CLASSIFICATION SCHEME ON GOLD AND COPPERDEPOSITS: Past, present and future

The newly proposed "chessboard" classification scheme of mineral deposits is introduced and commented briefly. Studies show that all the deposit classification schemes vary greatly in their own evidences, principle and methods. Therefore the deposit classification scheme accepted by everyone does not exist at present. Comparison studies indicate that the deposit classification scheme based on geological setting, deposit geology and mineralogy may show the true picture of the mineral deposits. The subdivision of gold and copper deposits corresponds to the common host rock lithologies (magmatic, sedimentary and metamorphic) and mineral assemblages together with ore-controlling structures. A proper deposit classification will be helpful for finding new deposits and enhancing the resources exploitation.