New methodologies for volcanic- hosted copper sulphide mineralization on Cyprus: A GIS–prospectivity analysis-based approach Economic Minerals Programme Internal Report CR/06/129 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ECONOMIC MINERALS PROGRAMME INTERNAL REPORT CR/06/129 New methodologies for volcanic- hosted copper sulphide mineralization on Cyprus: A GIS–prospectivity analysis-based approach Keywords J Naden, RJ Herrington, SM Jowitt, FM McEvoy, JP Williamson, GIS, Cyprus, Volcanic massive AJ Monhemius sulphide. Front cover With contributions from Photograph looking east at the AG Gunn, L Bateson, KE Rollin, R Thomas, C White, R Osborn Alestos open cast pit that was mined at the end of the 1930s. Alestos hill rises to the north Bibliographical reference J NADEN, RJ HERRINGTON, SM JOWITT, FM MCEVOY, JP WILLIAMSON, AJ MONHEMIUS. 2006. New methodologies for volcanic-hosted copper sulphide mineralization on Cyprus: A GIS–prospectivity analysis-based approach. British Geological Survey Internal Report, CR/06/129. 242pp. Copyright in materials derived from the British Geological Survey’s work is owned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and/or the authority that commissioned the work. Contact the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Section, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, e-mail [email protected]. You may quote extracts of a reasonable length without prior permission, provided a full acknowledgement is given of the source of the extract. Keyworth, Nottingham British Geological Survey 2006 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY The full range of Survey publications is available from the BGS British Geological Survey offices Sales Desks at Nottingham, Edinburgh and London; see contact Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG details below or shop online at www.geologyshop.com 0115-936 3241 Fax 0115-936 3488 The London Information Office also maintains a reference e-mail: [email protected] collection of BGS publications including maps for consultation. www.bgs.ac.uk Shop online at: www.geologyshop.com The Survey publishes an annual catalogue of its maps and other publications; this catalogue is available from any of the BGS Sales Desks. Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA The British Geological Survey carries out the geological survey of 0131-667 1000 Fax 0131-668 2683 Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the latter as an agency e-mail: [email protected] service for the government of Northern Ireland), and of the surrounding continental shelf, as well as its basic research projects. It also undertakes programmes of British technical aid in London Information Office at the Natural History Museum geology in developing countries as arranged by the Department (Earth Galleries), Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London for International Development and other agencies. SW7 2DE 020-7589 4090 Fax 020-7584 8270 The British Geological Survey is a component body of the Natural 020-7942 5344/45 email: [email protected] Environment Research Council. Forde House, Park Five Business Centre, Harrier Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HU 01392-445271 Fax 01392-445371 Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Colby House, Stranmillis Court, Belfast BT9 5BF 028-9038 8462 Fax 028-9038 8461 Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB 01491-838800 Fax 01491-692345 Columbus House, Greenmeadow Springs, Tongwynlais, Cardiff, CF15 7NE 029–2052 1962 Fax 029–2052 1963 Parent Body Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 1EU 01793-411500 Fax 01793-411501 www.nerc.ac.uk Foreword In 2002, the Republic of Cyprus commissioned a research and development programme to upgrade its role in the sector of the Metallic Mineral Wealth of Cyprus. The programme concerned the development of new methodologies for the exploration and exploitation of cupriferous sulphide ores. This report documents the results of the programme and is product of a collaborative study between the British Geological Survey (BGS), the Natural History Museum, London (NHM) Geological Survey Department (GSD), Ministry Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Cyprus. Acknowledgements In addition to the BGS, NHM and GSD staff acknowledged above, staff at Hellenic Copper Mines, Eastern Mediterranean Minerals and Eastern Mediterranean Resources made significant intellectual and material contributions to this report. In particular, Nicos Adamides and George Maliotis are recognised for their invaluable input to the project Contents Foreword ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ 5 Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Executive summary ..................................................................................................................... 15 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 17 2 Mineralization on Cyprus.................................................................................................... 20 2.1 General geology ............................................................................................................ 20 2.2 Mineralization ............................................................................................................... 27 2.3 Limassol Forest Ni-Cu-Co mineralizAtion .................................................................. 31 3 Mineral deposit models and prospectivity analysis........................................................... 36 3.1 VHMS mineralization ................................................................................................... 37 3.2 Ophiolite-hosted VHMS deposits ................................................................................. 40 3.3 Mineral deposit model—Cyprus-type VHMS deposits ................................................ 42 3.4 Exploration model ........................................................................................................ 47 4 Assessment of previous work and data used in the study................................................. 49 4.1 Exploration concepts used in United Nations work ..................................................... 49 4.2 Geological data ............................................................................................................. 50 4.3 Geophysical data ........................................................................................................... 50 4.4 Remote sensing data ..................................................................................................... 52 5 4.5 Geochemical data .......................................................................................................... 52 5 Alteration mineralogy and putative epithermal-style mineralization ............................. 54 5.1 Background information and introduction .................................................................... 54 5.2 Background alteration of the Troodos ophiolite ........................................................... 55 5.3 Alteration associated with VHMS deposits .................................................................. 55 5.4 Epithermal ore deposits ................................................................................................ 58 5.5 Geology of the studied prospects .................................................................................. 59 5.6 Portable infrared mineral analyser (PIMA) .................................................................. 67 5.7 Results of the PIMA investigation ................................................................................ 69 5.8 X-Ray diffraction analysis of alteration minerals ......................................................... 88 5.9 Petrological Analysis .................................................................................................... 92 5.10 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 100 6 Whole rock geochemistry .................................................................................................. 105 6.1 Discriminant plots ....................................................................................................... 105 6.2 Hydrothermal alteration .............................................................................................. 107 6.3 Hydrothermal alteration indices ................................................................................. 108 7 Mineralogical research ...................................................................................................... 114 7.1 Processes of supergene upgrade in VHMS Systems .................................................. 114 7.2 Discussion of supergene mineralization ..................................................................... 132 8 Considerations on the application of recent advances in copper hydrometallurgy at the Hellenic Copper Mines Skouriotissa copper production plant. ............................................ 135 8.1 Description of the Skouriotissa plant .......................................................................... 135 8.2 Overview of heap