Global Mineral Resource Assessment Sandstone Copper Assessment of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, Central Kazakhstan Prepared in cooperation with the Centre for Russian and Central EurAsian Mineral Studies—Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, and Mining and Economic Consulting, Ltd., Almaty, Kazakhstan Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5090–E U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey This page intentionally left blank. Global Mineral Resource Assessment Michael L. Zientek, Jane M. Hammarstrom, and Kathleen M. Johnson, editors Sandstone Copper Assessment of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, Central Kazakhstan By Stephen E. Box, Boris Syusyura, Timothy S. Hayes, Cliff D. Taylor, Michael L. Zientek, Murray W. Hitzman, Reimar Seltmann, Vladimir Chechetkin, Alla Dolgopolova, Pamela M. Cossette, and John C. Wallis Prepared in cooperation with the Centre for Russian and Central EurAsian Mineral Studies—Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, and Mining and Economic Consulting, Ltd., Almaty, Kazakhstan Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5090–E U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012 This report and any updates to it are available online at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5090/e/ For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. Suggested citation: Box, S.E., Syusyura, Boris, Hayes, T.S., Taylor, C.D., Zientek, M.L., Hitzman, M.W., Seltmann, Reimer, Chechetkin, Vladimir, Dolgopolova, Alla, Cossette, P.M., and Wallis, J.C., 2012, Sandstone copper assessment of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, Central Kazakhstan: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5090–E, 63 p. and spatial data tables. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Geologic Overview.........................................................................................................................................2 Mineral Deposit Model .................................................................................................................................8 Assessment Methodology ..........................................................................................................................14 Assessment Data ........................................................................................................................................14 Delineation of Permissive Tracts ...............................................................................................................17 Selection of Grade and Tonnage Model for Resource Assessment ...................................................18 Results of Probabilistic Assessments of Permissive Tracts .................................................................18 Results of the Monte Carlo Simulation of Contained Metal .................................................................20 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................21 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................21 Appendix A. Assessment Team .................................................................................................................25 Appendix B. Sandstone Copper Assessment for Tract 142ssCu8001 (CS-1), Central Kazakhstan ...........................................................................................................26 Appendix C. Sandstone Copper Assessment for Tract 142ssCu8002 (CS-2), Central Kazakhstan ...........................................................................................................34 Appendix D. Sandstone Copper Assessment for Tract 142ssCu8003 (CS-3), Central Kazakhstan ...........................................................................................................47 Appendix E. Sandstone Copper Assessment for Tract 142ssCu8004 (CS-4), Central Kazakhstan ...........................................................................................................55 Appendix F. Deposit Data Used to Develop a Grade and Tonnage Model for Sandstone Copper Deposits ...................................................................................................61 Appendix G. Description of GIS Files ........................................................................................................63 Figures 1. Regional geologic map showing the Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan. ......................3 2. Generalized Paleozoic stratigraphic section of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan. .............................................................................................................4 3. Geologic map showing fold trends and outlines of ore deposits within the Dzhezkazgan sub-basin of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan. .................................................... 6–7 4. Carboniferous and Permian stratigraphic section in the Dzhezkazgan deposit area Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan. .......................................................................................9 5. Schematic diagram showing ore bodies in selected stratigraphic layers in the Dzhezkazgan deposit, Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan. .............................................10 6. Schematic diagram showing southwest-northeast cross section of the Dzhezkazgan deposit, Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan. ......................................................................11 7. Thickness of mineralized rock within ore-bearing bed 6-I, Dzhezkazgan deposit, Chu- Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan. ..............................................................................................12 8. Mineral zoning of ore bodies, Dzhezkazgan deposit, Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan. .....................................................................................................................................13 iv 9. Tracts within the Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan, assessed for undiscovered sandstone copper deposits in this report. ..................................................15 10. Copper endowment within the Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan, by tract. ........................................................................................................20 B1. Location map for tract 142ssCu8001 (CS-1) and its known deposits and prospects, central Kazakhstan ............................................................................28 B2. Cumulative frequency plot showing the results of Monte Carlo computer simulation of undiscovered resources in tract 142ssCu8001 (CS-1), central Kazakhstan ...........................................................................................................32 C1. Location map for tract 142ssCu8002 (CS-2) and its known deposits and prospects, central Kazakhstan ............................................................................36 C2. Locations of fold structures in tract 142ssCu8002 (CS-2), central Kazakhstan. ..........................................................................................................37 C3. Stratigraphic column in the vicinity of the Zhaman-Aibat and Taskora deposits, showing positions of ore horizon subunits, Chu-Sarysu Basin, Kazakhstan. ...................................................................................................40 C4. Cumulative frequency plot showing the results of a Monte Carlo computer simulation of undiscovered resources in tract 142ssCu8002 (CS-2), Kazakhstan. ................................................................................................46 D1. Location map for tract CS-3 and its known prospects in central Kazakhstan. ....................49 D2. Cumulative frequency plot showing the results of a Monte Carlo computer simulation of undiscovered resources in tract 142ssCu8003 (CS-3), Kazakhstan. ................................................................................................54 E1. Location map for tract 142ssCu8004 (CS-4) and its known prospects in central Kazakhstan. ................................................................................................57 E2. Cumulative frequency plot showing the results of a Monte Carlo computer simulation of undiscovered resources in tract 142ssCU8004 (CS-4), central Kazakhstan. ....................................................................60 Tables 1. Maps and digital data from Syusyura and others (2010) used to support the assessment of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan. ..............................16 2. Grade and tonnage of known sandstone copper deposits, Chu-Sarysu Basin,