CLASSIFICATION OF DEPOSIT TYPES AND EVALUATION OF COPPER POTENTIAL IN FANSIPAN BELT

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRANING HANOI UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND GEOLOGY - - - PHAN VIET SON CLASSIFICATION OF DEPOSIT TYPES AND EVALUATION OF COPPER POTENTIAL... Objective The aim of

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRANING HANOI UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND GEOLOGY

- - -

PHAN VIET SON

CLASSIFICATION OF DEPOSIT TYPES AND EVALUATION OF COPPER POTENTIAL

This research was executed at Department of Prospecting and Exploration Geology, Faculty of Geology,

Hanoi University of Mining and Geology

ADVISORS AND CO-ADVISORS:

1 Ass Prof Dr Nguyen Quang Luat, Hanoi University

of Mining and Geology

2 Dr Nguyen Tien Dung, Hanoi University of Mining

and Geology

Reviewer 1: Assoc Prof Dr Dang Xuan Phong,

Vietnam Union of Geological Sciences

Reviewer 2: Assoc Prof Dr Tran Binh Chu,

Hanoi University of Mining and Geology

Reviewer 3: Dr Dao Thai Bac,

General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam

This PhD dissertation will be examined by University’s PhD Qualifying Examination Committee at Hanoi University of Mining

& Geology, DucThang Ward, Bac TuLiem District, Hanoi

Schedule time:

The full version is available at National Library - Hanoi, or Hanoi University of Mining and Geology’s Library

INTRODUCTION

Copper, a common nonferrous metal, and its compound are widely used in industries, agricultures and human being Thus copper prospecting and mining become very important in socioeconomic development of countries Copper was founded and has been used in human life for more than 10000 years Total production and consumption of copper metal in 2009 was over 18 million tons worldwide, most of them come from: Chile (2.8 million tons), China (2.6 million tons, USA (1.2 million tons), Indonesia (0.26 million tons), and Philippines (0.17 million tons)

In Vietnam, copper ore was founded and mined in three main areas: western bank of Red river (close to the border between Vietnam and China – in Lao Cai province), Luc Ngan river basin, and the northwest of the Northern Vietnam Besides, some small deposits of Cu were also founded in areas in the middle of Vietnam, such as Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Quang Ngai … (Nguyen Ngoc Lien et al., 1995; Tran Van Tri, 2000) However, the major reserves

of mineral is located in the northwest of Vietnam: like Sin Quyen, Lao Cai and Ban Phuc, Son La; copper ore here has been prospected from 1960s, and ranked as high deposits with 0.5 - 2% Cu, 2 g/t Au, and a small amount of Nickel Total estimation was over 2 million tons, with 1.24 million tons has already been explored Nowadays, mining, processing and metallurgy complexes at Sin Quyen mine, Bat Xat and Tang Loong industrial park, Lao Cai annually produce around 10000 tons of Cu metal

Fansipan belt has a very complicated structure and history of geologic development, which created abundance of copper deposits, and of course became an interesting studying object for a lot of geologists Geologic maps with different scales have been formed specially focus on prospecting and exploring copper metallization However, there were still a lot of arguments about mining classification in this area Thus, in order to improve effectiveness of prospecting and mining copper ore in not only Fansipan zone but

also the whole areas of the northwest of Vietnam, summarizing theories and generating a researching model will be indispensable Based on above arguments and reality demands, topic chosen for researcher‟s PhD dissertation is “CLASSIFICATION OF DEPOSIT TYPESAND EVALUATION OF COPPER POTENTIALIN FANSIPAN BELT”

2 Objective

The aim of research is first making a copper deposits classification system in Fansipan belt base on geomathematics (mathematical geology), and second creating a scientific establishment for mineral potential estimation; whereby achieve better result in exploring and mining process in researched area

3 Research accountability

- Generating and systematizing related researches about structural and physical geology of Fansipan area, and copper deposits

- Analyzing Fansipan belt geological structure and copper metallization characteristics

- Classifying copper deposits in research‟s areas base on geological mathematics

- Estimating resources, copper reserves in classified deposits Creating scientific establishments for further researches and prospecting and mining process

4 Research subject and scope

- Object of study: copper ore deposits, occurrences, and geologic formation related to copper metallization

- Research‟s scope: Fansipan belt – Northwest Vietnam

5 Approaching

- Combining asymptotic system methods with traditional geologic studies to identify the objects‟ essences and distributing features of copper ores in area

- Applying geological mathematics, logic analysis and supporting software to solve problems

- Creating model (objecting) to simulate objects‟ properties and estimate ore quality

- Estimating copper ore resources base on metallogenetic quantitative forecasts and deposit analysis

6 Original contribution

- Creating reliable industrial models for copper deposits in Fansipan belt based on combining geomathematics, logic analysis and traditional geologic studies

- Research results point out three different types of copper deposits in Fansipan belt: Sin Quyen copper ore, which could be found in following mines: Sin Quyen, Vi Kem, Suoi Thau, Ta Phoi; Lung Po copper ore, in Lung Po mine; and Lang Phat copper ore, in Lang Phat, and An Luong copper mine

- Combining geological mathematics with system asymptotic methods creates reliable results in mineral potential of copper ore in Fansipan belt Figure out the prospecting areas for explorations and mining

- Argument 1: Fansipan belt has three different types of copper deposits: Sin Quyen copper deposit type, including Sin Quyen, Vi Kem, Suoi Thau, Ta Phoi deposits, located in Sin Quyen

metamorphic formation (PPsq 2) contains Cu-Fe-Au-REE; Lung Po copper deposit type, distributing in Vien Nam formation (T1vn), has

Cu; Lang Phat copper deposit type, consisting of Lang Phat and An

Luong deposits, existing in Sin Quyen (PPsq 2 ) and Sa Pa (NPsp)

formations, involves Cu-Au

- Argument 2: Fansipan belt has quite great potential for copper ore The ore is allocated in three areas which need to be prospected and explored to contribute to the development of mining

in industry in the area in particular and in Vietnam in general

The high valuable of copper ores in these three areas need to be utilized in further prospecting and mining

8 Academic and practical denotation

- Fulfilling the comprehensive acknowledgment about copper deposit at Fansipan belt

- Experimental results from researcher‟s previous project

“Applying geological mathematics in comparison, classification and

mineral potential estimation of copper deposit at Fansipan Belt – Northwest Vietnam – Code B2010-02-100” Researcher added 254

new samples of metallography, 31 new samples of ICP, 25 new microsections; collected 3081 spectrum samples of primary bedrock,

12631 chemistry samples of Cu, etc

This PhD dissertation was completed at Department of Prospecting and Exploration, Faculty of Geology, Hanoi University

of Mining and Geology with advising of Asc Prof PhD Nguyen Quang Luat and PhD Nguyen Tien Dung

I would like to thank my advisors for guiding and supporting

me over years

I would like to thank my thesis committee members for all of their guidance through this process; your discussion, ideas, and feedback have been absolutely invaluable

I would like to thank for help from management committee

of Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, Faculty of Geology, Department of Prospecting and Exploration, and General Department of Geology and Mineral of Vietnam

I would like to thank for supporting from scientists: Prof PhD Dong Van Nhi, Asc.Prof PhD Dang Xuan Phong, Asc.Prof PhD Do Dinh Toat, Asc.Prof PhD Nguyen Phuong, Asc.Prof PhD Nguyen Van Lam, Asc.Prof PhD Tran Binh Chu, Asc.Prof PhD Pham Van Truong, Asc.Prof PhD Le Tien Dung, Asc.Prof PhD Truong Xuan Luan, Asc.Prof PhD Tran Thanh Hai, Asc.Prof PhD Luong Quang Khang, PhD Hoang Van Long, PhD Tran My Dung, PhD Ngo Xuan Thanh, PhD Bui Hoang Bac, and other researchers

Research content

Chapter 1 GEOLOGIC FEATURES OF FANSIPAN BELT – NORTHWEST

VIETNAM 1.1 Research area in geologic province

Base on the classification of geologic structure units in the north

of Vietnam published by Dovjikov A.E et al (1965), research area is located in Fansipan belt, part of the northwestern formation This area is also defined as “Metamorphic terrane in highland Hoang Lien Son” in researches of Tran Van Tri, et al (2009), which means that it belong to continental crust terrane Precambrian and reformatted in Phanerozoic, that connected with Ailaoshan (China) creating the southwestern edge of Yangzi

In general, geologic formation was classified based on groundmass characteristic in plate Indochina – Himalaya

- After 1954: researches were executed by Soviet‟s and Vietnamese geologists Some remarkable researches and geologists could

be listed as following: A.E Dovjikov et al (1965); E.P Izokh (1965); Nguyen Xuan Bao (1969); Bui Phu My (1971); Nguyen Vinh (1971); Phan Son (1974); Nguyen Van Chien, Le Dinh Huu, Phan Viet Ky, Nguyen Xuan Tung (1972); Phan Cu Tien (1977); Tran Van Tri, et al (1977); Vu Khuc, Bui Phu My (1985); Tran Duc Luong (1975-1977); Nguyen Xuan Tung, et al (1977, 1982, 1986); Nguyen Nghiem Minh, Vu Ngoc Hai (1987); Nguyen Xuan Tung, Tran Van Tri, et al (1992); Nguyen Thu Giao, et al (1994); Tran Trong Hoa, et al (1995, 1996, 1997); Le Nhu Lai (1995); Dao Dinh Thuc, Huynh Trung (1995); Nguyen Dac Dong (1997); etc

From 1954, many mapping and mineral prospecting projects have been done, such as: Prospecting and Exploration for copper deposits

in Sin Quyen and surrounding areas of Northwestern Geologic Union; Copper ore exploration in LungPo – Bat Xat – Lao Cai published by Mineral development company III (2000); Potential estimation of copper ore and other minerals in Ta Phoi, Cam Duong, Lao Cai by Intergeo Union (2002 – 2007); Mineral exploration in Vi Kem, Coc My, Bat Xat, Lao Cai – by Vinacomin (2001); Copper ore exploration at Ta Phoi, Lao Cai – by TaPhoi Copper joint-stock company (2012); Copper ore exploration at Khe Cam, An Luong, Van Chan, Yen Bai – by Thien Bao mineral joint-stock company (2011); Reporting from copper ore exploration at Lang Phat, Chau Que, Van Yen, Yen Bai – by Vu Toan mining co-operative (2011)

However, copper deposits classification was different in published researches, and they need to be unified Base on this, researcher proposes creating a united classification for copper deposit at Fansipan belt is the research objective

In order to generate the geologic characteristic at Fansipan Belt, researcher utilized the revision of North northwest (2001) and Northeast (1994) geologic map scale 1:200.000, which published on “Vietnamese geologic and mineral maps” in 2005 by General Department of Geology and Mineral of Vietnam

Geologic formation: research area has several stratigraphy units:

Neoarkei – Mesoproterozoi formation, includes: Suoi Chieng (NAsc), Sin Quyen (PPsq); Neoproterozoi – Early Cambrian formation includes: Cha

Pa (NPsp), Da Dinh (NP-1đđ), Thach Khoan (NP-1tk); Paleozoic

formation includes: Cam Duong (1cđ), Ben Khe (-Obk), Sinh Vinh (O3

-Ssv), Bo Hieng (S2bh), Mua river (D1sm), Ban Nguon (D1bn), Ban Pap

(D1-2bp), and Ban Cai (D3bc); Mesozoic formation: Vien Nam (T1vn),

Suoi Bang (T3n-rsb), Nam Thiep (J1-2nt); Kainozoi formations: Van Yen

(N1vy), Phan Luong (N1pl), Co Phuc (N1cp) and friable sediments in

Quaternary (Q)

Magma intrusion formations: complex magmatism found in

Fansipan belt includes: Neoarkei intrusion formation at Ca Vinh

(DiG/MAcv); Paleoproterozoi intrusion formation at Xom Giau

(G/PP1bn) and Muong Hum (GSi/PZ1mh); Mesozoic intrusion formation

at Ba Vi (Gb/T1bv); Kainozoi intrusion formation at Ye Yen Sun (G/Eys)

- Structure and formation: Fansipan belt was created by stratotectonics includes: Paleoproterozoi basement crystallization with geologic tectonic island arc which formed from quartz schist felspat-mica, mica schist mica-granat, biotit-sphen, amphibol, amphibiolit schist, gneiss biotit, and Phanerozoic cover

In sum, Fasipan belt has a long history and complex of geologic formation with strongly reformatted in geologic movement Region evidenced long time destruction, reconstruction and magma intrusion with variable of component and geologic age

Chapter 2 RATIONALE AND METHODOLOGIES

2.1 Copper characteristics about geochemistry and mineralogy

- Geochemical characteristics: Copper (chemical symbol: Cu) is at the number 29 in the periodic table of chemical elements Copper is naturally a solid substance in reddish yellow color; highly conductive (5,96x107 /Ω·m) just ranks behind silver (Ag) and high thermal conductivity (401 W/m·K) Pure copper is quite soft and malleable, and its hardness level is from 2,5 to 3 Mohs within density 8,93 g/cm3, melting point 1084,65 oC, and boiling point 2562

o

C Otherwise, copper has Clark value as 4,7.10-3%, and is unevenly distributed in the mafic and ultramafic rocks (1.10-2%), neutral stone (3,5.10-3%) and acid stone (2.10-3%), sediments (5,7.10-3%), especially in the meteorite (1.10-2%)

- Mineral characteristics: currently, over 240 different types

of copper ore have been indentified Some of them are very valuable

in mineral industry, like: Copper spontaneous; Chalcopyrite; Bornit; Cubanit; Chalcozin; Covellite; Tennantit; Tetrahedrit; Enacgit; Cuprit; Domeykit; Tenorit; Malachite; Azurite; Chrysocolla

2.2 Popular types of copper mine around the world and in Vietnam

- Types of copper mine in the world are very diverse that are from different groups of origin The copper mining industry is divided to magma, carbonate, skarn, hydrothermal pluton deposits (porphyritic copper), konchedan, stratiform deposits (shales and sandstones contain copper) Those mines have unevenly economic value Specifically, the porphyritic copper mine is confirmedly about

65 -70% in quantitative reserves, while shale and sandstone contain 15-20% copper; in konchedan mines, copper accounts for 5-8%; Cu-Ni sulphide deposits is accounted 2-2.5% ,C; and percentages of copper are accounted as 2-4% in skarn deposits, and 0.5 to 0.75 in carbonatit mines respectively

- The types of copper mines in Vietnam: As recent research results, there are follwing types discovered on the territory of Vietnam as: Cu-Ni magmatic origin; hydrothermal copper deposits; Konchedan copper mines; copper – quartz deposits; sandstone and shale deposits containing copper

- Collecting and analyzing samples;

- Geological accounting method (logical operations,

Dengram method, statistics);

- Modeling;

- Metallogenic forecasting methods to quantify;

- Practical experience combined expert method

2.4 Academic terms and concepts in thesis

Minerals: are natural mineral formations (solid, liquid, gas),

can be used directly or processed from metals or minerals in the national economy

Ore: is rock or originally mineral formations, contains useful

components within guaranteed withdrawal amount, which is benefit

in technical and economic perspectives

Mine: is a natural accumulation of minerals of which the

quantity and quality can be subjects to industrial exploitation in the

context of technical and economic conditions at present or in the future

Ore formations: are a natural ore mines (the ore

occurrences, ore position) that are similar in mineral composition (complex symbiotic minerals primarily and typically), arose in the same geological context, and have the same type of origin, but may differ in age

Mine type: is a mine or a group that has the same geological

context (characterized by surrounding rocks of ore, ore-bearing rock, etc.), is relatively similar mineral compositions, and associated minerals

Chapter 3 THE CHARATERISTICS OF COPPER MINES

IN THE FANSIPAN BELT, SOUTHWEST VIETNAM 3.1 Sin Quyen copper mine

- Geological characteristics: the main ore formation is the

metamorphic sediments of Sin Quyen 2 geologic formation at Proterozoic age, distributes as a large range that covers the most central part of the exploration area Ingredients include gneisbiotit, crystalline schist quartz 2 mica, marble within azimuthally 3200 leans to the Northeast, and slope angle is from 50-800

As study results, it is showed that in Sin Quyen copper mine, there were changing processes as: skarnization, hastingsite, biotite, epydot, carbonation, or migmatization

- Ore compositions:

+Mineral compositions: Chalcopyrite; Pyrrhotite; Pyrite; Magnetite; Marcasite; Cubanite; Azurite; Malachite; Goethite, Inmentite, Apatite, Chacosine, Covellite, Uranite, Orthite, Cacbonate, Limonite, Ferithorite, Synchyzite, native copper, native silver and gold The non-ore minerals include: Quartz, Biotite, Amphibole (hornblende-am); Feldspar (plagioclase feldspar potassium and acid-pl-fk); Calcite

+ Chemical compositions: the average copper content is 0.413% Base on results of 13 samples processed by SP ICP

spectroscopy, the average mineral contents are 0.6931% Cu; and 0.0103% Au; 23.5335% Fe; 0.0507% Er ; 0.00122% La; 0.0171% Ce

+ Structure and formation: disseminated, solid, remnant, mixture, glue architecture; grain, debris in shape, hard decomposition of solution like beams or networks

- Geochemical characteristics: the determination of six

primary elements: Ni, Pb, Co, Zn, Cu, Cr, is reliable information within

a probability higher than 90%, and setting a combination of syngenetic elements includes Cu, Ni, co, Cr and Pb, Zn, Cu is equivalent to two mineralization processed within two unseparted group elements (Cu-Ni-Cr-co) and (Cu -Pb-Zn)

- Gephysical characteristics: 53 detected physical anomalies

were parallel, and extend in the same direction with regional geological structure as northwest-southeast within a length of 600m-2000m and the width varies from several tens to 200 meters Also, the distribution

of mineralized copper zones was clarified at100 meters depth from the surface

3.2 Ta Phoi copper mine

- Geological characteristics: metamorphic sediments of Sin

Quyn 2 at Proterozoic age The main componets: quartz schist, biotite schist, biotite graphite with garnet, an amphibolite and phlogopite within 600m thickness

The changing processes surrounding rocks include pyritization, skarnization and hydrothermal alteration process

- Ore components:

+ Mineral components: Chalcopyrite, Cubanite, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite, Molybdenite, Magnetite, Hematite, Marcasite, Covellite, Melnicovite, Goethite, Azurite, Malachite; and nore ore like Quartz, Calcite

+ Chemical components: the average copper content is 0.413% And base on results of 13 anaytical ICP SP samples, the average content of minerals are 0.2434% CU, 0.0071% Au, 8.5079 % Fe, 0.0406% Er, 0.0025% La, 0.0397% Ce

+ Structure and formation: as observed , sampling and recent results, it is indicated that the main structure and formation is as dissemination, linear dissemination, mixture, solid mass, glue, grains, particals, remnants, debris