The Application of Geologic Mapping, Core Logging, and 3-D Geoscientific Data Integration in the Exploration and Resource Expansion of Porphyry Copper-(Gold) Deposits: Examples from Recent Discoveries in Ecuador and Chile

Author:

Garwin Steve1234,Whistler Benn1,Ward Jason1,Vaca Santiago1,Mather Nick1,Chand Meraaj1,Silva José1,Rosero Bayardo1,Cruz Alfredo1,Guachamin Alvaro1,Castro Carlos Diaz1,Chafla Alex1,Mantilla Santiago1,Aguilar Leonardo1,Easterday Christian2,Leighton Melanie2,Aravena Andrea2,Tapia Miguel2,Vázquez Cristian2,Miñano Tapia Enrique2,Salas Pablo2,Olivares David2,Costa Sebastian2,Beeson John2,Sheerin Kirsty2,Wallace Madeline2,McKie Chris2

Affiliation:

1. 1 SolGold Plc., Level 27, 111 Eagle Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia

2. 2 Hot Chili Ltd., First Floor, 768 Canning Highway, Applecross, Western Australia 6153, Australia

3. 3 Steven L. Garwin Pty Ltd., 7 Bruce Street, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia

4. 4 Centre for Exploration Targeting, School of Earth Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia

Abstract

Abstract The collection of accurate geologic data is critical in minerals exploration. The successful visualization, integration, and interpretation of quantitative vein abundance data, associated selvages of wall-rock alteration mineralogy, sulfide mineral proportions, and metal zoning facilitate the path to discovery and orebody delineation. The application of the Anaconda method, developed by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company geologists in the 1960s, to geologic mapping and drill core logging has facilitated the discovery and resource expansion in the giant Alpala porphyry Cu-Au-Ag deposit in northern Ecuador and the Cortadera porphyry Cu-Au-Mo deposit cluster in northern Chile. In both porphyry systems, high-grade zones have been targeted through the delineation of an intrusion and vein chronology that allows for the recognition of early-stage causal intrusions, zones of abundant porphyry-style quartz veins, and elevated chalcopyrite to pyrite ratios. Increased amounts of molybdenum, as molybdenite along fractures and in quartz veins, as well as anhydrite veins and disseminations, correlate with proximity to the deposit cores. The field-based methods presented in this article have proven useful in porphyry exploration for decades. The application of the Anaconda method of geologic mapping and core logging by geologists can assist in the targeting of high-grade cores of deposits and improved estimation of metal resources.

Publisher

Society of Economic Geologists, Inc.

Reference18 articles.

1. The role of geologic mapping in mineral exploration: Society of Economic Geologists;Brimhall;Special Publication,2006

2. Cohen, J.F. , 2011, Mineralogy and geochemistry of alteration at the Ann-Mason copper deposit, Nevada: Comparison of large-scale ore exploration techniques to mineral chemistry: M.Sc. thesis, Corvallis, Oregon, Oregon State University, 112 p. plus appendices.

3. Diaz Castro, J.C. , 2020, The Cascabel Cu-Au-Ag porphyry cluster in northern Ecuador: Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 231 p.

4. Wall-rock alteration and hydrothermal flow paths about the Ann-Mason porphyry copper deposit, Nevada: A 6-km vertical reconstruction;Dilles;Economic Geology,1992

5. Predictive models of mineralogy from whole-rock assay data: Case study from Productora Cu-Au-Mo deposit, Chile;Escolme;Economic Geology,2019

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