MAGMATISM AND HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEM OF THE KINGKING PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT:

AN INSIGHT INTO THE MINERALIZATION OF THE COPPER-GOLD BELT IN SOUTHEASTERN MINDANAO, PHILIPPINESLEILANIE O. SUERTE, D. Eng.Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. 6Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesIloilo City

MINES AND GEOSCIENCES BUREAU Technical ForumNovember 22 2010

OUTLINEINTRODUCTION

METHODOLOGY

RESULTS AND FINDINGS

APPLICATIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Philippines has abundant mineral resources

1981 to 1985 - top 5 in gold and top 10 in copper production

MAP AND DATA FROM MGB-DENR

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE MINING SECTOR2000 VS 2009

SOME MINING CONCERNSLimited data (geology and mineralization), dwindling ore reserves, high cost of prospecting, exploration and mine development

IF MINING ---> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTHOW CAN WE HELP IN THE REVITALIZATION OF THE MINING INDUSTRY ?

PROVIDE THE INVESTORS/ ---> RELIABLE DATAMINING COMPANIESEXPLORATION TOOLALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ORE MINERALS1970s 1980s 1990s 2000 2008

Operating Copper Mines:

PADCAL COPPER MINE (PHILEX)

CARMEN COPPER PROJECT (ATLAS/CCC)

CANATUAN SULPHIDE PHASE PROJECT (TVI)

PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS - low-grade copper, gold and (or) molybdenum mineralization usually within and around diorites and defined by zones of alteration; provides more than half of the worlds supply for copper and a significant source of gold

From 1990-1995, 26% of the annual gold production of the Philippines came from porphyry copper deposits

Copper - electrical materials and machineries, electronics industry, coinage, etc.

Gold - coinage, jewelry, photography, medical, dental and electronics industry, etc.

Southeastern Mindanao - hosts several porphyry copper deposits/ prospects

PORPHYRY COPPER-GOLD MINESPhilex Mining Corporation PADCAL Copper Mine (as of Dec. 2008): Proved ore reserves (remaining) - 54.7 million MT Mine life- ~ 58 yrs (until 2017)Current no. of employees- 2,478 personsTaxes and fees paid (2008)- PhP 1.015 Billion

Kingking Porphyry Copper-Gold Deposit 2 billion lbs. of copper concentrate4 million oz. of gold4 million oz. of silverValue - US $ 14 BillionTaxes and other fees- > US $ 400 Million Mine life - ~13-15 yrs

OBJECTIVES

1.ADDRESS THE SCARCITY OF PUBLISHED DATA (geology and mineralization) in a known and profitable mining area

2.TO KNOW MORE ABOUT PORPHYRY COPPER MINERALIZATION IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES (characteristics and age of intrusive rocks, hydrothermal system)

3.PROPOSE A GENETIC MODEL ON THE FORMATION OF THE KINGKING DEPOSIT which could provide clues on how to look for porphyry copper deposits

FORMATION OF THE KINGKING PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT

EXPLORATION TOOL FOR PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITSMETHODOLOGY

TIOGDANKAMPO IICORE HOUSE BENGUET CORP.

LITHOLOGIC MAP OF THE KINGKING PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT

ALTERATIONPotassic alteration (biotite/k-feldspar) in Biotite Diorite Porphyry and Hornblende Diorite Porphyry

Most of the copper ores are located in the potassic alteration zone

Usual sources of copper and (or) gold - quartz veinlets stockworks and disseminations of copper ores in the diorites

Primary copper ores - bornite and chalcopyrite

Gold is present in chalcopyrite and bornite

A NEW SOURCE OF COPPER ORE IN A PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT?BORNITE PODS - bornite + chalcopyrite + calaverite 1ST time to be reported in the Philippines; 2ND in the world after Endeavor Mine in Northparkes, Australia

Not related to quartz veinlets stockworks or disseminations

Associated with the Biotite Diorite Porphyry, (brecciated portion)

Larger compared to other copper ores

NEW!OLD

BORNITE PODSSulfur isotope analysis - ultimate source of sulfur is identical for bornite pods and sulfides associated with quartz veinlets stockworks

May be xenoliths, representing sulfide melt from earlier mineralized diorites and volcanics rocks formed by compaction-driven sulfide segregation and filter pressing differentiation

Suggests multiple stages of mineralization & efficient natural process of concentrating copper ores

CHARACTERISTICS OF MAGMA AND ORE FLUIDS AT THE KINGKING PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITEnriched in LREE, depleted in HREEMineral chemistry - magnesian composition, XMg = 0.57 to 0.82 and 0.60 to 0.79, SO3 = 55 wt%Dioritic, genetically related, calc-alkaline, adakitic, hydrous, oxidizing

The magma has potential to generate porphyry copper deposits

Hot, metal- and sulfur-rich, hypersaline hydrothermal fluid (~400C and higher)

Forms potassic alteration, depositing most of the copper and gold

NEW AGE DATA FOR INTRUSIVE ROCKS IN SOUTHEASTERN MINDANAO

Mineralization can also occur in specific time frames

Oligocene (33.7-23.8 million years ago) to Miocene (23.8-5.3 million years ago)

Age of rocks/mineralization in an area --> may search for mineralization in rocks of the same age

31.44 0.78 Ma46.14 1.58 Ma27.0 1.5 Ma17.49 0.43 Ma11.37 0.60 Ma27.0 1.5 Ma

11.37 0.60 Ma

FORMATION OF THE KINGKING PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITA.Dioritic, calc-alkaline, hydrous, oxidizing and adakitic magma formed HDP and DPB.Early mineralization episodeC.Intrusion of BDPD.Formation of bornite pods and fine-grained matrixE.Hydrothermal alteration and deposition of sulfidesF. Later intrusion of dikes

USING RESULTS FROM THIS STUDY, THENWHEN LOOKING FOR A PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT:

A.PRIORITIZE OLIGOCENE TO MIOCENE QUARTZ DIORITE, HORNBLENDE DIORITE, BIOTITE DIORITE PORPHYRYB.CHECK OR RE-CHECK DRILL CORE DATA/BRECCIATED PORTION OF DIORITE FOR PRESENCE OF BORNITE PODS --> CALCULATE VOLUMEC.POLYPHASE HYPERSALINE FLUID INCLUSIONS AND CALC-ALKALINE, HYDROUS AND OXIDIZING MAGMA

DIORITE (BIOTITE DIORITE PORPHYRY)

OLIGOCENE TO MIOCENE AGE

FAULT/FRACTUREZONE

QUARTZ VEINLETSSTOCKWORKS

POTASSIC ALTERATION ZONE

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SIGNIFICANCE:

1. Provide much needed and new data on the geology (diorites, biotite diorite porphyry) and mineralization (veinlets/disseminations/bornite pods) and age of diorites (Oligocene-Miocene) in Southeastern Mindanao 2. Identified new and possible alternative source of copper and gold (bornite pods/clots)

3. Outlined an easy to use exploration tool for porphyry copper deposits

4. Results were published in international journals and presented in international conferences

RECOMMENDATIONSFurther study on other aspects of porphyry copper mineralization especially and other porphyry copper deposits

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSJapanese government (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and TechnologyAsso. Prof. A. Imai and Prof. K. Watanabe, Prof. T.Hirajima and Prof. K. Jinno Econ. Geol. Laboratory, Kyushu University and RWG, NIGS, UP DilimanProf. Itaya, Geochronological Laboratory, Okayama Science UniversityElectron Probe Microanalysis, University of TokyoBenguet Corporation, Philco Mining, Privatization and Management Office, Apex Mining Company Limited, Philex MiningDENR, MGB Central Office and Regional Offices No. XI and VIPCIERD-DOSTPeople of Compostela Valley and Davao City

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