ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2173-3460
Current Organisations
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
,
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
,
James Cook University
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Publisher: Society of Economic Geologists
Date: 28-12-2021
DOI: 10.5382/ECONGEO.4806
Abstract: The Early Permian Lizzie Creek Volcanic Group of the northern Bowen Basin, NE Queensland, Australia, has compositions that range from basalt through andesite to rhyolite with geochemical signatures (e.g., enrichment in Cs, Rb, Ba, U, Th, and Pb, depletion in Nb and Ta) that are typical of arc lavas. In the Mount Carlton district the Lizzie Creek Volcanic Group is host to high-sulfidation epithermal Cu-Au-Ag mineralization, whereas farther to the south near Collinsville (~50 km from Mount Carlton) these volcanic sequences are barren of magmatic-related mineralization. Here, we assess whether geochemical indicators of magma fertility (e.g., Sr/Y, La/Yb, V/Sc) can be applied to volcanic rocks through study of coeval volcanic sequences from these two locations. The two volcanic suites share similar petrographic and major element geochemical characteristics, and both have undergone appreciable hydrothermal alteration during, or after, emplacement. Nevertheless, the two suites have distinct differences in alteration-immobile trace element (V, Sc, Zr, Ti, REE, Y) concentrations. The unmineralized suite has relatively low V/Sc and La/Yb, particularly in the high SiO2 rocks, which is related to magma evolution dominated by fractionation of clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and magnetite. By contrast, the mineralized suite has relatively high V/Sc but includes high SiO2 rocks with depleted HREE and Y contents, and hence high La/Yb. These trends are interpreted to reflect magma evolution under high magmatic H2O conditions leading to enhanced hibole crystallization and suppressed plagioclase and magnetite crystallization. These rocks have somewhat elevated Sr/Y compared to the unmineralized suite, but as Sr is likely affected by hydrothermal mobility, Sr/Y is not considered to be a reliable indicator of magmatic conditions. Our data show that geochemical proxies such as V/Sc and La/Yb that are used to assess Cu-Au fertility of porphyry intrusions can also be applied to cogenetic volcanic sequences, provided elemental trends with fractionation can be assessed for a volcanic suite. These geochemical tools may aid regional-scale exploration for Cu-Au mineralization in convergent margin terranes, especially in areas that have undergone limited exhumation or where epithermal and porphyry mineralization may be buried beneath cogenetic volcanic successions.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 23-11-2022
DOI: 10.3390/MIN12121488
Abstract: The aim of this work is to investigate the causes of the El Descargador tailings dam failure, at the mine district Cartagena–La Unión (SE Spain), in October 1963. Dam stability back analyses have been carried out by applying a geotechnical and geophysical approach. The failure occurred in the form of several landslides in five different points along the dam structure. The rise in the pore pressure and the steeped slopes of the tails, scaling up to 40° in some sectors, were the main causal preparatory factors. Here we propose that static liquefaction is the most plausible cause of the tailings dam flow failure. The presence of sand dikes and sand volcanoes with atypical stratigraphic architecture, both in the lagoon and at the surfaces exposed in the landslide areas, as well as the evidence of conspicuous sand fraction on the surface support the occurrence of the liquefaction processes. Major landslides were located near the drainage pipe and the flow directions were controlled by its position. Our results reveal that the liquefaction processes were triggered and aggravated by the poor drainage capability of the tailings dam structure.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2023
Publisher: Society of Economic Geologists
Date: 28-12-2021
DOI: 10.5382/ECONGEO.4776
Abstract: Cerro Quema is a high-sulfidation epithermal Au-Cu deposit located in the Azuero Peninsula, southwestern Panama. It is hosted by a dacite dome complex of the Río Quema Formation, a volcano-sedimentary sequence of the Panamanian Cretaceous-Paleogene magmatic arc. Cerro Quema has oxide resources of 24.60 Mt at 0.71 g/t Au and 0.04% Cu, and sulfide resources of 11.38 Mt at 0.41 g/t Au and 0.31% Cu. Alunite 40Ar/39Ar dating of a s le from Cerro Quema yielded a final age of 48.8 ± 2.2 Ma (weighted average of plateau age) and 49.2 ± 3.3 Ma (weighted average of total gas age). This age is interpreted to represent the formational age of the Cerro Quema deposit at ~49 Ma, linking it to the Valle Rico batholith intrusive event. Based on the new alunite 40Ar/39Ar data and a reexamination of published geochronological data, magmatic-hydrothermal deposits such as the Río Pito porphyry copper and the Cerro Quema high-sulfidation epithermal deposit formed during the early arc stage (68–40 Ma) in the Chagres-Bayano arc (eastern Panama) and the Soná-Azuero arc (western Panama), respectively. They formed in a similar geodynamic setting at ~49 Ma, when diorites and quartz-diorites intruded Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary sequences. Cerro Quema and Río Pito provide evidence for the exploration potential of Cretaceous-Paleogene arc segments. Exploration should focus on Cretaceous volcanic and volcano-sedimentary sequences intruded by Paleogene batholiths of intermediate to felsic composition.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-02-2020
Publisher: Society of Economic Geologists
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.5382/ECONGEO.4696
Abstract: The Mt. Carlton Au-Ag-Cu deposit, northern Bowen basin, northeastern Australia, is an uncommon ex le of a sublacustrine hydrothermal system containing economic high-sulfidation epithermal mineralization. The deposit formed in the early Permian and comprises vein- and hydrothermal breccia-hosted Au-Cu mineralization within a massive rhyodacite porphyry (V2 open pit) and stratabound Ag-barite mineralization within volcano-lacustrine sedimentary rocks (A39 open pit). These orebodies are all associated with extensive advanced argillic alteration of the volcanic host rocks. Stable isotope data for disseminated alunite (δ34S = 6.3–29.2‰ δ18OSO4 = –0.1 to 9.8‰ δ18OOH = –15.3 to –3.4‰ δD = –102 to –79‰) and pyrite (δ34S = –8.8 to –2.7‰), and void-filling anhydrite (δ34S = 17.2–19.2‰ δ18OSO4 = 1.8–5.7‰), suggest that early advanced argillic alteration formed within a magmatic-hydrothermal system. The ascending magmatic vapor (δ34SΣS ≈ –1.3‰) was absorbed by meteoric water (~50–60% meteoric component), producing an acidic (pH ≈ 1) condensate that formed a silicic → quartz-alunite → quartz-dickite-kaolinite zoned alteration halo with increasing distance from feeder structures. The oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions of alunite-forming fluids at Mt. Carlton are lighter than those documented at similar deposits elsewhere, probably due to the high paleolatitude (~S60°) of northeastern Australia in the early Permian. Veins of coarse-grained, banded plumose alunite (δ34S = 0.4– 7.0‰ δ18OSO4 = 2.3–6.0‰ δ18OOH = –10.3 to –2.9‰ δD = –106 to –93‰) formed within feeder structures during the final stages of advanced argillic alteration. Epithermal mineralization was deposited subsequently, initially as fracture- and fissure-filling, Au-Cu–rich assemblages within feeder structures at depth. As the mineralizing fluids discharged into lakes, they produced syngenetic Ag-barite ore. Isotope data for ore-related sulfides and sulfosalts (δ34S = –15.0 to –3.0‰) and barite (δ34S = 22.3–23.8‰ δ18OSO4 = –0.2 to 1.3‰), and microthermometric data for primary fluid inclusions in barite (Th = 116°– 233°C 0.0–1.7 wt % NaCl), are consistent with metal deposition at temperatures of ~200 ± 40°C (for Au-Cu mineralization in V2 pit) and ~150 ± 30°C (Ag mineralization in A39 pit) from a low-salinity, sulfur- and metal-rich magmatic-hydrothermal liquid that mixed with vapor-heated meteoric water. The mineralizing fluids initially had a high-sulfidation state, producing enargite-dominated ore with associated silicification of the early-altered wall rock. With time, the fluids evolved to an intermediate-sulfidation state, depositing sphalerite- and tennantite-dominated ore mineral assemblages. Void-filling massive dickite (δ18O = –1.1 to 2.1‰ δD = –121 to –103‰) with pyrite was deposited from an increasingly diluted magmatic-hydrothermal liquid (≥70% meteoric component) exsolved from a progressively degassed magma. Gypsum (δ34S = 11.4–19.2‰ δ18OSO4 = 0.5–3.4‰) occurs in veins within postmineralization faults and fracture networks, likely derived from early anhydrite that was dissolved by circulating meteoric water during extensional deformation. This process may explain the apparent scarcity of hypogene anhydrite in lithocaps elsewhere. While the Mt. Carlton system is similar to those that form subaerial high-sulfidation epithermal deposits, it also shares several key characteristics with magmatic-hydrothermal systems that form base and precious metal mineralization in shallow-submarine volcanic arc and back-arc settings. The lacustrine paleosurface features documented at Mt. Carlton may be useful as exploration indicators for concealed epithermal mineralization in similar extensional terranes elsewhere.
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.2113/GSSGFBULL.184.1-2.35
Abstract: The Azuero Peninsula, located in SW Panama, is a region characterized by a long-lived intra-oceanic subduction zone. Volcanism began in Late Cretaceous time, as the result of subduction of the Farallon plate beneath the Caribbean plate. Usually, ancient volcanic arcs related to intra-oceanic subduction zones are not preserved, because they are in areas with difficult access or covered by modern volcanic arc material. However, on the Azuero peninsula, a complete section of the volcanic arc together with arc basement rocks provides the opportunity to study the sedimentation and volcanism in the initial stages of volcanic arc development. The lithostratigraphic unit which records fore-arc evolution is the “Río Quema” Formation (RQF), a volcanic apron composed of volcanic and volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks interbedded with hemipelagic limestones, submarine dacite lava domes, and intruded by basaltic-andesitic dikes. The “Río Quema” Formation, interpreted as a fore-arc basin infilling sequence, lies discordantly on top of arc basement rocks. The exceptionally well exposed arc basement, fore-arc basin, volcanic arc rocks and arc-related intrusive rocks provide an unusual opportunity to study the relationship between volcanism, sedimentation and magmatism during the arc development, with the objective to reconstruct its evolution. The “Río Quema” Formation can be ided into three groups: 1) proximal apron, a sequence dominated by lava flows, interbedded with breccias, mass flows and channel fill, all intruded by basaltic dikes. The rocks represent the nearest materials to the volcanic source, reflecting a coarse sediment supply. This depositional environment is similar to gravel-rich fan deltas and submarine r s 2) medial apron, characterized by a volcanosedimentary succession dominated by andesitic lava flows, polymictic volcanic conglomerates and crystal-rich sandstones with minor pelagic sediments and turbidites. These rocks were deposited from high-density turbidity currents and debris flows, directly derived from erupted material and gravitational collapse of an unstable volcanic edifice or volcaniclastic apron 3) distal apron, a thick succession of sandy to muddy volcaniclastic rocks, interbedded with pelagic limestones and minor andesitic lavas, intruded by dacite domes and by basaltic to andesitic dikes. Bedforms and fossils suggest a quiet, relatively deep-water environment characterized by settling of clay and silt (claystone, siltstone) and by dilute turbidity currents of reworked volcaniclastic detritus. The timing of the initial stages of the volcanic arc has been constrained through a biostratigraphic study, using planktonic foraminifera and radiolarian species. The fossil assemblage indicates that the age of the “Río Quema” Formation ranges from Late C anian to Maastrichtian, providing a good constraint for the development of the volcanic arc and volcaniclastic apron, during the initial stages of an intra-oceanic subduction zone.
Publisher: Sociedad Geologica Mexicana
Date: 10-07-2018
Publisher: Society of Economic Geologists
Date: 12-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2017
Publisher: Schweizerbart
Date: 12-2017
Publisher: Sociedad Geologica Mexicana
Date: 04-2021
DOI: 10.18268/BSGM2021V73N1A121220
Abstract: The Cerro Quema Au-Cu deposit is hosted by a dacite dome complex of the Río Quema Formation, a Late C anian-Maastrichtian volcano-sedimentary sequence of the Panamanian magmatic arc. Its formational age is constrained at ~49 Ma by field evidences, crosscutting relationships and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology (Corral et al., 2016, Corral, 2021). The recent molybdenite Re-Os dates by Perelló et al. (2020) claim that ore is spatially and temporally related to the host volcanic domes at ~71 Ma. After a thorough review of the geologic, geochemical and geochronological data from the Cerro Quema area, it is concluded that the Re-Os dates of Perelló et al. (2020) are not representative of the Cerro Quema formational age. Their proposed formational age at ~71 Ma is significantly older than the age of the host rock (~67 Ma). Furthermore, they invoke a previously unrecognized regional-scale magmatic event solely based on their molybdenite Re-Os dates. Instead, the Cerro Quema genetic model discussed here, in which magmatic-hydrothermal fluids derived from porphyry copper-like intrusions associated with the Valle Rico batholith produced the Au-Cu mineralization at ~49 Ma, is consistent with the geology, geochemistry and geochronology of the Azuero Peninsula.
Publisher: Society of Economic Geologists
Date: 22-02-2016
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 05-11-2017
DOI: 10.3390/MIN7110213
Abstract: Germanium, gallium and indium are in high demand due to their growing usage in high-tech and green-tech applications. However, the mineralogy and the mechanisms of concentration of these critical elements in different types of hydrothermal ore deposits remain poorly constrained. We investigated the mineralogical distribution of Ge, Ga and In at the Mt Carlton high-sulfidation epithermal deposit in NE Australia, using electron probe microanalysis and laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Parageneses from which selected minerals were analyzed include: Stage 1 acid sulfate alteration (alunite), Stage 2A high-sulfidation enargite mineralization (enargite, argyrodite, sphalerite, pyrite, barite), Stage 2B intermediate-sulfidation sphalerite mineralization (sphalerite, pyrite, galena) and Stage 3 hydrothermal void fill (dickite). Moderate to locally high concentrations of Ga were measured in Stage 1 alunite (up to 339 ppm) and in Stage 3 dickite (up to 150 ppm). The Stage 2A ores show enrichment in Ge, which is primarily associated with argyrodite (up to 6.95 wt % Ge) and Ge-bearing enargite (up to 2189 ppm Ge). Co-existing sphalerite has comparatively low Ge content (up to 143 ppm), while Ga (up to 1181 ppm) and In (up to 571 ppm) are higher. Sphalerite in Stage 2B contains up to 611 ppm Ge, 2829 ppm Ga and 2169 ppm In, and locally exhibits fine colloform bands of an uncharacterized Zn-In mineral with compositions close to CuZn2(In,Ga)S4. Barite, pyrite and galena which occur in association with Stage 2 mineralization were found to play negligible roles as carriers of Ge, Ga and In at Mt Carlton. Analyzed reference s les of enargite from seven similar deposits worldwide have average Ge concentrations ranging from 12 to 717 ppm (maximum 2679 ppm). The deposits from which s les showed high enrichment in critical elements in this study are all hosted in stratigraphic sequences that locally contain carbonaceous sedimentary rocks. In addition to magmatic-hydrothermal processes, such rocks could potentially be important for the concentration of critical elements in high-sulfidation epithermal deposits.
No related grants have been discovered for Isaac Corral.