Formation of giant iron oxide-copper-gold deposits by superimposed episodic hydrothermal pulses

Irene del Real; Martin Reich; Adam C. Simon; Artur Deditius; Fernando Barra; María A. Rodríguez-Mustafa; John F. H. Thompson; Malcolm P. Roberts

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-37713-w

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Formation of giant iron oxide-copper-gold deposits by superimposed episodic hydrothermal pulses

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Formation of giant iron oxide-copper-gold deposits by superimposed episodic hydrothermal pulses

Irene del Real, Martin Reich, Adam C. Simon, Artur Deditius, Fernando Barra, María A. Rodríguez-Mustafa, John F. H. Thompson and Malcolm P. Roberts

Scientific reports, Vol.13(1), 12041

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37713-w

PMID: 37491481

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Abstract

Economic geology

Geochemistry

Solid Earth sciences

Iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposits are a globally important source of copper, gold and critical commodities. Despite their relevance, IOCG deposits remain an ill-defined clan, with a range of characteristics that has complicated development of the general genetic model. Here we focus on the Candelaria IOCG deposit in Chile and reveal that by using micro-textural and compositional variations in actinolite, a common alteration mineral found in many IOCG deposits, we can constrain the evolution of these systems. We demonstrate that Candelaria formed by the superposition of at least two pulses of mineralization with a late Cu-rich event overprinting and superimposed over an early, and probably higher temperature, iron oxide-apatite (IOA) mineralization event. These distinct pulses were likely caused by episodic injections of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids from crystallizing magmas at depth. Our data provide empirical evidence of grain-to-deposit scale compositional and potentially temperature changes in an IOCG system. The results support the use of actinolite chemistry as a novel approach to understand the formation of IOCG deposits and a potential tool for vectoring in exploration.

Details

Title: Formation of giant iron oxide-copper-gold deposits by superimposed episodic hydrothermal pulses
Authors/Creators: Irene del Real - Institute of Earth Sciences, Austral University, Valdivia, Chile Plaza Ercilla 803, Santiago, Chile
Martin Reich - Austral University
Adam C. Simon - University of Michigan
Artur Deditius - Murdoch University, Centre for Water, Energy and Waste
Fernando Barra - Austral University
María A. Rodríguez-Mustafa - Ann Arbor, MI USA
John F. H. Thompson - PetraScience Consultants, 3995 West 24th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6S 1M1 Canada
Malcolm P. Roberts - Perth, WA 6009 Australia
Publication Details: Scientific reports, Vol.13(1), 12041
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK
Grant note: 3200532; 1190105 / ; 1924142 / ;
Identifiers: 991005595770307891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Physics; Centre for Water, Energy and Waste
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 8 Earth Sciences; 8.8 Geochemistry, Geophysics & Geology; 8.8.1 Geochemical Petrogenesis
Web Of Science research areas: Geochemistry & Geophysics
ESI research areas: Geosciences