“A porphyry Cu-Au model – Exploration Implications”

50 years of exploration and research on porphyry Cu-Au-Mo deposits commenced in the 1970’s by Lowell and Guilbert with their work on porphyry alteration based on their study of the San Manuel-Kalamazoo porphyry, then continued with Gustafson and Hunt’s genetic model based on the EL Salvador deposit in 1975 and Richard Sillitoe’s work on Philippine and Chilean deposits. Recent contributions include the introduction of time into the porphyry model from Terry Leach’s research on actively forming porphyry Cu-Au systems in the Philippines in the late 1980’s, and Greg Corbett’s work on the structural controls emplacement of porphyry systems during 1990’s.

This presentation focused on:
1. The form, shape and structural emplacement of porphyry Cu-Au systems.
2. Factors that contribute to high Cu-Au grades in porphyry systems and the resultant metal zonation seen around these deposits.
3. Present a stage model for the evolution of porphyry Cu-Au deposits.
4. Provide field-based vectors used to explore for porphyry Cu-Au deposits.

PRESENTATION .pdf