Reconnaissance Survey of Porphyry type copper- gold mineralization at Wadi Dara occurrence, North Eastern Desert, Egypt

Porphyry type copper- gold mineralization is recorded for the first time in basement rocks of the East African orogeny at Wadi Dara ancient copper occurrence in the north Eastern desert of Egypt. The mineralization is lithologically controlled since it totally related and confined to continental margin island arc granitoids (Andean type) of diorite-granodiorite association. Structurally, the mineralization is confined to composite fractures system oriented in NW- SE developed only within the diorite - granodiorite association. Geochemical reconnaissance survey carried out at Wadi Dara occurrence revealed the presence of a copper mineralization there reflected in swarms of fissures filling associated with copper-bearing alteration zones, copper-bearing host rocks of diorite- granodiorite association and copper-bearing basic dykes. Country rocks which host the copper-bearing mineralized zones and their associated alteration zones revealed a low-grade copper mineralization with an average copper content of 0.28% associated with less significant gold mineralization of an average gold content of 0.25ppm at the Western sector (Area- B). Basic dykes located at the Eastern sub-area of Wadi Dara occurrence (Area- C) revealed significant workable copper mineralization of an average copper content of 1.4 % without any significant gold mineralization. Wadi Dara ancient copper occurrence comprises a workable huge low-grade copper mineralization of a porphyry type style of mineralization associated with a secondary workable gold mineralization. Wadi Dara ancient copper occurrence is highly recommended for further investigations to asses and outline the first recorded porphyry type gold- copper mineralization there.