High-grade Granite-related Molybdenum Systems:

Classification and Origin

States t::;eological Survey, School of Mines, Reno, Nevada 89557-0047 U.S,A,

United States Geological Survey, 1200 University Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4667 U.S,A,

and
H.J.
United States Geological SurveYi MS 90S, Denver Federal Center, Denver. Colorado 50225 U.S,,,-;\.

Carten, RR, White, WI{, and Stein, HJ, 1993, granite-reL'lted mOi'VD>CLenL,m
C~lassification and in Kirkham, R. V, Sinciair, TrdJrpe, RJ and Du,ke,
Deposit Modeling: ;",OhWlrYi{ Assoctation of Canada, Special Paper 40, p, 521-554,

Abstract
extractable molybdenulfi- is contained or
deposits. Based on hydrotrJ.rmal, the
divided two associations: (1) rift-related deposits
rhyolitic stocks; and (2) low-grade, arc-rela.ted dePOS1tS
or plutons. rllrI;nVTV two
rhyolite-aikalic suite or a monzogranLie respec-
the compositional. structural and thermal differences betu'een interplate
rift environments, Th,..ese differences affect th~ that
upper crustal
generation of mafic tnagma. and tite associated
potassium. sodiurn, niobium, tantalum and uraniurn in tr~
COTL'., ide red to the Jtlrrn..ation nf high-grade O()TlOrtVT'V flH)LVI"Lf";;IL,n
The high-sdica rhyolite-alkalic suite contains
- that are

centres
(1protracted period of regional silicic magmatism, The
or with brittle failure (imbricate norrnal
exrel1aea upper crust. Differences an!.ong subclasses
the GS'1f1Pr'O"OI1,r,

States Geological Survey, 913 ~ationaI Cente::, Reston, Virginia 22092 C.S.A.

521
CARTEN E1'

reflectIng thr; addition

fluorine, chlorine, sulphur
introduction of volatiles
scavenge
cornponents L'olumes

UfUlnnrUPllLl-'flJ dans

peuuent etre subdiuises en deux regroupernenrs:

de lnagnLatisrrlJ! de acc()mp~ones de stochs
a faibles teneUTS dan.s un contexte de
fluor" Les f5--risements
d rhyolites

f'nrichissement concomitant en fluori

intraplaque
TlC'rTrn'Vr"fJllPa teneUT.

magmas (par ex., injection

Pine Grove) et Ia formation
pniCL4nt irarnediatenlent au accornpagnent Ia rn;'m'JLW;m
tion COUTante. ces evenements seraient ie re{let d 'un apport de
felsique. et plus solubles tels Ips
au degazage du

the associated
Granite-related mineral
denum,

522
 GRANITE-RELATED MOLYBDENUM SYSTEi\IS

of a common sequence
tectonic events that
centrations of metals.

an upper crustal chamber

differentiation of intermediate to felsic magma

~
or
volatiles into the root zone of

of vol-
residual magma into a near-surface
environment of 1-5
0. of volatiles and are ,>n~'~~~., dur-
solidification of magma;

In VCln-
filled fractures or in skarn.
interrelated variables affect final pro-
derived from this sequence of events: the

Western United States

523
 Table
tedou i c and
and
Production t
Mn
grade clltoH
Dep(lBiI (Ma) MethoJ References (Wt.'fu) Metal (%1 (%) (~!t) (%1

Gmnite-reIUl()d. lVIo: highsiliell He-alkalic

1. Clunax KAl' Bookstrom 76 Me 0.12U Mineable 1990)
0.240 907 S.H
FT lUi. and L.W n Mo ~6G 0.180 UnpuLtI.
(utl[lltbl.) () 120 Unpubl. datil
71 0.060 01 (19880)
Urad USCO and (unpub!.) 77 T Wllilaco el a/. (IU'18j
-I Il,. LJSMT ~lu"vlt1 e( (IY7:Jb) Me T 0.090 1Of) 0.036 ~l",eable W.H. ,Vltile (pet's. romm., 1990)
0.098 376 0.060 Wll.Wbite ltJHO)
Middle IIltn. USCO :J9 KAr Ranta (1974) Mo Hantn (974)
Mt. Emmo"s USCO and Ga ley (1982) Mo 141 0.1 Mineable cl (l981)
I\edweli BaBin 1718 I(At Galey 76 Mo 0098 0.060 Geologic Thomas and Galey (1,182)
Mt. Hope USNV 36<18 FT l(At II. Amini (writ.ten comm., l~e2) 76 Mo lI. WHo White (writt," comm.,
Siloerman and 100 cornm, 1::100)
Mt Plellllllt1t. CNNB l(A!',lloSr l(ooiman of OfJ86) 76 Mo\\'Sn Kooiman (l:Jt\il)
HI. Pine, Grove USUT Keith a/.(19Sill Mo HlftC T Ol'l(J 0.120 Silliloe (J~3()), IlK Hantn
!9R~}
I. Questa USNM j(Ar, ArAr ,jobnson 01. (1990) 77 Mo HiftC T 0.144 0.120 Mineaulc Climm., IfJ~)O)
Cabin USNM 1(Ar, ,Joitnsotl al. (1990) Mu o.m)O O.O(i(j Oltlwre (wr:tI.ctl comm.,
1979)
{(Ar Naeser et al. (I B80), Mo O:lJ 0 40 0.200 Geologic Call1crun (l986)
01. (1986)
14. Bordvika NllWY Estimate 'I'll 1110 Schotlwandt(1979)
l~ellk USTX 34<17 At 'l7r MoWNb o 0010 0.100 Mlflenble (l979), W.H.
Frice Hnd (1986) COlum., 1990)
16. N!(WY HbS!' Sundvull (1978) Mo A Ihlen at. (198:1.)
MalmbJerg WILD FT l(Ar al. (1910), Mo 0.1 O.lOO ond 'j'howaR'"n (1984)
uI (19'19),
Cleadow Hnd Brooke (HI79)
18. Flattll11eljeld Cl(LIJ ,tH Esttmate Cleaciow LWei (19791, 771 Mo A and (198t)
Stens!.top (lV~7)
Nordli NllWY HoSr Schonwandt anJ (lD83) Mo A UOSI IH] 0.0:10 ecologic (1986)
~.O. Throe IIi vcr" USN1\! I(i\r 'I'[,omp0(./11 (lV7'2) Mo ("dUB Hnd Tbompson (
Thooq)I:lUI,1 (lU:i~l
Poak USNM El:ltilOulc 1',13, ThoHl{HHJn (puru ('U!l\riL, 771 Mo A 'I' H, ThUluptiu!\ (pOrt:L romm"
lllJO) I~DIJ)

Gl'anite-relt!ted lVIo:
Adanac CNHC 71 CI,ricllopher and Pinson!. (19b2) Mo M 0.U9" O.O(ill Ceolog ic W lI. White (~1It'8. 1990)
al (J 98~) 0.030 l\\l'khllill al
Aniluramba AUQL 24(J Witcher (1975), Hocum (1978) Mo M 0.1J70
HalJ Huttt., KAr 1\",tud (1971)) Mo Iv! 0.100 14 C(;o)ov,ic cOtnm.,I!)90)
!:lell Moly h. Caeter M" M 0 Mineable (Ul7il)
llJol'nttarn SW[)N UFb Wilson and Fullicli (l8K2) Mo M 0 Oblander (lDH5)
~ltn. CNIlC ~8 JlJ7 K Ar Wh,le cl "I. WIGS) Mo \\ 0.074 GtJuiuglC Kirkham (ID8~~)
CanlcBnian Pl.!'!'! HI! [Itlltlel and But'LOn (985) 71 Mo M 0.051 Knittel and Burton (198;',)
 Cannivaf1 1197d)' 67 Mo M oO:JG Worl.hington (l9'l7)
ai. (l~79)
CNHC Mo :VI O.()Vl Geolugic Ki,.kl,,"1\ el ,,/. (1982)
PE[{u KAt Mo Iv! 10() (J lfollistcr(197SlJ)

KOlllll'ad MoW Iv! O.ISO 30 Sut\l:OV (

CNIlC !( AI" 70 Mo Iv! 0.087 o
CNBC K Mo M Ill! 108 iJ.u60 Ueologic
CNqU Estimate MoBi l\1ilH!able Kirkham cl oi.
KM,HbSr ~!IJ'W Iv! 00:31 162 Ce,ilogic NuLlo 01 a/. rt9iJ1, 19iJ61
CNlJC Mo hi () OBO 14 I'lid,c,. and ~lCl.lougllll (I WIG)
I(M mg hlo C(:ulogic H.T (wnttell
YUGU comm., (961)
~!I.. HU8kin CNBC Sinclair (1~8fi) mg? Mu M O.ODO Guulo"ie I{lrkhurn ('l (ri. (1982)
~lullkl! SWIJN U PO Wilaan alld Fallick (l8b2) 1\10 M o Gvol()/iiie Ohltmder 11885)
4(). Pidgeon Ma CNON E;jtlmale Mulli OOBO Kirkham cl nl. (l Dil21
c:,,({U ~lo Hi Geologic K,rlrhaltl (ID8:1,)
USN V !fig Mo M 0060 181 O.O:lO Gculogic K. I(oxlo and E. Ilanl.a (writl.en
191>2)
O.Ob4 G.OOO K. floxla Hanta

Quart'. Hill US!\K 1\ d 01 (l979) Mo M (Jon 1,216 0.027 Gcologie comm, 19\JO)
O.OBI 793 0.060 Milleable (omlll.,lfJ90)
I(ed Bird CNLlC KAr (1981) Mo 1\1 0.108 O.OGO Kirkham Wid;!')
Hed Mountuin CNYT K Ar Sinclai,' (19i)6}, 68 Mo M 0.100 IWi O.IJGIJ and Kalrlerc (I fI8!i)
und l(uhlcrL (l91lG)
4G. Roundy I\ Ar (1981) ?:l M O.20S Geulogic Kirkham (1982)
.1'/. Sturie Moly Pant.eleyev (1980) Mo 0.078 101 OOH) Bloomer (If)81)
LIS 1Il (107:1&), M 0.110 181 O.ObO Geologic Schmidt "I. (1982)
Schmidt ai (1982)
Trout Lake I< Boyle Hnd Leit.eh (1 Mo 0.138 0.060 Boyle and (l9S:l)
[,0. 'l'yrnYllu1. Lilms PaKlllav (1977) ~'1o"W M () 065 50 Sutuloy (19'78)
York,] I fardy CNBC KAr ( 1981 7:3 MoW M 0.120 Geologie W.H. Wbite (pors. comm., 19(0)
lJ 1l.()6(J Gcologic Whito 10:1())
[e-related
Buckingham USNV McKee (1 fJ:!2) 70 ~loCn (J.O:')" 0.034 Gt1ulogic W.H. cumm.,I!)90)
0040 O.U60 (J,,(,logic WH. CtHllm,I!I!II.!)
30 K Ar Holliater (1078u) Arc 0010 (UIIO 00
(1978) M(ICu liiftC 0069 0074 WH comm.,IUHO)
W.lf Wb'tc (perti 19~1()) O.OiIG o 060 Geologic IV II, Whit" comm.,I!i!)OI
57 KAr Schcrkcnbac:h d (lUS:,) mg ~Io OOJ(J 0.060 IV.!!. COll\ l1\. , 1!1!)(t)
MXCO Tertiury EHttrnullJ Loon anJ Slillor (lDSl) 0.074 0.060 IllJ ()O~lO WIt. ,'ottltll.,I!IDOI
(I 0071 126 0.060 hlinoablo W.l COinm, lU90)
Hall lISNV 6670 KAt, Ul:'L ~baver (19841 Moen 0.091 Minl'able
Jill (j l:if'. iO '1 WaHm comm., Moen 0.100 (103C1 907 Ccolugic S.H comm., t!190)

Mocoa ]Gli KAr Sdlll"o ct "I. (1980 MoCu 0100 G00jOgie Sill,loe cl al
60 Ml. Tolmall USWA fiO6U W.C. Utlahack (I/C"8 mg Mo ell 0.056 O.ODO '19~1 0.036 Miru]llblc W.C.
(i.OS! oO,lQ 0.027 Geologic cumm.,19di,)
Hilllt" lJSNM :31 1< Thompson (1982) :\IuCu 0.070 0.100 119GB, and
comm., 1990;, [1"lilSter (1978b)
Table X

cut-of!'
CmJ11try" (Mo) Method HefereneeN (wt.%) Metal (%) (%)

GraniLtl-:related
Andina CILl': b nl. (1983), :3,000 Geolot,ic
(1085)
Damon and Mauger (l9GGI 0030 0480
(lGBI) 0.031 0.348 308
While al. (l8G8)
Warnaars o/. (UJ78) Ndtionul

CNYT l( Ar Godwin gel O:l7O

l\CUR 11 MullerKahle and Damon Illg euMo 00:10 0700
(lD7(J), Snelling ([970)
G~ CILE I{Ar Ambnl8 (19'17) mg CuMo () SululoY (1978)
70. Copper Mtn. CNQU KAr Alkuck (l982) gd'lIIg CuMo () Allcoek (1982),
Kirkham e/ ,,/ (1982)
L'EIW 01. (1990) Cll1vh) O.02fi 0.700 SUlnloy (1\)711), 8alchwdl (1983)
C!LE Custufson Hnd Hunt (1976) Cu*Mo LIllO 5:l5 An;brnB (1978)
73 ill ']'eniente (1983 ) Cll-illo 0030 0.68U 8,350 SUIliloy (1978), Gilmour (1982)
74 Gnawed Mln. (I ()45 O.~'/O ,14 Kirkham et (I~S2)
Hlghmont CNBC Nortb role mg CoMo 0045 0.258 l\irl,ham
Cht'lsmns III (I9tlfll
'16 Lawici<u (1976) Cu-Mu 0.050 0:300 100 SUlulov (1978),
Sillitue et 01 (1984)
KiyulykhUzen' UlmS Co-illo 0.050 1000 Sutuloy (l9'18)

La AlumLrura ACTN 0010 0400 100 Slltuluy (

Los l'elambres CILE 10 I llild Sou viron
0.029 0.280 IS] Miller (1976)
PErm 0.022 o.no Gilmoor (lfJb2)

~Iitleral Purk USAZ n KAr 72 CllMo 0.530 Lowell

H3 M'Jl:hu CILE gd 0030 l.OOO 107
Needle Min. O.O:l5 lIirkham et ai (19821
Ox Lake 86 l{-Ar f{ichards (1976)
}\lramount CNllC 186 (1972) Kirilham (1982)
IJuHhpup PEHU 15 ell-Mil 0.('50 O.bOO Geologlc Gilmour (lfJll~),
(1984 )
Quellaveco PEf{lJ CuMo O.1J30 O.U50 200 liu!l,sler (1~J7ba)

CILl:: CuMo () 010

WAN Mo 00:10 Hamill'"1 (1975)
Hnd

Schar, Crook CNIJC 18(, KAr Pailluloyoy unJ DuduH (19'72) 0020 03ilil HIl7 l\lrkboltl vi 01. (I
USAZ I(AI' unJ KiHlloc (1962), CuMo (J O:IO! 7 I(rlli, llD7b)

CuMo () 024 0.130 113 Guologlc

Cooner (19731 I{elly ml(7) CuMo 0 0.ti33 41:1
libted for whicll reii"lrle grMI" and lonnage uvailable. IlcpOSll" without and tonnage informaLion mentIOned tho lI1.c:iud"d in for add,tlonui or
wldcomed.
Bulletin 16(1:J
recalculated
Hno:wd on [tr!hyJn.Jll::l com.pol:liLtvll., normalized Lo 100 0(0; granodj()riU~ !lod
[(ift designatiun mantle or deep mantle upwelling;
IVlle; '1', transitional type; A, ulkul,r M,
01' IJrll'l IIf
 GRAN[TE-R,~LATED ~lOLYBDENUM SYSTEMS

of an individual IS
minerai economics. As an eXlli'I1-
have a

.}
loS are
This restricted distribution of ages cannot ex-
the erosion of older
erOSion no
reserves underestimate or do not include
copper. these most de-
that contain economic or subeconomic con-
centrations of either of these metals are either copper

with the onset of basin

blocks are buried beneath detritus and should have
of survival similar to that of other basin-
0.3 such as sediment-hosted sul-
J<

0.1

-?fl " -=-------~-

~
-~~--=-

-
6
6
0.03

0
~
0.01

0.003

0.001

O. i 0.3 3

the mantle and crust, as a result of

processes in the lower mantie related to subduction

As will alkali basalt is a critical

in the formation of

rocks in arc
formed in association with more felsic
literature. rocks continental-rift

527
CARTEN ET :\L

in the

IS to
m nCWT, nFT">'
events and processes re-
mafic to intermediate for their occurrence. fea-
tures common and distinctive
we can evaluate the effects of extensive
intensive variables on the outcome
The the number and

cause economic
recent additions to

break do\vn~ .A.s V/ill be C-lJlCH 'lo;C" in extensive and inten-

and associated ore bodies are sive variables. !JV'~0'~r,~ classification schemes and
into tectonic environments. The models are less based and conse-
of less reliable,
related to intracontinen-

Cu-Mo, and Me-Cu Deposits

140

rH
~
'.MO 16,0 million tonnes; -
OJ
3
, Kll,yoirtE'-ilJKal;1C suite
i 20 L- N 5i6 million iormes , IT'diIion tOfmes
~{

...--2 r
+-'
~
0
~ -

o
o 100 200 300 400 500 500 o 100 200 300 400 500 600

the literature.

528
 GRANITEREL\TED yl0LYBDENUM SYSTEMS

mantle sources

calc-alkaline magma. Less successful classifications

of t\VO fundamen- associated with magma

environments: million years that form in the middle to later
rift. The rift environment of an extended of
tism. As IS

related fractionation col-

, Bookstrom. an upper crustal magma chamber

strontlrnn-
support a
tholeiitic to silica associated with
the presence of normative Henderson and Mount Emmons
This also includes Stein and Crock. 19901.
normative transitional basalts that mafic lower crust or subcontinental mantle may have
eline-normative alkali basalts. In roles in the of evolved
magma critical volatiles, Involvement
of upper crust in the
level chambers is minimal

the heat

with concentrations of
in tholeiitic and alkaiine magmas
and enriched in alkalic rocks.
Differences trace-element and volatile contents
of crustal magma in part reflect the of transfer of mass,
mantle from which basalts were essential to the formation of economic
derived. DePaolo tems, The
crust in island-arc and continental-arc IS tone
4'

duct ion common occurrence of mixed mafic and felsic mag

tin ental and

mantle
has em-
gases are consistent with a

529
CARTEN ET liL.

tion et aI., 1978: Irwin and thermal alteration hinder any

concentrations of fluorine are sification, Because of
environments associated mafic volcanism

al
the abundance major elements
based classifications are
the combined
, , 1 '
m magma Laan are vana- of both classes
the abundance of trace elements, Unfor- UolHlt::i'~cl1n similar processes of ore
formation,

and rare
The common oCC'Jrrence of
the loss of elements to
effect subsolidus

8
N = 47

0.8

-
0.6

o
:0.099

0,4 0.4

0.2 0.2

A .. ., .... --i
0.209':: A
. A
o k -_ _~_ _~L-~~-LL-_ _~~_ _ _ _~~~

0.02 0.03 0,05 0.1 0,15 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 :3 30 100 300 1000

Differentiated

100 tonnes (or 200 and

t" mean
0.09% Mo and 50 lUt

530
 GRt\NITERELATED MOLYBDENUM SYSTEMS

as intermediate
as used in pa-

features. This Climax The Climax and Henderson

elements of the tectonic 0V"V'Uh

the mag-
and tectonic characteristics of
as subclasses for discussion purposes, Climax and Henderson
of this suite are considered as of
contL'1Uum. All of these de-

0.35

05 0.3

0.3
0.25
!II Climax
s!-"

0.2

o iii Henderson
:2: O. 5

0.05

0.1
0.03

0.02 0.05

0,01 o L-~~~~~ __~~~~~~__L-~~~

1000 10000 o 200 1400

Climax-Henderson Mo Me-Cu CLl-Me Climax-Henderson Transitional Alkalic

II A

531
 ETAL.

Table II
Structural and characteristics of selected ,,,,rn!lV,'V nlOlyr,ae:nttm

28 18 22 37

Cootinelltl!.! Continenti!.! Cootillif'llllIl Conrinellllll

ex!cnsion extel!2ion exten.rion ene!!.$ioll

Yt:3 Ye3 Yes Yes

50 50 25 30

-280 -300 -210 -190

Vent Vent? Vent Veil!., slIYill

~

Pre-e~ wae of a'.lSW Colondo mmernl belt Colorndo minad CoIorndo ll'Iinad Pioche minetll.! belt
w~ belt beit

''Prvto~ Rio Off~ofRio Off~of~

GWlderift G~deRift Great &sin Rift

Post-ore COO!c~eous Conternpcnnrous Post-oce

to post-ore (to 1 TIl. y_
younger)

Composition of initial ~Im Calc-Iilkaline Calc-allWine Calc-allWine Calc-allWine Calc-allWille

in !he region (rntermediate) (m~); (gWlodiorite; (andesi te-4ci!e-
mo!1ZOO.ite &!ldesi~ite) myoii!c }

rhyolite (JT) myolite ()6)

Yes Yes ?

No Yes Yes ?

No No No No

532
 GRANITE-RELATED .:'vlOLYBDENUM SYSTEMS

I
Transitional
High-silica Hl J ~ik,.lir suite

Alkalic
Differentiated
II
I
~ I BigBen uvePeak mbja:g Nocdli
I Boo:!vib Compolli!ed ~

I 23-25 51
I 36 30 247-200
I 290 30-186 d
I
~
i
i Con!:inenu.! II I Continenu.! Continenu.! Coo.tinenu.! Col1Unenu.!
!

I
Con!:inenu.!
I!
e~ e~iol1 extension eJttelYioo exteruion exteMioo ~io!l
I
I Yes
I I Yell I Yes Yes Yes Yes Corr,mon
I
I 40-50
1
40 40
I 35 30 I <40, typiWJy 30-40 ! !
!
II
-270
! -160 j
-ISO
I 7 '[ ?
I >-2"'1
I
I Caldera mugin; I
II ~mIqi!l
I
!
None Ver!J.1
I
! vent?
Caldera
margin
UJden~

I
GelW:illy 00 rol~
edifice pre:rerved
I
I lemezwne'7 I
I
Lewis IDd QlllK I
I
None i None &mille Bmble l i _ bell: Yes
I

I
! I
line
L I linear belt
Ii
~~Rio
I Trn.ruverne '"'ProtoRRio Initial magmatic Oslo Rift 0310 Rift ?
I Grnnde rift i ~yrj
I Gomde rift lineament I
j

ICo!lte~
I

I
to
Pre-ore
II Con!.e~ Contemporaneous '7 '[
I
I to ~-ore (3-5 II
I
contemponme<:lW to~-ore I

I, I m.y. yoonga)
I

I
I
I

Ca!c-~e Calc-allailine Alkaline Tholeiitic basalt; AlWine Thokiitic~ Calc-alb! in"

(mdesite-dacitt>- (mten:nediate) ; (traclI ybasalt- traclIybasalt- (syenite- ttu:hyl:;asa!t- (quartz diorite -
myolite alkaline (syerutt>- traclIyte-myolite ) tnl.chY'~yolite monzonite) traclIyte-rl:iyolite quartz monzodiorite -
,UHVU" HC,

, I a'1gv",,,n

High-silic High-silica High-silica High-silica I-lig,."'-silica Hioh_.ili""

'-~

myoiite (TT) myolite (7T) rhyoii~yte myolitt>- myolite (TT) myolite (TT)

No ? No No ? No

Yes Yes Yes Yes ? Trace Yes

Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes

533
CARTE]'.; ET

~..3tics ClilllJiX Mt.Emmons MlHope

T~lement composition at
productive in;rusiOrul

RbISI' 25 135 6.5 10 4.2

t<olZr 1.7 1.6 OA2 OAl 7 (No = 24 ppm)
u (x cl!oOOrite) 80 95 80 40 ?
N+Kji (wt.%) 93 8.6 Ill; 117 ?

~ed co-genetic rock;

Syeru~c rocks No No No No No
~yre yefj~te) Yes~tite) Yes Yes ?
Albli ~t-;:mdesite No No No Yes ?
Dilcite O mollIDgrWte No No No Yes
Evidence foe lll.lWc-felllic Yes

I
Yes No Yes ?

~mixi.ng

~ideoce time for unmixed >2 lILy. >L5lILY ? :>;1 m.y. ?

high-level InIilgIDa in ciwnber

In;rusion or extrusion of topaz ClJ.ill;; Mountain 0-4 nLY. Woods Mountain Boston PeU:: Wah Wah NOll
myolite (age relalive to yooager) (4 m.y. younger) (8 m.y. younger) Moon~(1-3 m.y.
~ization) younger)

Composition of younger Tradl~Hmyo!ite} None BlI.Salt-i"hyolite TrachylUldesite- BlI.Salh-ilyoiite

regional ma.gmali3m myolite (2 IlL y. (19-23 MI.)
younger)

HYDROTHERMAL

Fluorite Yes Yes

Garnet Yes Yes

Topaz Yes Yes Yes Yes ?

Cassiterite Yes Trace Yes ? ?

Wolframite Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Scheelite No No No No Yes (hornfels)

 GRANITE-RELATED MOLYBDENUM SYSTEMS

2.8 4.6 9.7 '1

039 '[ 0.43 1
35 '1 1 1
ll5 8.9 8.9 8.9 1

Yet!l Ye$ Yes Yes Yes Yes II No

Ye;; Ye3 No Yes Yes '1 ,I Uncommon
No No Ye3 Yes No Yes I No
Yes
Yes
'I
Ye$
No
Yes
No
Yes 1
No
Iy~
I !
I
I II !
i
I
I I '1 I <1 m.y. 11 I Unknown. II
I
<1 rIJ..y.'I
I I I
'I
I I
f N
I

I
,Olle "logo Pm; Gnniie
Moon!ain
II No I No No No II No ,

! (1 m.y. younge!)
!

I
I
I

I I I I
I None I
I
I ~ ~yoiiie
yoonga}
(6 m.)'.
!, Tro:hyb.-.lt !
!
Syenite '{
II None
I
I
I I I I
. Minoc No ! Yes I Yes 7 ! No I
!!
I M.inoc
! No I No I No! '1 Uncommon

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Uncommon

No No No No ! ? No
Trace No Yes Yes '1 1 No
'1 No Yes Yes !
'I No Yes Yes '1 ? No
No No No NQ ! Yes
n. C-"tnmfh.,
r

Mnrl,.,...,,"

535
CARTEN ET

Pine Grove and intnlsions arc characterized

that
the term "Cli-
Climax and Henderson.

and
localities at which tectonic
conditions 'Nere
of

500
A
200 (~

"A 000
A A 41.
150
A A
t=':
-,
~ A
A~
A

100
--
r"
t:
a..
500
A A
x

.0
Z
70
-1 -
a..
.0
a::
200
50

100

Urad-Henderson Urad-Henderson

100 120 150170 200

Sr
Pre-Henderson Main Late
A

to th,.;Jse that
intr~,;ions associated with
late intrcLSions that were

536
 GRANITE-REL4.TED MOLYBDENUM SYSTEMS

evolved with the for- relative to transitional u",,,,,,,,,,,,,,

mation. thick
RR Carten and L.iN. the absence
The absence of such common accessory miner-
als as and titanite from Climax and Hender-
fractionated et al.,

intrusions at Climax and

> are similar in
elements among stocks of most and tectonic char-
show both a continuous aderistics to the Henderson and Climax
variation with age of intrusion and an
discontinuous variation at the of forma- are associated with met-
tion of the Henderson Elements that contain fluorine-rich
over time include zirconium a","''',H'-na~c;,,,, and

The behaviour
of these elements can be accounted for
fractionation of monaz ite and zircon
Other trace elements

Rb increases from 460 ppm to ppm,

from 1 20.5 PpmJ Ta increases
to and Nb increases from 94
ppm. These increases followed the forma- This
into which the
of was em-

stocks and a se- association with

cond brecciation event was followed intrusion of Cave
Seriate older Urad rln~D0,t-
stock closer in character to transitional
al variations cannot from
fractionation. The occurrence contains similar con-
brecciation and con- ZIrCOnIUm
with mineralization that dif- may represent a Paleozoic transitional aLlCUV~
ferentiation and ore concentration may involved The correlation of niobium and zirconiurn
of trace metals volatile concentrations as de-
rocks at Climax and Henderson is characteristic of alkaline and re-
Both of zircon in the magma. The
and in-

rather than of zircon

units of the Latir volcanic field

rocks of
Crock, tuff may have
Frazier et from local vents of
magma chamber as underlies the Urad-
Henderson system.
Additional features of relative concentrations of niobium and zir-
nent to this paper are recorded In Table II. Par- conium in transitional may reflect the de-

537
CARTEN ETAL

gree and of interaction of mafic alkali -rich magmas enrichment trends similar to those
magma or of mineralized metaluminous
chamber. Mahood ( aluminous intrusions
ment
of mafic and felsic magmas
has been observed at most The presence of

chlorine and
a similar pro-
and

1
alumHI0US

1500
B
200
1000
A. !Ill
!Ill
;}!l
t A. !Ill !ill I !ill CP
A. A.~ !ill
100 -.

t ~
--
JA.A.:A..
500
:"J'"
A. A.
o E
a. A.
a.
.0
Z
ME ---
.0
50 a: ~MH
RS

200

100
50 100 200 300 500

Questa Mt Pleasant Transit!onal Alkalic

G. Pouliet (written comm.,

Emmons
Mount Stein
Keith and Shanks Redwell Basin (RB
D.E. Cameron

magma

538
 GHANITE-HEL"'-TED MOLYBDENU:Y'[ SYSTEMS

may have been coincident with the arrival above and within
the base of the range from 50 to 500 ppm. not
fractionation Cu content is ~50-100 ppm in the ore zone of
at Pine Grove was less extensive Lower copper concentrations
than at Henderson and CILmax may resuit from
fractionation.
noted that fluids evolved late in the

events arc

0.24% are
intrusive breccia that lies above a stock in
the intrusive at Goat Hill. Intrusive
is not common at Mount and Pine but
intrusions
events. In this
that one of the two more
resurgence is vesiculation of
magma caldera formation. The resurgence
of and the formation of intrusive breccias
may reflect

Alkalic.

volcanic

matic fractionation and for

fertile intrusions characteristic of
transitional

shov!s no evidence for caldera or vent formation and

are similar to those of the Climax-

Grades in ore zones exceed
and the Most

intrusions
enriched In niobium
of the

mineralization. Concentrations of Cu their strong alkaline these

539
CARTEN

correlated with shallow subduction oceanic crust

at American
1981). As
that middle
volcanic centres southwestern
New Mexico and the Great Basin were formed
rather than a

Ma'
calc-alkal inc
a bimodal basalt-
way. In cases, mineralizatioL is related used to date the
to brecciation and follows this event. At concluded tha~
Marble
Basin is related
subduction.
dude from
basaltic rocks ofTrarIs-Pecos Texas
of the tectonic that Cenozoic subduction did
affect volcanism in this area.
character of the 38-32
to inheritance of com-
surface south\vest
and are unbrecciated and unmineralized.
eralization succeeded Proterozoic.
noted that mafic lavas
to ca. 20

as 1.vithin a true
subduction.
simiiar sequence of diachronous
events in many of the stnlc-
of the Great Basin and
COITtmon middle
younger
or basaltic volcanism is
related to extension. Based on evidence of a flat
beneath both extended and non-extended ter-
the Great Gans that
upper crust overlies a
lower crust-mantle. De-
ductile may
in structural do-

faults but that may have been

Such a domain is found in and
central Colorado. It is within these less-extended
upper crustal domains that most
dcnUlll form.
"'''FDr,"V surrounds the tectonic affiliations
in the United States. the axis of the Rio
Grande alkalic volcanic and subvolcanic rocks in
the Trans-Pecos of west Texas vol-
canism and caldera 32-38 Ma: and

the Great
central Colorado: for
Obradovich Mount Aetna

540
 GRANITE-RELATED p.l0LYBDENUlVI

Between necessary to maintain magma chamber

areas, the 35-26 ;VIa Sierra Blanca above its soliduso Alkaline
of Creek
of Hialtoo Three Rivers and Cone

as in the
, Cruistiansen alo, IS an un-
source for these differentiated magmaso In
CA!JtJ';,C;U to similar stress and thermal

The alkalic character of the volcanic-subvolcanic near-surface ascent of mafic magma is more
that are associated with Smaller volumes of felsic melt are
because of more heat ioss and shorter residence
the crusto values are corre-

Other

off
Rift and reflect the continuation of young felsic mag-
from the axis to the of the Rio
basinHo In a similar manner, younger
observed, in the Great Basin has
ore-related magma- of the
tism thickness of nature of extensional
continental crclst intersected the accounts for the differences in age of the
Rio Grande rift
tudes Other factors such as
zones of crustal weakness and rate of magma flow
account for local variations in ofmag-
rna observedo To the south, thin crust
alkaline volcanism dominated, Farther north
thicker Precambrian
and Sierra alkaline and calc-aLkaline magma- The transitional at
tism are mixedo Still farther Precambrian crust located on the Transverse
, (" ,
and alkalic with ana ,-,OaK belt of
Ma: characterized at its
sys- northeastern end volcanic and subvolcanic rocks
of the Montana alkalic
This
viewed as
occurred beneath the at
Climax and Hendersono The thicker continental
crust behaved more
column than thinner crusL
and acted as
ascent of mafic mag-
Because these silicic volcanic
centres appear to have lifetimes (::c 1
a ificant volume of mafic rn.agma must be
added the to thermal energy with an intermediate calc-alkalic

541
CARTENETAL

alkalic rocks uncommon and calc- denum a more direct vievv of pro-
alkalic and younger bimodal basalt

be a of the younger
matism. The distribution
northeast to southwest is
north distribution of 'te'Ln:;UU,;::'
Rio Grande rift:
and calc-alkalic.

In ~r,~'nG"
tions of alkali
desite and in East Greenland Gleadow
of voluminous tholeiitic

the formation of volcanic

and subvolcanic alkalic centres that host
dentL"1l this transition corre-
in Trans-Pecos
5.2 ppm; and in .5 ppm.
Price et al. observed that all of the studied
rocks in the Trans-Pecos are char-

LH'-'~,HJ<A~Hjl.H
in the volcanic centres the mafic rocks.
felsic with Interaction of lower crust basalt is
mineralization is in mafic rocks associated with silicic lavas
sociated with a younger suite the 38-32 Ma and
The small volume of
in these otherwise alkalic systems
were volatile flux of
thermal
volcanism is not observed. may account for the
concentrations of niobium and
in rocks such as those at Marble - Cave
P ,
LeaK.
The alkalic of East Greenland are simi-
1ar to those of the Trans-Pecos Nielsen
concluded that the small
The alkalic-related formed in rocks intruded into the

influx of alkaline magma,

The

occurred at levels below the crust and contamination with undersaturated mag-
transitional and Climax- ma. The less well-described
in those are similar in tee-
and character to the East Greenland

542
 GRANITE-REI~"'TED MOLYBDENUM

with

extension-related per-
in the lower middle crust and preven-
Pine Grove. Similar tion of brittle failure of the upper crust. ex-
rocks may appear in the root zones of tended upper crust is u.'1iavourable for the formation
magma chambers Henderson and Cli- stable magma chambers essential to the
max. Their the local of

in tra~sitional and
from the differentiation of

strain in the crust increases

rate of ascent of mafic magma.
Volatile flux may dramat-

of
m the upper crustal magma chfullber.
basalt may not mix

and mineralized intrusions

processes of

and in the formation of

Mahood

of
in magma associated with ore-
Mount Ernmons. Henderson 35-f01d increase between intrusions with
the of and
the ultimate source for the
derivation magma in mineralized com-
and involves both mantle and crustal compo-
Based on detailed and
of the et al.
were

Stress
these elements are also enriched in ore-associated
metaluminous magma. The common occurrence of
com- intrusive breccia may reflect the additional involve-
ment of a volatile that has low m
This volatile enrich-
of metasomatism be-
of alkali
elements
LIL
and

543
CARTEN ETAL

0,711 Redwell
05122 ~ $

Redwell
0,710 Mt

::yClimax

0.708

0,707

0.5128 r - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,

0.714
0,5126

0,712

0,710

A' l:J
Z 0.5122
Mt
0.708 =- 08 '_"- 71
~- ~~ - - - 0,8 1::6
72 - - _~ v
!
~ I
-'
56
0,706
", I
A'~

0.704 Basalt ,;.

o 500 000 1500 2000 o 20 30 40 50 60 70

544
 GRANITE RELATED MOLYBDENUM SYSTEM

a1.

The of introduction of and

ore in the magma chamber is not were in the chamber and
of mafic magma. Their data are the
for the direct of
with

and other
are intro-

are involved in of concentration. For exam-

V~U"UA volatiles may the structure of
the melt and increase the

tend-
et al.

the introduction of dacitic magma

of the chamber into the upper
eVl- ueULlHlin transitional and
that most of the mag-
and in the or8-
 continental

In
active additions will both contribute the formation
of a

of such events. More critical are the formation

volumes and the
tion and time of mafic-derived volatiles In-
troduced into the magma chamber.

tantalum and
dur- magma chamber. The interaction of
rocks with this enhances the
of formation of a transitional Cli-
of this tec-
tonic association can be difficult. Alkalic rocks
behind an arc
the cessation

de-
of sources. Keith
nrrm'rlD" a summary of evidence for the deri-
from the mamle. Additional
includes the presence of
In non-

in the litho-
of mantle-derived alka-
line magma and volatiles. ocean-island
an uncontaminated of

546

7
 GR?NITE-RELATED MOLYBDENU1\1 SYSTEM

Rhyolite

Adal1l!.C
Yorke-Hardy
(ij
u
o
E
CD

Rhyodacite Mrumbjerg
Nordi!
(monzogranite)
Buckingham

(J
<;:
!\!
E
0
(ii ill
U iii
0 Dacite cr:.
E Bingham
c (granodiorite)
::J Nogal Peak

,
Andesite

Tholeiitic
Porphyry Cu
,
basalt basalt
CI, F, C~, Nb, Zr, Y, Zn, Ta, Rb, Na, K (volatiie flux)
Calc-Alkaline Alkaline
Rate of Percolation

moderate. The volatiles derived magma may

centres. At extensional strain or the onset
volcanic centres are 110
tlw cn..LSt an.4 minor volumes
Hildreth

547
CARTEN ET

ible-element-enriched for
volatile

of the alkalic
between the two
of
and concentration
magma chamber. Low con-

stable chambers increase the

that mafic-derived volatile will be
interact with a

to
of

small-volume melts.
R

magma from
may contain lesser volumes extended lower crust
ate magma because of their formation thicker and
extended
10\ver and middle crust.

are
in a volcanic centre,
formation of the maximum
derived magma is essential and to brittle failure of upper
felsic magma of Cr'..lst. Under conditions of low moderate rates
or all of these ,-,V",U1JVU<C LH,,;' total extensional strain
of mafic magma and volatiles
of volatiles
the matu- with evolved magma. Continued e;,.i:ension ultimate-
processes that effi- leads to failure of the upper crust and of
dis- mafic less felsic
solved in meta luminous cr'..lstal chambers that reser-
4. continental crust is critical to the forma-
because de-
of mafic magma, serves as
an extended fractionation contributes
volumes of felsic from its lower levels to a
a stable upper level suitable for
magma chambers.
5. Extensive fractionation of magTIla
essential to the forma-
tion of an alkalic or
of introduction of mafic-derived volatiles into
magma chamber. The the volume of systems can

548
 GRANITERELATED Ivl0LYBDENUM SYSTEMS

aCld Rex. D,C.. 1970, KAr

the elu-
Slve processes ore In
magma chamber remain to be defined.
One of
and

(Stone)
nq,,.rlr'rlCanadian Institute of MiCling an:!
74(833),
dll'CtlHLl(, volcanoes,

Volcanism, Inception,
Academy Press, Wash

Journal

Arizona Geological

Bookstrom, R.E.,
1988, Origins of bimodal
Hed :Vlountain porphyr:v systems,
and strontium isotopic evidence: Colo-
v.83(2), 122.
of Trout Lake
rvIining

near a subduction
New Zealand:
Geothermal Research. Vo 40,
p.5570.
Brown. P. and
Red Mountain
central Yukon,

Volume 37. p. ~88-297.

Burt, Acidity-salinity to
porph:yry deposits: 76,

S,
deposits
CapiHitas
- Cannivan
v.66.

In
EaSL Greenland: Nieddelelse:r om p.

549
 ET

v. 3, p. 229-250.
Engel, iLEA" Engel, C,G, and Haverrs, 1965, Chemical
characteristics oceanic basalts the upper mantle:
Society of America" Bulletin,
de la

of Energy; Mines and Petroleum Resources, Bulletin 64,

150 p,

York. 589 p.
Upton, RG"J" 1987, Fitton,

p, 1211-1220,
1984. Molybdenum precious
metal minera.lization at Flammefjeld. Southeast Green-
1921-1929,
and mineraliza-
Sierra Blanca,
Bul1etin~ v. 83,

constraints on metal- Tectonics: Spring-

southeaster:l Peru: Eco-

1979,
of igneous intrtlsions
to Mineralogy and Petrolo-

in Sutherland Brown, A" ed" Por-

and the Canadian Canadian In~
Porphyries and 1Y1etallurgy, Special Volume
eastern Arizona: Cnited
p. DI-D5, 1978, Primary Copper Industry Arizona in
:\'lauger, R~L .. and 1976: Arizona Depa,Ttment Mineral Resources,
Basin and Range Special Report 2, 87
:\1etalluq:pcal and recnJlt":u Gustafson, LR and Hunt, ,J,E, 1975, The
p,99-1 Salvador! Chile: Economic

_ and Lipma:1 P<

j

deformed Latii vvlcanic

formation of
development of the Rio Grande Rift: Journal of Geophysical
Research. 91 p. 7383-7402.
f

~J.L., ScnonwandL H.K. and'Thonassen,

1986, The mineral occurrences of central East Green-
land: Meddele!ser om Gnmland, Geoscience 17, 139 p,
Heberlein, O,R Godwin, C.L 19&L Hypogene alLeration at
Berg north-cen-

550
 MOLYBDENUM SYSTEMS

C;eology Keith, Shanks, W,C" III. and

stoCkONork tnolybdenum deposit 1986,

Hole.

Arizona: Institute
and Petroleum Engineers, Transaction's, v, 262,

RV.. :'vkCann, C" Prasad, X. Sorezaroli. AE" Vokes,

F.M, and Wine, G" 1982, Molybden'.lm in Canada,
Indexlevel Computer File of
Deposits and Canada: Geological
Canada, Economic Geology Report 33, 208 p.
KnitteL Burton, C,K, Polollo Island
an island

and

nomic 'L p.
.:\.:\'1.. ed., ~fetallization Laznicka, p" Porphyry copper and moiybden'.lm deposits of
matism: John Wiley, Chichester, p, the L7SSR and their tectonic setting: Institution of
1980, relations 'Jf carbon I\1ining and Metallurgy, Transactions. Section B. p. B14~
....~ ___ ~_' ~Journal of Geophysi~ B32,
of the Cre'lton molyb-
H'r,_p"",nc,r deposit, Opodepe. SDnora. Y\.1exlco [abstract]:
of Abstracts Programs,

Jensen.
P,A"

Genesis of
Time and
ploration
151-155,
P. 1983, The l\1iocene Questa caldera,
Mexico: Helation to
molybdenum
?V1ountain Ore DepQsits: Changes
Proceedings of Denver Geologists
Symposium, Denver,
Lipman, P,W" Bowman, RR, lC'1ignt., Pallis-
ter, J.S .. Street, K.. \Ajollenberg. H. and Zielinski. R.A." 1982.
Instrumental Neutron Activation A.."1ruyses of Cenozoic Vol-
canic HOCKS, and Associated Intrusions from
Southern fv10untains and Adjacent United
States Geological Report 953002171, p,
p, Proska, H,J, and RL" 1972, Ceno
volcanism and plate evolution of "western
enited Part Early and middle Cenozoic: Philoso-
phical Transactior..s of the Royal Society of London. Series A~
249-284.
Lowell. Thirty-year evolution
exploration in southwest U.S.A Pa.~
discoveries:
178,

551
CARTEN

the Sierra La Primavera, ~j8.lisco,

10,137 -10,152

Sutherland

1.TT
'I.]..,

1986,

Deposits of the CDrdillera: Ca..'ladian 319,

and Metallurgy, Special Volume p, 329-335, Quire,
E. and Damon, P.E., K-i\r northern

and
on :\lineral P~sources and En-
Research CounciL 345 p_

Greenland: ~eVleVl.
Alkaline Igneous Rocks: 289-298,
cial f'~biication 30, p_ 489-515, Ringwood, of the
Noble, S,R" ,J,n;en"" dynamics

for mineralization in
molybdenum belt of Idaho and
F,R" 1986, Logtung: A Economic Geology, v, 73, 1366-
Yukon, in Morin~
Cenadi- Ie

of
mineral1zed
nomIc

552
 GR;\NITE-REL;\TED MOLYBDENUM SYSTEMS

RH. and ,Jager. Subcommission on

Qgy: Convention on the use decay constants
Earth and Planetary Science

Strontium. and Sulfur Isotope Study of

and !'viineralization

K~Ar dates from mineralization in Cloud - Can-

ruvan mojybde!1um belt Idaho and Montana - A
discussIon: Economic p.698-699.
Schonwandt, 1988, Geology and
porphyry molybdenum
Boissonnas. J,.

223.

p.369-382.
Cave Peak. a molybdenum-mineralized brec-
County, Texas:

implications from mantle

in Saunders. A.D. and
Ocean Basins:
313-345.

Neumann,
Geochemistry
p. 181-184.
Sutherland Brovvn, A ..
Sutherland
an Cordillera:
p. 15-32.
:>1olybdenum
Intrmet P-ublications, Santiago i

Tacker, R,C, and Candela, P.A .. 198'7, Partitioning

between magnetite and melt: A preliminar:v
mental partitioning Df ore metals between
crystalline phases: Economic Geology.

Taylor. RB., Theobald, P.K and Izett. G.A .. 1968, Mid-Tertiary

Colorado l Epis~
ed., Cenozoic Volcanism in Rocky 1\;1oun-
J.A,~ tains: Colorado School Quarterly, 63, 3950.
Cordillera: Canadian lTIw Taylor, and ~vfcL-ennan, S.?vL, 1985. The Continental
Speclal Volume Composition and Blackwell Scientific Pub-
233. lications, Oxford. 312
Theodore. T,G., 1986.
D.P.

553
CARTEN ET

of

Classification and of stockl,-vork

- A disC'Jssion: Economic Geology,

W~,B.7 Blairo R.G. ~'1d lVlu:2caster, N.K.,

molybdenum

tl3~"'uce" dans Ie porphyre cuprifere de (sud-ouest

Utah: Eco- du Perou): Mineralium DejX-sita. 18, p, 207-213,

Cheshmeh
p,568-