Identifying potential porphyry Cu mineralization at the Kirazlı district in Biga Peninsula (NW Turkey): Insights from the mapping hydrothermal alteration by using shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectrometry

The Kirazlı mineral district is located at the center of Biga peninsula metallogenic province, in a geological setting characterized by an extensional tectonic environment. hosts high-sulfidation (HS) ore body with total reserve 33.86 Mt @ 0.69 g/t Au and 9.42 Ag within large-scale hydrothermal alteration. Although ideal magmatic-hydrothermal models present spatial temporal association HS-epithermal porphyry Cu deposits, potential has not been evaluated, yet. Therefore, mineral-based alteration mapping help SWIR reflectance spectroscopy was carried out. Our study demonstrates that nine different zone have distinguished mapped: (1) Silicification, (2) Alunite, (3) Kaolinite, (4) Dickite, (5) Illite, (6) Pyrophyllite, (7) Chlorite, (8) Sericite, (9) Montmorillonite zones. Collectively, these alterations exhibit zoned pattern, from central massive silicification to residual silica, NW-SE oriented alunite, marginal montmorillonite-illite zones widespread kaolinite – dickite dominated main zone. occurrence pyrophyllite sericite dominates SE district, which refers relative temperature increase. Subsequent drilling confirms for deep prospecting mineralization region.