Copper Isotopes Used in Mineral Exploration

Abstract

AbstractThe use of copper isotopes related to ore deposit location and genesis has greatly expanded over the past twenty years. The isotope values in ores, rocks, soils, and water range greater than 10‰ and provide ample isotopic variation to identify and interpret complex geological process. From an exploration standpoint, the copper isotope values in waters, sulfides and weathered rocks vector to mineralization at depth. Ground and surface waters display the greatest potential for both green and brownfields exploration, whereas Fe-oxides and other related ore minerals isotope compositions for exploration are nascent. From an ore genesis perspective, the copper isotopes serve as a redox proxy to aid in unraveling magmatic and hydrothermal processes related to metal sulfide precipitation. In summary, the use of copper isotopic approaches by the mining industry are ideal as they point to processes directly related to the metal of economic interest and should be employed in all stages of the mine life from exploration to extraction, and to environmental monitoring post-mining activities.