LITHOCAPS AND PORPHYRY EXPLORATION

March 2011
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WHAT IS A LITHOCAP?
Hypogene advanced argillic alteration, typically Quartz Alunite (high T) with halos of Quartz-Alunite Kaolinite Dickite (low T) and roots of Pyrophyllite Diaspore (high T). Conditions of formation: pH ~1 3, T < 300C Form above porphyries in the epithermal environment from condensates of magmatic vapor that contain SO2 and HCl, all of which p , exsolved from an underlying intrusive source.
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LITHOCAP & PORPHYRY LINK

From Holiday and Cooke (2007), Sillitoe and Thompson (2006) and Harris (2010)

LITHOCAP EXPRESSIONS IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT

Cerro Blanco, Chile

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VUGGY SILICA PRODUCT OF ADVANCED ARGILLIC ALTERATION

From Anatomy of porphyry-related Au-Cu-Ag-Mo mineralised systems Greg Corbett, 2009.

THE LEVEL OF EROSION

Porphyries are Sociable Animals

Mankayan Section Philippines (A model to work with)

Lepanto HS

35mt @ 3.5% Cu / 3g/t Au

FSE Porphyry

660mt @ 0.65% Cu / 0.94g/t Au

Bringing the Model to Exploration

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Zonation: The HighTemperature Zone

Coherent zone <300C / pH 1-3

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Zonation: IntermediateTemperature Zone

Coherent zone 220-270C / pH 5-7 characteristic of the phyllic zone.

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From Anatomy of porphyry-related Au-Cu-Ag-Mo mineralised systems Greg Corbett, 2009.

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Zonation: Defining of a Pattern

Lower-Temp Neutral pH

High-Temp Acidic

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Metal Zonation Batu Hijau

METAL ZONATION IMPORTANT INDICATIONS

1000 m

Zn in soil (ppm) < 50 > 200 Mo in soil (ppm) 6 - 20 20 - 50 > 50 Fault / fracture trend
Drill Hole Lineament

Montong Botek: Zn (soil) > 200 ppm

COMBINING METAL ZONATION AND SPECTRAL CLAY DATA

1000 m

Mo in soil (ppm) 6 - 20 20 - 50 > 50 Fault f F lt / fracture trend t et e d

Lineament

METHODS OF DETECTION - MAGNETICS

The Earths dipolar magnetic field

At a given location, the airborne magnetometer records the vector sum of the ambient geomagnetic field and the anomalous contribution from (one or more) local sources.

Figures sourced from Aeromagnetic SurveysReeves, 2005 Fi df A ti S R

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ALUMBRERA PORPHYRY EXPOSED at SURFACE; Reserve Base: 362Mt @ 0.46% Cu & 0.51 g/t Au.

Terry Hoschke , 2008

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FSE Magnetic Response

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Oyu Tolgoi Porphyry Deposits

Induced Polarisation gradient array chargeability map from the Oyu Tolgoi deposits, Mongolia. deposits Mongolia Survey details are: current electrode separation 4800m, potential electrode separation 100m on 100m-soaced east-west lines. Data from Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. Ore Resource; 36.3 billion lbs Cu & 20.2 Moz Au 13.87 billion tons @ 1.33% Cu, 0.47g/t Au and 1.63% CuEq as of March 2010

Image from Advances in Geological Models and Exploration Methods for Copper Gold Porphyry Deposits Holliday, J. R. [1], Cooke, D. R. [2]

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Batu Hijau; Metal Content vs Chargeability

(Arif, 2002). (Terry Hoschke , 2008 )

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Batu Hijau Mine. We hope to locate another.

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