CMS l.

{ew Zealand Lrd

Exploation Geologiss, Petrologists and Consultants

Petrological Eualuation of the High $ulphidation $gstems

in the Ia Paua and f erro Quema prospect fireas, panama

FOR
CYPRUS GOLD COMPANY

Prepared by Terry

June

Phone: (6+-9)3766533,
Fax ( 64-9 ) 360 1010

Auckland,

CMS New

NZ

kaland Ltd.

Leach

1992

CMS report

M.

reference

473

5002,12 )

Street Ad.dress: 11 Blake

st

Ponsonby

Auckland,

Mailing Address: po Box 47zgs

Ponsonby

NZ

Auckland, NZ

CMS New Zealand Ltd

Exploration Geologists, Petrologists and Consuitants

Petrological Eualuation of the High Sulphidation Sgstems

in the La Paua and Cerro 0uema Prospect Hreas, Panama

FOR
CYPRUS GOLD COMPANY

Prepared by Terry M. Leach

June

1992

CMS report

Phone: (64-9)3766533
Fax ( 64-9 ) 360 1010
Auckland, NZ

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

# 473

reference 800212

Street Address: 11 Blake St

Mailing Address: PO Box 47295

Ponsonby

Ponsonby

Auckland, NZ

Auckland, NZ

SUMMARY

1' Petrological

analyses, and subsequent interpretation of data, was

carried out on a suite of sixtyone (61) surface, drillcore and rock chip samples
collected from Cyprus Gold,s La pava and Cerro
prospect
panama.
areas,
Quema
south-west

2. Gold mineralisation in the two prospects

andesites which are overlain by pyroclastic

are hosted by a sequence of porphyritic dacites to

units intercarated with minor porphyritic flows.

3. At La Pava a deep narrow zone of quartz_sulphide_barite/alunite

alteration mushrooms at
shallow levels into east-west elongate, concentric alteration
zones grading from an inner quartzpyrite zone, then progressively outward to quartz-kaolinite,
quartz-kaolinite-interlayered clay and
then peripheral quartz-smectite alteration assemblages.
The zonations in alteration indicate that
moderately hot acidic fluids upflowed within fractured
and brecciated zone to the north of the main
mineraiised zone, and mushroomed out at shallow
levels within the permeable pyroclastic units.

4' Two phases of acid fluids are postulated for the

La Pava hydrothermal system: an early event
which caused intense acid leaching and silicification;
and a later event which locally brecciated the
siiicified zones and deposited sulphates and sulphides
into fractures and open vughs. This later
event is postulated to be the gold * copper mineralising
event. supergene oxidation of sulphides
has resulted in a 50-100m thick leached zone,
with oxide grades reflecting primary sulphide
grades, with only minimal supergene
enrichment.

5'

The hydrothermal system at La Pava is characteristic

of a high sulphidation epithermal gold +
copper prospect' High grade porphyry copper
deposits have been encountered in close proximity
to a number of similar high sulphidation systems
in the west pacific region. A programme is
recommended to evaluate the potential
of a high grade porphyry immediately to the noth of
La
Pava.
"

6'

East-west elongate, zoned hydrothermal

alteration assemblages were also encountered
within
fractured porphyritic rocks and overlying pyroclastics
in the cerro euema prospecr aea. This
zonation indicated a source of hot acid fluids
at depth in the euemita area, with ouflows
eastward
to the cerro Quema area. A two-stage hydrothermal
system is also envisaged, with gold and
copper-a$enic-sulphide mineralisation occurring
in late stage fractures and hypogene leached
wghs" Any potential associated porphyry system
may lie at inaccessible depths beneath
euemita"

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

7' Alteration in the El Domo is consistent with this

area having slumped north from the cerro
Quema silicified/mineralised zone. Alteration at La Mesita
imply this area is marginal to the
hydrothermal system, and therefore no further
drilling can be justified in that direction.

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CMS New

kaland Ltd.

II

INTRODUCTION

Cyprus Gold's La Pava and Cerro Quema prospect areas, in south-west Panama, form two
prominent topographic highs, elongate 1-2km in an east-west direction, approximately 3-4km
apan ( Figure 1; photo

I & 2 ).

The La Pava prospect is located at an elevation of around 450-

550m asl, whereas the Cerro Quema prospect ( incorporating the Quemita, La Mesita, El Domo
and Cerro Quema areas ) ranges from 700-950m asl. Both prospects are hosted by of a suite of

intermediate, possibly calc-alkaline, porphyritic to fragmental rocks which have undergone

varying intensities of advanced argillic, argillic and peripheral propylitic alteration.
Five days of field investigations of the Cerro Quema project area were carried out by the author,
in April 1992, in order to assess the geological setting of the La Pava and Cerro Quema prospects,
and to initiate sampling for a petrological evaluation of these prospects. The Ceros Sureste area
was not included in this study.

Previous petrological work ( S. Williams 1989-1991 ) on samples from La Pava and

euemita
indicated that the rocks had undergone intense hypogene acid leaching and very locallised gold +
copper mineralisation, which is characteristic of many high sulphidation-style epithermal deposits
worldwide. It has been recently discovered that some high sulphidation deposits in the west

Pacific region are situated at the periphera of, and at somewhat higher elevation than, blind high
grade porphyry copper deposits ( eg FSE-Lepanto, Philippines; Wafi-Raffertys, pNG; see
T.Leach memo to Chris Torrey, Cyprus Gold, Feb 1992 ). In these cases it is apparent thar rhe
mineralised fluids associated with gold * copper mineralisation in the high sulphidation sysrems
have sourced from the region of the high grade porphyry copper system. Petrological evaluations
have been beneficiai in understanding the controls on alteration and mineralisation of the high

sulphidation systems, and in indicating the likely presence and direcrion of potenrial high grade
porphyry systems ar depth.
The scope of this p@ological evaluation therefore is

i) to develop an understanding of the distribution in hydrothermal alteration

ar La pava

and Cerro Quema, and its relationship to gold, and possibly copper, mineralisation.

ii) to determine the source direction of the hydrothermal / mineralising fluids, and to
evaluate the potential for encountering porphyry copper systems in the immediate

cinity.

Supergene acid leaching / weathering is very intense in most of the drillholes at both La pava and

Cerro Quema, and has subsequently changed the original hydrothermal alteration mineralogy.
Therefore most of the sampling for this study has concentrated on collecting unweathered

CMS New 7aland Ltd.

hydrothermaily altered samples. Samples have also been collected from some weathered intervals
in order to evaluate how the weathering has effected the hydrothermal alteration.

A suite of one hundred and three core, RC rock chip and surface grab samples were collected from
within the La Pava and Cerro Quema prospect areas. Of these thirty drillcore and RC rock chip
samples were analysed from fifteen drillholes in the La Pava prospect ( Figure 2) and thirty-one
core, RC chip and surface samples were analysed from fourteen drillholes in the the QuemitaCerro Quema-La Mesita-El Domo areas ( Figure 3 ).

Brief petrographic analyses were carried out on thirty-two thin sections, whereas brief combined
petrographic-mineragraphic analyses were done on eighteen polished thin sections. X-ray

diffraction ( XRD ) analyses were carried out on orientated clay separates from forty of the
samples, and scannedat2-25 o 2,
A summary of the petrological data is given in Table I, along with the mineral abbreviations used
in this table and throughout the report. The petrographic and petrographic-mineragraphic
descriptions, and the XRD charts are included in the Appendix at the back of this report.

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

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Photo1:LaPavaprospectlokingsouth-westfromQuenri,".
east-west outflow and the northern

Ttltl*

of hypogene hot aciclic fluids ( see sections

IV & yJ ).

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CMS
New fualand Ltd,.

I : SUMMARY oF PETROLOGICAL DATA

TABLE

QUEMA PROSPECT AREAS

Drillhote

Depth

Number

meters

PDH-90-01

18.5

FOR LA PAVA AND CERRO

XRD Mineralogy &

Litholosv

Replacement

Deposition

_Peak

Heisht

((30)+Q(17)

67.5

Dacitic Frasmental/Tuff

OrBa+Fe-O

veinlerFe-O

89.6

Dacite Fragmen fal,/Breccia

Q+K+Py

breccia-Qr-Py

K(30)+Q(2s)

fan.'rl-^

PDH-90-IX

r
r

108.2

Dacitic Crystal Tuff

O+K+P.t

Veinlet-Pv+fRt)

70.2

Dacirc FragmentaUTuff

O+?A

vushs-O lSm)

99.4

?Dacite (Dacite ?Tuff)

Mca+Ba+Q+Py

vein-i)Py+AsS

K((2s)+Q(20)

Pyr(l1)+ Q(2s)

ii)Ba
PDH-9045

13.0

Dacite FragmentaVTuff

66.5

Dacitic Crystal Tuff

O+l)iklK+P.,

breccia-Pv+fRt)

Q(30)

Q+Cy+Mica

veinlerPy+(Rt)

I/I-SmOroad]?pyr()

+K+Pr
PRH-gi-06

PRH-91-07

114-115

Dacite/Dacitic Fragmental

Q+K+Py+Cy

+K(9)+Q(12)
breccia-Py+(Rr)

?Sm-I(rr)+?Br(r)+K(
+Q(19)

34-35

Dacite Fragmental,/Tuff

4748

Dacite /(Fragmenhl)

94-95

DacitelD acfte Fragmen

QrMica+Py

breccia-Mica+Q

Pyr(16)+K(2)+e(20)

+Pv

T
T
T
T
T
T

PRH-91-10

al

OrFe-O+?An

veinlet-Q

Q+K+Cy+py

vein-Carb, Chcd

+?Ch

PRH-91-11

PRH-91-13

74-75

54-55

Brecciated Dacite

Q+Ba+Py

Fragmenal / Tuff

tlCnv+Cn)

Dacite & Dacitic

Q+K+Lm

Dacitic Crysml Vitric

Q(25)+Goe(a)

vughs-Ba

K(20)+Q(a)+Goe(3)

Q+Ba+Fe-O

PRH-91-15

Q(2t

6-7
K(8)+Q(9)+Goe(5)
69-70

PRH-9i-16

Dacite ( ?Andesite
)

QrK+Py+?Cy

vein-i)Q

ii)K
17-18

Hydrottrermal Breccia of

Q+Fe-O+Jar

Quar Veined Daciric

+Jar

CMS New Zealand Ltd"

vein-Q
breccia-QrFe-O

Crystal Tuff

cavities-Co

Tuff

T
I

+?Ch+O13)

Frasmenfrl /T"ff
97-98

Sm-I (broad;2)+K(7)

10

K(t+Q(5)

3)

Depth I
r.r.* |

DriIIhole
Number

XRD Mineratogy &

Lithorosv

Replacement

Deposition

34-36

Peak HeiEht
I-Sm 10.94(7)+K(20)
+Q(20)

6t-62

Dacite

f)Tl.'rD,

89-90

Dacite

K+Cy+Q+Py

r5-16

Dacitic Fragmental/Tuff

C)+Fe-f)

444s

Dacite/Dacitic Fragmenal

Q+K+Cy+Py

Dacite

C)+K+trc-f)

veinlet-Pv

r-Sm 10/34(2)+Dik(25)
+Q(20)

PRH-g1-17

veinlet-\

I-Sm (broad; Z)+K(20)

+o120)

74-75
PRH-91-21

5-6

I-Sm (broad;iI'-K(25)
+Q(20)

4546

pacitic Frasmental/Tr rff

QrFe-O

?vein-Q

106-107

Dacite

O+K.-Pv/Pr\

veinlet-K+Pv

15-16

Dacitic Frasmental/Tuff

f).-Fc-f)rTl

53-54

Dacidc Fragmental/Tuff

Q+Pv

35-36

_Daglfc FragmentaVTuff

O+RtF.-rr

87-88

Dacite Fragmental,/Iuff

PRH-91-23

PRH-91-26

QrFe-O

K(30)+Q(20)

veinlet-O
Q(20)+Goe(5)

breccia-QrFe-O

;lBrecciarion
I

!RH-91-28

16-117 I Oacitlc Frasmerqt/T,,ff

qp!)+coe(s)

Q+Py+Ba

4-5
K(20)+Q(20)

tt-12

Dacidc FragmenhUTuff

Q+Fe-O

65-6

Dacite / Andesite

QrDik?K+?Cy

29-30

Dacitic FragmentaVTuff

fracare-Fe-O

+Fe-O
PRH-91-29

Q+KtCy+Py

Sm-I Groad;2)+K(29
+Q(20)

PRH-91-35

2-3

PRH-9143

49-50

Dacite (?Andesite )

PRH-g244

29-30

Dacitic Frnomcnral /T',,rr

K(12)tQ(7)
Sm+?Cv+O+Pv

Sm(12)+Q(n+Plast.l)

QlFe-O

4M1
r-Sm r0.74(3)+K(30)

PRH-92-45

89-90

Dacirc / Andpsitp

l5-16

Dacite/Dacitic Fragmental

lQp0)
OrK+Fe-O
Q+Cy+K+Fe-O

vein-O. K+Fe-O

K(25)+Q(18)

sm-r

rQ(e)

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

ll.OA(4FK('

Drillhole

Depth

Number

meters

PRH-92-45

45-46

Dacite / (TAndesite )

O+l)iklK+P.,

veinlet-Dik+Pv

Dik(30)+0(25)

PRH-92-51

41-42

Dacitic FragmentalAuff

Q+K+Carb+Cy

veinlerCarb

K(1s)+Q(20)+?Sid(2)

XRD Mineralogy &

Litholosv

Replacement

Deposition

_Peak

Heisht

+Pv
PRH-92-52

46-47

PRH-92-53

t2-13

I-Sm tO.9Aftroad:2)
+Kf?5\--O'l R\

Sm/Sm-l (broad; 3)+K( t3)

_tQ(20)

PRH-92-57

35-36

Dacite lAndesite

42-43

Dacitic FragmentaVTuff

Cy+?Sm+K+O

Sm-I (broad:2)+Kli)+o1s
vein-i)Q

Q(25)+?Top(2)

ii)Pv+ColCnv)
PRH-92-58

77-78

Dacitic Fragmentalfuff

Cy+Carb+Ch+Q

+Pv+fRt+Po)
PRH-92-60

5l-52

Dacite

veinlerCarbtQ
+Pv

Ch+Q+Sid/Cab

Ch(11)+Sm-I (broad;3)

+Q(1t
Ch(3)+Q(6)

+Pv
PRH-92-73

80-81

Dacite lAndesite

K+O+Fe-f.)+Il"

147-148

Dacific Frasmenral /Tr ff

QrFe-OrBa

?vein-O

PRH-92-7't

r47-r48

Dacitic FrasmentayTuff

Q+Py+(Rt)

?vein-O

PRH-92-78

132-133

Dacitic Frasmenral /Trrff

QFe-GrBa

PRH-92-86

60-61

Dacite/Dacitic Frasmenra

t40-t4l

Dacife

C)+K+Fe-

K(20FQ(20)

O+Al+lKlltiki

LO-l
LO

-2

LQ

-:

Q(15)+Hal(3FSmll)

Q(ls)+ HaI(s)
Andesite

KAIaI+Sm+Ch
+Fe-O

LQ-4

BrecciatedDrcife

Q+KlDik+Py+
fPo+Rt)

LO-6

Andesite / Dacite

Mineral Abbreviations

breccia-Dik+@

Dik(20)+Q(20)

?Mica+pv

(Cv+Sm)

Al-alunite; Ap-apatite; AsS-Arsenosulvanite;

Ba-barite; carb-carbonate; ch-chlorite;
chcd-chatcedony; co'covellite; cpy-chalcopyrite:
cy-illitic clay; Dik-dickite; En-enargite;
Fe-o - iron oxide; Goe-goethite; Hal-halloysire;
I-illite; I-Sm - interlayered illite-smectire ( 001
=
10'2-10'94); Jar-jarosite; K-kaolinite;
Lm-limonite; plag-plagioclase; po-pyrrhotite; py-pyrite;
$n-pyrophyllite; e-quar"tz; Rt_rurile; Sid_siderite; Sm_smecite; Sm_I _
interlayered smectite_illite
(001 = 11.0-12.54);

CMS New

katand Ltd.

t2

Itr

LITHOLOGIES

As outlined in the introduction,

the hydrothermal alteration and
mineralisation at La pava and
cerro Quema is hosted by porphyritic
and fragmental rocks. In most
cases the alteration is so
intense that the primary textures
have been masked and the lithologies
can only be interpreted.

LQ-6' a surface grab sample collected

at around 320masl approximately
500m south of the La
Pava prospect area ( see Figure
I ), is the least altered rock in this study. This
rock is a porphyritic
rock composed of abundant plagioclase
( oligoclase to minor andesine phenocrysts;
)
minor to
moderately hornblende phenocrysts,
locally poikilitically enclosing plagioclase;
and a few,
scattered' in places partially absorbed
quartz phenocrysts ( < aJTo of the
section ). The
phenocrysts phases are set in
a fine grained felted matrix of plagioclase
microlaths , and
hornblende and iron oxide microlites.
It is interpreted that the rock is probably
volcanic, and of
intermediate
andesite-dacite composition, based
on the presence of onry trace free quartz.

similar porphyritic rocks were also

encountered near the bottom-hores
of many d'lholes in both
the La Pava and cerro
Quema areas. At La Pava ( Figure 3 samples
from depth in RC holes 91),
15' 21' 23' 28' 35 & 43 were
all identified as porphyritic, with
compositions ranging from dacite
to andesite' based on the abundance/presence
of free qtraftzphenocrysts. In the cerro
prospect ( Figure 6 &7 porphyritic
euema
)
rocks, also ranging from andesites (
with
no
free
quartz
dacites' were encountered at
) to
depth in RC drillholes 9l-10, 16"
17 & 92-44, 45 &53, and in
diamond hole PDH g}-}4below
at least 70m .williams ( 1gg1)interpreted
porphyritic rocks to be
present at 33m in PDH-90-04'
indicating that the shallow pyroclastic
units are locally intercalated
with porphyritic flows.

At cerro Quema the porphyritic rocks

are overlain by a sequence
of relatively flat rying dacitic
fragmentals ranging from
fine grained vitric tuffs to coarser
grained lithic-crystal tuffs. The
pyroclastics
are composed of rounded
to subangular

fragments of quartz and ferdspar

phenocrysts,
varying abundances of dacite
porphyry with rare rounded quartzphenocrysts,
rocar glassy
fragments and trar

re,ative,y.o,,o".:nill:ool":o,ll;:ffi1il'"'H:":,;,::il:'*f ",:ffi,,:,:T;*T:
underlying porphyritic sequence.

At La Pava' the overlying dacitic,

fine grained pyroclastics are also
flat lying, commonly
exhibiting flow laminations.
The tuffs appear to be thicker
in the regional of drillholes pRH_91_
11/26 and PDH-90-01'
as these holes failed to intersect
porphyritic rocks
at depth.

;i?J:rffilTffi::ilT
CMS New

katand Ltd.

in pDH _ e0 _01 to be werded

vitric to

t3

"ry,tur

williams ( Dec

tuffs, with onry

IV

HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION AND MINERALISATION AT LA PAVA

i) Hydrothermal Alteration :
The hydrothermal alteration mineralogy encountered at depth in the relatively
unweathered samples
from the La Pava prospect, may be divided into the following assemblages
on the basis of
increasing fluid pH and decreasing temperature as illustrated in Figure
4:

i) Ouartz + Alunite/Barite

This assemblage occurs under very low pH ( 2-3 ) conditions, and over a wide range
in
temperatures. Alunite forms in preference to barite ( and anhydrite
) under conditions of higher
sulphur fugacity. In many high sulphidation systems barite is the main
suiphate mineral
encountered at shallow levels ( eg at Mt. Kasi, Fiji; Dombroyde, NSW;
and Maragorik, pNG )
whereas alunite predominates in more deeply eroded systems, where
sulphur activity is greater (
eg Wafi, PNG; Lepanto, Philppines; Nena-Frieda River, PNG In
many cases in the La pava
).
samples barite deposition appear to have post dated the main phase
of hypogene acid leaching and
associated silicification, with barite deposited either in leached
vughs, or in late stage b,reccia zones
( eg at T4minPRH-g1-11
). Locally minute hexagonal hydrothermal apatite is intergrown with the
granular quartz in the silicified matrix. The presence
of apatite implies that the hydothermal fluid
had a high-magmatic ( ie high F- component.
)

ii) Ouanz + hrite

Although quartz in the absence of alunite generally implies

lower pH conditions ( ie < pH 2 ), at
La Pava the assemblage quartz-pyrite is altematively interpreted
to imply a change from a more
oxidising sulphur environment ( as ind-icated by the presence
of sulphates ) to a more reducing
sulphur environment as indicated by the absence of sulphate
and presence of only pyrite. This
change could have taken place in response to rock
reaction by acidic fluids.

i) Ouarta+ Kaolinite

This assemblage is indicative of fluids at approximately pH

3-4, and,temperatures of < 150200oc. Dickite was not detected by xRD analyses
pava
from the La
samples.

iv)
This assemblage implies more neutral conditions ( pH
= 4 ), but similar temperatures ( 150200oC ) to assemblage (i)

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

T4

H
I
OPol
Tridymite

Crisfobolire

I
I

S ib nire
Mordenite
Heulondite

Chlorire
5meciite

il,

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Chobozite

lcedony

I'
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&

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Sericite

Ac t in oliie

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Clinopyroxene

And olusite

Gornet

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Corundum

P- Lo

Povo Assembloges

O- Cerro
Note , Quortz +

Cristobnolite

ore

Csrbonoies ore stoble

stoble

ot

pH

Quemo

over oll pH ronges

> 4 -5 ond over oll

temperoture ronges

I
t

Figure 4

CMS New

pH Relorionships
Lo Povo ond Cerro euemo
Te m p

kaland Ltd.

ero ture

o(

Alterotion

Assernbfoges

ct

15

v) Ouarz + Smectite

This mineralogy indicates significantly

cooler ( < 100-150oc ) and more neutal ( pH
4-5 ) fluid
conditions than those outlined above.
The interpreted distribution in alteration mineralogy
at La pava is illustrated along an east-west
crossection A-A'(Figures 5 and a north-south
)
secrion B-B' ( Figure 6 ) at 549 690E.
euartzbarite and quartz-pyrite are encountered
within a nurow ( 100-150m wide ) zone atdepth in
the
region of PRH 9l-11/26 ( Figure 5 These
assemblages are interpreted to have a
).
much wider
laterai extent at shallower levels where
they grade out to quartz-kaolinite assemblage
and then to
peripheral interlayered clay - kaolinite
assemblages. The weak smectite-quartz
alteration at botttomhole9l-43 reflects significantly cool conditions
at the margins of the hydrothermal system.

Locallised areas of kaolinite-quartz alteration

are encountered within the shallow highly
siiicified
quartz - iron oxide zone' similar
patches of less altered material within
silicified zones are
commonly encountered in high sulphidation
systems, and reflect the presence of less
permeable
horizons ( eg very fine grained welded
tuffs ), rather than post-mineral/alteration faulting.
Typicaily these zones are poorry mineralised
( eg at around 50_60m in pRH_91_13
).
The distribution of the above alteration
assemblages has been protted on Figure
4. It is evident
from this plot that the zonation in hydrothermal
alteradon at La pava is indicative of an
upflow of
moderately hot ( around 2000c low pH
(2-3 ) fluid from depth in the pRH gr_1
),
1/26 regian.
This hot acidic fluid mushoomed
east and west at shallow levels, accompanied
by progressive
cooling and neutralisation' This mushrooming
may have been controlled by the flow
of hypogene
fluids within the more permeable pyroclastic
units, in contrast to the less permeable underlying
porphyritic andesites/dacites.
The zonation in alteration assemblages
north-south
acid fluid upflow dips steeply

at 54g690 E ( Figure 6 ) suggests that the hot

to the north, implying a source at depth
in that direction. The

distribution of internse sicification

in the drillholes implies
of north, and this has been illustrated
in Figure 2.

ii)

Mineralisation

possible preferentiar flow from

east

Gold mineralisation at La Pava extends

to depth within both the oxide and sulphide
zones in the
region of the drillholes PRH-91-11
and 26 and,Pu]r-g2-77; but is restricted
to shallow depths in
in drillholes east ( PDH-90-01, PRH-91-21
pRH-91-2g
and
west (
)
) of this region. There
appears to be minimal change
in gold grade from oxide to sulphide where
gold mineralisation

CMS New

kaland Ltd"

t6

occurs in the sulphide zone' Elsewhere gold

mineralisation has decreased significantly within
the
oxide zone' before the sulphide zone was intersected
( eg in pDH-g0-01 ). It is therefore
interpreted that the distribution in gold
in the oxide zone probably reflects more or less
original,
pre-weathering gold grades; and that
any supergene enrichment in gold at La pava
is only
locallised.

Drillholes PRH-73' 78 & 86, in the region

of the proposed upflow, failed to inrersect significant
gold mineralisation; whereas drillholes
90-01, g1-ll, 13,21,2g,29 and, g2-TT,downsrream
of
the proposed upflow intersected ore grade
Au ( Figure 2 e. 6 ). A comparable relationship
between postulated upflovoutflow zones
and gold mineralisation was encountered
at wafi River,
PNG ( Leach & Erceg 1990 At wafi ore grade
)'
gold was deposited around the periphera
of the
upflow zone' where sudden mixing with circulating
cool fluids resulted in ore grade

mineralisation.

A similar model is proposed for gold mineralisation

at La pava. Hot acid, mineraiised fluids have
flowed from depth' north / north east of
the main mineralised zone encountered in
the dillholes.
Gold mineralisation occurred at shallow levels
and peripheral to this upflow where mixing
with
cool circulating ( ?meteoric/groundwater
) was able to take place, resulting in significant gold

mineralisation.

Significant copper mineralisation ( up to

0.2-0.3vo cu ) was encountered at depth
in some
drillholes ( eg PDH 90-01 Polished
)'
section analyses indicated that the main
copper phases are
chalcopyrite and covellite; with chalcopyrite
overgrowing pyrite, which in turn is overgrown
by
and partly replaced by covellite.
covellite also infills open vughs and is interpreted
to be mainly a
supergene phase, although the presence
of hypogene covellite cannot be discounted.

As for barite' the main sulphide episode

appears to have posr-dared silicification
and acid
leaching' with

deposition of sulphides ( pyrite and

associared copper sulphides in leached
)
vughs,
or in late stage breccia zones' The
sulphide event commoniy post-dates
the acid leaching event in
high sulphidation sy6tems' This was
explained by white (1990 to have resurted
)
from an initiar
magmatic derived volatile-rich fluid
leaching the host rock, with gangue
and sulphide phases being
deposited from a later, mineralised,
quid_rich acidic fluid.

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

L7

PRH 9l-23

PRH 9't,43

Fisure

5 :

EAST

-WEST

CROSS SECTTON

A.A,- LA PAVA: DIS

PDH

PRH

PRH 9r-28

tl

PRH 9I.N

9l-2

7*

*. x *
--x * *
**

:.:;;*

iSTRtgUTION

IN

HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION

PRH 9l-21

PDH 9O-I

ft{#T=-l
. It
x
-+

{"t,, ,,.5'
:: ' .'

=-'.
:-1 .-1-:Jf'
.:K

r\

..-:Jl

,.=-'-

Docire

i.

/ Andesite

&
-J
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t.r)

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(, 'O
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(_/

ZI

HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION AND MINERALISATION

AT CERRO
QUEMA

i) Hydrothermal Alteration
The hydrothermal alteration assemblages
encountered in the cerro
euema prospect area are given

in Figure 8 & 9, and plotted on the pH-temperature

stability diagram ( Figure 4 ). These
assemblages may be summarised as follows (
in order of increasing fluid pH and decreasing

temperatures )

1)

This assemblage was encountered in core at

99.4min pDH-g0-04 and indicates intense acidic
alteration at pH of 3-4 and temperatures of >
2500c. At 34-35m in pRH-g1-07, minor kaolinite
is detected with pyrophyllite, implying slightly lower
temperarures ( >200-250"c The sericitic
).
mineral described by williams ( March 1991
pDH-g0-04
at
33.6m
in
)
and 66.5m in pDH-g1-5 is
probably pyrophyllite. Therefore the intense
acid leaching within the oxide zone ar
euemita is
interpreted to be a weathered equivalent
of the quartz-pyrophyllite t Kaolinite + illitic clay
encountered at depth in the sulphide zone.
The quartz - iron oxide alteration in the leached
silicified zones at shallow levels in cerro
Quema
( PRH-91-16 & 17; PRH-92-44 & 52
) are probably weathered equivalents of quartz-pyr-ite
alteration zones similar to those observed
in La pava.
z)

This assemblage is peripheral to the pyrophyllite

* kaolinite assemblage and implies cooling
( temperatures of <200-250oc
), and fluid neutralisation ( pH
to

= 4 ).

3)

This assemblage is encountered at depth

in drillholes pRH-g2-44 and -45, and
incates alteration
at pH 3-4' The presence of dickite
at 45-46m in pRH-g2-45 indicates hotter ( 200-250"c
)
conditions than at E9-90m in PRH-92 -M,
wherekaolinite implies temperatures of
<200-250oc.
Quartz-kaolinite also occurs at shallow levels in
euemita, and is interpreted to represent cooler
more neufal conditions around the
upper margin of the pyrophyllite alteration
zones.
Quartz-dickite alteration has also accompanied brecciation
of porphyritic rocks in the northern
bluffs of Quemita at approximately 750m
asl ( Le-4 ). This assemblage is interpreted
to be
peripheral to' and indicates cooling
from, the pyrophyllite arteration zones encountered
in the
drillholes to the south.

CMS New

kaland

Ltd..

20

4)

This assemblage is marginal to the pyrophyllite and dickitelkaolinite zones

and suggests further
neutralisation ( to pH = 4-5 ) and iocal cooiing of the hypogene fluid.
Carbonate, commonly as
siderite, is encountered where fluids have been considerably neutralised.
The interlayered clay mineralogy in Cerro
Quema indicates increasing higher temperature with
depth in the hydrothermal system. The amount of smectite interlayering in illite-smectite

as

shown by the increasing d-spacing of the 001 reflection from XRD analyses
) increases with
decreasing temperature. Cool smectite-illite ( smectite > 25Vo;001 > 114
) is encountered at
shallow levels in PRH-92-45 ( 15-16m ) and in PRH-53; intermediare amounrs
of smectite ( 1025vo; ffil = 10.4-10.94 , and moderate temperatures of alteration are
encountered at shallow
levels in PRH-91-16 &PRH-92-44,51 & 52; whereas low smecrite clays
/relatively high
temperatures occur at depth in PRH-91-16 ( which correlates with the
occurrence of high
temperature dickite ).
Although it is apparent that temperatures increased with depth in the region pRH-91
of
-16 and,9245; it is however unkely that the intense acid leaching encountered
near surface at Cerro euema
( PRH-91-16/17: PRtr-92-44/52 ) could have derived directly
from depth, since the alreration
mineralogy at deeper levels implies relativeiy neutral conditions. Fluids
of this pH could not have
caused the leaching & silicification encountered at shallow
levels.

It is therefore interpreted that the silicified leached zones encountered at

shallow levels

at Cerro
Quema were derived from a horizontal outflow of hot acid fluids from the
euemita region ( see
Figure 8 ). The absence of silicification between PRH-91-10
pRH-g1-16
and
implies that some
block faulting ( either up or down ) may have taken place.

Quartz-pyrite alteration at 42-43min the El Domo drillhole pRH-g2-57, is probably

the sulphide
equivalent of the quartz-jarosite-limonite alteration within
the oxide zone encountered at shallow
levels in PRH-91-16/17.It is therefore interpreted
that the El Domo region is a slumped blocked
which has been displaced northwad from the cerro
euema area.
s)

The appearance of chlorite implies near neutral fluid pH,

and smectite-illite indicates low
temperatures ( < 100-150oC ) and are encountered
at depth in pRH-91-10 and in the samples from
the La Mesita drillholes ( PRH-92-58 & -60 The alteration
at La Mesita therefore
).

reflecr
conditions at the margins or periphera of the hydrothermal
system observed at euemita, and are
not encouraging for encountering signifrcant mineralisation
to the north or west of euemita.

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

21

ii) Mineralisation

As at La Pava, gold mineralisation extends from the oxide zone into the sulphide zonein some
drillholes ( eg PDH-90-04 ) implying that the oxide grade reflects the primary sulphide grade prior

to supergene weathering. Howeverelsewhere ( eg in PRH-91-16 & -17 ) high grade zones are
encountered at the base of the oxide zone, indicating local supergene enrichment.

Significant copper mineralisation ( 0.4-0 .6 Vo Cu ) was encounrere d, at 96-102m in pDH-90-04.

Enargite ( Cu3AsSa ) has been reported from cores in PDH-90-04 ( 100.9m; Williams March
1991). An examination of a poiished section from core at 99.4m in PDH-90-04 indicated
the
presence of two copper phases overgrowing pynre in vughs and infilling fractures.
A brown
isotropic phase was analysed by eiectron microprobe and found to be arsensulvanite ( a polymorph
of enargite ), with some local minor substitution ( up to 3 wt. 7o of vanadium for arsenic. A late
)
stage grey-purpie anisotropic phase, deposited in veinlets cutting and overgrowing
arsensulvanite
was not identified.There was no observed chalcocite-covellite replacement of these phases
at this
depth.

This style of copper mineralisation is typical of high sulphidation - rype epithermal gold-copper
systems.

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

22

c
Elevotion

imetres o.s.l,)

eoo

i
i

PDH 90-04

PDH 90-05

PRH 91-07

LG-I

LA-2

.\.,\,\.\
.\ \ ,l
v

,).fi

L'
'1

ndesit

Figure

EAST

- WEST CROSS

LEGND

Koolinite

Pyrophyllite

Koolinite

+ lnterloyered Cloys

C- C,

CERRO QUEMA

HYDROT

I-

Quorte + Pyrophyllite
Quortz

SECTION

Elevqtion

(metres

o.s.l.)

8s0

Quortz + Dickiie/Koolinite
Quortz + Koolinite/Dickim
+ Inierloyered Clov

Domo"

Quort + ChloritS
+ Smectire

lllite

PRH C2-57

Quortz + Pyrite / lron Oxide

Oxidotion /Weothering

Upper Level of
Su

lph id e Zone

Upper Extent of
Porphyritic Docite /Andesire

--/
Figure

8:

-/

NORTH-SOUTH

CROSS SECTION

PRH 92 .

.--- -mH g2-4s

:i(q\.'i
\

\\\\
\\\

\\\\
t.

'l0O

50

I :2000

:.'

];

] - -.:RMAL

54

ALTERAT ION

-/

050
r'l

lO0

l:2000

].D, AT

553 IOOE

HYDROTHERMAL I\LTERATION

VI

COMMENTS AND DISCUSSIONS

i) La Pava
It is interpreted that the intense silicifrcation and gold mineralisation encountered at La Pava have
been caused by the upflow of moderateiy hot, iow pH, Au-

depth to the north of the mineralised zone, in the region

* Cu-mineralised fluids, sourced

from

of 549 800E. The mushrooming of the

hot acidic fluids at shallow levels, forming an elongate east-west zone of alteration/silicification, is
interpreted to have been caused by good horizontal primary permeability provided by the shallow
level pyroclastic units. This mushooming has also allowed mixing to occur between the hot acidic

fluids and descending cool meteoric/ground-waters, causing gold mineralisation, and associated
locallised minor copper mineralisation.

An initial influx of hot acidic, possibly volatile-rich fluid, has caused intense acid leaching. A
subsequent event involving fracturing and brecciation of silicified zones, and infilling of leached
cavities was accompanied by sulphide, and associated locallised barite, deposition. This late stage
event was the main copper, and interpreted gold, mineralising phase. Oxidation and weathering

of

sulphides has caused intense supergene acid leaching and remobilisation of gold, aithough there is

only local evidence of supergene enrichment, with oxide grades probably reflecting most initial
sulphide grades.

As mentioned in the introduction, experience from exploration in the west Pacific has shown that
buried high grade porphyry copper deposits ( > 100-200mt @ l-2%o O, ) can be encountered in
the immediate

cinity of

some high sulphidation Au

* Cu deposits ( eg Lepanto-FsE, Philippines;

Wafi-Raffertys", PNG ). These high sulphidation deposits have been formed from hot acid.ic
hypogene fluids which have migrated through a pre-exisiting, deep seated mineralised porphyry
systems, remobilising metals and depositing them at shallower levels ( see Figure 9 ).

It is possible therefore that the gold * copper bearing high sulphidation system

ar La Pava may

have been deposite{.from hypogene, acidic fluid which had migrated through a similar deep seated

porphyry copper deposit, to the north of, and at lower elevations than La Pava ( Figure 9 ).
Although the high sulphidation system at La Pava is substantially smaller than that at Wafi or
Lepanto ( 20-30 mt @ 2-3 glt Au, with 3.6Vo Cu at Lepanto ), this may reflect the size of the
hypogene acid event and not the size of the pre-exisiting porphyry system.

Significantly a UN geochemical survey of the area is reported to have detected copper

mineralisation in the Rio Quema drainage to the north of La Pava ( Chris Torrey pers comm ).

CMS New Zealand Ltd.

24

PRH

92.M

-- "fu.n s2-as
PRH 9r

- 17

\, t'.

\\
x

D&

X,*

xx

)f

\'\

4.

)F

'f *'

'' x

')k

,F

I x:x^x

\ .1.-i.-\'a = \
0

i00

50

1 :20(10

-:i\1AL

ALTERATION

PRH 92-5r

PRH 92"53

\
\

I--=--=+-__
1:2000

55

100--

HYDROTH

ER

MA

/TLTER

ATION

--

\.., \

E',

\'

\ l'\

\
..[\
\

Zone A {High Sulphidation

> 20mt

1090m

at ?5-

3'0 9,u

tAu

\r.-

-F
Raffertyf lPorphyry Coppr
> 200mf at 1'5- 2'0 "/" Cu

msl

(a) Waf i River High Sutphidation Gold -Porphyry Copper Oeposif

( Leach+Erceg 1990; Erceg et at 1991 )

Epithermat 6old

L!panto

(High Sutphidation)

J.s-mr
t 3.6 yo Cu
;tsi
t7--

FSt ( Porphyry Copper)

uPtloY

>200mt al 1-2o/o (u

of

Hot
Acd

6uinaon!
(P

orphyry

500

mt at

Co

pp ar )

0'1"/o Cu

0.4 ppm Alj

Ftuids

(bl Mankayan High Sutphidaiion Copper+ 6old - Porphyry

(Siltiloe 1983; 6arcia 1990 )

Copper Depositq Phitippines

La Pava

High
Sulph i d rtion
Sys te m
500

{i'

? Buricd Porphyry
C

opp

er

m.s.t.

(c) Postutated Bured Porphyry Copper System atDepth,North

of La Pava

Figure 9 : Retafionshps Between lJigh Sutphidation and Porphyry Copper Deposits

Exploration for a potential porphyry system may be carried out by

i) geological and alteration mapping along the northern slope of La Pava, down to Rio
QUema

ii)
hypogene

geophysics; particularly electrical methods to detect pyrite associated with the

acid event.

i) RC drilling into the northern slope of La Pava in order to define the extent of the
steeply, northerly dipping upflow zone, and explore for mineralisation associated with
this upflow zone.

It is recommended that a petrological evaluation be made of the surface mapping and RC drilt
programme in order to further refine the above conceptual model, and re-evaluate the potential for
a

buried porphyry copper system in the immediate aea.

ii)

Cerro Quema

An upflow of hypogene, hot ( >250'C ), low pH ( 3-a ), mineralised fluids is interpreted to have
originated at depths beneath the Quemita area, and outflowed horizontally westward within
shallow pyroclastic units" High temperature conditions did prevail under the Cerro Quema region
but are unlikely to have contributed to the silicification and mineralisation encountered at shallow
depths in the drillholes.
As for La Pava, a two stage influx of hot acid fluids is postulated for Cerro Quema. The late stage
acid event has been accompanied by fracturing and brecciation of silicified dacites/andesites and

overlying pyroclastics, with associated deposition of sulphides ( pyrite + Cu-As-sulphides ) +

barite.
':l

The alteration at El Domo is consistent with this region being slumped to the north from the region
of PRH-91 -16 & -17. The alteration at La Mesita ind.icates that this area is on the periphera or
margins of the hydrothermal system, and does therefore not justify further exploration drilling.

Although the hottest and lowest pH conditions were present at around 750m asl in the Quemita
area, drilling beneath this depth ( eg at ll4-I16m in PRH-91-06 ) indicated lower temperature &
higher pH conditions were present below this level. This temperature reversal shows that PRH9I-16 / PDH-90-04 were dilled through the upflow, which was probably centered slightly to the

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

26

north. However sampling of the bluffs to the north ( LQ-4 ) indicated that the upflow was close to
the PDH-90-04 region.

At Cerro Quema alteration within the upflow zone is characterised by quartz-pyrophyllite-baritesulphides, whereas as La Pava the upflow zone contains quartz-barite/alunite-sulphides ( Figure
4). This difference in alteration mineralogy indicates that conditions at drilled depths in Cerro
Quema ( around 75Om asl ) were hotter, but less acidic, an those at the drilled depths ( 450m asl)
at La Pava, at 300m lower elevation. The pressures within the high sulphidation system were
probably controlled by a porphyry system at depth, rather than by a circuiating, meteoricdominated system. It is therefore considered that it is not necessary to invoke faulting to explain
the differences in temperature of the two hydrothermal systems. The variation in styles of
alteration between La Pava and Cerro Quema can be explained by different rates of reaction and
mixing between the hypogene acidic fluid and the host wallrock and circulating fluids.

A mineralised porphyry system may also be present at depth beneath the Quemita area, however
this could be less accessible than the one postulated beneath La Pava. It is therefore recommended
that any seach for a porphyry system associated with the Quemita-Cerro Quema high sulphidation
system, should await the results of the proposed work at La Pava.

CMS New 7aland Ltd.

27

PHOTOMICROGRAPHS

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

$.J
3-'

i\

ir.\

microlaths and ion oxides. Feldspars ( probabiy plagioclase ) have undergone total replacement to
kaoiinite. Free quartz is absent, indicative of a probable andesitic composition. PRH-92-44 :8990m. Field of view is 2.6mm.

Photo 4 : Tuffaceous textures with elongate glass fragments replaced by kaolinite, set in a fine
grained matrix altered to quartz + dickite. Rock has undergone minor fracturing and associated
suihide deposition. PDH-01-108.2n. Field of view is 2.6mm.

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

29

Photo 5: Fragmental / breccia sample with locally abundant quartz crystal clasts, and porphyritic
rock clasts composed of plagioclase altered to kaolinite set in a matrix altered to granular quartz.
The clasts are set in a minor matrix of pyrite-quartz-kaolinite. PDH-01-90 : 89.6m. Field of view

is 2.6mm.

Framboidal pyrite indicative of cool hydrothermal conditions and temperature reversals

at depth in the Quemita area. PRH-91-06

CMS New Zealand Ltd.

: 114m. Field of ew is 1.3mm.

30

f,

af-

i /l' 5
t-

//

js
':.

i:r.
>:tti
Photo 7

ffi.H.i;

Relatively hard brown arsensulvanite ( AsS ) is cut by late stage vein of unidentified
grey-purple ( Ss ) sulphide in thin veinlets at 99.4m in PDH-04. Field of view is 0.3mm

:,
ra
/''.

J
Photo 8

CMS New

kalqnd Ltd.

'^T,

Chalcopydte infilling cavities in pyrite vein ar 89.6m in PDH-90-01. Chalcopyrite has

been overgrown by, and partially repiaced by, covellite. Field of view is 0.3mm

31

REFERENCES

Garcia :J. ( 1990 ) : Geology and mineralisation characteristics of the Mankayan Mineral District,
Benguet, Philippines. Geol. Soc. Japan pp 17-26
Leach T.M. & Erceg M. ( 1990 ) The Wafi River high sulphidation epithermal gold deposit, PNG.
Proc. Pac-Rim'90 Congress. pp 451-456

White N. ( 1990 ) High sulphidation epithermal gold deposits : characteristics and model for their
origin. In 3rd Syposium on deep-crust fluids. Geol Soc. Japn. pp 5-14

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

32

APPENDICES

CMS New Zealand Ltd.

i) Brief Petrographic Descriptions

ii) Brief Petrographic-Mineragraphic
iii) X-Ray Diffraction Charts

33

Descriptions

APPENDIX

I : BRIEF PETROGRAPHIC

DESCRIPTIONS

LQ3:
Fine grained tan-brown limonite stained, massive sample.

ln thin section porphyritic to rarely glomeroporphyritic feldspar ( probably plagiociase ) totally

altered to Kaolin clay; and rare mafic ( interpreted to be hornblende ) phenocrysts, altered to
Kaoiin + Smectite clay; are set in a fine grained felted matrix of plagioclase microlaths, and mafic
micolites,also altered to Kaolin c1ay. Interstitial chloritic-smectitic clay + scattered iron oxide.
Alteration is interpreted to be all supergene weathering.
Mineral abundances

kaolin clay : 60-70Eo; smectite :2A-257o; chloritic clay : 10-127o; iron oxide : 5-6Vo

LQ6: Andesite(Dacite)
In hand specimen the sample exhibits weak flow lamination with subparallel aligned, abundant
dark green-black hornblende and white plagioclase phenocrysts set in a very fine grained pale

geen-gey matrix.
In thin section relatively abundant (10-I2Vo of the rock ), large unaltered hornblende phenocrysts,
locaily poikilitically enclosing plagioclase, are only locally slightly to partially weathered to
smectite clay. Plagioclase phenocrysts ( 15-20 7o of the section ) are mainly oligoclase to minor

in composition, and have undergone varying degrees of alteration to albite t scattered

illitic clay. A few scattered, trace, rounded, in piaces partially absorbed qtrartzphenocrysts make
up less than0.17o of the section.
The phenocrysts are set in a fine grained felted matrix of plagioclase microlaths, which have
undergone slight to partial alteration to iilitic clay + late stage smectite, which is interpreted to be a
product of weathering. Smectite infills interstitial spaces between microlaths. Minute dusty iron
andesine

oxides and rare honblende microlites are scattered throughout the rock matrix.
The rock is probably andesitic in composition, however the presence of free quartz phenocrysts
implies the composition is probably transitional to dacite.

CMS New Zealand Ltd.

34

PDH-90-01

67.5m

- Dacitic Fragmental / Crystal Tuff

core sample which has been totally altered to a light to pale grey
leached/porous siliceous rock
with abundant fractures and possible breccia zones seaied

by red-brown hematite and tan-brown

limonite.

Intensity of alteration has almost totally masked primary

textures. Rare, locally iarge ( up to 23mm in diameter ), subangular quartz phenocrysts
clasts indicate that the rock is a fine grained
fragmental, probably a crystal tuff, and of probable
dacitic composition. The quaracrystal clasts
are locally shattered, with fragments sealed by very fine
granular e + iron oxides. The quartz
clasts are set in a matrix which has been totally replaced
by a very fine grained granular mosaic of
Quartz + trace mutually intergrown Barite. Scattered iron oxides ( mainly
Hematite, some
Limonite) appears to have in places pseudomorphed subhedrai
to pyritohedral disseminated
Pyrite' The matrix is in places vughy/porous with vughs
exhibiting a semi-tabular habit suggestive
of leached feldspar crystal clasts.
The core is cut by thin late stage fractured panially
to completely fi1led by iron oxides.

PDH-90-04

: 70.2m : Dacitic Fragmental / Crystal Tuff

Light tan-pale grey core with scattered quartz phenocrysts

crystal fragments, which

has

undergone intense leaching to a highly silicified,

porous/vughy rock. Locally vughs have been
partially inlled by iron oxides.
The core has undergone very intense acid leaching
and silicification. Rare scattered subangular
to
sub-rounded, locally shattered, qaartz crystal
fragments ( up to 4-5mm in diameter
) are
suggestive of a fine grained pyroclastics ( probably
a crystal tuff ), and of probable dacitic
composition' Elsewhere the rock is vughy/porous
with tabular habits of the vughs suggestive of
feldspar crystal fragments. The quartz crystal
clasts are set in a very fine grained matrix composed
of granular Quartz, in places intergrown with locaily
abundant hexagonal grains of what are
interpreted to be hydrothermal Apatite.
scattered trace iron oxides disseminated in
the rock matrix
appear to be after
fjlrir".

vughs are often lined by very fine grained

drusy Quanz crystals, with local deposition of
smectite
clay overgrowing quartz.

CMS New

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PDH-90-05

: 13.0m : Dacitic Fragmentat /

Crystal Tuff

Light grey-tan brown, slightly limonite-stained, highly silicified, locally vughy/porous, leached
fine grained core.
In thin section the rock is composed of rare scattered, mainly fine grained, locally large ( up to 13mm in diameter ) clasts or fragments of quartz phenocrysts are indicative of a fine grained
pyroclastic / crystal tuff, of probable dacitic composition. In places rare open vughs / cavities have
a psuedo-tabular habit, suggestive of feldspar crystal fragments.

The interpreted crystal fragments are set in a very fine grained matrix completely altered to an
interiocking mosaic of quartz + abundant hexagonal low birefringent mineral interpreted to be
hydrothermal apatite. Trace iron oxides have mainly been deposited into open wghs.

PRH'9L-07

: 34-35m : Dacitic Fragmental / Crystal Tuff; Local

Rebrecciation

Rock chip sample which range from white, clay-rich, to mortled grey-white rock with ?clay altered
crystal fragments set in a fine grained matrix.

In thin section the rock is a ne grained fragmental composed of abundant feldspar and possible
lithic clasts ( up to 1-2mm in diameter ) completely repiaced by Illiticfficaceous clay + minor
Quartz + ra.re Pyrite, and scattered, locally abundant, angular to rounded quartz crystal fragments
( mostly <lmm, some up to 2-3mm in diameter
).

The crystal fragments are set in a fine grained matrix completely replaced by granular
euartz +
fibrous illitic / Micaceous clay + rare disseminated dusty Pyrite, commonly replaced by iron
oxides. In some chips subangular crystal tuff lithic clasts are set in a fine grained breccia matrix of
Micaceous Allitic clay + minor euarrz + py altered to iron oxides.
Mineral abundance : Quartz :50-60Va; MicaceousAllitic ciay :30-4AVo; Pyrite/iron oxide :5-7Vo

PRH-91-10

: 47-48m :

Dacite ( Local Fragmentat

Light tan-brown limonite stained, to rarely white-grey, highly silicified rock chips, leached,
porous/vughy rock chips.

In thin section the some of the chips appeils to be porphyritic, with rare partially resorbed
rounded, unaltered quartz phenocrysts. many of the vughs exhibit tabula habits indicative of
leached feldspar phenocrysts; elsewhere trace prismatic vughs are strongly indicative of leached
hornblende phenocrysts. Elsewhere angular quartz clasts are indicative of a minor amount of
fragmental lithology.

CMS New

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Phenocryst phases are set in a very fine grained totally silicified matrix replaced by granuiar
interlocking Quartz + rare ?Apatite + abundant Jarosite and/or iron oxides after pyrite.
The rock has been cut by thin, locally discontinuous veinlets of Quartz. Elsewhere Quartz lines
and in places infills vughs.
Mineral abundances : quartz :80-90Vo:jarosite/iron oxides : lo-127o; ?apatite :2-3Vo

PRH-91-13

: 54-55m :

Dacite

& Dacitic Fragmental/Crystal Tuff

Mainly tan-brown limonite stained, highly silicified, locally porous - leached rock chips. Some
chips have been altered to white-grey ciay.

In thin section the chips exhibit both fragmental and porphyritic textures. In some cases quartz are
euhedral are partially resorbed indicative of a porphyritic rock, whereas elsewhere the quartz is
angular implying a fragmentpyroclastic habit.

The phenocrysts/clasts lre set in a fine grained matrix altered to a mosaic of granuiar Quartz +
minor Dickite / Kaolin clay + abundant dusty Limonite
Trace Barite infills a few vughs and thin fractures.

Mineral abundance : quartz :6O-707o; iron oxides :20-25Vo; Dickiteffuolinite : 5-6Vo; Barite: trace

PRH-91-13

: 97-98m : Dacite and Dacitic Fragmental I Crystal Tuff

Red-brown hematite-stained, to light grey-white, highly silicified, massive rock chips with
minimal leached vughs / cavities.
Both porphyritic and fragmental textures are evident in rock chips. Trace partially resorbed quartz
phenocrysts are evident in some chips; whereas angular to subangular quartz clasts are
encountered in others. Trace tabular vughs ( ?after feldspar crystal fragments

) are infilled by

Quartz and/of trace Baite. The quartz phenocrysts & chips are set in a very fine grained silicified
matrix composed o$minute granular Quartz + rare ?Apatite + trace scattered Barite. Trace iron

oxide after sulphides.

One chip cut by saccharoidal Quartz vein. Elsewhere Jarosite after Pyrite occurs
discontinuous veinlets. Limonite lines open vughs.
Mineral abundance : quartz 80-x)vo;jarosite/iron oxide :5-7vo; barite : <lvo

CMS New

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37

in thin

PRH-91-15

69-70m

Andesite (?Dacite

Mostly dark grey fine grained chips with minor white ?clay altered feldspar ?phenocrysrs
/ crystal
clasts.

Feldspar-phyric porphyritic sample composed of abundant fine grained ?plagioclase phenocrysts,

totally altered to Kaolin clay, minor mafic/?hornblende phenocrysts also altered to Kaolin
clay,
and trace quartz phenocrysts iron oxide phenocrysts replaced by Pyrite + Kaolin
clay.
The phenocryst phases are set in a very fine grained felted matrix of feldspar microlaths
replaced
by Kaolin clay + Quarrz, with abundant interstitial euanz.

Rock has been cut by med grained quartz veins, with

Q locally exhibiting ribboned texture
suggestive of porphyry origin. Quartz veining has subsequently undergone fracturing
and local
brecciation with associated deposition of kaolin clay.

PRH-91-16

17-18m

Hydrothermal Breccia of euartz veined Dacitic crvstal

Tuff

Red-brown hematite-stained highly silicifi ed, locally porous/leached vughy

sample.
In thin section the chip is a polymict breccia with rare subrounded clasts

of

i) rare very fine grained rock replaced by minute granular

euartz
ii) abundant quartz crystal vein clasts

iii)

rare granular quartz vein clasts

Set in a very fine grained breccia matrix of granular

Quartz + minor to

locally abundant ?Apatite +

minor disseminated dusty to subhedral /pyritohedral Jarosite and iron
oxides after ?pyrite.
It is interpreted that the rock is a hydrothermal breccia of a quartz
veined dacite/crystal tuff, which
has been sealed by euarrz-pyrite-?Apatite.
Mineral abundance : quartz :80-90vo; ?apatite : g-lavo;Jarositefiron
oxide : g_lyvo
4"

PRH-91-16

: 6l-62m :

Dacite

Pale grey to mottled light grey fine grained ?porphyritic

chips.

In thin section the rock is porphyritic with abundant feldspar (

?plagioclase ) phenocrysts totally
replaced by Illitic clay + minor Kaolin clay + rare
Quartz + pyrite/Sulpides, minor
maficlhornblende phenocrysts altered to Kaolin clay + minor Pyrite/Sulphides
+ rare euartz, and
rare, in places large (up to 1-3mm wide locally partially
resorbed quanz phenocrysts.
),

CMS New

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38

The phenocryst phases re set in a very fine grained matrix completely replaced by Quartz + Illitic
Clay + Kaolin Clay + minor disseminated anhedral to euhedral Pynte ( cubic > pyritohedral )
Rock is cut by very thin ( <lmm ), discontinuous Pyrite veinlets.
Mineral abundance : Kaolin clay : 40-50Vai quaftz 25-30Vo; illitic clay : lS-ZAVo; pyrite : 4-67o

pRH-91.17

: 15-16m : Dacitic Fragmental / crystal vitric Tuff

Single light gfey-white, very fine grained, massive, slightly porous/vughy rock chip, cut by thin
red-bnown hematitic fractures.

In thin section the rock is a fragmental composed of very rare subangular quartz crystal fragments,
by
and fine grained tabular feldspar fragments which have been totally leached and partially infilled
Quartz and/of Limonite.
The clasts are set in a very fine grained totally silicified matrix to granular mosaic of interlocking
Quartz + trace scattered dusty Limonite.
Limonite lines caties and infills thin fractures.

Mineral abundance : quartz :9A-957o; iron oxide :4-67o

PRH-91-17

:74-75m

Dacite

Pale tan-brown slightly Lm-stained sample, mottled white with clay altered feldspar ?phenocrysts;

in places leached vughy-porous silicified chips.

In thin section the chips exhibit porphyritic textures, with abundant feldspar ( ?plagioclase )
phenocrysts, leached and infilled by Kaolin clay t Quartz, minor hornblende phenocrysts also
leached and infilled by murky Kaolin clay + iron oxides, and rare unaltered, in places pafiially
resorbed quartz phenocrysts"

The phencrcrysts phases are set in a fine grained completely silicified matrix replaced by granular
partially
Quartz + scattered dusty iron oxides; with minor leached cubic vughs, after Pyrite, being

infilled by Limonite.
'+"

Mineral abundancs : quartz : 6O-70Vo; Kaolin clay :25-30Vo; kon oxides : 4-6Vo

PRH-91-21

: 45-46m : Dacitic Fragmental / Crystal Tuff ( minor Dacite )

Pale red-grey, slightly hematitic, very fine grained silicified, commonly vughy

leached rock;

of white-gey very fine grained quartz.

In thin section the chips are predominantly fragmental indicated by the presence of rare quartz
crystal fragments. A small number of the chips contain partially resorbed quartz phenocrysts
some clasts are composed

CMS New

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39

of leached vughs are present and these typically

incative of porphyritic texture. Minor number
crystal fragments'
exhibit psuedo-tabula habits, suggesdve of feldspar
totally silicified matrix composed of granuiar
The crystal clasts afe set in a very fine grained,
cubic or pyritohedral habits after Pyrite'
quafiz + scattered rare iron oxide, commonly with
possibly vein clasts'
A few chips are composed of fine grained saccharoidal Quartz'

PRH-91-23

: 15'16m : Dacitic Fragmental /

Crystal Tuff

Palegrey-whitetotan-birown,monite-stained,silicifiedintenselyporous-leachedrockchips
quartz crystal fragments indicative of a fragmentai
ln thin section the chips contain rare to minor
minor
vughs are suggestive of the presence of
origin. a few semi-tabular to tabular leached
kaolin
feldspar ciasts have been infined by a dusty
ferdspar crystal crasts. Some of the reached
clay.

quartz
matrix composed of a mosaic of granular
These ciasts are set in a very fine grained silicifred

of the rock ) leached cubic vughs after

+ scattered, locally relatively abundant ( up to 8-10Vo
by limonite'
Pyrite. Some vughs ae lined to partially infilled
:6-8To;Kaolin clay :4-57o
abundance : quartz :80-907o;iron oxideAimonite
Mineral

PRH.91.23

: 53.54 : Dacitic Crystat Lithic Tuff /

Fragmental

with commonly weathering to tan-brown limonite

Grey very fine grained, silicifred pyritic chips;
saining.

rounded rithic clasts ( up to 2-3mm in

In thin section the rock chips are fragmental with minor
disseminated pyrite; and rare subangular
+
d.iameter ) totally altered to gtanular Quartz scattered
quartz crystal fragments.

silicified to granular quartz +

The rock clasts are set in a very fine grained matrix completely
pyritohedral Pyrite'
locally relatively abundan! disseminated anhedral to commonly
A few clasts are cut by thin Quartz veinlets'
pyrite : 1o-127o
Minerar abundances : ( in unweathered chips ) quartz :80-9ovo;

PRH.91-26:35.36m:DaciticFragmental/CrystalVitricTuff
white to very pale tan-bnown ( sght limonite stained
only trace leached vughs.

CMS New

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40

highly silicified massive rock chips' with

In thin section the rock is a fragmental as evidence by the presence of rare quartz crystal
fragments. A few ieached tabular vughs incated that trace feldspar crystal clasts were also
present.

The crystal fragments are set in a very fine grained matrix completely altered to a mosaic of
interlockin g qlartz" with trace stubby Rutile crystals and scattered iron oxide. In a few chips
relatively abundant ( 8-10Va ) cubic/pyritohedral vughs after leached pyrite, have been partially
infilled by iron oxide / Limonite.
cut by very thin ( <lmm ) fractures partially infrlled by Limonite.

pRH-91-26

: 87-88m : Dacitic Fragmental / Lithic Tuff ( Locatly Brecciated )

Light grey-white, to tan-brown limonite -stained, highly siliceous, moderately porous/vughy,

leached rock.

In thin section the rock chips are fragmental with rare, generally fine grained, angular to
subrounded quartz crystal fragments, semi-tabular leached vughs, probably after minor feldspar
crystal fragments, and rounded to subrounded lithic clasts completely altered to fine grained Quartz
+ iron oxides after Pyrite/sulphides.

The clasts are set in a very fine grained matrix of granular quartz + minor dusty iron oxides, in
places infilling leached cavities after disseminated Pyrite + trace hexagonal scattered Apatite. In
one chip the fragmental rock has undergone brecciated with clasts set in a fine grained matrix of
Quartz + abundant dusty iron oxides ( ?after Pyrite/sulphides )
Mineral abundances : quartz : 80-90Vo; iron oxide ( I}-lSVo ); apatite : trace ( <O.tVo )

PRH-91-26

116-117m : Dacitic Fragmentat

/ crystal vitric Tuff

Dark grey fine grained highly pyritic , to white-grey highly silicified, locally leached to
porous/vughy rock; commonly with tan-brown limonite staining.

In thin section the rock chips are fragmental being composed of rare subangular quartz crystal
fragments, with trace tabular vughs possibly after leached feldspar clasts, infilled by
Pyrite/sulphides + Barite.

The crystal clasts are set in a very fine grained matrix, locally exhibiting weak flow lamination,
totally replaced by very fine grained Quartz + minor disseminated p1'nte ( commonly subhedral to
pyritohedral ) an in most chips altered to Limonite + trace scattered anhedral to locally psuedohexagonal Barite.

Mineral abundance ( in sulphide sample ) : quartz :8U907o; pynte : I0-I27o; barite :2-4Vo

CMS New

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4l

PRH-91-28
Li_eht

: 11-12m : Dacitic Fragmental / Crystat Vitric to Lithic Tuff

grey-white, to red-brown hematite-stained, porous/vughy locally intensely leached rock

chips.

ln thin section e chips are fragmental with rare subangular quartz crystal fragments being set in a
very fine grained matrix locally exhibiting weak flow lamination. The matrix has undergone
complete alteration to a very fine grained mosaic of granuiar Quartz + scattered iron oxides + trace
very locallised hexagonal ?Apatite. Eisewhere the chips appear brecciated with rounded fine
grained totally silicified lithic clasts set in a fine grained matrix of Quartz + iron oxide - possibly a

liic tuff.
\fineral abundances : qualtz :9\957o;iron oxide :5-77o; ?apatite : trace (<0.17o)

PRH-91-28

: 65-66m :

Andesite.

Fine grained'suggary' silicified light grey-white, locally hematite-stained, partialiy vughy/porous,

-eached rock chips.

lnrerpreted to be predominantly porphyritic chips, composed of tabular feldspar ( ?plagioclase )

phenocrysts altered to

illitic clay with core altered to Kaolin clay, or totally altered to Kaolin

cl,ayl?Dickite. A few large prismatic crystal habits, interpreted to be hornblende, have undergone
:oral replacement to Kaolin clay + minor Quartz + iron oxide. Rare chips contain quartz crystal
tragments suggestive of a ?pyroclastic.
The phenocryst phases are set in a fine grained matrix completely altered to granular fine grained

Quanz + interstitial Illitic clay + rare Kaolin clay + dusty kon oxides ( probably after pyrite )
The rock is locally sheared with thin fractures frlled by iron oxides.

\tineral abundance : quartz :8G90Vo; kaolin clay :6-87o; illitic clay :4-57o; iron oxide :8-I07o
PRH-91-43

: 49-50m

Dacite

(Andesite )

Dark grey to grey-gfben, ?porphyritic chips with large white ?phenocrysts set in a fine grained

:ni.
Forphyritic rock chips, composed of plagioclase ( mainly oligoclase, to locai andesine )
phenocrysts, partially replaced by illitic clay; moderately abundant mafic phenocrysts
predominantly homblende, possibly some pyroxene ) totally altered to Smectite / chloritic clay;
rd in a few chips panially resorbed quartz phenocrysts.
"llhe phenocryst
phases are set

in a fine grained felted matrix of plagioclase microlaths, mafic

nicrolites, trace interstitial Smectite + Quartz + disseminated Pyrite + iron oxides.

\[ineral abundances

JMS New

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42

PRH-92-44 z

29-30m:

Dacitic Fragmental / Lithic Tuff

Light grey-white highly silicified rock chips, with local grey ?clasts set in a fine grained
porous/vughy matrix.
In thin section the rock chips are polymict breccias with clasts of

i) porphyritic rock with partially resorbed quartz phenocrysts, and trace tabular vughs
after feldspars, set in a very fine grained matrix totally replaced by granular Quartz +
scattered dusty iron oxides

ii) quartz crystal fragments

iii) totally silicified lithic clasts
These clasts arc set in a breccia matrix of fine granular mosaic of Quartz + scatttered iron oxides,
in places replacing disseminated cubic to pyritohedral Pyrite.

Mineral abundances : quartz :90-957o: iron oxides : 6-8Vo

PRH-92-44

: 89-90m :

Andesite

Fine grained,locally white clay altered, predominantly red-brown, hematite-stained rock chips.

Porphyritic sample composed of rare feldspar ( ?plagioclase ) phenocrysts, totally altered to Kaolin
clay, and trace possible mahc ( ?homblende ) phenocrysts also replaced by Kaolin clay.
The phenocryst phases are set in a fine grained felted matrix of plagioclase microlaths altered to
Kaolin clay + minor Quartz, rare mafic microlites altered to Kaolin clay + iron oxide * Quartz,

with abundant interstitial Hematite, after primary iron oxides and/or pyrite.
One chip cut by a thin ( <1mm Quartz veinlet ); whereas in another chip a ribboned Quartz vein
clast is set in a shear/ fracture zone sealed by Kaolin clay + Hematite.
Mineral abundance : Kaolin clay : 50-60%oi euartz:3U40Vo; iron oxide : l\-rT%o

PRH-92-45

15-16m

Dacite

Dacitic Fragmentat - Crystal Lithic Tuff

Tan-bnown Lm-stained, clay altered rock chips, with a few chips of large quartz ?crystal fragments

/ phenocrysts
Both fragmental and porphyritic textures are exhibited in the rock chips. A few very large ( 4-5mm
in ameter ) rounded, partially absorbed quartz phenocrysts are set in a fine grained matrix altered
o

illitic clay +

Q, with trace Carbonate inclusions. In other chips fine

quartz crystal fragments

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

ile

up to 1-2mm ) subangular
set in a fine grained matrix replaced by Illitic clay + Quartz. In some

43

chips semi-tabular feldspar phenocrysts / crystal frag are altered to illitic clay. Rounded lithic clasts
repiaced by

PRH-92

Illitic clay + Quartz are set in a matrix

- 45 :

45-46m

Dacite

also of

(?Andesite

Illitic clay + Q with

abundant Fe-O.

Light to pale grey, slightly pyritic and silicified, in places mottled ?porphyritic rock chips. A few
clasts of large quartz ?phenocrysts / crystal clasts.

In thin section the rock chips exhibit porphyritic textures with abundant feldspar, minor
mafic/hornblende phenocrysts altered to Dik/K * trace Py/sulphides, and trace quartz phenocrysts.
A few rock chips are quartz phenocryst fragments. The phenocrysts are set in
altered to granular Q + minor
pyritohedral > cubic ) Py.

: 35-36 :

fine grained matrix

Dik/I( + rare disseminated anhedral to commonly subhedral (

One porphyritic rock chip is cut by thin veinlet of

PRH-92-53

Andesite

Dik + Py/sulphides.

Dacite

Pale to dark grey-green porphyritic rock chips.

In thin section the rock chips are porphyritic with abundant feldspar / plagioclase phenocrysts
altered to illitic clay with local overprinting by Sm + iron oxide, moderately abundant hornblende
phenocrysts also totally replaced by illitic clay + smectite + carbonate/siderite; and trace locally
partially resorbed quartz phenocrysts.

in a fine grained felted matrix of plagioclase microlaths and hornblende

altered to illitic + smectitic clay, with abundant interstitial Quartz + scattered

The phenocrysts are set

microlites

disseminated Pyrite.

Mineral abundance : quartz 4A-5A7o; illitic clay :2A-25Vo: smectite : L5-20Vo; siderite :8-lAVo;
ion oxide :3-5Vo

PRH-92-60

51-52m

Pale to dark grey, locally limonite stained ?porphyritic sample with large phenocrysts, set in a fine

grained matrix.

In tttin section the rock chips are porphyritic and composed of abundant feldspar ( ?plagiociase )
phenocrysts totally altered to Ch + Sid + ?kaolin clay; minor hornblende phenocrysts also altered
to Ch + Sid + Q + Fe-O; and a few race partially resorbed quarrz phenocrysts.
The phenocrysts are set in a very fine grained matrix completely altered to Ch + Q + scattered
disseminated Pyrite + Sid. The alteration has completely masked all primary textures in the matrix.

Mineal abundance : quartz : 25-3O7o; chlorite : 25-307o; siderite : 30-4OVo; iron oxide : l2-157o

CMS New

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44

PRH-92-73

: 80-81m :

Dacite

Andesite

Light tan-brown, limonite-stained to red-brown, hematite stained, fine grained silicified, leached
porous/vughy rock chips.
Porphyritic sample composed of abundant leached tabular feldspar / piagioclase phenocrysrs,
infilled by Kaolin clay + iron oxides, or open and lined by iron oxides; possibie mafic
( ?hornblende ) phenocrysts also leached and infilled by a kaolin clay; and trace rounded,
locally
partially resorbed quartz phenocrysts.
The feldspar and quartz phenocrysts Lre set in a very fine grained matrix which has undergone
complete replacement to granuiar interlocking Quartz + minor scattered dusty iron oxides +
trace
Baite.

Mineral abundance : quartz 70-8A7o; kaolin clay : 10-15 7o; konoxide : 6-8Va; barite - <g.l7o

PRH-92-73 z r47-L48m

Dacitic Fragmentat

/ Lithic crystal ruff

\fainly tan-brown limonite stained silicified leached vughy rock chips; with rare dark grey chips
cut by thin Quanz veinlets.

In thin section the rock chips are observed to be fragmental rocks composed of rare quartz
crystal
iagments, and local tabular leached vughs after feldspar crystal fragments, which
have been lined
iron
oxide;
and locally partiaily infilled by Barite. A few chips are composed of clasts of quarrz
ry
:nstals and rounded highly silicified lithic clasts.
The lithic and crystal clasts are set in a very fine grained matrix
of granular quartz + rare iron
xides + trace Barite ( up to |A-lSVo in one clast A couple of chips are
composed of fine
).
sccharoidal Quartz, and are interpreted to be vein clasts.
\fineral abundance : quarrz :80-90To: iron oxide : l}-l2vo:barite <O.lvo

PRH'92'78

132-133m

_t

: Dacitic Fragmentat / crystar ruff

{

}etre grey

to tan-brown, limonitic, highly silicified, leached porous/vughy rock; with large

:rrsmatic ?phenocrysts ( ?hornbiende altered to limonite.

)
;:erpreted to be a porphyritic rock composed of locally abundant tabular
leached vughs after
:sioclase phenocrysts, which have been partiauy infilled by Limonite;
local Barite

fills

':gfrs' Elsewhere

lie

few chips contain

some

rare rounded, to partially resorbed quartz phenocrysts.

phenocrysts are set in a very fine grained matrix of granular

Quartz + scattered iron oxides.
rrhtreral
abundance : quartz :90-95Vo; iron oxide _ 7_gTo; barite : <O.lTo

}ew kaland Ltd"

45

Pm.H-92-86

: 60-6Lm

Dacite

/ Dacitic

Fragmental

Irue grey to hematitic-limonitic stained, highly silicified, locally leached porous/vughy rock chips;

with ?crystal fragments replaced by iron oxide.

lkps exhibit both fragmental / pyroclastic and porphyritic textures. Rare quartz is both rounded to
r.nnally resorbed in porphyritic samples, to subangular in fragmental chips. In some chips
cuartr1'

:eusoas have been totally leached and infilled by kaolin clay + iron oxides.
The ciasts / phenocrysts are set

llq, -

in a very fine grained matrix of gtanular quartz + interstitial kaon

scattered iron oxides.

rlffineral abundance : quartz :8O-907o: kaolin clay

PWH-92-86

: 140-141m :

: 10-157a;kon oxide :6-87o

Dacite

lh}jte to grey-white highly leached vughy/porous silicified rock chips.

&rmhgitic sample composed of minor leached feldspar phenocrysts which have been infilled by
:xrK + Al, and trace partially resorbed quartz phenocrysts. These phases are set in a fine grained
mmrr rctally altered to granular Quanz + minor Alunite
lhffinlrral abundance : quartz : 80-X)7o; alunite : 8-I0Vo; Kaolinite/dicKte :2-3Vo

flilS

-\-erv

kaland Ltd.

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APPENIDIX

II : BRIEF PETROGRAPHIC-MINERAGRAPHIC

LQ-4 : Brecciated

DESCRIPTIONS

Dacite

4m wide, apparently near vertical zone of intense quartz-pyrite altered, silicified ?porphyritic rock
with clay-pyrite on wallrock.

In thin section the sampie is a fragmentaVbreccia rock with :

i) subrounded porphyritic clasts with feldspar phenocrysts totally replaced by Dik/K +
rare Pylsulphides; and a few clasts with large, parrially resorbed quartz phenocrysts. the
phenocrysts phases ate set in a fine grained matrix altered to granular
Quartz + rare disseminated
Pyt DildKaoiin ciay
) quartz crystal fragments

The clasts are set in a very fine grained matrix altered to K/Dik + t trace Micaceous clay +
Q
moderately abundant Py/sulphides, with local Pylsulphide flooding. Elsewhere KlDik has flooded
the matrix forming elongate clay rich zones.

Py (2-4Vo ) >> Po = Rt
Py occurs as mainly anhedral, rarely subhedrpyritohedral grains predominantly disseminated in
the breccia matrix, rarely disseminated in porphyritic clasts, and as trace grains replacing
phenocryst phases. Some Py contain minute ovoid Po, and irregular Rt inclusions.

PDH-01

- 89.6m : Dacitic Fragmental /

Breccia

Grey silicified, pyritic, porphyritic sample; fractured and brecciated by pyrite-dickite veining.
I-ocal secondary malachite stainin g.
Foorly sorted, mainly clast supported fragmental/breccia sample composed of angular porphyritic
:iasts containing feldspar phenocrysts totally altered to Kaolin clay, set in a fine grained.
matrix
granular Quartz + Kaolin clay + rare disseminated PylSulphides. The clasts are set in
by
=piaced
a

rinor matrix containing locally shattered quartz crystal fragments within a very
fine grained
:reccia groundmass altered to euartz + pyrite/sulphide + Kaolin clay
4' t 3-sEo ) >> co Cpy

{'occurs as anhedral to pyritohedral grains mainly intergrown with e-K in breccia marrix, a
*'iinor grains disseminated
in porphyritic clast matrix, and as trace grains replacing phenocryst
nases. Py is overgrown by trace Cpy in zones of Py flooding of breccia matrix. The
Cpy is
:c'ergrown and commonly replaced by Co. Elsewhere Co is deposited in open vughs in
breccia

natrix.

-}dS .\'ele

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PDH-01

108.2m

Dacitic Crystat Tuff

Grey sulphidic porphyritic rock, cur by Dik lined

fractures
In thin section it appears that the rock is a fragmental
with

subangular quartz crystal fragments,

sub-tabular feldspars totally leached and infilled
by Diffi, and angular glass & lithic clasts also
replaced/infilled by Dik1K. the clasts are set in
a weakly foliated matrix altered to granular
euartz +
DildK + disseminated pylSulphides

The rock has undergone local fracturing and in

situ brecciation, with associated deposition of
PVlsulphides in fractures and in breccia matrix.
Py ( 4-6Vo ) >> Rt
Py is encountered as anhedrai to rarely pyritohedral
grains mainly disseminated in the tuff matrix,
and as minute grains infilling fractures and breccia
zones. The py locaily exhibits etched growth
zones' especially in the cores of Py crystals.
Trace Rt is scattered in the rock matrix.

PDH-04

- 99.4m : Dacite ( ?Dacitic Tuff )

Highly leached/vughy, pyritic, fragmental sample

composed of angular crystal/iithic clasts
fine grained silicified matrix.

ser

in

Interpreted to be a porphyritic rock composed

of tabular leached feldspar phenocrysts, with vughs
partially to totally infilled by Micaceous clay
/ ?Pyr + pyrite + Barite * euartz, and elsewhere
tabular vughs, probably after feldspar are
completely infilled by drusy Barite; moderately abundant
euhedral prismatic hornblende phenocrysts
replaced by Micaceous clay / pyr +euartz + pyrite,
and minor rounded, locally partially resorbed
quartz phenocrysts. In places the quartz are
angular,
and have the appearance of being crystal
fragments. Elsewhere quarrzphenocrysts have
been
fractured and shattered with local recrystailisation
to fine grained euartz"
Phenocrysts / ?crystal fragments are
set in a very fine grained matrix completely
altered to a mosaic
of granular Quartz + abundant disseminated Pyrite/sulphides;
with feldspar and hornblende
microlires altered to pyr + py.
The rock is cut by network of thin
S/sulphide veins which are commonly infilled by Barite.
Py ( 10-1570 ) > brown isotropic mineral
) gey-purple anisotropic mineral ; cu-suiphi des < lro
Py is encountered as abundant anhedral
to commonly pyritohedral grains disseminated in the
matrix, infilling/replacing phenocyrst phases
and deposited in thin veins. py is commonly

overgrown

by

brown isoftopic phase in veins & vughs. a grey-purple

anisotropic phase
overgrows both Py & brown phase, panially
replaces brown phase and infills late stage
fractures

cutting Py.

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PDH-05

- 66.5m : Dacitic Crystat Tuff

Dark grey, highly pyntic silicified sample, cut by light grey-green ?Dilr/K veinlets.
Fragmental sample composed of feldspar clasts replaced by K + illitic
clay + pylsulphides,
hornblende ?clasts/phenocrysts altered to illitic clay + Micaceous clay/?pyr +
K, scattered quartz
crystal fragmenrs, and elongated angular lithic/glass fragments altered to illitic +
Kaolin clay. In
places quartz are large rounded and partially resorbed suggestive
of a porphyritic habit; possibly
lithic porphyritic clasts ?
Rock is cut by rare thin , partially discontinuous pyritic veinlets.
Py ( 6-8Eo ) >> Rt

Py occurs as mainly anhedral to rarely pyritohedral grains disseminated in

the tuff matrix and
infilling thin fractures. The Py commonly exhibit etched growth zones, mostly in the
cores of
gains. Trace Rt are observed as inclusions in Py, and as trace scattered grains
in the rock matrix.

PRH-O6-114m

Dacite

Dacitic Fragmental/Tuff

Rock chips range from very fine grained grey silicified pyntic rocks,
to momled grey-white ?claysilica-pyite altered ?porphyntic rocks.

Rock chips range from porphyritic rock with abundant feldspar phenocrysts
altered to mainly
Kaolin clay * Pylsulphides, locaily with illitic clay, and rare to rrace
large paniay resorbed quarrz
phenocrysts; set in a matrix completely replaced by fine grained
granular euartz + Kaolin clay +
rare illitic clay. Elsewhere chips are fragmental with feldspar
and quartz crystal fragments also set
in a matrix of granular Q + Kaolin clay + Py. In some chips the rock
is sheared and brecciated

with rounded silicified rock clasts/crystal fragments and quartz crystal

clasts set in

foliatesheared pyritic matrix.

Py ( 4-6Vo ) >> Rt

Py is encountered mainly as anhedal to rarely subhedraVpyritohedral

grains disseminated in the
matrix mainly of the fragmental chips, and in minor amounts
in the porphyritic chips, and
replacing feldspar phenocrysts/clasts with kaolin/illitic
clay. l,ocally the py is framboidal in a few
fragmental chips. Rt occurs as trace irregular inclusions
in a few py grains.

PRH-91-10

- 94m : Dacite /

Dacitic Fragmental/Tuff

Pale grey-green, rock chips; in places cur by white

thin veinlets.

In thin section both porphyritic and fragmental chips are evident.

with some polphyritic clasts
containing abundant feldspar phenocrysts altered to kaolin
clay +* Carb + illitic clay, set in a fine
grained matrix altered to
Quartz + Kaolinite + Illitic clay + rare disseminated pylsulphides.

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49

Elsewhere feldspar ( altered to K + Illitic clay

) and quartz crystal fragments are set in a fine
grained Q + Carb + K + Illitic clay matrix.
some clasts are cut by Carb veining, with late stage
Chalcedony grading out to e in open cavities.
Py (3-4Vo )
Py is encountered mainly as anhedral, locally subhedraVpyritohedral,
grains disseminated in the
matrix of both porphyritic and fragmental rock chips,
rarely replacing feldspar phenocrysts/clasts;
and locally intergrown with Carb + in veinlets, where
it commonly lines the vein fractures.
Q

PRH'91'11

'

74m

Brecciated Dacite Fragmentar/Tuff

Fine grained light grey silicified chips; mostly oxidised

to tan -brown Lm-stained.
Polymict, poorly sorted fragmental /breccia sample
composed of rounded rock clasts totally
replaced by fine grained granular
Quartz, and abundant quartz crystal fragments. the clasts are set
in a fine grained matrix of euartz + Barite + pylsulphides.
Py (3-5Vo ) >> Co > Cpy

Py is encountered as anhedral to pyritohedral grains,

mainly intergrown with euar"tz-Barite in
breccia marix, and rarely disseminated in clast

matrix. Trace ovoid cpy inclusions are

encountered in some Py grains. co is observed
infiiling open cavities in breccia matrix, and as
ovoid inclusions, interpreted to be after Cpy, in some py
grains.
PRH-91-13

97m

: Dacitic Crystat Vitric Tuff

Light grey-white, commonly slight tan-b,rown,

Lm-stained silicified rock chips; in places leached
- vughy
In thin section trace small angular quartz crystal
fragments, and rare totally leached feldspar crystal
fragments' in places infilled by Barite; are
set in a very fine grained matrix completely
altered to
granular Quanz + rare Barite + scattered
iron oxides, after pyrite.

All

samples have undergone oxidation, with

trace hematite replacing disseminated pyrite.

PRH-91-1S-69m:

Dacite

Pale grey to mottled light grey, slightly

pyntic rock chips.

Porphyritic rock chips composed of abundant

feldspar phenocrysts, replaced by either Kaolin
clay' or in some chips Illitic clay; and trace quartz
phenocrysts. The phenocryst phases are set in
a
fine grained matrix completely altered to fine
granular Q + minor Kaolin clay + rare disseminated
Pylsulphides + local Iltic clay.
Some of the rock chips are cut by thin veinrets
of chalcedonic euartz.

Py (2-3Vo )

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50

Pyrite is the only opaque encountered in

the section occurring mainry as anhedral, to rarely
subhedravpyritohedral grains disseminated
in the rock matrix, and locally replacing feldspar
phenocrysts. In places the py exhibits
framboidal habits.

PRH-91-16

- 89-90m :

Dacite

Pale grey, sght pyritic and silicified, mortled

light grey ?porphyritic sampie.
In thin section the rock chips are porphyritic
with abundant
places leached and infilled by Kaolin
clay and/or

feldspar /?plagioclase phenocrysts, in

illitic ciay, elsewhere replaced by Kaolin + illitic

clay; minor hornblende phenocrysts generally

altered to kaolin clay; and rare, locally panially

resorbed, quartz phenocrysts.

The phenocryst phases are set in a fine

to medium grained matrix, with vague outlines
of minor,
locally interlocking, feldspar microlaths. The
matrix has ben completely replaced by granular +
e
rare disseminated Pylsulphides t rare
to minor kaolin clay * illitic clay. The locally
coarser grained
interlocking nature of some maricies, suggests
that the rock may be a porphyry
:Y":^*d
rntrustvePy ( 5-7Vo ) >> Rt
Py is ubiquitous in all chips, occurring
mainly as anhedral to commonly subhedral ( pyritohedral
.
cubic ) grains disseminated in the porphyry
matrix; as trace discontinuous py veinlets; and
as trace
gains replacing phenocrysts phases.
A few Py contain minute irregular Rt inclusions.

PRH'91'17

' 44-45m: Dacite /

Dacitic Fragmentat

- Crystat/Lithic Tuff

Light grey to mottle /veined white ?kaolin

clay, slight silicified rock chips.
In thin section the rock chips are porphyritic
to fragmental. Some chips are composed of
tabular
feldspar phenocrysts, altered to Kaolin
+ Illitic clay, and resorbed rounded quartz
phenocrysts, set
in a fine grained matrix altered to granular
euartz + Kaorin clay + Illitic clay + rare disseminated
Pylsulphides' Elsewhere chips are
composed of abundant large quartz crystal
fragments set in a
fine grained Q + Kaolin clay + trace Py
matrix. It is interpreted that the rock is a fragmental
containing porphyritic lithic clasts.
In places the quartz crystal fragments have undergone
shattering and recrystallisation to granular
euarz.
Py ( 2-4Vo ) occurs in rare amounts
as minute ( up to 30p ), mainly anhedal
to subhedral (
pyritohedral ) grains disseminated
in the rock matrix, and infilling thin fractures cutting
quartz
crystal / phenocryst phases.

CMS New

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51

PRH-91-21

- t06m :

Dacire

Fine grained massive grey pyritic,

to motded white-grey ?porphyritic
rock chips; some chips
exhibit red-brown hematite_staining.

In thin section the rock chips are porphyritic

with minor to moderate ferdspar phenocrysts
are
either leached and infilled by,
or altered to, Kaolin clay + pylsulphides,
with scattered rare,
panially resorbed' quartz phenocrysts.
The phenocryst phases are set in
a fin, commonly dusty,
fine grained matix completely altered
to mainry granular euartz + minor disseminated
Pflsulphides
+ rare local Kaolin clay.

some chips have been cur by thin

fracrures infiiled by Kaorin clay + pylsulphides.
Py ( 4-6Vo ) >> Rt

Py is virtually the only opaque encountered,

occurring predominantly as anhedral
to rarely
pyritohedral grains disseminated
in the porphyritic matrix, as trace grains
intergrown with Kaolin
clay replacing/infilling feldspar phenocrysts,
and as trace grains infilring fracrures,
also with
Kaolin clay.

PRH'91'29

- 29'30m:

Dacitic Fragme ntar /crystar Lithic

Tuff

Light to pale dark grey, slight pyritic,

clay-silica altered massive rock chips.
In thin section the rock chips exhibit
fragmental rextures, with subrounded
porphyritic clasts
composed of feldspar phenocrysts
altered to Kaolin t illitic clay +
e, set in a fine grained felted
matrix of feldspar microlaths, completely
replaced by granular
e + minor Kaolin clay + rare
disseminated Pylsulphides' The
lithic clasts, and rare subangular quartz
crystal fragments, are also
marix of granular Quartz + Kaolin
crav r illitic clay + rare disseminated

-d;:::fied

Py ( 2-4vo ) is the only opaque

encountered, occurring as anhedral
to cornmonty pyritohedral
grains' rarely disseminated
in the porphyritic clasts, but reratively
abundant in the fine grained
marix, intergrown with Kaolin
clay + e.

PRH-92'sl'4r'42m:
;ffJ:.,1T:rT"r,in

Dacitic Fragmentar /crystar Lithic Tuff

places mottled white, slightly

silicified rock chips; some cut by very
thin

In thin section the rock chips

mostly exhibit a fragmental texture,
with feldspar crystar
altered to carbonate

clasts
+ rae Kaolin clay +
Q, rare quartz crystal frag, and trace lithic
clasts altered to

CMS New Zealand Ltd.

52

illitic clay. Some

chips exhibit porphyritic textures with rounded partially resorbed quartz

phenocrysts. these porphyritic chips are interpreted to represent lithic clasts in the fragmental.
The clasts / phenocrysts are set in a fine grained matrix replaced by granular
+ scattered

carbonate + rare Kaolin clay + rae disseminated pylsulphides.

Many clasts are cut by thin, locaily discontinuous, carb veinlets.

Py (3-4Vo ) is the only opaque encountered, occurring as anhedral to rarely pyritohedral grains
disseminated in the rock matrix" In places trace very poorly crystalline Py overgrows some
earlier,. better crystalline grains.

PRH-92-57

42-43m

Dacitic Fragmentat

/ crystar - Lithic Tuff

Very fine grained pale grey, silicified massive rock chips.

In thin section both porphyritic and fragmental textures are evident. In some clasts large rounded
quartz phenocrysts occur, elsewhere quartz crystal fragments are encountered. Minor leached
tabular feldspar are partially to totally infilled by quartz, elsewhere leached vughs are infilled by
Pylsulphides. The crystal fragments / phenocrysts are set in a hne grained matrix totally siiicified
to granular Quarz + disseminared pylsulphides.
Some clasts are cut by thin fractures lined by Quartz and infilled by Pylsulphides.
Py ( 6-8Vo ) >> Rt > Co > Cpy
Py occurs as moderately abundant anhedral to commonly pyritohedrai grains disseminated in
the
matrix of both fragmental and porphyritic rock chips, infilling Q veining and as trace grains

infilling leached feldspar vughs. Some Py contain trace minute Rt inclusions; elsewhere Rt is
encountered overgrowing Py in veining. A single chip contains co which overgrows py in
vein;
with trace cpy in co indicating that co is probably supergene after cpy.

PRH-92-58 z 77-78m

Dacitic Fragmentat

/ crystat - Lithic Tuff

Pale grey to light grey, in some cases grey-brown, locally pyritic rock chips;
some cur by thin ( up

to 1mm wide ) white veinlets.

Both porphyritic and fragmental textures are edent in the rock chips. In places
quartz is elongate
and angular indicative of a fragmental, whereas elsewhere quartz forms rounded panially
resorbed
grains implying a porphyritic textures. The feldspar are generaily tabular
and totally replaced by

illitic clay t Carb;

whereas rare large hornblende are rotally repiaced by Ch + Carb + Fy. The
matrix is intensely altered with some chips composed of illitic -chlorite altered feldspar
microlaths;

and elsewhere elongate ?glass fragments are also altered to

CMS New

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53

illitic clay. The groundmass it

commonly altered to very fine grained Quartz + Chlorite + Carbonate + disseminated Py/sulphides
+ minor illitic clay.
The chips are in places cut by thin veinlets of Carb

Pylsulphides.

Py (3-5Vo ) >> Rt > Po

Py is encountered as anhedral to euhedral ( Pyritohedral > cubic ) gains disseminated in the rock
matrix, replacing crystal clasts / phenocrysts; and intergrown with Carb + Q in thin veiniets. A few
Py contain minute inclusions of Rt, and trace ovoid Po inclusions.

PRH-92-77

147-148m

Dacitic Fragmental

/ Crystal-Lithic Tuff

Dark grey, highly pyritic and silicified, locaily vughy / leached rock chips.
In thin section the chips exhibit fragmental textures with minor sub-rounded lithic clasts altered to
fine granular Q + minor Py, and rare quartz crystal fragments. The clasts are set in a f,rne grained,

locally vughy / leached matrix completely replaced by fine granular Q + abundant disseminated
Pylsulphides.

A few clasts are interpreted to be vein clasts of fine-med grained saccharoidal Q + minor
Pylsulphides.
Py (8-10Eo ) >> Rt

Py is relatively abundant occurring as anhedral to euhedral ( cubic = pyritohedral ) grains

disseminated throughout the silicified matrix; forming aggregates in discontinuous veinlets, and
intergrown with Q in vein clasts. As elsewhere a very poorly crystalline late stage Py overgrows
the more crystalline Py. Trace Rt occurs as inclusions in some Py grains, and is commonly
encountered as trace grains overgrowing Py.

CMS New

kaland Ltd"

54

APPENDIX

CMS New

kaland Ltd.

III . X-RAY DIFFRACTION

55

CHARTS

lt

lv,,/tt

- | L9t so/ z'

tn/'tz

fr'srl

' {rJclrs

rl
i

o
o
o
C;

)
)

)
)
)