A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE MINERAL-RESOURCE ASSESSMENT OF THE CENTRAL TETHYS REGION

Geologic data and maps from the Central Tethys region—consisting of the countries Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey—were converted into a digital geospatial database to support a global mineral-resource assessment of the potential for undiscovered porphyry copper deposits, the major deposit type supplying the world's copper. The data were assembled into a multi-faceted geographic information system (GIS) for the region. The georeferenced data include information about the geology, tectonic history, and mineral exploration of the individual countries and the region at various scales; information on mineral deposits and prospects, and localized large-scale maps from journal articles and other sources. Spatial data were also obtained from a digital data library compiled for the project. Data from the Central Tethys GIS were incorporated in the library for use with geospatial projects. The data were used as layers for analysis by experts on mineral resources and the geology of the Central Tethys region to enhance decisionmaking during the assessment and to produce map layouts showing tracts permissive for the occurrence of porphyry copper deposits. With the GIS, rock types permissive for the occurrence of porphyry copper deposits were identified as were the locations of the known deposits and the relations of the rocks to the deposits. Tectonic environments, such as magmatic arcs, where porphyry copper deposits are likely to occur, were identified. Rock types unlikely to contain porphyry copper deposits were eliminated from permissive tracts, and areas where depth of cover is likely greater than 1 km were also eliminated. Detailed maps of individual deposits or mining districts were overlain on regional maps to observe large-scale characteristics as well as regional generalizations.