| Title | Application of indicator minerals to identify fertile porphyry and epithermal ore systems |
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| Author | Lee, R G; Baker, S; Bouzari, R; Plouffe, A |
| Source | AME Roundup 2022; 2022 p. 1 |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2022 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20210402 |
| Publisher | Association of Mineral Exploration of British Columbia |
| Meeting | AME Roundup 2022; January 31-February 3, 2022 |
| Document | book |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Subjects | economic geology; mineralogy; geochemistry; surficial geology/geomorphology; regional geology; Science and Technology; Nature and Environment; mineral exploration; mineral potential; exploration
methods; mineral deposits; porphyry deposits; epithermal deposits; ore mineral genesis; mineralization; mineral associations; tectonic setting; magmatism; hydrothermal systems; fluid dynamics; metasomatism; hydrothermal alteration; bedrock geology;
sediments; Canadian Cordillera |
| Program | Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI-6) Ore systems |
| Released | 2022 02 01 |
| Abstract | Indicator minerals as applied to exploration are those minerals that are either directly linked to mineralization or have trace element composition and textural characterization that record the presence
of a magmatic hydrothermal fluid that formed an ore deposit. Successful discoveries of diamondiferous kimberlites and critical mineral deposits using indicator minerals testify to their usefulness in the exploration toolbox. The large-scale
footprint of porphyry and epithermal systems and the numerous types of indicator minerals present within these systems make it challenging to apply a consistent mineralogical study approach for exploration. In porphyry systems, indicator minerals
can include ore (e.g. chalcopyrite, gold grains, molybdenite), magmatic (e.g. zircon, apatite, titanite, rutile, plagioclase) or hydrothermal alteration minerals (chlorite, epidote, apatite, titanite, rutile, magnetite, pyrite, hematite, andalusite,
mica, albite, K-feldspar). These minerals also form in rocks barren of mineralization. It can be challenging to interpret the subtle changes in mineral composition and texture to determine if they were derived from potential porphyry deposits.
This talk discusses recent research on indicator minerals from porphyry deposits in the North American Cordillera and selected districts worldwide. Critical features in indicator mineral chemistry and texture can help identify potential targets
with minerals such as zircon and apatite, providing a temporal history of the source magma and magmatic fluids. Distally, chlorite and epidote composition changes discriminate large-scale provenance metasomatism from porphyry hydrothermal
alteration. Sampling resistate indicator minerals both in bedrock and detrital catchment provide means to fingerprint ore bodies and drive targeted exploration vectoring. The application of indicator minerals to identify porphyry systems is a valid
approach to exploration when using the correct sampling scale, analytical equipment, and modelling interpretations. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
This is an abstract for a talk to be presented at the AMEBC Roundup Conference in January 2022. The talk will present the application of minerals
indicative of the potential discovery of copper mineralization in the Canadian Cordillera. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 329232 |
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