Abstract
This paper presents U-Pb-He triple dating age determination for several porphyry Cu±Mo±Au deposits in Chile, Indonesia and Iran in an effort to determine their thermal histories and to explore the effects of cooling/exhumation rates on ore formation and preservation processes. Inverse thermal modelling of measured time-temperature history data from these deposits was conducted to quantitatively constrain the depth of emplacement, duration of ore deposition, exposure ages and cooling/exhumation rates. The duration of hypogene ore formation for the deposits studied generally occurs within timeframes of 10⁵ years, although modelling results for the Grasberg, Batu Hijau and El Teniente super porphyry deposits suggest formation periods of the order of 10⁴ years. Emplacement depths on intrusions associated with porphyry mineralisation range from 800 m to 5500 m from the palaeosurface, with the Grasberg and Rio Blanco being respectively the shallowest and deepest super porphyry deposits studied. The thermochronology data indicates a positive correlation between metal grade and cooling rate during hypogene ore formation, but further investigation is warranted. Exhumation rates varying from 0.3 to 1.1 km/m.y. have implications for the preservation potential of hypogene ore deposits, with super porphyry deposits like Sar Cheshmeh potentially losing 3.5 Mt of copper to erosion over the last 5 million years. The potential for supergene ore formation under such conditions is high, as is the potential for the formation of proximal Exotica-type deposits.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Super porphyry copper and gold deposits |
| Subtitle of host publication | a global perspective |
| Editors | T. M. Porter |
| Place of Publication | Linden Park, SA |
| Publisher | PGC Publishing |
| Pages | 27-42 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Volume | 1 |
| Edition | 1st |
| ISBN (Print) | 0958057427 |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |