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Platinum-group minerals in the Santo Tomas II (Philex) porphyry copper-gold deposit, Luzon Island, Philippines

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Abstract

Mineralized quartz diorites of the Santo Tomas II porphyry copper-gold deposit, carry high Au contents (average: 1.8 ppm) as well as 160 ppb Pd and 38 ppb Pt. Values of other platinum-group elements (PGE) and rhenium are below the analytical detection limits. There is a significant positive correlation between Au and Cu. The highest Pd values were detected in the most Au- and Cu-rich rocks. Platinum-group minerals (PGM) occur exclusively as inclusions in chalcopyrite and bornite. Potential Pd and Pt contents in sulphide concentrates are estimated at 1.5 g/t and 0.4 g/t, respectively. The precious metal assemblages consist of merenskyite (main PGM), kotulskite, moncheite, native gold, electrum, hessite and petzite. Polyphase fluid inclusions in quartz veinlets, associated with a PGM-bearing bornite-chalcopyrite-magnetite assemblage, are characterized by high salinity (35 to > 60 eq. wt% NaCl) and high trapping temperatures (between 380 and 520 °C). They may represent primary magmatic-hydrothermal fluids, which have been responsible for the transport of Pd, Pt and Au as chloride complexes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mineralogy and Petrology, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 48, D-20146, Hamburg, Germany

    M. Tarkian & G. Koopmann

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  1. M. Tarkian
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  2. G. Koopmann
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Tarkian, M., Koopmann, G. Platinum-group minerals in the Santo Tomas II (Philex) porphyry copper-gold deposit, Luzon Island, Philippines. Mineral. Deposita 30, 39–47 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00208875

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