General research into porphyry copper, gold and molybdenum and related deposits continued throughout 2019, with Master of Economic Geology research students Carlos Diaz and Victor Torres making significant advances towards the completion of their theses. Carlos Diaz is researching the Cascabel porphyry deposit cluster in Ecuador, supported by SolGold. Cascabel contains the world-class Alpala Cu-Au porphyry deposit, with a maiden mineral resource estimate of 1.08 Gt @ 0.68% CuEq. In 2019, Carlos completed his field mapping, drill core logging and sampling at the Alpala, Tandayama and Aguinaga prospects to facilitate comparisons of the three prospects, and to build new models for the magmatic and metallogenic evolution of the Cascabel district that are intended to help to guide ongoing exploration in the district and broader region. Carlos has now  completed drafts of several thesis chapters and all his geochronological and geochemical data have now been acquired. Thesis submission is planned for mid-2020.

Victor Torres’ research into the Soledad tourmaline breccia complex in the Cordillera Negra of central Peru continued throughout 2019. This research project is supported by Chakana Copper Corp. In 2019, Victor logged new drillholes in the district and completed geochronological analyses of several stratigraphic units in the district, along with detailed petrographic and mineral chemistry analyses. Writing of the thesis is underway, with an intended submission date late in 2020.

CODES continues to have a strong emphasis on research into porphyry copper-gold deposits and related deposits. In 2018, two new Master of Economic Geology students (Carlos Diaz and Victor Torres) joined our program and are conducting research into some of the exciting new discoveries of Cu-Au mineralisation in South America.

Carlos Diaz is researching the Cascabel porphyry deposit cluster in Ecuador, supported by SolGold. Cascabel contains the world-class Alpala Cu-Au porphyry deposit, with a maiden mineral resource estimate of 1.08 Gt @ 0.68% CuEq. Carlos is conducting a campaign of field mapping, drill core logging and sampling at the Alpala, Tandayama and Aguinaga prospects to facilitate comparisons of the three prospects, and to build new models for the magmatic and metallogenic evolution of the Cascabel district that will help to guide ongoing exploration in the district and broader region.

Victor Torres is investigating the Soledad tourmaline breccia complex in the Cordillera Negra of central Peru. He is being supported by Chakana Copper Corp, who are testing the economic potential of the breccia pipes. A 16,000 m drill program was initiated in 2017 to determine the geometry of several previously drilled pipes, determine the true grade profile by drilling across the pipes, define an initial inferred resource on two of the pipes, and to test several targets across the property. Exploration is ongoing, and Victor is integrating data from the new drilling program to help evaluate the origins and exploration potential of the district.

Porphyry copper and gold deposits are a major focus of research activity at CODES. In addition to our major collaborative research, there were several one-on-one industry-related PhD and Master of Economic Geology studies and visiting academic research activities that continued throughout 2017.

Two Master of Economic Geology theses were completed in 2017 that were conducted as part of the general porphyry-related research activities at CODES. Sebastian Benavides’ thesis on the Taca Taca Bajo porphyry Cu deposit investigated grade-additive and grade-destructive styles of phyllic alteration at this major new porphyry discovery in Argentina. Leo Subang investigated the geology and geochemistry of the quartz – pyrite – gold high sulfidation epithermal Au + Ag ± Cu veins from the Mankayan mineral district, Philippines. Both theses achieved first-class results, and Leo’s research stimulated a new PhD study in the TMVC of the QPG veins by PhD candidate Yi Sun, which was initiated in late 2017.

Several team members were involved in finalising a special issue of Economic Geology that showcases major research outcomes from several PhD studies conducted at CODES on SW Pacific porphyry and related epithermal deposits. New CODES adjunct Adi Maryono wrote a synthesis of the porphyry Cu-Au deposits of the Sunda-Banda Arc in Indonesia, which will be the lead article in an Economic Geology special issue in 2018.