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Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au

Porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold systems operate in oceanic and continental magmatic arcs with calc-alkaline compositions. Aqueous supercritical fluids exsolved from felsic plutons and the apices of subvolcanic stocks form a variety of deposit types as they move upward and outward, split into liquid and vapor, react with country rocks, and mix with ground water. The broad spectrum of deposit types results from the large thermal and chemical gradients in these systems.
Color on map:

Deposit types

Name Commodities Critical minerals
Greisen Mo, W, Sn W, Sn
S-R-V tungsten W W, Bi, Mn, Sc
Porphyry/skarn molybdenum Mo, W, Sn W, Re, Bi
Porphyry/skarn copper Cu, Au, Ag, Mo PGE, Te, Re, U, Sc, Co, Bi
Skarn iron Fe, Cu Ge
Skarn magnesite Mg Mg
R-V manganese Mn Mn, Co
Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ag, Au Mn, Ge, Ga, In, Bi, Sb, As, W, Te
Distal disseminated silver-gold Ag, Au Sb, As
High sulfidation gold-silver Cu, Ag, Au As, Sb, Te, Bi, Sn, Ga
Lithocap alunite Al, K2SO4 (potash) Al, K2SO4, Ga
Lithocap kaolinite Kaolin Ga

References

Source: Hofstra, A.H., and Kreiner, D.C., 2020, Systems-Deposits-Commodities-Critical Minerals Table for the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020-1042, 24 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201042.

List of Earth MRI focus areas with mineral system = Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au

109 focus areas match these criteria.

Focus area Region States Mineral Systems Deposit types Commodities
Alaska Peninsula-Aleutian Range PCD Alaska Alaska Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; selenium; silver; uranium
Central Alaska PCD Alaska Alaska Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; selenium; silver; uranium
Eastern Alaska Range (Alexandria-Wrangellia Terrane) PCD Alaska Alaska Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; selenium; silver; uranium
Eastern Brooks Range-Old Crow PCD Alaska Alaska Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; selenium; silver; uranium
Glacier Bay Alaska Alaska Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; selenium; silver; uranium
Johnson River Alaska Alaska Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Kuskokwim Mountains PCD Alaska Alaska Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; selenium; silver; uranium
Seward Peninsula-St. Lawrence Island PCD Alaska Alaska Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; selenium; silver; uranium
Southern Prince of Wales Island PCD Alaska Alaska Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; selenium; silver; uranium
Western Alaska Range PCD Alaska Alaska Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; selenium; silver; uranium
Yukon-Tanana Upland Porphyry Alaska Alaska Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper; Porphyry/skarn molybdenum copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; selenium; silver; uranium
Blue Hill tungsten Northeast Maine Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Greisen molybdenum
Catheart pluton Northeast Maine Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper; Porphyry/skarn molybdenum copper; gold; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Catherine Mountain Prospect Northeast Maine Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Greisen molybdenum
Washington County intrusive rocks Northeast Maine Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn molybdenum molybdenum
Birch Creek Northwest Montana Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; S-R-V tungsten cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Bull Mountain-Elkhorn Northwest Montana Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Calvert Hill District Northwest Montana Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten (none)
Cedar Canyon Mining District Northwest Washington Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten (none)
Central Idaho bismuth-bearing veins Northwest Idaho Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Chelan Butte Northwest Washington Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; S-R-V tungsten cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver
CuMo-Little Falls mineral districts Northwest Idaho Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn molybdenum copper; molybdenum
Hog Heaven Volcanic Field Northwest Montana Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au High sulfidation gold-silver copper; gold; silver
Ima mine (Blue Wing Mining District) Northwest Idaho Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten copper; lead; silver
Lakeview mining district Northwest Idaho Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Lava Creek mining district Northwest Idaho Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; S-R-V tungsten cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Mackay stock area Northwest Idaho Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper; S-R-V tungsten copper; gold; lead
Marysville district Northwest Montana Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn molybdenum cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver
Mazama Northwest Washington Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper; Porphyry/skarn molybdenum copper; gold; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Mount Tolman Northwest Washington Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper; S-R-V tungsten copper; gold; molybdenum; silver; uranium
NW polymetallic Au-Ag veins Northwest Idaho; Montana; Oregon Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Oregon-Idaho tungsten province Northwest Idaho; Oregon Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS gold
Oroville-Nighthawk district (Four Metals) Northwest Washington Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper; S-R-V tungsten; Skarn iron copper; gold; iron; lead; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Red Mountain Washington Northwest Washington Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten copper; gold; molybdenum; silver
Rock Creek-Lost Creek Mining Districts Northwest Montana Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten (none)
Sawtooth Sn Northwest Idaho Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn molybdenum copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver
Silver Bow manganese/Lexington Mine Northwest Montana Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Stevens County magnesite Northwest Washington Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Skarn magnesite (none)
Sultan Basin Northwest Washington Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper; Porphyry/skarn molybdenum cadmium; copper; gold; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Tobacco Root batholith Northwest Montana Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Tungsten King area Northwest Washington Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten molybdenum
White Cloud mineral district Northwest Idaho Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn molybdenum; S-R-V tungsten cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver
White River Northwest Washington Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au High sulfidation gold-silver; Lithocap alunite; Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; molybdenum; silica; silver; uranium
Yellow Pine/Stibnite Mining District Northwest Idaho Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten gold; mercury; silver
Boulder Batholith Northwest Montana Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper cadmium; copper; gold; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Absaroka Volcanic Plateau Northwest; Rocky Mountains Montana; Wyoming Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper; Porphyry/skarn molybdenum; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Aspen Mountain Rocky Mountains Wyoming Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Greisen; High sulfidation gold-silver; Lithocap alunite; Lithocap kaolinite; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; mercury; molybdenum; silver
Boulder County Tungsten district Rocky Mountains Colorado Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten gold; silver
Central Colorado Mineral Belt carbonate-replacement deposits Rocky Mountains Colorado Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; iron; lead; silver
Central Laramie Range Rocky Mountains Wyoming Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Greisen; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver
Medicine Bow Mountains Rocky Mountains Colorado; Wyoming Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver
Montezuma-Breckenridge polymetallic districts Rocky Mountains Colorado Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
San Juan tungsten veins Rocky Mountains Colorado Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten gold; lead; silver
Wyoming Metasedimentary and Metavolcanic Belts Rocky Mountains Wyoming Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Greisen; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; PGE; silver; titanium
Cragford Mining District Southeast Alabama Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au High sulfidation gold-silver; Lithocap alunite copper; gold; lead; silver
Goldville-Hog Mountain District Southeast Alabama Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au High sulfidation gold-silver; Lithocap alunite copper; gold; lead; silver
Haile-Ridgeway; Brewer mining district Southeast Georgia; North Carolina; South Carolina Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; High sulfidation gold-silver copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver
Hamme Tungsten Mining District Southeast North Carolina; Virginia Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten copper; fluorspar; silver
Puerto Rico alunite Southeast Puerto Rico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Lithocap alunite (none)
Alum Mountain Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Lithocap alunite; Lithocap kaolinite gold; silver
Aragon Hill Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Lithocap alunite gold
Basin and Range Laramide and Jurassic W veins and skarns Southwest Arizona Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten copper; gold; silver
Basin and Range Proterozoic W veins and replacements Southwest Arizona Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten copper; gold; silver
Black Range deposits (Lake Valley-Hermosa-Tierra Blanca-Macho-Kingston districts) Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver
Bound Ranch Mining District Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten gold
Butte Valley District Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Central Nevada tungsten skarns Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten (none)
Central Wasatch Mountains Southwest Utah Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au High sulfidation gold-silver; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Clay Canyon Southwest Utah Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Lithocap kaolinite clay; gem-quality variscite; yttrium
Contact Mining District Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper cadmium; copper; lead; molybdenum; gold; silver; uranium
Currant Creek magnesite district Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Skarn magnesite (none)
Deming-area mills (Asarco and Peru mills) Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Drum Mountains Southwest Utah Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper cadmium; clay; copper; gold; halloysite clay; iron; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Eastern California tungsten Southwest California; Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver; zinc
Elizabethtown-Baldy Mining District Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; S-R-V tungsten cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver; uranium
Ely (Robinson District) Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper cadmium; copper; lead; molybdenum; gold; silver; uranium
Fish Springs Southwest Utah Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; iron; lead; molybdenum; silver
Gabbs magnesite Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Skarn magnesite (none)
Gold Hill Mining District Southwest Utah Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper; S-R-V tungsten copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Goldfield District Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au High sulfidation gold-silver; Lithocap alunite copper; gold; silver
Goodsprings mining district Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver; uranium
House Range tungsten skarns Southwest Utah Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten gold; molybdenum
Indian Springs and Delano Mining Districts Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten (none)
Marysvale-Pioche belt Southwest Nevada; Utah Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; High sulfidation gold-silver; Lithocap alunite; Lithocap kaolinite; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper; Porphyry/skarn molybdenum; R-V manganese; S-R-V tungsten copper; gold; lead; silver; uranium
Middle Tertiary W skarns of southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona Southwest Arizona; New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver
Northern Nevada tungsten skarns Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten (none)
Oquirrh Mountains Southwest Utah Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Organ Mountains District Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Ortiz Mountains (Old Placers-New Placers districts) Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; S-R-V tungsten cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Paradise Peak Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au High sulfidation gold-silver; Lithocap alunite copper; gold; mercury; silver
Park City-Gold Hill belt Southwest Utah Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; Greisen; High sulfidation gold-silver; Lithocap kaolinite; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper; S-R-V tungsten copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Peloncillo Mountains (San Simon, McGhee Peak, Steins Pass districts) Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; S-R-V tungsten cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Rattlesnake Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Lithocap alunite gold
Red Mountain, Arizona Southwest Arizona Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Lithocap alunite; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS cadmium; copper; gold; kaolin; lead; silver
Resolution Southwest Arizona Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Lithocap alunite; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Saddleback Mountain-Goat Camp (and Steeple Rock district) Southwest Arizona; New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Lithocap alunite kaolin; gold
Shoshone Mining District Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten (none)
Southern Nevada Tungsten Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten (none)
Southwest Laramide Porphyry Belt Southwest Arizona; New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Greisen; Lithocap alunite; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper; Porphyry/skarn molybdenum cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver; sulfuric acid; uranium
Star Tungsten Mine Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten (none)
Sylvanite and Eureka Mining Districts Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver
Thompson Knolls Southwest Utah Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Tierra Blanca Mining District Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten copper; lead; gold; silver
Tintic-Deep Creek belt Southwest Nevada; Utah Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; Greisen; High sulfidation gold-silver; Lithocap alunite, Lithocap kaolinite; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper; R-V manganese; S-R-V tungsten cadmium; copper; gold; halloysite clay; iron; lead; molybdenum; silver; uranium; zeolite
Trinity Range-Kamma Mountains Southwest Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry/skarn copper copper; gold; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Tyrone-Chino-Hillsboro porphyry copper deposits Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver; uranium
Western Great Basin Porphyry Copper Southwest California; Nevada Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Distal disseminated silver-gold; High sulfidation gold-silver; Lithocap alunite; Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; Porphyry/skarn copper; Porphyry/skarn molybdenum; Skarn iron cadmium; copper; gold; lead; molybdenum; silver; uranium
White Oaks Mining District Southwest New Mexico Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Polymetallic sulfide S-R-V-IS; S-R-V tungsten cadmium; copper; gold; lead; silver
Mount Baldy mining district Southwest California Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au S-R-V tungsten (none)