Porphyry indicator minerals and their mineral chemistry as vectoring and fertility tools

Wilkinson, Jamie J.; Cooke, David R.; Baker, MJ; Chang, Zhaoshan; Wilkinson, CC; Chen, H; Fox, N; White, N; Gemmell, J. Bruce; Loader, MA; Pacey, A; Sievwright, RH; Hart, Lemon; Brugge, ER

doi:10.4095/306317

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Plot of Sb and Yb versus As concentrations in epidote from the El Teniente area in comparison to data from the Baguio porphyry district, Philippines, and several regional metamorphic terranes. Georgetown inlier and Harts Range Proterozoic terrane data from Baker et al (2017), Baguio data from Cooke et al (2014b), and West Scotland Paleozoic Moine and Dalradian data from Wilkinson et al (2017). Note that a large proportion of metamorphic analyses (not shown) were below the limit of detection for As and Sb (typically ~1 ppm for As and 0.1 ppm for Sb).…”

Section: Epidote Vectoring and Fertility Indicatorsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Exploration Targeting in Porphyry Cu Systems Using Propylitic Mineral Chemistry: A Case Study of the El Teniente Deposit, Chile

et al. 2020

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The mineral chemistry of epidote and chlorite from the propylitic halo at El Teniente, in samples collected at distances up to 6.6 km from the deposit center, was determined by microprobe and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Results show that both minerals systematically incorporated a range of trace elements that define a much larger footprint to the system than is easily recognized using conventional means such as whole-rock geochemistry. Apart from Fe and Mg in chlorite, there is no significant control of mineral chemistry by bulk-rock composition. For chlorite, geothermometry temperatures and Ti and V concentrations are high proximal, whereas Li, As, Co, Sr, Ca, and Y are low proximal and elevated in distal positions. Ratios of these elements define gradients toward ore varying over three to five orders of magnitude. The proximal-high Ti content is thought to reflect crystallization temperature, whereas proximal-low signatures are believed to characterize elements that are relatively fluid mobile in the inner parts of the propylitic halo in the presence of mildly alkaline to mildly acidic and oxidized fluids so that they are not incorporated into crystallizing chlorite, despite being generally compatible within the mineral structure. These elements begin to substitute into chlorite in the distal parts of the propylitic halo where fluids are largely rock buffered in terms of major element chemistry. In epidote, As defines a broad proximal low and is generally elevated at distances of at least 3 km from the edge of the ore shell. Zinc, La, Yb, Y, and Zr in epidote, among others, appear to define a geochemical shoulder that surrounds the deposit. These patterns are broadly similar to those observed in previous work at Batu Hijau and in the Baguio district, suggesting that these minerals behave consistently in porphyry systems and can therefore provide useful exploration tools within propylitic green rocks.

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Section: Epidote Vectoring and Fertility Indicatorsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Exploration Targeting in Porphyry Cu Systems Using Propylitic Mineral Chemistry: A Case Study of the El Teniente Deposit, Chile

et al. 2020

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“…A review of historical explorations shows that most mineral discoveries have been made within 300 m of the surface [58], and yet mining is possible, even for base metals, below depths of 2 km (Figure 4). Discovery at such depths is possible using new geophysical and other targeting tools like mineral vectoring [59]. A recent example of new geophysics success is the use of seismic methods, a technique normally restricted to hydrocarbon exploration, in the discovery of deep extensions to the Navan Pb-Zn body in Ireland more than 1 km below the previously known mineralization [60].…”

Section: Brownfields and Deep Geological Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Raw Material Challenge of Creating a Green Economy

Herrington

2024

Minerals

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Clean technologies and infrastructure for our low-carbon, green future carry intense mineral demands. The ambition remains to recycle and reuse as much as we can; however, newly mined resources will be required in the near term despite the massive improvements in the reuse and recycling of existing end-of-use products and wastes. Growth trends suggest that mining will still play a role after 2050 since the demand for metals will increase as the developing world moves toward a per capita usage of materials comparable to that of the developed world. There are sufficient geological resources to deliver the required mineral commodities, but the need to mine must be balanced with the requirement to tackle environmental and social governance issues and to deliver sustainable development goals, ensuring that outcomes are beneficial for both the people and planet. Currently, the lead time to develop new mines following discovery is around 16 years, and this needs to be reduced. New approaches to designing and evaluating mining projects embracing social, biodiversity, and life cycle analysis aspects are pivotal. New frontiers for supply should include neglected mined wastes with recoverable components and unconventional new deposits. New processing technologies that involve less invasive, lower energy and cleaner methodologies need to be explored, and developing such methodologies will benefit from using nature-based solutions like bioprocessing for both mineral recovery and for developing sustainable landscapes post mining. Part of the new ambition would be to seek opportunities for more regulated mining areas in our own backyard, thinking particularly of old mineral districts of Europe, rather than relying on sources with potentially and less controllable, fragile, and problematic supply chains. The current debate about the potential of mining our deep ocean, as an alternative to terrestrial sources needs to be resolved and based on a broader analysis; we can then make balanced societal choices about the metal and mineral supply from the different sources that will be able to deliver the green economy while providing a net-positive deal for the planet and its people.

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Chemistry of rock-forming silicate and sulfide minerals in the granitoids and volcanic rocks of the Zefreh porphyry Cu–Mo deposit, central Iran: Implications for crystallization, alteration, and mineralization potential

Khosravi

Christiansen

Rajabzadeh

2021

Ore Geology Reviews

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Porphyry indicator minerals and their mineral chemistry as vectoring and fertility tools

Cited by 8 publications

References 12 publications

Exploration Targeting in Porphyry Cu Systems Using Propylitic Mineral Chemistry: A Case Study of the El Teniente Deposit, Chile

Exploration Targeting in Porphyry Cu Systems Using Propylitic Mineral Chemistry: A Case Study of the El Teniente Deposit, Chile

The Raw Material Challenge of Creating a Green Economy

Chemistry of rock-forming silicate and sulfide minerals in the granitoids and volcanic rocks of the Zefreh porphyry Cu–Mo deposit, central Iran: Implications for crystallization, alteration, and mineralization potential

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