Stephen E. Box
Boris Syusyura
Timothy S. Hayes
Cliff D. Taylor
Michael L. Zientek
Murray W. Hitzman
Reimar Seltmann
Vladimir Chechetkin
Alla Dolgopolova
Pamela M. Cossette
John C. Wallis
2011
Sandstone copper assessment of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan
1.0
report and vector digital data
Scientific Investigations Report
2010-5090-E
Menlo Park, California
U.S. Geological Survey
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5090/e/
Mineral resource assessments represent a synthesis of available information to estimate the location, quality, and quantity of undiscovered mineral resources in the Earth's crust. A probabilistic mineral resource assessment of undiscovered sandstone- copper deposits within the Upper Paleozoic Chu-Sarysu Basin in central Kazakhstan was done as a contribution to a global assessment of mineral resources conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. The purpose of this study was to (1) delineate permissive areas (tracts) for undiscovered sandstone-hosted copper deposits within 2 km of the surface in this area to be presented at a scale of 1,000,000, (2) provide a database of known sandstone copper deposits and significant prospects in this area, (3) estimate numbers of undiscovered deposits within these permissive tracts at several levels of confidence, and (4) provide probabilistic estimates of amounts of copper (Cu), silver (Ag), and mineralized rock that could be contained in undiscovered deposits within each tract. The assessment was conducted using a three-part form of mineral resource assessment based on mineral deposit models (Singer, 1993 Singer and Menzie, 2010).
Delineation of permissive tracts was based on the distribution of a Carboniferous, oxidized non-marine clastic (red bed) stratigraphic sequence that lies between overlying Permian and underlying Devonian evaporite-bearing sequences. Using subsurface information on the extent and depth of this red bed sequence and on structural features that divide the basin into sub-basins, we subdivide the continuous permissive area into four permissive tracts. Structure contour maps, mineral-occurrence databases, drill hole lithologic logs, geophysical maps, soil geochemical maps, locations of producing gas fields, and evidence for former gas accumulations were considered in conjunction with descriptive deposit models and grade and tonnage models to guide our estimates of undiscovered deposits in each tract.
The four permissive tracts delineated in this assessment are structural sub-basins of the Chu-Sarysu Basin and range in size from 750 km2 to 65,000 km2. Probabilistic estimates of numbers of undiscovered sandstone copper deposits were made for the 4 tracts. Using these probabilistic estimates, Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate the amount of contained metals for each tract, which serve as the basis for estimates of their metal endowment.
In this assessment we estimate that a mean of 26 undiscovered deposits occur within the Chu-Sarysu Basin containing an arithmetic mean estimate of 21.5 million (or more) metric tons of copper, in addition to the 7 known deposits that contain identified resources of 27.6 million metric tons of copper. Sixty percent of the estimated mean undiscovered copper resources are associated with the two permissive tracts that contain the identified resources; the remaining estimated resources are associated with the two tracts with no known deposits. For the 3 tracts with 95 percent of the estimated mean undiscovered copper resources, the probability that each tract contains its estimated mean or greater is about 40 percent. For the southern tract with 5 percent of the estimated mean undiscovered copper resources, the probability that it contains that amount or greater is 25 percent.
This report includes a brief overview of the geologic framework of the Chu-Sarysu Basin and its sandstone copper deposits, a description of the assessment process, a summary of results, and appendixes. Appendixes A through D contain summary information of each tract, as follows: location, the geologic feature assessed, the rationale for tract delineation, tables and descriptions of known deposits and significant prospects, exploration history, model selection, rationale for the estimates, assessment results, and references. The accompanying geodatabase files (feature classes) provide permissive tract outlines, assessment results, and data for deposits and prospects in a GIS format (Appendix F).
This report presents the results of an assessment of Upper Paleozoic Chu-Sarysu sedimentary basin in central Kazakhstan for the occurrence of undiscovered sandstone copper deposits. The study was coordinated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as part of a cooperative international project to estimate the regional locations and probable quantity and quality of the world's undiscovered nonfuel mineral resources. This research project is developing, testing, and (or) applying a variety of methods to quantitatively assess undiscovered mineral resources to a depth of 1 km or more below the Earth's surface (Briskey and others, 2001, 2007; Schulz and Briskey, 2003). The primary objectives are to identify the principal areas in the world that have potential for selected undiscovered mineral resources using available compiled information about geology, geochemistry, geophysics, and previous exploration results in the context of modern quantitative statistical models.
Regional assessment studies like this one compile and integrate existing information using GIS technology so that results can be presented at a scale of 1:1,000,000. Data sets include: databases and maps of the location, size, and geologic type of known mineral deposits and occurrences; maps and explanations of regional geology, metallogeny, tectonics, geochemistry, and geophysics; and available information about regional mineral exploration history. The integrated information is used to delineate tracts of land permissive for particular types of undiscovered nonfuel mineral deposits and to make and constrain probabilistic estimates of the quantity and quality of the undiscovered resources. The resulting quantitative mineral resource assessment then can be evaluated using economic filters and cash flow models for economic and policy analysis, and can be applied to mineral supply, economic, environmental, and land-use planning. Such economic evaluations are not part of this report.
In this report, we first present an overview of the geologic setting and history of the Chu-Sarysu Basin. This is followed by a review of the characteristic features of sandstone copper deposits in general and of the giant Dzhezkazgan deposit in particular in order to develop a generalized model for the origin of these deposits in this basin. We then briefly review the mineral assessment methodology that has been developed by researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey. Finally, we summarize our mineral assessment of undiscovered sandstone copper deposits in the Chu-Sarysu Basin. Brief description is given of the data used in the assessment and of the criteria used to delineate the tracts that are permissive for the occurrence of undiscovered deposits of this type, and we compare the local deposits with the global grade-tonnage model to test its appropriateness. Finally, we review the results of the probabilistic assessments of the permissive tracts and the results of the Monte Carlo simulations of the contained metal endowment of each tract.
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting a cooperative international project to assess the world's undiscovered nonfuel mineral resources. The Global Mineral Resource Assessment Project (GMRAP) is a research project that will develop and test methods of assessing the undiscovered mineral resources of the terrestrial earth. The primary objectives of the project are to outline the principal areas in the world that have potential for selected undiscovered mineral resources and to estimate the probable amounts of those mineral resources to a depth of 1-2 kilometers (0.6-1.2 miles) below the earth's surface. The project will initially undertake global assessments of copper, platinum-group metals, and potassium (or potash) resources (http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs053-03/fs053-03.pdf).
A probabilistic mineral resource assessment of undiscovered (sediment-hosted) sandstone - copper deposits within the Upper Paleozoic Chu-Sarysu Basin in central Kazakhstan was undertaken as a contribution to the global assessment of mineral resources (GMRAP) currently being conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey.
2012
current
None planned
66.198100
73.761778
48.365624
42.600760
none
sediment-hosted copper
sandstone
permissive tract
deposit
prospect
prognostic resource estimate
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Central Asia
Kazakhstan
none
This spatial database is not meant to be used or displayed at any scale larger than 1:1,000,000 (for example, 1:250,000). Any hardcopies utilizing these datasets shall clearly indicate their source. If the user has modified the data in any way, they are obligated to describe the types of modifications they have performed on the hardcopy map. User specifically agrees not to misrepresent these data sets, nor imply that changes they made were approved by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Stephen E. Box
U.S. Geological Survey
project geologist
mailing and physical address
904 W. Riverside Ave
Spokane
WA
99201-1087
USA
509-368-3106
509-368-3199
sbox@usgs.gov
Michael L. Zientek and Jane M. Hammarstrom provided a seemingly endless font of patience, guidance and oversight.
Stephen E. Box provided the fundamental scientific and geological analysis of disparate data sources, many of which were acquired from the Centre for Russian and Central EurAsian Mineral Studies (CERCAMS) National Museum of History, London and Economic Consulting Ltd., Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Boris Syusyura (Economic Consulting Ltd., Almaty, Kazakhstan) kindly shared data and provided personal interpretations to assist in the difficulties that are inherent in multi-national cooperative efforts.
Timothy S. Hayes provided significant insight into processes that are responsible for sediment-hosted copper deposits, such as those assessed in this report.
Cliff D. Taylor similarly provided insight into the properties and distribution of sediment-hosted copper deposits.
Murray W. Hitzman provided invaluable expertise and guidance throughout the actual assessment process (Vancouver, 2009) in order to assure that the assessors were adequately informed and that the assessment outcomes were not unrealistic.
Reimar Seltmann provided interpretation and guidance with respect to the CERCAMS data contribution and the assessment process.
Vladimir Chechetkin provided a life-time of profound, on-the-ground, hands-on knowledge of the Kazakh sediment-hosted copper potential.
Alla Dolgopolova provided real-time, greatly appreciated translation for the USGS scientists when our Russian-speaking guests exhausted their English-speaking abilities. Furthermore, Ms. Dolgopolova contributed her geologic and interpretative expertise (CERCAMS) in order to facilitate the assessment.
Pamela M. Cossette provided GIS and editorial support.
John C. Wallis (USGS contractor) provided data processing particularly in the great need for extensive translation efforts.
In addition, Heather Parks (USGS contractor) assisted with graphics. USGS colleagues Jane Hammarstrom, Greta Orris, Mark Cocker, and Greg Spanski served as the assessment oversight committee to review the preliminary results. USGS colleagues Rich Goldfarb, Tom Moore, and Connie Dicken provided helpful and timely technical reviews of the final report. USGS colleague Connie Dicken provided a helpful technical review of the GIS data accompanying the final report. Jim Bliss (USGS) provided help on assessment methods.
Boris Syusyura
Stephen E. Box
John C. Wallis
2010
Spatial Databases of Geological, Geophysical, and Mineral Resource Data Relevant to Sandstone-Hosted Copper Deposits in Central Kazakhstan
1.0
report and vector data
Open-File Report
Open-File Report 2010-1124
Menlo Park, California
U.S. Geological Survey
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1124/
Attribute accuracy was verified by manual comparison of the source maps with hard copy plots, printouts, and on-screen evaluation.
No duplicate features exist.
SIR2011-5090-E includes GIS spatial datasets (ESRI geodatabase feature classes) that describe four sediment-hosted copper tracts located in the Chu-Sarysu basin, Kazakhstan, Central Asia. These areas (tracts) were assessed by the USGS as part of the 2010 Global Minerals Resource Assessment Project and are the result of extensive analysis of data and assets acquired from and shared by CERCAMS and MEC.
The horizontal positional accuracy of the polygon features varies: it is dependent on several factors including the original scale of the base maps used in mapping the geology (which was subsequently used to delineate the mineral resource tracts).
For details regarding steps taken as complex and disparate data sources were compiled and analyzed, please see this report:
Box, S.E., Syusyura, B., Hayes, T.S., Taylor, C.D., Zientek, M.L., Hitzman, M.W., Seltmann, R., Chechetkin, V., Dolgopolova, A., Cossette, P.M., and Wallis, J.C., 2012, Sandstone copper assessment of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, central Kazakhstan: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5090-E.
Stephen E. Box
U.S. Geological Survey
project geologist
mailing and physical address
904 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane
WA
99201-1087
USA
509-368-3106
509-368-3199
sbox@usgs.gov
Vector
G-polygon
0.000000
0.000000
Decimal degrees
D_WGS_1984
WGS_1984
6378137.000000
298.257224
CS_Assessed_Tracts
ESRI File Geodatabase FEATURE CLASS - describes assessed mineral resource tracts (polygon features) which are permissive for sediment-hosted copper
Singer, D.A., 1993, Basic concepts in three-part quantitative assessments of undiscovered mineral resources: Nonrenewable Resources, v. 2, no. 2, p. 69-81.
TRACT_ID
User-defined, unique identifier assigned to permissive tract
GMRAP
CODED_ID
Coded, unique identifier assigned to permissive tract
GMRAP
TRACT_NAME
Informal (author-defined) name of permissive tract
GMRAP
UNREGCODE
Three digit UN code for the region that underlies most of the permissive tract.
UN Standard Country or Area Codes for Statistical Use: Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings (http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm)
COUNTRY
Country(ies) in which permissive tract is located
ISO 3166-1 country_name
COMMODITY
Primary commodity being assessed
Cu
DEP_TYPE
Name of the deposit type assessed
sediment-hosted copper
GT_MODEL
Grade-tonnage model used for the undiscovered deposit estimate
Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C., 2008, Porphyry copper deposits of the world: database, map, and grade and tonnage models, 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155, 45 p., accessed January 15, 2009, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1155/.
GEOLOGY
Geologic feature assessed
GMRAP
AGE
Age of geologic feature assessed
Geologic time terms in USGS Divisions of geologic time (Suggestions to Authors fig. 15, p. 59); Geological Society of America 1999 Geologic time scale; or International Commission on Stratigraphy Geologic Time Scale 2004
ASMT_DATE
Year assessment was conducted
GMRAP
ASMT_DEPTH
Maximum depth beneath the Earth's surface used for the assessment, in kilometers.
GMRAP
EST_LEVELS
The set of percentile (probability) levels at which undiscovered deposit estimates were made
GMRAP
N90
Estimated number of deposits associated with the 90th percentile (90 percent chance of at least the indicated number of deposits).
GMRAP
N50
Estimated number of deposits associated with the 50th percentile (50 percent chance of at least the indicated number of deposits). Values for N90 <or=N50 <or= N10<or= N05<or= N01
GMRAP
N10
Estimated number of deposits associated with the 10th percentile (10 percent chance of at least the indicated number of deposits). Values for N90 <or = N50 <or= N10<or= N05 <or=N01
GMRAP
N05
Estimated number of deposits associated with the 5th percentile (5 percent chance of at least the indicated number of deposits).
GMRAP
N01
Estimated number of deposits associated with the 1st percentile (1 percent chance of at least the indicated number of deposits).
GMRAP
N_EXPECTED
Expected (mean) number of deposits
N_Expected = (0.233*N90) + (0.4*N50) + (0.225*N10) + (0.045*N05) + (0.03*N01)
S
Standard deviation
s = 0.121 - (0.237*N90) - (0.093*N50) + (0.183*N10) + (0.073*N05) + (0.123*N01)
CV_PERCENT
Coefficient of variance, in percent
Cv = (s/N_Expected) * 100
N_KNOWN
Number of known deposits in the tract
GMRAP
N_TOTAL
Total number of deposits
N_total = N_Expected + N_Known
AREA_KM2
Area of permissive tract, in square kilometers
GMRAP
DEPDENSITY
Deposit density (total number of deposits per square kilometer).
DepDensity = N_total/Area_km2
DEPDEN10E5
Deposit density per 100,000 square kilometers
DepDen10E5 = DepDensity*100,000
ESTIMATORS
Names of people on the estimation team
GMRAP
NOTES
Notes or comments
GMRAP
CS_Deposits_Prospects_AreasPrognosticResourceEstimate
ESRI File Geodatabase FEATURE CLASS - describes deposits, prospects and areas that have prognostic resource estimates (point features) used to delineate the extent of the assessed mineral resource tracts (polygon features) which are permissive for sediment-hosted copper
GMRAP
GMRAP_ID
Unique record identifier. Numbers 1 through 710 agree with the DepositID field in Singer and others (2008). Numbers starting with 1000 are from the SE Asia-China-Mongolia assessment (Peters and Nokleberg). Numbers starting with 3000 are from the Mexico assessment (Hammarstrom). Note that the DepositID field in Singer and others (2008) was called MapId in Singer and others (2005); however, some records were deleted, updated, or reclassified in the 2008 release.
GMRAP
TRACT_ID
GMRAP user-defined, unique identifier assigned to permissive tract in which deposit or prospect is located
GMRAP
CODED_ID
GMRAP coded identifier for the permissive tract in the GMRAP permissive tract GIS database
GMRAP
TRACT_NAME
GMRAP user-defined informal tract name
GMRAP
GROUP_NAME
Group name of multiple sites
GMRAP
NAME
Name or identity (where known) of prospect or deposit site
Author(s)
NAME_OTHER
Other names used for the site
GMRAP
INCLUDES
Names of deposits that have been combined with the primary deposit as a result of the 2-km aggregation rule used for calculating grades and tonnages
GMRAP
BELONGS_TO
Name of district, belt, trend, etc.
GMRAP
TYPE
Mineral deposit type
GMRAP
SUBTYPE
SUBTYPE: For the sediment-hosted copper type, deposits and prospects may be classified as the general type or a subtype may be specified in the reference cited. Subtype may be based on reductant and environment or may be based on geologic indication.
GMRAP
ASSOC_TYPE
Associated deposit types
GMRAP
SITESTATUS
Prospect or Deposit (Prospect if no grade and tonnage values provided. Deposit if it has grade and tonnage)
GMRAP
SITESTATI
GMRAP
SITESTATII
GMRAP
DEVSTATUS
Development Status - the nature of operations at the time the deposit record was entered or this field was last modified. Values are: Occurrence, Prospect, Producer, Past Producer, Unknown. The category definitions are as follows: Occurrence - Ore mine
GMRAP
LATITUDE
Latitude in decimal degrees. -90.00000 to 90.00000. Negative south of the equator
GMRAP
LONGITUDE
Longitude in decimal degrees. -180.00000 to 180.00000. Negative east of the Greenwich meridian
GMRAP
CODE_CNTRY
Country code (from Singer and others, 2005)
GMRAP
COUNTRY
Country(countries) in which site is located
GMRAP
STATE_PROV
State or province in which site is located
GMRAP
BASIN_USGS
ID for oil and gas basin from USGS Energy assessments
GMRAP
BASIN_AGI
Value of BASINGEO_I from basins.shp in AGI Datapages 459
GMRAP
BASINTELUS
Value of BASIN_ID from Tellus_Sedimentary_Basins_Layer.shp
GMRAP
AGE_MA
Age in millions of years before present. Age is average for geologic era, period, or epoch listed
GMRAP
AGE_METHOD
Method for absolute age or "mid-point" if value is the midpoint of the age range (or geologic time unit)
GMRAP
AGE_RANGE
Age of host rock in standard divisions of geologic time
GMRAP
AGE_REF
Short reference for age information
GMRAP
COMM_MAJOR
Major commodities in decreasing order of economic importance. Use chemical symbols for commodities
GMRAP
COMM_MINOR
Minor commodities (byproducts, coproducts) in decreasing order of importance
GMRAP
COMM_TRACE
Trace commodities
GMRAP
TONNAGE_MT
Ore tonnage in millions of metric tons
GMRAP
CU_PCT
Average copper grade in weight percent
GMRAP
CO_PCT
Average cobalt grade in weight percent
GMRAP
AU_G_T
Average gold grade in ppm (=grams per ton)
GMRAP
AG_G_T
Average silver grade in ppm (=grams per ton)
GMRAP
CON_CU_T
Million metric tons of contained copper
GMRAP
COMMENTS
Miscellaneous comments
GMRAP
HOSTROCKS
Simplified lithologic description of host rocks
GMRAP
UNIT
Geologic map unit in which site is located
GMRAP
FOOTWALL
Rock types of footwall rocks
GMRAP
HANGWALL
Rock types of hangingwall rocks
GMRAP
MINERALOGY
Ore and gangue minerals in approximate order of abundance
GMRAP
SOURCE
Data table source
GMRAP
UPDATER
Last editor or updater of record
GMRAP
UPDATE
Date LastEditor edited, changed or added data
GMRAP
ED_COMMENT
Editor's comments
GMRAP
REF_SHORT1
Short reference
GMRAP
REF_SHORT2
Short reference
GMRAP
GEOLPROV
GMRAP
TCTNIC_SET
GMRAP
COMPLEX
GMRAP
GRADE_LEVL
GMRAP
ENRICHMENT
GMRAP
OTHER
GMRAP
DEPTYPE_OLD
GMRAP
FORM
GMRAP
CS_Assessed_Tracts_Subunits
ESRI File Geodatabase FEATURE CLASS - describes areas specific to and contained within the encompassing assessed tract which are here identified as tract subunits. Subunit here indicates an area that is judged to be more prospective and has had some exploration activities. Subunits are represented spatially by an approximate extent and are not individually assessed.
Syusyura, Boris, Box, S.E., and Wallis, J.C., 2010, Spatial databases of geological, geophysical, and mineral resource data relevant to sandstone-hosted copper deposits in central Kazakhstan: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010-1124, 4 p. and databases, accessed January 7, 2011 at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1124/.
TRACT_ID
User-defined, unique identifier assigned to permissive tract
GMRAP
CODED_ID
Coded, unique identifier assigned to permissive tract
GMRAP
TRACT_NAME
Informal (author-defined) name of permissive tract
Box, 2012
AREA_KM2
Area of permissive tract, in square kilometers
GMRAP
ASSESSMENT_SUBUNIT
Alphanumeric identification of assessment subunit
Box, 2012
U.S. Geological Survey Information Services
mailing address
P.O. Box 25286
Denver Federal Center
Denver
CO
80225
USA
(888) ASK-USGS
(888) 275-8747
infoservices@usgs.gov
Downloadable data for USGS [Scientific Investigations Report, SIR] [2010-5090-E].
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides these geographic data "as is." The USGS makes no guarantee or warranty concerning the accuracy of information contained in the geographic data. The USGS further makes no warranties, either expressed or implied as to any other matter whatsoever, including, without limitation, the condition of the product, or its fitness for any particular purpose. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user. Although these data have been processed successfully on computers of the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS regarding the use of these data on any other system, nor does the fact of distribution constitute or imply such warranty. In no event shall the USGS have liability whatsoever for payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, or tort damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, any loss of profits arising out of use of or reliance on the geographic data or arising out of the delivery, installation, operation, or support by the USGS. This spatial database is not meant to be used or displayed at any scale larger than 1:1,000,000 (for example, 1:250,000).
ZIP
ZIP archive for SIR 2010-5090-E
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5090/e/
GDB
ESRI geodatabase and contained feature classes
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5090/e/
No fee for downloadable data and report.
User must have geographic information system (GIS) software capable of reading ESRI ArcGIS file formats
20121003
Pamela M. Cossette
U. S. Geological Survey
Geologist
mailing and physical address
904 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane
WA
99201-1087
USA
509-368-3121
509-368-3199
pcossette@usgs.gov
none
none