Tectonic and Structural Controls on Diamondiferous Kimberlite and Lamproite and Their Bearing on Area Selection for Diamond Exploration

Argyle Deposit

The Discovery of the Argyle Pipe, Western Australia: The World’s First Lamproite-Hosted Diamond Mine

Evaluation of the AK1 Deposit at Argyle Diamond Mine

The Geology of the Argyle (AK1) Diamond Deposit, Western Australia

Nature of the Mantle Beneath the Argyle AK1 Lamproite Pipe: Constraints from Mantle Xenoliths, Diamonds, and Lamproite Geochemistry

Sillitoe SEG papers: 1971–2013
001_Sillitoe, R.H., and Sawkins, F.J., 1971, Geologic, mineralogic, and fluid inclusion studies relating to the origin of copper-bearing tourmaline breccia pipes, Chile: Economic Geology, v. 65, p. 1028–1041.
002_Sillitoe, R.H., 1972, A plate tectonic model for the origin of porphyry copper deposits: Economic Geology, v. 67, p. 184–197.
003_Sillitoe, R.H., 1973, Geology of the Los Pelambres porphyry copper deposit, Chile: Economic Geology, v. 68, p. 1-10.
004_Sillitoe, R.H., 1973, The tops and bottoms of porphyry copper deposits: Economic Geology, v. 68, p. 799-815.
005_Sillitoe, R.H., 1973, Environments of formation of volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits: Economic Geology, v. 68, p. 1321-1325.
006_Sillitoe, R.H., Halls, C., and Grant, J.N., 1975, Porphyry tin deposits in Bolivia: Economic Geology, v. 70, p. 913-927.
007_Sillitoe, R.H., 1975, Lead-silver, manganese, and native sulfur mineralization within a stratovolcano, El Queva, northwest Argentina: Economic Geology, v. 70, p. 1190-1201.
008_Sillitoe, R.H., 1975, Subduction and porphyry copper deposits in southwestern North America – a reply to recent objections: Economic Geology, v. 70, p. 1474-1477.
009_Sillitoe, R.H., 1977, Permo-Carboniferous, late Cretaceous and Miocene porphyry copper-type mineralization in the Argentinian Andes: Economic Geology, v. 72, p. 99-103.
010_Sillitoe, R.H., Jaramillo, L., Damon, P.E., Shafiqullah, M., and Escovar, R., 1982, Setting, characterisitics, and age of the Andean porphyry copper belt in Colombia: Economic Geology, v. 77, p. 1837-1850.
011_Silliitoe, R.H., 1983, Enargite-bearing massive sulfide deposits high in porphyry copper systems: Economic Geology, v. 78, p. 348-352.
012_Sillitoe, R.H., Jaramillo, L., and Castro, H., 1984, Geologic exploration of a molybdenum-rich porphyry copper deposit at Mocoa, Colombia: Economic Geology, v. 79, p. 106-123.
013_Sillitoe, R.H., Baker, E.M., and Brook, W.A., 1984, Gold deposits and hydrothermal eruption breccias associated with a maar volcano at Wau, Papua New Guinea: Economic Geology, v. 79, p. 638-655.
014_Sillitoe, R.H., and Bonham, H.F., Jr., 1984, Volcanic landforms and ore deposits: Economic Geology, v. 79, p. 1286-1298.

015_Sillitoe, R.H., 1985, Ore-related breccias in volcanoplutonic arcs: Economic Geology, v. 80, p. 1467-1514.
016_Sillitoe, R.H., Grauberger, G.L., and Elliott, J.E., 1985, A diatreme-hosted gold deposit at Montana Tunnels, Montana: Economic Geology, v. 80, p. 1707-1721.
017_Cunnean, R., and Sillitoe, R.H., 1989, Paleozoic hot spring sinter in the Drummond Basin, Queensland, Australia: Economic Geology, v. 84, p. 135-142.
018_Sillitoe, R.H., 1989, Gold deposits in western Pacific island arcs: The magmatic connection, in The geology of gold deposits: The perspective in 1988, Keays, R. R., Ramsay, W. R. H., and Groves, D. I., eds.: Economic Geology Monograph 6, p. 274-291.
019_Arnold, G.O., and Sillitoe, R.H., 1989, Mount Morgan gold-copper deposit, Queensland, Australia: Evidence for an intrusion-related replacement origin: Economic Geology, v. 84, p. 1805-1816.
020_Sillitoe, R.H., 1991, Gold metallogeny of Chile – an introduction: Economic Geology, v. 86, p. 1187-1205.
021_Vila, T., and Sillitoe, R.H., 1991, Gold-rich porphyry systems in the Maricunga belt, northern Chile: Economic Geology, v. 86, p. 1238-1260.
022_Sillitoe, R.H., McKee, E.H., and Vila, T., 1991, Reconnaissance K-Ar geochronology of the Maricunga gold-silver belt, northern Chile: Economic Geology, v. 86, p. 1261-1270.
023_Vila, T., Sillitoe, R.H., Betzhold, J., and Viteri, E., 1991, The porphyry gold deposit at Marte, northern Chile: Economic Geology, v. 86, p. 1271-1286.
024_Sillitoe, R.H., 1992, Gold and copper metallogeny of the central Andes – Past, present, and future exploration objectives (SEG Distinguished Lecture): Economic Geology, v. 
87, p. 2205-2216.
025_Sillitoe, R.H., 1993, Giant and bonanza gold deposits in the epithermal environment: Assessment of potential genetic factors, in Giant ore deposits, Whiting, B. H., Mason, R., and Hodgson, C. J., eds.: Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 2, p. 125-156.
026_Sillitoe, R.H., and Lorson, R.C., 1994, Epithermal gold-silver-mercury deposits at Paradise Peak, Nevada: Ore controls, porphyry gold association, detachment faulting, and supergene oxidation: Economic Geology, v. 89, p. 1226-1246.
027_Sillitoe, R.H., and McKee, E.H., 1996, Age of supergene oxidation and enrichment in the Chilean porphyry copper province: Economic Geology, v. 91, p. 164-179.

028_Sillitoe, R.H., Hannington, M.D., and Thompson, J.F.H., 1996, High-sulfidation deposits in the volcanogenic massive sulfide environment: Economic Geology, v. 91, 204-212.

029_Sillitoe, R.H., Marquardt, J.C., Ramírez, F., Becerra, H., and Gómez, M., 1996, Geology of the concealed MM porphyry copper deposit, Chuquicamata district, northern Chile, in Andean copper deposits: New discoveries, mineralization styles and metallogeny, Camus, F., Sillitoe, R. H., and Petersen, R., eds.: Society of Economic Geologists, Special Publication 5, p. 59-69.
030_Hannington, M.D., Poulsen, K.H., Thompson, J.F.H., and Sillitoe, R.H., 1999, Volcanogenic gold in the massive sulfide environment, in Volcanic-associated massive sulfide deposits: Processes and examples in modern and ancient settings, in Barrie, C.T., and Hannington, M.D., eds.: Reviews in Economic Geology, v. 8, p. 325-356.
031_McInnes, B.I.A., Farley, K.A., Sillitoe, R.H., and Kohn, B.P., 1999, Application of apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry to the determination of the sense and amount of vertical fault displacement at the Chuquicamata porphyry copper deposit, Chile: Economic Geology, v. 94, p. 937-947.
032_Sillitoe, R.H., 2000, Geologic analogy: A vital field component of mineral exploration: Society of Economic Geologists Newsletter 42, p. 6-9.
033_Gendall, I.R., Quevedo, L.A., Sillitoe, R.H., Spencer, R.M., Puente, C.O., León, J.P., and Povedo, R.R., 2000, Discovery of a Jurassic porphyry copper belt, Pangui area, southern Ecuador: Society of Economic Geologists Newsletter 43, p. 1, 8-15.
034_Sillitoe, R.H., 2000, Gold-rich porphyry deposits: Descriptive and genetic models and their role in exploration and discovery, in Hagemann, S. G., and Brown, P. E., eds., Gold in 2000: Reviews in Economic Geology, v. 13, p. 315-345. 
035_Sillitoe, R.H., 2002, Rifting, bimodal volcanism, and bonanza gold veins: Society of Economic Geologists Newsletter 48, p. 24-26.
036_Sillitoe, R.H., Cooper, C., Sale, M.J., Soechting, W., Echavarria, D., and Gallardo, J.L., 2002, Discovery and geology of the Esquel low-sulfidation epithermal gold deposit, Patagonia, Argentina, in Goldfarb, R. J., and Nielsen, R. L., eds, Integrated methods for discovery: Global exploration in the twenty-first century: Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 9, p. 227-240.
037_Sillitoe, R.H., and Burrows, D.R., 2002, New field evidence bearing on the origin of the El Laco magnetite deposit, northern Chile: Economic Geology, v. 97, p. 1101-1109.
038_Sillitoe, R.H., and Hedenquist, J.W., 2003, Linkages between volcanotectonic settings, ore-fluid compositions, and epithermal precious metal deposits, in Simmons, S. F., and Graham, I. J., eds., Volcanic, geothermal, and ore-forming fluids: Rulers and witnesses of processes within the Earth: Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 10, p. 315-343.

039_Sillitoe, R.H., 2004, Musings on future exploration targets and strategies in the Andes, in Sillitoe, R.H., Perelló, J., and Vidal, C.E., Andean metallogeny: Mineralization styles, new discoveries, and deposit updates: Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 11, p. 1-14.
040_Sillitoe, R.H., 2004, Distal-disseminated and Carlin-type gold deposits: Are they fundamentally different?: Society of Economic Geologists Newsletter 59, p. 28-30.
041_Sillitoe, R.H., 2005, Supergene oxidized and enriched porphyry copper and related deposits: Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, p. 723-768.
042_Sillitoe, R.H., and Perelló, J., 2005, Andean copper province: Tectonomagmatic settings, deposit types, metallogeny, exploration, and discovery: Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, p. 845-890.
043_Sillitoe, R.H., and Thompson, J.F.H., 2006, Changes in mineral exploration practice: Consequences for discovery, in Doggett, M. D., and Parry, J. R., eds., Wealth creation in the minerals industry: Integrating science, business, and education:: Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 12, p. 193-219.
044_Sillitoe, R.H., Hall, D.J., Redwood, S.D., and Waddell, A.H., 2006, Pueblo Viejo highsulfidation epithermal gold-silver deposit, Dominican Republic: A new model of formation beneath barren limestone cover: Economic Geology, v. 101, p. 1427-1435.
045_Sillitoe, R.H., 2007, Hypogene reinterpretation of supergene silver enrichment at Chañarcillo, northern Chile: Economic Geology, v. 102, p. 777-781.
046_Sillitoe, R.H., 2008, Major gold deposits and belts in the North and South American Cordillera: Distribution, tectonomagmatic settings, and metallogenic considerations: Economic Geology, v. 103, p. 663-687.
047_Sillitoe, R.H., 2009, Supergene silver enrichment reassessed, in Titley, S.R., ed., Supergene environments, processes, and products: Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 14, p. 15-32.
048_Sillitoe, R.H., 2010, Porphyry copper systems: Economic Geology, v. 105, p. 3-41.

049_Sillitoe, R.H., 2010, The challenge of finding new mineral resources: An introduction, in Goldfarb, R.J., Marsh, E.E., and Monecke, T., eds., The challenge of finding new  mineral resources: Global metallogeny, innovative exploration, and new discoveries: Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 15, p. 1-4.
050_Irarrazaval, V., Sillitoe, R.H., Wilson, A.J., Toro, J.C., Robles, W., and Lyall, G.D., 2010, Discovery history of a giant, high-grade, hypogene porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit at Los Sulfatos, Los Bronces-Río Blanco district, central Chile, in Goldfarb, R.J., Marsh, E.E., and Monecke, T., eds., The challenge of finding new mineral resources: Global metallogeny, innovative exploration, and new discoveries: Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 15, p. 253-269.

051_Sillitoe, R.H., and Mortensen, J.K., 2010, Longevity of porphyry copper formation at Quellaveco, Peru: Economic Geology, v. 105, p. 1157-1162.

052_Sillitoe, R.H., 2010, Grassroots exploration: Between a major rock and a junior hard place: Society of Economic Geologists Newsletter 83, p. 11-13.
053_Sillitoe, R.H., Perelló, J., and García, A., 2010, Sulfide-bearing veinlets throughout the  stratiform mineralization of the Central African Copperbelt: Temporal and genetic implications: Economic Geology, v. 105, p. 1361-1368.
054_Sillitoe, R.H., Van Kerkvoort, G., and Tolman, J., 2013, Geology of the Caspiche porphyry gold-copper deposit, Maricunga belt, northern Chile: Economic Geology, v. 108, in press.

Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Hema Edupugante, Michael Leahy, and Wanda Wooten, statistical assistants, and the world production tables were prepared by Regina R. Coleman and Glenn J. Wallace, international data coordinators. 
In 2003, mine production of recoverable copper in the United States fell by about 26,000 metric tons (t) to the lowest level since 1985.

The assessment of porphyry copper deposits in eastern Asia has a long history, and many people have been involved. USGS colleagues Klaus J. Schulz and Joseph A. Briskey initiated the project and participated in the first workshop, in Kunming, Yunnan, in 2002. Stephen G. Peters and Warren Nokleberg coordinated and led the initial assessment activities, prepared preliminary reports, and represented the USGS to our Chinese counterparts at several meetings.

Cadia Valley Operations Cadia Valley Operations
• Ridgeway underground mine producing 5.6Mtpa Ridgeway underground mine producing 5.6Mtpa Au/Cu ore Au/Cu ore
• Cadia Hill open pit mine producing Cadia Hill open pit mine producing +17Mtpa Au/Cu ore Au/Cu ore
• Ore processing complex treating Ore processing complex treating +22Mtpa ore 22Mtpa ore
• $900M in assets $900M in assets
• Full time employment of around 900 people Full time employment of around 900 people
• Forecast production current year +680koz Au & Forecast production current year +680koz Au & 
+80kt Cu +80kt Cu

The worksheet called Deposits contains descriptive information, and the original, compiled data on metal endowment of the deposits. The deposits worksheet can be viewed by clicking on the tab in the lower left-hand corner of this window called "deposits"

Porphyry-related metal deposits are large-tonnage, generally low-grade, hydrothermal deposits related to igneous intrusions emplaced at high crustal levels. Mineralization may be confined to pluton-hosted disseminations, stockworks, vein sets, and breccias and (or) occur in skarns, replacements, veins, and disseminated deposits peripheral to the inferred source pluton. Coeval epithermal precious metal-dominated deposits may occur above, or be telescoped onto, porphyry systems. This spectrum of deposit types includes many of the world's largest accumulations of Cu, Mo, Au, Ag, Sn, and W. As such the deposits represent critical economic resources and important exploration targets (Gilmour et al., 1995; Kirkham and Sinclair, 1996; Singer, 1995).

Welcome to our operations. You are visiting an extremely beautiful and remote area, home of many natural wonders, including an equatorial glacier, the Jayawijaya mountain range and majestic waterfalls. You are also touring one of the largest, most innovative and most exciting mining operations in the world. The Grasberg mine is located at an elevation of 13,000 feet. Average annual rainfall is about 200 inches …. so don’t forget your coat and umbrella! 
During your stay with us, we will conduct a Safety Orientation with you. We place the safety of our workers and visitors as a core aspect of our business -- and your safety is our highest priority. We ask your cooperation in observing our safety procedures. Personal safety equipment will be provided during the visit and you will be informed of our safety policies and procedures <...>

The Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold porphyry deposits arc located 6S0 kilometres south of Ulaan Baa tar in the south Gobi region of Mongolia. Copper mineralisation was first discovered in the Bronze age. During the late 1990’s extensive exploration including drilling was conducted by ВНР.