University of Tasmania, Australia

Geological setting and origin of high-sulfidation Cu±(Au) ore, Monywa District, Central Myanmar

The high sulfidation epithermal-type Monywa Cu±(Au) deposit occurs along the Cenozoic Monywa-Wuntho Cu-Au-(±Pb-Zn) Belt in Myanmar. The deposit has a total resource of more than 1.5 billion tons of ore with cut-off grade of 0.4 % Cu and is the largest copper deposit in mainland SE Asia. Currently, four orebodies including Letpadaung, Kyisintaund, Sabetaung and Sabetaung South have been discovered within an area of 20 km2, on the wesernt bank of Chindwin River. The deposit has never been investigated using modern analytical techniques. The study will involve:

1. Deposit-scale mapping characterising local geology, alteration patterns, mineral paragenesis and mineral chemistry based on field mapping, core logging and sampling supported by petrographic-textural studies, mineragraphy and microprobe analysis of ore and alteration minerals,
2. Documenting ore fluid characteristics and age relationships using fluid inclusions, stable isotope geochemistry and LA ICP-MS U-Pb and Ar-Ar geochronology,
3. Comparing the geological and geochemical characteristics of the Monywa deposit with other high-sulfidation deposits in the western Pacific region,
4. Developing an ore genesis and metallogenic model involving fluid pathways, source, transport and depositional conditions focusing on transitional processes from porphyry to epithermal environments, and
5. Applying geological-geochemical constraints to determine criteria for targeting high-grade mineralised zones.