RIOBLANCO, A NEWLY DISCOVEREDPORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT IN NORTHERN PERU

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RIO BLANCO, A NEWLY DISCOVERED PORPHYRY
COPPER DEPOSIT IN NORTHERN PERU
Eric Braun
Gustavo Calvo
Csar Riofrio
MI NERA CYPRUS ANTACORI
A AA AABSTRACT BSTRACT BSTRACT BSTRACT BSTRACT
Rio Blanco is a virgin porphyrycopper discovery, located in Peru
along the Ecuador border at the north end of a belt of copper
systems that includes porphyry Cu-Mo, porphyry Cu-Au and high-
sulfidation types. To date, Minera Coripacha has conducted regional-
and prospect-scale streamsediment sampling, rock and soil sampling
and geological mapping, and has drilled 18 DDHs totaling
5,367m.
This work has defined a protore systemabout 1 Kmin diameter
exceeding 0.4% Cu cutoff with important Mo credits. The system
formed withina compositeporphyrycomplexof intermediatecomposition
(RBPC) that intruded the Portachuela batholith of lower Miocene age.
Intrusive breccias withdistal crackle breccia and stockworkhalos formed
in the southern portion of the porphyrycomplex. The breccias and
stockworks controlledtexture-destructivequartz-sericite-pyritealteration
(TDQSP) with associated chalcopyrite and molybdenite. The TDQSP
zone is located within a chlorite-clayalteration halo. Potassic alteration
is unknown. The protore is zoned with lowpyrite:chalcopyrite (<3) and
high Mo (>120ppm) in the core, grading outward to higher zinc and
pyrite:chalcopyrite and lower copper and molybdenum. Polymetallic
veins and veinlets of Cu-Zn-Au-Ag-As-Sb occur in the outer periphery
for a distance of >5 Km.
Chalcocite-covellite enrichment, grading in excess of 1%Cu and
up to 134 mthick, underlies a 100-150 meter leached capping grading
about 0.03%Cu. The chalcocite zone is best developed beneath the
ridges, and copper appears to be lost belowleached capping on the
steep flanks. The enrichment is interpreted to be single-cycle formed
during an earlier, more arid climate.
Bleached, altered porphyry, near absence of limonites and copper
oxide minerals, moderatelyanomalous Cu, stronglyanomalous Mo and
below-background zinc values characterize the infrequent outcrops of
the systems center. Molybdenumvalues exceeding 120 ppm, even in
deeplyweathered material, best define the Cu-Mo system.
Rio Blanco is a porphyryCu-Mo systemcontaining lowAu and As.
The presence of andalusite, diaspore and pyrophyllite, intense QSP
alteration and absence of potassic alteration indicate a shallowlevel of
erosional exposure. Its present formis the product of rugged
topographic relief, anearlier episode of leaching/enrichment and recent
tropical weathering. The prospects minebility lies in the perceived
potential to enlargeand upgradethechalcociteresourceand find higher-
grade Mo-Cu such as was seen in Hole RB9.
I II IINTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION
Location and Access Location and Access Location and Access Location and Access Location and Access
The Rio Blanco project area is located in the northeast corner of
the Piura Department of Peru, adjacent to the Ecuadorian border. It is
the northernmost knownsystemof the Miocene porphyrycopper belt of
northern Peru that includes systems of porphyryCu-Mo, porphyryAu-
Cu and high-sulfidation Au-(Cu) types and extends 600 Kmin a north-
northwest trend fromMichiquillayto Rio Blanco (Fig. 1). Road access
to Rio Blanco is achieved via Chiclayo, Jan, San Ignacio and Namballe
(about 500 Km). The camp is located 35 Kmto the northwest of
Namballe alongside Rio Blanco.
The area lies at 2,200-3,000 meter elevation in steep, heavily
weatheredanddenselyvegetatedcountry, formedbya tropical rainforest
climate. Rainfall varies between 150-200 cm/yr falling mostly in the
rainyseason of November-April. The abrupt topography, high rainfall
and poor-quality soils have precluded human habitation in the
area.
Pr Pr Pr Pr Previ evi evi evi evious W ous W ous W ous W ous Work ork ork ork ork
No evidence of prospecting or mining activityexisted at Rio Blanco
prior to entry by Newcrest geologists in 1994. Newcrest executed a
streamsediment geochemical recon programaimed to discover
epithermal gold along the Tertiary volcanic belt of northern Peru.
Eric Braun, Gustavo Calvo, Csar Riofrio
198
FI GURE 1 FI GURE 1 FI GURE 1 FI GURE 1 FI GURE 1
P PP PPROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT L LL LLOCA OCA OCA OCA OCATI TI TI TI TION ON ON ON ON M MM MMAP AP AP AP AP
Instead, theydiscovered strong Cu and Mo anomalies with local gold
highs. In 1996, Newcrest and Cyprus-Antacori signed an accord that
would permit Cyprus to earn a 50%interest in the project.
In July-September of 1996, Minera Coripacha, the joint venture
operating company, carried out an extensive programof mapping and
sampling (including 1,008 rock and soil samples) followed bydrilling
of seven core holes for a total 2,280 meters. Significant enriched
copper intercepts were encountered in two of the holes, RB1: 130 m
@ 1.16% Cu and RB7: 123 m@ 1.47% Cu (McIntyre et al, 1996).
The following year was spent awaiting a Presidential Supreme
Decree permitting foreign companies to hold mineral title in the border
region of Peru. During this hiatus, we negotiated contracts with the
communities and conducted preliminaryenvironmental and limited field
studies. The Decree was awarded on August 28, too late to mount a
field campaign in 1997.
The 1998 programwas designed to test the extent of potentially
economic mineralization indicated in the 1996 drill program. It involved
geological and geochemical target definition, evaluation of peripheral
anomalies and drilling of eleven diamond drill holes for a total of
3,087 meters. The 18 holes drilled to date indicate a long narrow
resource of enriched copper along HenryRidge (avg. 1.2%Cu over 1.3
Kmstrike), located on the edge of a circular zone about 1 Kmin
diameter of primarysulfides grading an average 0.54%Cu and 0.03%
Mo (Calvo et al, 1999).
R RR RREGIONAL EGIONAL EGIONAL EGIONAL EGIONAL G GG GGEOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY
Rio Blanco is located within the Andes de Huancabamba, which
extends between 3 S (the E-WJubones fault in Ecuador) and 7 S,
(the Cajamarca deflection). The Huancabamba segment represents
the transition between the Northern Andes, characterized by early
Cretaceous and early Tertiaryacretion of allocthonous terranes and
transpresional deformation striking NNE, and the Central Andes of
Peru that formed during the same period as a marginal arc to NE
oriented subduction (Mourier, 1988). Rio Blanco is located within
this geotectonic transition, termed the Huancabamba Deflection
(Fig. 2).
Ordovician-Silurian quartzite and phyllite of the Salas Group occur
to the west. These sedimentary rocks have suffered quartz-albite-
muscovite-chlorite metamorphismand strong N-S oriented folding. To
the east, a N-S ductile shear zone of gneiss and migmatite that
continues into Ecuador has been dated at 228 Ma (Litherland et al.,
1994).
The metasedimentary rocks were intruded by the Portachuela
batholith of granodiorite-tonalite composition (dated byK-Ar at 12-20
FI GURE 2 FI GURE 2 FI GURE 2 FI GURE 2 FI GURE 2
R RR RREGI ONAL EGI ONAL EGI ONAL EGI ONAL EGI ONAL G GG GGEOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY
RIOBLANCO, A NEWLY DISCOVEREDPORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT IN NORTHERN PERU
199
Ma; Litherland et. al., 1994). The batholith extends fromEcuador
about 65 Kmin a north-south direction. Emplaced within the
Portachuela batholith is the porphyrycomplex(RBPC) that produced
the Rio Blanco porphyry copper system(Fig. 3). Andesitic volcanic
rocks tentativelydated at middle-upper Miocene age (Reyes yCaldas,
1987) crop out at higher elevations to the west.
Daciteporphyryconsists of about 30%plagioclaseand20%partially
resorbedquartz phenocrysts inanaphanatic grooundmass usuallyaltered
to quartz-sericite (Fig. 4b). Phenocrysts range from2-4 mmin size.
Dacite porphyryis the dominant rock of central holes RB8 and RB9,
and exhibits intense QSP alteration where seen. It is pre-mineral in age
and believed to represent the rock closest in origin to the mineralized
system.
Andesite porphyryis characterized by2-7%quartz eyes and 40-
65% altered plagioclase phenocrysts (Fig 4c). The rock contains
significantly less quartz phenocrysts and usually more abundant
feldspar phenocrysts than dacite porphyry. Crowded feldspar
porphyry is applied to a variety that contains in excess of 65%
phenocrysts.
Late andesite dikes cut both the batholith and main porphyry
complexin a northeast direction. Compared with dacite and andesite
porphyry, feldspar phenocryst content is less and bothquartz and biotite
are rare (Fig. 4d). The late dikes range fromintra- to post-mineral in
age.
Breccias and Stockworks Breccias and Stockworks Breccias and Stockworks Breccias and Stockworks Breccias and Stockworks
Breccia varieties recognized at Rio Blanco include intrusive milled
breccias, mosaic breccia, crackle breccia, pebble dikes and
pseudobreccia. Ground preparationinthe formof fractures, stockworks
and breccias control the mineralization at Rio Blanco, but there has
been significant confusion in the quantityand type of breccias present.
Thin section petrographyand careful analysis of core has helped clarify
breccia interpretations (Fig. 6).
Stockwork and crackle/mosaic breccias types forma gradational
suite defined bythe intensityof fracturing and degree of clast rotation.
Stockwork fracturing is defined as a randomfracturing of rock at the
rate of <40 cracks per linear meter; more than 40 fractures per meter
is considered crackle breccia. The more intensely fractured crackle
breccia is dominant in the central part of the system. Locally, where
the clasts exhibit displacement, but not mixing, the termmosaic breccia
is applied. Rotated clast breccia as dikes and pipes is less abundant
than crackle/mosaic breccias, but locally controls higher grade
mineralization.
The tendencyfor mineralization to replace inward fromfractures
leaving remnants of less altered clasts enhances the breccia aspect and
forms a type of pseudo breccia.
Structural Linears Structural Linears Structural Linears Structural Linears Structural Linears
The north-south elongation direction of the Portachuela batholith
indicates that it is coeval and controlled bythe structural directions that
formed the Miocene Andean fold belt. Within the prospect area, SLAR
images showa complementaryset of NNWand ENE linear trends. The
same trends define elongation directions of the RBPC, breccia bodies,
and orientations of post-mineral dikes and veins.
P PP PPROSPECT ROSPECT ROSPECT ROSPECT ROSPECT G GG GGEOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY
Rocks Rocks Rocks Rocks Rocks
ThePortachuelabatholithis coarse-grainedhypidiomorphic granular
with an average composition of tonalite (Fig. 4a). Samples examined
microscopically average 20% quartz, 60% plagioclase, 10%
orthoclase, and 12% biotite. The tonalite generally occurs in the
peripheryor peripheral to the system, but locallyhosts strong copper
(e.g., hole RB10).
The mineralization at Rio Blanco is spatiallyand geneticallyrelated
to the Rio Blanco Porphyry Complex(RBPC), a late-differentiated
hypabyssal suite that intrudes the Portachuela batholith southwest of
Rio Blanco. Three main types of porphyry have been recognized in
geological and petrographic studies:
FI GURE 3 FI GURE 3 FI GURE 3 FI GURE 3 FI GURE 3
L LL LLOCAL OCAL OCAL OCAL OCAL G GG GGEOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY
Eric Braun, Gustavo Calvo, Csar Riofrio
200
FIGURE 4 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 4. P PP PPHOTOMICROGRAPHS HOTOMICROGRAPHS HOTOMICROGRAPHS HOTOMICROGRAPHS HOTOMICROGRAPHS SHOWING SHOWING SHOWING SHOWING SHOWINGIGNEOUS IGNEOUS IGNEOUS IGNEOUS IGNEOUS
PETROLOGY PETROLOGY PETROLOGY PETROLOGY PETROLOGY: : : : : A) T TT TTONALITE ONALITE ONALITE ONALITE ONALITE, , , , , B) DACITE DACITE DACITE DACITE DACITE PORPHYRY PORPHYRY PORPHYRY PORPHYRY PORPHYRY WITH WITH WITH WITH WITH
20% 20% 20% 20% 20% PARTLY PARTLY PARTLY PARTLY PARTLY QUARTZ QUARTZ QUARTZ QUARTZ QUARTZ( (( ((Q QQ QQ) ) ) ) ) PHENOCRYSTS PHENOCRYSTS PHENOCRYSTS PHENOCRYSTS PHENOCRYSTS, , , , , C) A AA AANDESITE NDESITE NDESITE NDESITE NDESITE
PORPHYRY PORPHYRY PORPHYRY PORPHYRY PORPHYRY WITH WITH WITH WITH WITH SPARSE SPARSE SPARSE SPARSE SPARSE QUARTZ QUARTZ QUARTZ QUARTZ QUARTZPHENOCRYSTS PHENOCRYSTS PHENOCRYSTS PHENOCRYSTS PHENOCRYSTS AND AND AND AND ANDD)
C CC CCONTACT ONTACT ONTACT ONTACT ONTACTOF OF OF OF OF ANDESITE ANDESITE ANDESITE ANDESITE ANDESITE DIKE DIKE DIKE DIKE DIKE(A) (A) (A) (A) (A) CUTTING CUTTING CUTTING CUTTING CUTTINGTDQSP TDQSP TDQSP TDQSP TDQSP ALTERED ALTERED ALTERED ALTERED ALTERED
TONALITE TONALITE TONALITE TONALITE TONALITE (T) (T) (T) (T) (T)
4 44 44A AA AA) R ) R ) R ) R ) RX XX XX 98001 98001 98001 98001 98001 4B) RB9-326 4B) RB9-326 4B) RB9-326 4B) RB9-326 4B) RB9-326 4C) RB9-228 4C) RB9-228 4C) RB9-228 4C) RB9-228 4C) RB9-228
5 55 55A AA AA) R ) R ) R ) R ) RX XX XX 98003 98003 98003 98003 98003 4D) RB 4D) RB 4D) RB 4D) RB 4D) RB10-200 10-200 10-200 10-200 10-200
5B) RB10-132 5B) RB10-132 5B) RB10-132 5B) RB10-132 5B) RB10-132 5C) RB1-374 5C) RB1-374 5C) RB1-374 5C) RB1-374 5C) RB1-374 5D) RB1-374 5D) RB1-374 5D) RB1-374 5D) RB1-374 5D) RB1-374
FIGURE 5: FIGURE 5: FIGURE 5: FIGURE 5: FIGURE 5: P PP PPHOTOMICROGRAPHS HOTOMICROGRAPHS HOTOMICROGRAPHS HOTOMICROGRAPHS HOTOMICROGRAPHSSHOWING SHOWING SHOWING SHOWING SHOWINGALTERATION ALTERATION ALTERATION ALTERATION ALTERATION: :: ::
A) P PP PPROPYLITIC ROPYLITIC ROPYLITIC ROPYLITIC ROPYLITICALTERATION ALTERATION ALTERATION ALTERATION ALTERATION OF OF OF OF OF TONALITE TONALITE TONALITE TONALITE TONALITE WITH WITH WITH WITH WITH BIOTITE BIOTITE BIOTITE BIOTITE BIOTITE - -- --
- -- --> >> >>CHLORITE CHLORITE CHLORITE CHLORITE CHLORITE ( (( ((ch ch ch ch ch) ) ) ) ) AND AND AND AND ANDPLAGIOCLASE PLAGIOCLASE PLAGIOCLASE PLAGIOCLASE PLAGIOCLASE --> --> --> --> -->CLAY CLAY CLAY CLAY CLAY ( (( ((cl cl cl cl cl), ), ), ), ),
B) T TT TTONALITE ONALITE ONALITE ONALITE ONALITE, , , , , CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT BY BY BY BY BY A AA AA PYRITE PYRITE PYRITE PYRITE PYRITE- -- --QUARTZ QUARTZ QUARTZ QUARTZ QUARTZVEINLET VEINLET VEINLET VEINLET VEINLET (V) (V) (V) (V) (V)
WI TH WI TH WI TH WI TH WI TH TDQSP TDQSP TDQSP TDQSP TDQSP AUREOLE AUREOLE AUREOLE AUREOLE AUREOLE, , , , , C) A AA AANDESI TE NDESI TE NDESI TE NDESI TE NDESI TE PORPHYRY PORPHYRY PORPHYRY PORPHYRY PORPHYRY
EXHIBITING EXHIBITING EXHIBITING EXHIBITING EXHIBITINGTDQSP TDQSP TDQSP TDQSP TDQSP WITH WITH WITH WITH WITH LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL PSEUDOMORPHS PSEUDOMORPHS PSEUDOMORPHS PSEUDOMORPHS PSEUDOMORPHS OF OF OF OF OF
SERICITE SERICITE SERICITE SERICITE SERICITEAFTER AFTER AFTER AFTER AFTER PLAGIOCLASE PLAGIOCLASE PLAGIOCLASE PLAGIOCLASE PLAGIOCLASE ( (( ((pl pl pl pl pl) ) ) ) ) AND AND AND AND AND D) E EE EENLARGEMENT NLARGEMENT NLARGEMENT NLARGEMENT NLARGEMENT
OF OF OF OF OF C. .. ..
RIOBLANCO, A NEWLY DISCOVEREDPORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT IN NORTHERN PERU
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Alteration Alteration Alteration Alteration Alteration
The Rio Blanco systemis centered over a zone of intense phyllic
alteration within a lesser mineralized propylitic halo (Fig. 7). Potassic
alteration has not been recognized.
Phyllic Phyllic Phyllic Phyllic Phyllic
The quartz-sericite-pyrite (QSP) zone affects the central part of
thesystemandis controlledbytheoccurrenceof breccias andstockworks.
Phyllic alteration is characterized bystrong sericitization of feldspar
and Fe-Mg minerals with intergranular, groundmass and matrixsilica
significant supergene intervals. Three holes located along HenryRidge
cut enriched intervals ranging from72 to 135 meters in thickness and
1.07%and 1.58%copper.
Hypogene Hypogene Hypogene Hypogene Hypogene
Hypogene pyrite-chalcopyrite occurs as disseminations> veinlets
in the TDQSP zone. Although this mineralization is expressed as
fine-grained disseminations, it, like the phyllic alteration, is controlled
by fractures and breccias. Molybdenumin protore grades between
about 150 ppmand 0.5% and occurs as paint on fractures, with
FI GURE 6 FI GURE 6 FI GURE 6 FI GURE 6 FI GURE 6
B BB BBRECCI A RECCI A RECCI A RECCI A RECCI A T TT TTYPES YPES YPES YPES YPES
epidote are locallypresent. Chlorite replaces
biotite and hornblende, sericite-clayreplaces
plagioclase and the ratio of pyrite:chalcopyrite
is greater than that of the phyllic zone.
Argillic Argillic Argillic Argillic Argillic
Late andesite dikes exhibit strong clay
alteration of feldspar phenocrysts and
groundmass; this argillic alteration is barren or
weakly mineralized. In the supergene zone,
dominantly illite and smectite forms at the
expense of sericite and feldspars.
Mineralization Mineralization Mineralization Mineralization Mineralization
Rio Blanco is a zoned hypogene porphyry
Cu-Mo systemoverprintedbysupergeneleaching
and enrichment. The average grade of sixcen-
tral holes is 0.54%Cu and 0.03%Mo, 2.5 g/
T silver; gold and arsenic are both insignificant.
All holes are leached in their upper part, but
only holes located along the ridges have
flooding (Figs. 5b,c and d). The QSP forms a replacement
front extending outward fromfractures (Fig. 5b). The
alteration ranges frompervasive and rock texture-
destructive (generallyfor the breccia intervals) to partial
with remnants of unaltered or partiallyaltered rock away
fromfractures. Where intense QSP destroys rock texture
to the point that original rock cannot be discerned, the
term, texture-destructive QSP (TDQSP) is applied.
Tourmaline accompanies phyllic alteration in the core
breccias of Rio Blanco and in satellitic mineralized areas.
The tourmaline occurs as disseminated rosettes. Relicts
of andalucite, pyrophyllite and diaspore (Williams, 1996,
Ocharan, 1999) are recognized in hole RB-1.
Propylitic Propylitic Propylitic Propylitic Propylitic
The minerals chlorite-clay-sericite-pyrite characterize
the outer pyritic halo (Fig 5a). Traces of magnetite and
FI GURE 7 FI GURE 7 FI GURE 7 FI GURE 7 FI GURE 7
A AA AAL LL LLTERA TERA TERA TERA TERATI TI TI TI TION ON ON ON ON
Eric Braun, Gustavo Calvo, Csar Riofrio
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Because of super leaching of limonites with some precipitation as
exotic coatings on fractures, the original sulfide mineralogyand content
in the leached capping is difficult to interpret. Limonites in the upper
part of the capping are stronglygoethite-jarosite, with insignificant
hematite and an absence of recognized molybdenumoxides. Hematite
content generallyincreases in the limonite towards the base indicating
destruction of chalcocite in the transition. Atransition to sulfides often
involves some sulfide remnants in the leached zone, but otherwise the
change to supergene sulfides is abrupt. We interpret these data as
evidence for single-stage leaching and enrichment that likelyoccurred
during a more arid climate.
Enrichment
Enrichment is variableingradeandthickness withthebest intercepts
occurring belowridges in the phyllic zone. Holes located in the steeply
eroded flanks of the ridges have well developed leached cappings, but
insignificant chalcocite enrichment. Inthese areas, copper was probably
leached out of the system. The enrichment occurs as covellite =
chalcocite. The enrichment factor averages 2.2 and varies between
1.5 and 2.6. The chalcocite-covellite occurs as replacements of origi-
nal chalcopyrite, as coatings on pyrite and as replacement of sulfide
veinlets.
quartz in veinlets and as matrixfilling of mosaic and crackle breccias.
Although molybdenumgenerallyoccurs in the copper-rich core zone,
its younger than copper and appears to be controlled by dilatent
fractures that cut the earlier quartz-sericite-pyrite-chalcopyrite
assemblage.
The >0.4%copper core at Rio Blanco (Fig. 8) conforms with the
higher molybdenumzone >150 ppm(Fig. 9), lowest pyrite:chalcopyrite
<3 (Fig. 10) and lower volume-percent sulfides. In the transitional
phyllic/propylitic halo, Cu is 0.2-0.4%, Mo is 50- 150 ppm, and py:cpy
is 3-6. The outer propylitic halo averages <0.2%Cu, <50 ppmMo
and > 6 py:cpy. The mode of sulfide mineralization also changes
systematicallyfromdominantlydisseminated to dominantlyfracture
controlled fromcore to periphery.
Supergene Supergene Supergene Supergene Supergene
Leached Capping
Copper and zinc are leached fromthe upper levels of all holes,
but molybdenumand gold are unaffected. Leached cap is present
for all holes, ranging from52 to 189 meters in thickness and averages
117 meters. Copper averages 0.03% in leached cap overlying the
phyllic zone and about 0.08%over the transitional phyllic/propylitic
zone, where altered feldspars are tainted bluish bycopper.
FIGURE 8 FIGURE 8 FIGURE 8 FIGURE 8 FIGURE 8
C CC CCU UU UU P PP PPRO RO RO RO ROT TT TTORE ORE ORE ORE ORE
FIGURE 9 FIGURE 9 FIGURE 9 FIGURE 9 FIGURE 9
M MM MMO OO OOP PP PPROTORE ROTORE ROTORE ROTORE ROTORE
RIOBLANCO, A NEWLY DISCOVEREDPORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT IN NORTHERN PERU
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G GG GGEOCHEMICAL EOCHEMICAL EOCHEMICAL EOCHEMICAL EOCHEMICAL C CC CCHARACTERISTICS HARACTERISTICS HARACTERISTICS HARACTERISTICS HARACTERISTICS
Trace Elements Trace Elements Trace Elements Trace Elements Trace Elements
Except for copper and molybdenum, other elements are low. The
average values are: Ag: 2.8 g/t; Au: 26 ppb; Zn: 114 ppm; Pb: 49
ppm; As: 19 ppm; Sb: 2.7 ppm; W: 22 ppmand Mn: 160 ppm. These
same elements are locallyelevated in vein or veinlet zones, but their
overall levels are unimportant as byproducts, penalties or pathfinder
elements.
the weathering environment, provides an excellent indicator of the
central copper zone. Mo is consistently greater than 50 ppmover
the central zone and contours at >150 ppmover the higher-grade
zones.
Copper forms a broad pear-shaped zone of >200 ppm about 5
Kmindimensionelongatealong theE-NE and N-NWstructural directions.
Copper is less successful in predicting the high-copper core of the
porphyrysystem, where it is leached to about 250 ppm. Inthe propylitic
halo, where chlorite and clays adsorb copper, the leached capping
ranges 600-1000 ppm. In the outer propylitic zone, Cu is erratic and
exhibits strong structural control.
Zinc is highest in the propylitic zone as veins and veinlets. As such,
it forms a halo around a depleted core grading <30 ppm. The low-Zn
core is explained as the product of leaching over the phyllic capping of
material originallygrading 114 ppmZn on average.
Gold is anomalous (>15 ppb over the Cu >200 ppmanomaly). It
is weaklyanomalous over the core and erraticallyanomalous across the
propylitic halo.
Arsenic forms a broad weak anomalyon the southwest side of the
main mineralized zone, with higher values associated with satellitic
structurallycontrolled mineralization. The elevated As appears to be
related to Cu-sulfosalt mineralizationinveins and veinlets of thepropylitic
zone.
Other elements that are inconsistentlyelevated include Pb, Ag, Sb,
and Mn. Lead is weaklyanomalous in the center and erraticallypresent
in veins of the periphery. Ag is leached fromthe central zone and
erraticallygreater than 5 ppmin peripheral veins. Antimonyis locally
highinveins as sulfosalt minerals. Manganese forms a negative anomaly
over the >0.4%Cu zone.
FIGURE10 FIGURE10 FIGURE10 FIGURE10 FIGURE10
P PP PPY YY YY: C : C : C : C : CP PP PPY YY YY R RR RRA AA AATI TI TI TI TIO OO OO
Geochemical Zoning Geochemical Zoning Geochemical Zoning Geochemical Zoning Geochemical Zoning
To date, 156 streamsediment samples,
1328 soil samples and 1150 rock samples
have been collected over the project area.
Molybdenumbest defines the mineralized
center (1 Kmzone of > 0.4% Cu) and a
combination of copper, zinc, molybdenumand
gold indicates the mineralized systems
presence (Fig. 11). Small, satellitic mineralized
areas also are defined byelevated Cu-Mo-Au,
with less consistent As, Ag and Pb.
Molybdenum, because it is strongly
anomalous, centrallyzoned, and immobile in
FIGURE11 FIGURE11 FIGURE11 FIGURE11 FIGURE11
G GG GGEOCHEMICAL EOCHEMICAL EOCHEMICAL EOCHEMICAL EOCHEMICAL Z ZZ ZZONATION ONATION ONATION ONATION ONATION
Eric Braun, Gustavo Calvo, Csar Riofrio
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D DD DDISCUSSION ISCUSSION ISCUSSION ISCUSSION ISCUSSION
Rio Blanco is a calc-alkaline porphyrycopper-molybdenumsystem
located along the Andeantrend of northernPeru. It is the northernmost
porphyry Cu systemof the northern Peru Cu-Au belt, discovered in
pristine conditions byrecon exploration methods. As such it reminds us
that well-directed and well-executed reconnaissance geology can
generate significant value to the sponsoring companies.
Rio Blanco formed in association with a late-differentiate porphyry
complexthat derived fromand intruded into the Miocene Portachuela
batholith. An intense fracture/breccia systemformed in the southern
part of the prophyrycomplex, probablyalong structural linears with
intense TDQSP alteration flooding the stockwork zone. Pyrite and
chalcopyrite were deposited along with the QSP alteration with later
Molybdenite filling fractures and breccias.
Uplift and erosion has been rapid, but time has onlypermitted a
shallowtruncation into the upper argillic and phyllic cap of the system.
Potassic alteration type has not been encountered to date. We propose
that the TDQSP of the core zone, predominance of breccias of differing
types and the presence of tourmaline, andalusite, pyrophyllite and
diaspore are all evidence of shallowexposure, but removal of most of
a hypothesized upper epithermal cap. Rio Blanco shares some qualities
with other interpreted high-level systems such as Toquepala, Peru
(Zweng, 1995); La Granja, Peru (Schwarz, 1982): Red Mountain,
Arizona (Corn, 1975) and Sunnyside, Arizona (Graybeal, 1996).
The presence of deep leaching and chalcocite enrichment at Rio
Blanco is a positive for that systemand other copper systems in the
northern Peru mountainous rain forest. The climate must have been
more arid at the time of enrichment allowing for strong single-cycle
leaching of copper over a couple hundred meters depth fromsurface.
Subsurface enrichment was well developed belowthe ridges, but it
appears that copper was mostly lost to the surface off the flanks.
However, theprevalenceof structural conduits andimpermeableandesite
dikes could significantly influence secondary process and put this
interpretation in error, resulting in significantlymore enriched copper
awaiting discoveryat Rio Blanco.
A AA AACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CKNOWLEDGEMENTS CKNOWLEDGEMENTS CKNOWLEDGEMENTS CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Important contributions to discoveryand geological understanding
were made during the early exploration and subsequent evaluation
programs of 1996 and 1998. Anincomplete list of contributers includes
Cesar Aguirre, Henry Marsden and Johan Smit of Newcrest, Galen
Knudsen (), Raul Zuiga, Cesar Veliz, Dave Braxton and Gaston Loyola
of Cyprus Antacori, and consultants John McIntyre, Richard Stokley. We
thank the managements of Cyprus and Newcrest for their support and
permission to present this study.
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