Os Depósitos de Cu-Au-Mo do tipo pórfiro de Bajo de La Alumbrera e Água Rica, Argentina : considerações genéticas sobre formação e fonte de minério

AUTOR(ES)
FONTE

IBICT - Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2011

RESUMO

The world-class deposits of Bajo de la Alumbrera and Agua Rica in NW Argentina, are of the Cu-Au-Mo porphyry type (although Agua Rica has some epithermal characteristics). Both deposits are closely related to the activities and formation processes of the Miocene Farallón Negro Volcanic Complex. They are also controlled by the Tucuman Transfer Zone, which is a regional NE¿SW lineament related to a change in the subduction angle of the Nazca Plate. The Bajo de la Alumbrera deposit is related to the formation and evolution of this volcanic complex and is approximately 3-3.5 Ma older than the Agua Rica deposit. The Agua Rica deposit, although it is associated with the final events in this complex, also has epithermal features. Whole rock and sulfide mineralization were investigated on Pb, Sr and Nd isotopes to characterize the sources of magma and mineralization of both deposits and to establish their metalogenetic evolution and associations. Sr and ¿Nd data made it possible to divide the samples into three distinct groups; however, most samples are slightly differentiated, have OIB (Ocean Island Basalts) isotope characteristics, and present some Nd fractionation. Pb isotopes are applied to WR and sulfides and provide a better correlation between the deposits. Pb data also shows distinct groups for these samples with an enrichment trend in radiogenic lead. In both cases, the sulfides are more radiogenic than the host rocks but are clearly related to them because they also form a trend. A diorite sample from the Agua Rica deposit is within the same radiogenic group as the Bajo de la Alumbrera WR samples, and its sulfide is also in the same group as the Bajo de la Alumbrera sulfide samples. These data show a genetic relationship between these two important deposits. The results could provide a clue to a better understanding of porphyry and epithermal relations.

ASSUNTO(S)

argentina geoquímica geologia isotópica

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