1) 2)

Spectral Mapping (SMAM) in Epithermal and Porphyry

Copper Systems - Vectors toward the mineralized zone
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1)
Epithermal Systems The results can be used to map pH and temperature
variations, which will help to navigate your way in the
Many hydrothermal minerals are stable over limited epithermal system and locate the mineralized zone.
temperature and/or pH ranges. Therefore, by mapping
Mineral Mapping Pty Ltd
the distribution of alteration minerals in areas of Low Temperature Fig. 3. Simplified
phase diagram of
epithermal prospects, it is possible to reconstruct the disordered
kaolinite
Kaolinite Smectite an epithermal
thermal and geochemical zonation, leading to a model ordered DH2
DH1 Low crystallinity
mica
system.
of the hydrology of the extinct hydrothermal system. kaolinite
Illite-Smectite The location of
Dickite
Alteration minerals are also crucial to distinguish the style the imaginary
drill holes (DH 1
of deposit, low sulfidation or high sulfidation. Illite and DH 2) is
Alunite illustrated in fig.
Common alteration minerals in epithermal systems are Pyrophyllite
Sericite
4.
e.g. kaolinite, dickite, pyrophyllite, alunite, smectite, High crystallinity
mica
Long
illite-smectite, illite and sericite, and these can all be High Temperature
Short
wavelength
mica
wavelength
mica

measured with the TerraSpec spectrometer. Low pH Increasing pH

Fig. 4. Overview DH 1 DH 2
Examples of what we can measure with SMAM: of an epithermal Increasing Kaolinite crystallinity
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Kaolinite
(Steam-heated)
system with
alteration Illite-Smectite
Increasing temperature
Increasing crystallinity

Kaolinite
Smectite
minerals that can Kaolinite

Illite-Smectite

Dickite
be measured with Illite-Smectite

SMAM. General
No rm. Hu llQ (Stacked)
No rm. Hu llQ (Stack ed)

Illite
Pyrophyllite
recommendation; Increasing Illite abundance

Sericite
measure 1
Alunite
spectrum every Increasing Illite Crystallinity
Dickite Illite
1900 nm
2200 nm meter on every Illite wavelength = 2206nm

1500 1800
Wavelength in nm
2100 2400 1500 1800
Wavelength in nm
2100 2400
exploration drill Alunite +
Silica
Fig. 1. Illite crystallinity; we can Fig. 2. Changing acid mineral phase hole to navigate
measure the ratio of the depth of the with increasing temperature. your way in the Pyrophyllite
Muscovite
2200 nm feature to the 1900 nm feature. system. Decreasing Mica AlOH wavelength

2)
Porphyry Copper Systems
Infrared-active alteration minerals associated with porphyries include sericite/muscovite, biotite, phlogopite, actionolite,
chlorite, epidote, calcite, clay minerals (illite, kaolinite, smectite) and tourmaline.
Alteration mineralogy in Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Systems: Potassic alteration

Fe-rich
biotite
Vertical zonation from Mg-rich biotite
Proximal
Fe-rich biotite
Distal
Mg-rich
Potassic, (biotite + K feldspar) to biotite
Phyllic, (sericite) to
Advanced argillic, (pyrophyllite, dickite, Phyllic alteration
Muscovite
quartz Topaz in F-rich systems) or
Argillic, (illite-smectite) Phengite
Muscovite - Acidic Phengite
Adjacent to Adv. Adjacent to potassic
argillic (shallow) or propylitic (deep)

Lateral Zonation from

Potassic to
Propylitic, (actinolite, chlorite, epidote, Dickite
Advanced argillic alteration
albite, calcite) Topaz
Biotite (potassic alteration): besides the shift in the 2250 nm Dickite –
Topaz
feature, Mg-chlorite shows a secondary feature at 2390 nm. Advanced Argillic
Advanced Argillic
(in F-rich systems,
eg Porphyry Mo)
White mica (phyllic alteration): the wavelength shifts in
this example from 2194 nm in muscovite to 2222 nm in
phengite. Propylitic alteration
Fe-chlorite
Dickite (advanced argillic alteration): major features at
1380, 1415, 2180 and 2208nm; topaz: major features at
1405 and 2080 nm.
Mg-chlorite Fe Chlorite – Mg Chlorite
Low temp, (overprinting actinolite)
Chlorite composition (propylitic alteration): in this Acid High temp
neutral

Seedorff et al., 2005 example; Mg-chlorite 2324 nm, Fe-chlorite 2350 nm.
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