The Island Arc (1999) 8, 47–55

Research Article
Tectonic setting of porphyry Cu–Au, Mo and related
mineralization associated with contrasted Neogene magmatism in
the Western Sulawesi Arc
R. SOERIA-ATMADJA,1 B. PRIADI,1 T. M. VAN LEEUWEN2 AND I. KAVALIERIS3
1
Jurusan Teknik Geologi, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesa 10 Bandung 40132,
2
PT. Rio Tinto Indonesia, Kotak Pos 7564, Jakarta 12075 and
3
Jalan Pinang Emas 8/US28, Pondok Indah, Jakarta 12310, Indonesia

Abstract The Neogene Western Sulawesi Arc, from the south going northwards, can be
divided into three magmatic provinces of K alkaline–shoshonitic (AK-SH), high-K calc-
alkaline (KCA), and low-K–normal calc-alkaline (TH-CA) affinity, referred to, respectively,
as South, Central and North Sulawesi. The origin of this magmatism in terms of subduc-
tion and collision processes is contentious. Four widely spaced Cu–Au porphyry, and one
Mo porphyry district(s) occur along the Western Sulawesi Arc, with the North Sulawesi
province being the most mineralized. This porphyry mineralization is part of a regional
belt that extends north into the Philippines and possibly south to the Sunda Arc. In western
Sulawesi, common features that define the porphyry belt are obscure because the por-
phyry districts cannot be simply related, either in terms of their magmatic affinity, nature
of basement, or tectonic setting. Nevertheless, it can be suggested that the generation of
porphyry Mo systems requires involvement of continental crust in terms of magma source,
while Au-rich porphyry systems are independent of the nature of the crust, and are derived
from a mantle source.

Key words: arc reversal, magmatism, porphyry Cu–Au, Sulawesi, tectonic setting.

INTRODUCTION K-alkaline–shoshonitic (AK-SH), high-K calc-

During the past 25 years extensive mineral explo-
ration surveys primarily for Cu and Au have been
carried out in western Sulawesi (Fig. 1). This
exploration focused on Neogene volcanic and
intrusive rocks, and resulted in discovery of a
number of Cu–Au and Mo porphyry, and epither-
mal Au prospects, mainly located in the northern
part of this arc. More recently the Western
Sulawesi Arc has been the subject of several
geochemical, petrographic, and radiometric age
studies (Yuwono et al. 1988; Coffield et al. 1993;
Priadi 1993; Priadi et al. 1993, 1994), principally of
a reconnaissance nature. These investigations
show that the Neogene magmatic arc can be
divided into three distinct magmatic provinces of
Accepted for publication June 1998.
© 1999 Blackwell Science Asia Pty Ltd.
alkaline (KCA), and low-K–normal calc-alkaline
(TH-CA) affinity, respectively, which are referred
to as South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, and North
Sulawesi. The present article summarizes the
geochronology, geochemical characteristics, and
magmatic–hydrothermal mineralization of these
three provinces.
MAGMATISM AND TECTONIC SETTING
The present configuration of Sulawesi is the result
of a complex history of tectonic events involving
subduction and collision (Katili 1978; Hamilton
1979; Silver et al. 1983). Broadly, Sulawesi consists
of two terrains; a western magmatic belt, paired
with an eastern terrain comprising ophiolite,
blueschist, and Paleozoic continental fragments
(Sula and Buton microcontinents), the latter
48 R. Soeria-Atmadja et al.
Fig. 1 Tectonic setting of Western Sulawesi arc showing Neogene
magmatic provinces and the distribution of porphyry and related miner-
alization.
derived from the Australian continental plate
(Sukamto 1978). Mid-Tertiary collision between
these microcontinents and the Western Sulawesi
Arc has inactivated west-directed subduction south
of the northern tip of Sulawesi, and has led to arc
reversal, with renewed subduction from the North
Sulawesi Trench (Hamilton 1979; Silver et al. 1983).
According to Solomon (1990), arc reversal may lead
to the development of Cu–Au mineralization. The
South and Central segments of Western Sulawesi
are underlain by Mesozoic metasedimentary
basement belonging to the Sundaland continental
margin (Hamilton 1979), whereas basement
beneath North Sulawesi may be of transitional
character, including oceanic basalt (Priadi 1993)
correlatable to the Celebes Sea plate. Recent and
active volcanicity at the northern tip of Sulawesi
continues offshore as the Sangihe Arc, which is
intra-oceanic (Tatsumi et al. 1991).
The presence of leucite-bearing rocks in south-
ern Sulawesi was first reported by Wichmann
(1893). Subsequent investigations by geologists of
the Netherlands East Indies Geological Survey
showed that K-alkaline and shoshonitic (AK-SH)
rocks were widespread, covering more than 50% of
the land surface (Rutten 1927; van Bemmelen
1949). Volcanic rocks dominate, forming strato-
volcanic and caldera complexes, and voluminous
pyroclastic sequences. Lithologies include: shosho-
nite, banakite, potassic alkali basalt, trachybasalt,
leucite-bearing basanite and tephrite, and
nepheline-bearing phonolite. Plagioclase, sanidine,
biotite, and pyroxene are the dominant mineral
phases. Intrusive rocks are present as dykes,
sills and stocks, and in the northern part of
the province as a large batholith (Mamasa
monzonite), and range from quartz diorite,
monzonite, and granodiorite to monzosyenite
and syenite.
Available radiometric dates (Sukamto 1978; van
Leeuwen 1981; Yuwono et al. 1988; Coffield et al.
1993; Priadi et al. 1994) suggest that the AK-SH
magmatism took place between 13 and 2 Ma (late
Miocene–Pliocene), and locally continued into the
Quaternary, namely at the Lompobatang strato-
volcano located at the southern end of the South
Sulawesi Province.
Chemically the rocks are characterized by low
TiO2 contents (< 1.5%), high incompatible alkaline
and alkali-earth element contents, high light-rare-
earth (LREE)/heavy-rare-earth-element (HREE)
ratios, and negative Ta and Nb anomalies (Yuwono
et al. 1988; Priadi et al. 1994). These are all typical
arc characteristics. Whole-rock 87Sr/86Sr isotope
ratios range from 0.707 to 0.722, and 143Nd/144Nd
ratios range from 0.5119 to 0.5125 (Coffield et al.
1993; Priadi et al. 1994).
The petrographic and chemical characteristics
of the leucite-bearing rocks of the South Sulawesi
Province are similar to those of Foley et al. 1987)
group III ultrapotassic rocks of active orogenic
zones, such as found in the Mediterranean region,
including the Roman Province in central Italy
(Peccerillo et al. 1984). Ultrapotassic magmas in
these orogenic zones are intimately associated
with less potassic types (Wilson 1989), which is also
a typical feature of the South Sulawesi Province.
In addition, Coffield et al. (1993) suggest that in
central Sulawesi these rocks form a bimodal suite,
of basaltic and leucite-bearing end-members to
silicic trachyandesites, and lack intermediate
basaltic andesite varieties.
Various theories have been advanced to explain

the origin of the AK-SH rocks of the Southern
Sulawesi Province. van Bemmelen (1949) specu-
lated that these rocks are the product of magmatic
assimilation of limestone. Katili (1978), Sukamto
(1978), Hamilton (1979), and Carlile and Mitchell
(1994) believe them to be related to subduction
processes, indicating a normal volcanic arc polarity
with alkalinity increasing across the Neogene arc
(Katili 1978), or a shallow dipping Benioff zone
(Carlile & Mitchell 1994). Van Leeuwen (1981)
suggests that they may have been formed from
mantle, trapped by deep-seated faults in a post-
subduction environment; Yuwono et al. (1988) and
Leterrier et al. (1990), noting similarities with the
Roman Province, propose a model involving partial
melting of mantle sources (enriched in incompat-
ible elements from previous subduction events) in
a distensional, post-collision, within-plate setting.
In contrast, Coffield et al. (1993) suggest that the
AK-SH magmatism was related to compressional
continent collision, and melting of mantle and
continental components.
In the central portion of the Western Sulawesi
Arc, two KCA suites are distinguished (Fig. 1). Vol-
umetrically dominant felsic granitoids, and minor
comagmatic volcanics, with similar mineralogical
and geochemical characteristics, are exposed over
a distance of more than 600 km (Fig. 1). Intrusive
rocks include granite, quartz monzonite and gran-
odiorite, with porphyritic and equigranular tex-
tures. Individual plutons vary from km to tens of
km in size, and in some cases are strongly foliated.
Distinctive and characteristic for this suite are
porphyritic, fine-to-coarse-grained biotite–quartz
monzonites, with megacrysts of K-feldspar, up to 6
cm. Mineralogically this KCA suite is character-
ized by K-feldspar, plagioclase, quartz, biotite, and
minor amphibole, with accessory apatite, mag-
netite and zircon. Volcanic rocks are restricted in
distribution, and occur as rhyodacitic ash flow
tuffs, dykes and more rarely as volcanic domes.
Mineralogically the volcanics are similar to the
granitoids, except that some contain pyroxene in
small amounts.
A geochemically similar KCA suite occurs to
the east of the felsic granitoids, along the south
coast of the north arm of Sulawesi (Fig. 1), but
mineralogically it is distinguished by fine-to-
medium-grained hornblende–biotite granodiorite.
This suite is intruded by porphyritic biotite–
sanidine rhyodacites, that are geochemically
correlated to the aforementioned biotite–quartz
monzonites. The KCA magmatism in the Central
Sulawesi Province has continental margin charac-
Magmatism in the Sulawesi Arc 49
teristics rather than island arc characteristics.
The felsic granitoids have high, and relatively
restricted, SiO2 contents (63–75%), and K2O/Na2O
ratios commonly in excess of 1, as well as enriched
LREE (Priadi et al. 1994; van Leeuwen et al.
1994). Arc characteristics are shown by typically
depleted Ta, Nb and Ti values (Priadi et al. 1994),
as well as I-type (Chappell & White 1974) granite
signatures. However, strong enrichment in K, Cs,
Th and U, together with isotope data (shown here)
suggest a significant crustal component in the
genesis of these rocks. The hornblende–biotite
granodiorites have similar chemical charac-
teristics, but lower K2O contents, and K2O/Na2O
ratios £ 1. Isotope results for the felsic granitoids
(Priadi 1993; van Leeuwen et al. 1994) show
consistently high 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.710–0.715), and
143
Nd/144Nd values ranging between 0.5121 and
0.5123.
Van Leeuwen et al. (1994) point out that the
felsic granitoids have a number of features in
common with late–post-collision granites from
other parts of the world: (i) they occur in
contrasted association with minor diorite and
gabbro; (ii) biotite is the dominant mafic mineral;
(iii) the plutons occur as dispersed, isolated
intrusive complexes surrounded by strongly
discordant metamorphic aureoles; (iv) dyke
swarms and coeval andesites are absent; (v)
molasse deposits formed during a later part of the
magmatic event; and (vi) on the Rb–Hf–Ta
diagram of Harris et al. (1986), samples from
one of the plutons (Dondo) plot in the late–post-
collision field.
Recent models proposed for the genesis of the
granitic rocks invoke melting of the lower crust
due to lithospheric thickening caused by collision,
but the timing for their generation varies from
syn-collisional (Coffield et al. 1993), late–post-
collisional (van Leeuwen et al. 1994; Polve et al.
1997) to post-collisional (Kavalieris et al. 1992;
Priadi 1993; Priadi et al. 1994).
Priadi et al. (1993) show that lower crustal rocks
exposed near Palu are probable source rocks of the
felsic granitoids, and have an Australian isotopic
affinity. This, together with Precambrian and
Paleozoic zircon U/Pb isotope ages (Coffield
et al. 1993), suggests that Neogene potassic
magmatism in Central Sulawesi has incorporated
old crust, most likely derived from the Australian
continental plate.
The North Sulawesi Province is characterized
by basaltic andesite to rhyolitic TH–CA magma-
tism, which extends offshore to the active Sangihe
50 R. Soeria-Atmadja et al.
Arc. Limited K–Ar age dates (Lowder & Dow
1978; Bellon & Rangin 1991; Priadi 1993; Perello
1994; Polve et al. 1997) suggest there have been
two main periods of magmatism: 22–13 Ma
(early–mid-Miocene), and younger than 9.5 Ma
(late Miocene–Present). Kavalieris et al. (1992)
suggest that the apparent hiatus in magmatic
activity (13–9.5 Ma) is related to collision of the
arc with the Sula microcontinent, which choked
subduction beneath western Sulawesi.
The early Miocene magmatism appears to
have been the most voluminous, judged from the
extent of hornblende granodiorite, exposed near
Gorontalo. Co-magmatic volcanics are mainly
andesites. The volcanics are interbedded or overlie
greywacke, shale and minor limestone. Subse-
quent post-collisional magmatism, and the active
Sangihe Arc are coincident with this early
Neogene arc magmatism.
The late Miocene–Present volcanics are much
more diverse in composition, and range from
basaltic andesite to rhyolite. Co-magmatic intru-
sions are small, and include quartz diorite and gra-
nodiorite. From limited sampling (Priadi 1993;
Perello 1994), the early Miocene arc magmatism is
mainly normal calc-alkaline, whereas the late
Miocene–Pliocene arc magmatism is low K (TH) to
normal calc alkaline (CA), and also somewhat
similar to the present Quaternary–Recent Sangihe
Arc (which, however, is variable, and shows
cross-arc variation to high K suites; Tatsumi et al.
1991).
Recent models proposed for the Neogene evolu-
tion of the north arm of Sulawesi envisage initial
westward subduction and associated magmatic
activity followed by collision of the arc with the
Sula microcontinent, which resulted in clockwise
rotation of the north arm (Surmont et al. 1994),
back-arc thrusting, and inception of southward
subduction along the North Sulawesi trench
(Hamilton 1979; Silver et al. 1983; Kavalieris et al.
1992; Carlile & Mitchell 1994; Perello 1994;
Surmont et al. 1994). There is, however, no agree-
ment as to when the Sula collision took place. It
has been suggested that the post-collision mag-
matic activity is related (in part) to subduction
along the North Sulawesi Trench (Perello 1994;
Carlile & Mitchell 1994), and/or (in part) to a phase
of rifting along the length of the north arm
(Kavalieris et al. 1992; Perello 1994). In contrast,
Polve et al. (1997) propose that magmatism in
North Sulawesi was continuous during the
Neogene but migrated northeast as the arm
underwent clockwise rotation.
NEOGENE MAGMATIC-HYDROTHERMAL
MINERALIZATION OF THE WESTERN SULAWESI ARC
The most significant mineralization related to the
AK–SH South Sulawesi Province is porphyry
Cu–Au mineralization at Sassak (Djumhani &
Pudjowalujo 1975; Taylor & van Leeuwen 1980).
The mineralization occurs in a quartz syenite
intrusion of shoshonitic affinity; K–Ar dates of
nearby related rocks give ages of 10.6 Ma
(Sukamto 1978), 11.9 and 10.7 Ma (Priadi 1993).
The Sassak Cu–Au porphyry is located near
the southern margin of the Mamasa monzonite
batholith, and within a major sinistral trans-
current fault zone (Walanae fault). The Mamasa
batholith is ~ 50 km in diameter, and is co-
magmatic with Sassak (Priadi 1993). It is sur-
rounded by a deeply eroded remnant, mainly
quartz-unsaturated K alkaline volcanic field,
that originally may have been > 10 000 km2.
Other related mineralization includes Au-base
metal vein mineralization in the Sassak region, and
possibly minor quartz vein Au, base metal miner-
alization that is widespread on the northern
margin of the Mamasa batholith in the Latimojong
Formation.
The felsic granitoids and related volcanic rocks
in the Central Sulawesi Province appear to be
poorly mineralized. However, there are a few ex-
ceptions: these include the Dondo batholith, which
contains several porphyry Mo occurrences, and
the Pani Volcanic Complex, which hosts significant
low sulfidation gold mineralization. Gold miner-
alization in the Pani Complex has been inferred
to be related to a deeper porphyry Mo system
(Sillitoe 1994).
The Dondo batholith (van Leeuwen et al. 1994)
is a large composite batholith composed predomi-
nantly of porphyritic granite, granodiorite and
quartz monzonite, with a cooling age of ca 4 Ma.
Porphyry molybdenum mineralization associated
with the Dondo batholith occurs in the roof zone of
the intrusion, and to limited extent in the adjacent
wall rocks. The most important occurrence, named
Malala, has been described in some detail by van
Leeuwen et al. (1994). The Malala prospect
belongs to the F-deficient class of porphyry Mo
deposits and has a geological resource of 100 mt,
averaging 0.08% Mo. Alteration and mineraliza-
tion are developed erratically over 4 km2. The min-
eralization forms a 50-m-thick, low-grade ‘shell’ at
the outer intrusive contact, and in addition is
present in a steeply dipping fracture zone 1850 m
long, 30–100 m wide, and more than 200 m in ver-

tical extent. This structurally controlled zone con-
stitutes the main mineralized body.
The model for mineralization (van Leeuwen et
al. 1994) involves initial separation of silica-
bearing aqueous fluids from a cooling granitic
magma, resulting in the formation of irregular,
commonly pod-like barren quartz veins. This
was followed by escape of volatiles that accumu-
lated together with Mo and K in hot, saline
magmatic–hydrothermal fluids at the top of
the intrusive body, while the rock was still
semiconsolidated. Molybdenite and pyrite were
deposited from these fluids in quartz–K-
feldspar–apatite veins and veinlets. The mineraliz-
ing event was terminated by the (abrupt?)
introduction of cooler meteoric fluids into the mag-
matic system, which was accompanied by wide-
spread sericite, chlorite and carbonate alteration
and minor base metal mineralization.
The Pani Complex (Kavalieris et al. 1990) is 3.5
km in diameter and composed of various por-
phyritic lavas, intrusions, breccias and pyroclastics
of predominantly rhyodacitic composition. These
rocks form several volcanic domes and related
facies. An unusual feature of these silicic domes is
that they are phenocryst-rich. Gold mineralization
at Pani (Kavalieris et al. 1990) is spatially related
to the Baganite dome, which is a prominent feature
in the centre of the Pani Complex. It is generally
low grade (< 1 ppm), occurs in disseminated form
and is associated with minor pyrite (< 1%) and
trace base metals. Higher grades (1–3 ppm) are
found on the flank of the dome, where it is associ-
ated with quartz and adularia encrustations in
vuggy zones and narrow breccia zones in weakly
silicified rhyodacites. Prospect scale alteration
includes albite–anatase–pyrite ± quartz, adularia,
and carbonate–sericite. A notable feature is the
virtual absence of quartz veins.
Fluid inclusion data and temperature–redox
data from chlorite compositions indicate a complex
hydrothermal history associated with the Bagan-
ite dome. Kavalieris et al. (1990) suggest that
hot and moderately saline fluids (~ 300°C and 5%
eq. NaCl) rose through the root zone of the
Baganite dome, with boiling, silicification and
pyritization of the upper parts of the dome
and overlying volcanic rocks. Mixing with dilute,
cooler ground waters around the margins of
the dome resulted in the deposition of higher
grade Au. It is noteworthy that there is some
evidence for an earlier, highly saline fluid phase,
suggesting that the Au mineralization has a
magmatic component.
Magmatism in the Sulawesi Arc 51
The North Sulawesi Province is comparatively
well mineralized (Kavalieris et al. 1992; Carlile &
Mitchell 1994). Mineralization includes Cu–Au por-
phyry, Cu–Au–magnetite skarn, polymetallic vein,
high-sulfidation epithermal Au (enargite–Au),
low-sulfidation epithermal Au, as well as Carlin-
type Au (jasperoid type). All these styles of min-
eralization are thought to be late Miocene–
Pliocene in age, although there are no data on the
low-sulfidation Au occurrences. Cu–Au porphyry
mineralization occurs in three districts: (i)
Bulagidun (Lubis et al. 1994); (ii) Tombulilato–
Tapadaa (Lowder & Dow 1978; Carlile &
Kirkegaard 1985; Perello 1994); and (iii) Sangihe
(Fig. 1). Porphyry Cu–Au mineralization appar-
ently occurs in clusters (Tombulilato–Tapadaa,
Bulagidun), and districts are apparently widely
spaced. The porphyry systems in North Sulawesi
occur in small stocks, and are typified by strong
potassic alteration with magnetite, and Au-rich
copper mineralization.
The most important and best known district is
Tombulilato–Tapadaa near Gorontalo, where at
least five porphyry centers occur. It currently has
mining resource of 295 mt, 0.57% Cu, 0.46 g/t Au in
three deposits (Kavalieris et al. 1992). The miner-
alization is dated at 2.93–2.36 Ma, or Pliocene
(Perello 1994). Pliocene granitoids in the Gorontalo
region, possibly co-genetic with the porphyry
system, are of low K to normal calc-alkaline mag-
matic affinity, and have typical island arc charac-
teristics (Priadi 1993). Albite is important in the
alteration assemblage of the Tombulilato por-
phyries, and may reflect the relatively low K
magma composition (Lowder & Dow 1978). The
Tombulilato district is also characterized by exten-
sive advanced argillic alteration (Lowder & Dow
1978), and by close spatially and temporally
related high sulfidation mineralization; the
Motomboto enargite–Au prospect.
Bulagidun occurs ~ 150 km to the west of the
Tombulilato district. Bulagidun has a geological
resource of 14.4 mt, 0.61% Cu, 0.68 g/t Au (Lubis
et al. 1994). The age of mineralization is 8.95 Ma,
and host rocks are dated as 9.4 Ma, or late Miocene
(Lubis et al. 1994). Limited data suggest the rocks
are of high-K calc-alkaline affinity (Lubis et al.
1994). Bulagidun is unusual for porphyry occur-
rences in the southwest Pacific due to the presence
of abundant tourmaline, cementing Au-rich
breccia zones. At least two other porphyry centers
are known in the Bulagidun area. In addition,
other mineralization, possibly related to the
same magmatism, includes a Cu–Au–magnetite
52 R. Soeria-Atmadja et al.
skarn at Matinan. Polymetallic veins that occur
in the Paleleh–Sumalata region could also be co-
magmatic with the Bulagidun district. This miner-
alization includes the Paleleh Dutch mine, which
was historically the largest Au producer in North
Sulawesi (8152 kg Au; 5419 kg Ag; 550 t Pb) (van
der Ploeg 1945).
On Sangihe Island, weak Cu–Au porphyry min-
eralization occurs in a quartz diorite intrusion
at Taware ridge. In the same area, colluvial gold
has been concentrated by weathering of sulfidic
veinlets hosted by andesitic volcanics, and 10 km
to the north-northeast a high-sulfidation epi-
thermal prospect (Binebase) is found (Garwin
& Inkiriwang 1990; van Leeuwen 1994). Low-
sulfidation epithermal mineralization is wide-
spread in North Sulawesi, and can be generally
related to Neogene andesitic volcanics, but there
is no clear spatial relationship between low-
sulfidation epithermal mineralization and Cu–Au
porphyry systems.
DISCUSSION
Porphyry Cu–Au and porphyry Mo mineralization,
which is well represented in the Western Sulawesi
Arc, is most closely related to magmatic processes.
However, the nature of common magmatic–
tectonic processes that define this belt of porphyry
mineralization is obscure. The porphyry districts
cannot be simply related in terms of their mag-
matic affinity, basement, or even tectonic evolution
(Table 1). This suggests several possibilities: (i)
porphyry mineralization is an intrinsic component
of arc magmatism (i.e. all arcs have them except
Japan and New Zealand), and the porphyry
districts need not be related; (ii) the porphyry
Table 1 Magmatic-tectonic setting of Neogene porphyry districts in the Western Sulawesi Arc
District Spacing Mineralization No. of Age (Ma)
porphyry
Sassak — Cu–Au 1 10.7
Malala 450 Mo 3 4.12
Bulagidun 150 Cu–Au 3 9.4
Tombulilato– 175 Cu–Au 5+ 2.9–2.05
Tapadaa
Sangihe 475 Cu–Au 1 Pliocene?
1, the distance to the next district along the arc to the north; C, continental; T, transitional; O, oceanic; C–C, continent–continent colli-
sion; C–A, continent–arc collision; A–A, arc–arc collision.
mineralization is related to some fundamental
aspects (or evolution) of this terrain, that are
involved in the late Neogene magmatic–tectonic
processes; and (iii) (not necessarily mutually exclu-
sive with (ii)) the magmatism in the Western
Sulawesi Arc is governed mainly by the nature of
the mantle wedge and lower crust, and is corre-
spondingly diverse, but in contrast porphyry min-
eralization is linked by components introduced
from the same subducted (and subducting) slab
beneath Western Sulawesi.
The Western Sulawesi porphyry belt most likely
continues north into the Mindanao, and possibly
south to the Batu Hijau Cu–Au porphyry
(Meldrum et al. 1994) in Western Sumbawa. This
belt then corresponds to tectonic reconstructions
of the Early Tertiary Sunda Arc (Rangin et al.
1990; Helmers 1991), and lends weight to the
second argument that evolution of this terrain, or
inheritance of early characteristics, is important
for ultimate generation of porphyry mineraliza-
tion. It also suggests that long-lived magmatic
belts may lead to porphyry mineralization.
Sillitoe and Gappe (1984) have noted that Cu–Au
porphyry mineralization in the Philippines occurs
close to the edges of major phaneric plutons, in
zones of earlier major melt generation. Similarly
in the Western Sulawesi Arc, it is noted that in
North Sulawesi, the Tombulilato and Bulagidun
porphyry districts are within or peripheral to volu-
minous early Miocene phaneric intrusions, and
that in Central Sulawesi, the Sassak Cu–Au por-
phyry prospect is on the margin of the 50-km
diameter Mamasa batholith.
Oxidized, magnetic-series (Ishihara 1977), or I-
type (Chappel & White 1974) magmas are also
important for the generation of Cu–Au porphyry
deposits, since oxidized magmas have a higher
Magma Basement Sr87/Sr86 Tectonic setting
suite
SH C 0.710–0.722 C–C post-
subduction
KCA C 0.710 C–C post-
subduction
KCA T? — C–A arc
reversal
TH-CA O? — C–A arc
reversal
TH-KCA O 0.7035 A–A incipient?
0.7042 arc reversal

capacity to dissolve sulfur. Early sulfur saturation
in melts is deleterious because sulfides scavenge
Cu and Au, making these metals unavailable to
late magmatic-hydrothermal fluids (Wyborn 1994).
All arc-related magmas are I-type, and despite
continental collision-related melting, the Western
Sulawesi Arc in general is no exception. Charac-
teristic for Cu–Au porphyry systems in these
arc environments is abundant hydrothermal
magnetite, as well as anhydrite, reflecting highly
oxidizing magmatic–hydrothermal fluids. These
characteristics are well exemplified by the
Tombulilato district in North Sulawesi. I-type
magmas are oxidized due to subduction of hydrous
slab components. In the case of South and Central
Sulawesi, melting of an earlier subduction-
generated component can be inferred for produc-
tion of oxidized melts. However, if porphyry min-
eralization in the Western Sulawesi Arc can be
linked to the same subducting slab, a direct deriva-
tion of hydrous volatiles could also be suggested.
Based on the geochemical and isotopic charac-
teristics of the host rocks, the Malala prospect
in Central Sulawesi suggests that generation of
porphyry Mo systems requires involvement of
continental crust, and a lower crustal source
for Mo may be suggested. In contrast, Au-rich
porphyry systems in the Western Sulawesi Arc
are clearly independent of the nature of the crust
(or basement), and are derived from mantle
sources.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to acknowledge Doone Wyborn,
of the Australian Geological Survey Organisa-
tion (AGSO) for informative discussions on mag-
matism and porphyry mineralization. We also
thank Mireille Polve for a critical review of the
manuscript.
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