A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science (Geology), for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy,University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,1979 / This study is concerned with the geological history and porphyry- type copper molybdenum of the southeastern Richtersveld Province, in southern South West Africa. An area of approximately 300 km2 centred on the Haib copper prospect, was mapped at a scale of 1:10 000 and subsequently reduced. Observations of facies changes, textural changes, structural and other geological features were recorded and processed. Field work was followed by petrological and geochemical investigations. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / WS2017

The Bingham porphyry Cu-Au-Mo deposit, Utah, may only be world-class because of substantial contributions of sulfur and metals from mafic alkaline magma to an otherwise unremarkable calc-alkaline system. Volcanic mafic alkaline rocks in the district are enriched in Cr, Ni, and Ba as well as ore-related constituents of Cu, Au, platinum group elements (PGE) and S. The bulk of the volcanic section that is comagmatic with ore-related porphyries is dacitic to trachytic in composition, but has inherited the geochemical signature of high Cr, Ni, and Ba from magma mixing with the mafic alkaline rocks. The volcanic section that most closely correlates in time with ore-related porphyries is very heterogeneous containing clasts of scoriaceous latite, latitic minette and flows of melanephelinite, shoshonite and olivine latite in addition to the volumetrically dominant dacite/trachyte. Bingham ore-related porphyries show ample evidence of prior mixing with mafic alkaline magmas. Intrusive porphyries that have not been previously studied well have several chemical and mineralogical indications of magma mixing. These "mixed" lithologies include the hybrid quartz monzonite porphyry, biotite porphyry, and minette dikes. Even some of the more silicic latite and monzonite porphyries retain high Cr and Ba contents indicative of mixing and contain trace amounts of sapphire ( Magma mixing calculations suggest about 10% of the monzonitic/latitic ore-related magma may have been derived from mafic alkaline magma similar to the melanephelinite. If the original S content of the mafic magma was about 2000-4000 ppm, comparable to similar magmas, then the mafic magma may have been responsible for contributing more than half of the S and a significant portion of the Cu, Au, and PGE in the Bingham deposit.

Thesis. 1978. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth and Planetary Science. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Bibliography: leaves 111-114. / Ph.D.

Silicate melt inclusions are ubiquitous in quartz phenocrysts, yet there are few studies of such inclusions from porphyry copper systems. A melt inclusion forms when magma is trapped in a growing phenocryst. If a phenocryst is able to preserve the original parent magma, then accurate information can be obtained for ancient volcanic systems. In recent igneous systems, melt inclusions are commonly preserved as optically clear homogeneous glass representative of magma stored at depth before eruption. Melt inclusions are difficult to recognize in quartz phenocrysts from porphyry copper system because they are crystalline and hidden by exsolved magmatic volatiles. The inclusions range in size from less than 5 to over 150 μm. In order to evaluate the magmatic contribution to economic mineralization, we conducted three separate studies to determine whether or not crystallized melt inclusions preserve representative samples of magma. The first study modeled the phase relationships that occur during equilibrium crystallization and melting of haplogranite magma trapped in quartz. Results from the model are similar to observations made during the heating of crystallized melt inclusions from porphyry copper systems. It is necessary to re-melt the crystal and volatile phases before chemical analysis. Micro-explosions caused by heating resulted in the loss of important chemical components. Our second study evaluated several microthermometric heating procedures using synthetic melt inclusions trapped at conditions similar to those inferred for porphyry copper systems. A synthetic hydrous melt was saturated with saline hydrothermal solutions allowing both melt and aqueous fluids to be trapped in quartz. Based on microthermometric measurements from these coeval melt and aqueous fluid inclusions we were able to predict the known trapping temperature and pressure of formation. This technique can be applied to natural samples to constrain trapping pressures and temperatures. It was found that slower heating rates could be used to avoid overheating and that heating under a confining pressure greatly minimizes the decrepitation of inclusions. The third study examined the copper concentrations in melt inclusions from the Red Mountain, Arizona porphyry copper system. Older andesite magma contains pyroxene with melt inclusions of higher copper concentrations compared to melt inclusions in quartz from quartz latite. The higher water concentrations in crystallized melt inclusions in the quartz, and abundant aqueous fluid inclusions indicates that the exsolution of water from the magma occurred prior to the trapping of melt inclusions in quartz. The lower water concentrations and the absence of aqueous fluid inclusions indicates that the andesite never reached the stage of water exsolution. The results obtained here are consistent with models that suggest that copper is extracted from the melt by saline magmatic fluids, producing a metal-charged hydrothermal solution and leaving behind a metal-depleted melt and serves to identify the potential contribution of melt inclusion studies to constrain the origin of ore metals in porphyry copper deposits. / Ph. D.

Magmatic-hydrothermal systems typically have vertical extents of several hundred<br />meters and their geochemical characteristics (e.g. mineral assemblages) vary considerably<br />over that vertical extent. As a consequence the expression in outcrop varies depending on<br />the level of erosion. Therefore understanding the geochemical zonation of magmatic-hydrothermal<br />ore deposits opens the possibility to detect deep magmatic-hydrothermal<br />systems, and to assess qualitatively the degree of erosion that has taken place in the area<br />and at which level the mineralization may occur. This dissertation presents the<br />characterization of two shallow hydrothermal systems and their potential relations with<br />deeper magmatic-hydrothermal systems. In addition, this dissertation develops the<br />equations to directly interpret thermometric data from the fluid inclusion type dominant in<br />one of those deposits (fluid inclusions that homogenize by halite disappearance).<br />Red Mountain, AZ is a porphyry copper system with a well-preserved lithocap<br />providing an ideal candidate to characterize the shallow expression of porphyry copper<br />systems in the southwestern US. The distribution of fluid inclusions, alteration mineralogy<br />and grade indicate that the intrusive responsible for the mineralization was only partially<br />intercepted during the exploration program and that one single magmatic event was likely<br />responsible for the mineralization detected. Fluid inclusion types and clay minerals are<br />systematically distributed within the deposit. The fluid responsible for the shallow<br />hypogene mineralization was a low pH-intermediate temperature-low density fluid while a<br />high salinity fluid was responsible for deep mineralization.<br />Wutong is a Pb-Zn-Ag deposit in the Nanling belt (southeast China). The combination<br />of fluid inclusion and mineral thermometry indicates that the Wutong deposit formed at<br />relatively low pressures. The age and isotopic composition of the mineralization indicates<br />that the deposit formed during the Cretaceous from crustal derived fluids. The occurrence<br />of a shallow magmatic-hydrothermal system of Cretaceous age in this region suggests that<br />Cretaceous intrusions, despite not outcropping very commonly in this particular region may<br />occur at deeper levels. / Ph. D.

The geology, petrology and geochemistry of Catface porphyry Cu (Mo-Au) deposit, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island are examined in detail. Detailed core logging and sampling was carried out to characterize the geometry and identity of different intrusive phases and alteration styles prevalent during the emplacement and formation of the deposit, as well as their geochemical affinity. Early- and late-stage potassic alteration is identified, as well as main-stage sodic-calcic and calcic-sodic alteration. Four distinct Paleogene intrusive phases vary from quartz diorite to granodiorite in composition. The rocks are broadly calc-alkaline, weakly peraluminous to moderately metaluminous, and have typical arc geochemical affinity. The timing of emplacement and mineralization is constrained by U-Pb and Re-Os geochronology at 40.4-41.4 Ma and 40.9 ±0.2 Ma, respectively. All four Paleogene Catface intrusive phases were emplaced close in time with a direct temporal correlation to mineralization. The chalcopyrite- and pyrite-bearing miarolitic cavities in the Halo Porphyry intrusive, combined with U-Pb and Re-Os dates suggest this intrusive phase is the most likely source of mineralizing fluids. The intrusions were emplaced at depths of less four kilometers in the crust, as evidenced by the presence of miarolitic cavities and confirmed through amphibole-plagioclase thermobarometry, which record conditions of 615–700 °C and <200 MPa. The lack of primary anhydrite and hematite, and the presence of pyrrhotite in the ore system indicate a reduced magmatic-hydrothermal event. The SO3 contents in apatites are <450 ppm, indicative of a degassed and/or sulphate-free (reduced) magma. The assemblage K-feldspar-quartz-biotite-ilmenite yields oxygen fugacities (fO2) which are 0.5 to 3.0 log units below the quartz-fayalite-magnetite (QFM) buffer at an assumed pressure of 300 MPa; orders of magnitude more reduced than typical porphyry deposits. Parental magmas to the Catface deposit were either derived from intrinsically-reduced mantle, or more typical oxidized arc magma that was subsequently reduced during ascent and emplacement. Further isotopic work is required to determine which process contributed to the reduction of these magmas in an arc setting. Nevertheless, recognition of reduced porphyry-related magmatism on west-central Vancouver Island is of similar age to that of North Fork (~36.8-38.9 Ma) deposit in Washington suggesting a consanguinity of reduced magmatism with the Paleogene Cascade arc. / Graduate

The Gibraltar porphyry-Cu deposit is a large open pit porphyry Cu mine in Canada with the geological tonnage (production and reserves) of 3.2 Mt Cu. The Gibraltar deposit is hosted by the Granite Mountain Batholith (GMB), a tonalitic batholith with the surface exposure over 150 km2. All rocks within the batholith are tonalites with minor quartz diorites. The batholith intrudes into mafic volcanoclastic rocks of the Nicola group in the Quesnel terrane of the Canadian Cordillera. The Cu mineralization at Gibraltar is confined to a small 4.5 km2 area in the central part of the batholith and occurs primarily as disseminated chalcopyrite. New U-Pb dating on zircon shows protracted late Triassic magmatism spanning ~25 m.y. for the formation of the GMB. Early magmatism is dated at 229.2±4.4 Ma in unmineralized tonalites. Later, at least three magmatism form the Cu mineralization during a period spanning from 218.9±3.1 Ma to 205.8±2.1 Ma. These fertile magmas form in a more mature arc setting, superseded early barren magmatic activity in a more juvenile arc setting for the bulk of the GMB. Epidote in the GMB shows compositional zoning with Fe-poor cores and Fe-rich rims. The zoning in the mineralized intrusions likely reflects changes in hydrothermal fluid, from S-rich to S-poor. The data from the Gibraltar deposit shows that an economic porphyry Cu deposit may be found in igneous rocks with low Sr/Y in bulk rocks and low Eu/Eu* in zircon. In the Gibraltar deposit, Ce anomalies in zircon reflect oxidation conditions and are correlated with Cu resource associated with their respective intrusion.

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Late-stage fissure-filling ore at the world class Bingham Canyon, Utah, porphyry copper deposit has long been recognized, but poorly studied. Physical and chemical characterization of the Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag-Au mineralized fissures in the porphyry-epithermal transition zone provides insight into the origin, timing, and controls of ore deposition. These sheared sulfide-rich fissures are dominated by pyrite and multiple generations of quartz, with lesser amounts of other sulfides and gangue minerals. Au (0.27 to 4.61 ppm) provides the most value to the ore in the transition zone. Host rocks include Eocene monzonite and Paleozoic limestone and quartzite"”all of which can contain economic ore bodies. Associated alteration is predominantly sericitic and argillic. Mineralization into the wall rocks is restricted, not exceeding 1.5 m from the fissure margins. Mineral assemblages vary with distance from the center of the main Cu-Mo deposit and the modal abundances are dependent on host rock. The appearance of both galena and sphalerite (and tennantite to an extent) mark the transition from a porphyry to an epithermal environment. This is accompanied by an increased concentration of chalcophile trace elements in sulfides as determined by EMPA and LA-ICP-MS. Significant hosts of Ag include galena and tennantite, while Cu is hosted primarily in chalcopyrite, tennantite, and sphalerite. Gold does not appear to be hosted in solid solution, but may be focused along fractures or inclusions in pyrite. δ3434S values of fissure pyrite has a narrow range (+2.3 to 3.4‰), while δ18O of quartz is more variable and high (+11.5 to 14.0‰) relative to typical hydrothermal quartz. This can be explained by increased fractionation at lower temperatures in the magmatic fluids, which could have additionally mixed with exchanged 18O-rich meteoric water. Ore grades improve with distance from the center of the deposit; however, this is accompanied by higher concentrations of elements (Pb, As, Bi, etc.) undesirable for downstream processing. The mineralized fissures were created sequentially throughout the formation of the deposit. Initial joints probably formed as a result of the intrusion of a barren equigranular monzonite. The NE orientation of the joints was controlled by the regional stress field, which is more apparent distal to the center of the deposit. A quartz monzonite porphyry then intruded, dilating the joints to allow precipitation of quartz and then pyrite during the Cu-Au-stage of mineralization in the main ore body. After dike-like intrusions of latite porphyry and quartz latite porphyry intruded, galena, sphalerite, and pyrite precipitated to form the Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization. This was followed by late precipitation of chalcopyrite and tennantite (and likely Au mineralization).