Stable isotope geochemistry of copper carbonates at the Northwest Extension deposit, Morenci District, Arizona: Implications for conditions of supergene oxidation and related mineralization

Economic Geology

Volumn 98, Issue 3, 2003, Pages 607-621

  Melchiorre, Erik B ^a   Enders, M Stephen ^b  

^a CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b Phelps Dodge   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EXOTHERMIC OXIDATION;

CARBONATES; COPPER; DEPOSITS; ISOTOPES; OXIDATION;

GEOCHEMISTRY;

COPPER; GEOCHEMISTRY; MINERALIZATION; ORE DEPOSIT; STABLE ISOTOPE; SUPERGENE PROCESS;

UNITED STATES;

EID: 0141744708     PISSN: 03610128     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2113/gsecongeo.98.3.607     Document Type: Article

References (58)

1. Ague, J.J., and Brimhall, G.H., 1989, Geochemical modeling of steady state find flow and chemical reaction during supergene enrichment of porphyry copper deposits: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 84, p. 506-528.
2. Alpers, C.N., and Brimhall, G.H., 1989, Paleohydrologic evolution and geochemical dynamics of cumulative supergene metal enrichment at La Escondida, Atacama Desert, northern Chile: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 84, p. 229-255.
3. Anderson, J.A., 1982. Leached capping and techniques of appraisal, in Titley, S.R., ed., Advances in geology of the porphyry copper deposits, southwestern North America: Tucson, University of Arizona Press, p. 275-295.
4. Blanchard, R., 1968, Interpretation of leached outcrops: Nevada Bureau of Mines, Bulletin 66, 196 p.
5. Brierley, J.A., and Brierley, C.L., 2001, Present and future commercial applications of biohydrometallurgy: The l3th International Biohydrometallurg Symposium IBS-99: Biohydrometallurgy and the environment: Toward the mining of the 21st century: Hydometallurgy, v. 59, p. 233-239.
6. Cathles, L.M., III, 2000, Removal of pyrite from coal by heap leaching: Geological Society of America, 2000 annual meeting [abs.]: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 32, p. 125.
7. Cerling, T.E., 1991, Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: Evidence from Cenozoic and Mesozoic paleosols: American Journal of Science, v. 291, p. 377-400.
8. Cerling, T.E., Solomon, D.K., Quade, J., Bowman, J.R., 1991, On the isotopic composition of carbon in soil carbon dioxide: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 55, p. 3403-3405.
9. Cook, S.S., 1994, The geologic history of supergene enrichment in the porphyry copper deposits of southwestern North America: Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Tucson, University of Arizona, 163 p.
10. Criss, R.E., 1999, Principles of Stable Isotope Distribution: New York, Oxford University Press, 254 p.
11. Emmons, S.F., 1900, The secondary enrichment of ore deposits: American Institute of Mining Engineers Transactions, v. 30, p. 177-217.
12. Emmons, W.H., 1913, The enrichment of sulfide ores: U.S. Geological Survey, Bulletin 529, 260 p.
13. Emmons, W.H., 1917, The enrichment of ore deposits: U.S. Geological Survey, Bulletin 625, 530 p.
14. Enders, M.S, 2000, The evolution of supergene enrichment in the Morenci porphyry copper deposit, Greenlee County, Arizona: Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Tucson, University of Arizona, 252 p.
15. Enders, M.S., Knickerbocker, C., Southam, G., and Titley, S.R., 1998a, The ocurrence of acidophilic iron oxidizing bacteria and their role in supergene enrichment of the Morenci porphyry copper deposit, Greenlee County, Arizona [abs.]: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 30, p. A205.
16. Enders, M.S., Titley, S.R., and Hertel, M.P., 1998b, Thick supergene enrichment blankets-lessons from the Morenci district, Arizona [lecture]: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, March 9-11, 1998.
17. Fortin, D., and Beveridge, T.J., 1997, Microbial sulfate reduction within sulfidic mine tailings: Formation of diagenetic Fe sulfides: Geomicrobiology Journal, v. 14, p. 1-21.
18. Fortin, D., Davis, B., Southam, G., and Beveridge, T.J., 1995, Biogeochemical phenomena induced by bacteria within sulfidic mine tailings: Journal of Industrial Microbiology, v. 14, p. 178-185.
19. Fortin, D., Davis, B., and Beveridge, T.J., 1996, Role of Thiobacillus and sulfate-reducing bacteria in iron biocycling in oxic and acidic mine tailings: Microbiology Ecology, v. 21, p. 11-24.
20. Garrels, R.M., and Christ, C.L., 1965, Solutions, Minerals, and Equilibria: San Francisco, Freeman, Cooper, and Company, 450 p.
21. Keller, C.K., and Wood, B.D., 1993, Possibility of chemical weathering before the advent of vascular land plants: Nature, v. 364, p. 223-225.
22. 2: Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, v. 19, p. 322-333.
23. Langton, J.M., 1973, Ore genesis in the Morenci-Metcalf district: American Institute of Mining Engineers Transactions, v. 254, p. 247-257.
24. Lichtner, P.C., and Biino, G.G., 1992, A first principles approach to supergene enrichment of a porphyry copper protore: I. Cu-Fe-S subsystem: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 56, p. 3987-4013.
25. Lindgren, W., 1905, The copper deposits of the Clifton-Morenci district, Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey, Professional Paper 43, 375 p.
26. Locke, A, 1926, Leached outcrops as guides to copper ore: Baltimore, Williams and Wilkins, 175 p.
27. Loghry, J.D., 1972, Characteristics of favorable cappings from several southwestern porphyry copper deposits: Unpublished M.S. thesis, Tucson, University of Arizona, 210 p.
28. McCrea, J.M., 1950, On the isotopic chemistry of carbonates and a paleotemperature scale: Journal of Chemical Physics, v. 18, p. 849-858.
29. Melchiorre, E.B., 1998, Geochemical studies of low temperature fluids in diverse geological settings: Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, St. Louis, Washington University, 290 p.
30. Melchiorre, E.B., and Williams, P, 2001, Stable isotope characterization of the thermal profile and subsurface biological activity during oxidation of the Great Australia deposit, Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 96, p. 1685-1893.
31. Melchiorre, E.B., Criss, R.E., and Davisson, M.L., 1999a, Relationship between seismicity and subsurface fluids, central Coast Ranges, California: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 104, p. 921-939.
32. Melchiorre, E.B., Criss, R.E., and Rose, T.P., 1999b, Oxygen and carbon isotope study of natural and synthetic malachite: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 94, p. 245-259.
33. Melchiorre, E.B., Criss, R.E., and Rose, T.P., 2000, Oxygen and carbon isotope study of natural and synthetic azurite: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 95, p. 621-628.
34. Melchiorre, E.B., Williams, P., and Bevins, R., 2001, A low-temperature oxygen isotope thermometer for cerussite, with application at Broken Hill, NSW, Australia: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 65, p. 2527-2533.
35. Mohr, E.C., and Van Baren, F.A., 1959, Tropical Soils: The Hague and Bandung, van Hoeve, 498 p.
36. Moolick, R.T., and Durek, J.J., 1966, The Morenci district, in Titley, S.R., and Hicks, C.L., eds., Geology of the porphyry copper deposits, southwestern North America: Tucson, University of Arizona Press, p. 221-231.
37. North, R.M., and Preece, R.K., 1993, Supergene ore-forming processes in the Morenci district, Arizona: AIME Conference, Geology Division Spring Field Trip, Morenci, Arizona, Unpublished extended abstract.
38. O'Neil, J.R., Clayton, R.N., and Mayeda, T.K., 1969, Oxygen fractionation in divalent metal carbonates: Journal of Chemical Physics, v. 51, n. 12, p. 5547-5558.
39. Lawrence, J.R. and Taylor, H.P. Jr., 1971, Deuterium and oxygen-18 correlation: clay minerals and hydroxides in Quarternary soils compared to meteoric waters: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 35, p. 993-1003.
40. Lawrence, J.R. and Taylor, H.P. Jr., 1972, Hydrogen and oxygen isotope systematics in weathering profiles: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 36, p. 1377-1393.
41. Pearson, F.J., and Hanshaw, B.B., 1970, Sources of dissolved carbonate species in groundwater and effects on carbon-14 dating, isotope hydrology 1970: Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency, Panel Proceedings, p. 271-286.
42. Phelps Dodge Corporation, 1998, Annual Report for 1997, Phoenix, Arizona, 52 p.
43. Preece, R.K., 1989, Geology and mineralization of the Northwest Extension (sic)-summary of activities during 1988: Unpublished project report, Phoenix, Arizona, Phelps Dodge Morenci, Inc., 36 p.
44. Rankama, K.K., 1954, Isotope Geology: London, Pergamon Press, 535 p.
45. Sanchez, I., Brimhall, G.H., Swayze, G.A., Alpers, C.N., 1998, Novel application of digitally integrated mapping systems for the mineralogical characterization of abandoned mines [abs.]: Geological Society of America, 1998 annual meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 30, p. 358.
46. Schmitt, H., 1962, Equilibrium diagrams for minerals at low temperature and pressure: Unpublished manuscript, Cambridge, Harvard University, 23 p.
47. Sheppard, S.M.F., Nielsen, R.L., and Taylor, H.P., Jr., 1969, Oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios of clay minerals from porphyry copper deposits: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 64, p. 755-777.
48. Sillitoe, R.H., Folk, R.L., and Saric, N., 1996, Bacteria as mediators of copper sulfide enrichment during weathering: Science, v. 272, p. 1153-1155.
49. Stumm, W., and Morgan, J.J., 1981, Aquatic chemistry: New York, John Wiley and Sons, 780 p.
50. Swart, P.K., Burns, S.J., and Leder, J.J., 1991, Fractionation of the stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon in carbon dioxide during the reaction of calcite with phosporic acid as a function of temperature and technique: Chemical Geology, v. 86, p. 89-96.
51. Swayze, G.A., Clark, R.N., Livo, K.E., Pearson, R.M., 1996, Mapping acid-generating minerals at the California Gulch Superfund site in Leadville, Colorado, using imaging spectroscopy: Geological Society of America, 28th annual meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 28, p. 529.
52. Thomas, B.E., 1949, Ore deposits of the Wallapai district, Arizona: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 10, p. 593-633.
53. Titley, S.R., 1975, Geological characteristics and environment of some porphyry copper occurrences in the southwestern Pacific: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, v. 70, p. 499-514.
54. Titley, S.R., and Enders, M.S., 1999, Some notions on formation of thick Supergene sulfide copper enrichment blankets [abs.]: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, March 3, 1999.
55. Walker, M.A., 1995, Structural interpretation of the Morenci mining district, Greenlee, County: Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, Socorro, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 130 p.
56. 18O variation for the carbonate-phosphoric acid preparation methods: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 36, p. 129-140.
57. Wickman, F.E., Blix, R., and Ubisch, H.V., 1951, On the variations in the relative abundances of the carbon isotopes in carbonate minerals: Journal of Geology, v. 59, p. 142.
58. Yapp, C.J., 1997, An assessment of isotopic equilibrium in goethites from a bog iron deposit and a lateritic regolith: Chemical Geology, v. 135, p. 159-171.