1. Mineral Resources
  2. Online Spatial Data
  3. Global assessment of undiscovred copper resources

Oyu Tolgoi

XML
JSON
KML
A varied assemblage of Devonian through Triassic igneous rocks that include the Devonian Kazakh-Mongol continental-margin arc, as well as younger rocks related to the Indosinian orogeny (collision of China with Asia)
Tract ID 142pCu8506
Country China-Mongolia-Democratic People's Republic of Korea-Russian Federation
Commodity Cu
Study area name Central Asia Orogenic Belt
Tectonic setting island arc
Deposit type porphyry copper
Grade-tonnage model General porphyry copper model (Singer and others, 2008)
Geologic age
Geologic feature age Devonian through Triassic
Generalized age Paleozoic
Oldest rocks age 416Ma
Youngest rocks age 199.6Ma
Age range 216.4Ma
Identified Cu resources 38,000,000metric tons
Known prospects 60
Mean Cu (t/sq km) 243t/sq km
Map scales used 1M

Results of the assessment

Assessment date 2013
Estimators Alexeiev, D. (Russian Academy of Sciences); Bookstrom, Arthur A.(USGS); Frost, Thomas P. (USGS); Hammarstrom, Jane M. (USGS); Light, Thomas D. (USGS); Ludington, Steve (USGS); Mihalasky, Mark, J. (USGS); Panteleyev, Andre (XDM Geological Consultants)
Assessment depth 1km
Quantitative assessment Yes

Estimated number of deposits

Number of deposits Confidence level
6 90%
14 50%
48 10%
48 5%
48 1%
Mean estimated deposits 21.4 ±15.59 (0.73%)
Probability of mean 0.39
Probability of no copper 0.02

Estimated deposit density

Known
deposits		 Total
deposits		 Area
(sq km)		 Deposit density
per 100,000 sq km
3 24.4 329,845 7

Mean estimated tonnage

Copper 80,000,000
Molybdenum 2,200,000
Gold 2,000
Silver 26,000
Ore 16,000

Undiscovered copper resource

Confidence level 95% 90% 50% 10% 5%
Tonnage 3,400,000 8,900,000 54,000,000 190,000,000 230,000,000

Economic analysis

Fraser country China, Mongolia, Russian Federation, and North Korea
Fraser type 0.08%
Fraser high 0.91%
Typical cost 0%
High cost 1%
Infrastructure setting High cost
Comments on depth default
Expected depth distribution
0 - 250m 0.25
250m - 500m 0.25
500m - 1km 0.5
Economically recoverable resources
Copper 39,000,000t
Molybdenum 850,000t
Gold 680t
Silver 12,000t
Probability no econ recoverable 0.07
Econ NPV 7,100x $1M
Exp dollars 20.12x $1M/100,000 sq km
Exp value class Medium

Bibliographic references

General Mihalasky, Ludington, Hammarstrom, and others (2015)
Economic Robinson and Menzie (2012)
Mihalasky, M.J., Ludington, Steve, Hammarstrom, J.M., Alexeiev, D.V., Frost, T.P., Light, T.D., Robinson, G.R., Jr., Briggs, D.A., Wallis, J.C., and Miller, R.J., with contributions from Bookstrom, A.A., Panteleyev, Andre, Chitalin, Andre, Seltmann, Reimar, Guangsheng, Y., Changyun, L., Jingwen, M., Jinyi, L., Keyan, X., Ruizhao, Q., Jianbao, S., Gangyi, S., and Yuliang, D., 2015, Porphyry Copper Assessment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and eastern Tethysides—China, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and India: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5090–X, 106 p. and spatial data, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20105090X.Robinson, G.R., Jr., and Menzie, W.D., 2012, Economic filters for evaluating porphyry copper deposit resource assessments using grade-tonnage deposit models, with examples from the U.S. Geological Survey global mineral resource assessment (ver 1.2, March 2014): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5090–H, 21 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5090/h/.

Deposits and prospects associated with this tract

Name Type State Country Development Details
Argalant Uul prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Alag Bayan prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Amar Shavagtai Khudag prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Amgalant prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Auyoute prospect Sühbaatar Mongolia Producer Details
Bayan Goya prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Bunkhan Khudag prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Bayan Ovoo prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Bronze Fox prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Budagt prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Chaganuoer prospect Nei Mongol China Prospect Details
Duchin Khural prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Gashuun hudag prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Hatsar prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Hutag Uul prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Khairkhan Uul prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Khan Khudag prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Mandakh prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Kharaat Uul prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Kharmagtai prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Khatsar prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Khatsaych Uul prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Khongor prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Khul Morit prospect Bayanhongor Mongolia Occurrence Details
Khurelt Khudag prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Lierkuduk prospect Xinjiang China Prospect Details
Mandal Uul prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Mankhan Chuluu prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Marmot Ridge prospect Nei Mongol China Prospect Details
Mogoit Khudag prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Nariin Khudag prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Prospect Details
No. XXXVI-2 Narangiin prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Ovoot Hyar prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Ovotiin Khar prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Oyu Tolgoi deposit Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Oyut Ulaan prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Ring Dyke prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Shurtiin Khundii prospect Bayanhongor Mongolia Prospect Details
Shuteen prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Shuteen har Tolgoi prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
South Gobi prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Sumbur Khudag prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Temuujin prospect Sühbaatar Mongolia Prospect Details
Tourmaline Hills prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Tsagaan-Suvarga deposit Dornogovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Tsohiot prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
unnamed prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Ukhaa Khudag II prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Ulaan Tolgoi prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Ulan Khud prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Ulgei Hiyd prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Wulunbulake prospect Xinjiang China Occurrence Details
Wuritu prospect Nei Mongol China Prospect Details
Wuzhuergashun prospect Nei Mongol China Prospect Details
Xiaobaliang prospect Nei Mongol China Prospect Details
Xilekuduke prospect Xinjiang China Prospect Details
Zurumtai prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Zuun Mod deposit Bayanhongor Mongolia Prospect Details
Bayanbulag prospect Bayanhongor Mongolia Prospect Details
Buyant Uul prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
No. XXXIV-32 prospect Dundgovi Mongolia Occurrence Details
Shadow Mountain prospect Ömnögovi Mongolia Prospect Details
Ulaan Ovoo prospect Dornogovi Mongolia Prospect Details