The Sar Cheshmeh porphyry copper deposit

The Sar Cheshmeh porphyry copper, located in southern Iran, was mined in ancient times, rediscovered about 1966, explored during 1966-1969, and will be in full production in 1977 at a rate of 40,000 tons of ore per day. Mineralization is associated with a late Tertiary granodiorite porphyry stock, cut by a series of genetically related intramineral intrusives and late postmineral dikes. The orebody occurs in the early porphyry and peripheral intruded Tertiary volcanics. The predominant hypogene sulfides are disseminated chalcopyrite, pyrite, and minor molybdenite. Copper and molybdenum contents and chalcopyrite-pyrite ratios are related to rock type and concentric hypogene alteration zones which surround the porphyry. A significant layer of supergene ore overlies good grade primary mineralization.Within a 900 X 2,000 meter area, an outer 0.40 percent copper line, and to an average drilled depth of about 150 meters, the orebody contains 450,000,000 million tons of ore. Average sulfide grade is 1.13 percent copper and approximately 0.03 percent molybdenum. Good ore continues below the zone tested by drilling.