Dear Mr. Yongbin:

H. Schneiderhöhn (1962) Erzlagerstätten, Gustav Fischer Verlag, 371 pp ("Ore deposits / in German) - page: 122 ff. discussed already the so-called "disseminated porphyry copper ores". There are definitely older studies which provide a comprehensive overview of this ore type. He mentioned the porphyry-type ores in North America, South America, and even the older ones at Kounrad (Kazakhstan) and Alamalyk (Uzbekistan).

Best regards

H.G.Dill

I'm afraid we have to go back a little further in the literature on "porphyry copper deposits":

For this purpose, are useful the references in the textbook by Hans Schneiderhöhn:

'Lehrbuch der Erzlagerstättenkunde, 1. Band, The deposits of igneous sequence' (1941) see images with original signature of the author, attached.

Schneiderhöhn quoted the following very early work:

W.H. Emmons (1927): Relations of the disseminated copper ores in porphyry to igneous intrusives.   --  Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng. 1927, Vol. 75, pages 797-815.

I am convinced that this work contains still much earlier evidence on this subject.

Best regards,

G. Grundmann

You can make a good case for arguing that the genesis and distribution of porphyry copper deposits (and the other disseminated ores such as molybdenum) were not properly understood until the advent of plate tectonic theory. The first studies linking porphyry/disseminated ore metallogeny to plate tectonics appear in the early 1970’s with Pierra and Dixon (1971) providing the first graphical depiction of porphyry copper mineralization in a continental arc setting above a downgoing slab. The spatial association of porphyry copper deposits with arcs formed above current or former subduction zones was then discussed in detail by Sillitoe (1972).

Prior to plate tectonics, however, geosynclinal theory held sway: a notable exposition of porphyry copper mineralization in the context of geosynclinal theory was provided by McCartney and Potter (1962).

You then have to go back to the early years of the 20th century to find the first properly scientific petrographic and field studies dealing with this particular ore paragenesis. Foundational work of this type was carried out by geologists of the USGS, for example Boutwell (1905) and Lindgren (1906).

Pereira, J., and C. J. Dixon. "Mineralisation and plate tectonics." Mineralium Deposita 6.4 (1971): 404-405.

Sillitoe, Richard H. "A plate tectonic model for the origin of porphyry copper deposits." Economic Geology 67.2 (1972): 184-197.

McCartney, W. D., and R. R. Potter. "Mineralization as related to structural deformation, igneous activity and sedimentation in folded geosynclines." Can. Min. J 83.4 (1962): 83-87.

Boutwell,  J.  M. "Economic  geology  of  the Bingham  mining  district,  Utah"  U.  S.  Geol. Survey Prof. Paper  38 (1905), p. 73-390.

Lindgren, Waldemar. "The copper deposits of the Clifton-Morenci district, Arizona". No. 43. US Government Printing Office, (1906).

Regards,

Graham

Bingham Canyon, Utah was the first developed porphyry copper mine in the world with initial underground block-caving beginning in 1904 and open pit mining in 1906-7.  The origin of the term “porphyry copper” is more obscure, but the Salt Lake Mining Review compiled a list of the great “porphyry copper” producers in their September 30, 1909 edition.  In addition to Bingham, the list included:

Ely, Nevada

Globe, Arizona

Ray, Arizona

Santa Rita, New Mexico

Yerington, Nevada

So the phrase “porphyry copper” was in wide usage by 1909.

The first porphyty copper deposit-Bingham was found in North American in 1905.But the concept "porphyty copper" was first used by W.H.Emmons in his book named "Principle of Economic Geology" in 1918. 

Emmons (1918) did refer to the name, but did not coin the term - he actually said 'popularly these are termed the "porphyry" ores' - implying the name was already in use (as Ken points out).

Please see my article on the interesting origin of the porphyry name which also describes the concepts.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334205282_The_Origin_of_the_Porphyry_Deposit_Name_From_Shellfish_Tyrian_Purple_Dye_and_Imperial_Rome_to_the_World's_Largest_Copper_Deposits

Refer to the article shared by Stewart D. Redwood , "The term was first used by W. H. Emmons in his 1918 textbook The Principles of Economic Geology, but it was originally used more as an engineering and economic description, as in Parsons’ 1933 book The Porphyry Coppers", could be a clear clue to the concept and as well the term Porphyry used. hu Yongbin Inayat Ullah

Certainly before 1971. At that time I was getting ready to do my field work for my thesis on a porphyry copper deposit. Had to review the literature on "porphyry coppers" which was quite a lot at that time.

The term "porphyry" has a lot of history, too.

In ancient times, it was the "porphyry industry" by the Phoenicians: purple or red paint recovered from sea shells. Porphyritic rocks with some colour (green, red or purple), were in huge demand in construction of ancient Greek temples and later the first Christian churches. There was only one deposit of purple porphyry rock in the middle of the Egyptian desert. Long story...