Geoscience BC Report 2011-17
Porphyry Indicator Minerals (PIMS): A New Exploration Tool for Concealed Deposits in South-Central British Columbia
by F. Bouzari, C.J.R. Hart, S. Barker and T. Bissig
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- Report Description
- The common occurrence of resistate minerals, such as apatite, rutile, titanite and titanomagnetite, as alteration products in BC porphyry copper deposits suggest that these minerals could be utilized as porphyry indicator minerals (PIMS) and potentially provide a new exploration tool for BC explorers. The research project evaluated several resistate minerals
but focused mainly on apatite and Fe-oxide phases from the Highland Valley, Mt. Polley, Mount Milligan, Huckleberry, Lorraine and Endako porphyry deposits. This research project has successfully recognized, characterized and documented the occurrence, types, relative abundances and compositions of selected resistate minerals in several BC porphyry deposits, such that the "proof of concept" of PIMS has been established. In short, we can now recognize features of resistate minerals that indicate their association with mineralized porphyry systems. This tool will be particularly beneficial in improving exploration targeting in terrains covered by glacial till.
Apatite occurs as grains 50 to 200 μm long in both fresh and altered host-rocks. Under visible light, the binocular microscope and the SEM, there are no notable differences between apatite in fresh and altered rocks, however significant differences in their characteristics are easily observable under cathodoluminescence. Apatite in fresh rocks associated with porphyry deposits displays yellow, yellow-brown and brown luminescence. Apatite associated with K-silicate altered host-rock in all studies deposits displays characteristic green luminescence. The green-luminescent apatite replaces yellow or brown luminescent apatite and less commonly overgrows it. Apatite associated with muscovite alteration displays characteristic grey luminescence.
The chemistry of the apatites reflect their alteration and luminescence. The yellow luminescent apatite reflects its high concentrations of Mn, while the brown-luminescent apatite has low Mn, but higher concentrations of Cl, S and probably REE. The green luminescence is caused by lower Mn/Fe ratio. Other trace elements such as Cl, S, and Na were also depleted during K-silicate alteration. Grey luminescent apatite with muscovite alteration is the result of significant Mn and trace element loss during low pH phyllic alteration. Such apatites are not expected widely in alkalic deposits because such fluids were not developed in alkalic porphyry deposits.
Magnetite occurs as a common accessory mineral in the host-rocks of BC porphyry deposits and displays uniform pink color when examined under reflected light (e.g. titanomagnetite). Magnetite in fresh rocks hosting porphyry deposits has a characteristic rim of hematite or titanite which is interpreted as evidence of an increasing oxidation state of the late
crystallizing melts which led to the generation of the porphyry deposit. Magnetite grains associated with altered host-rocks in all studied porphyry deposits display remnant of pink magnetite replaced by hematite indicating that the oxidation state of the porphyry systems progressively increased to stabilize hematite during the transition from K-silicate to sericite or chlorite alteration. The Ti from titanomagnetite commonly forms rutile lamella or grains within or near magnetite-hematite bodies. More advanced stages of magnetite alteration forms spongy hematite, with rutile, cemented by hydrothermal quartz thus forming more resistate aggregates.
These textural observations and chemical characteristics indicate that the footprints of porphyry-related alteration on apatite and Fe-oxide phases can provide a unique and reliable tool to search for porphyry deposits. The correlation between apatite luminescence and magnetite replacement textures with the degree and intensity of porphyry alteration offers a fast and effective method to utilize these minerals as indicators for porphyry mineralization in the weathered environment.
- Suggested Reference
- Bouzari, F., Hart, C.J.R., Barker, S., and Bissig, T. (2011): Porphyry Indicator Minerals (PIMS): A new exploration tool for concealed deposits in south-central British Columbia; Geoscience BC, Report 2011-17, 31 p.
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