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Porphyry copper deposits of the world

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How should this data set be cited?

   Singer, Donald A., Berger, Vladimir I., and Moring, Barry C., 2008, Porphyry copper deposits of the world: Open-File Report 2008-1155, Geological Survey (U.S.), Menlo Park, California.

   Online Links:

   • <http://mrdata.usgs.gov/porcu/>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -160.666944

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: 178.178333

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 67.866667

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: -48.075

3. What does it look like?

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Calendar_Date: 2008

   Currentness_Reference: publication date

5. What is the general form of this data set?

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Entity point (690)

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitude and longitude values are specified in decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is World Geodetic System 1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS 84.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257.
      

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   main

   General descriptive information about the deposit

   rec_id

   Record ID.

   A distinct numerical identifier for the database record without further scientific significance, assigned by the data manager of mrdata.usgs.gov. Integer values. Int of width 4.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	690
   Resolution:	1

   depname

   Deposit name.

   The most recent deposit name. Textual values of no more than 36 characters.

   includes

   Includes.

   The names of deposits that have been combined with the primary deposit as a result of the two-kilometer minimum separation rule. Textual values of no more than 58 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 614 records have no value for includes.

   altname

   Other names.

   Alternative names that have been used for the deposit. Textual values of no more than 154 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 525 records have no value for altname.

   country

   Country.

   Name of the country where the deposit occurs. Textual values of no more than 18 characters.

   cntrycd

   Country code.

   Coded abbreviation combining the country and state or province. Textual values of no more than 4 characters.

   stprov

   State or province.

   State or province, if known, where the deposit occurs. Textual values of no more than 40 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 233 records have no value for stprov.

   latitude

   Latitude.

   Geographic latitude in decimal degrees, datum WGS84. South is negative, north positive. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-48.075
   Maximum:	67.8666666666667
   Units:	decimal degrees

   longitude

   Longitude.

   Geographic longitude in decimal degrees, datum WGS84. West is negative, east positive. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-160.666944444444
   Maximum:	178.178333333333
   Units:	decimal degrees

   agemy

   Age.

   Age of the deposit in millions of years before the present based on reported absolute (typically thermal dates) ages or midpoints of geologic time scale units. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 60 records have no value for agemy.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	3234
   Units:	million years

   depage

   Deposit age.

   Textual values of no more than 67 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 97 records have no value for depage.

   oreton

   Ore tonnage.

   Total tons of ore based on total production, reserves, and resources at the lowest possible cutoff grade, in millions of metric tons. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 267 records have no value for oreton.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	21277
   Units:	million metric tons

   cugrd

   Copper grade.

   Average grade of copper for the deposit, as percent of metal in ore. Zero value means the grade (always for byproducts) was unavailable. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	1.8
   Units:	percent

   mogrd

   Molybdenum grade.

   Average grade of molybdenum for the deposit, as percent of metal in ore. Zero value means the grade (always for byproducts) was unavailable. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 1 records have no value for mogrd.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	0.1
   Units:	percent

   augrd

   Gold grade.

   Average grade of gold for the deposit, as grams per metric ton of ore. Zero value means the grade (always for byproducts) was unavailable. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	1.3
   Units:	grams per metric ton

   aggrd

   Silver grade.

   Average grade of silver for the deposit, as grams per metric ton of ore. Zero value means the grade (always for byproducts) was unavailable. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	21
   Units:	grams per metric ton

   deptype

   Type of deposit.

   Classification of the deposit using a system new to this report using the observed rocks reported in maps rather than characteristics that are frequently unobservable in yet-to-be discovered deposits. Textual values of no more than 3 characters.

   empldepth

   Emplacement depth.

   Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 3 records have no value for empldepth.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	7.5
   Units:	km

   dep5km10km

   Other deposits between 5km and 10km.

   Listing of other deposits by type that are between 5 and 10 km of the subject deposit. Each deposit type is coded as the deposit-type number and deposit type as listed in USGS Bulletins 1693 (Cox and Singer, 1986) and 2004 (Bliss, 1992). Textual values of no more than 37 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 460 records have no value for dep5km10km.

   dep5km

   Other deposits within 5km.

   Listing of other deposits by type that are within 5 km of the subject deposit. Each deposit type is coded as the deposit-type number and deposit type as listed in USGS Bulletins 1693 (Cox and Singer, 1986) and 2004 (Bliss, 1992). Textual values of no more than 59 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 352 records have no value for dep5km.

   dep_id

   Deposit ID.

   Integer values. Int of width 8.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	710
   Resolution:	1

   latdeg

   Latitude degrees.

   Degrees of latitude. Integer values. Int of width 3.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-48
   Maximum:	67
   Units:	degrees
   Resolution:	1

   latmin

   Latitude minutes.

   Minutes of latitude. Integer values. Int of width 2.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-59
   Maximum:	59
   Units:	minutes
   Resolution:	1

   latsec

   Latitude seconds.

   Seconds of latitude. Integer values. Int of width 2.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 355 records have no value for latsec.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-58
   Maximum:	59
   Units:	seconds
   Resolution:	1

   londeg

   Longitude degrees.

   Degrees of lontitude. Integer values. Int of width 4.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-160
   Maximum:	178
   Units:	degrees
   Resolution:	1

   lonmin

   Longitude minutes.

   Minutes of longitude. Integer values. Int of width 2.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-59
   Maximum:	59
   Units:	minutes
   Resolution:	1

   lonsec

   Longitude seconds.

   Seconds of longitude. Integer values. Int of width 2.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 365 records have no value for lonsec.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-59
   Maximum:	59
   Units:	seconds
   Resolution:	1

   rockdep

   Rocks in deposit.

   Textual values of no more than 204 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 45 records have no value for rockdep.

   rockmap

   Rocks on map.

   Textual values of no more than 184 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 408 records have no value for rockmap.

   rockmapdep

   Rocks on map in deposit.

   Textual values of no more than 213 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 19 records have no value for rockmapdep.

   discdate

   Discovery date.

   Date the deposit was discovered, where this is known. Textual values of no more than 35 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 306 records have no value for discdate.

   startdate

   Startup date.

   Date mining of the deposit began, if this is know. Textual values of no more than 19 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 553 records have no value for startdate.

   ore_a

   Ore A-axis.

   Length in km of the major axis of the ellipse that best fits the shape of the ore body projected in two dimensions to the surface. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 17 records have no value for ore_a.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	303
   Units:	km

   ore_b

   Ore BA-axis.

   Length in km of the minor axis of the ellipse that best fits the shape of the ore body projected in two dimensions to the surface. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 11 records have no value for ore_b.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	3
   Units:	km

   ore_area

   Ore Area.

   Area in sq km of the ellipse that best fits the shape of the ore body projected in two dimensions to the surface. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 11 records have no value for ore_area.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	28
   Units:	sq km

   alter_a

   Alteration A-axis.

   Length in km of the major axis of the ellipse that best fits the shape of the alteration zone projected in two dimensions to the surface. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 10 records have no value for alter_a.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	25
   Units:	km

   alter_b

   Alteration B-axis.

   Length in km of the minor axis of the ellipse that best fits the shape of the alteration zone projected in two dimensions to the surface. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 10 records have no value for alter_b.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	9
   Units:	km

   alter_area

   Alteration area.

   Area in sq km of the ellipse that best fits the shape of the alteration zone projected in two dimensions to the surface. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 10 records have no value for alter_area.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	82
   Units:	sq km

   sulf_a

   Sulfide A-axis.

   Length in km of the major axis of the ellipse that best fits the shape of the sulfide occurrence zone projected in two dimensions to the surface. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 10 records have no value for sulf_a.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	13
   Units:	km

   sulf_b

   Sulfide B-axis.

   Length in km of the minor axis of the ellipse that best fits the shape of the sulfide occurrence zone projected in two dimensions to the surface. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 10 records have no value for sulf_b.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	7
   Units:	km

   sulf_area

   Sulfide area.

   Area in sq km of the ellipse that best fits the shape of the sulfide occurrence zone projected in two dimensions to the surface. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 10 records have no value for sulf_area.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	89
   Units:	sq km

   comments

   Comments.

   Supplementary information. Textual values of no more than 255 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 203 records have no value for comments.

   minerals

   Mineralogy of the deposit as reported in scientific literature

   rec_id

   Record ID.

   Numerical identifier for the deposit, matches a value in main:rec_id. Integer values. Int of width 4.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	690
   Resolution:	1

   value

   Mineralogy.

   Name of minerals reported as present in the deposit, without regard for their abundance. Most rock-forming minerals, such as feldspar, calcite, and quartz, are not included. Some variants of rock forming minerals that may be related to mineralization or alteration, such as Ag calcite, are included. Textual values of no more than 44 characters.

   ref

   Scientific literature consulted by the authors to characterize the deposit

   rec_id

   Record ID.

   Numerical identifier for the deposit, matches a value in main:rec_id. Integer values. Int of width 4.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	690
   Resolution:	1

   value

   References.

   Papers and web sites that were used to describe the deposit. In a few cases unpublished sources were used. Textual values of no more than 255 characters.

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Singer, Donald A.
   • Berger, Vladimir I.
   • Moring, Barry C.

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Donald A Singer
   U.S. Geological Survey
   345 Middlefield Road Mail Stop 901
   Menlo Park, CA 94025
   USA
   

   650-329-5370 (voice)
   dsinger@usgs.gov
   

Why was the data set created?

Support regional to national scale mineral resource assessment

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 12-Dec-2011 (process 1 of 1)

   Modified location given in record 260 (El Cobre, Cuba) to the inundated pit where mining occurred in the past. Thanks to Mr. Mario J. Faz, P.G., of Miami Florida for finding and alerting us to this problem.

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: none

Use_Constraints: none

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   Peter N Schweitzer
   U.S. Geological Survey
   12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Mail Stop 954
   Reston, VA 20192-0002
   USA
   

   703-648-6533 (voice)
   pschweitzer@usgs.gov
   

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

   USGS Open File Report 2008-1155

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards (or with the North American Stratigraphic Code). Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Deposit locations with characteristics and references in format Shapefile (version 1.0)
     Network links:	<http://mrdata.usgs.gov/porcu/porcu.zip>

   • Cost to order the data: none

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 12-Dec-2011

Metadata author:

Peter N Schweitzer
U.S. Geological Survey
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Mail Stop 954
Reston, VA 20192-0002
USA

703-648-6533 (voice)
pschweitzer@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)