This book will address three primary metals and their associated metals. The primary metals are Platinum Group of Elements or Metals (PGE or PGM), nickel, and chromium. The associated metals include copper, gold, silver, and cobalt. The platinum group consists of six metals and occurs naturally in close association with one another as well as with nickel, chromium, copper, and cobalt. The group of metals represents a unique geological process having a common source of metal supply and a genetic model. The PGM is among the least abundant group of elements of the Earth’s element family.

This manual classifies and describes differing styles of southwest Pacific rim gold-copper systems, and analyses hydrothermal ore-forming processes. Investigations of these systems in terms of structure, alteration and styles of mineralization provide information which may help determine the direction of fluid flow within evolving hydrothermal systems. 

Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Hema Edupugante, Michael Leahy, and Wanda Wooten, statistical assistants, and the world production tables were prepared by Regina R. Coleman and Glenn J. Wallace, international data coordinators. 
In 2003, mine production of recoverable copper in the United States fell by about 26,000 metric tons (t) to the lowest level since 1985.

The assessment of porphyry copper deposits in eastern Asia has a long history, and many people have been involved. USGS colleagues Klaus J. Schulz and Joseph A. Briskey initiated the project and participated in the first workshop, in Kunming, Yunnan, in 2002. Stephen G. Peters and Warren Nokleberg coordinated and led the initial assessment activities, prepared preliminary reports, and represented the USGS to our Chinese counterparts at several meetings.

The Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold porphyry deposits arc located 6S0 kilometres south of Ulaan Baa tar in the south Gobi region of Mongolia. Copper mineralisation was first discovered in the Bronze age. During the late 1990’s extensive exploration including drilling was conducted by ВНР.

Малмыжская золото-меднопорфировая система (далее «Малмыж») была выявлена в 2005-2007 гг горнодобывающей компанией Phelps Dodge Corporation (США) на основе
анализа геологических отчетов советских и российских геологов и в результате проведенных затем полевых работ. Эта компания, являвшаяся в то время одним из крупнейших производителей меди в мире, через учрежденные ею российские дочерние предприятия проводила на Дальнем Востоке России поиски крупных золотомеднопорфировых и собственно золоторудных месторождений. Общее руководство работами осуществляли региональный менеджер по развитию новых проектов Мак Кэнби (Mac Canby) и главный геолог российского филиала компании А.Б. Волков. В 2008 компания, а с нею и Малмыжский проект, были приобретены компанией Freeport-McMoRanCopper&Gold Inc. (США), владеющей крупнейшим в мире золото-меднопорфировым месторождением Grasberg в Индонезии <...>

The Alpine-Balkan-Carpathian-Dinaride (ABCD) belt is one of the world’s oldest mining areas and played a major role in the history of European civilizations, from well before the peak of the Greek and Roman civilizations up untilthe present day. Today, it is Europe’s premier Cu-Au (-Pb-Zn-Ag) province, especially for gold-rich deposits associated with calc-alkaline magmatism, which have become a focus of renewed exploration interest after the political change in the eastern part of CentralEurope. The Alpine–Balkan–Carpathian–Dinaride metallogenic and geodynamic province is part of the AlpineHimalayan orogenic system which extends from western Europe through Iran and the Himalayas to China and Malaysia.