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©1971 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc.

Economic Geology, v. 66, p. 1244-1249

1244 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION

Fre~ze, A. c., 1966! On the. orig,in of the Sullivan orebody, Maruyama, S., 1967, Kuroko geology: World Mining, April,
Kimberly, B. c., m Tectonic History and Mineral Deposits p. 15-16.
of the Western Cordillera: Spec. v. No.8, Can. lnst. Min. McCartney, W. D., and Potter, R R, 1962, Mineralization
and Metall., Montreal, p. 263-294. as related. to structural deformation, igneous activity and
Garlick, W. G., 1964, Association of mineralization and algal sedImentatIOn in folded geosynclines: Can. Min. Jour.,
reef structures on Northern Rhodesian Copperbelt Ka- v. 83, n. 4, p. 83-87 .
.tanga and Australia: ECON. GEOL., v. 59, p. 416-427: Miller, L. J., 1960, Massive sulfide deposits in eugeosynclinal
GIll~I~, J., 1935, Keratophyres of Eastern Oregon and the belts: ECON. GEOL., v. 55, p. 1327-1328.
.spIhte problem: Am. Jour. Sci., v. 29, n. 2, p. 225-252.
GIlmour, P., 1962, Notes on a non-genetic classification of
Neale, E. R w.., .Beland, J., ~otter, R R, and Poole, W. H.,
19?1, A p:ehmmary tectonic map of the Canadian Appala-
copper deposits: ECON. GEOL., v. 57, p. 450-455. chian regIOn based on age of folding: Trans. Can. lnst.
- - , 1965, The origin of the massive sulphide mineralization Min. Metall., v. 64, p. 405-412.
in the N oranda district, Northwestern Quebec: Proc. Pye, E. G., 1957, Geology of the Manitouwadge area: Onto
Geol. Assoc. Can., v. 16, p. 63-81. Dept. Min. 66th Ann. Rept., v. 66, pt. 8.
- - 1 an~ Still, A. R, .1968, The geology of the Iron King
Rosen-Spence, A., 1969, Genese des roches a cordierite-
mme, In Ore DepOSIts of the United States, 1933-1967: anthopyllite de gisements cupro-zinciferes de la region de
Amer. lnst. Min. Metall., New York, p. 1238-1257. Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada: Can. Jour. Earth Sc.,
Gross, .W. H., amI. Sijpkens, J. P., 1965, The cosmic origin V. 6, n. 6, p. 1339-1345.
of mmeral deposIts: Trans. Can. lnst. Min. Metall., v. 68, Routhier, P., 1958, Sur la notion de "types" de gisement
p. 25-29.
metalliferes: Bull. Soc. Geol. France V. 6 pt 8 p
Ho,rikoshi, E., 1969, Volcanic activity related to the forma- 237-242. ' ,.,.
tIon of the kuroko-type deposits in the Kosaka distri-::t,
Japan: Min. Dep., v. 4, p. 321-345. - - , 1963, Les Gisements Metalliferes: Masson, Paris.
Hutchinson, R W., 1965, Genesis of Canadian massive Sef!1enov, A. I:, and Serpukhov,. V. I., 1957, General prin-
sulfides reconsidered by comparison to Cyprus deposits: CIples of regIOnal metallogenetIc analysis and methods of
Trans. Can. lnst. Min. Metall., v. 68, p. 286-300. compiling metallogenetic maps for folded regions: Dept.
John, T. U., 1963, Geology and mineral deposits of East- of Geol. and Cons. of Resources of the U.S.S.R, New
Central Balabac Island, Palawan Province, Philippines: Series, Issue 22, Gen. Ser., Moscow.
ECON. GEOL., v. 58, p. 107-130. Shatzki, N. S., and Bogdanoff, A. A., 1957, Explanatory
Katsuma, M.. 1967, "Harmonic mining" at Shakani mine: notes on the tectonic map of the U.S.S.R. and adjoining
World Mining, April, p. 17-19. countries: State Scientific and Technical House of Geo-
Kalliokoski, J.. 1965, Metamorphic features in North Amer- logic and Conservation Literature, Moscow (Transla-
ican massive sulfide deposits: ECON. GE.OL. V. 60 n. 3 tion in Inter. Geol. Rev., v. 1, p. 1-49, 1959).
p. 485-505. ' , , Stanton, R L., 1962, Elemental constitution of the Black
Kinkel, A. R., Hall, W .. E., and Albers, J. P., 1956, Geology ~tar orebodies, Mount lsa, Queensland, and its interpreta-
and base-metal depOSIts of West Shasta copper-zinc dis- tIon: Trans. lnst. Min. Metall. Lond., v. 72, p. 69-124.
trict, Shasta County, California: U. S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Williams, H., 1966, Geology and mineral deposits of the
Pap. 285. Chisel Lake map-area: Geol. Surv. Canada, Mem. 342.

INTERMINERAL INTRUSIONS AND THEIR BEARING ON THE ORIGIN

OF PORPHYRY COPPER AND MOLYBDENUM DEPOSITSl

Introduction if not in most porphyry deposits, much of the hypo-

In recent years there has been a review of the gene mineralization is in fractures or is fracture con-
origin of several types of metalliferous deposits. In trolled, regardless of whether or not the mineraliza-
many instances it has been concluded that the classical tion is in intrusive or other rocks. Furthermore, the
concept of magmatically derived hydrothermal fluids superposition of extensive hydrothermal alteration on
as sources of ore and gangue minerals is not in accord intrusive rocks is a clear indication of major hydro-
with observed relationships. This conclusion plus thermal activity post-dating magmatic activity. In
many deposits there is little doubt that much of the
the fact that there are many barren or poorly mineral-
ized granitic terranes have led many geologists to mineralization and associated alteration post-dated
question the importance of granitic magmas in the the host intrusion at its present level of exposure;
that is, the silicate magma must have crystallized and
formation of ore deposits.
fractured prior to the hydrothermal activity that pro-
The well-established close spatial association of
porphyritic felsic and intermediate intrusions with duced the ore deposit and related alteration.
porphyry molybdenum and copper deposits made Many geologists, such as 'F ournier ( 1967) and
Nielsen (1968), have built up a great body of cir-
them obvious choices for testing the widely accepted
cumstantial geological evidence in support of a ge-
classical hydrothermal theory of ore formation.
netic relationship of spatially associated intrusions
Most geologists familiar with porphyry districts
have little doubt of the genetic relationship of the and porphyry deposits. Considerable radiometric
deposits and intrusions. But it has been very difficult dating of intrusive rocks and ore deposits has been
to prove convincingly such a relationship. In many, done that also supports a close temporal .relationship.
However, the accuracy of the methods is such that
1 Publication authorized by the Director, Geological Sur-
vey of Canada. there is at least a 1 or 2 million year error in reported
 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION 1245

dates. Skeptics would point out that a great deal port the orthomagmatic model described earlier, al-
can happen in a million years and that in most cases though the nature of the data and scale factors are
there is no absolute guarantee that the dates do not not such that the problems can be conculsively re-
represent a cooling or "last heating" event. N ever- solved." And Noble (1970) in his discussion of
theless geochronologists and geologists have presented metal provinces of the Western United States con-
additional but more indirect evidence suggesting that cluded that the metals must have come from the
the dates can be taken as the ages of intrusion and mantle, and that the role of intrusion was probably
hydrothermal activity. For instance, for some areas that of a structural control rather than a source.
it has been demonstrated that barren and "produc- Since field facts are so scarce there would seem to
tive" intrusions are about the same age; minor in- be little hope of resolving the problem or understand-
trusions give ages similar to major plutons; con- ing the complex series of magmatic events that lead
cordant ages have been obtained from different to hydrothermal ore deposition.
minerals and by different methods; and in most
districts dates are on hypabyssal intrusions which Intermineral Intrusions
show no evidence of deformation or metamorphism.
Intermineral intrusions are simply intrusions that
However, the paucity of concrete geological evi-
were emplaced between or during periods of mineral-
dence of the co-existence of magmas and hydro-
ization. The term "intra-mineral" was first used by
thermal fluids has been most distressing. Without
Wallace et a1. (1960) to refer to dikes at Climax,
such information theories of ore genesis have had to
Colorado that were emplaced between periods of
remain largely conjectura1. Krauskopf (1967), for
molybdenum mineralization. Sellmer (1964), Kirk-
instance, in his summary paper on source rocks for
ham (1966 and 1969), Silversides (1968), Nielsen
metal-bearing fluids, implied that there is still a high
( 1968) , Wallace et al. (1968), and possibly others
degree of speculation about the importance of granitic
have also used the term "intra-mineral" to refer to
magmas as sources of hydrothermal fluids. Lowell
dikes and intrusive breccias. Jonson et a1. (1969)
and Guilbert (1970, p. 403) in their general paper used the term "intermineral" instead of "intra-min-
on porphyry deposits discussing the genetic relation- eral" to refer to dikes and breccias at Hudson Bay
ship of intrusions and associated deposits stated: Mountain, British Columbia. Moreover, Wallace
"The data of Table 1 and the inferences drawn from et a1. (1968, p. 632) for Climax stated: "The dikes
them, from the field, and from the detailed geology perhaps more properly should be labelled Inter-min-
of the San Manuel-Kalamazoo deposit appear to sup- eral rather than Intra-minera1." This change would

.1\ v 1\

A B
FIG. 1. (A) Diagram of a simple intermineral dike. (B) Diagram of a simple intermineral breccia.
1246 SCIENJ'fFIC COMJfUY/C.FrI()N

f .j eM

FIG. 2. Intermineral dike that cuts magnetite- and chalcopyrite-bearing quartz veins and is cut
by chalcopyrite-bearing quartz veins. Granisle ~1ine, B.C.

emphasize the fact that these dikes at C1 imax were the term "intermineral" should be kept broad enollg
emplaced between distinct periods of mineralization to cover both possibilities.
rather than during a single period of mineralization. In this communication the term "interminera]"
I t would serve also to give the term a broader mean- used to refer to dikes and breccias. Such brecci<
ing and emphasize time rather than space relation- could have a variety of origins but in the genetic di:
ships. The writer believes that "intermilleral" is a cussions of this communication the term refers sp'
very good term and its general usage to describe cifically to "intermineral" hreccias with igneot
phenomena that have occurred hetween or during matrices. Igneous intrusive breccias can be expect<:
periods of mineralization should he continued. How- to grade to igneous rocks with abundant zenolitl
ever, at some time in the future it might he desirahle or inclt1sions. For this reason no distinction bet\ye<:
to separate phenomena that occurred during a single the t\\"o is made.
period of mineralization from those that occurred Figure 1 shows diagrams of a simple interminer
between distinct periods of mineralization. \Val1ace dike and breccia. Through-going yeins that both pn
(personal communication) has suggested that it date and post-date the dike or breccia are the mo
might be possible to identify dikes of both types at convincing evidence that an intrusion is "intermil
Climax, Colorado and that the term "intramineral" era\''' Vein fragments, alteration, and other feature
should be retained for those dikes which \\'ere em- could also be of value in determining whether (
placed within a single period of mineralization. not an intrusion is intermineral. Fournier (1967
Nevertheless, in most deposits criteria necessary to and Bray (1969), for instance, have used the degrc
separate the two types of phenomena are probahly and type of alteration to infer the relative ages ,
lacking. The writer feels that if any doubt exists various intrllsive hodies.
the term "interlllineral" instead oj "intra11lineral" Fig11res 2 to ~ sho\\" a \'ariety of intermineral dikl
should be used. Cntil \\'e h;l\'e a Illuch better under- and hreccias from the Granisle ~rine in centr
standing of the processes inyoh'ed the meaning of British Columhia. These figures sene to illustra
 SCIENTIFIC CO"f.UU.Y/CATIOX 1247

some of the common vein-intrusion relationships of

intermineral dikes and hreccias.

Occurrence
Intermineral intrusions have been recognized in
molybdenum deposits at Climax, Colorado; Urad,
Colorado (Muncaster and \Vallace, personal com-
munication; and Mayers, 1969) ; Hudson Bay Moun-
tain, British Columbia; Serb Creek, British Columbia
(Sel1mer, 1964), and ~Iorice Lake, British Columbia
(Silversides. 1968). On the other hanel, despite ex-
tensive study, there has been relati vely little mention
of them in the literature of porphyry copper deposits.
FIG. 4. Chilled intermineral dike cuts magnetite-quartz
This apparent pattern of occurrence might lead one and irregular magnetite veins and associated potassic alter-
to suspect that porphyry molybdenum deposits are ation and is cut by bornite- and chalcopyrite-bearing quartz
more closely related in time to magmatic activity than veins. Granisle Mine, B.c.
porphyry copper deposits. The distinction. hO\\'ever,
descriptions of Braden, Toquepa1a, and Cananea
is probably not real. Because of pervasive alteration,
(Howell and 1Iolloy, 1960; Kenyon and Courtright,
age relations are probably more obscure in many of
the extensively studied porphyry copper deposits, 1958; Velasco, 1966; and Perry, 1961) imply the
especially in parts that have been subjected to super- presence of intermineral intrusions even though
they are not explicitly described as such. For exam-
gene processes. Many original features have been
ple, Perry (1961) in reference to the mineralized 301
completely obliterated including probahly many of
the vein-intrusion relationships. l\Ioreover, accord- Breccia at Cananea stated: " . . . there is an excel-
lent exposure of later porphyry dike cutting the
ing to O. R. Eckstrand (personal communication)
Anaconda geologists have known for some time that
intermineral intrusions are present at E1 Salvador in
Chile; Rose and Baltosser (1966) and Nielsen
(1968) refer to minor intermineral dikes at Santa
Rita, ~ ew :Mexico; and the writer has found a
variety of intermineral intrusions in the central part
of the Granisle porphyry copper deposit in British
Columbia (Figs. 2 to 7). Furthermore. published

FIG. 3. Intermineral dike with dark, fine-grained horder FIG. 5.Two intermineral porphyry intrusions. (a) and
zone cuts quartz and magnetite veins and is cut by quartz (h) are chalcopyrite-bearing quartz veins. Veins that the
veins and bornite- and chalcopyrite-coated fractures. Grall- oldest porphyry trullcates are not shown. Granisle Mine,
isle Mine, B.c. R.C.
1248 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION

Genesis of Porphyry Deposits

The presence of intermineral intrusions inrlicat
that in some porphyry deposits magmatic and hydr'
thermal activity overlapped to some degree. Su<
evidence should leave little doubt of the genetic reI
tionship of porphyry rleposits and the spatially relat(
porphyritic intrusions.
Veins that have been used to define interminer
intrusions are integral parts of the porphyry deposi
involved. They contain the usual spectrum or 0
and gangue minerals. Hence, whatever the time il
tervals were between the various igneous and hydr l

thermal events they were not greater than the tin

FIG. 6. Intermineral intrusive breccia containing numer- necessary to form the entire deposit. As indicated
ous magnetite-bearing quartz vein fragments (a) and con- Figures 2 to 7 there are a number of types of inte
siderable disseminated chalcopyrite and bornite in matrix. mineral intrusions at Granisle, some of which a
Breccia is cut by bornite- and chalcopyrite-coated fractures.
Note heterogeneous nature of the matrix. It was probably very similar to the main biotite feldspar porphYl
a mixture of partially assimilated cataclastic debris and bodies in the area (Carter, 1965). Such interminer
magma. Granisle ~1ine, B.C. intrusions indicate that at least for this depo~
magmatic and hydrothermal activity overlapped to
breccia and indicating late-stage magmatic activity," large degree.
and in reference to Toquepala stated: "An overall
concentric pattern is accentuated by the arcuate strike Conclusions
of several dacite porphyry dikes which are associated
both in time and space with copper mineralization," Intermineral intrusions are very convincing ev
and "The many chapters of the Toquepala story clel1Ce of the genetic relationship of porphyry deposi
add up to a complex sequence of events around a
northerly migrating deep, vertical axis which localized
successive phases of intrusion, brecciation, mineral-
ization, post-mineral brecciation, and final end-stage
intrusive activity." Therefore, it is reasonable to
conclude that intermineral intrusions are characteris-
tic features of both certain porphyry molybdenum
and copper deposits.

FIG. 7. Intermineral (?) intrusive breccia with abundant

disseminated chalcopyrite. No veins cut this specimen but
the matrix porphyry is very similar to the youngest porphyry
in Figure 5 which is cut by chalcopyrite-bearing quartz
veins. (a) A partly digested chalcopyrite fragment. (b)
Highly altered porphyry fragment with considerable dis- FIG. 8. Intermineral breccia with a comminuted cat;
seminated magnetite cut by magnetite and quartz veins. clastic matrix. Cut by fractures coated with pyrite. chalc(
(c) A chalcopyrite-bearing quartz vein fragment. Granisle pyrite, and molybdenite. (a) Chalcopyrite-hearing Ciuar"
Mine, B.C. vein fragments. Granisle Mine, B.c.
 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION 1249

and associated porphyritic intrusions. Because of Kenyon, R, and Courtright, J. H., 1958, Geology of Toque-
pala, Peru: Min. Engr., v. 10, p. 262-266.
their close temporal relationship with the ore forma- Kirkham, R V., 1966, Glacier Gulch molybdenum deposit:
tion, these bodies should prove to be very useful in Minister of Mines, B.c., Ann. Rept., p. 86-91.
unravelling the complex magmatic and hydrothermal - - , 1969, A mineralogical and geochemical study of the
zonal distribution of ores in the Hudson Bay Range,
histories of porphyry deposits. Wallace et al. (1968) British Columbia: Unpub. Ph.D. thesis, University of Wis-
in their excellent paper on Climax have amply demon- consin, 152 p.
strated how fruitful a study of such intrusions can Krauskopf, Konrad B., 1967, Source rocks for metal-bearing
fluids, in Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits:
be. The writer is confident that investigations of Ed. by H. L. Barnes: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New
such bodies combined with other aspects of porphyry York, p. 1-33.
geology and experimental and isotope studies will Lowell, ]. D., and Guilbert, J. M., 1970, Lateral and vertical
alteration-mineralization zoning in porphyry ore deposits:
lead to a much better understanding of porphyry ECON. GEOL., v. 65, p. 373-408.
deposits and of the relationship of hydrothermal fluids Mayers, D., 1969, The Henderson (Colorado Molybdenum)
mine: Min. Mag. London, v. 121, No.4, Oct., p. 306-307.
to magmas. Nielsen, R L., 1968, Hypogene texture and mineral zoning
in a copper-bearing granodiorite porphyry stock, Santa
Acknowledgments Rita, New Mexico: EcoN. GEOL., v. 63, p. 37-50.
Noble, J. A., 1970, Metal provinces of the western United
F. J. Cooke of the Geological Survey of Canada States: Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 81, p. 1607-1624.
Perry, V. D., 1961, The significance of mineralized breccia
kindly provided photographs of the hand specimens. pipes: A.I.M.E. Trans., v. 220, p. 216-226.
O. R. Eckstrand and S. R. Wallace reviewed the Rose, A. W., and Baltosser, W. W., 1966, The porphyry
copper deposit at Santa Rita, New Mexico, in Geology
manuscript and made several helpful suggestions. of the Porphyry Copper Deposits, Southwestern North
America: Ed. by S. R Titley and C. L. Hicks: Univ. of
R. V. KIRKHAM
Arizona Press, Tucson, p. 205-220.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CAN ADA, Sellmer, H. W., 1964, Geology and petrogenesis of the
601 BOOTH ST., Serb Creek intrusive complex near Smithers, British
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, KIA OE8, Columbia: Unpub. M.Sc. thesis, University of British
Columbia, 89 p.
February 9; June 14, 1971 Silversides, D. A., 1968, Petrology and molybdenum min-
eralization of the Lucky Ship igneous complex: Unpub.
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