T237 System-Scale Zonation of Ore Systems: Insights into 3D Architecture from Lateral and Deep Exposures Due to Mining and Structural Deformation

Tuesday, 24 October 2017
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Yakima 1

HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION AND MINERALIZATION AT THE CUKARU PEKI CU-AU DEPOSIT, TIMOK CU-AU METALLOGENIC BELT, SERBIA

Paper number: T237-15
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 5:05 PM – 5:20 PM

Authors

Abstract

Cukaru Peki discovered in 2012 by Freeport-McMoRan Exploration Corporation (a subsidiary of FreePort-McMoRan Copper & Gold), is a concealed high-grade, bulk tonnage Cu-Au deposit in the historic Bor Cu-Au mining district, Serbia. The deposit is located within the Timok Cu-Au metallogenic belt, which contains historical production plus reserves and resources of over 20M tonnes of copper and 1000 tonnes gold. Cukaru Peki is a zoned high-sulfidation Cu-Au deposit, which telescopes into a significantly larger porphyry system at depth. Mineralization is predominantly hosted in Upper Cretaceous (89-85 Ma) andesitic rocks intruded by intermediate-composition porphyry dikes. The Upper Zone high sulfidation mineralization consists of brecciated to massive, high-grade, pyrite-covellite-enargite±digenite mineralization enveloped in an associated advanced argillic (pyrophyllite-alunite-kaolinite-quartz) alteration halo. The roots of the Upper Zone mineralization and associated alteration styles partially overprint the underlying sericitic (quartz-sericite-illite-anatase/rutile) and potassic (secondary biotite-K-feldspar-anhydrite-rutile) alteration styles. The Lower Zone mineralization style is typical of many Cu-Au porphyry deposits, with highest grades occurring in areas of stockwork quartz + sulfide veining, disseminated, and veinlet-controlled chalcopyrite-bornite ± molybdenite mineralization. The Upper and Lower Zone mineralization are believed to be roughly coeval, with the Upper Zone high-sulfidation style of mineralization continuing after the end of the “classic” porphyry style mineralization of the Lower Zone, resulting in widespread and deep overprinting of porphyry mineralization by high-sulfidation style mineralization and related alteration. The use of detailed core logs, petrography, and geochemical sampling, is the basis of a preliminary deposit model including the distribution of alteration and mineralization, petrogenesis, and an overall time-space evolution of the magmatic-hydrothermal system.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 49, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2017AM-300705

© Copyright 2017 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.