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Geochemical indicators for mapping of advanced argillic alteration and

related alterations in lithocaps
Conference Paper · December 2018
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Atanas Hikov
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
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СПИСАНИЕ НА БЪЛГАРСКОТО ГЕОЛОГИЧЕСКО ДРУЖЕСТВО, год. 79, кн. 3, 2018, с. 53–54
REVIEW OF THE BULGARIAN GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, vol. 79, part 3, 2018, p. 53–54
National Conference with international participation “GEOSCIENCES 2018”
Geochemical indicators for mapping of advanced argillic alteration

and related alterations in lithocaps
Геохимични индикатори за картиране на интензивната аргилизация
и придружаващите хидротермални изменения в литошапките
Atanas Hikov
Атанас Хиков
Geological Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia; E-mail: [email protected]
Keywords: geochemical indicators, strontium, advanced argillic alteration, lithocaps, epithermal and porphyry deposits.
Introduction is marked by zones of sericitization and/or intermedi-

ate argillic alteration and propylitization.
Hydrothermal alterations are between the most impor- Our previous investigations of AAA in Bulgarian
tant criteria for prospecting for ore deposits because deposits (Hikov, 2004, 2014; Hikov et al., 2010) show
of close connection of alteration and ore mineraliza- that ААА zones characterize with geochemical fea-
tion being parts of the same magmatic-hydrothermal tures which are result of formation in extremely acid
system (Sillitoe, 2010). This close connection is a conditions and specific mineral composition – alunite,
key for understanding the evolution of magmatic- kaolinite, dickite, diaspore, pyrophyllite, APS min-
hydrothermal system. Upper parts of the system, so erals, zunyite, rutile, etc. Most of chemical elements
called “lithocaps”, are object of increasing interest be- (Rb, Cs, Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Y, HREE, etc.) are very mo-
cause of big potential for epithermal mineralizations bile and are extracted from altered rocks, only Rb con-
(Hedenquist, Arribas, 2017) and for evaluation of centrate in sericite rocks. Other elements like Sr, to a
perspectives for development of porphyry deposit in lesser extent P, Pb, LREE, concentrate in AAA zones
depth (Cooke et al., 2017). The following hydrother- due to their including in alunite and APS minerals
mal alterations are typical for lithocaps: silification, (mainly svanbergite, svanbergite-woodhouseite solid
advanced argillic, intermediate argillic, sericite and solutions, woodhouseite, rarely florencite). Ti, V, Zr,
distal propylite. Analysis of mineralogy and geochem- Hf, Ga, Nb, Ta, Th, U, etc. are inert in these zones and
istry of advanced argillic alteration (AAA) and related take part in rutile and residual zirconium phases. All
hydrothermal alterations gives reason to propose some these minerals remain stable during weathering and
elements as geochemical indicators. They can be used allow trace elements to be used for geochemical pros-
for separation of AAA zones and together with other pecting. On the other hand the alunite geochemistry
geological data would give prospective for exploration (concentration of Sr, Pb, La, Ce, etc.) is known as a
of ore mineralization. vector to the mineralized center (Chang et al., 2011).
Geochemistry of advanced argillic Geochemical indicators

alteration zones It was established that the significant enrichment of
Over 30 occurrences of AAA are known in Bulgaria Sr concentration is characteristic feature of advanced
(Velinov et al., 2007) some of them associating with argillic alteration of volcanic rocks (Hikov, 2004).
porphyry copper and epithermal deposits. They con- At the same time Sr contents in transitional altera-
centrate in the Srednogorie zone, where host rocks are tion zones (propylite, intermediate argillic, sericite)
Upper Cretaceous intermediate volcanics and in the are low. Thus Sr can be used for separation of AAA
Eastern Rhodopes – related to Paleogene andesites and zones from the other hydrothermal alterations (Fig. 1).
latites. Most of these deposits show a well-expressed This is very important in cases with similar mineral
hydrothermal alteration zonality. Everywhere AAA is composition such as intermediate argillic and kaolinite
characterized by a well-developed alunite zone, com- AAA rocks especially if there were not found other ty-
bined in most cases with kaolinite-dickite and silicic pomorphic minerals. Differentiation of sericite rocks
zones, less commonly zones with pyrophyllite and di- from pyrophylite AAA rocks is also difficult due to
aspore. The transition toward unaltered volcanic rocks similar optic features of the two minerals. In these
53
Fig. 1. Schematic model of distribution of Sr and Rb/Sr ratio in typical zoning with advanced argillic alteration: AAA, advanced argillic alteration;
Q, monoquartz (massive silica, vuggy quartz) rocks
cases, Sr concentrations can be used as a “strontium References

criterion”. Chang, Z., J. Hedenquist, N. White, D. Cooke, M. Roach, C.
Independent geochemical indicator is Rb/Sr ratio Deyell, J. Garcia, J. B. Gemmell, S. McKnight, A. Cuison.
(Fig.1). It allows precise separation of sericitic from 2011. Exploration tools for linked porphyry and epithermal
AAA rocks because of contrasting values in the two deposits: Example from the Mankayan intrusion-centered
alteration types. Anomalously low values of Rb/Sr Cu-Au district, Luzon, Philippines. – Econom. Geol., 106,
ratio are typical of AAA zones and suggest high-sul- 1365–1398.
phidation epithermal environment, while high values Cooke, D., N. White, L. Zhang, Z. Chang, H. Chen. 2017.
Lithocaps – characteristics, origins and significance for
are characteristic of sericite rocks and could be per- porphyry and epithermal exploration. – In: Proc. of the
spective for prospecting of porphyry copper or low- 14th SGA Biennial Meeting 2017 Mineral Resources to
sulphidation epithermal mineralization (Hikov, 2004). Discover, vol. 1. Quebec City, Canada, 291–294.
In some cases the REE patterns can be used as Halley, S., J. Dilles, R. Tosdal. 2015. Footprints: Hydrothermal
geochemical indicator. REE patterns of AAA rocks alteration and geochemical dispersion around porphyry
are characteristic and different from that of other al- copper deposits. – SEG Newsletter, 100, January 2015,
teration types: comparatively inert behavior of LREE 1–17.
Hedenquist, J., A. Arribas. 2017. Epithermal ore deposits: first-
(sometimes with slight enrichment) while MREE order features relevant to exploration and assessment. – In:
and HREE become mobile and are extracted (Hikov, Proc. of the 14th SGA Biennial Meeting 2017 Mineral
2014). Different are the REE patterns of monoquartz Resources to Discover, vol. 1. Quebec City, Canada, 47–50.
rocks (massive silica, vuggy quartz) which show Hikov, A. 2004. Geochemistry of strontium in advanced argil-
strong depletion of all REE. These most altered rocks lic alteration systems – possible guide to exploration. – In:
contain only inert elements (Hikov, 2015), mark the Proc. of the Ann. Sci. Conference “Geology 2004”. Sofia,
29–31.
central parts of hydrothermal systems and may con- Hikov, A. 2014. REE mobility during advanced argillic al-
centrate Au mineralization. teration in some epithermal and porphyry copper systems
from Central Srednogorie, Bulgaria. – In: Proc. of the XX
Congress CBGA, vol. 1. Tirana, Albania, 154–157.
Conclusions Hikov, A. 2015. Behaviour of inert (immobile) elements in ex-
tremely acid leaching: an example from Asarel porphyry
Proposed geochemical indicators can be used for sepa- copper deposit. – In: Proc. of Jubilee National Conference
ration of AAA from related hydrothermal alterations “GEOSCIENCES 2015”. Sofia, BGS, 65–66.
in lithocaps. They are a contribution to the known Hikov, A., C. Lerouge, N. Velinova. 2010. Geochemistry of al-
models of geochemical dispersion around porphyry unite group minerals in advanced argillic altered rocks from
copper deposits (Halley et al., 2015) at their upper lev- the Asarel porphyry copper deposit, Central Srednogorie.
els. They should be used for precise mapping of meta- – Rev. Bulg. Geol. Soc., 71, 1–3, 133–148.
Sillitoe, R. 2010. Porphyry copper systems. – Econom. Geol.,
somatic zoning and making correct model of magmat- 105, 3–41.
ic-hydrothermal systems. They would also be used as Velinov, I., A. Kunov, N. Velinova. 2007. The Metasomatic
vectors to potential ore mineralization and would give Secondary Quartzite Formation in Bulgaria. Sofia, Prof.
prospective for exploration. Marin Drinov Academic Publishing House, 198 p.
54
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See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

Geochemical indicators for mapping of advanced argillic alteration and

Conference Paper · December 2018

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Geochemical indicators for mapping of advanced argillic alteration

Introduction is marked by zones of sericitization and/or intermedi-

Geochemistry of advanced argillic Geochemical indicators

cases, Sr concentrations can be used as a “strontium References

View publication stats

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