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

Qulong

Map
XML
JSON
KML
Porphyry copper (Cu-Mo) deposit in Xizang, China

Names and other identifiers

GMRAP ID 579
Tract name Gangdese (142pCu8712)
Site status deposit

Geographic location

Country China
State or province Xizang
Geographic location 91.59382, 29.625132
Geologic map unit 91.59382, 29.625132
Nearby data
List
Map

Geologic information

Deposit type Porphyry copper
Deposit subtype Cu-Mo
Age (Ma) 16.41Ma
Age determination method Re-Os molybdenite
Age range 16.41 ±0.48 Ma (Re-Os molybdenite); 17.58 ±0.74 Ma (U-Pb zircon SHRIMP); 16.43 ±0.31 Ma (K-Ar); 15.99 ±0.32 Ma (Re-Os molybdenite)
Age reference Meng and others (2003a); Rui and others (2003)
Minerals anhydrite, biotite, bornite, chalcopyrite, chlorite, kaolinite, magnetite, molybdenite, molybdite, pyrite, sericite, sphalerite
Associated rocks granite (adamellite) porphyry, diabase porphyry, diorite porphyry, monzogranite, limestone, sandstone, tuff
Tectonic setting postconvergence
Stratigraphic age Miocene

Commodity and development information

Development status Prospect
Major commodities Cu, Mo, Ag
Tonnage (Mt) 1,778Mt
Cu grade (%) 0.45%
Mo grade (%) 0.045%
Ag grade (g/t) 3.9g/t
Contained copper 8,000,000t
Gold-Moly ratio -9999

Reference information

Comments Tibet. Gangdese porphyry copper belt. Exposed. Cross-sections imply much larger resource. Being prepared for production. Inexplicably, no information on Au grade. Resource may be more than 10 Mt Cu. Development.
Study area name Tibetan Plateau
References Yang and others (2009); Gao and others (2003); Li, Liu and others (2005); Qu and others (2007); Rui and others (2003); Zheng, Duo, Cheng and others (2007); Singer and others (2008); Hou and Cook (2009); Meng and others (2003a)
Site reference Ludington, Hammarstrom, and others (2012)
Gao Yongfeng, Hou Zengqian, Wei Ruihua, and Zhao Rongsheng, 2003, Post-collisional adakitic porphyries in Tibet—Geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic constraints on partial melting of oceanic lithosphere and crust-mantle interaction: Acta Geologica Sinica (English edition), v. 77, p. 194–203. [In Chinese, English abstract.] (Abstract also available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-6724.2003.tb00562.x.)Hou, Zengqian, and Cook, N.J., 2009, Metallogenesis of the Tibetan collisional orogen—A review and introduction to the special issue: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 36, p. 2–24. (Also available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2009.05.001.)Li Guangming, Liu Bo, Qu Wenjun, Lin Fangcheng, She Hongquan, and Feng Chengyou, 2005, The porphyry-skarn ore-forming system in Gangdese metallogenic belt, southern Xizang—Evidence from molybdenite Re-Os age of porphyry-type copper deposits and skarn-type copper polymetallic deposits: Geotectonica et Metallogenia, v. 29, no.4, p. 482–490. [In Chinese, English abstract.] (Abstract also available at http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-DGYK200504008.htm.)Meng Xiangjin, Hou Zengqian, Gao Yongfeng, Huang Wei, Qu Xiaoming, and Qu Wenjun, 2003a, Re-Os dating for molybdenite from Qulong porphyry copper deposit in Gangdese metallogenic belt, Xizang, and its metallogenic significance: Geological Review, v. 49, p. 660–666. [In Chinese, English abstract.] (Abstract also available at http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-DZLP200306016.htm.)Qu, Xiaoming; Hou, Zengqian; Zaw, Khin; and Li, Youguo, 2007, Characteristics and genesis of Gangdese porphyry copper deposits in the southern Tibetan Plateau—Preliminary geochemical and geochronological results: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 31, p. 205–223. (Also available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2005.03.012.)Rui Zongyao, Hou Zengqian, Qu Xiaoming, Zhang Lisheng, Wang Longsheng, and Liu Yulin., 2003, Metallogenic epoch of the Gangdese porphyry copper belt and uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau: Mineral Deposits, v. 22, no. 3, p. 224–232. [In Chinese, English abstract.] (Abstract also available at http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-KCDZ200303000.htm.)Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C., 2008, Porphyry copper deposits of the world—Database and grade and tonnage models, 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155, [45] p. and digital data, accessed December 31, 2013, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1155/.Yang, Zhiming; Hou, Zengqian; White, N.C.; Chang, Zhaoshan; Li, Zhenqing; and Song, Yucai, 2009, Geology of the post-collisional porphyry copper–molybdenum deposit at Qulong, Tibet: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 36, p. 133–159. (Also available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2009.03.003.)Zheng, Youye; Duo, Ji; Cheng, Shunbo; Gao, Shunbao; and Dai, Fanghua, 2007, Progress in porphyry copper exploration from the Gangdise belt, Tibet, China: Frontiers of Earth Science in China, v. 1, p. 226–231. (Also available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11707-007-0028-z.)