Stable isotopes and geology of the Copper Canyon porphyry copper deposits, Lander County, Nevada

The Copper Canyon Cu-Au-Ag deposits include two geologically distinct hypogene ore bodies developed primarily in late Paleozoic rocks adjacent to a 38-m.y.-old potassic-altered granodiorite, whose emplacement seems to have been controlled largely by the Virgin fault, a north-striking normal fault. Widespread but subeconomic concentrations of sulfides as fracture and cavity fillings in skarn apparently preceded the final intrusion of the granodiorite. In the west ore body, metals reached ore-grade concentrations through the massive replacement of andradite by chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, and pyrite mineral assemblages. The east ore body probably formed after the granodiorite reached its present level. Calculated 6dD values of water in equilibrium with primary and secondary biotites range from -76 to -99 per mil at temperatures indicated by d180 values from coexisting quartz and biotite. The lightest values are in secondary biotite from the east ore body. These data suggest that fluids associated with potassic alteration here were most likely composed of magmatic water mixed with some meteoric water.