Sulfide MINERALs texture AT THE HUGO DUMMETT PORPHYRY Cu-Au DEPOSIT, OYU TOLGOI, MONGOLIA

Mineralogical studies of ore and alteration minerals have been conducted for the Hugo Dummett porphyry copper deposit. The Hugo Dummett porphyry copper gold deposit is located in the South Gobi region, Mongolia and currently being explored. This deposit divided into the Cu-rich Hugo Dummett South and the Cu-Au-rich Hugo Dummett North deposits. The Hugo Dummett deposits contain 1.08% copper(1.16 billion tonnes in total) and 0.23 g/t gold(Oyunchimeg et al., 2006). Copper-gold mineralization at these deposit are centered on a high-grade copper(typically>2.5%) and gold(0.5-2 g/t) zone of intense quartz stockwork veining. The high grade copper and gold zone is mainly within the Late Devonian quartz monzodiorite intrusions and augite basalt, also locally occurs in dacitic rocks. Intense quartz veining forms a lens up to 100 m wide hosted by augite basalt and partly by quartz monzodiorite. Although many explorations have been carried out, only a few scientific works were done in the Oyu Tolgoi mining area. Therefore the nature of copper-gold mineralization and orgin of the deposit is not fully understood. Copper-gold mineralization in the Hugo Dummett deposits occurs in dominantly quartz monzodiorite and minor augite basalt, dacitic rocks and locally biotite granodiorite. Chalcopyrite, pyrite, bornite, molybdenite, tennantite, tetrahedrite, enargite, sphalerite, chalcocite, covellite, eugenite, galena and gold occur as main ore minerals in the Hugo Dummett North and South deposits. These sulfides occur as: (1) a vague vein-like trail 1-3cm long and 2-3 mm wide, (2) minute, discontinuous cracks within quartz(micron scales), and (3) irregular blebs/spots(micron scales)and (4) disseminated within the sericite and plagioclase, commonly concentrated in the quartz. Sulfide minerals commonly display as a replacement, intergrown and minor exsolution texture in the both of the Hugo Dummet deposits.