Course Details
The archetypal Yerington District, western Nevada, hosts porphyry Cu(-Mo-Au) deposits, several Cu skarns and numerous Fe oxide-Cu(-Au) lodes within a middle Jurassic batholith and its overlying volcanic terrane. Late Cenozoic basin and range extensional faulting and associated fault block rotation has exposed a unique <1 to ~8 km palaeodepth cross-section through the district. This allows the 4-D architecture of the porphyry mineralising magmatic-hydrothermal system to be studied in detail.
Traversing the Yerington Batholith, this field course details the system’s magmatic-hydrothermal evolution. This includes exploring: the magmatic-hydrothermal transition; porphyry Cu(-Mo-Au) mineralisation and associated hydrothermal alteration; related skarns; deep Na-Ca alteration; the advanced argillic environment in the overlying volcanic terrane and associated Fe oxide-Cu(-Au) mineralisation. Drill core reviews will supplement observations from the field, and daily seminars will reinforce learning.
From their own first-order field observations in the world’s best-exposed section through a porphyry system, participants will have the opportunity to:
- Gain an understanding of the 4-D architecture of a magmatic-hydrothermal porphyry system, including the relationships with skarns and the volcanic environment.
- Become familiar with porphyry-style mineralisation, specifically the characteristic vein types and typical zonation within porphyry copper deposits.
- Recognize and identify the typical hydrothermal alteration assemblages of porphyry systems, and their 4-D zonation.
- Broaden applied field and exploration techniques through specific field mapping and core logging exercises, including gaining a basic understanding of the ‘Anaconda method’.
- Develop expertise in the characterisation of porphyry systems, their genesis, and awareness of exploration toolkits.
Who Should Attend
• Geologists • Mining Engineers • Managers• Geochemists • Geotechs
This course is designed for industry professionals who primarily focus on, or would like to develop their understanding of, magmatic-hydrothermal systems. Graduate students and academics are also welcome to join at a discounted rate.