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Porphyry
Porphyry
Porphyry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyry_%28geology%29
General Description
Petrography
Hosted by acidic to intermediate intrusives such as granite, granodiorite, tonalite, diorite. Porphyry Cu deposits are generally associated with I-type granitoids magma derived from upper mantle melt Multiple intrusive events are common in areas of porphyry Cu minzn, with the host intrusions being the youngest and most differentiated plutons Usually emplaced passively rather than forcefully ie an extensional rather than compressive regime
Hydrothermal Alteration
Four alteration zones assoc with porphyries
1) Potassic zone development of secondary orthoclase-biotitechlorite and minor sericite which replace primary orthoclase, plagioclase and mafic minerals Phyllic zone characterized by development of quartz-sericitepyrite assemblage with minor chlorite, illite & rutile. Sericitization affects feldspars and biotite. This rean releases silica resulting in silicification and quartz production Argillic zone clay minerals dominate. Kaolin dominates near the orebody and montmorillonite further away Propylitic zone always present! Chlorite is the predominant mineral along with pyrite, calcite and epidote. Mafic minerals are partially replaced by chlorite and carbonate, plagioclase may be unaffected. Gradually grades into surrounding rocks up to 1km.
2)
3) 4)
Alteration Shell
Hydrothermal Circulation
Multiple Intrusives
Structural Settings
Hypogene Mineralization
Ore can be found in 3 situations 1) Totally within the host stock (veins) 2) Partially in stock and partially in country rock 3) Totally within the country rock Orebodies are usually surrounded by a pyrite-rich shell, which occur in concentric zones. Usually a central barren core passing outwards firstly to Mo-rich minzn, then Cu-rich minzn as the main ore shell is encountered. Pyrite gradually increases to form a pyrite-rich halo (10-15%) but with minor chalcopy and Mo. The highest Cu values often occur at the boundary between the potassic and phyllic zones with weak minzn in the propolyitic zones
Comparison of the Lowell-Guilbert and Diorite Types of Porphyry Copper Deposits FEATURE LOWELLGUILBERT Quartz Monzonite to Granodiorite (S) DIORITE
Host Pluton Alteration Mineralization Quartz in fractures Common Orthoclase in fractures Magnetite Pyrite in fractures Molybdenite Chalcopyrite/bornite Gold Structure Breccia Stockwork
Common Common Minor Common Common >3:1 Rare May Occur Important
Erratic Erratic Common Less Common Rare <3:1 Important Rare Important
2:18:80
15:50:35
<3.2%
>1:1 ilmenite >.706
>3.2%
<1:1 magnetite .704-.706
Iron oxide
87Sr/86Sr
Normative
Assoc. metals Genesis
corundum
Sn, W Crustal anatexis of sediments
diopside
Au Partial melt of mantle
Distribution
Most porphyry deposits occur within Mesozoic and Cenozoic orogenic belts associated with either island-arcs and convergent continental margins Some porphyries occur in Paleozoic orogenic belts in Central Asia, Australia and US Few are found in Precambrian rocks due to their low preservation potential (erosion)
Porphyry Cu Locations
Cadia/Ridgeway
Shoshonite association
Tholeiite trend
Subduction Model
Where does Cadia fit into the typical porphyry model? Island-arc? Continental arc? Or no arc at all intracontinental? What environment are highly alkaline shoshonites most likely to form?
References/Links
Porphyry deposits
http://www.geo.arizona.edu/geos256/azgeology/porphyry.html http://geology.csupomona.edu/drjessey/class/GSC433/Porphyry.htm http://geology.csupomona.edu/drjessey/class/GSC433/Moly.htm