Biotite chemistry of the Casino porphyry Cu-Mo-Au occurrence, Dawson Range, Yukon

Description

Biotites from hydrothermal alteration zones of the Casino porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposit have a chemical composition that is distinct from biotites of the unaltered Dawson Range Batholith and Casino Plutonic Suite. Biotites from potassic, phyllic, and propylitic alteration zones contain distinctly higher XMg (XMg = Mg/(Mg+Fe)) values than biotites from the unaltered country rocks. The XMg values are positively correlated with Ti, F, Cl, Si, and negatively correlated with Al, Fe, Mn, Ba contents. The XF/XOH (X = mole fraction) values are positively correlated with XMg/XFe values and describe a positive linear trend from propylitic, to potassic, to phyllic zones. The distinct XMg, Ti, F, Cl, Al, Fe, Mn, and XF/XOH and XMg/XFe compositions of biotites from alteration zones may prove to be useful in understanding the evolution of fluid chemistry, and the identification of alteration zones in porphyry copper systems in the Dawson Range.

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Name Format Description Link
Yukon Geological Survey publication metadata HTML https://data.geology.gov.yk.ca/Reference/42499
Original metadata (https://open.yukon.ca) HTML https://open.yukon.ca/information/f375da8c-fa0a-4385-8c27-4b4022cc9588
Report PDF https://ygsftp.gov.yk.ca/publications/yeg/yeg97/07_selby.pdf

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