ECONOMIC

AN'D

GEOLOGY
THE

BULLETIN

OF

THE

SOCIETY

OF

ECONOMIC

GEOLOGISTS

Vo..

65

JuNE-JuLY, 1970

No.

Lateral and Vertical Alteration-Mineralization Zoning in PorphyryOre Deposits

j. DAWDLOWELL AND JOHN M. GUmBERT
Abstract

The geologichistory of the San Manuel-Kalamazoodeposithas provided an opportunity for the examination of vertical and horizontal zoning relationships in a porphyry coppersystem. Precambrian Oracle "granite," a Laramide monzoniteporphyry, and a Laramide dacite porphyry are hosts to zones of potassic,phyllic, argillic, and propylitic assemblages shown to be coaxially arranged outward from a potassiccore through phyllic, argillic, and propylitic zones. Alteration zones at depth comprise an outer chlorite-sericite-epidote-magnetiteassemblageyielding to an inner zone of quartz-K4eldspar-sericite-chlorite. Mineralization zones are conformable to the

alterationzones,the ore zone (with a 0.5% Cu cutoff) overlapping the potassic and
phyllic zones. Occurrenceof sulfideschangesupward and outward from dissemination at the low-grade core of the deposit through microveinlet to veinlet and finally vein occurrenceindicating the progressivelyincreasing effect of structural control. Several aspectsof San Manuel-Kalamazoo geology suggestthat it is exemplary of the porphyry copper depositgroup. To test that idea and to evolve three-dimensional aspectsof these deposits, table of geologiccharacteristics 27 major porphyry dea of posits is presented. Considerationof the table indicatesthat the "typical" porphyry copper deposit is eraplaced in late Cretaceous sediments and metasedimentsand is associated with a Laramide (65 m.y.) quartz monzonitestock. Its host intrusive

rock is elongate-irregular, 4,000X 6,000 feet in outcrop,and is progressively differentiated from quartz diorite to quartz monzonite in composition. The host is more like

a stockthan a dike and is controlled regional-scale by faulting. The orebodyis oval to pipelike, with dimensions 3,500 X 6,000 feet and gradational boundaries. of Seventy percentof the 140 million tons of ore occursin the igneoushost rocks, 30 percent in preore rocks. Metal values include0.45% hypogeneCu with 0.35% supergene Cu,

and 0.015% Mo. Alterationis zonedfrom potassic the core (and earliest) outward at through phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite), argillic (quartz-kaolin-montmorillonite), and propylitic (epidote--calcite-chlorite), propylitic zone extending2,500 feet beyond the the copperore zone. Over the sameinterval, sulfidespecies vary from chalcopyritemolybdenite-pyrite throughsuccessive assemblages an assemblage galena-sphalerite to of with minor gold and silver values in solid solution, as metals, and as sulfosalts. Occurrence characteristics shift from disseminations through respective zonesof microveinlets (crackle fillings), veinlets,veins, and finally to individualstructures the on peripherywhich may containhigh-grademineralization. Breccia pipes with attendant
crackle zones are common.

Expressionof zoning is affectedby exposure,structural and compositional homogeneity, and postore faulting or intrusive activity. Vertical dimensionscan reach

10,000feet, with the upperreaches the porphyryenvironment of perhaps only at subvolcanicdepthsof a few thousand feet. The vertical and lateral zoning described is repeated with sufficient constancy that depthsof exposure many deposits at can be cited
against the model of San Manuel-Kalamazoo.
373

374

.t. D. LOWELL AND J. M. GUILBERT Severallines of evidence suggest relativelyshallowdepthsof formationand significant variations in water contentin the porphyry environment. Shallow emplacement is consistent with the appearance breccia of pipesassociated with ring and radial diking and with vertically telescoped zoning. Models of the sourceof altering-mineralizing
fluids are considered.

Contents
PAGE

Introduction

.................................

374

Genetic modelsof porphyry deposits........... Geology the San Manuel-Kalamazoo of deposit..

Fresh rocks ................................ Alteration zones ........................... Mineralization zones ........................

375 376
378 381 385

acteristicswhich link Bingham Canyon and many otherdeposits the generalporphyrycopperdeposit to type. There appearsto have been little published effort specifically compareand contrastthe porto phyry deposits a group. as The first portion of this paper describes both
lateral and vertical alteration-mineralization relation-

Comparison porphyry deposits.............. of Deposits (column 1) ....................... Preore host rock (column 2) ................ Igneoushost rock (columns3-11) ........... Orebody (columns12-19) .................. Hypogene alteration (columns 20-27) ........ Hypogene mineralization (columns 28-35) .... Occurrence sulfides(columns of 36-42) ....... Supergene sulfides(column43) .............. Genesisof porphyry deposits ..................
Conclusions ..................................

386 386 386 386 399 400 402 403 403 403
404

shipsat San Manuel-Kalamazoo. The exploration model includedand substantiated approximately 70 degrees of postmineralization tilting. Thus this geologic system provides information concerning both vertical and horizontalaxes of a porphyry deposit. A three-dimensional synthesisis given of hydrothermal alterationmineralogy and assemblages, of the distributionand quantitativeaspects sulof
fides, and of the structural occurrenceof sulfide and
oxide minerals. Vertical treatment of alteration and

Acknowledgments.............................
References ...................................
Introduction

406
406

Exv.o1,ToN the Kalamazoo of portionof the San Manuel-Kalamazoo district,Pinal County,Arizona, has presented unparalleled an opportunity for the studyof a porphyrycopperdeposit three dimenin sions. The coaxialsymmetry alteration of and mineralization zoneswhichwas the basisof the exploration model has been verified in the exploratory drilling(Lowell,1968) of the Kalamazoo portion of the district and in exploitationof the San Manuel portion. As explorationproceeded, becameinit creasinglyapparent that many elementsof mineralog-y, occurrence, geometry otherporphyry and of copperdeposits were explicitly represented San at Manuel-Kalamazoo. Zoning patternsthere can be considered refinedbasefor the studyof mineralizaa of and descriptions a of tion and alterationrelationships other porphyry sideration many deposits in copperdeposits, this is the subjectof the study "typical" one. and reported here, with compilationof data from 27 A porphyrydeposit here defined a copper is as major porphyrycopper and molybdenum deposits and/or molybdenum in sulfidedepositconsisting of North and SouthAmerica. Most significant the disseminated and stockwork veinlet sulfide mineraliis in emergence from the many descriptions a more zationemplaced varioushost rocksthat have been of generally applicableunifying theme of large-scale alteredby hydrothermal solutions roughlyconinto alteration-mineralization zoning in these large de- centric zonal patterns. The deposit is generally posits thanhasgenerally beenrecognized.Stringham large, on the scaleof several thousandsof feet, al(1953, p. 990) statedthat "a review of hydro- though smaller occurrences are recognized. The thermal studiesof porphyrycopperdeposits shows relativelyhomogeneous commonly and roughlyequias many dissimilarities similarities the hydro- dimensional as to deposit is associated with a complex, thermal features at Bingham Canyon." We now passively emplaced stockof intermediate composition take the opposite position that there are many char- includingporphyry units. It containssignificant

mineralization geometryis still tentative,but some vertical zoning changescan be identified. Comparison other major porphyrybase-metal of deposits San Manuel-Kalamazoo means pubto by of lisheddata assembled Table 1 permitsdevelopin ment of a generalizedlateral and vertical zonation modelfor the depositgroup. Finally, that modelis used to examine the genesisand environmentof formationof the porphyrydeposits. The data suggest that it is sometimespossibleto estimate the position of the present erosion surfacesof other porphyrydeposits with respect their originalcolto umns of mineralization. Depth parametershave beenassigned nine deposits, to and it is hopedthat both scientific and explorational use can be made of three-dimensional alteration-mineralization zoning. The porphyrycopperand molybdenum deposits, hereaftercalled"porphyries," must first be defined. A necessarily flexibledefinitionemerges from con-

.4LTERATION-MINERALIZATION

ZONING

IN PORPHYRY

ORE DEPOSITS

375

containsomechalcopyrite.Many deposits contain crackle, stockwork,and brecciatedzonesin the cooler

recoverablequantities of both minerals, either in marginswhere,augmented diffusioneffects, by alter-

feet. The modeldepends a melt derivedat some on greaterdepth,probably near the mantle-crust boundary, which becomes saturated with water as it approaches upper surface. Releaseof that water the may occur when internal vapor pressuredeveloped by supersaturation exceeds lithostaticload presthe sureor whenthe intrusive system rent by external is stresses. Crystallization then proceeds presumably tion. alongthe linesof Emmons'(1933) cupola R. H. or cupoladevelopment. The grade of primary mineralization typical Sales'ssub-hood in As described Nielsen (1968), the sequence by of porphyry copper deposits ranges to 0.8% Cu and up eventscan be paraphrased intrusion,early maras 0.02% Mo, andporphyry deposits whichmolybin whichproduces solidshell,and a deniteis the chief economic mineralhave grades ginalcrystallization porphyritic-aphanitic ranging to 0.6% Mo and 0.05% Cu. All por- ruptureof that shellto produce up crystallized rocks. Volatiles phyry copper deposits contain at least traces of texturesin subsequently by migrateoutwardthrough molybdenite, all porphyry and molybdenum deposits released the quenching

amounts pyrite, chalcopyrite, of molybdenite, quartz, and sericiteassociated with other alteration,gangue, and ore mineralsand metals includingminor lead, zinc, gold, and silver. Mineralizationand alteration suggesta late magrnatic-mesothermal temperature range. The deposit is generally associated with brecciapipes,usually with a large cracklebrecciation zone,and is surrounded peripheral by mineral deposits suggestive lowertemperature of mineraliza-

to depthsapparently the order of 3,000-5,000 on

occurin response gradito separate orebodies in ore with approximatelyation and mineralization or temperatures the center at equal copperand molybdenum dollar values. Al- ents"from near magmatic in though typical porphyry copper deposits differfrom of the stock to relatively cool temperatures the wall rocks" (p. 37). Silicate sulfide reactionsof typicalmolybdenum deposits some in respects, the by existence gradational of characteristics metalliza- the typedescribed HemleyandJones(1964) prein vail. Other authorswould not necessarily limit the tion suggests common a origin. This definition somewhat is generalized because separationof volatiles to the period of quenching, it evolution the hydroof mustpermitconsideration manydeposits of whose but rather would consider thermal fraction a quasi-continuous separationof localgeologic circumstances as expressed vary by volatilesin response the many variablesrelated to their geometries physical and characteristics. We to and pressure. The loss of volatiles believe porphyry the deposits be a petrological- temperature to
of positsare bestinterpreted greateror lesser as de- upward and outward replenishment mineralizers from greaterdepths. partures from the unifying model of the above Fournier (1968) suggests that the initial deep definition elaborated as uponbelow.

portions a melt may permitthe of mineralizational andindividual class, porphyry de- from near-surface

depths lessthan about4,500 feet, and that rupof Several genetic models havebeen proposed re- ture by faultingwouldcausesudden, to evenexplosive late the characteristics porphyrycopperand loss of water and supercooling the silicatemelt. of of molybdenum deposits. of the models All recognizeCrystallization would then abruptlyhalt the upward the important involvement porphyritic of intrusive progress the now dry melt. Subsequent of "extenrocks withoredeposition, all arefundamentally argillicalteration and sive shown mostporphyry by copmagmatic-hydrothermal, differingin the sequences deposits probablydue to a superimposed per is cirof events, depths intrusion, timingof deriva- culatinghot-springsystem, mainly by meteoric of the fed
tion of fluids, and the sourceof fluids. The models and cormate water" (p. 101).
Fournier's model of intrusion of a water undersaturated melt, and the White model of multilevel

Genetic Models of Porphyry Deposits

porphyry copper melt was unsaturatedwith water at one to three percent, that it was intruded to

considered here are the orthomagmatic model,

circulation brinesadjacent a heat source. of to 5%-to 40% NaC1, are responsible many basefor The orthomagrnatic modelhasbeenbestdescribed metal deposits. Such brines may be producedin

White (1968) in a particularlystimulating paper suggests circulation sulfur-deficient that of Na-Ca-C1 brines, with salt contentsgenerally equivalentto

in therecent writings Burnham of (1967) andNiel- porphyry systemsby deuteric reactionof residual sen(1968). It is the genetic model tacitlyadopted liquids with earlier formed plagioclase and ferroin mostdeposit descriptions, for example, as those magnesian mineralsto achievehigh contentsof caldescribed TitleyandHicks(1966). It sometimesciumandbasemetals. AlthoughWhite in his paper in
involves penetration the source levelsas shallow doesnot develop specific of to a space-time modelfor the

at 1,500feet (Nielsen, 1968),but morecommonlyporphyry deposits,he implicitly developsa model

376

.r. D. LOWELL AND J. M. GUILBERT

Kalamazoo portion moved about involvingmultilevelcirculation deuterically of metal- portions.Theupper enriched or cormate-meteoric sulfur-deficient metal8,000 feet in a down-dip,S55W direction. Small, high-angle, northwest-trending normal faults lizing solutions underthe influence thermalgradiof bothhalves the original of orebody, ents established an adjacent or subjacentmag- later displaced by stripped mostof the Gila Conglomerate matic heat source. The model differs importantly and erosion from the orthomagrnatic model in that the source from the east end of the presentSan Manuel oreof the solutions,and perhaps the metals, is almost body (Fig. lb). The original, unfaulted orebody, defined a as by completely externalto the magmaticsystem, with limit, formeda slightlyflattened or convective overturn of circulating solutions pro- 0.5% copper cylinder whichwasat least7,700feetlong ducingalteration-mineralization envelopes zones. elliptical and and from 2,500 to 5,000 feet in diameter. The top at Geology of the San Manuel-Kalamazoo Deposit of thecylinder, the eastendaftertilting,mayhave been rounded,with the bottom,at the west, having The San Manuel-Kalamazoo deposit (Lowell, an irregularshape. The centerof the orebody is 1968), located in Pinal County, Arizona, is here poorlymetallized, that ore actually so formsa holaccepted the type porphyrycopperdeposit, as and low cylinderor cylindrical shell. The shell surits geologyand other characteristics presented rounding low-grade are the center varies fromabout 100 for comparison contrastwith others (Table 1). to 1,000 feet in thickness. Mineralization and and alterPrecambrian quartz monzonite of the Oracle ation zones are approximately coaxial. Granite batholith in the San Manuel area was inThe alterationassemblages the San Manuelin truded in Laramide time by swarmsof monzonite Kalamazoo deposit formregular, smoothly bounded porphyry dikes and irregular masses monzonite zones,which, as in most porphyries, of are locally porphyry, more properly termed biotite latite por- gradational difficult place and to withina hundred phyries, althoughlong-established "monzonitepor- feet,although theyarewelldefined a broad on scale. phyry" terminology will be followedhere. Closely The boundaries more clearly definedthan they are related in time and spaceto the activity was a are in mostporphyry deposits, presumably because porphyrycopper mineralization eventthat produced the mineralizing fluidsaffected intrusive, essentially the San Manuel-Kalamazoo orebodyand its associ- homogeneous, isotropic plutonic hypabyssal and host ated concentric alterationzones. The hydrothermal rocksof intermediate composition. Theserocksresystem appears havebeencentered the middle sponded the indicated to in to alkalichemistry without of the monzonite porphyrydike swarm,and metal- important gains losses.No marginal or sediments, lization is almost equally distributedbetweenthe compositionally contrasting intrusive rocks,planar monzoniteporphyry and the Oracle Granite host rock fabrics,or prominenttectonicelements prorocks(Fig. 1). duced steep physical chemical or gradients influto Followinghydrothermal mineralization and alter- ence the uniform zoning and symmetry. ation (Fig. la), the whole districtwas tilted to the Mineralogic zoning Kalamazoo elsewhere at and northeast, and the block includingthe San Manuel- suggests at least that fouralteration assemblages are Kalamazoo orebody probably was relatively elevated. easily discernibletheporphyry in copper molyband Erosion of this block exposed the top of the ore- denum deposits. The terms potassic, phyllic, argilbody, and supergene activity formed a thin chal- lic, and propylitic havebeenadapted adopted or cocite enrichmentblanket. At this time, the long fromthe literature(Burnham, 1962;Creasey, 1966; axis of the orebodymay have plunged at about Meyer and Hemley, 1968) to describe four the
65 SW. Shortly thereafter,terrestrial sediments principal assemblages. terms"argillic"and The
beganto coverthe deposit.

"propylitic" well knownand widelyaccepted, are

quartz-kaolin-montmorilloniteFurther tilting, perhaps15 followeddeposition broadly describing , and chlorite-calcite-epidote-adulariaof the lowermost Cloudburst Conglomerate. An chlorite-biotite alteration assemblages, respectively. "Phyllic" erosion surface formed on the Cloudburst sediments albite is here appliedto the assemblage quartz-sericitewas later coveredby the Gila Conglomerate. A
third-stage of about30 gavethe Gila Conglomtilt erateits present inclination brought originand the ally verticalaxis of the San Manuel-Kalamazoo orebody into a 20 southwest-plunging attitude. The San Manuelfault thendiagonally offsetthe original, nearly cylindrical orebody into two roughlyequal-

pyritewithless than5% kaolin, biotite, K-feldor spar,and "potassic" suggested is (Guilbert and Lowell, 1968)to include introduced recrystallized or

K-feldspar biotite, and withminorsericite highly and variable persistent generally but and minoramounts of anhydrite. Each of theseassemblages be will morefully described below, especially theyoccur as at Other assemblages sized pieces, SanManuel the Kalamazoo San Manuel-Kalamazoo. the and

.4LTERATION-MINER.4LIZATION

ZONING IN PORPHYRY

ORE DEPOSITS

377

pCqm

OREBODY

12

sw

SAN MNUEL FAULT

Cc -

NE

qml {
KALAMAZ

SAN

_ ..'

SEAMEN

0
lb

1000'
I
Approximofe Scole

Fxa. 1. Schematic drawingof structural historyof SanManuel-Kalamazoo deposit. (a) at time of emplacement and (b) at present. Note the umbrella-like flare of dikeswarmandthe chalcocite enrichment zone(CCa). pqm-Oracle Granite,TKrnp= monzonite porphyry,Tcb= Cloudburst Formation, = Gila Conglomerate. Tgc

rarelyencountered the porphyry in environment are The alterationzoneswere separated during Kalathe advanced argillic (Meyer and Hemley, 1968) mazoo exploration as follows. The inner limit of and pegmatoid, respectively involvingquartz and the propylitic zonewasplaced wherethe total quartzpyrophyllite, traces dickire kaolinire, with of or topaz, montmorillonite,quartz-kaolin, or quartz-sericite and zunyite, and quartz-coarse sericite-K4eldspar, content in plagioclase sites exceedsthe total of with or withoutcarbonate, anhydrite, and apatite. chloriteand epidotereplacingmafic minerals; here Hydrothermalalterationassemblages the San the color usually changesfrom green to light gray. in Manuel-Kalamazoo deposit summarized Fig- The argillic zone, in which kaolin or montmorillonite are in ure 2, which showsalterationchanges mineralby predominates plagioclase in sites and chlorite remineraland assemblages AKF-ACF diagrams. placesbiotite, was not generallymappedseparately on Supergene activity is limited to a 200-foot thick and is least significantquantitatively. The inner zonenear the top of the deposit. limit of propylitic alteration is locally the outer

378

J. D. LOWELL AND J. M. GUILBERT

SHALLOW-MODERATE DEPTH ASSEMBLAGES'

PORPHYRIES

FRESH IM,
Quartz OrthoclaseMicrocline Plagioclase
(An35.45)
....

PROPYLITIC ZONE
NoChange NoChange Tr. Mont, flecks& granules ep,

ARGILLIC ZONE
Augmented Flecked Sericite with
MontmorilloniteKaolin -,

PHYLLIC ZONE
Augmented Sericitized
Sericitized

POTASSIC ZONE
Augmented Recrytallized, inpartreplaced byalteration K-felclspar-quartz Fresh completely to replaced by
brn-grn alt'n biotite,K-spar,ser.
Fresh or recrystallized ta sucrose

zois, car, chlorite, kaol.

Biotite Chlor,zois, car, leucoxene Hornblen_d..e.._. car,mont, Ep, chlor(2 types)

Magnetite trocepyr ire

Chloritized, leucoxene, + qtz Chlaritized

Pyritized

Sericite,pyrite,rutile Sericite, pyrite,ruffle(?)

Pyritized

brn-grn granules, chlorite + Biotite,+ chlorite rutile

Pyritized

A-K-C-F

Ac.(kaol}
r

A.kool

A
..

VeinletFillings

A=A' ,aa ?Cp 7[,,e <- x.,F // r,,. a py,

F= Fe,Mg C=Casalts K

C K
.
OUTER

,../,,;car
F "
ASSEMBLAGES

r?

rt

Ii

'.-- py, cpt,mb

P troce wf

O-cal- K-spar-chlor-rare ab-rt

Q-ser-py-chlor

O-ser-py

Q-K-spar-bi-ser-anhy-cal-ap

DEEP-LEVEL

INNER

uarz
Orthoclase-

Slightly Augmented Dusted withtracesericite

Dusted with sericite, ohiorite,epidote Largelychloritized, minor epidotemag added Chlorite Epidote Carbonate + +

Augmented Alteration K-spar with sericite,relictscommon, minor quartz

Sericitized,with alterationK-sr-quartz, relicts uncommon Chloritized, rareprimary relicts Chloritized; tracecarbonate

Microcline
Plagioclase

(An35-45) Biotite_ Hornblende

.,

9tte

Augmented
A

Mostly pyritized
A

A-K-C-F ser
K = K, Na
C = Ca salts

F = Fe, Mg

r?

car?

a b,k-spar _chl mag,py

k-ar

mb

VeinletFillings

mag-py Q-ser-cal envelopes

Q-K-sr-ser-chl, tr mag,py, cp mb

Fro. 2. Summary of hydrothermalalteration assemblages San Manuel-Kal,amazoo. at

Fresh Rocks limit of either the argillic or the phyllic zone of pervasive conversionto quartz, sericite, and The unaltered rocks at San Manuel-Kalamazoo pyrite. The inner limit of the phyllic zone is the includePrecambrian Oracle porphyriticquartz monouter limit of the first continuous section of seczonite and two varieties of much younger biotite ondary K-feldspar and secondary biotite, even porphyries. The. Oracle "granite" is coarsegrained though the total quartz and sericite content here (Fig. 4) with anhedral subrounded quartz units ordinarily exceeds the total K-feldspar plus biotite about a centimeteracrossand commonlytangential content. The zoningpatternsand intercepts be to their nearestneighbors, can rectangularto irregular tablets (Anas_45), and interstitial quartz projectedremarkablywell from hole to hole. Sub- plagioclase and K-feldspar. K-feldspar species includemicrosequent petrographic studyhas contributed these to cline,orthoclase, microperthite.Severalauthors, and descriptions the zones,and subsequent of publicaBanerjee(1959) haveconsidered rock the tionsby J. M. Guilbertdescribing chemical the and especially palingenic, althoughmany other workers acceptits structuralmineralogyand physicalgeochemistry of origin. Accessory mineralsinclude the alteration-mineralization processes planned. orthomagmatic are biotite and hornblende,with trace amountsof zircon, In the followingsections, fresh rocksat San the apatite,sphene, magnetite, very sparse and monazite. Manuel-Kalamazoo are first discussed and alteration The porphyriesare of at least two types. One zonesexposedon a horizontalplane at moderate (here calledType A) is a quartz monzonite pordepth are described successively outward from the phyry distinguished its zonedand twinnedoligoby center. Alteration and mineralizationchanges with clase-andesine phenocrysts which averageabout 5 depth are discussed and are summarized last sche- mm and range up to 15 mm across(Fig. 5), its quartz-K-feldspar groundmass commonly containing maticallyin Figure 3a.

ALTERA TION-MINERALIZA
SAN MANUEL

TION
FAULT
SAN

ZONING

IN PORPHYRY

ORE DEPOSITS

379

KALAMAZOO SEGMENT

MANUEL

S EGM..ENT

PROPYLITIC * Chl- Carb Epi-

/
/

Adui - Aib.

HYLLIC "'
Q- Ser-py

ARGI LLIC

\
)TASSIC \

Q- K- feld Bi-

-+ -anh ser

VEINS

PER RAL IPHE cp-gal,sl

Au-Ag'

PERIPHERAL
cp-gel-el

VEINS

VEINS

Au-Ag

VEINLETS DISSEMII

ED

DISS
'4-

MICRO VLTS

DISS
mag +

Fro.3. Concentric alteration-mineralizationSan zones at Manuel-Kalamazoo.schematic (a) drawing alteration of zones. Broken onKalamazoo indicate lines side uncertain continuitylocation onSan or and Manuel extrapolation side fromKalamazoo. schematic (b) drawing mineralization (c) schematic of zones. drawing theoccurrence of of sulfides.

380

.T.D. LOWELL AND J. M. GUILBERT

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-:.:..."-' ' .. ;?-:" : ... P- ?-' "-.:.i. .... .:.. ::-';." .: ",* .;.4',:..- .-..'-.'':-'-.. ::! .,.' :*?* ' .'/' :!'. " '.' .. .... '. ......
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Figure 6
FT6. 4. Fresh Oracle quartz monzonite. Quartz grains along top, microdine acrosscenter, and biotite at lower right. Andesineunit at extinction at left. Both feldsparsmottled but essentiallyfresh. Crossednicols, 15 X. FT6. 5. Fresh Type A monzoniteporphyry. The stippledsucrosequartz-K-feldspar groundmass studdedwith comis

pound rectangular twinnedplagioclase phenocrysts. The whiterectangular is a biotitephenocryst the blackblebs unit and
immediatelyabove and to the left are quartz "eyes." Negative photograph,crossednicols, 3.2 X. FT. 6. Fresh Type B biotite dacite porphyry. Plagioclase phenocrysts square,traiezoidal,or rectangular. They are are twi_ned but generally unzoned. Negative lhotograph,crossednicols, 3.2 X.

.dLTERATION-MINERALIZAT10N

ZONING

IN PORPHYRY

ORE DEPOSITS

381

fine-grained, embayedquartz "eyes" with stippled

overgrowth rims. Few quartz eyes exceed 1 mm in diameter. Accessory biotite, hornblende, apatite, ruffle, zircon, and minor magnetite are generally euhedral, the first two reaching 5 mm in length. No K-feldspar phenocrysts were observed. The groundmass that of the widespread is quartz latite porphyry and quartz monzonite porphyry of the porphyrydeposits. Its grain size averages mm 0.1 and its texture is granularsucrose. Though locally

Potassic Zone.--Several authors, especially Hemley and Jones(1964), Creasey (1966), and Meyer and Hemley (1968), have discussed potassic the alteration environment.Hemleyand Jones havedelimited an environmental interface between K-feld-

spar and sericitestabilities, latter with higher the HC1/KC1ratiosat a giventemperature, environan ment consistent with late magmatic early hydroor thermalconditions the K-feldspar-sericite-kaolin in (pyrophyllite) system.Inclusion iron andmagof variable,it averages percentquartz and 45 per- nesium 55 should bringbiotiteor chloriteinto considercent K-feldspar,so that the overallwholerock feld- ationwith K-feldspar, sericite, quartz, assemand an spar composition averages about 35 percentplagio- blage increasingly in porphyry noted copper deposits claseand 25 percentK-feldspar. The K-feldspars (Creasey, 1966) and assignable a late magmaticto
are anhedral, granular, and mutually intergrown

early hydrothermal"deuteric"environment. Such a

with quartz; granular, often euhedral apatite and rutile and shredsof mafic mineralsare sparse. A secondporphyry (here called Type B) is a biotite dacite. Plagioclase phenocrysts Type B in are generallyroughly squareto rectangular even or trapezoidalin cross section (Fig. 6) rather than compound zonedas in Type A. Rarely do they and

biotite-K-feldspar alteration assemblage quartz, with sericite, anhydrite, pyrite,chalcopyrite, molybdenite, and tracesof bornitegenerally constitutes lowthe
gradecenterand part of the ore shellof the Kalamazoo deposit(Figs. 7, 8, 9).

exceed mm on a side. Biotitephenocrysts to 5 up 3-5 mm are prominent. Quartz pheno:rysts are

absent,and the biotite-to-amphibole ratio is slightly greater than that of Type A. The groundmass is composed intergrown microcrystals sparsely of of twinned plagioclase with quartz, apparentlyslightly varyingdegrees. "Rock" orthoclase fleshcolored is later, and sparseK-feldspar. Rutile and apatite when fresh, turning slightlyorangewhere extenaccessory minerals are rare. sively replaced alteration by K-feldspar.Typically,
It js difficult to estimate from drill core the rela-

This innermost alteration zone(Fig. 3a) involves pervasive veinletreplacement primaryminand of eralsby secondary biotite,K-feldspar, quartz,sericite,andto a lesser extent anhydrite (Fig. 9). Kfeldspar occurs with quartzas microveinlet fillings that healminutestockwork-like fractures the priin mary rocksand also replaceoriginalfeldspars to

quartz heals quartz grains,and K-feldsparheals

tive abundances the two varietiesof porphyry. orthoclase, K-feldspar commonly of with also replacing Type A predominates along the core of the San andesine plagioclase extensively, eitherby rimming Manuel-Kalamazoo system. Porphyry units form or by advance alongtwin planes. K-feldspar also an umbrellaor mushroom-shaped outwardexpan.sion locally replaces plagioclase the porphyry in groundof diking at higherlevels(Fig. la). Althoughpor- mass. No albitization been has found, although prephyry-quartzmonzonitecontacts are predominantly liminaryexamination alteration of K-feldspar indisharp,they may in somecases appeargradational in cates to bemoresodic it thantheprimary orthoclase. diamonddrill core, and the porphyry "dikes" must Alteration biotite occurs fourimportant in modes: be highly sinuous and variablein attitude,especially (1) as hairline veinlet fillings along with chalcopyat greaterdepths. Indeed,an approach wholesale rite,alteration to silicates, anhydrite; assparse and (2) mobilization porphyryconcurrent of with the potas- to massive replacement plagioclase of phenocrysts; sic alteration is suggested coarselyvermicular (3) as brightblackeuhedral by unitsmegascopically and diffuse contacts betweenquartz monzoniteand nearly identical primary to rockbiotite; and (4) as porphyry seen in drill core from deep within the locallypervasive replacements groundmass of feldorebody.

spars(Fig. 8).

Alterationbiotiteis recognizable

both by its fine-grained, sucrose, subhedral euheto Alteration Zones dral form and by the coexistence two distinctive of Alteration zone boundaries are not affected .by color variants, one a light tan to brown which rock type interfaces, leastat the scaleof studyto mostly at predominates, othera light apple the green. date. Systematiccomparisons fresh and altered Shagreen notpresent, birefringenceslightly of is and is rockson either side of a particularcontacthave not lower than that of the rock biotite. Chlorite interyet been made, but the various starting material grown with biotite is common. compositions, structural characteristics, and fabrics The alteredrocks,especially porphyries, the are seemto have responded nearly identicallyto alter- distinctively pigmented groundmass by biotitization. ation processes. Porphyries megascopically showing smoky the gray

382

.t. D. LOWELL

AND J'. M. GUILBERT

1 .-":4.

.,

..

-.

.:.
.

..
.

..-.

Figure

Figure

Figure

Fro. 7. A '," veinlet of mosaic quartz, K-feldspar, anhydrite, and biotite in potassicalteration assemblage. (a) Kfeldspar (stippled, lower left corner) and anhydrite (vertically twinned) in veinlet. The white stippledtablet to right of center in lower half of photo is a K-feldspathized-biotitizedplagioclasephenocrystin Type A porphyry. Crossednicols, 15 X. (b) The same field in plane light, showing shreddybrown biotite pervadingthe potassic assemblage and replacing the plagiodase tablet describedabove. Plane light, 15 X. Fig. 8. A veinlet of quartz, K-feldspar cutting Type A porphyry in the potassic alteration zone. Note rivulet replacement of plagioclaseby alteration K-feldspar at upper center adjacent to veinlet. Groundmassis biotitized. Crossed nicols, 15 x. Fro. 9. A veinlet of dominant calcite, anhydrite, K-feldspar, and opaque minerals (pyrite-chalcopyrite) in a pervasively biotitized Type B porphyry. The finely shreddygroundmassis composed fine biotite with scattered chalof copyrite (black). Crossed nicols, 32 X.

ALTERATION-MINERALIZATION

ZONING

IN PORPHYRY

ORE DEPOSITS

383

color normally found with advancedpotassicalteration generally also carry significantbase metal values. Such rocks also show K-feldspar-richveinlets up to inch wide (Fig. 9). The potassicalteration assemblage generally involvessparseto trace amountsof anhydrite,carbonates,and apatite. Rutile and wolframitehave been observedin several veinlets. Anhydrite, not previously reportedas a widespread alterationmineral, commonly forms granulesin the quartz-K-feldsparrich gash veinlets and in microveinletswhich cut individualrock feldspargrains. Unlike biotite,it is not generally a replacement mineral. It is widespreadbut rarely abundant. Carbonates occurboth in veinletsand as bits and shredsdispersed through the entirerock. Apatite,thoughnot yet well studied,

ion appearscommon. Neither carbonates nor an-

hydritewereidentified thephyllic in zoneassemblage.

The phyllicassemblage San Manuel-Kalamazoo at closelyresembles quartz-sericite-pyrite the alteration at Butte (Sales and Meyer, 1951), at Morenci (Moolick and Durek, 1966), and at many other southwestern North Americanporphyrydeposits. Contactsof the phyllic zone with the potassic zonehave beendescribed above;they are generally gradationalover a hundredfeet or so. Contactsof

the phylliczonewith the next outer most,argillic

zone are less definite.

reaction which alteration minerals include quartz, sericite, ter (Fig. 11). Kaolin is the more common product, gradingoutwardto sparse outlying montpyrite, hydromica, minor chlorite, and traces of morillonite. Pyrite is common but muchlessabunrutile. This zone (Figs. 3a and 3b) generallyindiscludes part of the ore zoneand all of the marginally dant than in the phylliczone. It is generally mineralized and pyritic zonesand is nearly coexten- tinctly veinlet controlledrather than disseminated. unaffected, persivewith strongpyrite mineralization.Sericitepre- Primarybiotitemay be essentially as flecks a white, in dominates the inner part of this zone,clay min- sisting shinyblackmegascopic in along eralsandhydromica the outermargins. The most earthyrock, or it may be in part converted in to characterdistinctive assemblage,both megascopically and cleavage chlorite. The compositional havenot yet beencompared petrographically(Fig. 10), is that of complete isticsof this chlorite of of and sericitization all silicates of exceptquartz. Original with those the chlorite the potassic deep zones. K-feldspar shows minorflecking with serirock plagioclase orthoclase both pervasively and are with kaolin, it is generally but not replacedby a felted mat of fine-grainedmuscovite cite and dusting affected. with abundant ultrafinegranularquartz. Vestiges extensively of cleavage, zoning,and twin planesof plagioclase Propylitic Zone.--This zone contains the most are retainedin most instances preferredorienta- widely distributedand least distinctiveof the alterin Plagioclase generallyremains tionsof sericite flecks. Original biotitesitescan be ation assemblages. it identifiedby relativelywell-oriented alterationseri- fresh (Fig. 12), although is locallyribbedwith kaolin,or an apparent mixcite flecks,by less abundantalterationquartz, and eithermontmorillonite, mineraloid by either anhedralor sagenitic rutile or leucoxene, ture of the two minerals. Amorphous the was identipresumably representing titanium from the original clouding plagioclases notconclusively fied but is suspected small amounts. Biotite is in biotite. Primaryquartzis unaffected generally but replaced alongcleavage both chloriteand carboby overgrown. outK-feldsparis totally sericitized the innermost nate, which generally decreasein abundance in phyllic zone,but shredsand scraps K-feldspar wardly. Epidote and calcite are commonas fine of in and aggregates persistin the outerpart. Pyrite is abundant; chal- granules plagioclase as coarser with montmorillonite amphibole in sites. Bothalbite copyriteis variable,generally occurring dissemias K-feldspar with minorcarbonate, quartz, natedgrains,commonly sericitized in sites. Pyrite andveinlet and epidoteare rare. Rock quartz is unaffected. formsveinlets generally and granular disseminations Chalcopyrite rare, but pyrite constitutes is one to

Ar#illic Zone.--The argilliczoneat San ManuelKalamazoo least well understood this stage, is at both mineralogically distributionally. is the and It least well developed and is the most likely to be occurs both as a veinlet mineral and as minor but absent any givenpenetration the ore deposit in of symmetry. It is characterized the conversion by of pervasivelydistributedanhedral units. to or Phyllic Zone.--Surrounding and to some extent plagioclase either kaolin nearerthe orebody fartherawayfromthe orebody cenoverlapping biotite-K-feldspar the zone is a zone in montmorillonite

in the pervasively phyllic-altered material. Pyrite threepercent volume the rock. The propylitic by of contentrangesfrom 2-30 percentby weight, aver-

aging 5-10 percent.Apatiteandrutileagain appear

assemblage grades into argillicor phyllicphases at

the inner side over an interval of from 10 to 100

to havebeenrecrystallized redistributed. Silici- feetandis presumed fadeoverperhaps and to thousands ficationwell beyondthat expected from the break- of feet in the outer reaches, although this has not downof feldspars sericite to plusquartzplusalkali been proved.

$84

J. D. LOWELL AND J. M. GUILBERT

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Figure

11

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; ..... :.:&. ---.-?-:m. '.:..::'-:-' .;.:...:.;-7.-. '.'? ; :&.?' g ":..-i:/'''..-? .:.:.v'z-T ..2 'k:'.'. .-: ;".' 3u-".:' ' ::i..-
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...................... :'-" * ' ' :" ';;"':"::-'::' :;:=-;';

12
......... $:,,:a-,:?...

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FIG.10. Phyllic alteration Oracle of quartz monzonite. white grayquartz The and units embedded are in plagioclase andorthoclase which units, ve been cmpletely converted sericite, to quartz, pyrite(blab). Perceptible and orientationof sericite pyriteat bottom denotes and le sericitized biotite. Crossed nimls,15X. FI6. 11. Arllid Te B potphys. Pllase in both phocrysts and oun&ass s beenconvert to weakly bffefringent o1, wch conts scattered sedsof sericite hydromira. Fig.6. Srse pyrite, or See prcipallyin plaoclase phenocryst sites, black. Crossed is nicols, X. 15 le center coritized andpyritid. Ple light, 15X. e

Fx6.12. Propylitized Type B porphyry. SeeFigs.6 and11. Plagoiclase arepredominantly units chloritized with of epidote calcite and (visible stipplings unitat lower as in right). Biotite blade upper at rightandbk at

ALTERATION-MINERALIZATION

ZONING

IN PORPHYRY

ORE DEPOSITS

385

Deep Zones.--The deep zones at San ManuelKalamazoo cannotbe described with certainty. Our findingsare basedon only a few drill intercepts and may be modified detailby further work and better in exposures. The grossrelationships shownscheare matically in Figure 2. A slight uncertainty, especiallywith respectto chlorite-biotiterelationships,is introduced the nearness the postby of

as chalcopyrite. Total sulfide content is low and

diameter contains and about 0.3%Cualmost totally

s rare or absent. Most sulfides are disseminated

pyrite-to-chalcopyrite is about ratio 1:2; magnetite

grains. Surrounding zone(Fig. 3b) is the ore this shellas defined a 0.5% Cu cutofflyingin the by potassic but alsooverlapping the phyllic zone into
zone. This ore shell averages about 600 feet in

downward from propylitizedOracle quartz monzonite into a zone in whichboth rock feldspars are dustedwith sericite. Biotite is largely chloritized, and chloriteand epidote replace amphibole. Quartzmagnetite-minor pyrite veinletsup to inch wide are common and generally have narrow quartzsericite-chlorite selvages. The rocks are greenish and free of alterationK-feldsparand biotite. The phyllic zone is widest, possiblywith some repetitionby steepfaulting just below the midpoint of the orebody the Kalamazoo on side,but is virtually absentfrom the deepestlevels (Fig. 2). Moving laterally toward the centerof the deposit depth at (Fig. 3a), sericite content alteredplagioclase in sites increases; magnetitecontentof the zone in veinlets
and as disseminations diminishes but does not dis-

Laramide Manuel San faultandits pqssible effects. thickness ranges and from0.5%-1.0%Cu in grade As shownin Figure 2, the propyliticassemblage with a pyrite-to-chalcopyrite of 1:1. Pyrite ratio which rims the depositat moderatedepthsgrades generally forms stockwork veinlets; chalcopyrite occurs in disseminated grains. Phyllic and ,4rgillic Zones.--There are three rather distincttypesof "ore" mineralization the in

phyllicalteration zone. The outerportion the of oreshell, justmentioned, in thephyllic as lies zone. Surrounding ore shelland entirely the withinthe
phylliczone is a zoneabout200 feet thick in which

copper mineralization ranges from0.1%-0.5%Cu,

with a pyrite-to-chalcopyrite of about 10:1. ratio Mostof boththepyriteandchalcopyrite forms veinlets. Surrounding zoneof marginal this mineraliza-

tionbutstillentirely within phyllic argillic the and zones a zone pyrite is of mineralization ranges which from1,000-1,500 in widthandcontains feet 6%25% pyrite weight.Pyrite by occurs quartz with
in veinlets ranging to inchthick. up

appear. Narrow veinletsof chalcopyrite and pyrite

occurWhichlack anhydrite but have selvages zone of consists a fewsmall, of high-grade silver, gold, nearly normalpotassic alterationbut without biotite. chalcopyrite veins,and pervasive pyrite in veinlets Neither typical argillic nor phyllic assemblages are whichconstitutes 2%-6% by weightof the rock. discernible.The deepest penetration into the core Since outeredge thepropylitic the of zonedoes not
zone showsan assemblage which K-feldspar and in

Propylitic Zone.--Mineralization propylitic in the

sericite dustbothprimaryplagioclase orthoclase; is coextensive propylitic and with alteration.The area in which veinletsof quartz-K-feldspar are flanked of pervasive pyrite veinlets contains 100-500 ppm and intergrownwith selvages sericiteafter biotite copper of whichis apparently included the pyrite in and plagioclase; and in which magnetite,chalcopy- since discrete primary copper minerals notbeen have rite, pyrite, and tracemolybdenite occuras dissemi- found in this material. nationsand microveinlets.This deep-level aspect VerticalChanges Mineralization.--Totalsulfide in of the symmetryand characterof the Kalamazoo content copper and content thelow-grade in portion

crop it is uncertain out whether disseminated pyrite

assemblage resembles that at Butte where alteration of thephyllic zone decrease depth. The charwith envelopesflanking Main Stage veins decreasein acter the mineralization of appears to change also width at deepestlevels with increasingly common with depth fromfinergrained disseminated grains quartz-K-feldspar-sericiteassemblages and with to coarser grained blebs. In the ore shell,thereis

chloritereplacing biotite (Meyer et al., 1969). No remarkably change copper little in grade withdepth, real argillization presentin this deepzoneat San but the chalcopyrite is againchanges downward a to Manul-Kalamazoo. predominant bleb-type disseminated occurrence. As
Mineralization Zones

of theoreshell occurs thepotassic in alteration zone Concentric mineralization zones are coaxial with as depthincreases. Little change with depthis the alterationzonesas shownin Figures3a and 3b. noted the marginal in zoneexcept that magnetite A plane normal to the axis of the depositat a substitutes muchof the pyritenearthe bottom for moderate depth showsthe followingzonesof min- of the orebody.Similarly, magnetite substitutes for eralization. most thepyritein the zone peripheral of of pyrite

shown Figure a progressively portion on 3b, greater

Potassic Zone.--An innerzoneentirelywithin the mineralization the bottom the orebody. near of potassic alterationzoneaverages about2,600 feet in These relationships alsoshown Figure3a. are in

386

J. D. LOWELL AND J. M. GUlLBERT

Molybdenite and Bornire Distribution.--Molybdenum showsa tendency be concentrated the to in middle two thirds of the ore shell (Fig. 3b) with lower grade zonesat the upper and lower portions of the ore shell. Within the 0.5% Cu zone,molybdenum grade in individual drill interceptstends to increase with coppergradeand with thickness the of ore shell. Higher grademolybdenum occursin both the potassic and phyllic zonesand doesnot seemto be controlledby lateral alteration zoning, but from the standpointof vertical zoning, molybdenumcontent drops off at about the same level that deep alterationassemblages becomeimportant (Fig. 3a). Althoughonly a dozenor so borniteidentifications were recorded in drill hole logging, bornite also
tends to occur in a short vertical column less than

depositdescriptions. We adopt the four alteration assemblage names earlier defined. Twenty-fiveof the 27 deposits describedcontain a phyllic zone, so it serves as a referencepoint in constructing the table. Other

alteration typeswereentered wherever theyfell with respect that quartz-sericite-pyrite to zone according
to the descriptions. At least 17 porphyriesapproachthe form of a steep-walledcylinder. Another seven, including threemolybdenum deposits, showelements stubby of cylindrical or inverted flatly conical form. The

half the total length of the column of copper mineralizationand nearly centered betweentop and bot- most zone is propylitic. Ore mineral distribution tom of the ore-gradecopperinterval. Most bornite and sulfide occurrence provedto be consistently reis found with potassic alteration but it occasionally latedto alteration.A summary, column column, by occursalso in phyllic and propylitic zones. of the data entered Table 1 is presented. in

chieflycylindrical deposits the most distinctly are zoned. The innermost deepest (or and/or generally earliestzone) is typicallypotassic; next outward the zoneis phyllic. Beyond that is the commonly thinner and lesswell developed argillic zone,and the outer-

Comparison of Porphyry Deposits

The authors have used the San Manuel-Kalama-

Deposit (Column1) This columngivesthe namesand locations the of

zoo lateral and vertical zoning data as a framework deposits. into which informationon zoning in other porphry Preore Host Rock (Column 2) depositsmight be fit. Table 1 is a comparison of the geologiccharacteristics 27 major North and of This column citesrock typesand agesinto which South American porphyry depositsfor which de- the igneous host rocksof the respective deposits
tailed information is available. The table summarizes

the descriptions well as possible, as althoughcareful interpretationwas required simply in selectingthe appropriatecolumn in which to enter information. Factual information,widdy known but not necessarily in print, has also been judiciouslyincluded. Entries for most deposits have beenreviewedby the geologists most familiar with them. Abbreviations used are listed on the page precedingthe table. The table first compares preorecontrolsand geologicsettingof the deposits--age, shape-size, composition, sequence intrusion,and mode of emplaceof

havebeenintruded. Thesepreorerocksmay be mineralized, at Bingham Safford, the preas and or

ore wall rocksmay be too remote,as at Butte. An appraisal the importance preore rockswith of of respect ore controlis given in Columns14 and 15 to

under"Orebody."It is apparent igneous that host rocks mostclosely related ore in time and space to are emplaced generally high in the geologic column. Of the26 deposits which for preore wall rockages' are available, deposits 9 havepenetrated into late
Cretaceous preorematerials, are in older Mesozoic 5 sections, are in Paleozoic 4 rocks,and 7 occurin

merit of the igneous host rock. Orebodies conare sidered termsof shape, in natureof externalboundaries, percentof ore in ore-stage igneous rocksand preore rocks,dimensions, tonnageand grade. More significant, however,are the sections hypogene on alteration, hypogenemineralization,and sulfide occurrence.

Precambrian rocksonly. In several deposits, the younger sections thegeologic of column beprocan jectedoverthemwithoutadding morethan a few thousand of capping feet above top of the porthe
phyry deposit. Probably mineralization mostof in the porphyry deposits extended upwardto within
a few thousand feet of the surface.

The problem was approachedwith a model in Igneous Host Rock (Columns 3-11) mind, but without assumptions concerningits correctness. This model assumedthat the porphyry The third major section Table 1 describes of the depositenvironment one of coincident is alteration igneous hostrocks the porphyry of deposits. The and mineralization involving silicate-sulfide-oxide names Column applyto the intrusive of 3 unitsmost equilibriain a large, significantly three-dimensionalintimately associated with the orebodiesin both petrologic-mineralogic system. These assumptions space and time. Agescitedin Column applyto 4 appear confirmedby the consistency combined the intrusive of hosts ratherthanto the ore deposits

ALTERATION-MINERALIZATION ZONINGIN PORPHYRYOREDEPOSITS'

TA-. 1. GeologicCharacteristics 27 Major PorphyryCopper of and Molybdenum Deposits
ABBREVIATIONS-TABLE 1

387

Minerals ab albite

rc rd

rhodochrosite rhodonite

GeologicTime.
Lar Laramide

Ag

silver & silver minerals

rt

rutile

T
K Trias

Tertiary
Cretaceous Triassic

anh anhydrite

ser sericite

ank ankerite
ap apatite
Au gold& goldminerals

sl

sphalerite

specspecularite
stb stibnite

Meso Perm Pal

Mesozoic Permian Paleozoic

bar barite bi biotite bn bornite

cal calcite car carbonate

tm tourmaline
tn tennantite trem tremolite tt topaz
V vanadium minerals

Penn Pennsylvanian pC Precambrian

Alteration

cc chalcocite
cp

wf wolframite

chl chlorite

chalcopyrite

Arg ArgiI I ic Phyl Phyllic

Pot Potassic

zo zoisite

clzo clinozoisite

Prop Propylitic

cs .cassiterite cupcuprite cv covellite

dck dickite dg .digenite dol 'dolomite

Rocks alsk alaskite And andesite

apl aplite

Dac dacite Db diabase Dio diorite

granite
latite

eh enargite
ep epdote i
feld feldspar fl fluorite
fm famatin'ite

gn gneiss
G
L.

Mi scel laneou s adv advanced bx breccia Cu copper diss disseminated fit fault

irreg irregular

Gd granodiorite Iph lamprophyre

#vlt
Mo mod
ND

microveinlet

molybdenum
moderate no data

gal galena gr garnet gyp gypsum

hbl hornblende hm hematite
hn 'huebnerite

Is M p

limetone monzonite porphyry

repl
text
tr
vn

replacement
sulfide
texture

peg pegrnatite Qd quartzdiorite QI quartzlatite

trace

vein

vlt

veinlet

ill illire kaolkaolin

Qm 'quartz monzonJte Qmp quartz monzonite porphyry

qtzt quartzite

weightpercent

mag magnetite
mal malachite.

'Qp''quartz porphyry'
Rhy rhyolite
sandstone

'mb molybdenite
mc marcasite
mont montmorillonite

sch schist
sh shale
ss

mn manganese minerals seds sediments

volc 'olcanics

py pyrite
pyx pyroxene

prp pyrophyllite
Q quartz

388

J'.D. LOWELL AND J. M. GUILBERT

PREORE

IGNEOUS

HOST

ROCK

D E P O SI T
(1)

H OST RO C K
(2) Name (3)

Age
(m.y.) (4)

Controlling
Structures (S) Shape (6)

Ajo
Bagdad
Arizona

pCgn;Meso(?) Qm; Cornelia quartz

pC volcs, sch& G
Triassicvolcanics

63'
71
200

steep fault NW
N 70 E[& N 30Wfits
N-N 25 E fits

elongate NW
irregular
lenticular

...... !?..n. ........................... .................... ....n..a:...t..!! ..m..o..n.?.!.t..,. ............................................ .p..o..?.?!. ............. !.,...?.o..! !..r.r.e.!.. ....................
Bagdad stock
Guichon &. Qd Bethlehem irregular

....... !.t!..h....ce...!..! .................................................. ............................................................................... .,..t.h. !..,....?. ..m.!.t.!.p.!.:...p.! .........

Bingham Elisbee
Braden
Butte

Penn pC sch;Pal Is,

K-T And& teds
Pal Is, sh, st;

Bingham stock Sacramento stock

brecciated Dac p
Boulder Batholith

37 163
mid-T (?)
72

NE & NWfits steepNWfit; NI=fits

N-S & N 55 E fits

irregular, pipelike, irregular

circular&

...... .............................. !..m..,. ................................................................................................................... .u..h. .q..t. .t..>...! .t..o.?. t..e.?..p. ........................

.rj..o. elongate N, ...... .......................... [.,.:...a.t..o..,. ................................................................................................................................

...... ..................................................................... ..C..!.!.e. stock, Qd

NW & EWfits

59 64
Ear

elongate dikes
batholith

Montana Cananea Sonora CastleDome

Chuquicamata

K And Pal teds; Lar volcs & intrusiverocks pC sch& pC G

metaseds& volcs

La Colorado 'Qp' Lost Gulch Qm,

Chuquicamata

N & NWfits N40E fits

N & N l0 I= fits

elongateNE irregular stocks, plugs irregular stock

narrow,semicon-

...... .r.!.o. ................................................................. .................................................................................................. j.....!.t.?....r.p..h.y...

...... .c....!!.'.. ..................................................................... ..p. .................................................................................................. .!!.,..o....u..j..s.......,.!.t..
Climax Copper Cities I:1 Salvador
Chile

PC sch

Climaxrhyolite

30 60 Lar(?) 109

N-S anticline N501 = NI: & NWfits I=-Wfits

circular,pipelike stockelo. ngateNI= elongate NI= irregular

....... ..ce.!.o..r..a..o '............................................................... ..p?..r..p..h..y.?.. ............................................... .p..o. ?..n..t...o.! !.?.. ...............................................

pC sch & pC granite Lost GulchQm, r( And, rhyolite I=1Salvador stock I:ly stock

....... .r...o. .................................................................. .e..r..a.!.t.e....p..o.r..p..y...y. ............................................................................................

I:ly Pal Is, st, sh

...... .u..:..?..a... ........................................................................................................................................................................ .'!...n..t.'....,-..W.. ..........

I:ndako early Mesoteds TopIcyQm,alsk 139-143 NW& I:NI: fits irregular British Columbia & volcanics & granite elongateNW ..................................................................................................................................... / ............ ff/Ci'"g"h'"'i; ';;'''i; ......... .................... I:speranza K fragmental & I:speranza stock

....... .r...o. ......................... ..w..,. !..a..,..a........q..t...t. ................................................................................................................ .[r..,.......k.. ...............

Inspiration Arizona PC sch, G, qtzt & Db Schultze quartz monzonite 60 N 50 I= fit irregular large stock

....... r!..o..n. .......................... .m..,..t.?.!S.,...n..,.! ...................................................................... ..W...?..t ............................ ...W.. ..........................

Mission-Pima
Arizona

Pal, K, I%cene
sediments

60 Morencistock Questamine GraniteMt. Qm Lar 30 63

not recognized Pc NI:; K NW N, NWfits I=NI schistosity = NNWfits

sill-like, tabular elongate very irregular irregularmasses in NI=belt

Morenci Ouesta Ray Arizona

pC G, Pal--Aeso Miocene(?) And, pC teds, metaseds, Db; Pal limestone

...... !.o. ........................... ....................................................................................................................................... [.,..:.

....... .-...,..x.!.?.o. !.t!.t..,.:....y..o.!!.t, ................... '.............. .p. !.!.t..,......h..y...,. ............................................................................. ...m.!.[ .....................
Safford
Arizona Santa Rita New Mexico
Silver Bell

K Qm,Qd, Rhy,QI, C) Weber Peakdike

58
67
63
63

NWfits & NI= shears dikeswarm

NE[& NWfits
NNW& NI= fits
NNW fit

....... .r.!?. .......................... :....a.!.k..,....p.!..a ............................................................................................ ..... ..w..r..m. .,..!.o..n..?..,.... .............

SanManueI-Kalamazoa quartzmonzonite SanManuel PC Mp
PaI-Meso (K) teds
Pal & K teds

irregular, mushroom.
shapedstock complex,elongate NW, domical
stock

Santa Rita'stock
Silver BeJl stock

...... r!.o..n. ..................................................................................................................................................................... ..,.[.o....a.t..e....U..W.. .............

Toquepala
Peru

late K(?) Rhy,And,

Dio

daciteporphyry
Qmstock

59
65

none recognized
NI= & NWfits

elongate N-S

irregular stock

Typical Porphyry Copper

Pc-late K teds & metasediments

elongate irregular

ALTERATION-MINERALIZATION

ZONING

IN PORPHYRY

ORE DEPOSITS

389

iGNEOUS

HOST

ROCK-Continued

Size (feet) (7)

Modeof F:mplacement (8)

StockDike (9)

Sequence of Intrusion (10)

RockTypes Mineralized (11)

3000x 10,000

passive

stock

Dio-4 Gd-4Qm Qmp vfg Qm -4 -4

all

'"'6';Fg6'//6' ............................... ':................................................................................... p-4 Dio p ....... Q Dio passive stock Rhy2Gd;......................................................................... all

..........................................
12,000x 5000 probably passive stock> dike

-4Qmp
Qd.4 Gd.4 Dacp .4 Lp .4 Rhy all

'"g'ci66';F6i ................................................................................................................... .................................................................................... passive> active stock> dike Qd';Gd; /p, QIp all + seds

'"iitii'' ..................................................................................................................... '6'6i ................................................................................. passive> active stock 'Qp' k;' 'feld Qp' all + seds
(both altered)

4000 x 4000

passive> active

stock> dikes

Qd.4 Dacp .4 I_p Iph .4

And, Qd, Dacp,

/p

150,000 350,000 x

passive

batholith

Qm(apl, peg)-4 Qmp

all

8000 25,000 x
cluster

passive> active

stock dike >

Dio,Gd,sy,G.4'QI Eb

all + seds

'"J'l'l''''J[ ..... passive

stockdike >

Gd Qm QmpG.4Gp Db .4 .4 .4 .4
sodo .4Qd Dio Qm Gd .4 .4 .4
Rhyp .4 apl p .4 Gp

Qm, & Db Gp
all(?)
all

'"'C'""(JJJ'- passive ...... > active(?) stockdike >

4- 3000x 3000 active stock> dike

................................................................................................................................... 9.....p.! ..... .o...a.....a..p. ............................................................

'"/6i'/i';/"i'i/i///'//'/ ....... ;';';i'; ..............................................................................Gp stock Qm'.......alsk ,"-; ; apl ; .......... ....... Db ................................................. all

'"//'';"i;'6/// .................. ............................................................................. i;';';';i';; ......... ................................................................... stock> clikes,sills Gd'-; Gdp; 'Qp' all
large,elongate EW passive stock dikes,sills > M, Qmp complex all + seds

stock> dike Qm.4 G '......... reid i; alsk ; Q '"//61iJiJii";,"i'ii6i;"c/6'6 ......... ;;';i;;;;.*' .................................................................................... all ............. ..................................................

'";/;'i:i";,";/ii ....................... '"; ................................................ ...................... pass, .......................................................................................... stock> dike Qm.4 Dio; Qmp.4Andp all '-seds&
voles

60,000 all '-7/;';;;i '"/6/ci:i'; .......................................................... ...................... i;;';i';; ;,';;'';"/ii; i5i;";"'''5':-;"i5i; ..................................... .....

'"6///i';i'/// ............................... :'........................................................................................................................................................... pass, ve stock Qd.4 Qmp 'Qp'.4 'Qp'+ Q .4 Qmp 'C)p' +__4000 4000 x passive sill > stock
in wall

................................................................................................................................................................................ ?...p.2+...9. ................

Qmp all + seds

'"'i;'666';' b;'6'66 i; ; i; "'';i ................i" ii'ij"ili' g ............. ; ';' ;' ;i ii ;; il; .............';"-7 i;"-7 "6i; ii' "o;;;i5';,"-; ; ......................;ii;; 6';T' ........... };'
stock5 dike Mp, Gp, bio G'; apl, apl i;; voles "i''6i:iii;,"//iii i;';;';'i;; ................ ........................................ ....................................................... d[l:7...................... ................ ......................

..................................................................................................................................... .a.....y....p. ..................................................................................

8000x 15,000 passive stocks dikes > Qd.4 Db.4 Qmp And Qmp .4 .4 .4 all + metaseds

2000x 4000
;4000 7000(?) x

passive
passive

dikeswarm
stock dike >

QIp,Rhy,Dac,Qd,Gd Dac .4 .4
Mp.4 Qmp Db .4

all + vales
all

..................................................................................................................................... 9.!,...k,...a....y. .........................................................................

'";/'66/i';F// ............................... " .................................................................................... & bi Gd'; ..................................... Qd, Gd+ seds ............................................ pass,ve stock> dike Dio ';Qd+ hbl Gd

......................................................................................................... 9.m. ..........................................................................

> 10,000NE x
30, oooNW

passive

stock siII > dike >

alsk.4 Dacp.4 Andp .4 Omp

all + seds

"i'g66'"''6'6' ;/:'ilk;; ...................... ................................. ................. .................................................... /;;/'i;i'';'"/li'i/g''g"/; i;ii"'i;;Fg",'g'i;"'

4000x 6000 passive stock dikes > Dio.4 Qm Qmp 'Op' .4 .4 all + seds

390

.t. D. LOWELL AND .L M. GUILBERT

OREBOD'Y

D E P OSI T

Outward Shape

Boundaries

Percent in
IgneousHost

Percent in
Preore Rocks

(12)

(13)

(14)

(15)

Aio

Arizona
Arizona

oval, elongate NW

original faults &

80?

20?

......................................................................................................................................................... '4: ................... elongate oval original +_90 10

"ifii;'d4 ................................................................................................................................................................................. steep, elliptical cylinder original -t-50 +50

British Columbia

Bingham
Utah

pear-shaped, elongate WSW original

75

25
(incl. bx)

Arizona

......................................................................................................................................................................... ................. elongateEW,oval original& faults + 30 + 7'6'

hollowcircular cylinder
o..........................

Braden
.............

original& postore breccia

25
100 + 90 100

75

Chile

0 ...........

pipe
crudely domical pipelike original originalbrecciapipe
o ..................................................................................................

..............................................
0 + 10 0

Butte

Montana
Sonora

Cananea
, ......................... 0,oo,

..............................................................................................

CastleDome
Arizona

oval, elongate w NE

original& NWfault

Chile
.0 ..... , ...............

......................
,,,,o,0,, o,,,, ...................... o ................. , .......................
,.,,,,o,,0,,o.,00 .... ,o, o,.o ....... , .........................

...............
original
......... 0 .............................................

................................... .......................... ............

,., ........... , ......... , ....

............................................................................................

Climax
o0,.o,,, ...........

Colorado

nested,inverted ones

40(?)
, ..................... ,...., ......... 0 ..... 0.,,,., ............................

60(?)
,,,o,.,

Copper Cities
.o[,,

Arizona
.........

oval, elongate NW
, .....................

Original NE & N faults &

original original with faults
above & below

100
, ...........

0
.,.o ................

, .....

,..,0 o..,,,o0,0 ..... , ......

o.......................................................................................................................

El Salvador
Chile
......... 0 ........... 0,.,, ..... 0 ..............

oval pipe, lowergrade

center
..... ............................................................................................................................

70(?)
,.,.0, ....... ,,., ....................

30(?)
0 .........

Ely
.........................

Nevada
0 ,,

?flat cylinder

80

20

Endako
.... 0,

elongate oval
,o ................... ,,, ......................................................................................................................................................................................

original original
original & fault

100 60(?)
50
+ 100
, ..... , .........

0 40(?)
50
0
, ......... o ....

British. Columbia
............

Esperanza
Arizona
oo., ............... ,.0.o.o .....

elongate oval NW
................................................................................................................................................................................................

Inspiration
Arizona
0 ......... .o ..... , ......... ,,,.o,,.,,o., ........

flat cylinder
crescent, convexSW
o ....... , ............. 0 ........................................................

Mineral Park
Arizona
,, ....... o .................

, .........................................

, ............................................

Mission-Pima
Ari zo n a

oval

original & fault

+ 10

+_90

...................................... :................................................................................................................................................................ .................. +_ 70 Morenci oval original+ fault

Arizona
o.,,,o,o,0..,,.,.,,, o0.,...,.. ..... 0.0 ........................................ , ................................................................. o ........................................... 0 .......... 0 ......................

Questa
New Mexi co
,,..., 0,.0.,.,,0 ................... , ..... 0 ......

irregular
0o. .............

original

70(?)

30(?)

, ..............................................................................................................................................................

.,0o,,,,

Rarizon a
....... ,..,0,0,0.o,0.o0

........

, ......

, .....

irregular oval, EW original elongate &fault

, ............. , ....... 0 ........... , ...........................................................

, ....................

0 ......................................

20

80
, ...........

0 ....

Safford
Ari zon a
,,.0o, ..... , ........... ,,0 ........

oval, dippingpipe
0 ............................................................

original
................................................................................

20
0 .............................

80
0., ...............

SanManuel-Kalamazoo hollowoval cylinder

Arizona
,0 ................. , ...............

original original

50 +_70

50 +_30

SantaRita
New Mexi co
....... , ...................

oval elongateNW

Silver Bell
o, .....

elongate oval mineralbelt

,,,,0 .............................................

original
0......

70
.................

30
, ..................................

Arizona , ...........................

, ..............................................................................

Toquepala

oval, elongate NW

original: brecciapipe

70

30 (walls

Typical Porphyry
Copper

oval, pipelike

original& postore faults

70

30

ALTERA TION-MINERALIZA

TION ZONING

IN PORPHYRY

ORE DEPOSITS

391

0 R E BODY-

Continued

Dimensions (feet) (16)

4000 x 7000

Total Ore Tonnoge (million) (17)

< 500

Grade Hypogene+ Supergene (18)

0.75% Cu

Grade Hypogene Only (19)

0.75% Cu

1000 x 5000

< 100

2000 x 3000
5000 x 7000 WSW 2000 x 2000

< lr00
> 500 < 100

0.76% Cu + 0..025% Mo 0.6% Cu

0.75% Cu 0.05% Mo 0.81% Cu

+ 0.5% Cu + 0.025% Mo

0.6% Cu
0.75% Cu 0.05% Mo + 0.55% Cu

...!?..r.?.:..y.! ...................................................................................................................................................................

5000 x 5000

> 500

2.25% Cu

1.00% Cu

....o. !).o...w...:..y.!!?..4?..r '................................................................................... .O....O..5....a..o. ........................................ ................. .0. :..O..5....a..O..

5000 x 10,000 EW
250 x 1200

> 500
> 500

0.8% Cu
0..8% Cu

0.2% Cu
0.5% Cu

....r..?...:.s..a..p. ?....................................... ......................................................................................................................... !!?.!.:.t.?

_ 1500 x 3000 < 100 + 0.70% Cu + 0.5% Cu (?)

2500 x 10,000

> 500

+ 1.7%.

+ 1.2% Cu

"';ii:Ji:JiS' .................................... ........................................ ":ii:Sti/5 5:'6i:i "6'.'/qo' .................................... '/,i ''i3i;i'qo"// ..................
1500 x 2000 < 100 + 0.60% Cu + 0.4% Cu

> 500 1.5% Cu ND '"iSiti' ................................. ,";/ti/5/5 ................................................... ' ......................................................................................

+ 1000 x 3000 x

< 500

+ 0.9% Cu

+ 0.1% Cu

........ .1..o..-...2..o.,..o..o..o. ............................................................................... ................................?..o..m...m..o. !.l....2....:.o...m..m...o.?.! !.0.:.4... ?..! ...............

1200 x 6000
2300 x 4200 2500 x 8300

> 100

+ 0.09% Mo
0.51% Cu 0.028% Mo 0.90% Cu

_ 0.09% Mo
+ 0.3% Cu 0.028% Mo 0.15-1.20% 0.007% Mo 0.04% Mo 0.8% Cu

.( 100 < 500

Cu

.... iJiS'"';i6 ................................................................................................................................................................................ < 100 0.5% Cu 0.1-0.15% Cu

0.04% Mo 5000NW x 7000NE ) 500 0.8% Cu

6000 x 13,000
7000 x 7000

) 500
) 500?

0.88% Cu
0.15-0.18% Mo

0.1-0.15% Cu
0.007% Mo

0.15-0.18%

Mo

3000NS x 10,000 EW
+ 4000 x 5000

( 500
> 500

0.80% Cu
0.50% Cu

0.10-0.80% Cu
+ 0.2% Cu

cross section: 2500 x

> 500

4- 0.75% Cu

-t- 0.75% Cu

5000 x 4- 8000 high 5000 x 7000NNW

< 500

0.015% Mo 0.97% Cu

0.1-0.2% Cu(intr)
0.8% Cu (tactite)

.... 2000x 2500&

1500 x 2500
4000WNW x 5000NNE

< 100
500

............................................................ J':'"6l'"E'iig;i .... 0.75% Cu

0.8% Cu (tactite)
0.9% Cu 0.3% Cu

3500 x 6000

150

0.80% Cu 0.015% Mo

0.45% Cu 0.015% Mo

392

.r. D. LOWELL

AND .1. M. GUILBERT

HY
D E P O S I T Known Extent

POG

EN

ALTERATION

Beyond Ore (ft)

(20)

Peripheral Zone
(21)

Outer Zone
(22)

Intermediate Zone
(23)

Ajo

Arizona

+ 5000
500 + + 300
Columbia

?chl, ab, zo, ser, Q, ank

ND ND not reported Q, chl, ep not reported Q, kaol, mont

Bagdad
Arizona

Bethlehem
British

Bingham Bisbee
Arizona

3000 + 7000?

chl, talc, kaol, ep,

Q, chl, kaol, cal, ep chl, ep, zo, cal, ser ? kaol, ser(?)

........ ........................................................... .u..t ..r..,..m..?...,.....y..x. ...........................................................................................................

Braden .............................................................. '4:6i:3 g'i;'37};7'; ''i:;;;,7' i;;';ii ,;'"'"',';; ........ 3; ......... i7;;,'i;' ..................
Chile tm

Butte
Montana

1000 + 5000

Q, chl, ep, cal chl, ep

Q, mont, kaol Q, ser, kaol

Cananea
Sonora

Castle Dome
Arizona

3000 few hundred

chl, ept py, ser, cal &

c l zo TiOx

mont kaol ) ser

Chuquicamata
Chile
Colorado
Ari zon a

chl, ep, cal, spec, hm,

Climax 2000? ............................................................................................................. 7'i'ii7;'C.,'i ................... ';''';''' .................................

CopperCities
Chile

5000 +

ep, cal, clzo, ser

mont, Q

.......................................................................................................................................................... El Salvador 1000 + py, chl ;&';;ii'ii ....................................

Nevada
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................. %;-g..iii;; ........................................................................ Ely 2000

Endako
British Columbia

2000 + (?)

kaol weak, Q, cal

kaol moderate, Q, chl

Esperanza
Arizona
.0ooo ........... , .....

ND 1500 +
10,000
up to 5000

not reported chl, ep

chl, ep, clzo, Q, ser, 'clay'
skarn, tactitc, hornfels

Q, kaoI, mon t
, ................

, ...................................................................................................................................................................

Inspiration
Arizona

Q, ser, kaol
Q
present

MineralPark
Mission-Pima
Ar i zo na

....... ..r!.z..o.?.?. ............................................................................ !!.t?..t.! .(...!!..!! ..............................................................................

Morenci
Arizona
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................

) 5000

skarn on SE

chl, ep

Q, mont

Questa
New Mexico Arizona

2000 + (?) 1000-15,000

ser, car, kaol, ep,

chl

ser, Q, py -3_ cal, kaol,

i l I, fl

ser, Q, py -3_ cal, kaol, ill

...........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Ray

chl, ep, ab, cal, montto

20,000 x 30,000

Safford
Arizona
Arizona

-3_ 12,000

ep, chl

"chloritic"

.... g'''''"''''g ....5555"''6'6 ............................................... ' i4i';';',"fi'i ..................... /7fi;'i'gf;i ..............................

.... 'a'"i ..................... 5000 +
New Mexi co

tactite

tactite
tacti te

ahl,ep (Argillic)
tacti te

....ii;;"8'gl'' ...................................... ............................................................................................................................................. -3_ 32,00 ;5000 chl, cal, ser, mont Q, ser, kaol
Arizona a Iteration zone

Toquepala
Peru

mi nor; < 1000

mont

Typical Porphyry Copper

2500

chl, ep, kaol, (skarn)

chl, ep, cal

Q, kaol, ser, mont

/ILTERATION-MINERALIZATION

ZONING

IN PORPHYRY

ORE DEPOSITS

393

HYPOGENE

MIN

ERAI-IZATION

D E P OSI T

Peripheral
Alteration Zone

Outer
Alteration Zone

Intermediate
Alteration Zone

Inner
Alteration Zone

(28)

(29)

(30)

(31)

Ajo Arizona

spec, bar

cp, py, bn,mb,mag,hm py:cp 1

py:cp= 1:4; py, cp

.... ri zona ............................. x.;..:x.;... .......................................................................................... ........ ...........................

British Columbia "-i' ........................ ;''-;-' ................. ;'"'';''' ............... '"'"' ....................... ""'F' ............................
Bingham
Bisbee
Braden

en, fm,gal,
sl, gal, py, cp
gal, sl, Ag,

py
ND
py

py, cp, mb
ND py, cp, bn, cc, mb,s I
py ) cp ) bn ) mb ) en

....... .............................. ............................................................................................................................................. .u..t.. .!:.t..t

....... .!...o. ........................................................................................................................................ .y,!.p.....]..0..! ............................

....... .!!.?. ............................ .................................................................................................... ?.t.:..y. .m.....n. ....................................

Butte
Montana
Sonora

Mn, Ag

rc sl, gal, rd

py, bn cp, tn

py, cc, enbn

Cananea
Castle Dome Chuquicamata

gal, sl, tt, Ag

sl, gal, py, cp, minor sl, gal, py py, cp

py, cp, bn, mb,sl, gal

py cp mb en, cp, co, bn, py(?)

py, cp, bn, mb

py cp mb en, cp, cc, py, bn(?), mb

........ .:!...o.,?. ......................... ...,...v..,...o.,.. .p..............................................................................................................................

Climax gal, sl, Ag(?) py,tz, fl, hn,cs mb, cp

....... .......................... ........................................................................................................................................ ..a,..!.!.e. ...

Colorado

Copper Cities
Arizona

sl, gal, Ag
gal, sl, Ag
Au.& base

py
py, spec

py cp mb
ND

py cp mb
py - cp
py, cp, high total sul

Pl Salvador
Chile

Ely

........ .a.. .......................... .t.!.!..n...a. .................................................................................... ........................ .!?.....s..-..!..0.!!

Pndako
F:speranza
Ari zon a

sl, gal, kg
gal, sl, kg
mb, V, Mn '

spec,cal
py
py cp(?) py, cp, sl, gal

mag, mb, py,

py > cp > mb
py cp py, cp

py,mb,mag
py > cp > mb
py cp mb py, cp, mb

........ ....ce.. ........................................... ................ .).!! !.m. ! ..<..:..0.. ..<...0....!.. .......................... :..-.!.:.0.. ..............................
Inspiration
Arizona
Arizona

cp, gal, sl,

MineralPark

Au, Ag, gal, sl

.... 'ii''"ii;;;,' ................. ';;i'i"/, ................ ................. :F i;;; '.......... ..............................................................................

Arizona

minerals'

py, mb cp,

Morenci

gal, sl, Au, Ag

py

py:cp=-high;high

py 3-8%; cp 9.3-0.5%;

........ .!...o..,. .......................................................................................... t.o..,.!. .,. ................. !.L.p. ?. ?.,..?.,...,. .!...........................

Questa
Ray
Ari zona

py,mb,gal, sl
gal, sl,

py,mb,
py, cp, bn

py,mb
py, cp, bn

mb,py,cp,hn
py, cp,bn,mb

........ ....!.o. .................................................. ................................................................................................. .c..p.z.o....z.!

Safford Arizona
Arizona

Ag,cp

Au,cp

ND

py,cp,mag, gal, sl tt, py 4-8%; cp+_0.4%

py:cp :- 10-20:1 mb(0-0,05%)

.... ;,;;;iz.'Ri,..... a ';''l';''i; ............... .................... ............................... ; f,',"i'i'fo' ;,"i'i'f)' ;," i'6'foi'i' ;"ii;'i"'i'i ...........
Au, Ag

Santa Rita

NewMexico

sl, gal, Ag,

spec,cp, 'inc

py:cp= 40:1

py.4-8%; cp 0.4%

mb;py:cp= 3:1

py 1-4%; cp 0.4-1%;

.... Arizona ....................... ................ i'i,;"i;;ii '',"'gi;';i '';'''i;'; ............ i'(';/i ;;;"'"i'i ......................... .............................. ;;'""i''i .
Toquepala Peru Copper minorcp,bar no py halo modpy:cp low total sul total sul; py:cp=23:1 low py:cp;highertotal sul; py, cp,bn, sl, mb (10%)tot sul; py:cp= 13:1

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: mod ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: py cp bn; py cp mb bn; high

.

394

I. D. LOWELL AND .1'.M. GUILBERT

H Y P 0 G E N E A b T E R AT

I 0 N - Continued

Zoning Sequence
Inner Zone Innermost Zone from Center

Vertical Sequence
from Bottom

(24)

(25)

(26)

(27)

(Q, ser, py)?

Q, K reid, chl (anh)

partial overlap

......................................................................................................... .P.e.t...-..,..P.h .................................................................. !...-....:.?...

Q, ser, K feld
Q, ser
chl

hi, ab, Q, K feld

.Pat- Phyl
Phyl - Arg - Prop

Q, ser, K feld if_clays,

Q, K feld, hi, ser

Pot.- Ph.l - Prop

....... .!.a....p..'.'....2:...s..r. .................................................................... ................................................................................. ..r.g.......r.o..p.

Q, ser, hi, anh Q, ser, hi, anh Pot & Phyl - Arg - Prop Pot - Phyl

:p', Q,dck, prp;

adv. & Phyl Arg -

'"i';' ,)i'"6';' ';;' ii"/,'; .......... '"" "ii';';'ii .......... 'l'g;'""'/i4i'"'"';'""iu; ........ i';"-'"'l'/,';i"'"';'""'i';/; .....
,,,,,0,,. 00o 0, o,.,.,,, 0,0, ....... 0 ........... ,,,40.,.0,0 ...................... 0 .................... ........... 0 ..... ,.0., ............................. ,, ......... .,,00.,,,.0.0 ..... .0,, ...... ,.0..00 .....

......... ........................................ 'i;/i g'l: " 'i''l'i'' ........................ 'I'L'/'i'"'"' ............................................................................

Q, set, hydromica,K feld Phyl - Arg - Prop

....................... Q, K feld, gg; .............................................................................. .................. ''K;i'"'"X;'"'"i';g; i'i5 ............................................

.......................................................................................................... .-;..5!:.. ....................................................................................
Q ser, py, hydromica Phyl - Arg - Prop

...................................................... ..................................... - Q, py, ser feld, Q, hi,' fl "'i';;ii'D Q -'...................................................................................... K feld Q - K feld - Q, py, ser
.... ;"6';'ggL"';' ......................... 6";"/;"/(igiii"L'L'L' i%';"'"'i{;i'i'i""";L'''i'"' 2"'g,'ii'.ff'"'';"" .................. ...... ig' .......... ........................................................................................................ general bi ........... .......................................... ...: .P..: ................................
seriiti Q, ser, py, kaol Q, K feld Q, ser, kaol potassic Q, K feld, bi Q, ser, K feld, bi K feld hi, ser Pot - Phyl - Arg Pot - Phyl - Arg(?) Pot - Phyl - Prop granitoid -p texture; ND not reported ND

............................................................................................................................................................. ..?.:...-:. !..*x !..;.. .......................

....................................................... !...?,.!!...?..,.:...:! ...............................................................................................................

Q se py Q ser clay(?); skarn
,******e******,****,,o.**,,,,,,,,,,,0,,,,,,,,,

Q, K feld (earliest) Q, K feld ser bil skarn

,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,**,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.

Pot - Phyl - Arg - Prop

karn
,,,,

not reported

Pot - Phyl - Arg *****************************************************

Q,set, py
Q, K reid, bi cal,
Q er kaol

ND

"J','i"""X;'":"l'ig' not '.............. reported

Pot - Phyl - Arg - Prop ND

Q, K reid (anh)
bl Q ser K feld

.... hb..L ......................................................................................................................................................................

.... 9.9.q:...] ................ ....9.9......................... ]. .9.9.9.? ,..... ,................................................... ,.....................................................

Q, er py K feld bi, Q, ser Pot - Phyl - Arg - Prop

"";'g)' ................................. ';'"" 'g'l'i"g'/;' B ..................... i":";'"Z''g g":"O'g'i'fi ''gi":" ....... .........................
,,,...,,,,,..,. ,...,,,,,.,, ,.,., ....... ..,,, .... 4 ......... ,.,,,.,. ......... ,,. ......... , .......... ,..,,.,..,.,. ........................... ,,.,...,* ....... .-,....., ......... , ..... ,,.,,,,,**,,,,,,,,, ..... ,.

Q, set, py, tactitc Q, ser tai

Q, K reid, hi, plag, Q, K feld, ser,

Pot - Arg - Phyl - Prop Pot - Phyl - Arg - Prop ND

....................................................... ...b..mL. .................................................................................................................

...................................................... ............................ .
Q, ser py Q, ser py Q, tm, hi, K feld Q, K reid, hi, ser (anh) poorlydeveloped Pot - Phyl - Arg - Prop anhydrite depth at Pot - Phyl(?)

,4LTER,4TION-MINERALIZATION ZONING IN PORPHYRY ORE DEPOSITS

HY POGEN E MIN ERALIZATION-Continued

395

Innermost Alteration Zone (32)

Overall Abundance Major Ore Minerals (33)

Zoning Sequence from Center (34)

Vertical Sequence from Bottom (35)

mag; cp; py, bn;

low total sul
..................................................

cp py bn mb(?)
i. .................................................

mb-> cp -> py -> spec

....................................................

cp:bn decreases
i ........................................... . .....

cppy mb
..................................................

pycp mb
i ................................ , .................

cp -> py
.................................................... i

ND
ND
i. .............................. ......................

cppybnmb
.................................................. i. .................................................

bn -> cp ->-py
a ....................................................

cp, bn, mb

pycpbnmb
py> cp> bn> cc

mb -> bn -> cp -> py ->

Cu to Pb-Zn in veins
less py upward
i. ....................................................

.......................................................................................................... !.?..:....!:..:...?.! .........................................................................

not reported
i .................................................... .................................................. ..................................................

py;:>'cp mb en bn
......

py cp bn mb en
: ...........................................

(cp, py, bn, rob)->

.........................

(bn, mb)-> (cp,bn,py, mb) cp,

,,,..

..................................................
cp, py, mb
py, cp, bn, mb
.............. 0 ....................................................................................

(py, ->(gal, Ag) cp) sl,

, .........................

->(py, mb, cp, bn)

............. , ...................................

py ccenbn

cp

mb-> cp->py-> cc->en->

not reported
i ................................................... ...........

mb-> cp->py-> cc->en->

ND
0 ............................. 0

.......................................................................................................... ..?...r..a.............................. ..:..r..a... .......................

py, cp) bn, sl, gal

py cp mb
................ ,.,,. ............................. i, .................................................

cp->py-> (sl, gal, Ag)

e ...................................................

cp->py(?)
,i .....................................................

en, py, cp, cc, bn(?), mb

py> en> cp>bn> mb

py->cp->py(?)

ND

.... ;;,'i;;;;';'' .......................................................................... ................................ ;;;'"';i ;i;:;'':;'i;' i;';';;;;i; ............................

............................................................................................................................................................. .m..?..-.?. ............................... i
py) cp) mb cp-> py->(sl, gal, Ag) py->cp(?)

.... F"''' ' ........................ '' ......................... '" ;' ' i'';'''' i'; ' '............. ';'';'''';' ................. ...................................................................................................... .v..?.?...!.! ................................. ............................. ?..v.:.??.!
py, cp, bn mb py) cp)) bn'; mb (cp, bn, mb)-> py-> ND

.... .x!..!..:..! ................................................................................... .!:.?..:.?.!! ................................................................................

mag,mbpy .15py
py) cp) mb(?)

magpymbcp
py) cp)mb

mag->(py, mag,mb)->
cp, mb-> py

ND
ND

........................................................................................................ .P. ............................................................... !.m...:..?..P. !..-t..P. .

cp py mb(?) py cp mb (cp, mb)-> py
Ag,Au)- (Au, Ag)

ND

.... ;,;;';'i';','i ................................. ................................ '''i;' ';,;5' ';'i :'',''L;; i; ........................................................... i'5 .... ;,;;';';i ................................. ;;,;''5'';,'5',','5''i i;;';,;;',''i';''i;;';i;';i'i ................ "'/'5 ............................................
.... "'i; :''i'l'";?' ' ' ................ ': 5",i; ' " 5'; ';i .................... i;:'L'i:' *',; ;i:;i':; ...................... ;,'L' ;";;g;;' ,', ............................
mb,py, cp, hn py, cp, bn, mb
..................................................

.... ,....m. ............................................................................. ......................................................................... .v.,.. .,...! !..!.,. !.,...,...u.!

py) mb cp, gal, sl py> cpbn mb
.................................................

mb-> (cp, py)->(gal, sl, mb) cp-> py->(gal, sl)

a ....................................................

not recognized
1000 ft

ND
....................................................

cp, py, bn, mb,mag, gal, tt,

sl; py 0.2-1%, cp 1-2%
mb (0.01 -0.05%)

pycpbnmb py) cp) mb

..................................................

'

(cp, mb)->py->Au cp-> py->(gal, sl, Au, Ag)

i ....................................................

mb at depth cp-> py
. ....................................................

.... .!...o.:.!.... ............................................................................................................................................................... ....!

py (1%); cp(1-3%)
py:cp= 10:1
..................................................

low total sul; py1%;

pycpmbbn
py cp mb bn sl py+__= cpbn, mb

ore zone & (cp, mb)->py->

low.gradecenter-> annular

py zone contracts& py:mag

increases

.......................................................................................................... !...,..?..!,..?.! !...............................................................................

py, cp, bn, tt, mb,-sl Q, tm+minor sul cp-> py->(Ag, gal, sl) (Q, tm)-> cp->py ND not observed
anhydrite at depth

py cp?mb bn; low(3%) tot sul; py:p =3:1

py cpmbbn

(cp,mb)-py- (gal, sl, Ag, Au)

(cp,mb)-py

396

.t. D. LOWELL AND J. M. GUILBERT

OCCURRENCE

OF

SULFIDES

DE POSI T S

Peripheral
Alteration Zone

Outer
Alteration Zone

Intermediate
Alteration Zone

Inner
Alerati6n Zone

(36)

(37)

(38)

(39)

AJrizon a
Bagdad
Bethlehem
British Columbia

veinlets
vns & massive
veins

diss /vlts
vlts diss
veinlets veinlets

diss /vlts
diss vlts
veinlets

....... .!.z..o.n. ......................... .r..p.!?.m..?.t. ............................................................................................................................

Bingham
Bisbee
Arizona

veins &
vns, vlts,
mass. repl.

vns, vlts, diss

ND patches & vlts
vn, vlt
veinlets
veinlets

vlts, diss
ND vlts & patches
vn, vlt
vlts, diss, mass.
diss vlts

diss) vlts
vns, vlts, diss vlts patches
vlt, vn, diss
vlts diss
diss vlts
0 ..................................

........ ............................... .u..t.. r...!.m..?..t .......................................................................................................................................

Braden
Chile

veins
vn, vlt
vein
veins
, ..........................................................................................................................................

Butte
Montana

Cananea
Sora

Castle Dome
Arizona
............................

Chuquicamata
Chile
..............

veins
vns & dikes

vns & vlts

vlts diss
vlts
,,..

vlts diss
vlts diss

, ...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Climax
Colorado
................. , .......

diss

, ....................................................................................................

......................................................................

CopperCities
Arizona

veins

veinlets

di ss vlts

di ss vlts

"'ii"'i'; ....................... ,'i.............................. i';5'ii"' .................... ;i'';''ii". .................... i'";i' ................ Chile
.............................. ,, ..................................................................................................................... , ...................................................

Ely
Nevada
...................... , ....... , ................ , ..... , ................................................................................................

diss vlt
, ....... , ..........

diss v.lt
, ....... 0 ........................

Endako
British
...............

vlt diss
Columbia
, ........... . ............................................................................................................................................................................

vlt diss

vlt --

vlt

Esperanza
Arizona
.,,.,

veins

vns & vlts

vlts

diss vlts

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................

Inspiration
....................

Arizona

veins
,., ...... ,.. ........................... ..,

vns & vlts

.................................................................

vlts ' diss

................................................................

vlts diss
vlts, vns stkwk
vlt, diss &
massive

, ...........

Mineral Park
Mission-Pima
Arizona
.......................... ,.,.,o,o,,,0 ......

veins
vn & vlt
, ..... 0 ............. . ...................................

vlts vns, stkwk

vlts vns, stkwk

....... .r.!.z..o.?.? .................................................................. ................... ?. ................. ?..P. ........... Z.q.i..?..P.?.?.! :.7...?.P. ?...."... :.'.. ?..?..?...
. ................................... . ....................... 0 ........... , .............. ,,.,,..0,.,0 .....

Morenci
......................................

vns, Is repl.
. ..... , .................... . .................

vlts diss
..................................................

ND
: ..................................................................

vns, vlts, diss

,..,

Ari zon a

Questa
New Mexi co
........................................................

veins
,., ........... . ..............

paint
, .......................................................................................................................

vlts
vns, vlts, diss
. .............................................

vns & vlts

vlts,, diss, vns
, ............................................

Ray
Arizona
..................................................................................................

veins
veins
....... 0..,,, .,,0..... ,.. o,,0.,,0 .... , ........

vns, vlts, diss

0 ......... 0 .....

Safford
SanManuel-Kalamazoo
Arizona
.................... , ..... . ............................

in shears, vns,

in shears, vns,
,.., J ...............

in veins, vlts, diss

, ............................

....... !.z..o.?. ... ......................

Santa Rita
Silver Bell
Arizona

eikes
.......

........

.o...

..........

dikes

, ...................................

veins
......................................

vlts
, .......... . ..............................................................

vlts diss

vlts diss
, ........................ , ..........

New Mexico

veins
vns & tactite

vns & vlts

,

vns & vlts

.................. . ...............................................

vlts,/vlts diss
, ...............

.........................................................................................................................

vns & tactite

vlts di ss

vlts diss

........................................................................................................................................................................... ii''':'i' ................ Toquepala veins di ss vlts

Peru bx vug fillings bx vug fillings

Typical Porphyry
Copper

veins

vns& vlts

veinlets

vnlts diss

.4LTERATION-MINERALIZATION

ZONING IN PORPHYRY

ORE DEPOSITS

397

OCCURRENCE
Innermost

OF

SUL.

FIDES-Continzed
SUPERGENE Crackle Zones SULFIDES

Alteratio0

Zone

(40)

Breccia Pipes (41) not reported

(42)

(43)
minor co, cv

diss /vlts
diss Its

beyond ore limit

.... ;i;";';1'/;';' ................................ ;;;;;;;:i',";,;'/;';;;;;ii'';,';i ............i-;'f;; ';'/i T;';';;;",';;;,' ................. ........................................ ;,';';,';
.... Ji'''";'i; ......................... gal,sl zone in
...................................................... .....................................................................................

extends beyond sl gal,

NE horsetail zone present

co,cv
cc

....................................................... !................................................................................................................................ .p..,.

important; 2 stages vlts patches
diss vlt

postore with min. frag.

none

cc cv
cc, cv, dg

horsetail zone

vlts diss
...........................................................

numerous& mineralized
; .......................................

present
i- .................................................

co, cv
. ................................................. ....,

present?

present

co, cv

vlts)

diss

large central pipe

minor breccia, dikes
present

horsetail zone
present
present

co, cv
none
co, cv

irregular clots

diss,/J. vlts
diss)
....

deep, central, mineralized present

present
..................................................

cc cv
co, v
, ................. ....................................................

vlt

present
................................

. .............................................

diss vlt diss vlt

not reported present

present present

none cv, cc

vlts diss (?)

..................................................

not reported
. ..................................................

present
, ................................................. ,. .............

cc
, .....................................

vlts, vns, stockwork

none

present

cc

....

............................................................................................................................................................
ore N-S dike;
breccia zones in pit

vlt, diss & massive

poorly developed
extensive
> ..................................................

cc thin zone
co, cv
........................................... . .........

...................................................... .p.:.....a.!.,..?.!:..t..t. ..........................................................................................................................

...................................... , ......... ,.! ..................................................

vns & vlts

...... , ................................... , .......

present, important
! ..................................................

extensive
......................................................................................................

none cc cv
, .................................. . ..................

vlts diss, vns

present & mineralized

..................... , ............................ ..........

present
, ......................................

..........

. .......................................

vns, vlts, diss

..................................................

present & mineralized

............................. , ....................

present
..................................................

co, cv
.................................. , ................

diss vlts
..................................................

not reported
..................................................

+ 5000 ft diameter
..................................................

cc
...................................................

vlts/J. vlts, diss

..................................................

one 500x 2500 ft pipe

mineralized
..................................................

samearea.as intrusive
..................................................

cc cv
.....................................................

ND

none

NW horsetail

zone
.........

cc
, ........................... ,, .............

.... J'':' '"' i'' ''Ji'i ............ i;'"''Ji''J; "'

small
:::::

mineralized
:: ::::

............. "'';';,'' ' 'i'' ..... cc

::::: :::::: :J::::;: :::::::: :;: ;::: :::; :::; :::::: :: t.'::; '-:: :::: :::: ::: ::;: :: ::::: ::;: ::::: ', :::: :::;::: :: ::: :::: :.

',; : :;::;::::

::: :::: :: ::::

::: :::::::;;:

;:::J:

'.:;::

:::::::

:: :::: :::,::

diss )//vlts

present& mineralized

present

cc) cv

398

I. D. LOWELL AND J. M. GUILBERT

associatedwith them, but evidence shows that ore

to be relatedto contemporaneous youngerfaultand ing and uplift. Table 1 showsthat most of the host igneous bodiesare somewhat elongateand that districts with strongstructuralcontroltend to include pronouncedly elongatestocks. Column7 lists the size of igneous host rock outcrops for each district, the numbershaving been taken from texts or measured from geologic maps. These dimensions in part subjectto the same are uncertainties the descriptions Column6. The as in years ago. indicate that the porphyry copper deTable 1 includes agesfor deposits British Co- dimensions in lumbia and South America as wall as southwestern positenvironment commonly was developed stocks in North America. Six of 27 depositsare of mid- or cupolas with crosssections well under a square of Tertiary age at 30-37 million years,17 are probably mile at the elevationof ore deposition. There apin the Laramide range of 59 to 72 million years, 3 pear to be two host-rock sizepopulations, group one are in the Jurassicrange of 122-143 million years, less than a mile squareand another smallergroup and 1 deposit has a 200 million year Triassicdate. of very large dimensions. Mode of Eraplacement(Column 8).---These enOf the Southwestdeposits includedin Table 1, all and tend to confirmthe are of Laramideage exceptthree mid-Tertiary de- tries adoptthe terminology of posits (Climax, Questa, and Bingham) and two conclusions Stringham (1966) regarding mode Jurassic deposits (Bisbeeand Ely), two of the mid- of emplacement. Stringham'scriteria are extended Tertiary onesbeingporphyrymolybdenum deposits. to includethe additionalporphyry copperdeposits The pattern for porphyry dates emerging in described here. Emplacement the porphyrycopof British Columbia seems be one in whichparallel, per deposithost rocks is shownto be almosttotally to overlapping, northwest-trending brits of mineraliza- passive. This passivitysuggests that replacement, were more importantprotion increase age from west to east. The single stoping,and assimilation in numericalage for a South American deposit in cesses than shouldering asideor othermanifestations the Table 1 is for Toquepala, Peru, at 59 millionyears. of forceful intrusion,and it also suggests likelizoning However, geologic relationships recentdatingby hoodthat both lateral and verticalpetrologic and than has been recognized. Chileangeologists indicatethat many of the South might be more common Comparison Column 8 with Columns41 and 42, of Americandeposits of mid-Tertiary age. are Controllin#Structures(Column 5).--Column 5 the latter reportingbrecciation and shatteringsperevealsthat brecciation lists attitudesof regional-scale structuresthought to cificallywithin the orebodies, with ore deposition in have controlled the emplacement the stocksand or shatteringare associated of of batholithsand hencethe porphyry deposits them- every porphyrydeposit,evenwhere emplacement selves. Considerationwas given to local structure the host stocksis passive. This disparitysuggests and shattering themselves are "passhownon published mine and district maps in pre- that brecciation be to paring Column 5, but many boundingfaults shown sive," and that they can commonly expected North on thesemapsare of postoreage or of multiple age be "blind," as they are at many southwestern and suchthat their preore importance cannotbe deter- Americanporphyrydeposits prospects.Forcebrecciation mined.Greater reliance therefore was placed upon ful intrusionand active, even explosive direct text statements than upon maps. Several as at Toquepalaand Braden are apparentlyrare. assimilation, metaand authors commentthat the specifics controlling Extensivemagmaticstoplng, of appearmechanically and kineticallyinconstructures were obliterated the intrusions by which somatism sistent with extremely shallow emplacement, but they guided. may be indicated. Shapeand Size (Columns and 7).--The shapes moderatelyshallowenvironments 6 Porphyry molybdenum depositsseem to show of intrusions (Column 6), like determinations of of than do portheir size (Column 7), are difficult to establish more evidence forcefulemplacement in consists of meaningfully,sinceboth have been affectedby in- phyry coppers general. This evidence ternal and externalvariables. Exposureof a pluton ring and radial dikes and doming of the layered overlie the deposits. is certainlyaffectedby original depth and by post- rocks which sometimes Stock-Dike (Column 9).--Column 9 indicates intrusion tectonic and erosional history. The Boulder batholithhas been exposed tens of miles, and a that stocks and stocks with subordinate associated for large southern Arizona batholith (Ettlinger, 1928) dikes are far more typical of porphyrycopperdethanare dikes,dike swarms, breccias or alone. has been inferred from the distributionof cupolas. posits was indicated Column6 in The shape sizeof porphyry and hostintrusions seem This samerdationship deposition was essentially contemporaneous inwith trusion within the precisionof the I(-Ar technique. Age dating of the Laramide-mid-Tertiary interval in the Southwestreported by Damon and Mauger (1966) has indicatedtwo distinct pulses,one of Laramide plutonic activitybetween and75 million 50 years ago and one of dominantlyextrusiveactivity duringmid-Tertiary time approximately million 30

ALTERATION-MINERALIZATION

ZONING IN PORPHYRY ORE DEPOSITS

399

below. Dioritic rockscommonly where porphyry deposits were shownto be equi- will be considered to oval rather than tabular or linear occurat intrusionmargins,as at Ajo and Mineral more K-feldspathic rocks bodies. Twenty-fourof the 27 deposits involveim- Park, with progressively portant stockdevelopment and a high ratio of stock inward, a relationshipnot apparent in the table. to dike forms. This distributionis consistent with apparentfelsicSequence Intrusions and Rock Types Mineral- component of enrichment accompanying potassic alterized (Columns10 and //).--The sequences in- ation near the central portions of some porphyry of trusion shownin Column 10 reinforceearly observa- copper deposits. tions (Buddington,1933) of the association copof Orebody (Columns12-19) per deposits with intermediate felsicigneous to rocks. Except for generally late diabasedikes, no rocks Outward Shape (Column /2).--The porphyry more mafic than diorite occur in the intrusions ascopper deposits almost havecircularor oval cross all sociated with porphyry copperdeposits. Granodi- sections.At leastfour deposits haveclearlydefined orite and quartz monzoniteand their aphaniticand low-gradecentersproducinga ringlike orebodyin hypabyssalequivalentsoccur in almost all of the plan. The vertical dimensions hypogeneminof porphyrycopperdeposits, with more felsicvariants eralization in most depositsare unknown; however, common to the porphyry molybdenumdeposits. the tabulatedhypogene mineral bodiesseemto fall Most papers consultedin preparing Table 1 give into three general configurations. specificsequences intrusive events and igneous of 1. Seventeendepositshave a steep-walledcylinrock compositions, uncertainfield relationships drical shape. Two deposits(Cananeaand Toquebut coupled with paucityof radiometric age determina- pala) approximately coincide with brecciapipes. tions seldom permit unequivocal identification the of 2. Sevendeposits have stubbycylindricalor flat, beginning and endingof the magmatic episode that conical forms,as do all three of the porphyrymolybinvolved ore mineralization. Much older and much denurndeposits. youngerrocks,as described the appropriate in refer3. Three deposits (Inspiration,Ely, and Safford) ences, are excluded. Column 11 shows that all of have a gently dipping,tabular shape, perhapsreprethe intrusive rocks of Column 10 are mineralized sentinga depositsimilar to (2) following a preore in 22 of the 27 deposits tabulated and the youngest structure postore or displacement, theymay repreor intrusiveunit is mineralizedin 2 of the remaining5. sent a separate type. Columns 10 and 11 show that the sequence is Boundaries (Column13).--In all of the deposits generally from dioritic to monzoniticrocks, com- studied, the orebody boundaries at least in part are monly with late latitic to rhyolitic or "quartz por- gradationalor "assaywall" boundaries. All have phyry" intrusions. Typically, all of theseare min- beenintersected a postore by erosionsurface. Eleven eralized, showingthat mineralization either accom- are boundedby at least one postorefault. Two paniedor briefly succeeded emplacement in- coincidecloselywith brecciapipeswhich are preore the of trusive rocks. The association porphyrycopper or contemporaneous of with ore, and one deposit deposits with intermediate plutonicrocksis impres- (Braden) forms a crude cylindricalshell surrounddimensional

sive but not as consistent as the association with

porphyry in all 27 districtslisted. There has been discussion recent years as to whether the name in "porphyrycopper"is appropriate the group of for deposits described this paper. The writers bein lieve that this association geneticrather than cois incidentaland feel that "porphyry copper" is an excellentdescriptive name for this unique and important group of ore deposits. The lamprophyreor "late diabase"event is less common the porphyry in coppers thanhasbeenpreviously thought (Spurr, 1925). Late diabasehas been reported in only 5 of the 27 districts. The general trend, clearly, is from dioritic plutonic toward more felsic hypabyssal rocks with all rock typesusuallymineralized. The degreeto which the shift from dioritic throughgranodioritic monzoto nitic rocks may reflect K-feldspar enrichmentby meansof potassicalteration (Peters et al., 1966)

ing a postorebrecciapipe. Percent in I#neous Host and Preore Rocks

(Columns 14 and 15).--In severaldeposits,100 percentof the ore mineralization in igneous is host rocks (Butte, CastleDome, Copper Cities, Endako, and Mineral Park). All containsomeore in igneous host rocks, but most ore at Bisbee, Braden, Mis-

sion, and Ray is in wall rocks. Something like 30 percentof all ore mineralizationassociated with porphyriesoccurs wall rocks,again suggesting in cupola or at least high-levelenvironment the porphyry for deposition. Dimensions (Column16) .--Horizontal dimensions of the tabulateddepositsrange from 250 x 1,200

feet for the La Colorada pipeat Cananea 6,000 x to 13,000feet for the Morenci deposit. Fringesof the difficult-to-limitButte district may reach to dimensionson the order of 20,000 x 50,000feet (only the "porphyryequivalent" Butte is cited in Column for

400

]. D. LOWELL AND J. M. GUILBERT

16). The averagedepositsize deduced from pub- genesilicate alteration phases. Nonetheless, superlisheddescriptions mapsis a perhaps and surpris- gene sericitehas been reported. Supergene effects ingly small 3,500 x 5,000 feet. havebeeneliminated from Table 1 whereveroriginal Total Ore Tonnageand Grade (Columns17, 18, authors provided descriptions whichwouldpermitit. and 19.)--Of the 27 deposits tabulated, are esti13 Known Extent BeyondOre (Column20).--Colmated to containover 500,000,000tons of ore, 6 fall umn 20 records the stated or mapped extent of between 100,000,000 and 500,000,000 tons, and 8 alteration beyond outerboundary the orebody the of containless than 100,000,000tons. These tonnage itself. These distances are somewhat uncertain since estimates mustbe considered only approximate. differentobservers drew the outer line on differing Included in these figures are several deposits criteria. External alteration is narrow around the whoseore grade dependson secondary chalcocite Bethlehem, B.C., deposit, characteristic many a of enrichment.Averagegradeof copperore is 0.80% of the Canadian porphyrydeposits. Other deposits Cu, and averagegrade of hypogene mineralization, show alteration extendingthousands feet, averof where this information is available,is 0.45% Cu. aging approximately 2,500 feet. The higher numTwelve copperdeposits containat least 0.5% Cu in bers probably represent merging of hydrothermal hypogenemineralizationand 10 contain less than with low-rankregionalmetamorphic effects, two the 0.5% Cu. Molybdenumdepositsaverage 0.17% being distinguished only with difficulty. SignifiMo in grade. cantly,detectable alteration extends laterallyan average of half a mile beyondthe orebodies, perhaps Hypogene,dlteration(Columns20-27) more, since some authors drew the outer limit on The next three sections,Hypogene Alteration the basisof "bleaching" and the presence sericite, of (Columns20 through27), HypogeneMineralization phenomenathat probably do not mark the true
PeripheralZone (Column 21) .--Alteration is deganization so that the columnsfor each zone in a scribedin this zone for only five deposits. It is givendeposit haveidenticalheadings. For example, generallyalongwell-developed structures and is selthe innermost alteration zone at San Manual-Kaladom well described with respectto associated minmazoo consistsof quartz, K-feldspar, biotite, and eralization. Where alteration mineralogyis given minoranhydrite(Column25), andthe ore minerals it is of mixed affinity, dominantlypropylitic,with at in (with amounts) are pyrite, chalcopyrite, molyb- sericitementioned Questa. Skarn is described denite, and trace bornite (Column 32). The sul- this zone at Morenci and Santa Rita. Skarn or fides occur more commonlyas disseminations than tactite development not as well reported in the is as veinlets (Column 40). literature as are hydrous silicatealteration assemIt should be restated here that the table is based blages. It is well known that skarn zonesproject as completely possible as upon publisheddescrip- into and apparentlydistort more normal zoningretions, and these are hardly uniform in approach, lationships, and that many porphyrydeposits might deposits. detail,or eventerminology.Several deposit descrip- also be describedas contact-metamorphic tions were based on temporal rather than spatial Skarn can also apparentlypersistto the centersof relationships; thesedeposits were enteredas earliest orebodies. equalsinnermost,and so on outward. Several deOuter Zone (Column 22).--Mineralogic notation posit descriptions involved separateand poorly re- is given for 20 of the 27 deposits, with "propylitic" lated descriptions alteration, mineralization,and citedfor Ely, Nevada. Of these,18 includechlorite, of occurrence. We have made every effort to match 17 epidote, and 13 a carbonate (calcite in 11). appropriatespatial and mineralogical data. Ques- Quartz is cited 7 times, sericite6, zoisite-clinozoisite tion marks in the table generallydenoteuncertainty 5, kaolin 3, specularite2, montmorillonite2, and of placementof the information rather than un- albite,hematite, magnetite, tourmaline, and ruffle(?) certainty in the data. once each. By far the most commonassemblage is
(Columns28 through 35), and Occurrenceof Sulfides (Columns36 through 42), have parallel orouter limit.

The problem distinguishing of between supergene chlorite-epidote--calcite. Mentionis seldom madeof and hypogene effectsis important. Hemley and the replaced minerals,but the chief onesare amphiJones(1964) curvesindicatesericitestabilityonly bole,biotite,and plagioclase (Fig. 12). This assemat moderately high K+/H + ratios at low tempera- blagehas affectedby far the largestvolumeof rock. tures, an environment consistent with (but not re- The chlorite-epidote-calcite propyliticassemblage is quiring) high pH. The extremdy low pH pre- alwaysoutsidethe ore zone and beyondthe phyllic sumed activesupergene for enrichment zones argues and argillic zoneswhere theseare present. Sericite againstimportantdevelopment supergene of sericite is commonlyreported even in outermostalteration and indicatethe kaolin mineralsto be stablesuper- assemblages. Whether this mineral varies import-

ALTERATION-MINERALIZATION ZONING IN PORPHYRYORE DEPOSITS

40i

Innermost Zone (Column 25).--This column is antly in composition, hencein stabilityfield and and alterdistribution,is yet to be shown. It has been ob- perhapsthe most surprisingof the hypogene served, however, in amountsranging from trace to ation data block. Potassicalteration, though relain at moderate, and chieflyreplacingplagioclase, some tively subordinate the literature,occurs mostof in as outer zonesnot reportedin Table 1. The distribu- the porphyrydeposits eitheran early or an inneror tion with respect verticalzoningwill be discussed most assemblage both. It is reportedas simple to below. quartz, K-feldspar,and biotite(?) only at Endako; Intermediate Zone (Column 23).--This column as quartz, K-feldspar,biotite,and sericiteat 7 dedescribes predominantly argillicassemblages. Silici- posits,and as quartz, K-feldspar,biotite with chlorfication is clearly more important here than in the ite, albite, fluorite, anhydrite, or tourmaline at 8 are reported outer zone, and the dominant minerals are quartz, more. Quartz, K-feldspar,and sericite kaolin, montmorillonite,and sericite. Argillic as- at Silver Bell, and quartz with only K-feldsparocsemblages discernible 22 of the 27 deposits, cursat Mineral Park and Questa. Quartz, phlogoare in if quartz-sericite-kaolinite occurrences) in- pite, and tourmalineoccurat Cananea,but the zone (4 be cluded as argillic. Quartz is cited first in most may not be innermostthere. Quartz, sericite,bioassemblages. Kaolin is citedsinglyor beforemont- tite, and anhydriteoccurat Braden. Anhydrite at in morillonite in 17 of the 22 assemblages which several localesis given in parentheses Table 1 for in dataare given. Three deposits havemontmorillonite whereit hasnot beendescribed print. Specimens zonally beyondkaolin, and 7 involve sericite. No of anhydritefrom Esperanza,Questa,San ManuelKalamazoo, and Santa Rita have been observed to argillic assemblage reportedin 5 deposits. is at Inner Zone (Column 24).--Most of the quartz- swell the publishedoccurrences Butte, E1 SalAjo, and Braden. sericite (and pyrite) assemblages, chief ore vador, Toquepala, the The common occurrence anhydritein the poof bearers the porphyrycopperdeposits, in this of fall inner zone column. The zone is reportedunequi- tassiczone indicatesthat (1) redox potentialsare vocally to have a pervasivequartz-sericite assem- considerablyhigher in the late magrnatic-deuteric of sulfur speblageat 19 porphyrydistricts, quartz-majorseri- fluidsthan the prevalence unoxidized a of cite-minorK-feldspar array at 3 more,and a quartz- cies would indicate; (2) a high percentage the may be present major sericite-minorkaolin assemblage 3 more. total sulfur in the porphyrysystem at hydrothermal At Bradena quartz-sericite-biotite-anhydrite inner- as sulfate; and (3) high-temperature reactions involving silicates, oxides, and sulfides zoneassemblage gradesinto strongersecondary biowith equilibria involving tite in the innermostzone. Only at Esperanza is must concernthemselves a quartz-K-feldspar pair reportedzonallyoutside of higher total sulfur than the net sulfide contents that the conan unusual quartz-K-feldspar-biotite assemblage. would indicate. It is also noteworthy clusionof Lutton (1959) concerning depositional Creasey (1966) indicatesthat K-feldspar can be continuum from pegrnatoid into "porphyry"condipart of his quartz-muscovite assemblage found at and that the elements grouped Bagdad, Bingham, and Chuquicamata. Creasey tions are supported states(1966, p. 62) "quartz-sericite-pyrite without by Ringwood(1955) as "complexformers"of high either a clay mineral or K-feldspar associated a ionic potentialare preciselythose found in major is decommon assemblage doesnot fit into any of the and trace minerals in the porphyry base-metal that posits,especially the potassic in alterationzone. three previouslydescribed alterationtypes. If clay Other characteristics the potassic zone are of were present [as at Endako, Inspiration, and Misby sion-Pima,wherekaolin is reported],the assemblage briefly described Meyer and Hemley (1963) and occurs wouldbelong the argillicalteration, to and if K-feld- Guilbertand Lowell (1968). Ore commonly at the interfacebetweenpotassicand phyllic alterspar were present [as at Bagdad, Bingham, and zone is generallycentral Chuquicamata],it would belong to the potassic." ation zones. The potassic or is it Sincethe assemblage appears far mostcommonly or deepest, if a time sequence discernible, is by earliest. as quartz-sericite-pyrite, term "phyllic" is herein the Zoning Sequence from Center and Bottom (Colurged as a specific term. Advancedargillic alterumns26 and27).---The upwardzoning and outward ation, involving chiefly pyrophyllite,dickite, and zoningof alteration assemblages seldom are reported topaz (Meyer and Hemley, 1968), is associated with as such,but their systematic entry by description or phyllic assemblages Butte and Bisbee. It is not from map or diagramrevealsa significant at sequence. reportedelsewhere may have escaped but detection. Seven,possiblyeight (the positionof phyllic alThe phyllicassemblage Column24 is the inner- teration at E1 Salvador is uncertain), of the deof most exposedalterationassemblage at least six positsshow alterationassemblages the sameoutin in districts. ward sequence: potassic, phyllic, argillic, and pro-

402

1. D. LOWELL AND ]. M. GUiLBERT

pylitic. Even wherecertainassemblages not reare ported, the remainingassemblages in the same fall order. Two deposits, possiblythree, show only potassic and phyllic zones,four lack only argillic, and six start with phyllic and includeargillic and propylitic. For a few deposits sequence unthe is

Outer Alteration Zone (Column 29).--This zone generally corresponds the propylitic alteration to zone, and mineralizationis generally restrictedto pyrite, although sparse chalcopyriteis generally present along with variable amounts of bornite, molybdenite, magnetite,specularite, rhodochrosite, known. sphalerite, galena,and rhodonite. Intermediate Alteration Zone (Column 30).-Vertical sequence zonationis generallymuch of roughly to the argillic alteration less well known, so assignments be made in This corresponds can is Column27 only for Butte, Climax,E1 Salvador, and zone,and the bulk of mineralization usuallypyrite ratios San Manuel-Kalamazoo.Except for uncertainty at with highpyrite-to-chalcopyrite whichaverage E1 Salvador, the order is consistent with lateral 23:1 in depositsfor which figures are available. of tennantite, zoning. Outwardand upwardzoningof the 27 de- Variableamounts bornite,molybdenite, galena,enargite, chalcocite, huebnerand posits mostconsistent the sequence potas- sphalerite, is with of ite have been found in this zone. Hypogeneoresic,phyllic, argillic, andpropylitic assemblages. may overlapinto this zone,but An alterationassemblage beennotedin sev- grademineralization has this zoneis outside orebody. the eral localities whichconsists K-feldspar, of biotite, generally Inner Alteration Zone (Column 31).--This zone coarsesericite, chlorite,and albite,accompanied by corresponds the phyllic alterationzone to moderate pyrite and chalcopyritemineralization. commonly and typicallycontains abundant pyrite and high total This groupdoesnot readilyfit the classification outtogether with pervasive sericitization. Pyrite linedin Table 1, nor do the deposits generally reach sulfides for ore grade. The writers are of the opinionthat this contentis not reportedquantitatively most debut it appears average to about 10 percent by represents deep assemblage a whoserelationship to posits or the mainporphyrysystem not beenexposed has for weightfor the 27 deposits, about 16 percent,exgroup,whichare study because the geometryand large vertical cludingthe porphyrymolybdenum of dimensions involved. relatively low in pyrite. Pyrite-to-chalcopyrite ratiosaverage12.5:1. This zonecommonly constitutes the ore zone, especially those deposits in in Hypogene Mineralization (Columns 28-35)
which chatcocite enrichment has occurred. The

As has long beenknown,hypogene sulfide-oxide principal"ore" mineralis pyrite, whichoccurs with mineralassemblages closely are relatedin time and chalcopyrite, molybdenite, variable generally and but space with silicate alteration mineralassemblages small amounts of bornite, chalcocite,sphalerite, in porphyrydeposits. The designation pyrite and enargite,and magnetite. of
magnetite as ore minerals rather than alteration

minerals,for example,appears be largely arbi- zoneis generallyequivalent the potassic to to alteration trary. zone and is usuallythe central zone. Total sulfide In Table 1, sulfide-oxide mineralassemblages have contentis low to moderatewith an averagepyrite been described in Columns 28-35 with reference to content of about one percent and a pyrite-to-chalthe same alteration zones as are described in Colcopyriteratio of 3:1 in the deposits tabulated. This umns20-27. The consistent sequence througheach zonemay reachore gradeand probablyaccounts for zone and from one assemblage another outward most ore in solelyhypogene to ore deposits. It also from the centeris again significant. formsthe "low-grade center"in five deposits.The PeripheralAlteration Zone (Column 28).roThis sulfidemineral assemblage chalcopyrite, is pyrite, column describes metal occurrences that form a disand molybdenite. continuous ring normallynear the outer edgeof the Overall Abundance ol Major Ore Minerals propyliticzone. The deposits tend to be small to (Column 33).In the porphyry coppers, pyrite is mediumsize, althoughlarge lead-zincdeposits with by far the most commonsulfide,followed in order or without preciousmetals occur in this zone at by chalcopyrite, bornite, enargite,and molybdenite. Santa Rita, Bingham, and Butte. At least minor Molybdeniteis presentin all 27 deposits, fact not a peripheralmineralization found in all 27 deposits previously is recognized. studied. Arcuateclusters mines prospects of or surZoning Sequence from Center (Column 34) and round 23 deposits. Minerals commonin this zone fromBottom(Column 35).Grading outward from are sphalerite, galena,silver,chalcopyrite, gold, and the centerof the deposit, typicallateral mineralithe pyrite, and less commonly,specularite,enargite, zation sequence appearsto be the assemblages (1) famatinite,tetrahedrite,barite, varioussulfosalts, and chalcopyrite, pyrite,bornite,molybdenite; pyrite, (2) manganese and vanadiumminerals. chalcopyrite, molybdenite, bornite; (3) pyrite, chal-

Innermost Alteration Zone (Column 32).roThis

,4LTERATION-MINERALIZATION ZONINGIN PORPHYRY OREDEPOSITS

403

copyrite; and (4) sphalerite, galena, silver, gold. itic alteration. Crackle texture is often less distinct if alteration Apparent reversalswere noted in only three camps. near the center,particularly a potassic Information as to vertical zoning is extremely zone is present. limited. Most deposits have beenexploredby mine Supergene Sulfides(Column43) openingsor drill holes only to depths which are shallowas compared with the probableoriginal verTwenty-three deposits contain supergene sulfides,
tical dimensions. Tentative evidence from 13 de-

positssuggests that typicallya pyrite-chalcopyrite- marginal ore gradein 10. Supergene chalcocite molybdenite assemblage gradesupward into pyrite. (andprobably secondary also digenite djurleite) and An apparent reversalof this order hasbeenreported is present wherever secondary sulfides occurand in two deposits.
Occurrence Sulfides (Columns36-42) ol

and secondary enrichment was requiredto reach

alwaysconstitutes chief enrichment the mineral. Covellite reported 12 deposits, is in generally low
in the enrichment blanket.

Hypogenesulfidesin porphyry deposits typically form veinlets or disseminated grains. This habit is probablyrelated to the fact that cracklebrecciation is presentthroughoutthe volumeof mineralization. Broadly,the porphyries seemto be masses homoof geneous rock penetrated reticulatefracturesand by mineralized fluids which soakedthe massrather by than beingconstricted tabularmasses replaceto or
ments.

Porphyry Deposit Genesis

The data of Table 1 and the inferences drawn

from them, from the field, and from the detailed geologyof the San Manuel-Kalamazoo depositap-

pear to support orthomagmatic the modeldescribed earlier, althoughthe nature of the data and the
scalefactorsare not suchthat the problemscan be conclusively resolved. The formational modelwhich appears most generallyapplicable one of a difis

Occurrence Sulfidesby Zones (Columns36of 40) .--A progressive gradationin sulfidedistribution ferentiationcontinuumas suggested many years ago is noted in almost every deposittabulated. This by W. H. Emmons (1933) in his description of sequence progresses from veins in the peripheral cupolaformation. Near-surface intrusionof a melt zoneto veinletsin the outer zone,veinletsand minor whichproduces rocksof intermediate granitoidcomdisseminated grains in the intermediate zone,vein- positionis either a passiveintrusion as at Butte, lets approximately equal to disseminations the Santa Rita, and Ajo, or a dike swarm as at San in inner zone, and predominantdisseminations the Manuel-Kalamazoo in and Safford. Response wall of innermost zone. The tendency for the increasing rocksto this intrusiondepends upontheir composiresult from metasomatism recrystallization the intrusive melt. Cooling begins from the surface or of rockand healing veinlets. The absence promi- downward,and gentle thermal gradientsare estabof of nentveinsin mostalteration zones may indicate that lishedfrom higher temperatures depth to slightly at a crackle brecciation zonebehaves an incompetent lower ones nearer to the surface and outward. Minas masswhich can not supportthrough-going fissures eralization and alteration chemistries are established and veins. with respect thesegradients, to chemistries that reBrecciaPipes and CrackleZones (Columns41 flect essentially deuteric late magmatic to conditions, and 42).--Breccia pipesare presentin 20 and are with potassicalteration yielding upward and outmineralized 18 deposits.Toquepala Cananea ward through the phyllic zones (or the "zone of in and are mineralized breccia pipesin whichore limits are feldspar destruction," Robertson, 1962) into the nearly coextensive with the pipes. Toquepala, in zones of more typical hydrothermal alteration reparticular,showsevidence that the surrounding al- sponses. These gentle gradients presumablyhave terationzones havebeentelescoped a relatively a direct bearing on the large dimensionsof the into thin halo,and alteration assemblages within the ore- porphyriesand the coarselygradationalalterationbody' overlap. The Bradenorebody apparently con- mineralization boundaries which they show. sists a verticalcylindrical of deposit whichhasbeen We thus reaffirm on the basis of the published penetrated alongits verticalaxisby a postore breccia record that the porphyry copper depositsare the pipe. results of a physical-geochemical continuum from A well-developed cracklezone is presentin 26 low-temperature magmaticto "conventional" hydrodeposits is largely absentin the skarn of the thermal conditions. The gradientsare reachedas a but Mission-Pima orebody. Cracklezones usually result of cooling in an intrusive mass, and the are circularin outline and are alwayslarger than the alteration-mineralization zonal boundary interfaces orebodies, typically fadingout in the zoneof propyl- appear to have been established standingforms as

importance dissemination of towardsthe core may tion, their structural fabric, and the nature of the

404

.r. D. LOWELL AND J. M. GUILBERT

surfacesfor several porphyry copper depositsare shownin Figure 13. Morenci is placedhigh in the hypotheticalvertical section becauseof the wide exposureof the phyllic zone without exposureof potassicassemblages.Several aspectsof Morenci geologymbreccia zones, the broad-scalealteration symmetry, and the occurrenceand distribution of sulfidessuggest that potassic alterationwill be encountered depth under the existingopen pit. at It is alsonoteworthyhere that phyllic zonealterhowever, that an inner zone need not have been ation assemblages, with their high pyrite contentand preceded the mineralogyand assemblages an their profusion of veinlets and microveinlets,are by of for of outer zone in a systemof decline,of lowering tem- chiefly responsible the extensivedevelopment peratures, or of shallow upward gradients. Vari- supergeneoxidation, leaching, and enrichment of ation in the differentiation index of the intrusion southwestern North American deposits. This high may well dictate whether copper or molybdenum level of exposureappearsto be the most common, deposits. predominates the ultimate deposit,molybdenite especiallyin supergene-enriched in tending to be associated with more silicic variants. Recentpublications the Chinodeposit Santa on at Rita, New Mexico, showthat an islandof low-grade Conclusions material is being left in the center of the northern portion of the pit area. This island of low grade The foregoing summary forcefully demonstrates is symmetrically and centrally disposed with respect that the porphyry copper-molybdenum deposits dis- to secondary K-feldspar,chalcopyrite, pyrite disand play important unifying geologiccharacteristics in- tribution as reportedby Nielson (1968, Figs. 6, 7, cluding various lateral and vertical zones. The fact and 9). This "low grade island" may represent of zoning is not new, but severalimportantaspects, the croppingout of a low-grade barren zone analosuch as sulfide species,detailed alteration assem- gous to the central core at San Manuel-Kalamazoo. blages,and the characteristic occurrences the sul- Lastly, Gilluly's (1946) description the Ajo deof of fides, is far more widespread than has previously posit involves much the same K-feldspar-biotitebeenrealized. Indeed, a "typical"porphyrycopper chlorite-sericiteand magnetite-chalcopyrite assemdepositcan be hypothesized from Table 1 and is blagesand zonal characteristics those encountered as includedalong the bottom of the table. at depth in San Manuel-Kalamazoo. It appears It is especially noteworthy that many,and perhaps possible, therefore,to assigna third dimension to most, porphyry depositshave coaxially cylindrical at least severaldeposits,and many others may be alterationzones. Factorsthat limit the development assigneddepth parametersas further information of discernible symmetry porphyrydeposits in include develops. For example,brecciation and ring diking the following: may have significance regard to depth of formain
rather than as upward and outward advancing mega envelopes. Application of the Hemley-Jonesmodel of potassiumsilicate stabilities and alteration, as modified by Fournier (1967) and Meyer and Hemley (1968), permits passagefrom essentially magmaticconditions depth to areas of higher at hydrogenion concentration and lower K+/H + and lower temperatures either with time at a given point deep in the systemor through spaceupward and outwardat a given time. It is importantto note,

It alsoappears significant that the major porphyry depositsof British Columbia (for example, the 2. Heterogeneous and contrastingcomposition of Bethlehemand Lornex deposits) occur in quartz rock typesreportedat preore rocks, especially the presence sedimentary diorite, and the K-feldspathic of Ajo yield outward to a quartz diorite composition "screens." concerning large3. Dislocations the original geometryby fault (Wadsworth, 1968). The evidence of scale metasomatism rocks,generallywith attendant of displacement by postoreintrusions. or 4. Exposureof the porphyry systemlaterally and enrichment in K-feldspar and quartz as described at Bingham Canyon Stringham(1956), may well by at depth. prove to be more generalthan is now realized. The The vertical dimensioninterpreted for the San alterationassemblages, mineralization characteristics, Manuel-Kalamazoosystemis on the order of 8,000- and occurrence of sulfides at Bethlehem and Lornex 10,000 feet. No definiteevidence suggests that this are consistent with deepexposure, and we may see vertical dimensionis either typical or normal, but now exposeda relatively deep-seated porphyry enthe mineral assemblages typical of different vertical vironment. The fact that thesedeposits also involve zonesin San Manuel-Kalamazooappear to be use- quartz diorites rather than granodioriteor quartz ful in estimatingthe depth of formation of several monzonitesmay be another manifestationof the deposits. These "depth levels" of presentexposure vertical dimension porphyrydepositgenesis. in
zones.

1. Regional or local structural fabric that may produce asymmetry in alteration and mineral ore

tion.

.dLTERATION-MINERALIZATION IN PORPHYRY DEPOSITS ZONING ORB

SAN MANUEL
FAULT SAN MANUEL

405

KALAMAZOO [1
SEGMENT

SEGM ENT.._ ?

PROPYLITIC' Chl Carb -Epi-

Adul - AIb

PHYLLIC MORENCl, BUTTE Q- Serpy .'--.,.--,'/

ARGILLIC
Q- KoolChl

\
t

MINERAL PARK,

\\ POTASSICt
Q- K- fel- Bi+ser + onh

BINGHAM, SANTA RITA

SILVER BELL

t t t

ADO,( BETHLEHEM ?)

ChI-Ser-

EpiMeg
Fro. 13. Schematic drawingof San Manuel-Kalamazoo showingexposure levelsof several porphyry copper deposits. Other deposits couldbe added,but thesefew serveto showa vertically developed dimension.

A growing body of data indicatesthat the porphyry deposit minerals may form at depths as shallowas 5,000-10,000 feet. Facts supporting this conclusion (1) the occurrence porphyryrocks are of in all 27 deposits Table 1; (2) the cutting of all of deposits postoreerosionsurfaces;(3) the wideby spread occurrence brecciation(even though the of host intrusions are usually passively emplaced); (4) the location of 14 depositsin Cretaceous or youngerpreorerockswhile the intrusions themselves are of late Cretaceous youngerage; (5) regional or structural-stratigraphic considerations; and (6) the common occurrenceof porphyry-ore-formingenvironments cupola-like in stocks lessthan one square

enormous halos of pyrite-sericite-quartz hydrothermal alterationto "dry" deposits with relativelylow sericite-pyrite content. Althoughperhaps terms the are too casual, "wet" and "dry" refer to the net apparent abundance, involvement, permeation and of a mineralizing-altering fluid. Concentric zoning is also presentin "dry" deposits, but it is telescoped laterally into a small fraction of the halo thickness of the "wet" type. The "wet" type is represented by mostof the Southwest deposits, suchas Bingham
and 7Morenci, and includesmost of the large porphyry copper deposits. The "dry" type is repre-

sentedby many of the British Columbiadeposits, suchas Bethlehem, and includes many of the hypomile in area at the ore-forming elevation. gene ore-gradeporphyrycoppers. The most distinctivefeature of the porphyry deDeposits seemto range from "wet" types having high pyrite-to-chalcopyrite ratios and surrounded by positsis simplytheir huge size as compared with

406

.L D. LOWELLAND J'.M. GUILBERT

other hydrothermal deposits.Including ore ore- that the integrated modelof verticaland lateral siligrademineralization surrounding and alteration and cate-oxide alteration, sulfide mineralization, suland mineralization, they assume dimensions more com- fide occurrence characteristics the porphyry in demonly associated stocks with oredeposits.positsmay be usefulto economic with than geologists both Thebulkshape porphyry of deposits reflects large- explorationally scientifically. and scalestructural control mineralization may of and also be relatedto the originaldepthof formation. Acknowledgments Flat-tabular, cone,and flat-dipping tube-type deThe writerswishto express their appreciation to positsmay represent relativelyshallow depth of their many colleagues whosediscussion and comformation wheresteep environmental gradients preto vail. Steep,columnar deposits with long vertical ments have contributed this paper, to L. B. Gustafson, James'Gilluly, T. W. Mitcham and who dimensions and little brecciation seem to indicate reviewed manuscript, to H. R. Hauck, M. the and relatively great depthof formation and gentleenvironmentalgradients.
T. Wolf, and B. Townsend for their assistancein
5211 N. ORACX.E,
TucsoN, ARIZONA,
AND

Brecciapipe deposits, suchas Toquepala, with

only thin alteration halos and with evidenceof vio-

preparingthe manuscript and illustrations.

lent emplacement, clearly representative a are of different genesis whichthemineralizers have in may evolved suddenly a moreor lessopenvent with in relativelysteeppressure gradients. Examplesof blind mineralized breccia pipesat Cananea, Pilares,
and elsewhereindicate, however, that mineralized

DEPARTMENT GEOLOGY, OF UNIVERSITY ARIZONA, OF

TUCSON, ARIZONA,

December19, 1969; March 16, 1970

breccia pipesneednot necessarily eitheropento be REFERENCES the surface emplaced shallow or at depth. C. New Mexico, Porphyry deposits tend to have either elongate, Anderson, A., 1968,Arizonaand adjacent (Gratonin Ore Deposits the United States,1933-1968 of vertical,columnarshapes(San Manuel-Kalamazoo Sales Volume), John D. Ridge, ed., Vol. 2: New York,
and Bingham) or foreshortened columnar, almost
A.I.M.E., p. 1163-1190.

discoldshapes(Climax or Ray).

however derived, migrated upward across large

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These shapes

areas, up to tens of thousandsof feet in diameter. Bauer, H. L., Jr., Breitrick, R. A., Cooper, J. J., and Anderson,J. A., 1966, Porphyry copperdepositsin the It appears likely that the mineralizers originatedas

Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

a separation fluids at the point of crystallization PorphyryCopperDeposits, of Southwestern North America, S. R. Titley and C. L. Hicks (eds.): Tucson,Arizona, of the "host intrusive body." It should be noted The University of Arizona Press,p. 233-244. that the "overhang"effect or beet shapeof San Beall, J. V., 1965, Southwest copper--apositionsurvey: Manuel-Kalamazoo could also be consistent with an
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ZONING IN PORPHYRY ORE DEPOSITS

407

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