We investigate the geology of Altar North(Cu-Au) and Quebrada de la Mina(Au) porphyry deposits located in San Juan Province(Argentina), close to the large Altar porphyry copper deposit(995 Mt,0.35% Cu, 0.083 g/t Au), ...We investigate the geology of Altar North(Cu-Au) and Quebrada de la Mina(Au) porphyry deposits located in San Juan Province(Argentina), close to the large Altar porphyry copper deposit(995 Mt,0.35% Cu, 0.083 g/t Au), to present constraints on the magmatic processes that occurred in the parental magma chambers of these magmatic-hydrothermal systems. Altar North deposit comprises a plagioclase-amphibole-phyric dacite intrusion(Altar North barren porphyry) and a plagioclaseamphibole-biotite-phyric dacite stock(Altar North mineralized porphyry, 11.98 ± 0.19 Ma). In Quebrada de la Mina, a plagioclase-amphibole-biotite-quartz-phyric dacite stock(QDM porphyry,11.91±0.33 Ma) crops out. High Sr/Y ratios(92-142) and amphibole compositions of Altar North barren and QDM porphyries reflect high magmatic oxidation states(fO_2= NNO+1.1 to+1.6) and high fH_2O conditions in their magmas. Zones and rims enriched in anorthite(An_(37-48))), SrO(0.22-0.33 wt.%)and FeO(0.21-0.37 wt.%) in plagioclase phenocrysts are evidences of magmatic recharge processes in the magma chambers. Altar North and Quebrada de la Mina intrusions have relatively homogeneous isotopic compositions(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr_(t)= 0.70450-0.70466, ε_(ND)(t) = +0.2 to +1.2) consistent with mixed mantle and crust contributions in their magmas. Higher Pb isotopes ratios(^(207)Pb/^(204)Pb=15.6276-15.6294) of these intrusions compared to other porphyries of the district, reflect an increase in the assimilation of high radiogenic Pb components in the magmas. Ages of zircon xenocrysts(297,210,204,69 Ma) revealed that the magmas have experienced assimilation of Miocene, Cretaceous, Triassic and Carboniferous crustal rocks.Fluids that precipitated sulfides in the Altar deposit may have remobilized Pb from the host rocks, as indicated by the ore minerals being more radiogenic(207Pb/204 Pb = 15.6243-15.6269) than their host intrusions. Au/Cu ratio in Altar porphyries(average Au/Cu ratio of 0.14 ×10^(-4)by weight in Altar Central)is higher than in the giant Miocene porphyry deposits located to the south: Los Pelambres, Rio Blanco and Los Bronces(Chile) and Pachon(Argentina). We suggest that the increase in Au content in the porphyries of this region could be linked to the assimilation of high radiogenic Pb components in the magmas within these long-lived maturation systems.展开更多
基金financed by CONICET(PIP 330)Universidad Nacional del Comahue (PIN 4-1-209)Minera Peregrine Argentina S.A.-Stillwater Mining Company
文摘We investigate the geology of Altar North(Cu-Au) and Quebrada de la Mina(Au) porphyry deposits located in San Juan Province(Argentina), close to the large Altar porphyry copper deposit(995 Mt,0.35% Cu, 0.083 g/t Au), to present constraints on the magmatic processes that occurred in the parental magma chambers of these magmatic-hydrothermal systems. Altar North deposit comprises a plagioclase-amphibole-phyric dacite intrusion(Altar North barren porphyry) and a plagioclaseamphibole-biotite-phyric dacite stock(Altar North mineralized porphyry, 11.98 ± 0.19 Ma). In Quebrada de la Mina, a plagioclase-amphibole-biotite-quartz-phyric dacite stock(QDM porphyry,11.91±0.33 Ma) crops out. High Sr/Y ratios(92-142) and amphibole compositions of Altar North barren and QDM porphyries reflect high magmatic oxidation states(fO_2= NNO+1.1 to+1.6) and high fH_2O conditions in their magmas. Zones and rims enriched in anorthite(An_(37-48))), SrO(0.22-0.33 wt.%)and FeO(0.21-0.37 wt.%) in plagioclase phenocrysts are evidences of magmatic recharge processes in the magma chambers. Altar North and Quebrada de la Mina intrusions have relatively homogeneous isotopic compositions(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr_(t)= 0.70450-0.70466, ε_(ND)(t) = +0.2 to +1.2) consistent with mixed mantle and crust contributions in their magmas. Higher Pb isotopes ratios(^(207)Pb/^(204)Pb=15.6276-15.6294) of these intrusions compared to other porphyries of the district, reflect an increase in the assimilation of high radiogenic Pb components in the magmas. Ages of zircon xenocrysts(297,210,204,69 Ma) revealed that the magmas have experienced assimilation of Miocene, Cretaceous, Triassic and Carboniferous crustal rocks.Fluids that precipitated sulfides in the Altar deposit may have remobilized Pb from the host rocks, as indicated by the ore minerals being more radiogenic(207Pb/204 Pb = 15.6243-15.6269) than their host intrusions. Au/Cu ratio in Altar porphyries(average Au/Cu ratio of 0.14 ×10^(-4)by weight in Altar Central)is higher than in the giant Miocene porphyry deposits located to the south: Los Pelambres, Rio Blanco and Los Bronces(Chile) and Pachon(Argentina). We suggest that the increase in Au content in the porphyries of this region could be linked to the assimilation of high radiogenic Pb components in the magmas within these long-lived maturation systems.
