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Evolution of the magmatic-hydrothermal system at the Erdenetiin Ovoo porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, Mongolia: constraints on the relative timing of alteration and mineralization

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Abstract

The evolution of the magmatic-hydrothermal system that formed the Triassic Erdenetiin Ovoo porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, northern Mongolia, is reconstructed through the study of the sequence of stockwork veining and the petrographic characteristics of the veins, as well as the cathodoluminescence and fluid inclusion characteristics of the vein quartz. Early A veins associated with potassic alteration formed at temperatures ≳ 500 °C under lithostatic pressures. The quartz in these veins shows a blue cathodoluminescence emission and is extensively recrystallized. Subhedral to euhedral quartz crystals contained in AB veins precipitated at the ductile to brittle transition at ~ 400–450 °C. The quartz crystals have cores showing a long-lived purple cathodoluminescence color with well-developed growth zoning, whereas the rims of the crystals lack growth banding and have a brownish-red cathodoluminescence emission. Fluid inclusions in the A and AB veins show elevated CO2 concentrations but show no evidence for immiscibility, implying that Erdenetiin Ovoo formed at ≳ 5 km below paleosurface. Quartz in the A and AB veins is crosscut by molybdenite ribbons. The presence of encapsulated molybdenite and sericite grains along growth zones in the quartz rims of the subhedral to euhedral quartz crystals constrains the timing of Mo introduction and suggests an association with the sericite alteration of the host rocks, which affected 50–60% of the deposit. Elevated Cu grades at Erdenetiin Ovoo are linked to the occurrence of C veins, which consist primarily of chalcopyrite and pyrite. These veins surrounded by halos of sericite-chlorite alteration lack quartz as a gangue mineral, suggesting formation at conditions of retrograde quartz solubility at ~ 400 °C and hydrostatic pressures. Late D veins formed at ≲ 375 °C and hydrostatic conditions. The veins consist primarily of pyrite and are associated with texturally destructive sericite alteration of the host rocks. The study demonstrates that hypogene Cu mineralization at Erdenetiin Ovoo was predated and post-dated by sericite alteration, which has important implications to alteration vectoring in porphyry exploration worldwide.

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Acknowledgements

The staff of Erdenet Mining is acknowledged for their assistance during field work at the mine site. We acknowledge Undrakhtamir Aleksandr and Tsedendamba Oyunbuyan for initiating this research and discussions on the geology of the deposit. Damdinsuren Muunuu, Amarzaya Khorolgara, and Chuluun Tsedev are thanked for handling the challenging logistics associated with mine visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to Tugsbuyan Tsedenbaljir for providing additional logistic support. Field work was assisted by Batgerel Battushig, Munkhshur Munkhzaya, Tudev Davaadorj, Khatansaikhan Ochirpurev, Bazarsad Ganbayar, and Tselmeg Tumen-Ulzii. This research would not have been possible without Seequent providing support of the IMAGO and Leapfrog Geo3D platforms used during the field research at Erdenetiin Ovoo. We thank Jingjing Zhu and Lawrence Carter for reviewing the manuscript and Karen Kelley for editorial handling.

Funding

This work was financially supported by Erdenet Mining Corporation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Mineral Resources Science, Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1516 Illinois Street, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    Thomas Monecke & T. James Reynolds

  2. FLUID INC., 1401 Wewatta St. #PH3, Denver, CO, 80202, USA

    T. James Reynolds

  3. Trigteq, 18-13, Olympic St, 1st Khoroo, Sukhbaatar District, Ulaanbaatar, 14220, Mongolia

    Tsolmon Gonchig & Natsagdorj Batbayar

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  1. Thomas Monecke
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  2. T. James Reynolds
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  3. Tsolmon Gonchig
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  4. Natsagdorj Batbayar
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Correspondence to Thomas Monecke.

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Monecke, T., Reynolds, T.J., Gonchig, T. et al. Evolution of the magmatic-hydrothermal system at the Erdenetiin Ovoo porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, Mongolia: constraints on the relative timing of alteration and mineralization. Miner Deposita (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-023-01221-8

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