A study of the geochemical features of the Nurkazgan copper-porphyry deposit
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31643/2027/6445.07Keywords:
geochemistry, geological processes, mineralization zones, distribution of elements, localization of minerals, ore-forming processes, copper mineralization, ore deposits.Abstract
Porphyry copper deposits are the source of most of the world's copper, molybdenum and significant amounts of gold. This makes them a major focus of scientific research due to their economic significance. The article is devoted to the study of the geochemistry of host rocks and copper-porphyry ores at the Nurkazgan deposit. It identifies geochemical criteria for the distribution of gold in copper‑porphyry systems, as well as refines ore formation mechanisms in order to improve predictive criteria. The results were obtained by interpreting analytical data obtained using the ICP-OES (ICP-AES) method and the geostatistical method. Based on this research, key factors have been identified that determine the distribution of element content. As a result of studying the distribution of REEs in the host rocks, conditions for ore formation were established: the deposit has an igneous origin with signs of prolonged fractionation of the magma; a negative Eu anomaly confirms the involvement of plagioclase fractionation typical of medium and acidic magmas; LREE enrichment indicates an evolved magma involving the continental crust, while moderate depletion of HREE indicates a deep source of magmatism with residual garnet involvement. The established strong positive correlation between REES indicates a single geochemical process and reflects the primary magmatic identity. A porphyry system with a deep magmatic source has been revealed, where ore fluids are separated from the residual melt, which is already depleted in Eu but enriched in LREEs and metals.
Downloads
References
Sillitoe RH. Porphyry Copper Systems. Economic Geology. 2010; 105:3-41. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.105.1.3
Sun W, Huang RF, Li H, Hu YB, Zhang CC, Sun SJ, Zhang LP, Ding X, Li CY, Zartman RE, and etc. Porphyry deposits and oxidized magmas. Ore Geology Reviews. 2015; 65:97-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2014.09.004
Serykh VI, Kopobayeva AN. Patterns of distribution of rare metal deposits in Central Kazakhstan. News of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Series of Geology and Technical Sciences. 2019, 143-150. https://doi.org/10.32014/2019.2518-170X.18
Windley BF, Xiao W. Ridge subduction and slab windows in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Tectonic implications for the evolution of an accretionary orogen. Gondwana Res. 2018; 61:73-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2018.05.003
Xu XW, Li H, Peters SG, Qin KZ, Mao Q, Wu Q, Hong T, Wu C, Liang GL, Zhang ZF, and et al. Cu-rich porphyry magmas produced by fractional crystallization of oxidized fertile basaltic magmas (Sangnan, East Junggar, PR China). Ore Geology Reviews. 2017; 91:296-315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2017.09.020
Fu Y, Cheng Q, Jing L, Ye B, Fu H. Mineral Prospectivity Mapping of Porphyry Copper Deposits Based on Remote Sensing Imagery and Geochemical Data in the Duolong Ore District, Tibet. Remote Sens. 2023; 15:439. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15020439
Liu C, Qiu C, Wang L, Feng J, Wu S, WangY. Application of ASTER Remote Sensing Data to Porphyry Copper Exploration in the Gondwana Region. Minerals 2023; 13:501. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13040501
Orynbassarova E, Ahmadi H, Adebiyet B, Bekbotayeva A, Abdullayeva T, Beiranv andPour A, Ilyassova A, Serikbayeva E, Talgarbayeva D, Bermukhanova A. Mapping Alteration Minerals Associated with Aktogay Porphyry Copper Mineralizationin Eastern Kazakhstan Using Landsat-8 and ASTER Satellite Sensors. Minerals. 2025; 15:277. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15030277
Ferraq M, Belkacim S, Cheng LZ, Davies JHFL, Perrot MG, Ben‑Tami A, Bouabdellah M. New Geochemical and Geochronological Constraints on the Genesis of the Imourkhssen Cu±Mo±Au±Ag porphyry deposit (Anti‑Atlas, Morocco): geodynamic and metallogenic implications. Minerals. 2024; 14(8):832. https://doi.org/10.3390/min14080832
Kontak DJ, and et al. Alteration lithogeochemistry of the Archean porphyry‑type Côté Gold Au(‑Cu) deposit, Ontario, Canada: implications for exploration. Minerals. 2023; 15(3):256. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15030256
Gao K, Zhang Z, Zhang L, Xu P, Yang Y, Wu J, Li Y, Sun M, Su W. Significance of Adakitic Plutons for Mineralization in Wubaduolai Copper Deposit, Xizang: Evidence from Zircon U-Pb Age, Hf Isotope, and Geochemistry. Minerals. 2025; 15(5):500. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15050500
Zhang P, Li Z, Zhao F, Liu X. Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications of the Granite Porphyry in the Sinongduo Ag-Pb-Zn deposit, Central Tibet: constraints from geochronology, geochemistry, and Sr-Nd isotopes. Minerals. 2024; 14(7):710. https://doi.org/10.3390/min14070710
Cooke DR, Hollings P, Wilkinson JJ, Tosdal R. Geochemistry of porphyry deposits. Treatise on Geochemistry (Second Edition).2014; 13;357-381. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-095975-7.01116-5
Otchet s podschetom zapasov zoloto-mednyh rud Vostochnogo uchastka mestorozhdeniya Nurkazgan po sostoyaniyu na 01.01.2019 g. [Report on thecalculationofgold and copperore reserves in the Eastern section of the Nurkazgan depositas of 01.01.2019]. Nur-Sultan. (in Russ.).
Yakubchuk A, Degtyarev K, Maslennikov V, Wurst A, Stekhin A, Lobanov K. Tectonomagmatic Settings, Architecture, and Metallogeny of the Central Asian Copper Province. Society of Economic Geologists. Inc. Special Publication. 2012; 16:403-432. https://doi.org/10.5382/SP.16.16
Feng H, Seltmann R, Shen P, Chu X, Suo Q, Seitmuratova E, Shatov V. Hydrothermal rutile chemistry and U-Pb age fingerprinting of the formation of the giant Nurkazgan porphyry Cu-Au deposit, Central Kazakhstan. Ore Geology Reviews. 2024, 174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2024.106293
Shen P, Pan H, Seitmuratova E, Jakupova S. U-Pb zircon, geochemical and Sr-Nd-Hf-O isotopic constraints on age and origin of the ore-bearing intrusions from the Nurkazgan porphyry Cu-Au deposit in Kazakhstan. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. 2016, 116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2015.11.018
Bouzari F, Hart CJR., Bissig T, Barker S. Hydrothermal alteration revealed by apatite luminescence and chemistry: a potential indicator mineral for exploring covered porphyry copper deposits. Economic Geology. 2016; 111:1397-1410. https://doi.org/0361-0128/16/4423/1397-14
Mishin LF. Eu Geochemistry in Magmatic Rocks of Continental Marginal Volcanic Belts. Geochemistry International. 2010; 48(6):580-592. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702910060054
Tatnell L, Anenburg M, Loucks R. Porphyry Copper Deposit Formation: Identifying Garnet and Amphibole Fractionation With REE Pattern Curvature Modeling. Geophysical Research Letters. 2023; 50(14):1-10. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103525
Tosdal RM, DillesJH, Cooke DR. From source to sinks in auriferous magmatic‑hydrothermal porphyry and epithermal deposits. Elements. 2009; 5:289-295. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.5.5.289
Seedorf E, Dilles JH, Proffett JM, Einaudi MT, Zurcher L, Stavast WJA, Johnson DA, Barton MD. Porphyry Deposits: Characteristics and Origin of Hypogene Features. Economic Geology 100th Anniversary. 2005; 1905-2005:251-298. https://doi.org/10.5382/AV100.10
Vodyanitskii YN. Geochemical Fractionation of Lanthanides in Soils and Rocks: A Review of Publications. EurasianSoil Science. 2012; 45(1):56-67. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229312010164
Wu C, Wang C, Hong T, Xu X, Zheng X, Liang W, Sun K, Zhang H, Dong L, Wang B. Constraints on the Formation of the Shiwu Porphyry Cu–Au Deposit in West Junggar, NW China: Insights from Tourmaline-Rich Igneous Rocks. Minerals. 2023; 13:612. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13050612
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 A.N. Kopobayeva, Ye.Ye. Zharylgapov, B.S. Ulgibayeva, A. Amangeldikyzy, N.S. Askarova, A.B. Kabyken
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
