Spatial distribution and formation conditions of Au-bearing porphyry Cu-Mo deposits in the Northeast of Russia

By analogy with other metallogenic belts of the Circum-Pacific ring, the metallogenic belts in the Northeast of Russia are promising for discovery of large and superlarge porphyry-type Au-Cu-Mo deposits. The spatial distribution of these deposits is controlled by intrusive domes in Middle Paleozoic, Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, and Late Cretaceous volcanic belts. New data on formation conditions and sources of ore matter are presented in this paper with respect to the deposits of the Baim and Koni-P’yagina ore districts of the Oloi and Uda-Murgal metallogenic belts. Some aspects of a geological and genetic model of the porphyry copper ore-magmatic system are discussed.     

Hydrothermal alteration and fluid inclusion study of the Lower Cretaceous porphyry Cu–Au deposit of Tiámaro, Michoacán, Mexico

The Tiámaro deposit in Michoacán state has been dated as Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian), though most of the porphyry deposits in central Mexico were dated or have an attributed Eocene–Oligocene age. The host rocks belong to a volcanoplutonic complex overlain by red conglomerates. These rocks were intruded by pre-Valanginian plutonic and hypabissal rocks. Propylitic, phyllic, and argillic alteration assemblages developed, and their superimposition draws the evolution of the deposit. Stage I is represented by propylitic assemblages, stage II contains the main ore forming stockworks and both phyllic and argillic assemblages, and stage III contains late carbonatization assemblages. The obtained temperatures and salinities from inclusion fluids are low for a porphyry-type deposit, but we interpret that the known part of the deposit represents the shallow portion of a bigger deposit. The evolution of mineralizing fluids draws a dilution trend of brines from “porphyry-like” to “epithermal-like” stages. The richest ore zone is roughly located between the 300 and 350 °C isotherms, though unnoticed resources may occur at depth.     

Ore-magmatic systems and metallogeny of gold and silver in Northeastern Asia

Regional ore-magmatic systems (OMS’s) and metallogenic gold-silver belts in northeastern Asia are considered, with emphasis placed on their relationships owing to the effect of geodynamic settings and underlying and host rock sequences on the localization of gold and silver deposits of different types. Particular types of lithologic assemblages with specific mineralogical and geochemical features are persistent throughout the metallogenic belts, controlled by regional noble-metal OMS’s. Regional OMS’s with one-, two-, and multilevel local OMS’s producing different types of noble-metal mineralization are described. The problem of mineral typomorphism in metallogenic analysis has been first raised. This analysis permits one to recognize indicators of ore formation (a particular genetic type of deposits, their formation and denudation levels), sources of ore-forming fluids, regional specific geochemistry and its relationship with magmatism. Regular presence of platinum in gold-bearing metallogenic zones is shown.     

Porphyry Cu–Au–Mo–epithermal Ag–Pb–Zn–distal hydrothermal Au deposits in the Dexing area, Jiangxi province, East China—A linked ore system

Based on previous studies and detailed field investigations of the Dexing porphyry copper deposit, the Yinshan Ag-Pb-Zn deposit and the Jinshan shear zone – hosted gold deposit in the Dele Jurassic volcanic basin, in the northeastern Jiangxi province, East China, we propose that the three deposits share spatial, temporal and genetic relationships and belong to the same metallogenic system. Dexing is a typical porphyry Cu–Au–Mo deposit in which both ore-forming fluid and metals are derived from the granite porphyry. The Yinshan deposit consists of a porphyry copper ore located in the cupola of a quartz porphyry stock, in the lower part, and Ag–Pb–Zn ore veins in the upper part. The hydrothermal fluids were mainly derived from the magma in the early stages of the mineralizing event and became mixed with meteoric waters in the late stages. Its ore metals are magma-derived. Both the Jinshan base metal veins and the Hamashi, Dongjie and Naikeng quartz vein-type gold deposit are hosted by brittle–ductile structures, which are distal in relation to the porphyry intrusions and were formed by mixed magmatic fluids and meteoric water, whereas the gold was mainly leached from the country rocks (Mesoproterozoic Shuangqiaoshan Group phyllite and schist). The deposits show a distinct spatial arrangement from porphyry Cu, to epithermal Ag–Pb–Zn and distal Au. We suggest a porphyry–epithermal–distal vein ore system model for this group of genetically related mineral deposits. They were formed in a back-arc setting in a Middle Jurassic active continental margin, with magmas derived from the subducted slab.     

Undiscovered porphyry copper resources in the Urals—A probabilistic mineral resource assessment

A probabilistic mineral resource assessment of metal resources in undiscovered porphyry copper deposits of the Ural Mountains in Russia and Kazakhstan was done using a quantitative form of mineral resource assessment. Permissive tracts were delineated on the basis of mapped and inferred subsurface distributions of igneous rocks assigned to tectonic zones that include magmatic arcs where the occurrence of porphyry copper deposits within 1 km of the Earth's surface are possible. These permissive tracts outline four north-south trending volcano-plutonic belts in major structural zones of the Urals. From west to east, these include permissive lithologies for porphyry copper deposits associated with Paleozoic subduction-related island-arc complexes preserved in the Tagil and Magnitogorsk arcs, Paleozoic island-arc fragments and associated tonalite-granodiorite intrusions in the East Uralian zone, and Carboniferous continental-margin arcs developed on the Kazakh craton in the Transuralian zone. The tracts range from about 50,000 to 130,000 km² in area. The Urals host 8 known porphyry copper deposits with total identified resources of about 6.4 million metric tons of copper, at least 20 additional porphyry copper prospect areas, and numerous copper-bearing skarns and copper occurrences.Probabilistic estimates predict a mean of 22 undiscovered porphyry copper deposits within the four permissive tracts delineated in the Urals. Combining estimates with established grade and tonnage models predicts a mean of 82 million metric tons of undiscovered copper. Application of an economic filter suggests that about half of that amount could be economically recoverable based on assumed depth distributions, availability of infrastructure, recovery rates, current metals prices, and investment environment.     

Close linkage of copper (and uranium) transport to diagenetic reddening of “upstream” basin sediments for sediment-hosted stratiform copper (and roll-type uranium) mineralization

Copper and uranium may be closely associated metals in sedimentary basins in which “upstream” sediments have been diagenetically reddened (e.g., sediment-hosted stratiform copper (SSC) deposits and roll-type uranium deposits) and the immediate hosts of mineralization are adjacent reduced sediments. The timing of leaching is closely linked to the process and timing of reddening, with descending meteoric water providing the oxygen needed for the reddening process. To leach and transport copper, the low-temperature pore solution must evolve to a brine, and importantly, its Eh must decrease to moderately positive levels (0.1 ± 0.1 V). For uranium, a simple oxidized solution is sufficient. Given the parallel Eh paths for copper and uranium and their close associations with diagenetic reddening, the dominant metal in sediment-hosted stratiform copper or roll-type uranium deposits is probably related closely to the source mineral and/or rock constituents of the reddened sediments.     

滇西北中甸地区的铜金找矿远景

滇西北中甸地区的铜,金矿产,分别以印支期和喜马拉雅期作为主要成矿期。铜矿分西矿带和东矿带。西矿带重点应加强欧赛拉－阿热－带的铜（多金属）矿勘查;东矿带的独哥－地苏嘎－欠虽一带是寻找斑岩型铜多金属矿最有远景的地区。寻找喜马拉雅期金矿床,重点应放在甭哥以东的富碱斑岩出露区。     

Geological Setting of the Porphyry Copper Deposit Series of China

In accordance with the terms global minerogenic series, regional metallogenic series and ore depositsystem which are put forward here, metallogenic environments at different levels are discussed for theporphyry copper deposit series in China. It is considered that the porphyry copper deposits in China arecontrolled not only by the boundaries of convergent plates but, more importantly, by the boundaries ofintraplate divergent mobile belts and those between continental blocks. Besides, the emplacement ofhypabyssal and supper-hypabyssal calc-alkaline magmas and the temporal-spatial distribution of China'sporphyry copper deposits are governed by the superimposition of fracture systems of the pre-Alpine base-ments. Meso-Cenozoic cover and continental-margin new-born crust. Such a superimposition has also re-sulted in the polycyclicity of the mineralization.     

与花岗质岩浆系统有关的石英脉型钨矿和斑岩型铜矿成矿流体特征比较

文中对比了与S型花岗岩有关的石英脉型钨矿和与I型（及少数A型）花岗岩类有关的斑岩型铜矿床的成矿流体特征。它们的共同点在于成矿流体都由岩浆流体演化而来,在后期逐渐有大气降水的加入。差异性在于：（1）石英脉型钨矿成矿流体主要属于中—中高温、中—中低盐度的NaCl-H2O±CO2体系,而斑岩型铜矿属于中高-高温、高盐度的Na...     

Mesozoic molybdenum deposits in the east Qinling–Dabie orogenic belt: Characteristics and tectonic settings

The East Qinling–Dabie orogenic belt accommodates the largest Mo ore district in the world. It contains 8.43 Mt of proven Mo metal reserves which accounts for 66% of the total proven Chinese Mo reserves. The Mo ore district includes 24 deposits and 12 occurrences, with four major types of Mo mineral systems, i.e., porphyry, porphyry-skarn, skarn and hydrothermal veins. The latter can be further subdivided into quartz vein and carbonatite vein types. Although Mo mineralization in the belt began in the Paleoproterozoic (1680 ± 24 to 2044 ± 14 Ma), all economically significant deposits were formed during the Mesozoic. Re/Os dating of molybdenite has shown that there are three episodes of Mo mineralization, i.e., Late Triassic (233–221 Ma), Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (148–138 Ma) and Early to middle Cretaceous (131–112 Ma).Late Triassic Mo deposits developed as molybdenite–quartz veins and carbonatite vein types. Stable isotope systematics (C, O, S) and high contents of Re and Sr indicate that the carbonatite Mo veins are mantle-derived. Porphyry and porphyry–skarn Mo mineral deposits were formed in the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and Early to middle Cretaceous. The Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granite porphyries that are associated with the Mo deposits usually occupy less than 1.5 km² at the surface and are situated in the East Qinling area, far west of China's continental margin. On the other hand, the Early to middle Cretaceous batholiths and granite porphyries, , with associated Mo deposits are located in the Dabieshan area and eastern part of the East Qinling area. The Late Jurassic to Early Creataceous granitoids and related Mo deposits possibly formed in a back-arc extensional setting of the Eurasian continental margin, which was probably triggered by the oblique subduction of the Izanagi plate. The Early to middle Cretaceous batholiths and granite porphyries are linked to the tectonic regime of lithospheric thinning, asthenospheric upwelling and partial melting of the crust, induced by a change in Izanagi Plate motion parallel to the continent margin.In the East Qinling–Dabie belt there are vein type Pb–Zn–Ag deposits surrounding porphyry and/or porphyry–skarn Mo (W) deposits, forming well defined ore clusters. The same spatial arrangement (i.e., porphyry Mo stockworks and outlying Pb–Zn–Ag ore veins) is also observed at the deposit scale. Thus, Mo porphyry stockworks and distal polymetallic veins belong to the same ore system and may reflect an outward temperature decrease from the highly fractionated granite plutons. Both, porphyry stockworks and polymetallic veins, can be used as vectors for further prospecting.     

Simple and Ordinary Multigaussian Kriging for Estimating Recoverable Reserves

Multigaussian kriging is used in geostatistical applications to assess the recoverable reserves in ore deposits, or the probability for a contaminant to exceed a critical threshold. However, in general, the estimates have to be calculated by a numerical integration (Monte Carlo approach). In this paper, we propose analytical expressions to compute the multigaussian kriging estimator and its estimation variance, thanks to polynomial expansions. Three extensions are then considered, which are essential for mining and environmental applications: accounting for an unknown and locally varying mean (local stationarity), accounting for a block-support correction, and estimating spatial averages. All these extensions can be combined; they generalize several known techniques like ordinary lognormal kriging and uniform conditioning by a Gaussian value. An application of the concepts to a porphyry copper deposit shows that the proposed “ordinary multigaussian kriging” approach leads to more realistic estimates of the recoverable reserves than the conventional methods (disjunctive and simple multigaussian krigings), in particular in the nonmineralized undersampled areas.     

Comparative metallogenic description of the pyritic and copper porphyry associations

We consider features of deposits of pyritic and copper porphyry associations of three types of volcanic belts: primary geosynclinal belts with pyritic volcanogenic-sedimentary deposits, secondary geosynclinal belts with pyrites of the Kuroko type, associated with copper porphyry deposits, and regions of tectonomagmatic activation with deposits of copper porphyry and stockwork molybdenum associations, devoid of mineralization of the pyritic type. —Author.     

Ore-bearing hydrothermal metasomatic processes in the Elbrus volcanic center, the northern Caucasus, Russia

Precaldera, caldera, and postcaldera cycles are recognized in the geological evolution of the Pleistocene-Holocene Elbrus volcanic center (EVC). During the caldera cycle, the magmatic activity was not intense, whereas hydrothermal metasomatic alteration of rocks was vigorous and extensive. The Kyukyurtli and Irik ore-magmatic systems have been revealed in the EVC, with the former being regarded as the more promising one. The ore mineralization in rocks of the caldera cycle comprises occurrences of magnetite, ilmenite, pyrite and pyrrhotite (including Ni-Co varieties), arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, millerite, galena, and finely dispersed particles of native copper. Pyrite and pyrrhotite from volcanics of the caldera cycle and dacite of the Kyukyurtli extrusion are similar in composition and differ from these minerals of the postcaldera cycle, where pyrite and pyrrhotite are often enriched in Cu, Co, and Ni and millerite is noted as well. The composition of ore minerals indicates that the hydrothermal metasomatic alteration related to the evolution of the Kyukyurtli hydrothermal system was superimposed on rocks of the caldera cycle, whereas the late mineralization in rocks of the postcaldera cycle developed autonomously. The homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions in quartz and carbonate from crosscutting veinlets in the apical portion of the Kyukyurtli extrusion is 140–170°C and in quartz from geyserite, 120–150°C. The temperature of formation of the chalcopyrite-pyrite-pyrrhotite assemblage calculated using mineral geothermometers is 156 and 275°C in dacite from the middle and lower portions of the Malka lava flow and 190°C in dacite of the Kyukyurtli extrusion. The hydrothermal solutions that participated in metasomatic alteration of rocks pertaining to the Kyukyurtli ore-magmatic system (KOMS) and formed both secondary quartzite and geyserite were enriched in fluorine, as evidenced from the occurrence of F-bearing minerals-zharchikhite, ralstonite, α-ralstonite, and fluorite-identified in these metasomatic rocks for the first time. By analogy with porphyry Cu-Mo deposits in Chile and the United States, the ore mineralization of the KOMS may be classified by composition and textural and structural attributes as a supraore level of porphyry copper genetic type. The volcanic rocks of the KOMS and the EVC as a whole are enriched in Ag, Mo, Zn, As, Sb, Se, and Ba. Judging from the scale of argillic alteration and taking into account the data on porphyry Cu-Mo ore-magmatic systems of the Greater Caucasus, veined Pb-Zn ore mineralization may be expected in the propylitic zone at a depth down to 1000 m from the present-day erosion level of the KOMS. Stringer-disseminated Au-Ag, Cu, and Cu-Mo ore mineralization of the upper part of the porphyry ore-magmatic system related to subvolcanic dacitic intrusions may be localized somewhat deeper.     

俯冲、碰撞、深断裂和埃达克岩与斑岩铜矿

无论是碰撞前的B型俯冲,还是碰撞后的A型俯冲,形成斑岩铜矿都必须要有洋壳或上地幔为主的物质参与.因此斑岩铜矿的初始锶值都小于0.708,超过0.708,则意味地壳物质的增多,将形成斑岩钼矿和斑岩钨锡矿.斑岩铜矿带常常与切穿地壳的深断裂带平行共生,并产于其上盘,在该地带往往发育壳幔混合以幔为主的深源花岗质浅成-超浅成小斑岩体.含铜斑岩和埃达克岩可能均为俯冲和交代产物,因而具有相似的特征,但到俯冲末期它们分道扬镳了.文章通过对冈底斯斑岩铜(钼、金和多金属)矿带的分析,来讨论俯冲、碰撞和深断裂带与斑岩铜矿的关系.同时也通过我国中央碰撞造山带仅发育斑岩钼矿,而缺乏斑岩铜矿,从而证明上地幔物质的加入对斑岩铜(金)矿的重要意义.     

中国主要类型铜矿勘查地球化学模型

本文是《中国主要类型铜矿隐伏矿地球化学预测指标研究》项目成果的综述。该项目以我国40多个铜矿床不同级次的地质、地球化学资料为基础,研究了斑岩型、夕卡岩型、复合型、岩浆型、海相火山岩型、沉积变质—热液改造型和热液脉型铜矿的矿带、矿田、矿床地球化学特征,总结了各矿床的地球化学异常模式,建立了各铜矿类型的勘查地球化学模式—模型系统。     

中国新生代上地幔铅同位素地球化学场对成岩、成矿物质来源的制约——以斑岩铜矿床及铜镍硫化物矿床为例

区域成矿带铅稳定同位素地球化学研究是区域地球化学分区、示踪成岩成矿物质来源、阐明矿床成因的有效途径。本文以中国特有的大地构造背景为基础,以新生代上地幔铅同位素组成的地球化学场为依据,示踪了中国大型、超大型斑岩型铜矿床及铜镍硫化物型矿床的成岩成矿物质来源。结果显示:①斑岩型铜矿床及铜镍硫化物型矿床成矿母岩继承了所属陆块的上地幔铅同位素组成特征;②两类矿床的含矿岩体和矿石矿物铅同位素组成十分一致,示踪两者同源;壳熔花岗岩和围岩地层的铅同位素组成与矿石铅同位素组成迥异;③位于各陆块的斑岩型铜矿床及铜镍硫化物型矿床的成矿母岩和矿石铅同位素组成除继承了各陆块上地幔不同的铅同位素组成特征外,还示踪了壳幔层圈间耦合性的"块体效应",同时,上地幔铅同位素组成可能还具"延迟效应"。     

The role of the Antofagasta–Calama Lineament in ore deposit deformation in the Andes of northern Chile

During the Late Jurassic–Early Oligocene interval, widespread hydrothermal copper mineralization events occurred in association with the geological evolution of the southern segment of the central Andes, giving rise to four NS-trending metallogenic belts of eastward-decreasing age: Late Jurassic, Early Cretaceous, Late Paleocene–Early Eocene, and Late Eocene–Early Oligocene. The Antofagasta–Calama Lineament (ACL) consists of an important dextral strike-slip NE-trending fault system. Deformation along the ACL system is evidenced by a right-lateral displacement of the Late Paleocene–Early Eocene metallogenic belts. Furthermore, clockwise rotation of the Early Cretaceous Mantos Blancos copper deposit and the Late Paleocene Lomas Bayas porphyry copper occurred. In the Late Eocene–Early Oligocene metallogenic belt, a sigmoidal deflection and a clockwise rotation is observed in the ACL. The ACL is thought to have controlled the emplacement of Early Oligocene porphyry copper deposits (34–37 Ma; Toki, Genoveva, Quetena, and Opache), whereas it deflected the Late Eocene porphyry copper belt (41–44 Ma; Esperanza, Telégrafo, Centinela, and Polo Sur ore deposits). These observations suggest that right-lateral displacement of the ACL was active during the Early Oligocene. We propose that the described structural features need to be considered in future exploration programs within this extensively gravel-covered region of northern Chile.     

斑岩铜矿床在东特提斯成矿域中的时空分布特征

已有的斑岩铜矿床成矿模型多是建立在环太平洋地区矿床资料的基础上,相对而言,特提斯成矿域中的斑岩铜矿床还有待梳理和总结.本文以特提斯构造演化与成矿为主线,将东特提斯成矿域中的斑岩铜矿床空间上划分为土耳其Pontides、伊朗中部Sahand-Bazman、巴基斯坦Chagai、中国玉龙、中甸、班公湖、冈底斯7条成矿带和中南半岛、土耳其Anatolides地块2个成矿区;时间上分别对应于早三叠世、晚三叠世、白垩纪中期、白垩纪末-古新世初、中始新世、中中新世等6个时段;构造背景分别为古、新特提斯洋盆俯冲或俯冲后的碰撞;讨论认为Sahand-Bazman铜矿带的形成背景与玉龙成矿带可对比.     

冈底斯斑岩铜矿成矿模式

已有的斑岩铜矿成矿模式都是建立在“B”型俯冲基础上的,而冈底斯斑岩铜矿成矿为18～12Ma,主碰撞期为65Ma,因此属于“A”型俯冲时期,即印度大陆壳俯冲到亚洲大陆壳之下的早期,此时夹于两者之间的新特提斯洋壳尚未消失掉,由此上地幔脱水和部分熔融提供了斑岩铜矿的主要成矿的物质来源。本文讨论了俯冲作用与斑岩铜矿的关系,通过驱龙和冲江两个代表性矿床的Nd、Sr同位素讨论了冈底斯斑岩铜矿成矿物质来源,通过矿带结构和成矿年代等制定了冈底斯斑岩铜矿成矿模式。     

Geological Characteristics and Ore‐forming Time of the Dexing Porphyry Copper Ore Mine in Jiangxi Province

The Dexing porphyry copper ore mine is located in the Qin-Hang metallogenic belt between the Yangtze block and the Cathaysia block. It is a giant porphyry copper mine in China, including 3 ore districts: Tongchang, Fujiawu and Zhushahong. Our analyses of Re in molybdenite indicate that the ore-forming material of the copper ore deposits in Dexing should be mainly mantle-derived. Our study fills in a gap in the study of formation time of the Dexing copper mine, and further proves that the copper ore deposits in the three ore districts should be formed simultaneously, about 170 Ma, belonging to the early Yanshan period, and that the formation time of the copper ore deposits should be consistent with the formation time of granodiorite porphyry in which the copper ore deposits are hosted. Promising areas for seeking porphyry copper ore deposits is predicated to be the west or southwest of Dexing.