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Abstract

The San Francisco de los Andes breccia-hosted deposit (Frontal Cordillera, Argentina) is characterized by complex Bi-Cu-Pb-Zn-Mo-As-Fe-Ag-Au mineralization. After magmatichydrothermal brecciation, tourmaline and quartz partially cemented open spaces, followed by quiescent periods where Bi-Cu-Pb-Zn ore formed. Bismuth ore precipitation is characterized by Bi-sulfides, sulfosalts, and tellurosulfide inclusions, which temporally co-exist with Ag-telluride inclusions and chalcopyrite. Three distinct Bi mineralizing stages have been defined based on the following mineral assemblages: (1) Bismuthinite (tetradymite–hessite inclusions); (2) Bismuthinite (tetradymite–hessite inclusions) + cosalite (tetradymite inclusions) + chalcopyrite; and (3) Cosalite (tetradymite inclusions) + chalcopyrite. Overall, Ag-poor bismuthinite hosts both Bi-tellurosulfide and Ag-telluride inclusions, whereas Ag-rich cosalite only hosts tetradymite inclusions.In this study, we discuss the effects of temperature, pressure, vapor saturation, salinity, acidity/alkalinity, and redox conditions on Bi-rich mineralizing fluids. Evolving hydrothermal fluid compositions are derived from detailed paragenetic, analytical, and previous fluid inclusion studies. Based on trace minerals that co-precipitated during Bi ore formation, mineral chemistry, and quartz geothermobarometry, a thermodynamic model for bismuth species was constructed. Sulfur and tellurium fugacities during Bi-ore precipitation were constrained for the three mineralizing stages at a constant pressure of 1 kbar under minimum and maximum temperatures of 230 and 400 °C, respectively. We infer that Te was transported preferentially in a volatile-rich phase. Given that Te solubility is expected to be low in chloride-rich hydrothermal fluids, telluride and tellurosulfide inclusions are interpreted to have condensed from magmatically-derived volatile tellurium (e.g., Te2(g) or H2Te(g)) into deep-seated, dense, metal-rich brines. Tellurium minerals in the hydrothermal breccia cement provide a direct genetic link with the underlying magmatic system. Though the vertical extent of the breccia complex is unknown, the abundance of Te-bearing minerals could potentially increase with depth and not only occur as small telluride inclusions in Bi-minerals. A vertical zoning of Te-minerals could prove to be important for exploration of similar magmatic-hydrothermal brecciapipes and/or dikes.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Testa, F and Zhang, L and Cooke, DR
Keywords:	bismuth, copper, gold, thermodynamic modelling, tourmaline breccia, magmatic-hydrothermal breccias, bismuth mineralization, thermodynamic model, bismuth and tellurium fugacities, San Francisco de los Andes, Frontal Cordillera, San Juan, Argentina
Journal or Publication Title:	Minerals
Publisher:	MDPIAG
ISSN:	2075-163X
DOI / ID Number:	10.3390/min8110486
Copyright Information:	Copyright 2018 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Related URLs:	UTAS Profile: Zhang, L UTAS Profile: Cooke, DR
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