Table of Contents - Society of Economic Geologists

Sponsor
Geology and Genesis of Major Copper
Deposits and Districts of the World:
A Tribute to Richard H. Sillitoe
Editors
Jeffrey W. Hedenquist
Michael Harris
and Francisco Camus
SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGISTS, INC.
Special Publication Number 16
Special Publications of the Society of Economic Geologists
Special Publication, No. 16
Geology and Genesis of Major Copper Deposits and Districts of the World:
A Tribute to Richard H. Sillitoe
J.W. Hedenquist, M. Harris, and F. Camus, Editors
First Edition, 2012
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Additional copies of this publication can be obtained from
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ISBN: 978-1-629496-35-1
SPONSOR
The Society of Economic Geologists Publications Board
thanks Rio Tinto Exploration for its
generous financial support of this volume
In recognition of Richard H. Sillitoe’s
contribution to the understanding of the world’s major copper deposits
SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGISTS, INC.
Special Publication Number 16
Contents
Appendices for Borg et al. and Schuh et al. and archived SEG papers, 1971 to 2013, by Richard H. Sillitoe
are included on this DVD. Papers by R. H. Sillitoe are listed following the Table of Contents
Foreword
Eric Finlayson
ix
Jeffrey W. Hedenquist, Michael Harris, Francisco Camus
xiii
Richard H. Sillitoe
1
Sergio L. Rivera, Hugo Alcota,
John Proffett, Jaime Díaz,
Gabriel Leiva, and Manuel Vergara
19
Miguel Hervé, Richard H. Sillitoe, Chilong Wong,
Patricio Fernández, Francisco Crignola,
Marco Ipinza, and Felipe Urzúa
55
Geologic Setting and Evolution of the
Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum and CopperGold Deposits at Los Pelambres, Central Chile
José Perelló, Richard H. Sillitoe,
Constantino Mpodozis,
Humberto Brockway, and Héctor Posso
79
Protracted Magmatic-Hydrothermal History of
the Río Blanco-Los Bronces District, Central Chile:
Development of World’s Greatest Known
Concentration of Copper
Juan Carlos Toro, Javier Ortúzar,
Jorge Zamorano, Paticio Cuadra,
Juan Hermosilla, and Cristian Spröhnle
105
John P. Porter, Kim Schroeder,
and Gerry Austin
127
Carl Hehnke, Geoff Ballantyne,
Hamish Martin, William Hart,
Adam Schwarz, and Holly Stein
147
James R. Lang and Melissa J. Gregory
167
David Crane and Imants Kavalieris
187
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1
Copper Provinces
Major Deposits
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Update of the Geologic Setting and Porphyry
Cu-Mo Deposits of the Chuquicamata District,
Northern Chile
Geologic Overview of the
Escondida Porphyry Copper District,
Northern Chile
Geology of the Bingham Canyon Porphyry
Cu-Mo-Au Deposit, Utah
Geology and Exploration Progress
at the Resolution Porphyry Cu-Mo Deposit,
Arizona
Magmatic-Hydrothermal-Structural Evolution
of the Giant Pebble Porphyry Cu-Au-Mo Deposit
with Implications for Exploration in Southwest Alaska
Geologic Overview of the Oyu Tolgoi Porphyry
Cu-Au-Mo Deposits, Mongolia
v
10
11
12
13
Copper-Gold ± Molybdenum Deposits of the
Ertsberg-Grasberg District, Papua, Indonesia
Clyde A. Leys, Mark Cloos,
Brian T.E. New, and George D. MacDonald
215
Kathy Ehrig, Jocelyn McPhie,
and Vadim Kamenetsky
237
Wolfram Schuh, Richard A. Leveille,
Isabel Fay, and Robert North
269
Stephen E. Box, Boris Syusyura,
Reimar Seltmann, Robert A. Creaser,
Alla Dolgopolova, and Michael L. Zientek
303
Constantino Mpodozis and Paula Cornejo
329
Richard A. Leveille and Ralph J. Stegen
361
Alexander Yakubchuk, Kirill Degtyarev,
Valery Maslennikov, Andrew Wurst,
Alexander Stekhin, and Konstantin Lobanov
403
The Iron Oxide Copper-Gold
Roberto Perez Xavier, Lena Virgínia Soares Monteiro,
Systems of the Carajás
Carolina Penteado N. Moreto, André Luiz Silva Pestilho,
Mineral Province, Brazil
Gustavo Henrique Coelho de Melo, Marco Antônio Delinardo da Silva,
Benevides Aires, Cleive Ribeiro, and Flávio Henrique Freitas e Silva
433
Geology and Mineralogical Zonation of the Olympic
Dam Iron Oxide Cu-U-Au-Ag Deposit, South Australia
Geology of the Tenke-Fungurume SedimentHosted Strata-Bound Copper-Cobalt District,
Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo
Dzhezkazgan and Associated Sandstone Copper
Deposits of the Chu-Sarysu Basin,
Central Kazakhstan
Premier Provinces
14
15
16
17
18
19
Cenozoic Tectonics and Porphyry Copper
Systems of the Chilean Andes
The Southwestern North America
Porphyry Copper Province
Tectonomagmatic Settings, Architecture,
and Metallogeny of the Central Asian
Copper Province
An Overview of the European
Kupferschiefer Deposits
The Central African Copperbelt:
Diverse Stratigraphic, Structural, and
Temporal Settings in the World’s Largest
Sedimentary Copper District
Gregor Borg, Adam Piestrzyński,
Gerhard H. Bachmann, Wilhelm Püttmann,
Sabine Walther, and Marco Fiedler
455
Murray W. Hitzman, David Broughton,
David Selley, Jon Woodhead,
David Wood, and Stuart Bull
487
D. R. Burrows and C. M. Lesher
515
Andreas Audétat and Adam C. Simon
553
Kalin Kouzmanov
and Gleb S. Pokrovski
573
Genetic Themes
20
Copper-Rich Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE Deposits
21
Magmatic Controls on Porphyry Copper Genesis
22
Hydrothermal Controls on Metal Distribution
in Porphyry Cu (-Mo-Au) Systems
vi
Richard H. Sillitoe Papers (1971–2013) Included on the CD-ROM
Sillitoe, R.H., and Sawkins, F.J., 1971, Geologic, mineralogic, and fluid inclusion studies relating to the origin
of copper-bearing tourmaline breccia pipes, Chile: Economic Geology, v. 65, p. 1028–1041.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1972, A plate tectonic model for the origin of
porphyry copper deposits: Economic Geology, v. 67, p.
184–197.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1973, Geology of the Los Pelambres porphyry
copper deposit, Chile: Economic Geology, v. 68, p. 1–10.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1973, The tops and bottoms of porphyry copper deposits: Economic Geology, v. 68, p. 799–815.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1973, Environments of formation of volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits: Economic Geology, v. 68,
p. 1321–1325.
Sillitoe, R.H., Halls, C., and Grant, J.N., 1975, Porphyry tin
deposits in Bolivia: Economic Geology, v. 70, p. 913–927.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1975, Lead-silver, manganese, and native sulfur mineralization within a stratovolcano, El Queva,
northwest Argentina: Economic Geology, v. 70, p.
1190–1201.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1975, Subduction and porphyry copper deposits in southwestern North America – a reply to
recent objections: Economic Geology, v. 70, p.
1474–1477.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1977, Permo-Carboniferous, late Cretaceous
and Miocene porphyry copper-type mineralization in the
Argentinian Andes: Economic Geology, v. 72, p. 99–103.
Sillitoe, R.H., Jaramillo, L., Damon, P.E., Shafiqullah, M.,
and Escovar, R., 1982, Setting, characterisitics, and age
of the Andean porphyry copper belt in Colombia: Economic Geology, v. 77, p. 1837–1850.
Silliitoe, R.H., 1983, Enargite-bearing massive sulfide deposits high in porphyry copper systems: Economic
Geology, v. 78, p. 348–352.
Sillitoe, R.H., Jaramillo, L., and Castro, H., 1984, Geologic
exploration of a molybdenum-rich porphyry copper deposit at Mocoa, Colombia: Economic Geology, v. 79, p.
106–123.
Sillitoe, R.H., Baker, E.M., and Brook, W.A., 1984, Gold deposits and hydrothermal eruption breccias associated
with a maar volcano at Wau, Papua New Guinea: Economic Geology, v. 79, p. 638–655.
Sillitoe, R.H., and Bonham, H.F., Jr., 1984, Volcanic landforms and ore deposits: Economic Geology, v. 79, p.
1286–1298.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1985, Ore-related breccias in volcanoplutonic
arcs: Economic Geology, v. 80, p. 1467–1514.
Sillitoe, R.H., Grauberger, G.L., and Elliott, J.E., 1985, A
diatreme-hosted gold deposit at Montana Tunnels, Montana: Economic Geology, v. 80, p. 1707–1721.
Cunnean, R., and Sillitoe, R.H., 1989, Paleozoic hot spring
sinter in the Drummond Basin, Queensland, Australia:
Economic Geology, v. 84, p. 135–142.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1989, Gold deposits in western Pacific island
arcs: The magmatic connection, in Keays, R.R., Ramsay,
W.R.H., and Groves, D.I., eds., The geology of gold deposits: The perspective in 1988: Economic Geology
Monograph 6, p. 274–291.
Arnold, G.O., and Sillitoe, R.H., 1989, Mount Morgan goldcopper deposit, Queensland, Australia: Evidence for an
intrusion-related replacement origin: Economic Geology, v. 84, p. 1805–1816.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1991, Gold metallogeny of Chile – an introduction: Economic Geology, v. 86, p. 1187–1205.
Vila, T., and Sillitoe, R.H., 1991, Gold-rich porphyry systems in the Maricunga belt, northern Chile: Economic
Geology, v. 86, p. 1238–1260.
Sillitoe, R.H., McKee, E.H., and Vila, T., 1991, Reconnaissance K-Ar geochronology of the Maricunga gold-silver
belt, northern Chile: Economic Geology, v. 86, p.
1261–1270.
Vila, T., Sillitoe, R.H., Betzhold, J., and Viteri, E., 1991, The
porphyry gold deposit at Marte, northern Chile: Economic Geology, v. 86, p. 1271–1286.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1992, Gold and copper metallogeny of the
central Andes – Past, present, and future exploration objectives (SEG Distinguished Lecture): Economic Geology, v. 87, p. 2205–2216.
Sillitoe, R.H., 1993, Giant and bonanza gold deposits in the
epithermal environment: Assessment of potential
genetic factors, in Whiting, B.H., Mason, R., and Hodgson, C.J., eds., Giant ore deposits: Society of Economic
Geologists Special Publication 2, p. 125–156.
Sillitoe, R.H., and Lorson, R.C., 1994, Epithermal gold-silvermercury deposits at Paradise Peak, Nevada: Ore controls,
porphyry gold association, detachment faulting, and supergene oxidation: Economic Geology, v. 89, p. 1226–1246.
Sillitoe, R.H., and McKee, E.H., 1996, Age of supergene
oxidation and enrichment in the Chilean porphyry
copper province: Economic Geology, v. 91, p. 164–179.
Sillitoe, R.H., Hannington, M.D., and Thompson, J.F.H.,
1996, High-sulfidation deposits in the volcanogenic massive sulfide environment: Economic Geology, v. 91,
204–212.
Sillitoe, R.H., Marquardt, J.C., Ramírez, F., Becerra, H.,
and Gómez, M., 1996, Geology of the concealed MM
porphyry copper deposit, Chuquicamata district, northern Chile, in Camus, F., Sillitoe, R.H., and Petersen, R.,
eds., Andean copper deposits: New discoveries, mineralization styles and metallogeny: Society of Economic Geologists, Special Publication 5, p. 59–69.
Hannington, M.D., Poulsen, K.H., Thompson, J.F.H., and
Sillitoe, R.H., 1999, Volcanogenic gold in the massive
sulfide environment, in Barrie, C.T., and Hannington,
M.D., eds., Volcanic-associated massive sulfide deposits:
Processes and examples in modern and ancient settings:
Reviews in Economic Geology, v. 8, p. 325–356.
vii
McInnes, B.I.A., Farley, K.A., Sillitoe, R.H., and Kohn,
B.P., 1999, Application of apatite (U-Th)/He
thermochronometry to the determination of the sense
and amount of vertical fault displacement at the
Chuquicamata porphyry copper deposit, Chile: Economic Geology, v. 94, p. 937–947.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2000, Geologic analogy: A vital field component of mineral exploration: Society of Economic
Geologists Newsletter 42, p. 6–9.
Gendall, I.R., Quevedo, L.A., Sillitoe, R.H., Spencer, R.M.,
Puente, C.O., León, J.P., and Povedo, R.R., 2000, Discovery of a Jurassic porphyry copper belt, Pangui area,
southern Ecuador: Society of Economic Geologists
Newsletter 43, p. 1, 8–15.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2000, Gold-rich porphyry deposits: Descriptive
and genetic models and their role in exploration and discovery, in Hagemann, S. G., and Brown, P. E., eds., Gold
in 2000: Reviews in Economic Geology, v. 13, p. 315–345.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2002, Rifting, bimodal volcanism, and bonanza gold veins: Society of Economic Geologists
Newsletter 48, p. 24–26.
Sillitoe, R.H., Cooper, C., Sale, M.J., Soechting, W.,
Echavarria, D., and Gallardo, J.L., 2002, Discovery and
geology of the Esquel low-sulfidation epithermal gold
deposit, Patagonia, Argentina, in Goldfarb, R.J., and
Nielsen, R.L., eds, Integrated methods for discovery:
Global exploration in the twenty-first century: Society of
Economic Geologists Special Publication 9, p. 227–240.
Sillitoe, R.H., and Burrows, D.R., 2002, New field evidence
bearing on the origin of the El Laco magnetite deposit,
northern Chile: Economic Geology, v. 97, p. 1101–1109.
Sillitoe, R.H., and Hedenquist, J.W., 2003, Linkages between volcanotectonic settings, ore-fluid compositions,
and epithermal precious metal deposits, in Simmons,
S.F., and Graham, I.J., eds., Volcanic, geothermal, and
ore-forming fluids: Rulers and witnesses of processes
within the Earth: Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 10, p. 315–343.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2004, Musings on future exploration targets
and strategies in the Andes, in Sillitoe, R.H., Perelló, J.,
and Vidal, C.E., Andean metallogeny: Mineralization
styles, new discoveries, and deposit updates: Society of
Economic Geologists Special Publication 11, p. 1–14.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2004, Distal-disseminated and Carlin-type
gold deposits: Are they fundamentally different?: Society
of Economic Geologists Newsletter 59, p. 28–30.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2005, Supergene oxidized and enriched porphyry copper and related deposits: Hedenquist, J.W.,
Thompson, J.F.H., Goldfarb, R.J., and Richards, J.P.,
eds., Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, p.
723–768.
Sillitoe, R.H., and Perelló, J., 2005, Andean copper province:
Tectonomagmatic settings, deposit types, metallogeny,
exploration, and discovery: Hedenquist, J.W., Thompson, J.F.H., Goldfarb, R.J., and Richards, J.P., eds., Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, p. 845–890.
Sillitoe, R.H., and Thompson, J.F.H., 2006, Changes in mineral exploration practice: Consequences for discovery, in
Doggett, M.D., and Parry, J.R., eds., Wealth creation in
the minerals industry: Integrating science, business, and
education: Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 12, p. 193–219.
Sillitoe, R.H., Hall, D.J., Redwood, S.D., and Waddell,
A.H., 2006, Pueblo Viejo high-sulfidation epithermal
gold-silver deposit, Dominican Republic: A new model
of formation beneath barren limestone cover: Economic
Geology, v. 101, p. 1427–1435.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2007, Hypogene reinterpretation of supergene silver enrichment at Chañarcillo, northern Chile:
Economic Geology, v. 102, p. 777–781.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2008, Major gold deposits and belts in the
North and South American Cordillera: Distribution,
tectonomagmatic settings, and metallogenic considerations: Economic Geology, v. 103, p. 663–687.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2009, Supergene silver enrichment reassessed, in Titley, S.R., ed., Supergene environments,
processes, and products: Society of Economic Geologists
Special Publication 14, p. 15–32.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2010, Porphyry copper systems: Economic
Geology, v. 105, p. 3–41.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2010, The challenge of finding new mineral
resources: An introduction, in Goldfarb, R.J., Marsh,
E.E., and Monecke, T., eds., The challenge of finding
new mineral resources: Global metallogeny, innovative
exploration, and new discoveries: Society of Economic
Geologists Special Publication 15, p. 1–4.
Irarrazaval, V., Sillitoe, R.H., Wilson, A.J., Toro, J.C., Robles, W., and Lyall, G.D., 2010, Discovery history of a
giant, high-grade, hypogene porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit at Los Sulfatos, Los Bronces-Río Blanco
district, central Chile, in Goldfarb, R.J., Marsh, E.E.,
and Monecke, T., eds., The challenge of finding new
mineral resources: Global metallogeny, innovative exploration, and new discoveries: Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 15, p. 253–269.
Sillitoe, R.H., and Mortensen, J.K., 2010, Longevity of porphyry copper formation at Quellaveco, Peru: Economic
Geology, v. 105, p. 1157–1162.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2010, Grassroots exploration: Between a
major rock and a junior hard place: Society of Economic
Geologists Newsletter 83, p. 11–13.
Sillitoe, R.H., Perelló, J., and García, A., 2010, Sulfide-bearing veinlets throughout the stratiform mineralization of
the Central African Copperbelt: Temporal and genetic
implications: Economic Geology, v. 105, p. 1361–1368.
Sillitoe, R.H., Tolman, J., and Van Kerkvoort, G., 2013, Geology of the Caspiche porphyry gold-copper deposit,
Maricunga belt, northern Chile: Economic Geology, v.
108 (preprint).
viii
Foreword
A Tribute to Richard H. Sillitoe
ERIC FINLAYSON
Head, Rio Tinto Exploration (2007–2011)
The decision by Rio Tinto Exploration to support a Society of
Economic Geologists (SEG) volume dedicated to Dick Sillitoe is in recognition and appreciation of his contributions to
the understanding of the world’s major copper districts on
behalf of thousands of industry and academic geologists. It is
fitting that this is done through the SEG, the Society that has
been so closely associated with many of his best known publications.
Dick has been widely honored throughout his career. His
many awards in economic geology include the SEG Lindgren
Award (1975), Wollaston Fund from the Geological Society
(1977), SEG Thayer Lindsley Lecturer (1988), SEG Distinguished Lecturer (1992), Haddon Forrester King Medal
from the Australian Academy of Science (1995), William
Smith Medal from the Geological Society (1996), SEG Silver
Medal (2002), Sir Julius Wernher Memorial Lecturer for the
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (2008), SEG International Exchange Lecturer (2012), and Herbert Thomas
Prize from the Geological Society of Chile (2012).
From a start with the UK Ministry of Overseas Development studying supergene enrichment of copper deposits in
Chile, from 1965 to 1968, Dick then spent three years with
the Instituto de Investigaciones Geológicas (Chilean Geological Survey) studying porphyry copper deposits before becoming an independent geologic consultant in 1971.
Since 1968, Dick has published 120 technical publications
in international journals, books, bulletins, and conference proceedings. His papers in Economic Geology and other publications of the SEG are reproduced on the CD-ROM included
with this volume. He has also written more than 800 unpublished technical reports while consulting for over 200 mining
companies, seven governments, and four international agencies in 97 countries around the world.
When not working in the field or writing up his observations, Dick has committed his time to education in economic
geology. He has been an invited speaker at 95 international
conferences to date, co-convened five major conferences,
presented 40 public lectures at universities, geological surveys, and scientific meetings, given 16 short courses at universities, geological societies, and conferences, delivered 45
in-house courses for mining companies, run 17 field courses
for mining companies and other organizations, acted as Associate Editor, Revista Geológica de Chile (1986−present),
Member of the Editorial Board, Journal of Geochemical Exploration (1994−1999), and Honorary Editor, Resource Geology (2007−present); and was SEG President (1999−2000),
the IAGOD Regional Councillor for Europe (1980−1984),
and the UK correspondent for IGCP Project 342, “Age and
Isotopes of South American Ores” (1993−1997).
This prodigious body of work has made it virtually impossible for a geologist to work on a copper deposit today without
benefiting from Dick’s field observations and genetic models.
His ferocious work rate has led him to see more orebodies
and prospects and to meet more economic geologists than
possibly any other geologist to date.
A highly commendable aspect of Dick’s work is the large
number of people who have shared in his studies and publications. Dick is consistently generous in the recognition of
ix
other people’s ideas and meticulous in referencing previous
work.
Another commendable aspect is his clarity of writing and
oral presentation. He goes quickly to the issues of most importance to his audience and delivers conclusions and opinions that are valued. He is also never afraid to admit uncertainty when these circumstances arise.
It seemed an almost impossible task to summarize Dick’s
most significant accomplishments but an attempt has been
made in the Table below. Reading through this list gives some
appreciation of his contributions. However, to many of us who
know Dick well, it will fall short in really describing the man.
He is never condescending or self important, is always good
natured and humorous, and always treats people with the
same courtesy and respect regardless of their age or position.
Finally, while Dick’s name does not appear on the editorial
list, I can confirm that his skill as an author and his commitment to this project have resulted in an outstanding publication. The eagerness of the most knowledgeable copper geologists to volunteer papers for the volume reflects enormous
respect and admiration.
It is a great pleasure for Rio Tinto Exploration to help with
the production of this volume. It will stand as a cornerstone
reference on copper deposits and as a fitting appreciation to
Dick for his outstanding contributions.
x
R. H. Sillitoe Career Highlights
1970: First formal recognition of subduction control on porphyry Cu and related ore deposits.
1983: Remapped Wau low sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag deposit, Papua New Guinea (mining completed), leading
to first formal recognition of maar-diatreme systems as
controls of some epithermal ore deposits.
1970: Sited discovery hole at Los Pelambres porphyry Cu
deposit, Chile (in production).
1984: Application of diatreme model to exploration of Montana Tunnels Au-Ag-Zn-Pb deposit, Montana, United
States (mine now exhausted).
1971: Recognized control of ore by K-silicate alteration and
used the relationship to plan the definition drilling
program at Bajo de La Alumbrera porphyry Cu-Au
deposit, Argentina (in production). Also drew attention for the first time to its high Au content.
1985: Initial sampling and recommendation of Choquelimpie high sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag deposit,
Chile (mine now exhausted).
1971: First formal recognition of genetic relationship between porphyry Cu deposits and volcanoes.
1987 (and subsequently): Involvement in continuous extension of ore reserves at Lo Aguirre manto-type Cu and
Sagasca exotic Cu deposits, Chile (Lo Aguirre exhausted, Sagasca in production).
1972: Predicted that volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits would be found at oceanic spreading centers
(confirmed in 1989).
1988−1990: Involvement in exploration and discovery of Au
deposits in the Maricunga belt, Chile, including first
recognition of porphyry Au deposits.
1973: Recognized potential and designed exploration program for VMS deposits in greenstone belts of Upper
Volta (now Burkina Faso), which led to discovery of
Perkoa Zn-Pb-Ag deposit (mine under construction).
1990: Recommendation of Cerro Vanguardia low sulfidation
epithermal Au-Ag deposit, Argentina (in production).
1974: Conducted basic geologic work and supervised drilling
at Saindak porphyry Cu-Au deposit, Pakistan (in production). Work led to first recognition of abundant
hydrothermal magnetite as an indicator of Au-rich
porphyry Cu deposits.
1990: Geologic reappraisal of Paradise Peak high sulfidation
epithermal Au-Ag-Hg district, Nevada, United States
(subsequently mined out).
1991: Successful prediction of enhanced Au contents at
depth in Wafi porphyry Cu-Au deposit, Papua New
Guinea (deeper drilling ongoing).
1976: First recognition of sediment-hosted stratiform ZnPb-Ag prospects and potential, Khuzdar district, Pakistan (in production).
1991: Preparation of first geologic model for MM (Ministro
Hales) porphyry Cu deposit, Chuquicamata district,
Chile (mine under construction).
1978: Recognition of concealed porphyry potential and discovery of Mocoa porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, Colombia.
1979: Discovery in South Korea of first Climax-type porphyry Mo deposit outside the United States on behalf
of Amax.
1993: Prediction of existence of concealed Damiana exotic
Cu deposit, El Salvador, Chile (mine now exhausted).
1994: Recognition of sediment-hosted Au mineralization,
Sepon, Laos (3 Moz deposit in production).
1980: Discovery with J. Cabello of La Coipa high sulfidation
epithermal Au-Ag deposit, Chile (in production).
1994: Recommendation of Zarsharan sediment-hosted Au
prospect, Iran (3 Moz deposit defined).
1981: Recognition of bulk gold potential in Mount Leyshon
breccia system, Queensland, Australia (mine now exhausted).
1994−2002: Participation in brownfields exploration of El
Peñón low sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag district Chile,
leading to discovery of several new bonanza-grade
veins (in production).
1981: Recognition of concealed porphyry Cu-Au potential at
Lepanto, Philippines, using diatreme clasts (Far
Southeast deposit at definition drilling stage).
1995: First formal recognition of existence of high sulfidation VMS deposits.
1983: Recommended exploration for concealed manto-type
Cu-Ag mineralization at Las Luces, Chile, leading to
deposit discovery (mine now exhausted).
1996: Assistance with geologic modeling of Yanacocha high
sulfidation epithermal Au deposits, Peru.
xi
1996: Recommended exploration of porphyry Cu prospects,
Pangui district, southern Ecuador (four deposits defined to date, mine development planned).
2006: Assistance with geologic modeling of Resolution porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, Arizona, United States (at
prefeasibility stage).
1997: Recommendation of the Opache porphyry Cu
prospect, Chile (reserve defined).
2006: Recommended drill hole that discovered the Eureka
West low sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag deposit, Cerro
Negro district, Argentina (recently purchased by
Goldcorp Inc. for US$3.2 billion; mine under construction).
1997 (through 2000): Geologic modeling of Gaby porphyry
Cu deposit, Chile (in production).
2000: Predicted major subsurface extension of main Galadriel-Julia vein, Esquel low sulfidation epithermal Au
deposit, Argentina, and recommended successful drill
testing (mine construction halted by local community).
2007: Geologic modeling of breccia-hosted Cu-Au deposits
in Gaoua district, Burkina Faso (infill drilling stage).
2000 (and 2001): Geologic modeling of the Boyongan porphyry Cu-Au deposit, Mindanao, Philippines (at feasibility stage).
2007: Assistance with geologic modeling of La Colosa porphyry Au deposit, Colombia (at prefeasibility stage).
2007: Recognition of porphyry Au system at Biely Vrch, Slovakia (prefeasibility stage).
2007: Assistance with geologic modeling of Navidad Ag-Pb
deposit, Argentina (feasibility stage).
2002: Reinterpretation of origin of Pueblo Viejo high sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag deposit, Dominican Republic, beneath barren limestone cover.
2007−2011: Involvement in brownfields exploration of Escondida porphyry Cu district, northern Chile, which
led to discovery of Pampa Escondida and Escondida
Este deposits.
2004: Prediction of eastward blind extension of Pebble West
porphyry Cu-Au deposit, Alaska, United States
(higher grade Pebble East deposit subsequently discovered and now at prefeasibility stage).
2008−2010: Geologic modeling of Caspiche porphyry Au-Cu
deposit, Chile (at feasibility stage).
2004−2005: Assistance with geologic modeling of Hugo
Dummett porphyry Cu-Au deposit, Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia (mine under construction).
2008−2010: Reinterpretation with J. Perelló of model for
stratiform Cu-Co mineralization in Central African
Copperbelt based on work in Zambia, DRC,
Botswana, and Namibia.
2005: Recommended low sulfidation Au-Ag vein targets
under cover and at depth, Cerro Bayo, Chile (two
new veins discovered and exploited).
2009: Recommended search for low sulfidation epithermal
Au deposits in Afar depression, Ethiopia and Djibouti,
leading to discovery of several previously unknown
auriferous veins (drilling underway).
2005−2008: Recommended exploration leading to discovery
of the San Enrique-Monolito and Los Sulfatos porphyry Cu-Mo deposits, Los Bronces district, Chile
(Anglo American team received 2011 Prospector of
the Year Award from the Prospectors and Developers
Association of Canada).
2010: Recommended drilling leading to discovery of Pompeya high sulfidation Au-Ag deposit, La Coipa district,
Chile (definition drilling stage).
2006−2007: Assistance with geologic modeling of Fruta del
Norte bonanza-grade intermediate sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag deposit, Ecuador (at feasibility stage).
2011: Recommended drilling leading to discovery of Ortaçam North high sulfidation Au deposit, Turkey (definition drilling stage).
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Acknowledgments
We wish to acknowledge Rio Tinto Exploration (RTX)
for proposing this tribute volume in honor of one of the
world’s leading economic geologists, Richard (Dick) Sillitoe, and we thank RTX for generously financing the
costs of the volume. We thank Mabel Peterson, Vivian
Smallwood, and Alice Bouley for copyediting, layout,
and print production, and we thank Stuart Simmons
(Publications Board) and Brian Hoal (Executive Direc-
tor) who oversaw production of the volume on behalf of
the SEG from its inception. The following reviewers
helped maintain the quality expected of SEG publications, for which we are grateful. Finally, we thank the
authors for their efforts in preparing the papers and for
their patience in meeting the reviewers’ and editors’
comments. Without them, this tribute would not have
been possible.
Reviewers of Papers in Special Publication 16
Bill Atkinson
Geoff Ballantyne
Sarah-Jane Barnes
Derek Blundell
Gregor Borg
David Burrows
Jacques Cailteux
Phil Candela
John Dilles
Marco Einaudi
David Groves
Lew Gustafson
Murray Hitzman
Sue Kay
Steve Kesler
Ken Krahulec
Duncan Large
Ross Large
Peter Laznicka
Peter Lewis
Lucas Marshall
Scott Manske
Larry Meinert
Philippe Muchez
Jim Mungall
Ruben Padilla
Peter Pollard
John Proffett
Victor Ramos
Patrick Redmond
Jeremy Richards
Steve Roberts
Brian Rusk
Eric Seedorff
Richard Sillitoe
George Steele
John Thompson
Spencer Titley
Dick Tosdal
David Vaughan
James Webster
Caroline Wilhem
Alan Wilson
Alexander Yakubchuk
Marcos Zentilli
Gustavo Zulliger
Jeffrey W. Hedenquist, Ottawa,
Michael Harris, London, and
Francisco Camus, Santiago,
Editors
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