Honza Catchpole joined the Geneva Ore Deposits Group starting his Ph.D. studies in 2006. After finishing his undergraduate studies at the University of Freiburg, Germany, in 2003, he extensively travelled South America and later worked as quality assurance engineer in the UK. In Geneva, he was responsible for the X-ray diffraction facilities of the department and was active in undergraduate teaching. Currently, he works as consultant geologist in mineral exploration.

Ph.D. topic:

Porphyry-related polymetallic mineralisation in the Morococha district, central Peru: mineralisation styles, timing and fluid evolution

Honza uses a variety of microanalytical techniques to study ore-forming minerals, but also enjoys working in ore deposit related projects in the field, including alteration mapping, structural surveys, and underground mapping. The Ph.D. project is focused on the Miocene Morococha district in central Peru where different styles of mineralisation (porphyry, skarn, polymetallic and precious metals veins and replacement ore bodies) occur. The highly mineralised historical district of Morococha is situated about 140 km east of Lima at an altitude of 4500 to 5000 m and lies within one of the world’s most prolific mineral belts for polymetallic ore deposits.

It presents an excellent opportunity to investigate the origin of different genetic types of ore bodies in a porphyry-related setting, and their relationship with the coeval magmatism and host sedimentary rocks. Two parallel projects (Ph.D. theses) are being coordinated with and supported by the Pan American Silver Corp., operating in the area.

Goals of research:

Goals of this Ph.D. project are to study and understand the different types of ore mineralisation in the district by detailed mapping of mineralised structures and ore bodies underground and on surface, and geochemical analyses of rock and ore samples taken in the field. This includes petrography, mineralogical studies, fluid inclusion and stable and radiogenic isotope analyses among others. The overall aim of this project is to establish a genetic model for the mineralising processes in the district, with particular attention to the ore fluid composition and origin.

Pictures of field area

Methods used:

- Detailed mapping of geology, mineralised structures and hydrothermal alteration

- Petrography by transmitted light and reflected light microscopy

- Scanning electron microscope and electron microprobe analysis of mineral compositions

- Raman spectroscopy

- Fluid inclusion microthermometry and laser ablation ICP-MS of single fluid inclusions for determination of fluid temperature, density, salinity and chemical composition

- Oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon stable isotope analysis of hydrothermal minerals for fluid provenance.

- Radiogenic isotope dating of different ore forming events (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, Re-Os, U-Pb techniques)

Publications and abstracts

Selected publications and abstracts on our research presented in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences

Catchpole H (2011) Porphyry-related polymetallic mineralisation in the Morococha district, central Peru: mineralisation styles, timing, and fluid evolution. Terre & Environnement. 102: pp.192

Catchpole H, Kouzmanov K, Fontboté L, (submitted) Copper-excess stannoidite and fahlore as indicators of hydrothermal fluid evolution in a zoned Cordilleran base metal district – Morococha, central Peru. Canadian Mineralogist

Catchpole H, Kouzmanov K, Fontboté L, et al. (submitted) Linking porphyry Cu and meso-epithermal Zn-Pb-Ag-Cu mineralization - Hydrothermal fluid evolution in the central Morococha district, Peru. Economic Geology

Catchpole H, Bendezú A, Kouzmanov K, Fontboté L, Ovtcharova M, Spikings R, Stein HJ, Astorga C (submitted) Timing of porphyry-, skarn-, and polymetallic mineralisation in a magmatic-hydrothermal system - the Morococha district, central Peru. Mineralium Deposita.

Catchpole H., Kouzmanov K., Fontboté L., Guillong M., Heinrich C.A. (2011) Fluid evolution in zoned Cordilleran polymetallic veins - Insights from microthermometry and LA-ICP-MS of fluid inclusions. Chemical Geology 281: 293-304.

Catchpole H., Kouzmanov K., Fontboté L., Guillong M., C.A. H (2010) Fluid evolution in Cordilleran polymetallic veins - Insights from microthermometry and LA-ICP-MS of fluid inclusions In: Pál-Molnár E (ed) ACTA Mineralogica-Petrographica Abstract Series, International Mineralogical Association (IMA) General Meeting. University of Szeged, Department of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology, Budapest, Hungary, pp 285.

Catchpole H., Kouzmanov K., Fontboté L., Spikings R., Vallance J., Astorga C. (2010) Timing of polymetallic mineralisation overprinting porphyry Cu-Mo systems: Morococha district, central Peru – Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) 2010 Conference - October, 02-05, 2010, Abtract Book, CD-ROM, D-3, p.1-3.

Catchpole H., Kouzmanov K., Fontboté L., Guillong M., Heinrich C.A. (2009) Fluid evolution in base metal veins – a FI microthermometry and LA-ICP-MS case study – In:European Current Research On Fluid Inclusions (ECROFI) XX - Programme and Abstract Book, Granada, Spain, September 21-30, 2009, p.51-52.

Catchpole H., Bendezú A., Kouzmanov K., Fontboté L., Román E. (2008) Paragenesis and fluid inclusion data of porphyry-related base metal mineralisation styles in the Miocene Morococha district, central Peru - In: 6th Swiss Geoscience Meeting - Abstract Book, Lugano, Switzerland, November 21-23, 2008, p. 214-215.

Bendezú A., Catchpole H. Kouzmanov K., Fontboté L., Alexey U., Astorga C. (2008) Miocene magmatism and related porphyry and polymetallic mineralization in the Morococha district, central Peru - IN: 6th Swiss Geoscience Meeting - Abstract Book, Lugano, Switzerland, November 21-23, 2008, p. 213-214.

Catchpole H., Bendezú A., Kouzmanov K., Fontboté L., Escalante E. (2008) Porphyry- related base metal mineralisation styles in the Miocene Morococha district, central Peru. - In: SEG-GSSA 2008 Conference, Student Conference - Programme & Abstract Book, Johannesburg, July 05-06, 2008, p. 54-57. (PDF 493 Kb)

Bendezú A., Catchpole H., Kouzmanov K., Fontboté L., Astorga C. (2008) Miocene magmatism and related porphyry and polymetallic mineralization in the Morococha district, central Peru. - In: XIII Geological Congress of Peru, Lima, Peru, September 29 – October 03, 2008, [CD-ROM](PDF 1390 Kb)

Kouzmanov K., Bendezú A., Catchpole H., Ageneau M., Pérez J., Fontboté L. (2008) The Miocene Morococha district, central Peru: large-scale epithermal polymetallic overprint on multiple intrusion-centered porphyry systems. - In: PACRIM Congress 2008 – Abstract Book, Gold Coast, Australia, November 24-26, 2008, p.117-122. (PDF 708 Kb)

Hoskin P.W.O., Grapes R.H., Catchpole H., Klaudius J., 2003 Horse-tail inclusions in demantoid garnet from Val Malenco, Italy. Journal of Gemology, 28, p.333-336.

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Reports

Catchpole, H. (2009) Ore-precipitating fluids in polymetallic veins. Progress report Nr. 7b - Metallogeny of the Morococha District, 5 p.

Catchpole, H. (2008) Paragenesis of Sulfurosa polymetallic veins and Cuerpo Riqueza. Progress report Nr. 6b - Metallogeny of the Morococha District, 10 p.

Catchpole H. (2007) Comments on the Tajo Codiciada Map (1:100) and results from the ICP-MS data on selected ore samples. Progress report Nr. 3b - Metallogeny of the Morococha District, 36 p.

Catchpole, H. (2007) Descriptions of the ore mineralisation in the epithermal polymetallic veins and the pyrite bodies form the Codiciada area. Progress report Nr. 4b - Metallogeny of the Morococha District, 14 p.

Catchpole, H. (2007) Fieldwork 2007 Progress report Nr. 5b - Metallogeny of the Morococha District, 13 p.

Bendezú A. and Catchpole, H. (2006) Metallogeny of the Morococha district - Fieldwork report - Surface and underground study of the Codiciada area (Northern part of the Morococha district). Progress report Nr. 2a - Metallogeny of the Morococha District, 12 p.

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Geological cross-section modified after: León Pimentel J (2006) Relación espacial y temporal entre el sistema pórfido-skarn Toromocho y la sobreimpresión de las posteriores vetas cordilleranas de metales base. Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, Lima, Peru, pp 158.