GEOLOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF A Cu-Au-W DEPOSIT IN THE FERRIS MOUNTAINS, WYOMING
The Ferris Mountain plutonic suite is made up of predominantly porphyritic granite, that is intruded by undeformed pegmatitic dikes and mafic dikes. Initial field observations find that porphyritic granite is hydrothermally altered with intense k-feldspar and chlorite alteration near high-grade quartz sulfide veins. Alteration intensity decreases with distance away from these veins. Copper mineralization is identified in quartz veins hosting pyrite, chalcopyrite, and bornite. Abundant scheelite was found adjacent to the quartz veins indicating tungsten mineralization. Disseminated copper mineralization is observed but follows the alteration trend of decreasing with distance from the veins. We will present bulk rock geochemical data from veins and plutonic host rock to quantify the concentrations of copper and other viable critical minerals, such as tungsten. Detailed petrography will be presented to describe mineralization and hydrothermal phases, and electron microscopy will be used to quantitatively assess mineralogy. Together the data will help identify diagnostic features that define the deposit type and assess its economic viability. By establishing a deposit model, the project will guide future mineral exploration in the region.