Gold and copper deposits, Slides of Economics

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Gold and copper

deposits of Oyu Tolgoi

(North Hugo)

Lecturer: Andy Chater Submission Date: 11/5/ Course: GEM 2110 Economic Geology I USI: 1034581

History and discovery

• (^) the area was first discovered in

Bronze age times. But it later gained

recognition by 1983, when local

herdsmen reported the presence of

green stained rocks at South Oyu.

• (^) And by 1996, The Magma Copper

Company authorized a porphyry

exploration program in Mongolia,

Where Field work began in 1997.

Copper ore from La Viñita, Valle del Elqui, Chile. (Image by S. R Wikimedia Commons ). A team from eastern Mongolia to Oyu Tolgoi and BHP applies for an exploration license for the Oyu Tolgoi area.

Geologic setting

the Oyu Tolgoi cluster of seven porphyry Cu-Au-Mo deposits is a linear, 12 km long, mineralized trend carrying many tonnes of Copper and gold. The mineralization is linked to multiple intrusions of late Devonian quartz- monzodiorite intruding Devonian juvenile basaltic lavas and lesser volcaniclastic rocks, overlain by late Devonian basaltic to dacitic pyroclastic and volcano sedimentary rocks.

Mineralization in the North

Hugo Dummet Deposit

• (^) bornite rich mineralization is linked to the highest grades.
• (^) The quartz-monzodiorite is prominent a host rock that has undergone substantial sericitic and advanced argillic alteration.
• (^) At lower depths, however, chalcopyrite takes over as the predominant sulfide.

Formation of Deposits in Hugo

• (^) Cu-Au mineralization related to potassic alteration occurred in this region; this mineralization was mostly likely formed in basaltic hosts.
• (^) Intense quartz-sericite alteration in the higher portions of syn-mineral intrusions, was probably due to the downward reflux of cooled, late-magmatic hydrothermal fluid.
• (^) Later stage, advanced argillic alteration and high sulphidation mineralization overprinted portions of the porphyry deposit was made possible by syn-mineral longitudinal faulting.

How the ores goes through processing

• (^) First, explosive charges are planted in bored holes and blasted, by which the ore is collected.
• Haul trucks transport the ore to the main crusher, while waste is transported to landfills.
• (^) Ore is transported to the concentration plant via a 2.7 km conveyer belt after being crushed.
• (^) The Ore then undergoes reduction in mills, before being moved to flotation tanks for skimming off copper, gold, and silver.
• (^) Should be left with copper concentrate in powdered form. 30 Komatsu 930Е-4SЕ trucks are operation at Oyu Tolgoi.