Economic Geology

Vol. 73, 1978, pp. 628-644

Geology
andExploration
ofPorphyry
Copper
Deposits
in North Sulawesi,Indonesia
CSARRY
Cs.LOWDER
ANDJOHNA. S. Dow
Abstract

Newlydiscovered porphyry copper depositsin NorthSulawesi (Celebes) are located

in two principaldistricts,eachwith severalcentersof porphyrycoppermineralization.
The depositswerediscovered by reconnaissancestreamsilt geochemistry,
whichdetected
anomalies of the orderof 500to 1,000ppmCu,againsta background of 100ppmCu,
with anomalous trainsextending up to 3 km downstream. Subsequent
follow-upre-
vealedstreamsilt anomalies as highas 1.5percentCu. Ore targetsweredeveloped by
detailedstreamsilt androckgeochemistry togetherwith geologic
mapping of lithology,
alteration,
sulfidedistribution,andquartzveining.Goldprovedsuperior to copper, lead,
zinc,andmolybdenum in the identification
of centersof strongest
hypogene mineraliza-
tion,especially
in thecaseof leached cappings, wherea stronggoldanomalyaccompanied
by a weakcopperanomalyindicateshigh potentialfor supergene-enriched ore at depth.
In the economically moreimportantdistrict (Tombuililato)high-levelquartzdiorite
porphyrystocksintrudea middleto upper Tertiary island-arcsequence, consisting
principallyof andesiteand rhyolite. Supergene-enriched mineralizationis developed in
someof the stocks,whichare characterized by intensealterationand generallymoderate
sulfidecontents(3-5 volumepercent). Ore-gradehypogene mineralization is restricted
to the porphyryand to a narrow andesiticwall-rockcontactzone. Thesecoppercenters
occurwithin a broadzone (5 X 15 km) of pyritic mineralization,which is bestdeveloped
in the Tertiary rhyoliticrocks. In the otherdistrict (Tapadaa),coppermineralization
occursin complexdioritic plutonswhose sulfidecontents,copper grades,and degree
of enrichmentare generallylower than at Tombuililato.
Hydrothermalalterationis characterizedby the widespreadoccurrenceof strongad-
vanced argillic alteration and the presenceof albite or montmorillonite,rather than
potashfeldspar,in the ore zone. Advancedargillic mineral assemblages comprisevari-
ous combinationsof quartz, andalusite,corundum,diaspore,pyrophyllite, alunite, kaoli-
nite, and specularite. The highestcoppergradesare generallyaccompanied by sericite-
albite or sericite-montmorillonite alteration, but biotite, chlorite, magnetite, and some
advancedargillic mineralsare presentat least locally in the ore zone. Coppercentersin
the Tombuililatodistrict occur within a broad zone of advancedargillic-alteredrock
which approximatelycoincideswith the pyritic sulfidesystem. Drilling has shown that
ore-grade mineralization underlies some areas of advanced argillic alteration at less
than 100 m depth. In somecasesthis representsa changefrom advancedargillic to
clay-sericite alteration with depth, but ore-grade hypogenecopper mineralization does
occur with advancedargillic alteration of quartz-diaspore-pyrophyllitetype. In this
case the total sulfide content is commonlyhigh (3-10 volume percent) and the sulfide
assemblageis characteristicallypyrite-bornite-chalcopyrite.
Exceptionalabundanceof advancedargillic alteration in North Sulawesi is thought
to relate to the presenceof albite or montmorillonite instead of potash feldspar, to the
dioritic nature of the host rocks, and to unusuallyacidic ore fluids. Mineralogical data
suggestthat copper mineralization and alteration in the Tombuililato district may have
occurred at relatively low temperatures (350ø-400øC). The Tapadaa depositsare
thought to be root zonesof high-level stockswhoseerodedparts were like the deposits
now exposedat Tombuililato.

Introduction distinctive characteristicsof North Sulawesi por-

RECENTdiscoveriesof importantcopperdepositsin phyry copperdepositsand providesa synthesisof
the north arm of Sulawesi (Celebes) in Indonesia featuresof explorationand petrologicinterest.
have establishedthis hitherto largely unexplored In 1971 an Australian company,Endeavour Re-
area as a new porphyry copperregion. This paper sourcesLimited (formerly EndeavourOil Co. N.L.),
documents the discovery,preliminaryevaluation,and obtaineda mineral concession(known as Block II)
628
 PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS, NORTH SULttWES[, INDONES[tt 629

BLOCK ]• o C E A N

KILOMETERS <• •
0 500 1000 ,•
I I I

Fro. 1. a. Locationmap,Indonesia.b. Locationmap,North Sulawesiporphyrycopperregion,

showingtwo main districts(Tapadaa and Tombuililato).

on the northarm of Sulawesi(Fig. 1). Throughits gathered between mid-1973 and nfid-1976, when
Indonesiansubsidiarycompany,P.T. Tropic En- Kennecott withdrew from the Sulawesi Block II
dearourIndonesia,it begana regionalexploration joint venture.
program consisting of reconnaissancestream silt Two principalareasof coppermineralizationwere
geochemistry, somefollow-upsoilandrocksampling, identified and becalneknown as the Tapadaa and
and regionalgeologicmapping. This exploration Tombuililato districts. Each containsseveral cop-
was to test the possibilitythat the Philippinespor- per centersand important featuresof both similarity
phyrycopperprovincemightextendintothispart of and difference exist. Furthermore, although the
Indonesiaandthe initiativewasrewardedby the dis- North Sulawesidepositshavemanyfeaturesin com-
coveryof severalareaswith anomalous coppergeo- mon with other porphyry copper systemsin the
chemistry. Initial follow-upwork by Endeavour, southwestPacific,theydifferin severalrespects.The
comprisingmappingwith soil and rock sampling, mostimportantdifferencesare the widespreaddevel-
confirmed thepresence of porphyrycopper-type min- opmentof strong advancedargillic alteration and the
eralization. In 1973KennecottExplorations(Aus- presenceof albite or montmorilloniteinsteadof pot-
tralia) Ltd. enteredinto an agreement to carry out ashfeldsparin the ore zone.An earlierpaper (Low-
detailedinvestigationof the anomalousareasand the der and Dow, 1977) examinedthese aspectswith
authorswere amonga numberof geologists who referenceto the Tapadaa district. This paper is a
undertookthis work. The datareportedhere were more comprehensive treatment,with emphasison
630 G. G. LO•VDERAND J. A. S. DO•V

the moreimportantTombuililato district,discussinggeochemistry,geologic mapping, and alteration

exl)lorati(m
activities
andresults
aswellasproviding studiesandweretestedl•y scoutcoredrilling.
new informationon the natureof advancedargillic
alterationand its significance
in porphyrycopper Regional GeologicSetting
deposits.
North Sulawesiporphyrycopperdeposits occurin
Exploration Techniques a tectonicallycomplexregion,where interactionof
Porphyrycoppermineralizationin the southeast
of the Eurasian,Indian-Australian,and West Pacific
BlockII occursin an areaof youthfultopographycrustalplatestookplacein middleto upperTertiary
with elevationsup to 1,400m abovesealevel. Rain- time. Sulawesi is a compositeislandconsistingof a
fall is highandslopes are steepandmostlycovered western middle Tertiary volcanicisland arc, now
by densetropicalrain forest. The mainporphyry representedby the north and southarms of the island
copperprospectswere all locatedinitially by recon- (Fig. 1), anda Tertiaryophiolite-metamorphic suite
naissance streamsilt geochemicalsampling of major in the eastandsoutheastarmswhichappearto have
drainages. Natural exposureof mineralizedrock is beenthrustagainstthe westernarc duringthe Plio-
very poor so that detailed follow-up stream silt cene (CCOP-IOC, 1974; Katili, 1975). Various
samplingof all availabletributaries in known anoma- tectonicreconstructions of the developmentof the
lous areas was necessaryto locatethe sourcesof Sulawesi-Moluccas area have been discussed by
anomalies.Nearly all the knownprospects in the Audley-Charles et al. (1972), Moberley(1972), and
Tombuililatodistrictare beingactivelyerodedand Katili (1975).
leached, releasingcopperinto present-day drainage. Within the areaof BlockII, Eoceneto lower Mio-
The regionalthresholdof copperin the silt (-80 cene oceanicbasalt and minor pelagic sedimentsof
mesh) fractionis of the orderof 250 ppm Cu, but a the TinomboFormation(Trail et al., 1974) form a
valueof 500ppmCu wasfoundto bemoreappropri- basement on which an east-west chain of intermediate
ate for locatingsignificantmineralization.At Tapa- and acid calc-alkalinevolcanoes(Bilungala Vol-
daa, acid leachingof copperis less importantand canics)was built during the Miocene. In the eastern
copperin silt valuesare in the range200 to 800 ppln part of Block II (Fig. 2) the BilungalaVolcanics
are flankedto the north largelyby contemporaneous
Samplingof B horizonsoilwasemployedsuccess- andesites and volcanoclastic sediments of the Dolo-
fully in the early stagesof exploration at Tapadaa, kapa Formation. During middleto upper Miocene
but interpretationwas complicated by lack of geo- time the BilungalaVolcanicswere invadedby large
logic information. Becauseof very poor outcrop, massesof predominantlydioritic intrusiverock and it
intensive pitting and trenching were undertaken is within one of thesedioritic complexes,the Bone
bothat Tapadaaandat Tombuililatoto providereli- Diorite,that the Tapadaaand Tombuililatoporphyry
ablegeologic dataandan appropriate densityof bed- coppersystemsoccur. Renewedvolcanicactivity in
rock geochemicalsamples. Pits and trencheswere the Plio-Pleistocene, possiblyas a result of reacti-
dugby handinto weatheredrock (saprolite),which vated subductionbeneaththe north arm of Sulawesi,
generally lay between one and three meters belo•v produced acidpyroclastic rocks(PinoguVolcanics)
the surface,andalmostall geochemical sampleswere whose distributionis strongly
influencedby present-
collectedfrom channelsin the saprolitehorizon. day topographyand recenterosion.
Geologic mappingof pits,trenches,
andoutcropin
streamswas undertakenat a 1:500 scaleand pros- Geology of Porphyry Copper Districts
pect or district compilationswere made at scalesof
Tapadaa
1:2,500 and 1:10,000. Heavy reliancewas placed
on petrographiccontrolfor the mappingbecauseof The Tapadaadistrictis locatedapproximately15
commonly extreme alteration and modification of km eastof theprovincialto•vnof Gorontalo(Fig. 2).
original rock textures. As no sufficientlydetailed At Tapadaathe oldestrocksexposedbelongto the
topographicmaps and no air photographswere BilungalaVolcanicsand consistlargelyof andesite
availablefor this part of Sulawesi,all geologicand and dacitelavasand pyroclasticunits. No copper
geochemicaldata were related to a local network of mineralizationof significancehas been found in the
theodolitesurveyloopsand traversesset up by Bilungala Volcanics at Tapadaa and this unit has
Kennecott. thereforereceivedno detailedgeologicstudy. The
Ground magneticswas the only geophysicalex- volcanicsappearto be mainly fiat lying or gently
plorationtechniqueemployedand was foundto be of north dipping. All knowncoppermineralizationoc-
limitedvaluein ore targetdefinition. In general,ore curs within phasesof the Bone Diorite, which is a
targetswere developedusinga combinationof rock batholith ranging from diorite to granodioritein
 PORPHYRY COPPEI?.DEPOSITS, NORTH SUL•,IIYESI,1NDONESI.d 631

+ 4 + 4- k

+ +
+
+
++
+ +
+1
+ / COPPER PROJECT
AREA

/
/

4- + + + + + + 4-

+ + +4.+ \ %
++++ + +.+++ ++ + + 4-++•.
++ ++++++4.
+ + +++
+ + 4-

+ + 4- + + ++
•/ •--..• ,• + + + + + +
•'•.•,.-......+
+ ++ o o
ß.,.. • 0 0
'.]:'.'.'. v.'?-'-::2:1 +++++•
i:".''.'.'::)':.'
:.':':"!.'.'VEX..• \ +++++
:..:.'....:
...:.::
.--......'.:.:..:..:':':x
x • +++•++++++
++
•++• ++
+++•

N +\

\ +
Alluvium •
[L•• Pinogu
Volconics

MIOCENE
{••Bone
Bilungola
Diorite
Volconics
••/.•
Dolokapa
Formation
Geologic boundary-approximate
' •/
•••.
TOMBUIL1LATO
K1LOMETERS

....... Fault-
approxJmate 0I 5
I 10
I I

•m. 2. GenemHzeJ•egJonMgeo]og•of •o•th SM•wesi •o•h• co•e• •egion. •o•og•h•

is b•sed on side4ooking md•
im•ge•. A•te• •mi] et M. (]974).

composition.At eachcoppercenterintrusive rela- Tapadaa,but the significance

of theseyoungerdates
tions are typically complexand severalvarietiesof is uncertain.
quartz diorite porphyry, microdiorite,and quartz Unconformably overlying the Bone Diorite and
diorite are commonlypresentas small to relatively BilungalaVolcanicsare the Plio-PleistocenePinogu
large, crosscuttingintrusive bodies. Mid-Miocene Volcanics,comprisingdaciteand rhyolite tuffs, vol-
age for the Bone Diorite (Trail et al., 1974) is sup- canoclasticsediments,and minor flows. These com-
ported by a 16-m.-y. K-Ar date on hornblendefrom monly poorly lithified volcanicdepositsare best ex-
unalteredquartz diorite samplesat Tapadaa (Low- posedin the valley of the Bone River and have been
der and Dow, 1977). Much youngerages (2.5 and drapedover a land surfaceof significantrelief. They
5 m.y.) were obtainedfor samplesof secondary bio- partly cover mineralized porphyry at Tapadaa and
tite from mineralizedporphyry in a drill hole at are unaltered(exceptfor local solfataricalteration)
632 G. G. LOWDER AND f. A. S. DOI/V

and unmineralized,althcmghfragments of altered di(•rite p[•rphyrystocks,and to a limited extent as

and mineralizedquartz diorite porphyryhave bee1] intrusivecomplexes. Thesefeaturesreflectthe more
found in basal units. youthful topographyand shallowererosionwhich
Tombuililato characterize
the Tombuililatoarea. The Pinogu
Volcanics seem to be restricted to some of the mod-
In this district the Bilungala Volcanics are more ern drainages
and to a prominentcoastalstrip.
directly involvedin coppermineralization,although
intrusive rocks form the major ore host. Geologic Exploration Results
mappinghas enabledsubdivisionof the Bilungala Tapadaadistrictprospects
Volcanicsinto an older andesiticsuite and a younger
rhyoliticsuite. The lower unit consistsdominantly Porphyrycopperexplorationin the Tapadaadis-
of fine-grainedor weaklyporphyriticandesiteflows, trict preceded most of the work at Tombuililato.
with minor basaltand pyroclastics.Coarseagglom- Importantearly resultswere reportedin a previous
erates are common in the southern and •vestern paper (Lowder and Dow, 1977) and needonly be
marginsof the district. The upper unit consistsof updatedhere. Two major sulfide systemswere
dacite and rhyolite flows, vitric tuffs, and crystal delineatedat Tapadaa,eachcontaininga clusterof
tuffs, characterizedin placesby conspicuous quartz prospects. Mapping, geochemistry, and scoutcore
crystals. The rocksare commonlystronglyaltered drillingindicatethat coppermineralization is largely
and the suite tendsto occuras prominentridge cap- confinedto structurallycontrolledblockswith north-
rocks.The BoneDiorite west orientation. Volcanic wall rocks are not wide-
pingsoverlyingtheandesitic
is much less abundant at Tombuililato than at spread in the mineralized zones and ore occurs in
Tapadaa (Fig. 2). It occursas equigranularex- centersof multipleintrusionof quartz diorite por-
quartz phyryandsimilarlithologies.The bestgradesoccur
posuresin erosionalwindows,as well-defined
in the older rocks, but the volume of rock with
grades exceeding0.4 percent Cu is small. Sulfide
contentsare generallylow (<2 volume percent),
but at localitiesknownas Mogi Wapo and Tapadaa
Tengahthere are stronglyleachedpyritic zones(in
advancedargillic-alteredrock) overlyingsupergene
enrichedblankets,3 to 40 m thickandgrading0.5 to
0.8 percent Cu.

Tombuililato district stream silt geochemistry

The results of stream silt samplingin the Tom-
Kayubulan buililato district are shown in Figure 3. The two
Ridge
principal prospectsin the district, CabangKiri and
KayubulanRidge, are clearly definedby anomalous
copper-in-siltgeochemicalvalues. Both prospects
occur within a broad (5 x 15 km) northeast-south-
west-trendingsulfidesystemthat encompasses num-
erous other smaller or more weakly copper-anoma-

O0
ppm
Cu lous areas which have yet to be fully explored. Cop-
per-in-silt values are generally greater than 1,000
ppm in streamsdraining directly off the mineralized
porphyriesand range as high as 1 percent Cu at
CabangKiri and 1.5 percent at Kayubulan Ridge.
Backgroundcoppervaluesthroughoutare generally
METERS
0 I000
less than 100 ppm and silt values in excessof 500
ppm copperpersistdo•vnstream for up to 3 km (Fig.
3). In many casesup to 50 percentof the total cop-
per is in cold extractableform, suggestingsignificant
acid leachingin the sourcearea.
Streams draining the Cabang Kiri and Kayubulan
Ridge prospectscarry up to 20 ppm molybdenumin
Fro. 3. Stream silt copper geochemistryand generalized
sulfide distribution in the Tombuililato district. The two the silt fraction, contrasting with a regional back-
principal copper centersare shown in boxes. ground of lessthan 2 ppm Mo. Lead and zinc were
 PORPHYRY COPPERDEPOSITS,NORTH SULAWESI,INDONESIA 633

a b

o 2oo 400

Diamond
drill
hole •'1 Vent
breccia •1 Advancedargillic
i• Rhyolite r• Quartz porphyry•
diorite Quartz-sericite-clay
basalt complex rl• Biotite-chlorite-sericite-albite-
clay
Ridgetrocks--------
Stream ---._.e, r'• Leucocratic
diorite quartz r-• Propylitic
(fringe
alteration)

Fro. 4. a. Geologicmap of the Cabang Kiri area. A-A' indicateslocation of crosssection

(Fig. 6). b. Generalizeddistributionof alteration assemblages.

routinelydeterminedin streamsilt samples,yielding definition. Results for the other three metals are
values up to 150 ppm Pb and 2,700 ppm Zn in shownas generalizedcontoursin Figure 5. A strong
streamsdraining mineralizedareas, but in general correlationbetweenanomalousgeochemistryand the
lead and zinc anomaliesbear no obviousrelationship presenceof quartz diorite porphyry is established.
to copper centers. In the easternand southwesterntarget areas, where
inferred original sulfide contents (estimated from
Cabang Kiri prospect oxidized outcrops) average 3 to 4 volume percent,
Exploration results for the CabangKiri prospect copper has been strongly leachedwith values com-
are summarizedin Figure 4 (geology and altera- monly lessthan 500 ppm in the leachedcappingand
tion) and Figure 5 (geochemistryand sulfidedis- with no visible copper minerals. Higher copper
tribution). Three coppercentershave been identi- valuesoccur in the surroundingandesiticwall rock,
fied, two of them characterizedby simple quartz reflecting either less intense leaching due to lower
dioriteporphyrystocksand the third by a more com- sulfide contents or secondaryenrichmentby pre-
plex mixture of intrusive phases. On the western cipitationof copperfrom groundwater movinginto
side of the prospectthere is a large body of older the wall rock from leachingporphyry. The north-
(premineral) leucocraticquartz diorite. A younger westerntarget area contrastsstronglywith the other
but mineralizedhornblendediorite porphyry phaseis two areas. It is characterizedby complexintrusives
important at the eastern target area. The eastern and low inferred original sulfidecontents(Fig. 5).
porphyry stockis cut off at the southernand western This is reflected in the strong, coherent copper
margins by a postmineral,intrusive vent breccia. anomalyand the presenceof malachite,chrysocolla,
Generalizeddistribution of alteration assemblagesis and copper-stained clay in outcropat the northwest-
shown in Figure 4, but the nature and significance ern target.
of hydrothermalalterationand mineralizationwill be The patternsof gold distributionin surfacerocks
discussed in more detail later. at CabangKiri (Fig. 5) differ substantiallyfrom
Geochemical samples from pits, trenches and those of copper, except in the northwesternarea.
natural outcropswere analyzedfor copper,lead, zinc, This reflectsthe relative immobilityof gold in the
1nolybdenuln,and gold. Lead and zinc are COlll- oxidizing environment,and the assumedclose as-
monlyanomalous in ore target sociationof gol(l with hypogenecoppermineraliza-
but are not ilnpo1'tant
634 G. G. LOWDER AND J. A. S. DOI/V

METERS
0 200 400 •1 0 200 400

I >:)500p.p.m. ':-:i..."•
I000-:)500 / > 0'5 p.p.m. ':,::..::•
0'1- 0'5
a b

,, M0
," •
N:i:i:i:i:i:i:i:i:i::-•.:-:.:-:
....
Sulfid.,s
============================
....
:iiiiii•ii::':"'::iiiiiiiiii:iii:i:i:i:i:i:•:i:i:i:i:i:i:!:i:.
•
I

"-::::ii?:
..........
:'::::i:iiiii•iii!•&. '.... :::
....
ß
,? .. ........
......:.:.:...•ki!....."::•iii

0 200 400
• i:i:i::"
i::".'.":'
0
':::').?
200 400

c
Ridge Tracks ..... Streams
d

Fro. 5. CabangKiri area surfacerock geochemistry and inferred original sulfidedistribution

(estimatedfrom fresh or oxidizedoutcrops). Note contrastingpatternsfor copperand gold
at easterntarget area and strong copperanomalyin low-sulfiderock at northwesttarget.

tion was later confirmedby drilling. The useof gold ever, molybdenum geochemistry is of limitedpracti-
as a pathfinderelementin explorationgeochenfistry cal use in definingspecificdrill targets.
hasbeendiscussed by Learnedand Bolsson(1973). Testing of the ore targets developedat Cabang
Basedon his studiesat Mount Fubilan (Ok Tedi) Kiri was carried out with five scout diamond drill
in PapuaNew Guinea(Barnford,1972; Ayres and holes in the eastern area and one in the southwestern
Barnfordsuggested area. Initial drilling was sited on the basis of
Barnford,in prep.) andelsewhere,
(pers.commun.,1973,1974) that goldwouldprove anomalousgold geochemistry in leachedquartz dio-
superiorto coilper in the evaluationof tropical rite porphyry capping,where maximum potential
leached cappings,specificallyin North Sulawesi. for economichypogenemineralizationand supergene
His predictionshavesubsequentlybeenconfirmedby enrichment was believed to exist. Drilling results,
exploration results. illustrated in the cross section,Figure 6, confirmed
On a regional scale,the surfacedistributionof the target model to a large degree. For example,
molybdenum showsa broadanomalyaroundthe min- the first hole penetratedabout45 m of leachedcap-
eralizedporphyriesat CabangKiri. In detail,how- ping (O.Og•. Cu, 0.45 ppm Au) and then about62
 PORPHYRY COPPERDEPOSITS,NORTH SUL•IIJ•ESI,INDONESIA 635

eralization of a marginal nature. The northwest

target was not drilled as it is small and was not con-
sideredto have potentialfor supergeneenrichment
because of its low sulfide content.

Kayubulan Nidcdeprospect
This prospectis located7 km northeastof Cabang
Kiri, xvithinthe samebroad sulfidesystem(Fig. 3).
General geologiccharacteristicsare similar to those
•J•] Vent breccia at Cabang Kiri, but the ore targets developedare of
a substantiallylarger size. Three closely spaced
Andesire
basalt ond +J-• Quartz diorite
porphyry quartz dioriteporphyrystocks,with ahnostidentical
L[--•diorite
L.
eucocratic quartz lithologies,have beenmapped(Fig. 7), largely by
means of pits and trenches, as there is ahnost no
Fro. 6. Cross section of the Cabang Kiri area, based on natural outcropof porphyry. Observationsof flat-
scout diamond drilling. Shaded area represents postulated
enrichment blanket. dippingcontactsin trenchesand smallerosionalwin-
dows in adjoining volcanic wall rocks support the
m of supergene-enriched ore, averaging1.07 percent possibilitythat the Kayubulanstocksare only parti-
copperand 0.62 ppm gold. The remaining100 m or ally unroofedand substantiallylarger in plan at shal-
so of this hole intersectedfairly uniform hypogene low depth. The central intrnsivebody is hrecciated
mineralization averaging 0.57 percent copper and in mostexposuresand may constitutea brecciapipe.
0.65 ppm gold. Surface area of the eastern ore The breccia contains fragments of quartz diorite
targetis small (Fig. 4). Subsequent drill holescon- porphyryin a matrix of either limoniteafter sulfide
firreed that ore-grademineralizationis restrictedto or quartz and tourmaline. Crude alterationzoning
porphyry and a narrow wall-rock contactzone, and is apparentin the other two stocks(Fig. 7), which
that the stock has near-vertical walls. The hole showa core of clay-sericitealterationsurroundedby
drilled in the southwesttarget area intersectedmin- advancedargillic and other assemblages.

o b l

METERS iI METERS I
200 40O 200 400 I
I I

+1 + +

00
o
o

• Clay-sericite
u porphyry • Advanced
argillic
a•J•J Andesiteand
• Quartz diorite
porphyry
basalt and
Ridge Tracks .... St rearns •-----•
breccia
m-• Chlorite
-sericite-clay-
epldote
Fro. 7. a. Geologicmap of the KayubulanRidge area.b. Generalizeddistribution
of alteration assemblages.
636 G. G. LOWDER AND J. A. S. DOW

No drilling has yet beencarriedout, but the sur- collected from the surface and from 17 diamond
face geochemical expressionsof ore targetsat Kayu- drill holes, 11 of them at Tapadaa and 6 at Cabang
bulanRidge (Fig. 8) are similarto thoseof Cabang Kiri. Becauseof limited drilling, much of what fol-
Kiri ore targets,though larger in area. Copper is lows is generalized,but sufficientdrilling has been
apparentlystronglyleachedfrom porphyryoutcrops, done to give a clear indication of the nature of min-
whichtypicallycontain100 to 300 ppm Cu, but gold eralization and alteration and their relationshipsin
valuesform a strongcoherentanomalywhich closely the Xorth $ulawesiporphyrycopperdeposits.
reflectsthe outcrop pattern of quartz diorite por-
phyry. Molybdenumforms a broad anomalyencom- Mineralization
passingall three porphyrystocksand seemsto relate Szdfidemineralization
best to quartz vein abundance,which rarely exceeds
$ volumepercent. The copper centersat Tombuililato lie within a
These results,their similarityto thoseat Cabang broad zone of pyritic mineralization (Fig. 3), but
Kiri, and the resultsof drilling at CabangKiri sug- discretepyritic halos around coppercentersare not
gest that there is strong potentialfor supergene-en- well developed. Within the copperdepositssulfide
ticbed,economicmineralizationat KayubulanRidge. mineral assemblages are of four main types,three of
them hypogeneand the fourth supergene.These as-
Guides to ore semblagesare characterizedas follows.
Prediction of economicpotential at Kayubulan Chalcopyrite-pyrite:This is the most important
Ridgeis possible with a high levelof confidencebe- ore type, especiallyat CabangKiri, and the mineral-
causeore target criteria usedto delineatethis pros- ization occurs as disseminatedgrains and on frac-
pect are identicalto thoseused at CabangKiri, tures or in sulfideor quartz veins. The assemblage
where drilling confirmedthe validity of the criteria. constitutesfrom 1 to 5 volumepercentof the rocks
The sameore guidesmay be morewidely applicable in which it occursand copper grades range up to
in the evaluationof porphyrycopperdepositselse- about 0.8 percentCu.
where in the southwestPacific, where similar condi- Chalcopyrite-bornite: This assemblageoccurs in
tions of youthfultopography,rain forest cover, and rocks with low total sulfide contents,ranging from
poor outcropmay be encounteredand where the lessthan 1/2 up to 2 volumepercent.Coppergrades,
geologicsettingis comparable. Ore target criteria though highly variable, range up to about 1 percent
developedin the Sulawesiporphyry copperevalua- Cu. The sulfide grains are mostly disseminatedor
tions fall into three categories,as follo•vs: enclosedin quartz veins and this ore type is import-
ant in porphyry at Tapadaa and in andesiticwall
1. Stream silts: presenceof anomalouscopper rock at Cabang Kiri.
in the silt fraction of streamsdraining an area with Pyrite-bornite-chalcopyrite:Rocks with this as-
low pH in the streamwateranda highcold-extract- semblageinvariablyhave relativelyhigh to very high
ablecoppercomponent in the silt. sulfidecontents(3-10 volumepercentor more) and
2. Lithology: presenceof stronglyalteredquartz pyrite is alwaysthe dominantphase. Coppergrades
diorite porphyrywhich containsprominentquartz may be as muchas 1 percentCu and chalcopyrite is
veins and has a substantial oxidized sulfide content.
lackingin somecases. The mineralizationoccursin
3. Rock geochemistry:presenceof a distinct disseminated and veinlet form and has not been
(thoughnot necessarily strong)goldanomalyin the recognizedat Tapadaa. It is an importantthough
leachedand alteredquartz diorite porphyry,with a relativelyminor ore type at CabangKiri and may be
weakcopperanomalyin the porphyryand a distinct of major importanceat KayubulanRidge.
copperanomalyin adjacentwall rocks,and a broad Chalcocite-covellite (-chalcopyrite-pyrite): Chal-
molybdenum anomalyin the generalvicinityof the cociteis invariablythe major supergenesulfideand
alteredquartz diorite porphyrystock. covelliteis restrictedto the upper parts of the enrich-
Reconnaissance explorationdatafor theTombuililato ment blankets. Total sulfide contents are generally
district containseveralanomalieswhich displaysome greaterthan 3 volumepercentand gradesmay be as
of the characteristicslisted aboveand theserepresent high as 2 percentCu locally. The chalcocite
shows
targetsfor future explorationactivity. a strongpreferencefor replacementof chalcopyrite
Followingdiscussion of themorepracticalexplora- or bornireandpyritegrainsare commonlyunaffected
tion aspects of the North Sulawesievaluation,it is eventhoughadjacentcoppersulfidegrainshavebeen
nowappropriate to consider in moredetailtheresults completelyreplaced(as indicatedby diagnostictex-
of the supportingpetrologicinvestigations. The fol- tures). Important supergeneenrichmentis known
lowingdiscussion is basedon the studyof approxi- from drilling at Tapadaa Tengah and Cabang Kiri
mately1,200 thin and polishedsectionsof samples and is anticiI)atedat Kayul)ulanRidge.
 PORPHYRYCOPPERDEPOSITS,NORTHSUL.411zE.•'I,
[NDONE.S'L4 637

a AM

/
/
METERS METERS I
0 200 400 0 200 400

tI
i
i

\\
> I000p.p.m. ::.:::•500-1000 I >0'2 p.p.m.
25o- 50o • <250 0,05- o., <0'05
Mo d jSulfides
N

I
/
METERS METERS I
I
200 400 I 200 400 I
/

Ridge Tracks ------• Streams -'-------"

Fro. 8. Kayubulan Ridge area surface rock geochemistryand inferred original sulfide distri-
bution (estimatedfrom fresh or oxidized outcrops). As at Cabang Kiri, copper and gold show
contrasting patterns and the gold anomaly is largely contained within quartz diorite porphyry
outcrop area.

Pyritic mineralization rocks which are characteristicallyalmost devoid of

Precisegeneticrelationshipsbetweencoppermin- copperand are commonlystronglyaltered. In con-
eralization and the broad zone of pyrite that en- trast, the andesiticwall rocks show low pyrite con-
closesall the knowncoppercentersin the Tombuili- tents and weaker alteration in general. These fea-
lato district remain unresolved. Pyrite mineraliza- tures may reflect strong lithologiccontrol on the
tion is particularlywell developed in the rhyolitic nature and degreeof mineralizationand alteration.
638 G. G.LOFFDER
ANDJ. ,4.S. DOll/
Alternatively,
the rhyolitecouldcomprise
postmin-alteration
typesin the ('al•angKiri andKayubulan
eral coverand its mineralization/alteration
may Ridgeareas,respectively.
representa hydrothermal
eventyoungerthan that Althoughlateralzoningis not well developed,
responsiblefor coppermineralizationand alteration thereare a numberof instances wheredrillinghas
in porphyryand andesite. revealeda real or apparentverticalzoningin both
Unequivocaldiscriminationbetweenthesealterna- alterationmineralogyand metal content. Thus in
tivesis difficulton the basisof existingfieldand the easterntargetat CabangKiri advanced argillic-
petrologic
data. However,therecognition in a few alteredrockin the upperpart of the orezone(and
placesof stronglyalteredand pyritizedandesiteat the surface)is underlainby rock •vith sericite-
(identifiedonthebasisof distinctivetexture)sup- montmorillonite alteration.This changetakesplace
portsthe first alternative.Furthermore, although in lessthan 100 m and the gold contentincreases
rhyoliteis characteristically
very low in copper,it with depthfromthetop of the ore zone(andfrom
doescontainsignificant goldandespecially molyb- the top of the holes).
denurnin someinstances.For example, asshownin Most of the alterationin theseprospects is best
Figures7 and8, at KayubulanRidgethereis a co- identified and described in terms of characteristic
herentmolybdenum anomaly,zonedaboutthecopper minerals,ratherthanby meansof generaltermssuch
centers,whichis equallywell developedin andesitic as "phyllic"or "propylitic"(cf. Rose, 1970; Foun-
and rhyolitic wall rock. tain, 1972). Xevertheless,
onegeneralterm retained
is "advanced
argillic,"whichrefersto hydrothermal
Alteration alterationcharacterized
by highlyaluminous minerals
The familiar and classichydrothermalalteration (Meyer and Hemley, 1967; Gustafson and Hunt,
modelsestablished for porphyrycopperdepositsin 1975). This typeof hydrothermal activityis wide-
spreadin the North Sulawesidepositsand distin-
the southwestern United States (e.g., Lowell and
guishestheinfrom otherdeposits in the southwestern
Guilbert, 1970; Guilbert and Lowell, 1974; Rose, Pacific.
1970; Nielsen,1968) havebeenshownto be lesssatis-
factory when applied to other areas, such as the
Ore-associated alteration
southwesternPacific(Titley, 1975). Sulawesialtera-
tion representsyet anotherdeparturefrom estab- No true ore depositis known at Tapadaa,but the
lishedmodels,even in the southwesternPacific con- highest copper values (locally "ore grade") are
text. It is these unusual characteristics and their re- found in intrusive rock where the accompanying
lationshipsto mineralization that are the principal alteration is characterizedby sericite, albite, and
concernof the remainderof this paper. Study of magnetite;biotite is presentin somecases. In these
alterationat the North Sulawesi deposits hasyielded rocksalbiteforms veinsand pervasivereplacements,
guidesto ore, but application of well-knownzoning generally similar to secondarypotash feldspar in
models(I,owell and Guilbert,1970) would be of many other porphyry copper deposits. Sericite is
little practicalexplorationvalue.F(•r example,there heavily dustedthroughthe rock but showsa prefer-
are no potassiczonesnor simplepyrite halosin these encefor areaspreviouslyalbitized. Secondarymag-
deposits. netite is rarely abundantbut is very commonas vein-
Hypogenealterationin North Sulawesiporphyry lets and spongypatches. Biotite is not invariably
copperdepositsis generallystrong,bnt the lack of presentand the most stronglybiotizedrocksare late
clearlydefinedzoningis dueto complexintramineral intrusiveswhich are weakly mineralized.
intrusions,repeatedactivationof hydrothermal cir- At Tombuililato ore occursin porphyry and in
cnlatiou("telescopedalteration,"Titley, 1975), and andesiticwall rock, althoughto a very limited extent
strong control by lithology. Generally, alteration in the latter case. In intrusive rock the main ore-
mineralsoccurin pervasiveform, replacingoriginal associatedalteration assemblageis sericite-mont-
feldspar and hornblendewith slight to extensive morillonite,commonlywith minor chlorite,biotite,or
modificationof primary texture. Vein-controlled magnetite. Montmorillonite selectivelyreplacesthe
alteration,includingbothvein fillingsand envelopes,ferromagnesianconstituents and sericite replaces
is common,but veiningis rarely denseand gen- feldspar. Ore in andesiteoccurswith a complexas-
erallyinvolvesoneor moreof the secondary minerals semblageinvolving albite, sericite, chlorite, biotite,
whichare alsopresentin pervasiveor disseminated magnetite,and clays. Each of thesephasestends to
form. Quartz is the mostcommonvein mineral and be pervasiveand albite is generallydominant.
vein-controlled alteration and mineralization are
Ore-grade mineralization occursin rock with the
more importantin volcanicwall rock than in por- advancedargillic mineralassemblage quartz-diaspore-
phyry. Figtires 4 and 7 sb,•w the (listrilmtion of pyrophyllite at Cabang Kiri and drilling has con-
 PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS, NORTH SULAWESI, INDONESIA 639

firmed that this is a hypogenerelationship. The simply supergeneproductsfrom the oxidation of

primary coppercontentof advancedargillic-altered, pyritic rock. Someadvancedargillic lninerals,.such
ore-graderock is similar to that in adjacent clay- as kaolinite and alunite, can be and are commonly
sericite-alteredore, but the gold contentis lower. By producedin oxidized pyritic cappings. These min-
analogywith CabangKiri, the association of ore- erals are presentin North Sulawesiadvancedargillic
grade mineralizationwith this type of advanced alteration, but they are not restricted to oxidized
argillic alterationis thoughtto be an importantfea- cappingsnor to enrichedsulfidezones. Furthermore,
ture in the postulatedbut undrilledore zoneat Kayu- the hypogenenature of the alterationis affirmedby
bulanRidge. Other advancedargillicassemblages do the presenceof the high temperaturealuminousmin-
not accompanyore-grademineralization. No sig- erals, andalusiteand corundum. Becauseof the acid-
nificantprimary coppermineralizationis known in stablenature of thesealuminousminerals,they per-
rock with advancedargillicalterationin the Tapadaa sist stronglyat the surfacein spite of strongoxida-
district. tion and leachingof sulfidesin the rock.
Advancedargillic alterationin Sulawesioccursin
Fringe alteration both intrusive porphyry and volcanic wall rocks,
Both at Tapadaaand at Tombuililato,whetherin althoughin andesiteit is largely restrictedto struc-
porphyryor andesiticwall rock, subore-grade min- tural zones,whereasin rhyoliteit is widely pervasive.
eralization is accompaniedby various combinations In porphyry it occursboth pervasivelyand in struc-
of chlorite,epidote,biotite, amphibole,clay, sericite, tural zones. A number of advancedargillic mineral
albite, and zeolite. Of these,chlorite and epidoteare assemblageshave been recognizedand are, in ap-
the most widespreadand biotite tends to occur near proximately order of increasingformation tempera-
the coppercenters. Also in both areas,but especi- tures; alunite-kaolinite,alunite-kaolinite-pyrophyllite,
ally at Tombuililato,barrenadvancedargillicaltera- diaspore-pyrophyllite-alunite, diaspore-pyrophyllite,
tion of severaltypes is commonand is very wide- andalusite-pyrophyllite-diaspore, andalusite-pyrophyl-
spreadin the rhyolitic wall rocks. Quartz-sericite lite/muscovite,and andalusite-corundum-muscovite/
alteration, in the strict sense,is similar in appearance pyrophyllite. These assemblages are completely
and setting to advancedargillic alterationand has gradationaland quartzis invariablypresent. Specu-
generallybeen incorporatedwith it in mapping. laritic hematiteand pyrite may be presentin any of
Quartz-sericite-clayoccursas fringe alterationin a these assemblages, commonlyin abundance.Hypo-
numberof areasbut may be in part a supergeneas- genecoppermineralizationoccurswith diaspore-py-
semblageresultingfrom oxidation of pyritic rocks. rophyllitealteration (rarely accompanied by minor
alunite),wherethe ore mineralsare generallypyrite,
Mdz,ancedargillic alleration bornite,and chalcopyrite.The first two assemblages
\¾idespreaddevelopment of strongadvancedargil- are widespreadin rhyolitic volcanic rocks in the
lic alteration is the most distinctive feature of the Tombuililato district and occur in porphyry in parts
North Sulawesiporphyry copper deposits. This of the Tapadaadistrict. Theserockscommonlyhave
type of hydrothermal activity,whichis characterized a bleachedand very siliceousappearance. Simple
by highly aluminousminerals,is well known in sol- pervasivesilicificationalso occursin rhyolitesat
fatarasandepithermalgolddeposits but is not widely Tombuililato and this alteration is thought to be re-
recognizedas importantin the porphyrycoppercon- lated to the lower temperatureadvancedargillic as-
text. At E1 Salvador, Chile, where advancedargil- semblages.The otherfive assemblages tendto have
lic assemblages are well developedat high levelsin a more phyllicappearance in hand specimenand the
a strongtelescoped pattern,they are associated with presenceof almninousmineralsmay be difficultto
late pyritic destruction of copper mineralization detectwithout petrographicexamination. Some of
(Gustafsonand Hunt, 1975). At Red Mountain, the assemblages gradeto simplequartz-sericite(mus-
Arizona (Corn, 1975), alunite in "sericite" and covite) alteration.
"sericite-clay"alteration occursin an upper level Any assemblage of advanced argillicalterationmay
pyritic zoneoverlyingore-grademineralization. In be developedto an intensedegree,either preserving
neither case, however, does this type of alteration or destroyingprimarytexturebut completelyreplac-
appearto be as closelyrelatedto ore gradesas in ing primaryminerals. Severalexamplesof advanced
North Sulawesi. argillic alterationare illustratedin Figure 9. Ex-
It is importantto emphasize at this stagethat the treme replacement may produceassemblages suchas
alteration under discussionhere is a hypogenefea- quartz-diaspore-pyrite (Fig. 9a) or quartz-alunite
ture. .Sufficientunoxidizedsamplematerial is avail- (Fig. 9b). Diasporeformsgranularaggregates (Fig.
able from drill core and deeply incised streamsto 9a and e) and aluniteoccursin bladedcrystals(Fig.
confirm that the advancedargillic minerals are not 9e) whichmaybe morethan 1 mm in length(Fig.
640 G. G. LOWDER AND 7. ,4. $. DOI3/

I 0.5,mm I
Fro. 9. Photomicrographsof advanced argillic alteration in North Sulawesi quartz diorite
porphyry.
a. Intense alteration with resultant quartz (q), diaspore (di), and pyrite (black) assemblage.
Q is a relict quartz phenocryst. Tapadaa area. Cross-polarizedlight.
b. Coarse,bladed,hypogenealunite (al). Tombuililato area. Cross-polarizedlight.
c. Andalusite (an) and pyrophyllite (pp) replacing feldspar phenocrysts. Tapadaa area.
Plane polarized light.
d. Andalusite rosettes. Tapadaa area. Plane polarized light.
e_Strong, texture-destructive, quartz(q)-alunite(al)-diaspore(di)alteration. Black areas
are pyritegrains. Tombuililatoarea. Planepolarizedlight.
f. Intense alteration of feldspar phenocrysts,with core of corundum (co) surrounded by
coronaof pyrophyHite(pp). Tapadaaarea. Cross-polarized
light.
 PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOS'IT,%NOI•TII SUL,41-FE%'I,
INDO•VE%'L4 641

K20- AI.•03-- $i Oz--1%0 Na•,0 -AlfOnso'

Si0•- H• 0

I . I -.. I I I I I I I I oC

500

:•00

•oo/
kaolN kaolN 2o0

1oo I00

/ , I I I ! I I I I I I
I00 i01 iO2 i03 104 105 100 i01 iO?- i03 104 io5
mKCI m Na CI
rn HCI rn HCI
Ca 0 - A¾)•-- Si 0•,-- H•O
i I I I

oc

SO0

40O

300-
and•fh•fe
k•ol

•.00 -

I00 -

! ! ! , . I !
ioo io2 io4 io6 ioa ioI0
m CaCI
rn• HCI

Fro. 10. The alkali-alumina-silica-watersystemsat 1 kb pressure. After Hemley et al. (1971).

9b). This type of alunite is distinctfrom the fine- 9d). Corundumgenerallyhasa coronaof pyrophyl-
grainedalunite aggregatestypical of many super- lite (Fig. 9f), but occasionallycorundumis observed
gene zones. Hypogene kaolinite forms very fine in directcontactwith quartz.
grained,nearlyisotropicmasses,whereassupergene The exceptional development of advancedargillic
kaolinite occursas weakly birefringent,vermicular alterationin North Sulawesiporphyrycopperde-
bodies. Andalusitemay be restrictedto feldspar positsis thoughtto relatein part to the presence of
pseudomorphs (Fig. 9c) or may be presentper- albite or montmorillonite,rather than potashfeld-
vasivelythroughoutthe rock. It generallyoccursas spar, in the ore zone. Minerals suchas andalusite,
smallanhedralgranulesor slenderprismsand in the diaspore,and alunite imply that the hydrothermal
latter casecommonly formsradiatingrosettes(Fig. fluidsresponsiblefor alterationwereof stronglyacid
642 G. G. LOWDER AND J. .4. S. DOI/V

composition. Becausesodic mica and fel(lsl)ar are in Sulawesi with tlm (liasl•,re-l,yrol,hyllitc
much less stable in this environment than the potas- blage,which has a possibleformation temperature
sic counterparts (Fig. 10), such fluids are more around 350 ø to 400øC, and not with the higher tem-
likely to produceadvancedargillic alterationin low- perature andalusite-bearingassemblages. Restric-
potassiumrocks,like the dioritesin North Sulawesi, tion of ore in wall-rock andesire to rich but very
than in more potassicintrusives. Nevertheless,lack narrow contactzones may reflect the influenceof
of stronglydevelopedadvancedargillic alterationin very rapid pH increaseas relativelylow-temperature
other low-potassium porphyrysystems,suchas some fluids entered the reactive andesire. This is in con-
Philippine deposits (Bryner, 1969; Madaruba, trast to a depositsuch as Panguna, Boungainville
1972), makes it clear that the Sulawesicasemust (Fountain, 1972), where the substantialamountof
have involvedunusuallyacidichydrothermalsystems. ore in wall-rock andesitemay result from mineraliza-
Estimatesof formationtemperaturesfor advanced tion by hotter solutions,in which the increasein pH
argillic alterationare difficultto make becauseof the due to silicate hydrolysishas less effect on copper
obviouslack of equilibriumin many examplesof this solubility.
alterationtype. Nevertheless,a generalprogression Substantial supergeneenrichment occurs at Ca-
from kaolinireto pyrophylliteto anadalusitewith in- bang Kiri, even thoughthe total sulfidecontentsof
creasingtemperatureis indicatedby experimental the rocksin the leachedcappingare not very high,
data (e.g., Fig. 10) and it is possiblethat the ore- averaging3 to 4 volumepercent. This may be ex-
associated,quartz-diaspore-pyrophyllite assemblage plainedby the dominance of advanced argillicassem-
was formed at around 350 ø to 400øC. Andalusite- blagesin the leachedcapping,with mineralsthat are
bearing assemblagesare likely to have developed stable in acid solution--there is little reactive ma-
above 400 øC. terial, other than sulfide,on which supergeneacid
lnay be expended. Leaching is therefore extra-
Copper Mineralization and Advanced ordinarily effectiveand rocksin which not only the
Argillic Alteration sulfides but also the limonites have been leached out
At E1 Salvador,Chile, advancedargillic alteration are not uncommon. The presenceof former sulfide
is thoughtto have beena late-stageprocesswhich in macroscopically barrenwhiterocksis indicatedby'
destroyedearlier coppermineralization(Gustarson the recognitionof pyrite-shapedvoids in thin sec-
and Hunt, 1975). In Sulawesi,the lower tempera- tions.
ture and alunitic alteration,particularlythat in the Conclusions
rhyoliticwall rocks,may haveplayeda similarrole.
However,the association betweenhigh total sulfide, North Sulawesiporphyrycopperdepositsoccurin
high-grade pyrite-bornite-chalcopyrite mineraliza- a middle to upper Tertiary volcanic island-arc
tionandquartz-diaspore-pyrophyllite alterationestab- setting and are localizedin high-levelplutons or
lishedin drill corefrom the hyp'ogenezoneat Cabang stocksof quartz diorite composition.Discoveryof
Kiri showsthat not all advancedargillic alterationis important copper mineralizationhas led to the
destructive of coppermineralization.This is an im- establishment of ore targetcriteriafor usein further
portantpointin the explorati6ncontext,because of exploration.The mostimportantof thesecriteria
the widespread occurrenceof oxidized,barrenalun- is thepresence
of a distinct,coherentgoldanomalyin
ite-pyrite rock in proximity to stronglyleached, bedrocksamples,which will indicatethe center of
but originallywell-mineralized, maximumprimarycoppergradeirrespective
diaspore-pyrophyllite of oxi-
rock in the CabangKiri capping. Closerexamina- dationand, combinedwith coppergeochemistry, will
tion of other supposedlyaluniticand pyritic systems define the areas with greatestpotentialfor super-
may reveal stronglyleachedzones of significant gene-enrichedore.
mineralizationlike thoseat CabangKiri and, by in- Field evidenceindicatesthat the Tapadaadistrict
ference,Kayubulan Ridge. is moredeeplyerodedthantheTombuililato district.
Experimental work on the solubilityof the assem- This is consistent
with petrologicand mineralogical
blage chalcopyrite-pyrite-bornitein hydrothermal data, which suggestthat Tapadaa mineralization
NaC1 and NaHS-HeS solutions, by Crerar and occursin a shallowplutonicenvironment of complex
Barnes(1976), hasshownthat the abilityof a typi- intrusionswhere total sulfidecontentsand gradesare
cal ore fluid to carry dissolvedcopperdiminishes relativelylow dueto strongfracturecontrolon pat-
rapidly as the temperatureof the fluid falls below terns of mineralization,erratic or patchy nature of
350øC. Furthermore, a small increase in pH at the hydrothermalsystem,and dilutionby younger
this temperaturehas a large influenceon copper intrusions. In contrast,higher sulfidecontentsand
solubility.In a verygeneralway,theseresultsmay metalgradesat Tombuililatoare thoughtto reflect
help explainthe occurrence of coppermineralization the lithologicsimplicityof high-levelstocks,which
 PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS, NORTH SUL.4H?ES'I,INDONESI.4 643

al.•ve Tapadaa-tyl)cintru•i(ms m.sia• a•M exl)atriate gt. dt•gists. ()verall technical

n]ay fro'hias cup{•las
and have a channelingand cc,mcntratingeffect •,• alnl a(Infinistrativesupervisionwas the responsibility
hydrothermalcirculation. There is alsogreaterop- of L. T. MacAlister. Strong encouragementfor the
portunityfor meteoricwater to participatein the project was given by Dr. J. Katili, Director-General
hydrothermalsystem. This conceptof the relation- of Mines in Indonesia. Dr. R. J. Fountain reviewed
shipbetweenTapadaaand Tombuililatois supported an early draft of the manuscriptand his comments
by the observationof probablehigher temperature were most helpful. Publicationhas been authorized
alterationmineralsat Tapadaa with respectto Tom- 1)v Endeavour Resources Lindted and Kennecott
buililato, i.e., albite insteadof montmorilloniteand Col)per Corporation.
andalusiteor corundum instead of pyrophyllite or
G. G. L.
diaspore. LOWDER GEOSCXENCE
The economically
more importantmineralization 15 WOOdLAndS Av•u•
occursin the Tombuililato district where mineralogi- PYMBLE,N.S.W. 2073, AUSTRALIA
cal data suggestthat the temperatures
involvedin at
leastsomeof the sulfidedeposition
andore-associatedJ. A. S. D.
alteration were of the order of 350 ø to 400øC. Ore- K•N•CO'rT EXPLORATIONS
(AUSTRALIA) LTD.
G. P.O. Box 471
grademineralizationis restrictedto porphyryand a
narro•v wall-rock contact zone. This restricted min- S¾r•¾, N.S.W. 2001, AUSTRALIA
eralization of the reactivewall-rock andesitesmay be March 13, 1978
the result of rapid increasein pH and coolingof REFERENCES
relativelylow-temperature ore fluids as they enter
the wet, reactiveandesire. Audley-Charles, M. G., Carter, D. J., and Milson, J. S.,
1972, Tectonic developmentof eastern Indonesia in rela-
At CabangKiri in the Tombuililatodistrict the tion to Gondwanaland dispersal: Nature Phys. Sci., v.
greaterpart of ore-grademineralization
occurswith 239, p. 35-39.
sericite-montmorillonitealteration and at Tapadaa Barnford, R. W., 1972, The Mount Fubilan (Ok Tedi)
porphyry copper deposit, Territory of Papua and New
thehighestcoppergradesare associated with sericite- Guinea: Ecos. G•oL., v. 67, p. 1019-1033.
albite alteration. However, an important result of Bryner, L., 1969, Ore deposits of the Philippines; an intro-
duction to their geology: Ecoa. G•oL., v. 64, p. 644-666.
explorationat CabangKiri is the discoveryof a sig- CCOP-IOC, 1974, Metallogenesis,hydrocarbonsand tectonic
nificantproportionof ore-gradeprimarycoppermin- patterns in eastern Asia: Comm. for Coordination of Joint
eralization which is accompaniedby an advanced Prospecting for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore
Areas, United Nations Development Programme, Bangkok,
argillic alteration assemblage:quartz-pyrophyllite- 158 p.
diaspore. This observation has importantimplica- Corn, R. M., 1975, Alteration-mineralization zoning, Red
Mountain, Arizona: Ecoa. G•ou., v. 70, p. 1437-1447.
tions for explorationin similar geologicsettings, Crerar, D. A., and Barnes, H. L., 1976, Ore solution chem-
whereareasdiscardedas pyritic,solfataricallyaltered istry V. Solubilities of chalcopyrite and chalcocite assem-
volcanics (as wasthe initialresponseby somegeolo- blages in hydrothermal solution at 200ø to 350øC: Ecoa.
G•oL., v. 71, p. 772-794.
gistsin the Tombuililatodistrict) may be foundto Fountain, R. J., 1972, Geological relationships in the Pan-
consistof intenselyaltered and strongly leached, guna porphyry copper deposit, Bougainville Island, New
advancedargilliccappingsover substantial Guinea: EcoN. G•ou., v. 67, p. 1049-1064.
porphyry Guilbert, J. M., and Lo•vell, J. D., 1974, Variations in zoning
copper deposits. patterns in porphyry ore deposits: Canadian Mining
Metall. Bull., v. 67, no. 742, p. 99-109.
Ackowledgments Gustarson,L. B., and Hunt, J.P., 1975, The porphyry copper
depositat E1 Salvador, Chile: Ecos. G•oL., v. 70, p. 857-
This paperwouldnot havebeenpossible without 912.
Hemley, J. J., 1959, Some mineralogicaI equilibria in the
thecooperation
andassistance in thefieldandin the system K.oO-ALO•-SiO•-H•O: Am. Jour. Sci., v. 257, p.
officeby a numberof geologists who, with the 241-270.
authors,madeup a teamthat carriedout the North Hemley, J. J., Montoya, J. W., Nigrini, A., and Vincent, H.
A., 1971, Some alteration reactions in the system CaO-
Sulawesievaluation. Initial appraisalof the joint- AI•O•-SiO•-H•O: Soc. Mining Geologists Japan, Spec.
ventureopportunity•vascarriedout by R. A. Jones Issue 2, p. 58-63.
and R. W. Bamford,and Dr. Bamford'scontinued Katili, J. A., 1975, Volcanism and plate tectonics in the
Indonesian island arcs: Tectonophysics, v. 26, p. 165-188.
enthusiasmfor the area provided great support to Learned, R. E., and Boisson,R., 1973, Gold--a useful path-
the project. Dr. R. L. Nielsenand Prof. L. B. finder element in the search for porphyry copper deposits
Gustafsonwere instrumental in formulating some of in Puerto Rico, in Jones, M. J., ed., Geochemicalexplora-
tion 1972: Internat. Geochem. Explor. Symposium, 4th,
thegeologic ideaswhichhelpedleadto thediscover- London, Proc., p. 93-103.
ies made in North Sulawesi. Invaluable field data Lo•vder, G. G., and Dow, J. A. S., 1977, Porphyry copper
mineralization at the Tapadaa prospect,northern Sula•vesi,
werecollected by R. E. Clynch,M. J. Turbott,S. J. Indonesia: Soc. Mining Engineers AIME Trans., v. 262,
Waddell, L. E. Whitehouse,14. Geissler,M. C. p. 191-198.
Bird, B. A. Pertzel,and a numberof other Indo- Lowell, J. D., and Gullbert, J. M., 170, Lateral and vertical
644 G. G. LOWDER .4ND J. .4. S. DOW

alteration~mineralizati,m zoning in p•,rphyry ore (Icp•,siL•: in a cropper-bearing .eran,,dimStc p,•rpl•yry sic,ok, Sa•la
EcoN. GEOL.,v. 65, p. 373-408. Rita, New Mexico: Ecoa. (;EOU.,v. 63, p. 37-50.
Madaruba, F. A., 1972, Geology and mineralization of the Rose, A. W., Jr., 1970, Zonal relations of wallrock alteration
Atlas-Cebu disseminated copper deposits: MMIJ-AIME and sulfide distribution at porphyry copper deposits: Ecoa.
Joint Mtg., Tokyo, May 24--27, 1972, Print TI dl. G•ou., v. 65, p. 920-936.
Meyer, C., and Hemley, J. J., 1967, Wall rock alteration, in Titley, S. R., 1975, Geological characteristics and environ-
Barnes, H. L., ed., Geochemistry of hydrothermal ore ment of some porphyry copper occurrences in the south-
deposits: New York, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., western Pacific: Ecoa. G•ou., v. 70, p. 499-514.
p. 166-235. Trail, D. S., John, T. U., Bird, M. C., Obial, R. C., Pertzel,
Moberley, R., 1972, Origin of lithospherebehind island arcs, B. A., Abiog, D. B., Parwoto, and Subagio, 1974, The
with reference to the western Pacific: Geol. Soc. America general geological survey of Block II, Sulawesi Utara,
Mere. 132, p. 35-55. Indonesia: Unpubl. rept., P.T. Tropic Endearour In-
Nielsen, R. L., 1968, Hypogene texture and mineral zoning donesia,68 p.