Indicator-mineral content of bedrock and till at the Gibraltar porphyry Cu-Mo deposit and the Woodjam porphyry Cu-Au-Mo prospect, south-central British Columbia / A. Plouffe and T. Ferbey.: M183-2/8580E-PDF

"The next generation of porphyry Cu deposits to be discovered in the Canadian Cordillera are likely to be found underlying glacial sediments. The recovery of minerals diagnostic of porphyry Cu mineralization, termed porphyry Cu indicator minerals (PCIM), in till and stream sediments will contribute to the discovery of buried mineralization. To identify minerals that have the potential to be used as PCIM, thirteen bedrock samples from the Gibraltar porphyry Cu-Mo deposit and ten from the Woodjam porphyry Cu-Au-Mo prospect were examined after producing mid-density (2.8-3.2 SG) and heavy (>3.2 SG) mineral concentrates. Chalcopyrite, a common Cu ore mineral, is abundant in bedrock and till in the Gibraltar and Woodjam areas making it a key PCIM. Jarosite, common in leached cap and supergene zones of porphyry Cu deposits, is generally more abundant in till near the known mineralized zones compared to surrounding regions and therefore, should be considered a PCIM diagnostic of the oxidized portion of porphyry mineralization. Other Cu (azurite, malachite, covellite, chalcocite) and Mo (molybdenite) minerals are present in mineralized bedrock but are rare or absent in till, limiting their utility as PCIM at these two study sites, but they could be important PCIM if found in detrital sediments at other sites. Other minerals (e.g. tourmaline, apatite and rutile) present in till and bedrock need to be characterized geochemically in order to be classified and used as PCIM"--Abstract, page 1.

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