and mineralization processes is essential for an improved understanding of porphyry copper mineralization, but they are still not well understood. In this study, we reacted synthetic Cl-rich fluids, containing K, Na, Cu, Mo, Zn, etc., with andesite in a complex experimental system to simulate the shallow porphyry copper mineralization process. We aimed to bridge the gap between simple experimental studies and complex natural systems and to evaluate the contribution of sulfate reduction to porphyry ore formation and its relationship with early alkali metasomatism. The results show that increasing temperature (from 300 to 500 °C) enhances the K-silicate alteration by promoting ion-exchange reactions, and the K-feldspar is mainly formed by the transformation of plagioclase via a dissolution-reprecipitation processes. The low-salinity vapor phase has a stronger capacity for K-silicate alteration than the liquid phase at similar temperatures. In addition, increasing temperature from 300 to 500 °C favors sulfate reduction to further enhance metal sulfide precipitation. The limited availability of reduced sulfur in the fluid causes preferential precipitation of Cu-(Mo) sulfides, while most of the Zn is soluble in the fluid, and Cu precipitation as sulfides in the vapor is much more efficient than in the coexisting liquid. The overlap between the K-silicate alteration zone and the mineralization triggered by sulfate reduction in porphyry copper deposits is controlled by several concomitant factors, e.g., relatively high temperature (e.g., at 400−500 °C), vapor formation, and decompression. Moreover, K-silicate alteration would further promote mineralization by changing fluid compositions, e.g., removing K from the fluid.

Spatial dispersion hot spots of contamination and human health risk assessments of PTEs in surface sediments of streams around porphyry copper mine, Iran.

This comprehensive research has been conducted to consider the distribution of PTEs in the surface sediments of a recently developed Dar-e-Allo copper mine in dependence on the potential ecological and human health risks. Field sampling was carried out discreetly at preselected sampling spots including the natural background, the streams around the mine, waste rock drainages, evaporative deposits, sediments containing Fe oxy-hydroxides and secondary phases. Distribution of target elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, Sb, Se, and Zn) showed high levels of crustal elements. As regards, Fe, Al, and S are identified to exist as the most copious elements in the earth's crust, so have the major portion of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the sediment concentrations. Evaluating environmental indices reflected that in general, Cu, S, and Mo have a higher quota of contamination in sedimentary systems. the pollution load index (PLI), modified contamination degree (mCd), Contamination factor (Cf), Sediment potential index (SPI), Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and Contamination degree (Cd) confirm that sedimentary systems of mining area are heavily contaminated by PTEs and were not found within the guideline acceptable values. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) displayed a high or severe risk level for Cu with a peak in green-blue sediments containing secondary minerals. The results of total carcinogenic risk (TCRs) show that As has high toxicity level and carries a risk of carcinogenicity among children and adults. The TCRs for Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb with carcinogenic potential are found only in children and they are classified as the prime concern elements that have serious dangers to children's public health. The results of contamination source presumed that the sources of PTEs contamination were principally geogenic along with the anthropogenic sources in the study area. Therefore, the present study has highlighted the implication of human health risks of PTEs in sedimentary systems of copper mining, also will grant advice for prime stakeholders, including mine managers, Environmental Protection Agency, the government and public organizations in connection to protecting the environment, aquatic biota and consumer's health.

МЕДНО-ПОРФИРОВАЯ МИНЕРАЛИЗАЦИЯ ТАЛЬНИКОВОГО РУДНОГО ПОЛЯ (ОХОТСКИЙ СЕГМЕНТ ОХОТСКО-ЧУКОТСКОГО ВУЛКАНОГЕННОГО ПОЯСА)

The Talnikovoye ore field where previous academic research and exploration work revealed porphyry copper mineralization is described. Our data show that mineralization is confined to the intrusions of Turonian granodiorite and quartz diorite (91 Ma, U-Pb metohod), as well as the accompanying hydrothermal-explosive breccias. Biotite-epidote-chlorite propylites are widespread within the ore field; in the southern part, phyllic alteration is superimposed on the halo of K-feldspar alteration. The ore occurs in zones of intense quartz, chlorite-epidote-quartz (with chalcopyrite and molybdenite), sulfide-potassium feldspar-quartz (with chalcopyrite and bornite), and sulfide-quartz-sericite (with chalcopyrite) stockwork veining with copper-molybdenum mineralization. They are characterized by moderate concentrations of Cu (0.1–0.3 %, reaching 1.1 %) and Mo (up to 0.1 %), low concentrations of Au (up to 0.1 g/t) and Ag (up to 2.6 g/t) and have a Cu-Mo-(Au, Ag, Pb, Zn, Sb, As) geochemical signature. Fluid inclusion data suggest the formation of mineralized veinlet quartz during the magmatic-hydrothermal transition (430–150 °С) with solutions at high (50 wt % NaCl equiv.), medium and low concentration (5–18.9 wt % NaCl equiv.) involved under the cooling-dilution scenario. Values of the main geochemical indicators, such as Cu/Mo (30–60) and Cu/Au (&gt; 1 × 105) ratios allowed us to assign the Tal’nikovoye ore field to the porphyry copper-molybdenum type characteristic of continental-margin volcano-plutonic belts formed at the mafic island-arc basement. The geochemical parameters of porphyry granitoids indicate their formation in a setting of subduction-to-transform plate boundary transition.

Spatial distribution of porphyry copper deposits in Kerman Belt, Iran

The Kerman Cenozoic Magmatic Arc (KCMA, or Kerman Belt) in the southeastern part of the Urumieh–Dokhtar Magmatic Belt (UDMB) is considered as the most prospective geological province for porphyry copper deposits in Iran. Distance-based point pattern analysis methods, fractal analysis and Fry analysis are applied to porphyry copper deposits in order to gain insights into the geological controls over mineralization in the belt and suggest strategies for future exploration targeting. The results confirmed a significant structural control of strike-slip faults over the spatial distribution of deposits at the regional scale as previous structural studies defined it. The emplacement of porphyries in the Kerman Belt is likely controlled by extensional fault duplexes. The analyses further confirmed that there are two distinctly different sectors of porphyry copper mineralization in the Kerman Belt, namely, Sarduieh–Dahaj sector in the northwest and Jebal-e-Barez sector in the southeast as previous geological studies had demonstrated it. It is found that intrusive rock units, which form the permissive tracts for porphyry copper deposits in the Kerman Belt, are clustered, while the copper deposits within the permissive tracts generally show random distribution. It is recommended that predictive prospectivity modeling can be used to target mineralized intrusive bodies in the Kerman Belt; however direct detection techniques should be used to identify mineral deposits within the intrusive bodies.

Subduction-related Late Triassic Luerma porphyry copper deposit, western Gangdese, Tibet, China: Evidence from geology, geochemistry, and geochronology

Due to the difference of lithospheric structure between the eastern and western segment of Gangdese metallogenic belt, it is generally believed that porphyry copper deposits are mainly developed in the east. However, the newly discovered of Luerma porphyry copper deposit in the western segment of Gangdese provides an excellent research object for us to supplement this understanding. The molybdenite re-Os isotope dating of two samples from quartz veinlet ores (ca. 213.1 ± 5.2 Ma and ca. 212.0 ± 3.7 Ma), combined with the LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of three ore-bearing quartz monzonite porphyry samples (ca. 212.7 ± 0.9 Ma, 213.1 ± 1.1 Ma, and ca. 211.8 ± 1.8 Ma), indicates a new generation of Late Triassic Luerma copper porphyry-type mineralization events in the western Gangdese magmatic belt. The Luerma porphyry is a strongly peraluminous shoshonite series rock, is rich in silicon total alkalis, potassium and aluminum, has low contents of calcium, magnesium, and iron. It is enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements, relatively depleted in heavy rare earth elements and high field strength elements, and has negative Eu anomalies and no Ce anomalies. The porphyry exhibits relatively low (87Sr/86Sr)i values (0.705617 on average), high εNd(t) values (0.63 on average), high εHf(t) values (11.98 on average), and young two-stage Hf model ages. The Luerma ore-related porphyries are most likely generated dominantly from partial melting of juvenile crust that formed by metasomatized mantle during the subduction of the NeoTethys Ocean to the Lhasa terrane and underwent crystal fractionation during the process. The deposit is currently the oldest and westernmost porphyry deposit in the Gangdese porphyry copper belt, providing evidence that porphyry copper mineralization in this belt began in at least the Late Triassic.

A comparative analysis of multi-index overlay and fuzzy ordered weighted averaging methods for porphyry Cu prospectivity mapping using remote sensing data: the case study of Chahargonbad area, SE of Iran

One of the specific features of porphyry copper (Cu) mineralization is the distinct occurrence of hydrothermal alteration zones, which can be mapped by processing various satellite images. Among free multispectral images, Landsat 8 OLI and ASTER data are known to be efficient in mapping different geological features, such as alteration zones and tectonic lineaments. This study aims to show the potential of these data types in mapping porphyry Cu mineralization by proposing a framework for employing and integrating different image processing methods. These methods include principal component analysis (PCA), spectral angle mapper (SAM), and matched filtering (MF) employed on these satellite images to map target al.teration zones. Moreover, PCA and directional filtering are applied to the ASTER dataset to enhance and map structural features. The results are evaluated and then combined to provide a potential map of Cu mineralization in the Chahargonbad area, located within the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic belt (UDMB) in Kerman province, Iran. The prediction-area plot and normalized density, which are data-driven methods, are used to assign the relative weight of each layer and evaluate them. Finally, using the calculated weights, data-driven multi-index overlay (DMIO) and fuzzy ordered weighted averaging (FOWA) methods are applied to combine the evidential layers. The potential mineralization maps created by the DMIO and FOWA provide a prediction rate of 80% and 82%, respectively. Furthermore, the accuracy of the integrated maps is investigated using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The AUC scores obtained from the ROC curves of DMIO and FOWA methods are 0.85 and 0.88, respectively, representing powerful positive spatial relationships with mineralization areas. Based on the results, the proposed framework can be applied to provide a potential map of porphyry Cu mineralization, particularly in arid regions, with reasonable accuracy.

Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications of Late Carboniferous Intrusions in the Tuwu-Yandong Porphyry Cu Belt (NW China): Constraints from Geochronology, Geochemistry and Sr–Nd–Hf Isotopes

The Tuwu-Yandong porphyry Cu belt is located on the southern margin of the Dananhu island arc in eastern Tianshan, constituting the largest Cu metallogenic belt in Northwest China. Two episodes (~334 Ma and ~317 Ma) of porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization in the belt have been recognized, associated with Early and Late Carboniferous felsic intrusions, respectively. The Carboniferous intrusions, therefore, provide a unique opportunity to investigate tectono-magmatic-metallogenic evolution of the belt. New LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb dating indicates that the mineralization-related and post-mineralization intrusions (granodiorite porphyry, gabbro, and granite porphyry) were formed at 321.8 ± 3.1 Ma, 313.5 ± 1.2 Ma, and 309.8 ± 2.5 Ma, respectively. The zircon trace element shows that the granodiorite porphyry (Ce4+/Ce3+ ratios, avg. 129, median = 112, n = 15) was likely derived from a more oxidized (and hydrous) magma source than that of the gabbro (Ce4+/Ce3+ ratios, avg. 74, median = 40, n = 15) and granite porphyry (Ce4+/Ce3+ ratios, avg. 100, median = 91, n = 15), being favorable for porphyry copper mineralization. The granodiorite porphyry shows an adakitic affinity (e.g., high Sr/Y ratios and low Y contents) and has high εNd(t) (6.4–6.7), εHf(t) (11.4–14.3), and Mg# values (47.4–58.1) and low (87Sr/86Sr)i (0.703804–0.703953), suggesting that the melt was derived from partial melting of a subducted oceanic slab followed by mantle peridotite interaction. The gabbro exhibits higher Al2O3 (16.5–17.4 wt.%), Cr (107–172 ppm), and Ni (37–77 ppm) contents and εNd(t) (6.6–7.2), εHf(t) (11.6–15.9), and Mg # (53.3–59.9) values, while it has lower (87Sr/86Sr)i values (0.703681–0.703882) than the granodiorite porphyry, indicating a depleted mantle source. The granite porphyry exhibits an affinity with non-fractionated I-type granites and possesses higher SiO2 (71.1–72.0 wt.%) contents, lower but positive εNd(t) (4.8–5.2), εHf(t) (10.3–13.0), and Mg # (38.7–41.0) values, and higher (87Sr/86Sr)i (0.704544–0.704998) than the granodiorite porphyry and gabbro, together with young Nd and Hf model ages, suggesting that the parental magmas originated from the partial melting of a juvenile lower crust. The enrichment in LREEs and LILEs (e.g., Ba, U, K and Sr) and depletion in HFSEs (e.g., Nb, Ta, and Ti) indicate that these intrusive rocks formed in the subduction zone. With the integration of previous studies, it can be inferred that the northward flat subduction of the Kangguer ocean slab at ca. 335–315 Ma caused the formation of the adakites and associated porphyry Cu mineralization in the Tuwu-Yandong belt. After the prolonged flat subduction, slab rollback may have occurred at ca. 314–310 Ma, followed by a “quiet period” before the final closure of the ancient Tianshan Ocean along the Kangguer Fault in this belt.

Identifying potential porphyry copper mineralization at the Zhu’nuo ore-cluster district in western Gangdese, southern Tibet: Insights from shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectrometry and geochemical anomalies

The Zhu’nuo ore-cluster district in the western Gangdese belt, southern Tibet, is characterized by a significant Cu geochemical anomaly, where the Zhu’nuo super-large porphyry Cu deposit (PCD) was discovered by stream sediment geochemical method. However, due to the extended coverage of volcanic rocks of the Linzizong group and the large area of ore-forming element anomalies, it is quite difficult to locate the concealed PCDs only by geochemical method. Therefore, the application of new technical methods is urgently needed to guide the exploration breakthroughs in the Zhu’nuo district. Recently, our studies have shown that the wavelength variation of diagnostic absorption peaks of alteration minerals measured by shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectrometry is closely related to the mineralization temperature in the Zhu’nuo PCD, which can be footprints to trace the hydrothermal and/or mineralization (H/M) centers of porphyry ore systems. Hence, we carried out SWIR studies in the Luobuzhen-Cimabanshuo areas with high Cu geochemical anomaly. In this study, sixteen alteration minerals were identified by SWIR, consisting mainly of white mica, chlorite, epidote, and kaolinite. Among them, the white mica and chlorite were widely distributed in the study area, and the Al-OH wavelength position of white mica (∼2200 nm; Pos2200) and Fe-OH wavelength position of chlorite (∼2250 nm; Pos2250) varied between 2191–2219 nm and 2239–2260 nm, respectively. Moreover, there is an increasing trend of Pos2200 from porphyry center to periphery, whereas Pos2250 shows the opposite tendency. When combined with geochemical anomalies of stream sediments and geological characteristics and SWIR features in the Zhu’nuo PCD in study area, three potential H/M centers, namely Cimabanshuo, South Luobuzhen and Ya’nuri, were determined, which are dominated by short wave anomalies (Pos2200, 2191–2206 nm; Pos2350, 2243–2250 nm). Significantly, we showed that the Dongshibu-Hongshan-Luobuzhen may belong to the same porphyry system by SWIR. And SWIR implies that the true center is located in South Luobuzhen (H/M II), which has great prospecting potential in its depth, rather than the previously recognized Dongshibu Cu prospect delineated by stream sediment data. We found that the Dongshibu Cu prospect does not show any alteration information associated with porphyry mineralization as reflected by SWIR, consistent with the barren Cu results from the late drilling validation. This decoupling may be caused by the long-term migration and weathering of stream sediment samples, during which the obtained geochemical anomaly do not represent their in-situ information. Therefore, caution must be taken when using stream sediment data to delineate prospecting targets. Instead, SWIR is a potentially powerful vectoring tool to aid exploration for porphyry systems, especially in the western regions where the level of prospecting work is extremely low.

Geology, Geochemistry and Geophysical Studies in Exploration of Copper and Iron Reserves: A Case Study

The large Miocene stock work-vein porphyry copper mineralization of Sarcheshmeh are already known, but there are still few studies regarding mineral prospection in smaller deposits. This paper proposes exploration techniques for Cu prospecting in Hefdah Chenar area, Kerman Province, Iran, as case study. This study investigate the Hefdah Chenar area's mineralization in light of its natural context, focusing on geology, geochemistry, and geophysics. Hefdah Chenar district consists of an Eocene volcanic andesite succession with a gently northeast dipping, which was intruded by at least two phases of copper-bearing granodiorite porphyries. Several documents and data including topographic, geological, land use, soils maps, Hefdah Chenar area's map, field visit, the geochemical study's results, and stream sediment samples proved the presence of some points with a grade higher than the threshold limit. The results of the geophysical IP&amp;RS method indicated that the sulfur mineralization trend was northeast and consistent with the effects of surface mineralization. The result of this investigation indicates that based on the results of geophysical models, there is an increase in the amount of induced polarization at the location of possible faults. Furthermore, among these, magnetic data presents that there is no significant changes except in areas with magnetic veins.