The Miocene epithermal mineralization of the Quevar Stratovolcan Complex, Salta

Abstract

The epithermal system of the Incahuasi Valley contains the three Ag-Pb-Zn mines of Vince, Armonía and Quespejahuar. They are located on the SW side of the Quevar Stratovolcan Complex, in the Puna, NW Argentina, and covers approx. 1500 km². The geology of the region includes a variety of lithologic units varying in age from the Precambric to present. During the Upper Miocene K-rich dacitic to andesitic volcanism occured along major NW-SE trending wrench corridors (Calama- Olacapato-El Toro lineament) in the form of huge caldera eruptions (ignimbrite sheets) followed by large stratovolcanoes (e.g. Quevar). The mining area in the Incahuasi valley consists of a succession of (rhyo) dacites and andesites where the Main Dacite acts as the host-rock for all ore assemblages. The approximately 50 km² alteration zone on the SW flank of the Quevar Stratovolcan Complex crops out over a vertical distance of 1000 m. The mineralization occurs as veinlets, irregular bodies and disseminations in the host rock. Two main ore forming stages can be distinguished. The earlier one is characterized by a very complex variety of mostly fine grained Ag sulfides and sulfosalts located in the western end of the Armonía mine which is situated within a strongly silicified vuggy breccia dyke. These ore minerals have a strongly varying semi-metal content. The later ore forming stage is developed all along the creek and is regarded as a Pb-Zn-Sb assemblage. The ore mineralogy may correspond to the most southern part of the Ag-Sn metallogeneticprovince of Bolivia.