The magmatic–hydrothermal evolution of the San Pedro porphyry Cu‐(Mo) deposit: Implications for the metallogenesis of the Permian magmatism in the western margin of Gondwana

• Published in: Resource geology 2021-04, Vol.71 (2), p.93-104
• Main Authors: Gómez, Anabel Lina Rosina, Ulrich, Thomas, Rubinstein, Nora Alicia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Argentina; Copper; deposit; Dilution; Economics; Evolution; Fluid inclusions; Fluids; Gondwana; Hydrothermal systems; LA‐ICP‐MS; Magma; Massifs; Metallogenesis; Mineralization; Molybdenum; Permian; Physicochemical processes; Porphyry copper; Rocks; San Pedro porphyry; Signatures; Sodium chloride; Temperature; Trace elements; Yttrium
• ISSN: 1344-1698; 1751-3928
• DOI: 10.1111/rge.12251

The San Pedro porphyry Cu‐(Mo) deposit, located in the San Rafael Massif (Argentina), is characterized by multiple stockwork vein generations developed in a subvolcanic intrusion with porphyry‐type alteration and mineralization, as well as associated polymetallic veins. Previous works reveal that the intrusive rocks related to the San Pedro porphyry (263 Ma) show comparable trace element signatures to giant porphyry deposits elsewhere (i.e., high Sr/Y and low Y). The fluid inclusions investigated in this study show that typical early, high‐temperature magmatic fluids (up to 685°C; 81.3 wt% equiv. NaCl) evolved to lower‐temperature, moderately saline fluids (up to 454°C; 52.4 wt% equiv. NaCl) due to fluid–rock interaction. The waning stage of the system is characterized by secondary, aqueous inclusions that represent dilution by meteoric fluids (up to 390°C, 16.9 wt% equiv. NaCl). Fluid inclusions were studied from two veinlet generations (A and B veinlets) related to potassic alteration and analyzed by LA‐ICP‐MS. The trace element signatures in the fluid inclusions suggest that there were two pulses of magmatic fluids that subsequently evolved under similar physicochemical conditions. The Cu concentration in the earliest fluid is between 0.3 and 0.85 wt% and within the concentrations found in other mineralized porphyry systems in the world. However, in contrast to economic porphyry systems, where a significant change in Cu concentration during fluid evolution is observed, there is no distinct change in the fluid Cu concentration at the San Pedro deposit, which would indicate that Cu and Mo precipitation was ineffective in the hydrothermal system. The gondwanic low‐grade San Pedro porphyry is linked to arc adakitic magma. The favorable tectomagmatic scenario is not enough to form an economic deposit. The hydrothermal processes did not work effectively in the gondwanic porphyries.