JgURHALOF

GEOCHEMICAL
E LS EV l ER Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220
EXPLORATION

The Batu Hijau porphyry copper-gold deposit,

Sumbawa Island, Indonesia
Simon J. Meldrum a, Romeo S. Aquino a, Rene I. Gonzales a, Robert J.
Burke a, Artha Suyadi a, Bambang Irianto a, Donald S. Clarke b
'~P.T. Newmont Nusa Tenggara. Mataram, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia
bGeoseienee R and D Education Consultancy, 74 King Street, East Fremantle, 6158, W.A., Australia

( Received 15 June 1993; accepted after revision 13 August 1993)

Abstract

The Batu Hijau porphyry C u - A u deposit lies in southwest Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. It is a
world-class porphyry Cu deposit in an island arc setting, and is typical of this deposit type in most
features, including igneous association, morphology, hydrothermal alteration and mineralisation style.
The region was not previously recognised as a porphyry Cu province; disseminated Cu sulphides
were first recognised in float samples in southwest Sumbawa in 1987. Associated stream sediment
sampling identified a broad area of anomalous Au and Cu in an area of greater than 5 km-~ around
Batu Hijau, including 169 ppb Au in BLEG samples and 580 ppm Cu in stream silts 1 km from the
deposit. Mineralisation in bedrock at surface contains > 0.1 wt % Cu and > 0.1 ppm Au over an area
of 0.6 k m 1.2 kin, including a zone 300 m 900 m containing > 0.3 wt % Cu. Areas with elevated
Mo ( > 30 ppm) form a distinctive annulus around this Cu-rich zone.
Batu Hijau mineralisation is hosted in a tonalite intrusive complex, and diorite and metavolcanic
wallrocks. There are no post-mineralisation igneous intrusions or breccia pipes within the deposit.
The main tonalite intrusion forms a stock in the centre of the deposit, where it generally displays
intensely pervasive potassic (biotite with magnetite~luartz) alteration and hosts most of the higher
grade mineralisation. Younger tonalite dykes intruding the centre of this stock are generally less
altered and mineralised than the older tonalite.
The core zone of potassic alteration grades outward into extensive propylitic alteration ( chlorite-
epidote), with both variably overprinted by widespread fracture controlled intermediate argillic
alteration (sericite-chlorite), and minor phyllic (sericite-pyrite) and sodic (albite) alteration. Argil-
lic (sericite-kaolinite) and advanced argillic (kaolinite-alunite-pyrophyllite) assemblages occur
near surface.
Copper and Au grades within the orebody show a positive correlation with quartz stockwork
intensity, although disseminated Cu sulphides are also common. Chalcopyrite and bornite are the
principle hypogenal minerals, with minor chalcocite. Oxidation extends to a depth of 5 m to 85 m
below surface across the deposit, and is underlain by weak supergene mineralisation. Drill testing of

0375-6742/94/$07.00 1994 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

SSDI 0375 -6742 ( 93 ) E 0 0 3 8 - X
204 S.J. Meldrum et al. / Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220

the deposit down to 650 m below surface reveals a single cylindrical to conical orebody of 334 million
tonnes grading 0.8 wt % Cu and 0.69 gm per tonne Au; the depth extent of mineralisation is unknown.

I. Introduction

I. 1. Location and access

The Batu Hijau porphyry Cu-Au deposit (Fig. 1) is located in southwest Sumbawa
Island, Indonesia (lat. 0857'55", long. i 1652'21"), within the Contract of Work ( COW )
tenements of P.T. Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT). This COW originally covered most
of Lombok and western Sumbawa Islands in the province of Nusa Tenggara Barat, but has
been reduced to a number of blocks in the southern portion of that region (Fig. 1). Domestic
airlines provide a daily service to the provincial capital of Mataram, 1100 km east of Jakarta;
travel from there to southwest Sumbawa is by road and ferry, boat or helicopter charter.
The Batu Hijau deposit occurs in steep terrain between the headwaters of the Brang
Sejorang and Brang Katala - Tongoloka drainages (Fig. 2), with the highest point on the
deposit at 555 m above sea level. The deposit is some 10 km from the south coast of western
Sumbawa, and is relatively inaccessible; travel from the main logistics camp at Maluk on
the west coast is either on foot (a 5 hour walk) or by helicopter.

1.2. Exploration history

The Batu Hijau deposit was discovered as a result of a systematic exploration program
by Newmont on their Nusa Tenggara project, focussed initially on gold mineralisation. As
well as Batu Hijau, the exploration team identified mineral occurrences of porphyry Cu type
elsewhere in southern Sumbawa, of high sulphidation epithermal Au type in southern
Lombok, and of low sulphidation epithermal Au type in both these areas.
The region was not previously recognised as a porphyry Cu province; disseminated copper
sulphides were first identified by Newmont staff in southwest Sumbawa in 1987, in float
samples of altered diorite in Brang Sejorang near the coast. Associated reconnaissance
stream sediment and float sampling identified a broad area of anomalous Au and Cu centred
over the Brang Sejorang - Katala headwaters. Follow-up reconnaissance in tributaries of
Brang Sejorang in 1989 revealed outcrops of weak Cu mineralisation, and well mineralised
diorite and tonalite float assaying up to 6.8 wt % Cu and 0.28 ppm Au. Creek traversing in
May 1990 led to the discovery of strong Cu mineralisation cropping out within a large area
of sparce vegetation at Batu Hijau.
The surface extent of mineralisation at Batu Hijau was outlined in mid-late 1990 by
alteration mapping and ridge-and-spur auger bedrock geochemistry, with the higher grade
mineralisation subsequently defined by sampling of some 629 randomly oriented 5 m long
costeans spaced at approximately 30 m centres.
Diamond drilling commenced in May 1991, with 11,000 m (22 holes) drilled in the first
year, and has continued concurrently with more detailed surface investigations up to the
present. This paper summarizes the results of exploration and drill evaluation to January,
 I I
12,t0 E
117E 118OE
J NUSA TENGGARA
/~-~. [ PROJECT l

Newmont Contract of Work .,....,

KALIMANTAJM SULA~IESI c~ ~ o ~~
~1-~__;~ [INDONESIA /2)~ e~

r"--

-08:S 08" s
| FLORES SEA e~
116=E

MBOK /~
-095 09os
BATU HIJAU
L
INDIAN OCEAN
1160E 117E 118E
i t )

Fig. 1. Location map showing the position of the Batu Hijau deposit within the COW tenements of PT Nev, mont Nusa Tenggara, and the general location of the exploration
project within Indonesia.
 [ ]
I L
47000~ 480~OOmg 49~O00mZ
o',
~:~ RECENT SEDIMENTS

ALAS CONGLOMERATE/EP[CLASTIC
SED~EI~YS
STI~IFS
~-~ A N D E S m C PORP~Y
-- 92L000mN D~TRE~
VV'3 DIORITE/TONALFrE b,,
LIMESTONE
V V V"q'l ANDESITIC VOLCANICS
\ FAULT/LL~Z~ENT
V V ~\ SILICIFICATION/
UARTZ
Q e~
~VEIN :-...

V -~

/I v ; V V
SEKONGKANG
PROSPECT
911L0 0 0 ~ " " --
?, , ,. 911000z~N e~
DEPOS~

NORTH
/l v .~ v C~v

5000 m
, i

90l O00r~N 901000mN-- I',,a

%
%.
4?O000m,R 480000mE 490000mE 500000mE
I I I I

Fig. 2. Regional geological map of southwest Sumbawa. The position of the Batu Hijau deposit is indicated.
 S.J. Meldrum et al. / Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220 207

1993. Numerous studies are still in progress, including detailed deposit-scale modelling of
alteration and vein distribution, geochemical studies for elements other than Cu, Au and
Mo, and geophysical investigations, and are not reported here.

2. District geology of southwest Sumbawa Island

2.1. Geological setting

The northern parts of Nusa Tenggara Barat are covered by the products of Quaternary to
Recent (and recently active) andesitic volcanism associated with the east-west Sunda-
Banda Arc through Java and Bali; the southern parts reveal igneous rocks formed by Tertiary
island arc volcanism.
Numerous major lineaments are evident in southwest Sumbawa from Landsat imagery
and aerial photography (Fig. 2). The more prominent west-northwest and northeast trending
lineaments may represent, respectively, arc-parallel and arc-normal structures associated
with Tertiary subduction.
The oldest rocks exposed in southwest Sumbawa Island (Fig. 2) are Tertiary andesitic
flows and fragmental rocks, with minor limestones. Numerous igneous intrusions are asso-
ciated with these volcanic rocks, including diorite, tonalite, andesite porphyry and intrusive
breccia (diatreme). Younger epiclastic sediments and recent alluvial deposits blanket the
coastal fringe in this area.

2.2. Metallogeny

The only economically significant mineralisation recognised in southwest Sumbawa is

the Batu Hijau deposit. Low grade disseminated Cu mineralisation associated with diorite
and quartz diorite has also been identified by drilling (3 holes in 1992) in the Sekongkang
prospect (Fig. 2), 6 km west-northwest of Batu Hijau.
Low sulphidation epithermal vein mineralisation is common, but not economically sig-
nificant, in southwest Sumbawa (Fig. 2). Associated quartz veining is of the Crystalline
Quartz-Illite type rather than the Chalcedonic Silica-Adularia type (cf. Clarke, 1991a).
The Teluk Puna area to the south-southeast of Batu Hijau contains quartz-calcite breccia
veins up to 10 m wide which locally carry high but erratic Au and Ag grades. In the Bambu
area to the southwest, and in the Jerewah area to the north-northwest, base-metal rich
auriferous quartz veining and jasperoid-type silicification are hosted by volcanic rock and
limestone.

3. Prospect geology

3.1. Structure

Northwest trending faults dominate the structural pattern in the Batu Hijau prospect area
(Fig. 3). The faults are commonly en-echelon in nature and have limited strike continuity.
 t~
I I [ I
500OlB ~OOIE 10000E t I 0OOE

t t t t
+ .+ + + + 4- +
Vm ~ + +++"k

~IO0OE--
v., ~ , ~ v.

UPPER w
t~
bI~TAI~ ,,..,.

V~ V~
v~ Vm V~

+ + + Vln Vn
4- 4- 4- /

4- + 4. I Vm Vm
--2~OE v~ vm + + 20000E --

vm vm vm Vm Vm Vm

lW , Vn Vm Vm

[ ~ ANDESITE PORPHYRY Iq
V~ Vm
D[ATREME W,

~ 7 YOUNG TONALI'J~ V~
OLD TONALITE + / / +T + ~- +
N~TM
LEUCO QUARTZ DIORITE Q / / / + + + Vm ) IgOOOB--

[ - ~ DIoRrrE + + +i
METAVOLCANIC Vm Vn VI~ 500 m i
i
FAULT
V~ Vm V~
8000E 9000R I OOOOE ! I OOGE
I i I I

Fig. 3. Geological map of the Batu Hijau prospect.

 S.J. Meldrum et al. / Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220 209

These structures appear to post-date mineralisation, but displacements along faults are only
a few tens of metres or less.
Northeast trending lineaments are evident from airphoto analysis, but are seen only as
minor fractured structures in the field. Veining and smaller dykes within the deposit are
preferentially oriented parallel to these structures.

3.2. Lithology

Massive and fragmental dark green-grey andesitic meta-volcanics are the most wide-
spread rock-type in the Batu Hijau prospect (Fig. 3). The pyroclastic rocks include ash,
lapilli, and breccias tufts. Metamorphism of these andesitic rocks to a chlorite-albite-calcite
assemblage is attributed to widespread cotact metamorphism and pervasive hydrothermal
alteration. These rocks are locally strongly recrystallized, with development of fine-grained
decussate biotite, adjacent to diorite intrusion contacts.
The most common intrusive rocktype in the prospect area is dark grey hornblende diorite.
This plagioclase-hornblende porphyritic to equigranular, medium grained microdiorite
crops out extensively east and northeast of the Batu Hijau deposit, particularly in the North
East area (Fig. 3). Numerous small dyke-like and sill-like bodies extend into the metavol-
canic wallrock, and other small diorite stocks outcrop to the south in the IQ and South East
areas.
Leuco quartz diorite outcrops in the Upper Katala area in the northeast of the prospect.
It is medium-grained and weakly porphyritic, with phenocrysts of plagioclase and quartz.
The quartz diorite intrudes across small diorite dykes in the area.
Tonalite is recognised only within the Batu Hijau deposit. Multiple phases occur, with
the earlier larger stock-like body designated as "old tonalite", and younger smaller dyke-
like bodies as "young tonalite".
Old tonalite is porphyritic and light grey, and generally intensely altered. Medium-grained
subhedral phenocrysts of quartz, plagioclase, hornblende and (primary) biotite are set in a
matrix of similar composition. Young tonalite generally has more quartz phenocrysts and
less mafic minerals than the earlier phase; also, quartz phenocrysts tend to be larger (up to
10 mm diameter) and more euhedral and the groundmass is generally finer-grained.
An igneous breccia pipe (diatreme) is exposed at Gold Ridge in the northwest part of
the prospect. The breccia consists of poorly sorted clasts of andesite, diorite, altered rock
and quartz fragments; these occur in a matrix of rock-flour, clay and pyrite. An andesite
porphyry stock, with scarce phenocrysts of plagioclase in a fine-grained groundmass, is also
exposed near Gold Ridge at Air Merah where it apparently forms a late dome intruding the
margin of the breccia pipe. By general analogy with other island arc terrains, this diatreme-
dome complex is interpreted to have resulted from the youngest igneous activity in the
prospect.

3.3. Alteration

Hydrothermal alteration types within the Batu Hijau prospect (Fig. 4) are characteristic
of porphyry Cu-Au deposits in island arcs (Sillitoe, 1990), and have been mapped using
traditional models and terminology (Lowell and Guilbert, 1970; Meyer and Hemley, 1967).
 I I J I
8000B 9000R IO000E tlOOOE

21000E--

AIR

t~
,.....

NORTII
2~O00E
2oooox m

~oo m
i j

~ ' ~ ADVANCED ARGILLIC ~ IQ I--'----) EAST

ARGILLIC 1CUP,~ e
t.~
PHYLUC
INTERMEDIATE ARGILLIC
POTASSIC / lgOOOB--
PROPYLITIC O. f ~ COPPER t.o

- - L I M I T OF PYRITE

8000B 9000R 10000E I l O00B

t I J l

Fig. 4. Alteration map of the Batu Hijau prospect. The zone for intermediate argillic alteration indicates the area of overprinting of propylitic alteration; all the potassic
alteration zone is also overprinted by intermediate argillic alteration. The location of Fig. 6 is indicated.
 S.J. Meldrum et al. / Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220 211

Prograde hydrothermal alteration has produced a core zone of pervasive potassic alteration
that grades outward into extensive propylitic alteration. Retrograde hydrothermal alteration
is characterised by sericite, with the prograde alteration variably overprinted by widespread
fracture-controlled intermediate argillic alteration (containing chlorite) and phyllic altera-
tion (without chlorite). A late sodic alteration overprint has only been recognised in drill-
core. Argillic and advanced argillic alteration assemblages occur near surface.
Potassic alteration is indicated by secondary biotite, accompanied by magnetite and
quartz. Light brown biotite is commonly pervasive throughout and around the old tonalite
stock; within the fine-grained wallrocks near the margin of the potassic zone, it is more
typically localised on or near fractures. Secondary orthoclase has not been identified. Most
hydrothermal albite within the potassic zone has been ascribed to sodic alteration overprint-
ing, but early formed hydrothermal albite was found in one drillhole in association with
andalusite. Pale green epidote is a common accessory mineral within the potassic zone
below 650 m depth, possibly indicating a gradation to sodic-calcic alteration (Carten, 1986;
Dilles and Einaudi, 1992) below the potassic zone.
Strong propylitic alteration occurs peripheral to the potasssic alteration, and is defined
by chlorite, epidote, magnetite and calcite, with pyrite in concentrations of up to 5% of the
rock forming a halo around the potassic alteration zone ( Fig. 4). This grades into a chlorite-
calcite assemblage which extends throughout the prospect and is mapped as a metamorphic
assemblage.
Overprinting intermediate argillic alteration along veins and fractures extends throughout
the potassic zone and out into the propylitic alteration zone. It tends to be more pervasive
in coarser-grained tonalite. Intermediate argillic alteration is characterized by sericite-
chlorite-specular hematite, locally with pyrite and clay.
Phyllic (quartz-sericitic-pyrite) alteration is poorly represented at surface within the
prospect. The only significant area of pervasive phyllic alteration is associated with quartz
diorite in the Upper Katala area. Phyllic alteration occurs at depth along fractures and
selvages to very late quartz-pyrite veins throughout the area, particularly deep in the Batu
Hijau deposit overprinting the central portion of the potassic alteration zone. This phyllic
overprinting is best developed in young tonalite.
Sodic alteration overprints potassic, intermediate argillic and phyllic alteration, as fracture
controlled secondary albite flooding. Secondary albite has not been systematically identified
during exploration at Batu Hijau, but limited petrography shows it to be a common phase
in most drillcore samples from the central portion of the deposit.
Advanced argillic mineral assemblages, kaolinite-quartz-alunite-pyrophyllite-tourma-
line, cap ridges east and west of the potassic alteration zone, apparently related to linear
structures. Argillic alteration of sericite-kaolinite-pyrite around fractures and veins sur-
rounds and underlies the advance argillic alteration, forming a zone 30 to 120 m thick.
Argillic alteration with local silicification is also developed within and around the breccia
pipe at Gold Ridge.

4. Exploration geochemistry
4.1. Stream sediment survey

The initial 1987 reconnaissance stream sediment survey returned assays of 10.0 ppb and
15.3 ppb Au in BLEG (bulk leach extractable gold) samples and 135 ppm Cu in - 80 mesh
212 s.J. Meldrum et al. /Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220

silts from the prospect area. Follow up sampling gave very anomalous Au and Cu results
from drainages in an area exceeding 5 km 2 around Batu Hijau (Fig. 5), including 169 ppb
Au in a BLEG sample and 580 ppm Cu in stream silts 1 km from the discovery outcrop.
The only other significant stream sediment response from the prospect area was elevated
Au in drainages in the Gold Ridge area in the northwest. Weaker Cu and Au anomalies
were returned from the nearby Air Merah area.

4. 2. B e d r o c k g e o c h e m i s t r y

Ridge-and-spur auger sampling of variably weathered bedrock at Batu Hijau gave > 0.1
wt % Cu over a north-south elongated area of 0.6 km x 1.2 km (Fig. 4). This area coincides
with the area of potassic alteration, and is confined east and west by argillic and advanced
argillic alteration.
Detailed costean sampling of variably weathered bedrock within this anomalous area
revealed a higher grade zone of > 0.3 wt % Cu over an area of 900 m x 300 m centred on
the hill of Batu Hijau (Fig. 6). Bedrock within the zone also consistently assayed > 0.2
ppm Au; an arithmetic mean of 0.53 wt % Cu (max. 1.36 wt %) and 0.25 ppm Au (max.
1.62 ppm) was derived from sampling within this zone. Areas with elevated Mo ( > 30
ppm; max. 350 ppm) form a distinctive annulus around the C u / A u zone (Fig. 6).
Extension of the bedrock sampling to other parts of the prospect revealed only small

NORTH

-80# BLEG
2000 m
I I

COPPER GRADE p p m GOLD GRADE p p b

-- < 40 --< ,5
--5 - 20
-- 40 - 100
~21 - 50
~ 101 - 500 ram> 51
m~ > 500

Fig. 5. Stream sedimentsurvey results for Cu in - 80 mesh silts and Au in BLEG for the Batu Hijau prospect.
Each map shows the maindrainages withinthe same area presentedin Fig. 3 and 4, with the thicknessof the line
representingeach stream related to the valueof the correspondingmetal response.
 S.J. Meldrum et al. / Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220 213

- - 204OON

-- 2 0 0 0 0 N

-- 19600N

~ > 0
~ > 0
~ > ~

Fig. 6. Selected contours of Cu, Au and Mo contents in bedrock at surface over the Batu Hijau deposit. The
location of the section in Fig. 7 is indicated.

areas of weakly elevated Cu in the Air Merah, North East, Upper Katala and South East
areas. It also confirmed the Au anomalism of the Gold Ridge area, without identifying any
economically significant zone.

5. Batu Hijau deposit mineralisation

5,1. H o s t rocks

Mineralisation at Batu Hijau is hosted by tonalite (young and old), diorite and metavol-
canic rocks. There are no post-mineralisation igneous intrusions or breccia pipes within the
deposit.
The main body of diorite in the Batu Hijau area lies on the eastern periphery of the
 =- FAULT YOUNG TONALITE
---- BASE OF SUPERGENE OLD TONALITE
B

,I

v~

vm

Ona--

Vm

v~

000 - - ~.~

,c)

b,a

:ig. 7. Geological cross section through the Batu Hijau deposit, looking northeast. The positions of drillholes close to the section are indicated. The base of extensive
upergene mineralisation, and selected contours of Cu grade in drillcore, are shown (young tonalite generally contains < 0.3 wt % Cu).
 s.J. Meldrum et al. / Journal of GeocheraicalExploration 50 (1994) 203-220 215

deposit, with large dykes splaying offthis main body and intruding the metavolcanics within
the deposit. These dykes and the metavolcanic wallrocks are in turn intruded by tonalite.
The old tonalite stock lies in the centre of the deposit, hosting the dominant portion of
the higher grade mineralisation (Fig. 7). It is 500 m in diameter at 600 m below surface,
and tapers irregularly upward. Young tonalite dykes, generally < 20 m thick, emanate from
a wider dyke or stock intruding the centre of the old tonalite stock (and thus the centre of
the deposit).

5.2. Distribution o f mineralisation

Drill testing of the deposit to 650 m below surface reveals a single cylindrical to conical
orebody (Fig. 7). Most drill holes end in mineralisation, and thus the depth extent of the
orebody is unknown.
Zonation trends for mineralisation within the old tonalite and extending into the wallrocks
are generally consistent, giving gradational zonation laterally and vertically. Copper grades
are mostly > 1.0 wt % within the upper portion of the old tonalite stock (Fig. 7), commonly
with Au > 1 ppm and Ag > 2 ppm. This high grade zone forms an inverted shell 100 m to
300 m thick with the apex 100 m below surface around a lower grade core deeper than 400
m below surface.
There is a strong correlation between Cu and Au in the old tonalite and surounding
wallrocks, with the content of both increasing into, and to a lesser extent downwards within,
the high grade shell of the deposit. Gold increases more markedly than Cu with depth,
however, such that a Cu(%) :Au(ppm) ratio of 2:1 down to 250 m below surface progres-
sively changes to 1:2 below 550 m depth (with Au commonly > 2 ppm).
Mineralisation is generally much weaker in the young tonalite dykes than in the old
tonalite, with Cu < 0.25 wt % and Au < 0.5 ppm. Because of the distribution of the young
dykes within the tonalite intrusive complex, disruption of the high grade shell is minor, but
there is major dilution of the Cu content of the lower grade core to the deposit. Very late
narrow dykes contain very little Cu ( < 0.1 wt %).

5.3. Hypogene ore and stockwork veining

Total hypogene sulphide content varies from 1 to 5 vol. % in the higher grade shell of
mineralisation. Chalcopyrite and bornite are the principal hypogene copper minerals, with
minor chalcocite. Chalcopyrite is generally more abundant than bornite, although the pro-
portion of bornite increases towards and deeper into the centre of the orebody.
Prelimiary studies have indicated that Au occurs largely as electrum encapsulated in
chalcopyrite and bornite, with some Au resident in the lattice of the Cu sulphides. Electrum
occurs also as free grains in quartz gangue.
Most of the Cu sulphides within the orebody lie within and on the margins of quartz
veins, such that Cu and Au grades show a positive correlation with quartz stockwork
intensity, although disseminations in the host rock add to the ore tenor of high grade
mineralisation.
Stockwork veins form 5% to > 30% of rock volume within the old tonalite, decreasing
laterally away from the stock and increasing with depth. In contrast, young tonalite dykes
216 S.J. Meldrum et al. / Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220

have a weak stockwork development. Stockwork veins at Batu Hijau range in thickness
from < 10 mm to > 30 cm.
Six styles of quartz vein have been recognised. The earliest, style 1, occur as thin, irregular,
massive fine-grained veinlets, commonly containing magnetite but with low total sulphide
content ( < 2 vol. %; largely bomite, minor chalcopyrite, no pyrite). They occur only in
tonalite and have no alteration selvages.
The most common vein type, style 2, are banded grey-white medium to coarsely crystal-
line veins, locally vughy, with low to moderate sulphide content ( < 10%; chalcopyrite,
bornite, minor pyrite and very minor molybdenite) and low magnetite content. They form
multiphase stockworks, only in the potassic alteration zone, and show little alteration on
their margins.
Style 3 veins tend to be sparse, with very planar margins, and transect style 2 veins. They
are banded, medium-grained veins locally exceeding 5 cm thickness, with sulphide bands
(mostly chalcopyrite, minor chalcocite, rare bomite and pyrite), and commonly containing
chlorite clots, locally with sericite. Intermediate argillic alteration selvages to these veins
are common.
Banded pink-white medium-grained veins, style 4, occur mostly peripheral to potassic
alteration zone, and appear to be the peripheral equivalent to style 3 veins. They are locally
vughy, with moderate sulphides ( < 10 vol. %; pyrite and chalcopyrite, minor chalcocite
and molybdenite, no bomite). They have distinct intermediate argillic alteration selvages.
Massive white crystalline quartz veins, style 5, are best developed in the peripheral
portions of the orebody. They contain pyrite and rare sphalerite, but not Cu sulphides. Strong
argillic-phyllic alteration selvages are locally developed.
White banded medium-grained veins, style 6, are best developed in the lower grade core
zone of the orebody at depth and in young tonalite transecting all other veining. They
commonly contain pyrite as the only significant sulphide and have strong phyllic alteration
selvages.
A generalised paragenesis, therefore, has vein style 1 as the oldest through to style 6 as
the youngest, with style 4 possibly being the peripheral equivalent of style 3. Besides these
quartz veins, blue-white (Cu stained) gypsum forms late-stage fracture fillings throughout
the deposit.
A preliminary study of fluid inclusions in 39 samples of the main style 2 veins throughout
the deposit has revealed two groups. Primary and pseudo-secondary liquid-rich inclusions,
commonly containing daughter crystals (including halite, sylvite, chalcopyrite, magnetite,
hematite), have homogenisation temperatures in the range 250C to 520C and salinities
from 30 to 50 wt % NaC1 equivalent. They are associated with vapour-rich inclusions. In
contrast, while some secondary liquid-rich inclusions give similar results for temperature
and salinity, many have homogenisation temperatures in the range 160C to 300C and are
very dilute.

5.4. Oxidation a n d supergene ore

Oxidation extends from surface to depths between 5 m to 85 m over the Batu Hijau
deposit. It is most intense and has the greatest thickness beneath the topographically high
areas east and west of the orebody, coincident with argillic and advanced argillic alteration.
 s.J. Meldrum et al. / Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220 217

A leached capping with very low Cu grades ( <0.1 wt %) is preserved over the east and
west margins of the deposit, reaching to a maximum depth of 40 m in the east. Gold grades
are variable in this capping but are generally low ( < 0.2 ppm), whereas Mo content content
remains significant ( > 30 ppm; Fig. 6) relative to the deposit generally.
The zone of intense oxidation at surface is underlain by weak supergene mineralisation,
characterised by chalcocite-covellite-cuprite. This supergene blanket ranges in thickness
from 5 m to 50 m over the central portion of the orebody (Fig. 7) to a maximum 125 m
under the leached cap to the east.

5.5. Geological resource

A drill-inferred resource for Batu Hijau of 334 million tonnes grading 0.8 wt % Cu and
0.69 gm per tonne Au was reported in September, 1992. This resource was calculated to
600 m depth, based on the initial 20 vertical holes drilled on a 150-200m grid, plus two
angle holes.

6. Discussion

6.1. Metallogenic setting

The eastern Sunda-Banda Arc is now clearly identified as a porphyry Cu-Au province
due to recognition of the Batu Hijau deposit and the Sekongkang prospect in southwest
Sumbawa, and other prospects in Nusa Tenggara Barat (see Carlile and Mitchell, 1994).
High and low sulphidation epithermal Au are other styles of hydrothermal mineralisation
that are common in such provinces (Sillitoe and Bonham, 1984), and they have been
similarly recognised in Nusa Tenggara Barat.
High sulphidation epithermal mineralisation has not been recognised in southwest Sum-
bawa, but does occur in the same terrain in southern Lombok. The numerous examples of
low sulphidation epithermal Au veining in southwest Sumbawa are of the Crystalline
Quartz-Illite type (Clarke, 1991 a) with erratic and uneconomic Au grades (as distinct from
high grade veins characterized by chalcedonic banding and adularia); this is the more
common vein type in similar andesitic arc terrain in the Philippines (Sillitoe, 1988) and
New Zealand (Clarke, 1991b). The low sulphidation veins ring the periphery of the Batu
Hijau and Sekongkang porphyry mineralisation, suggestive of a genetic relationship, and
are clearly an integral part of the metallogenic setting.

6.2. Exploration significance

The Batu Hijau deposit is intimately related to a tonalitic porphyry stock complex. The
association of intrusions of quartz diorite to tonalite composition with island arc Cu-Au
porphyry mineralisation is common (Sillitoe, 1989), and is a valid parameter in an explo-
ration model for these deposits. Recognition of mineralized and altered tonalite float is a
clear indication of the presence of the Batu Hijau deposit.
Routine exploration stream sediment geochemistry supported by creek float sampling
218 s.J. Meldrum et al. / Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220

effectively located the Batu Hijau prospect and the deposit within it. Coincident patterns of
elevated Cu and Au anomalies over a significant area of drainage was an obvious signature
of the outcropping mineralisation.
Bedrock sampling at surface for Cu, Au and (to a lesser extent) Mo readily delineated
the main mineralisation. High Cu grades ( > 0.3 wt %) were able to be sampled at surface
during exploration because erosion has removed most of a leached cap (Cu < 0.1 wt %)
from over the orebody. This leached cap was associated with argillic and advanced argillic
alteration, which might be better described, respectively, as a higher temperature (pyro-
phyllite) intense pervasive type and a lower temperature (kaolinite) extensive fracture-
controlled type of advanced argillic alteration. Together they form a high level leached zone
similar to that preserved over some other porphyry systems (Sillitoe, 1990).
A similar leached cap associated with advanced argillic alteration overlying porphyry
coppper mineralisation has been reported from the Cabang Kiri prospect in North Sulawesi
( Lowder and Dow, 1978). Here, Cu grades in the cap are commonly < 500 ppm. Combined
experience from Sulawesi and Sumbawa indicates that an area of advanced argillic alteration
with a subdued Cu anomaly and associated Au and Mo values is a significant exploration
target in the search for porphyry Cu mineralisation in this region.
Hydrothermal biotite, with magnetite, characterises alteration associated with the best
hypogene copper mineralisation at Batu Hijau. Potassic alteration characterised by biotite
without K-feldspar is common in porphyry Cu deposits associated with diorites and quartz
diorites (Beane and Titley, 1981 ).

6.3. Deposit genesis

Batu Hijau appears typical of porphyry Cu-Au deposits, and is readily understood in
terms of generally accepted genetic models for such deposits (Beane and Titley, 1981;
Sillitoe, 1990). Although detailed paragenetic studies have not been carried out at Batu
Hijau, the perceived relationships between veining and alteration allows postulation of the
genetic framework for this porphyry system based on studies elsewhere.
Spatial and temporal relationships indicate that mineralisation at Batu Hijau is directly
related to intrusion of the tonalite stock complex. The morphology of this intusive complex
is idiosyncratic for Cu-Au porphyry deposits of this type (cf. Sillitoe, 1990), with a
composite stock forming a vertical cylinder with late phases intruding the axial portion of
the stock. Any petrogenetic relationship between the porphyritic tonalites and the older,
more equigranular diorite is unknown; age determinations and petrochemical studies have
not yet been carried out.
Style 1 quartz veins appear to correlate with the late magmatic phase of the stock intrusion.
Thus, they represent the earliest " A " type veins in the Gustafson and Hunt (1975) vein
terminology.
The main phase of mineralisation is marked by style 2 vein formation, coincident with
the potassic alteration; these correspond to " B " type veins. High temperatures and salinities
recorded from fluid inclusions in these veins is indicative of fluids intimately related to
igneous intrusions. Maximum Cu and Au deposition in this stockwork followed emplace-
ment of old tonalite, and formed the high grade shell of mineralisation. Similar, but signif-
icantly poorer, phases of mineralisation post-dated pulses of young tonalite intrusion.
 S.J. Meldrum et al. / Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220 219

Style 3 and 4 veins are associated with fluids responsible for the intermediate argillic
overprinting. Significant Cu deposition during this phase of hydrothermal activity indicates
that ore fluids were still important, but the formation of sericite and chlorite in the alteration
selvages and chalcocite and hematite in the veining indicate a change in fluid conditions,
very likely due to increased mixing with peripheral fluids (Sillitoe, 1989). Deposition of
molybdenite, although only minor, apparently was greatest during this phase (although
detailed investigation has not been camed out). Surface geochemistry indicates that max-
imum Mo deposition occurred peripheral to the central potassic alteration zone, correspond-
ing to the general distribution of style 4 veins.
Style 5 and 6 veins are representative of " D " veins (cf. Gustafson and Hunt, 1975)
associated with late phyllic alteration. This type of late phase hydrothermal activity probably
represents a dominating incursion of peripheral fluids into the system (Beane and Titley,
1981).
Overprinting by hydrothermal albite appears to be the last significant hydrothermal effect
within the main orebody at Batu Hijau. Sodic alteration of this type is not commonly
reported for porphyry Cu deposits, but is a minor to major component in some systems such
as Cabang Kiri (Lowder and Dow, 1978; Carlile and Kirkegaard, 1985), Yandera, Papua
New Guinea (Watmuff, 1978) and Ann Mason, Nevada (Dilles and Einaudi, 1992). At
Batu Hijau, sodic alteration appears unrelated to the main mineralising system.
The advanced argillic and argillic alteration capping over Batu Hij au is readily understood
in terms of downward percolation of acid condensate fluids that formed above the porphyry
system ( Beane and Titley, 1981 ; Sillitoe, 1990).

7. Conclusions

Batu Hijau is a world-class porphyry Cu deposit in an island arc setting; it is typical of

this deposit type in most features, including igneous association, morphology, and styles of
alteration and mineralisation.
The Batu Hijau discovery resulted from systematic and comprehensive stream sediment
and creek float sampling surveys. In the incised terrain of southem Sumbawa, a simple
geochemical signature was produced by this survey and no elaborate or subtle data proc-
essing was required. Metal distributions and hydrothermal alteration in bedrock within the
prospect area were also rigourously documented and readily interpreted, allowing confident
identification of a drill target. The discovery of the Batu Hijau deposit demonstrates that
significant potential exists in Indonesia for porphyry Cu discoveries.

Acknowledgements

Numerous Newmont staff and associated contractors have contributed to discovery and
evaluation of the Batu Hijau deposit. In particular, the authors wish to acknowledge John
Dow for his leadership throughout the campaign, Brian Levet for leading the regional
exploration program, and the other field geologists associated with targetting of the first
holes: Nono Suratno, Syafruddin Maula and Adi Sjoekri.
220 s.J. Meldrum et al. / Journal of Geochemical Exploration 50 (1994) 203-220

O t h e r s to m a k e c o n t r i b u t i o n s to the u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f the d e p o s i t i n c l u d e S t e v e T u r n e r ,
P e t e r Flindell, G e r r y Clark, G o r o l D i m o a n d D a v e Royle. P e t r o l o g i c a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s h a v e
b e e n a s s i s t e d b y s t a f f at G e o c h e m p e t , C M S ( N Z ) , K R T A a n d N e w m o n t M e t a l l u r g i c a l
Services; photogeological interpretation was carried out by Peter Boshier.
T h e a s s i s t a n c e o f I w a n M u n a j a t a n d Tuti E v i z i a in p r e p a r i n g the d e p o s i t section is
appreciated. G r a t i t u d e is also e x t e n d e d to G a r r y L o w d e r , N o e l W h i t e , a n d T h e o v a n L e e w e n
for t h e i r c o m m e n t s o n this m a n u s c r i p t .

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