Geochemical Characteristics of Granitoids of the Erdenet Porphyry Copper Deposit, Mongolia

Abstract. The Erdenet porphyry copper deposit is one of the major mineral deposits in Mongolia. The geochemical data of granitoids acquired for the Erdenet and its surrounding areas are re-examined. The granitoids of the Erdenet deposit with hypogene type mineralization show the lowest TiO₂ content. Although Ti was possibly lost through the pyritization, it is also possible that the hypogene type mineralization occurred accompanied with the most differentiated granitoids. The variation of the element contents related to the mineralization of the Erdenet deposit shows the decrease of MgO and CaO contents, rather constant K₂O content, rather constant to decrease of Na₂O content, with respect to the Cu contents. The rather constant Na₂O in the mineralized zone is owing to the residual albite against the sericitic alteration. The granitoids of the Erdenet area show an increase of Na₂O content and a decrease of K₂O content with an increase of SiO₂ content. This trend makes clear contrast to granitoids in the surrounding areas. The granitoids of the Erdenet area might have the adakitic nature based on the Sr and Y contents.