Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina

Autores
Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia; Heinrich, Christoph A.
Año de publicación
2016
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Alto de la Blenda is a ∼6.6-Ma intermediate-sulphidation epithermal vein system in the Farallón Negro Volcanic Complex, which also hosts the 7.1-Ma porphyry–Cu–Au deposit of Bajo de la Alumbrera. The epithermal vein system is characterised by a large extent and continuity (2 km × 400 m open to depth × 6 m maximum width) and an average gold grade of ∼8 g/t. The vein is best developed within an intrusion of a fine-grained equigranular monzonite, interpreted as the central conduit of a stratovolcano whose extrusive activity ended prior to porphyry–Cu–Au emplacement at Bajo de la Alumbrera, which is in turn cut by minor epithermal veins. The Alto de la Blenda vein consists predominantly of variably Mn-rich carbonates and quartz, with a few percent of pyrite, sphalerite, galena and other sulphide and sulphosalt minerals. Four phases of vein opening, hydrothermal mineralisation and repeated brecciation can be correlated between different vein segments. Stages 2 and 3 contain the greatest fraction of sulphide and gold. They are separated by the emplacement of a polymictic breccia containing clasts of quartz feldspar porphyry as well as basement rocks. Fluid inclusions in quartz related to stages 2 to 4 are liquid rich with 2–4 wt% NaCl(eq). They homogenise between 160 and 300 °C, with very consistent values within each assemblage. Vapour inclusions are practically absent in the epithermal vein. Quartz fragments in the polymictic breccia contain inclusions of intermediate to vapour-like density and similar low salinity (∼3 wt% NaCl(eq)), besides rare brine inclusions containing halite. Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) analyses of epithermal inclusions indicate high concentrations of K, Fe, As, Sb, Cs, and Pb that significantly vary within and through subsequent vein stages. Careful consideration of detection limits for individual inclusions shows high gold concentrations of ∼0.5 to 3 ppm dissolved in the ore fluid, which contains variably high sulphur concentrations in excess over Fe and other chalcophile metals. Compositional variations are interpreted to reflect cooling and contraction of lower-density magmatic fluids at depth, like those preserved in porphyry clasts that were mechanically transported up by the polymictic breccia. Ore mineral precipitation from the magmatic fluid occurred by further cooling and possibly minor mixing with surface-derived water, leading to sulphide saturation, de-sulphidation of the magmatic fluid and consequent gold precipitation. The absence of flash boiling and/or reduction by carbonaceous host rocks has led to relatively modest but constant gold grades in the carbonate–base metal–gold veins of Alto de la Blenda.
Fil: Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina
Fil: Heinrich, Christoph A.. No especifíca;
Materia
ALTO DE LA BLENDA
EPITHERMAL
FARALLÓN NEGRO VOLCANIC COMPLEX
FLUID EVOLUTION
GOLD
LA–ICP–MS
ORE MINERALOGY
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/182731

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network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, ArgentinaMarquez Zavalia, Maria FlorenciaHeinrich, Christoph A.ALTO DE LA BLENDAEPITHERMALFARALLÓN NEGRO VOLCANIC COMPLEXFLUID EVOLUTIONGOLDLA–ICP–MSORE MINERALOGYhttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1Alto de la Blenda is a ∼6.6-Ma intermediate-sulphidation epithermal vein system in the Farallón Negro Volcanic Complex, which also hosts the 7.1-Ma porphyry–Cu–Au deposit of Bajo de la Alumbrera. The epithermal vein system is characterised by a large extent and continuity (2 km × 400 m open to depth × 6 m maximum width) and an average gold grade of ∼8 g/t. The vein is best developed within an intrusion of a fine-grained equigranular monzonite, interpreted as the central conduit of a stratovolcano whose extrusive activity ended prior to porphyry–Cu–Au emplacement at Bajo de la Alumbrera, which is in turn cut by minor epithermal veins. The Alto de la Blenda vein consists predominantly of variably Mn-rich carbonates and quartz, with a few percent of pyrite, sphalerite, galena and other sulphide and sulphosalt minerals. Four phases of vein opening, hydrothermal mineralisation and repeated brecciation can be correlated between different vein segments. Stages 2 and 3 contain the greatest fraction of sulphide and gold. They are separated by the emplacement of a polymictic breccia containing clasts of quartz feldspar porphyry as well as basement rocks. Fluid inclusions in quartz related to stages 2 to 4 are liquid rich with 2–4 wt% NaCl(eq). They homogenise between 160 and 300 °C, with very consistent values within each assemblage. Vapour inclusions are practically absent in the epithermal vein. Quartz fragments in the polymictic breccia contain inclusions of intermediate to vapour-like density and similar low salinity (∼3 wt% NaCl(eq)), besides rare brine inclusions containing halite. Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) analyses of epithermal inclusions indicate high concentrations of K, Fe, As, Sb, Cs, and Pb that significantly vary within and through subsequent vein stages. Careful consideration of detection limits for individual inclusions shows high gold concentrations of ∼0.5 to 3 ppm dissolved in the ore fluid, which contains variably high sulphur concentrations in excess over Fe and other chalcophile metals. Compositional variations are interpreted to reflect cooling and contraction of lower-density magmatic fluids at depth, like those preserved in porphyry clasts that were mechanically transported up by the polymictic breccia. Ore mineral precipitation from the magmatic fluid occurred by further cooling and possibly minor mixing with surface-derived water, leading to sulphide saturation, de-sulphidation of the magmatic fluid and consequent gold precipitation. The absence of flash boiling and/or reduction by carbonaceous host rocks has led to relatively modest but constant gold grades in the carbonate–base metal–gold veins of Alto de la Blenda.Fil: Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Heinrich, Christoph A.. No especifíca;Springer2016-10info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/182731Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia; Heinrich, Christoph A.; Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina; Springer; Mineralium Deposita; 51; 7; 10-2016; 873-9020026-4598CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00126-016-0639-yinfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1007/s00126-016-0639-yinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-09-29T09:47:31Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/182731instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-09-29 09:47:32.128CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina
title Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina
spellingShingle Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina
Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia
ALTO DE LA BLENDA
EPITHERMAL
FARALLÓN NEGRO VOLCANIC COMPLEX
FLUID EVOLUTION
GOLD
LA–ICP–MS
ORE MINERALOGY
title_short Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina
title_full Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina
title_fullStr Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina
title_full_unstemmed Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina
title_sort Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia
Heinrich, Christoph A.
author Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia
author_facet Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia
Heinrich, Christoph A.
author_role author
author2 Heinrich, Christoph A.
author2_role author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv ALTO DE LA BLENDA
EPITHERMAL
FARALLÓN NEGRO VOLCANIC COMPLEX
FLUID EVOLUTION
GOLD
LA–ICP–MS
ORE MINERALOGY
topic ALTO DE LA BLENDA
EPITHERMAL
FARALLÓN NEGRO VOLCANIC COMPLEX
FLUID EVOLUTION
GOLD
LA–ICP–MS
ORE MINERALOGY
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Alto de la Blenda is a ∼6.6-Ma intermediate-sulphidation epithermal vein system in the Farallón Negro Volcanic Complex, which also hosts the 7.1-Ma porphyry–Cu–Au deposit of Bajo de la Alumbrera. The epithermal vein system is characterised by a large extent and continuity (2 km × 400 m open to depth × 6 m maximum width) and an average gold grade of ∼8 g/t. The vein is best developed within an intrusion of a fine-grained equigranular monzonite, interpreted as the central conduit of a stratovolcano whose extrusive activity ended prior to porphyry–Cu–Au emplacement at Bajo de la Alumbrera, which is in turn cut by minor epithermal veins. The Alto de la Blenda vein consists predominantly of variably Mn-rich carbonates and quartz, with a few percent of pyrite, sphalerite, galena and other sulphide and sulphosalt minerals. Four phases of vein opening, hydrothermal mineralisation and repeated brecciation can be correlated between different vein segments. Stages 2 and 3 contain the greatest fraction of sulphide and gold. They are separated by the emplacement of a polymictic breccia containing clasts of quartz feldspar porphyry as well as basement rocks. Fluid inclusions in quartz related to stages 2 to 4 are liquid rich with 2–4 wt% NaCl(eq). They homogenise between 160 and 300 °C, with very consistent values within each assemblage. Vapour inclusions are practically absent in the epithermal vein. Quartz fragments in the polymictic breccia contain inclusions of intermediate to vapour-like density and similar low salinity (∼3 wt% NaCl(eq)), besides rare brine inclusions containing halite. Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) analyses of epithermal inclusions indicate high concentrations of K, Fe, As, Sb, Cs, and Pb that significantly vary within and through subsequent vein stages. Careful consideration of detection limits for individual inclusions shows high gold concentrations of ∼0.5 to 3 ppm dissolved in the ore fluid, which contains variably high sulphur concentrations in excess over Fe and other chalcophile metals. Compositional variations are interpreted to reflect cooling and contraction of lower-density magmatic fluids at depth, like those preserved in porphyry clasts that were mechanically transported up by the polymictic breccia. Ore mineral precipitation from the magmatic fluid occurred by further cooling and possibly minor mixing with surface-derived water, leading to sulphide saturation, de-sulphidation of the magmatic fluid and consequent gold precipitation. The absence of flash boiling and/or reduction by carbonaceous host rocks has led to relatively modest but constant gold grades in the carbonate–base metal–gold veins of Alto de la Blenda.
Fil: Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina
Fil: Heinrich, Christoph A.. No especifíca;
description Alto de la Blenda is a ∼6.6-Ma intermediate-sulphidation epithermal vein system in the Farallón Negro Volcanic Complex, which also hosts the 7.1-Ma porphyry–Cu–Au deposit of Bajo de la Alumbrera. The epithermal vein system is characterised by a large extent and continuity (2 km × 400 m open to depth × 6 m maximum width) and an average gold grade of ∼8 g/t. The vein is best developed within an intrusion of a fine-grained equigranular monzonite, interpreted as the central conduit of a stratovolcano whose extrusive activity ended prior to porphyry–Cu–Au emplacement at Bajo de la Alumbrera, which is in turn cut by minor epithermal veins. The Alto de la Blenda vein consists predominantly of variably Mn-rich carbonates and quartz, with a few percent of pyrite, sphalerite, galena and other sulphide and sulphosalt minerals. Four phases of vein opening, hydrothermal mineralisation and repeated brecciation can be correlated between different vein segments. Stages 2 and 3 contain the greatest fraction of sulphide and gold. They are separated by the emplacement of a polymictic breccia containing clasts of quartz feldspar porphyry as well as basement rocks. Fluid inclusions in quartz related to stages 2 to 4 are liquid rich with 2–4 wt% NaCl(eq). They homogenise between 160 and 300 °C, with very consistent values within each assemblage. Vapour inclusions are practically absent in the epithermal vein. Quartz fragments in the polymictic breccia contain inclusions of intermediate to vapour-like density and similar low salinity (∼3 wt% NaCl(eq)), besides rare brine inclusions containing halite. Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) analyses of epithermal inclusions indicate high concentrations of K, Fe, As, Sb, Cs, and Pb that significantly vary within and through subsequent vein stages. Careful consideration of detection limits for individual inclusions shows high gold concentrations of ∼0.5 to 3 ppm dissolved in the ore fluid, which contains variably high sulphur concentrations in excess over Fe and other chalcophile metals. Compositional variations are interpreted to reflect cooling and contraction of lower-density magmatic fluids at depth, like those preserved in porphyry clasts that were mechanically transported up by the polymictic breccia. Ore mineral precipitation from the magmatic fluid occurred by further cooling and possibly minor mixing with surface-derived water, leading to sulphide saturation, de-sulphidation of the magmatic fluid and consequent gold precipitation. The absence of flash boiling and/or reduction by carbonaceous host rocks has led to relatively modest but constant gold grades in the carbonate–base metal–gold veins of Alto de la Blenda.
publishDate 2016
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2016-10
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/182731
Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia; Heinrich, Christoph A.; Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina; Springer; Mineralium Deposita; 51; 7; 10-2016; 873-902
0026-4598
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/182731
identifier_str_mv Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia; Heinrich, Christoph A.; Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina; Springer; Mineralium Deposita; 51; 7; 10-2016; 873-902
0026-4598
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00126-016-0639-y
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1007/s00126-016-0639-y
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer
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instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
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instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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