Spectral Mapping (SMAM) in Epithermal and Porphyry Copper Systems - Vectors toward the mineralized zone

Ab Scandinavian GeoPool Ltd

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Epithermal Systems

Many hydrothermal minerals are stable over limited temperature and/or pH ranges. Therefore, by mapping the distribution of alteration minerals in areas of epithermal prospects, it is possible to reconstruct the thermal and geochemical zonation, leading to a model of the hydrology of the extinct hydrothermal system. Alteration minerals are also crucial to distinguish the style of deposit, low sulfidation or high sulfidation. Common alteration minerals in epithermal systems are e.g. kaolinite, dickite, pyrophyllite, alunite, smectite, illite-smectite, illite and sericite, and these can all be measured with the TerraSpec spectrometer. Examples of what we can measure with SMAM:
Smectite Illite-Smectite

The results can be used to map pH and temperature variations, which will help to navigate your way in the epithermal system and locate the mineralized zone.
Low Temperature
disordered kaolinite
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Kaolinite

Smectite

ordered kaolinite

DH2
Dickite

DH1

Low crystallinity mica

Fig. 3. Simplified phase diagram of an epithermal system. The location of the imaginary drill holes (DH 1 and DH 2) is illustrated in fig. 4.

Illite-Smectite

Illite Alunite Pyrophyllite Sericite

High crystallinity mica Long wavelength mica

High Temperature Low pH

Short wavelength mica

Increasing pH
DH 1
Increasing Kaolinite crystallinity

Kaolinite

Dickite
Illite
No rm. Hu llQ (Stacked)
No rm. Hu llQ (Stack ed)

Pyrophyllite

Sericite

Alunite

1900 nm
1500 1800 2100

2200 nm
2400

1500

1800

2100

2400

Wavelength in nm

Wavelength in nm

Fig. 1. Illite crystallinity; we can measure the ratio of the depth of the 2200 nm feature to the 1900 nm feature.
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Fig. 2. Changing acid mineral phase with increasing temperature.

Fig. 4. Overview of an epithermal system with alteration minerals that can be measured with SMAM. General recommendation; measure 1 spectrum every meter on every exploration drill hole to navigate your way in the system.

DH 2
Kaolinite (Steam-heated)

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Illite-Smectite Kaolinite Illite-Smectite

Increasing temperature

Increasing crystallinity

Increasing Illite abundance

Dickite Increasing Illite Crystallinity Illite wavelength = 2206nm

Illite

Alunite + Silica

Pyrophyllite Muscovite Decreasing Mica AlOH wavelength

Porphyry Copper Systems

Infrared-active alteration minerals associated with porphyries include sericite/muscovite, biotite, phlogopite, actionolite, chlorite, epidote, calcite, clay minerals (illite, kaolinite, smectite) and tourmaline. Alteration mineralogy in Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Systems:
Vertical zonation from Potassic, (biotite + K feldspar) to Phyllic, (sericite) to Advanced argillic, (pyrophyllite, dickite, quartz Topaz in F-rich systems) or Argillic, (illite-smectite) Lateral Zonation from Potassic to Propylitic, (actinolite, chlorite, epidote, albite, calcite)
Biotite (potassic alteration): besides the shift in the 2250 nm feature, Mg-chlorite shows a secondary feature at 2390 nm. White mica (phyllic alteration): the wavelength shifts in this example from 2194 nm in muscovite to 2222 nm in phengite. Dickite (advanced argillic alteration): major features at 1380, 1415, 2180 and 2208nm; topaz: major features at 1405 and 2080 nm.
Seedorff et al., 2005
Fe-chlorite Fe-rich biotite Mg-rich biotite
Mg-rich biotite Proximal Fe-rich biotite Distal

Potassic alteration

Phyllic alteration
Muscovite Phengite
Muscovite - Acidic Adjacent to Adv. argillic (shallow)

Phengite Adjacent to potassic or propylitic (deep)

Dickite Topaz

Advanced argillic alteration

Dickite Advanced Argillic

Topaz Advanced Argillic (in F-rich systems, eg Porphyry Mo)

Propylitic alteration

Mg-chlorite

Chlorite composition (propylitic alteration): in this example; Mg-chlorite 2324 nm, Fe-chlorite 2350 nm.

Fe Chlorite Low temp, Acid

Mg Chlorite (overprinting actinolite) High temp neutral

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