Porphyry Cu–Au ± Mo mineralization at Peschanka is hosted by monzodiorite and monzonite intrusions with high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic compositions and dated at about 144.1 ± 1.5 Ma, using U/Pb zircon ages. The Cretaceous intrusions are emplaced in a melange of Cretaceous island arcs, a tectonic setting comparable with other world-class porphyry Cu–Au deposits, such as Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia and Pebble, Alaska. Abundant primary magnetite contents of the Peschanka intrusions, as well as numerous gypsum and anhydrite veins, reflect the high oxidation states of their parental magmas. This mineralogical interpretation is confirmed by high whole-rock Fe 2 O 3 /FeO ratios and high V/Sc ratios of the rocks of up to 1.27 and up to 21.9, respectively. The whole-rock Eu/Eu* ratios of the Peschanka intrusions are ≥1 which is also typical for potassic igneous rocks with high oxidation states. Abundant amphibole and biotite phenocrysts of the intrusions as well as their high whole-rock Sr/Y ratios of up to 225 document significantly high H 2 O contents of the high-K magmas. Peschanka contains a resource of >9.5 Mt of copper at an average grade of 0.43 wt% and 16.5 Moz of gold at a high average grade of 0.23 g/t and thus represents one of the largest undeveloped greenfield copper projects worldwide. The vicinity of Peschanka still offers significant brownfield exploration potential. The hypogene vein-related and disseminated Cu–Au ± Mo sulfide mineralization at Peschanka is structurally controlled by significant NE-trending strike-slips that acted as the conduits for the hydrothermal fluids. The central part of the orebody consists of high-grade north–south-trending sheeted quartz–bornite veining with unusually high vein densities. The highest Cu and Au grades are directly correlated with high vein densities. Peschanka is defined by distinct hydrothermal alteration zones including potassic, phyllic, propylitic and argillic assemblages, but a distinct lack of advanced argillic alteration. The mineralization itself is also zoned ranging from a central Mo–Cpy–Bn sulfide assemblage to a peripheral Py–Mt-dominated zone (‘pyrite-shell’). Late-stage polymetallic assemblages overprint and surround the main stockwork zone.
1 February 2010 in Moscow University Geology Bulletin
Three generations of tourmaline have been identified in propylite in the Vetka porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit of the Chukchi Peninsula of Russia. Tourmaline-I is characterized by its Fetot/(Fetot + Mg) value, which ranges from 0.33 to 0.49. Tourmaline-II, which crystallizes at a lower temperature, overgrowing tourmaline-I or occurring as isolated crystals, is distinguished by a higher Fetot/(Fetot + Mg), which varies from 0.46 to 0.72. The Fetot/(Fetot + Mg) ratio in tourmaline-III, which overgrows tourmaline-II is lower (0.35–0.49), and is identical to that of the first tourmaline generation. This is probably caused by the beginning of sulfide deposition. Tourmalines in the deposit characterized by complex isomorphic substitutions can be attributed to the intermediate members of the dravite—“hydroxy-uvite”-“oxy-uvite” and schorl-“hydroxy-feruvite”-“oxy-feruvite” series. Tourmaline starts to crystallize at temperatures above 340°C. The fluid responsible for the tourmaline deposition was magmatic, with a significant admixture of meteoric water (δ18OH2O = −0.85 to −0.75‰). The high Fe3+/Fetot ratio (0.50) indicates high oxygen activity when the tourmaline precipitated. It has been established that the isomorphic substitution Fetot → Al is typomorphic of tourmalines from porphyry copper deposits worldwide.