Porphyry copper mineralization in Molong high: Wall-rock alteration in the yeoval copper prospect

Abstract

The Yeoval copper prospect is located 3.5 km north of the township of Yeoval in central western NSW. The predominant rock type in the prospect is granodiorite, which is part of a diorite complex forming the eastern margin of the Yeoval Batholith. The occurrence of copper sulphides and other hydrothermal minerals is related to the intrusion of porphyritic dacite into the granodiorite. A large body of dacite occurs in the north-eastern part of the prospect and consists of phenocrysts of plagioclase, quartz, hornblende and biotite set in a fine-grained matrix. Dacite dykes occur to the west of the main mass.