S J MELDRUM Calle las Tres Marias 363/6

Monterrico, Surco
Lima. Peru
CEL: ++51 19 9906 8514
meldrum.geo@gmail.com
2017

MINERAL EXPLORATION
GEOLOGICAL REFERENCE CODES
PORPHYRY, SKARN & EPITHERMAL SYSTEMS

ver 2017 / 3
SAMPLE TYPE
OCRC Outcrop chip DDCO DDH composite
OCCH Outcrop channel DDSL DDH select
OCGR Outcrop grab RCCO RCH composite
OCPN Outcrop pannel OHCO Open hole composite
SCGR Subcrop grab UGSL Underground Select
PTCH Pit channel sample UGCH Underground channel
FLGR Float Sample UGRC Underground chip
SOPT Soil pit mesh MIDP Mine dump grab
SOAG Soil auger mesh MICO Mine concentrate grab
SOBL Soil pit BLEG MIFD Mine mill feed
SMMI Mobile metal ion SSBL SSED BLEG
SSMS SSED mesh
SSPC SSED pan con

OXIDATION STATE
5 Complete Oxidation - no sulphides remaining
4 Strongly Oxidised - trace Sx, strong FeO development
3 Moderately Oxidised - approx 50% Sx oxidised
2 Weakly Oxidised - most Sx preserved, signif FeO on partings
1 Trace Oxidation - trace FeO on partings, Sx
0 Unoxidised - fresh, no FeO, Sx

LITHOLOGY 1
Confidence Index - 1: positive 2: confident (SO) 3: probable (TO) 4: guess (TO)
LITHOLOGY DATA RECORDING COLUMNS
TO = totally alt
SO = strongly alt LITH BXT r BXC BXM %BM CI

S** sedimentary
M** metamorphic
confidence index
bx type/facies

clast rounding

V** volcanic
% bx matrix
bx matrix
bx clasts

I** igneous
IDY** dyke
IDM** dome
IH** hypabyssal
IP** plutonic
SURFICIAL DEPOSITS
PF pad fill Fs fluvial seds Alv alluvium
Gr gravel Glt glacial till Sc scree
Grp perched gravel Gmor glacial moraine So soil
Cct calcrete Fct ferricrete
SEDIMENTS (S) Calh caliche
SCg conglomerate SMsb carb mudstone SLs limestone
SAr arkose SMsc calc mudstone SLso oolitic limestone
SSd sandstone SMsp peb mudstone SLsc marly limestone
SSdb carb sandstone SSh shale SLsd dirty LS
SSdc calc sandstone SShg graphitic shale SLsy shelly limestone
SSs siltstone SShb carb shale SLsh sinkhole fill
SSsb carb siltstone SGw greywake SLd dolomite
SSsc calc siltstone SFlch flysch seds SEv evaporite
SSsl lamin siltstone SVcl volcaniclastic SNn sinter near vent >60
SMs mudstone SCh chert SNs sinter mid slope <60
SMsf fer mudstone SCl chalk SNd sinter distal apr <35
Features:
B bedded RB reverse bedding I indurated
GB graded bedding CB cross bedded F fossiliferous
METAMORPHICS (M)
MMb marble MVb meta basalt MSha amphibolite
MSk skarn MMs meta mudstone MShu granulite
MSKmt mt skarn MSs meta siltstone MHfh hb hornfels
MSkmtgt mt-gt skarn MSd meta sandstone MHfp pyx hornfels
MSkgt gt skarn MQz quartzite MGn gneiss
MSkgtep gt-ep skarn MMg migmatite MHf hornfels
MSkep ep skarn MPh phyllite
MSkac ac skarn MSh schist
MSkdp di skarn MShp glauc schist SKE endoskarn
MSksc sc skarn MShg green schist SKX exoskarn
 LITHOLOGY 2 BRECCIA FACIES TABLE
VOLCANICS (V) volcanic designator
composition
volc facies
minerals (abundance order)
grain size
features
COMPOSITION
B basalt RD rhyodacite P phonolite
BA basaltic andesite R rhyolite E tephrite
A andesite T trachyite L latite
D dacite TA trachyandesite
VOLCANIC FACIES
t tuff ft pyroclastic flow lhr lahar
at ash tuff ba block and ash p pillow basalt
ct crystaltuff vtt vitric tuff ign ignimbrite
clt crystal lithic tuff lpt accret lapilli tuff fl lava flow
lt lithic tuff fgm fragmental
MINERALS
q quartz o olivine FACIES
f feldspar a augite PX proximal
h hornblende g glass DX distal
p pyroxene
b biotite
m magnetite
GRAIN SIZE
m medium
vf very fine
mc medium coarse
f fine
c coarse
fm fine to medium
FEATURES
FB flow banded VT vitric UT tephra
D melanocratic W welded CR crystal crowded
L leucocratic GB graded bedded
VE vessicular RB reverse graded bedded
EXAMPLES
VAct fhq D dark andesitic crystal tuff with feld hornblend and quartz crystals/phenos
VRDign fqh W welded rhyodacitic ignimbrite with feld & quartz phenos/crystals
EXTRACT AS MUCH INFORMATION IN A CODED FORM AS POSSIBLE

LITHOLOGY 3 BRECCIA FACIES TABLE CONTD

INTRUSIVES (I) igneous designator
intrusive facies
composition
phenocrysts / crystals
textures
grain size
features
INTRUSIVE FACIES
IDY dyke IH hypabyssal IP plutonic
IDM dome IPS sill
COMPOSITION
do dolerite rh rhyolitic ba basaltic andesite
di diorite g granitic gb gabbro
dm microdiorite gd granodiorite la lamprophyre
an andesitic to tonalite sp serpentenite
da dacitic mz monzonite sy syenite
rd rhyodacitic mzg monzogabbro pl aplite
ALT
COMMON MINERALS pg pegmatite
q quartz b biotite a augite
f plagioclase
p pyroxene k orthoclase
h hornblende m magnetite o olivine
ROCK TEXTURES
A aphanitic PE porph > equigranular
P porphyritic EP equigranular > porph
PA porphyritic w aphanitic gmass E equigranular
G graphictic
GRAIN SIZE
vf very fine fm fine to medium mc medium coarse
f fine m medium c coarse
FEATURES
FB flow banded L leucocratic FY felty
D melanocratic VE vessicular VI vitric
CR crystal crowded
 LITHOLOGY 4
BRECCIAS (BX)
'BRECCIA RULES OF THUMB'
hydrothermal breccias - matrix is sourced from
breccia designator hydrothermal fluids
breccia facies phreatic breccias - sourced at depth & drill upwards.
clasr rounding (optional) explosive origin Matrix is pulverised rock flour &
clast component clasts are sourced from depth
matrix component diatreme breccas - originate at surface and drill
estimate % matrix passive process downwards. Matrix is clay rich &
blockdesignator clasts are sourced form near surface

BRECCIA FACIES (BXT)

BXf fault bx BXb pebble bx
TECTONIC

BXt tectonic bx BXv volcanic bx

BXj jigsaw bx BXi intrusion bx
BXc crackle bx BXd diatreme bx
BXp phreatic bx BX1 coarse poor sort
alternative
PHREATIC

numeric
FACIES

BXp phreatic bx BX2 coarse well sort

BXrc

porphyry/breccia complexes
rf-clastic bx BX3 fine poor sort (dykes)

typical to high sulphidation

BXr rock flour bx BX4 fine well sort (dykes)
BXo 'overbank' phreatic breccias - weaker retrograde alt typ / oganic material
BXg phreatomagmatic BX5 ign matrix coarse
alternative

BXg phreatomagmatic BX6 ign matrix fine

numeric

BXh hydrothermal bx BX7 hydrothermal matrix

BXa auto breccia - IDM ML BX8 ha cl matrix
BXs sedimentary breccia BX9 qz clast qz matrix
BSs barren silica shoulder pseudo bx coarse qz-al alt
BXx collapse breccia VBx vein matrix breccia
CLAST ROUNDING (r) BXl acid drain back bx
va very angular sa sub-angular ro rounded
an angular sr sub-rounded wr well rounded
BRECCIA CLASTS (BXC)
PL polymict MS meta seds PO porphyry
ML monolithic IG igneous MM metamorphic
*** 'specified lithologies'
BRECCIA MATRIX (BXM)
qz quartz qz-fe qz-fe ox qz-ja qz-jarosite
qz-sx qz-sulphide qz-al qz-alunite cl clay
sx sulphide al alunite pf pyrophyllite
fe iron oxides ja jarosite al-pf al-pyrophyllite
rf rock flour OR - a lithology or other mineral species
THE BRECCIA MATRIX COMPONENT NORMALY DEFINES THE BRECCIA FACIES

ALTERATION CEG ALTERATION FACIES TABLE

ALTERATION FACIES (AFAC)
Principal Facies Variant Facies silica opaline SO 2 3 4 5 6
UA unaltered RX recrystallised silica massive SM Increasing pH
PROGRADE

PS sub propylitic HF hornfels silica mas vuggy S1

MT magnetite (deep PT) silica vuggy mas S2 SG SG
PR propylitic qz-ha cl-ha
AA - acid sulphate facies

PT potassic P2 biotite (2nd PT event) silica vuggy SV SG

K2 kspar (2nd PT event) SO AR
NA sodic - calcic silica granular SG sm
AB aplite (ab or kf) silica alunite SA
PH phyllic:pro-ms ret-se 100 AR
SE sericitic (IA) RO silica clay SC
RETROGRADE

IA intermediate arg SC CS ka PS
CH chloritic (IA) roscolite clay silica CS SH SQ
AR argillic ZE zeolite
AA clay alunite CA SY
advanced arg HM heamatite silica patchy SP
SI silicification CE celadonite (LSE) silica wormy SW CA

EPITHERMAL
CB carbonate SQ sugary quartz (LSE) IA
chalcedonic sil SH SA il-sm
Increasing Temperature

SK skarn DO dolomite creamy silica SY

QT qz-tourmaline JA jasperoid silica pyrophylite SF SD SD
silica diaspore SD SM IA
ALTERATION STYLE (ASTY) AA
dark silica (py?) DS qz-dk ch-il
PER pervasive STR structure CLT clotted carbonate granular CG
PAT patchy BXM bx matrix CAV cavities carb dissolution DC SV
PR
FRC fracture BXC bx clast ICO int contact MTX matrix 250 ch-ep-ca-ad
DEEP EPITHERMAL

VNS vein selvage SED sed select SEL select REP replacement SF
PH
VNM vein matrix GMS groundmass BED bedding select PHN phenocryst S2 pf-al
(SVM) PH se-kf
CFL cavity fill STR structure VES vesicle OPN o'print SM se
al

ALT INTENSITY (AINT) PR

m

itio

bi-ep-ac-kf
er

PH-AA AB
ns

0 nul 1 trace 2 weak 3 moderate 4 strong 5 intense

it h

t ra

S1 se kf qz ab
ep

ALT MINERALS (AMIN) (SMV)

ry

aa anatase co corundum ka kaolinite ro roscolite SP e

ad
hy

ab albite cs cristobalite kf k-spar rt rutile gr e PH PT SK

rp

t ro rad kf-mica ac-kf tm-qz

po

ac actinolite cx clinopyroxene la laumonite sc scapolite re o g

ad adularia cz chabazite lx lucoxene se sericite 300 pr
PORPHYRY

PT SD SK
al alunite (udif) do dolomite mm montmorilonite sd siderite SW
kf-bi-og cx-gt
aK K-alunite dk dickite mt magnetite sm smectite PH
aN Na-alunite conditions of mica
di diaspore mr mordenite su specularite PT SK
aH NH-alunite native S non-dissociation bi-mt mt-gt
dp diopside ms muscovite S
ah anhydrite ep epidote na natrolite tc talc Silica Alunite al-ka kaolin il-ka illite Chlorite Calc-Silicate
ax andalusite fp feldspar (udif) nc nacrite tm tremolite Group Group Group Group Group Group Group Group
an andradite gl glass nt nontronite to tourmaline
ba barite gt garnet (udif) og oligoclase tp topaz
bi bioite gp gypsum os opaline silca tr tridymite PT SK PH PR PS IA AR AA
ca calcite gf graphite pa palygorskite vs vesuvianite
cb carbonate ha halloysite pf pyrophyllite wa wairakite ALTERATION FACIES AND SUB FACIES - CEG
cd chalcedony hu heulandite pg phlogopite wo wollastonite SJM alteration sub facies overlain on the Corbett & Leach alteration table
ce celadonite il illite pr paragonite ze zeolite Includes the addition of IA to the original Corbett & Leach diagram - codes changed to suit this reference set
ch chlorite im ilmenite px pyroxene zu zunyite Note: Deep porphyry SODIC-CALCIC (SD) & aplite (AB) inserted - approximate
cl clay (udif) ja jarosite qz quartz zw zinnwaldite
 Corbett & Leach ALT FACIES TABLE Hedenquist et al ALT TABLE
Increasing Temp

Adjusted after Hedenquist et al 1996 from Soc of resource Geology - Resource Geology Sepcial Publication 1, 1996
2 3 4 5 6

200

300
100
Increasing pH
op al ha ha ha sm
al
op cs Silica Silica Silica ch-sm/ch
ch-sm/ch
ja
Silica
sm
Silica

cs silica
tr ka sm silica
al ka ka Silica zeolite ha

stb hu mo cz na
tr qz Silica cb cb/do
Silica Silica
100 + sd
ka
ch/ch-sm
al
ka sm sm cb
sm qz/cd ch/ch-sm dk
qz qz/cz

ACID
ka qz+sd qz/cd
ka
qz
qz/cd
zeolite
pf
qz ka il sm

zeolites
al
il sm ch cb ca/do di

EPITHERMAL
qz qz+sd
qz/cz il-sm
al tp, zu
Increasing Temperature

ka di ka dk cb qz/cd ch qz/chd
ka di
qz+di
qz+di il/il sm ad/ab aa

la
qz+sd il ch il ca do
al qz ab/ad rt
dk dk

My additions include colours (temp ranges), mineralisation bar and se?

cb qz cb ch qz ep
dk qz+di qz+sd
qz+di
zeolite
ca/do cs

Increasing pH
wa
250 ad/ab
qz

DEEP EPITHERMAL
al dk dk

WEAKLY ACID
qz se
dk pf pf pf se
kf
ch qz ep py
qz+di qz+di se qz qz ad/ab ca/do
pf cb
qz ch ma
cb
al
se ep ac ch qz sm
pf qz kf ca/do
al pf
qz
qz+di qz+di
il-sm
se/mica
mica/se
mica/se
kf cb ac qz tm qz ch-sm
pf qz qz + ch kf ch ca/do
pf qz
300 il
se ?
PORPHYRY
ax al qz ax al ax bi ac cx qz
ax mica qz
mica ch

NEUTRAL
pf qz kf qz ca/do
pf qz mica qz + cb
kf qz
conditions of ax mica mica
+ cb bi kf gt qz ep
non-dissociation co qz wo vs
co qz cx mt mt bi
Silica Alunite al-ka kaolin il-ka illite Chlorite Calc-Silicate
Group Group Group Group Group Group Group Group
ALKALINE
kf, ad
ca
PT SK PH PR PS IA AR AA
mr
HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION MINERAL SYSTEMS la
From: Greg Corbett & Terry Leach, Southwest Pacific Rim Gold Copper Systems - Short Course Manual, 1997
wa
Includes the addition of IA to the original diagram - codes changed to suit this reference set Mo Cu Ag Au
ORE DEPOSITS

MINERALISATION 1 GEOCHEMICAL ZONATIONS

MINERALISATION TYPE (MTYP)
OX Oxide TR Transition TO Trans OX dom TS Trans SX dom
no SX OX & SX OX >> SX OX << SX
SG Supergene MX Mixed SG/EN/HY EN Enriched HY Hypogene
2 process 1 & 2 processes 1 process 1 Process
MINERALISATION STYLE (MSTY) SX Sulphide
DSM disseminated MTO manto MAS massive
work vns FFL fracture fillling MAS massive BXM bx matrix
d veins CFL cavity filling MAB bx mass sx BXC bx clast
REP replacement COT coatings RND rind on clasts
VNS veins selvage VNN vein undiff
VEINS
VEIN TEXTURES
- - ba banded bl bladed
cr crustiform dt dogs tooth
vein type
co colloform ma massive
vein familly (porphyries) oc open cavities gi ginguro
vein textures (paragenetic order) bm microbotriodal
bo botryoidal
gangue minerals (paragenetic order) ck cockade bx boxwork
min minerals (paragentic order) cm comb lb lattice bladed
VEIN TYPES (VTYP) ms moss pl plumose
QVN quartz vein QXV qz-sulphide vein SXV sulphide vein CBV carbonate vein
BUQ buck qz LOW SX EP
MLQ milky quartz veins OPQ opaline qz CLQ clear quartz
EVN epithermal vns (undif) CHQ chalcedonic qz QAV qz-adularia vein
MLV mesothermal vn (undif) SAQ saccharoidal qz JAQ jasperoidal qz vein
QMM MM sweat veins CXQ crystalline qz AMQ amethystine qz vein
QHV qz-hm vein QCV qz-cb vein SGQ sugary quartz
SIV silica veinletts ADV adularia vein QMV qz-mn carb vein
QPV qz-py vein
DOMES
QLV qz-lm vein GSV grey silica vein DQV dark qz vein
NWV network vns DSV dark sx + silica vein LQV light qz vein
NWQ netwk qz vns DCV dark sx + clay vein WQV white qz vein
NWM netwk mn vns LSV light sx + clay vein QRV qz-ro vein
CARBONATE Ruptured Porphyries - Lithocap
WCV white carb vein
WMY qz-mt +/- SX - cp bn RQV qz-hm-py (barren SHV)
CXC clear cx carb vein
GQV grey qz vein+/-SX mt SXV sulphide veins
GCV grey carb vein
MCV mangano carb vein ALV alunite veins PFV pyrophylite veins
Classic high level porphyry veins (HLP)
PORPHYRY AVN qz-mt +/- SX - cp bn CVN SX qz se - cp mo py
QSV quartz sericite veins BVN qz-SX - cp su DVN se-SX qz - mo cp py
SEV sericite veins Deep to intermediate level porphyries (ILP - DLP)
WQV white qz veins MVN mt veins (whispy) QMV qz-mt veins +/-SX
PQV pink qz veins BIV bi +/- mt qz ACV/SEV ACV ac +/- mt qz CHV/PQV
 MINERALISATION 2
MIN MINERALS (MMIN)
Au native gold Cu native copper DS dark sulphides
Ag native silver S native sulphur LS light sulphides

ai alcantite dg digenite ne neotocite

ae anglesite
sb antimony el electrum or orpiment
ar argentite
as arsenopyrite en enargite pm pitch limonite
at atacamite py pyrite
az azurite fb ferberite pl pyrolusite
fl flourite po pyrrhotite
ba barite
bt bismuthinite ga galena re realgar
bn bornite go geothite
br brochantite Hg mercury so scorodite
hm heamatite sh scheelite
ci calverite hs hessite sl selenides
sn cassiterite hz hydrozincite sd siderite
ct cerussite sp sphalerite
ck chalcantite ja jarosite st stibnite
cc chalcocite ss sulphosalts
cp chalcopyrite lm limonite
cr chromite lx lucoxene te tellurides
cy chrysocolla tt tennantite
nn cinnabar mc malachite tn tenorite
cv covellite ma marcasite
cn cubanite mo molybdenite wd mn wad
ct cuprite mt magnetite zc zincite
mn mn oxide

Common vein gangue minerals

qz quartz rd rhodonite ah anhydrite
ca calcite ro roscolite mica mt magnetite
cb carbonate to tourmaline ba barite
rc rhodochrosite gp gypsum ze zeolite
kf adularia rc rhodochrosite mn mn wad

MINERALISATION 3
PRINCIPAL COPPER MINERALS Cu %
pm pitch limonite
mc malachite Cu 2 CO 3 (OH) 2 57.3%
az azurite Cu3 (CO 3)2 (OH) 2 55.0%
cr chrysocolla Cu 2H 2(Si 2O 5)(OH) 4 36.0% OX
tn tenorite CuO 79.9%
Cu
br
native copper
brochantite
Cu
Cu 4 (OH) 6 SO 4
100%
56.0%
TR
ck chalcantite CuSO 4 .5H 2O 35.0%
ENRICHMENT

cc chalcocite Cu 2S 79.8%
cu cuprite Cu 2O 88.8%
cv covellite CuS 66.4% SG
cn cubanite CuFe 2 S 3 23.0%

bn bornite Cu 5 FeS4 63.3%

cp
en
chalcopyrite
enargite
CuFeS 2
Cu 3 AsS 4
31-34.5% HY

MINERAL RATIOS FOR VECTORING AND MODELLING

ox - no sx 0 cp (only) A PERIPHERY
Cu-Au
py (only) 1 cp > bn B
py > cp 2 cp = bn C
PORPHYRY py = cp 3 cp < bn D
py < cp 4 bn (only) E CORE

sol Cu (only) F cc (only) J

ENRICHMENT sol Cu > py G cc > cv K
BLANKETS sol Cu = py H cc = cv L
sol Cu < py I cc < cv M
cv (only) N

en (only) O cv (only) S
HS en > py P cv > en
SYSTEMS T
en = py Q cv = en U
en < py R cv < en V
en (only) W

py > po 5 cp (only) V
PYRRHOTITE py = po 6 cp > po
-Cu SKARNS W
py < po 7 cp = po X
po (only) 8 cp < po Y
po (only) Z

Useful mineral ratios for vectoring purposes

 STRUCTURE & EVENTS

PLANNAR FEATURES LINEAR FEATURES

BEDDING BED FLOW LINEATION LFL
CLEAVAGE SCL IGNEOUS BANDING LIB
FRACTURE SFR PUMICE ALIGNMENT LPU
JOINT SJO
BOUNDARIES
FOLIATION FOL
CONTACT (OBSERVED) CON
SCHISTOSITY SCH
CONTACT (INFERRED) CIN
FAULTS UNCONFROMITY UNC
FAULT (UNDIF) FLT DISCONFORMITY DIS
FAULT-NORMAL FLN VEIN VEN
FAULT-REVERSE FLR
EVENTS
FAULT-THRUST FTH
BASE COMPLETE OX BCO
FOLDS BASE PARTIAL OX BPO
FOLD AXIS FAX BASE SOLUBLE Cu BSO

MAPPING
N D/DAZM LOGGING
315° 045°
DIPS
25° 45°
W E
CORE AXIS

STRIKE/DIP (UK) 315°/25° NE

STRIKE/DIP (US) N45W/25NE TO CORE
AXIS
DIP/DIP AZIM 25 °/045° CA - ANGLE

STRAIN ELLIPSE
 CONVERSION FACTORS PERCENTAGES
ONE = MULTIPLIER
acre = 4046.856m2
cubic metre = 35.3147 cubic ft
degree celsius = 0.555 ( F-32)
fathom = 1.8288m
foot = 0.3048m
furlong = 201.168m
gallon = 4.54609L
gallon (US) = 3.785412L
3
gram = 35.273962 x 10 ounces
gram/tonne = 0.0001%
= 0.032666oz (troy)/long ton
= 0.02917oz (troy)/short ton
hectare = 10,000m2
= 2.4710538 acres
inch = 25.4mm
kilogram = 2.2046226 pounds
kilometre = 0.621371 miles
litre = 0.219969 gallons
metre = 3.28084 feet
= 1.0936132 yards
mile = 1.609344 km
mile/hr = 0.44704 m/s
ounce (troy) = 31 103477g
ounce(T)/long ton = 30.61224 g/t
ounce(T)/short ton = 34.28571 g/t
km2 = 0.386102 miles2
mile2 = 640 acres
acre = 2.589988 km2
stone = 6.3502932 kg
ton, long = 1.016047 t (metric)
ton, short = 0.907185 t (metric)
tonne (t) = 0.9842 long tons
acre = 1.1023 short tons
acre = 2204.62 lbs
yard = 0.9144n

IGNEOUS ROCKS Phreatic vs Diatreme Breccias