Organizer: University of Tasmania

We need to increase discovery and development rates for copper deposits if we are to achieve the energy transition is a reasonable time frame. Porphyry Cu-Au deposits are the major global source of copper, and there are more geoscientists currently exploring world-wide for PCD that any other deposit type. This workshop is therefore timely in providing up-to-date technical information about the key geological and geochemical elements required for the discovery and assessment of porphyry Cu-Au deposits.

The course commences with an overview of porphyry Cu-Au deposits from a global perspective. We then delve into a number of aspects that are critical for successful exploration, including:

-Types and Styles of porphyry copper-gold deposits
-The porphyry-epithermal transition
-Geological and tectonic environments of PCD
-Mapping techniques in PCD environments
-Hydrothermal veining and alteration types and zones (practical component)
-Importance of primary porphyry geochemistry
-New approach to resolving relationships between alteration facies, alteration mineralogy and copper-gold grades (computer exercise; need a laptop)
-Deriving mineralogy from major element geochemistry in PCD (computer exercises if practical)
-Far field vectoring using chlorite and epidote Top takeaways: Advances in PCD exploration
-Importance of boots on the ground mapping Recognition of alteration types and veining in PCD
-Integrating geology, mineralogy and geochemistry in PCD systems
-Vectoring methods to the PCD centre
-What makes a high grade PCD