Geochemistry of Hydrothermal

Alteration Associations in Porphyry

Copper Deposits: Applications to
Geometalurgical Modeling
Brian Townley1,2,3*, RodrigoLuca3, Luis López3, Marcia Muñoz2 y Pamela Castillo1
1Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Chile, Plaza Ercilla 803, Santiago,
Chile
2Advanced Mining and Technology Center (AMTC), Universidad de Chile, Av.
Tupper 2007, Edificio AMTC, Santiago, Chile
3Geoanalytical Vision S.A.,Av. Ricardo Lyon No. 3547, Ñuñoa, Santiago
Why do we need high
resolution quantitative mineral
characterization?
 Geological/Geometallurgical
Models & the Mining
Business

INFERIDOS

Flujo de caja después de impuestos

 Mine Design, Mine Planning & Mineral Processing

Pique
Rajo
abierto

Niveles
 Mineral Characterization
• Drill core logging
• Rock and ore petrography
• XRD
• SEM & QEMSCAN
• CoreScan
• Hi-Logger
• Geochemistry – Lithogeochemistry
• Qualitative, semi-quantitative &
quantitative characterization
 Concepts in Mineralogy and
Geochemistry
 A rock represents a mineral aggregate, these of primary origin
(lithology), primary endogenous (hydrothermal) and/or
secondary supergene, among others.
 Minerals are constituted by chemical elements, mineral
associations, be them lithologic, hydrothermal alteration and
mineralization and/or of supergene origin will be represented
by specific geochemical compositions and chemical element
combinations.
 Multielement geochemical data base processing and
interpretation may allow characterization and determination
of lithology, hydrothermal alteration and mineralization, and
supergene alteration.
 The previous procedures allow characterization of all above
mentioned parameters in a quantitative manner at a
resolution scale equal to that of sample support, being of
assistance in detailed determination of ore deposit geologic
models, applied to exploration and/or geo-mineral
metallurgical models.
 Procedures
Rock geochemistry
Incorporates lithologic,
alteration and
mineralization (1ry & 2ry)
composition Multielement geochemical
data base processing and
interpretation
Calibration of geochemical
compositions and element
combinations to types of
lithology, hydrothermal Quantitative mineral
alteration types/intensity characterization and
and mineralization assistance to high resolution
geologic ore deposit models
and/or exploration models

Applications to Mineral
Exploration models Applications to Geo-Mineral
Metallurgic models
 Element distributions and
hydrothermal alteration

Examples.
Elements that
discriminate
different types
of hydrothermal
alteration are
sought
 Element distributions and
hydrothermal alteration

Examples.
Elements that
discriminate
different types
of hydrothermal
alteration are
sought
 Distribution of synthetic variables
• Synthetic variables used for hydrothermal alteration
determinations.
– Phyllic Alteration: (KxNa)/Al; Na/Al; (Al+K)/(Na+Ca+Mg); (Al+K+Na)/(Ca+Mg)
– Propylitic Alteration: (Ca+Na)/(K+Al)
– Argillic Alteration: Al/(Na+Ca+K); Al/Mg; Al/(K+Na)
– Advanced Argillic Alteration and/or blue veins (enargite/famatinite):
(K+Al+S)/(Fe+S); (CuxAsxSbxS)/Fe; [(CuxAsxSbxS)/Fe]x[Al+K+S]
– Potassic Alteration: KxAl; K/(Ca+Na); K/Mg

• These variables derive from: (1) mineral composition considerations as well as cation
exchanges proper of metasomatic water/rock interaction processes (hydrothermal
alteration), and (2) results of statistical data base analysis.
• Distribution of variables studied by “box & whisker” diagrams.
 Distribution of synthetic variables
• Validation of synthetic variables by means of “box & whisker”
diagrams.

Example
– Potassic Alteration: KxAl;
1. Discrimination of potassic
alteration (only Bt)
Geochemical classification of
alteration types / intensity
Examples

Binary diagrams
 Geochemical classification of
alteration types / intensity
Example – classification on ternary diagrams
Mg-Fe-S
• Recognition of at least three sample
clusters:
Potassic Alterations (browns)
Chlorite-sericite Alteration (greens)
Phyllic Alteration (orange)
Phyllic-Argillic Alteration (yellow)

• Ferro-magnesian mineral control (Chlorite-

Biotite?)

• Sulphide control (Py-Cpy)

• Sulphur enriched samples (towards S)

represent anhydrite in potassic and chlorite-
sericite alteration.
 Geochemical classification of
alteration types / intensity
• Example of hydrothermal type
and intensity determination in
large number of samples (sample
density by type)
Sericite-quartz +- clays

• Variable VxSc plotted against

synthetic variable
(Al+K)/(Na+Ca+Mg) Chlorite-Sericite Potassic only
Potassic biotite

• Three types of hydrothermal

alteration are recognized

• Sample classification and spatial

distribution correlates well with
deposit geological models
Geochemical classification of
alteration types / intensity
 Application to Models
• Once samples are classified by type of hydrothermal
alteration and mineralization, these may be studied for
spatial distribution
• Characterization of lithology, type and intensity of
alteration and mineralization will be plotted on a
resolution equivalent to sample support
• Results may be applied to 2 and 3D ore deposit models
for exploration and/or geo-mineral metallurgy
• Models may be based of thousands to tens of
thousands of samples with multielement whole rock
geochemical analysis (e.g. analytic FRX)
 Application to Models
• Classification by means of immobile elements allows
determination of lithologies, independent of alteration
• Mobile to immobile element ratios allows discrimination of
alteration types and intensities
• Geo-mineral metallurgical Models (qualitative to
quantitative, geostatistical - simulations)
– Hardness Models
– Grindability Models
– Flotation Cu recovery Models
– Leach pad Cu recovery Models
• Mine processing tests
– Representativity
– Interpolations & extrapolations
• PREDICTABILITY!!!
 Application example – Secondary Enrichment

Limonita FeO*OH*nH2O
Hematita Fe2O3

Malaquita Cu2CO3(OH)2 Atacamita CuCl(OH)3

Azurita Cu3(CO3)2(OH2) Crisocola CuH4Si4O10(OH)8
Calcosina Cu2S
Covelina CuS

Calcopirita CuFeS2
Bornita Cu5FeS4
Piriita FeS2
Bottom line … Geology matters!
Thank you