PORACOTA: UNYACIMIENTOEPITERMAL DE ORODE ALTA SULFURACINENEL SURDEL PER

49 49 49 49 49
PORACOTA: UN YACIMIENTO EPITERMAL
DE ORO DE ALTA SULFURACIN
EN EL SUR DEL PER
J ohn Bradford
SOUTH WESTERN GOLD CORP.
R RR RRESUMEN ESUMEN ESUMEN ESUMEN ESUMEN
Po r a co t a e s u n s i s t e ma e p i t e r ma l d e a l t a s u l f u r a ci n u b i ca d o a
1 6 0 k m a l NW d e Ar e q u i p a o 2 0 k m a l W d e l a m i n a d e o r o - p l a t a
Or co p a mp a . La s e l e va ci o n e s va r a n d e 4 , 3 5 0 a 5 , 1 2 5 m. s . n . m.
La p r o p i ed ad f ue d enunci ad a p o r So ut hwest er n Go l d Co r p. p ar a el
Co t a h u a s i Jo i n t Ve n t u r e ( SWG- Te c k ) . Se a m p a r u n a a n o m a l a d e
ar ci l l as- hi er r o d e 6 x 4 km d et ect ad a en i mg enes Land sat . El r eco no -
c i mi e n t o d e c a mp o i n c l u y 1 5 0 mu e s t r a s d e e s q u i r l a s d e r o c a y s e
d escub r ier o n d o s zo nas aur fer as co n valo r es d e hast a 2 .1 8 g / t Au. De
2 6 3 m u e s t r a s t o m a d a s e n u n a r e d s e o b t u v i e r o n v a l o r e s d e h a s t a
2 . 5 5 g / t Au . En 1 9 9 6 se p er f o r ar o n 2 1 so n d aj es d i aman t i n o s co n u n
t o t a l d e 3 , 3 3 3 m , o b t e n i n d o s e h a s t a 1 , 3 g / t Au e n 3 8 . 7 m . En
1 9 9 7 , 1 5 s o n d a j e s co n f i r ma r o n h a s t a 6 . 4 g / t Au e n 2 7 m. En 1 9 9 8 ,
u n est u d i o esp ect r al d e PIMA p er mi t i d ef i n i r el z o n ami en t o d e al t er a-
ci n d el d ep si t o .
Po r aco t a se ho sp ed a en el Ar co Vo lcnico co nt inent al calco - alcalino
d e l Su r d e l Pe r , d e l Ol i g o c e n o s u p e r i o r a l r e c i e n t e . Es t e n u n a
i mp o r t a n t e f r a n j a d e mi n e r a l i z a ci n e p i t e r ma l d e me t a l e s p r e ci o s o s
d el Mio ceno , q ue incluye las minas d e o r o - p lat a d e Or co p amp a, Ar cat a,
Sh i l a , Ca i l l o ma y Su k u i t a mb o , l a mi n a d e p l a t a - me t a l e s co mu n e s d e
Mad r i g al y l o s r eci en t es d escu b r i mi en t o s d e Ar es y Ch i p mo .
El s i s t ema d e Po r aco t a co n t i en e var i as z o n as d e s i l i ci f i caci n i n -
t en sa y/ o p i r i t i z aci n en u n a g r an r ea ( 3 5 km
2
) d e al t er aci n ar g l i ca
a v a n z a d a . Cu a t r o z o n a s ( Po r a c o t a , So m b r e r u n i , Zo n a C y Pu m a )
co n t i e n e n va l o r e s s i g n i f i ca t i vo s e n s u p e r f i ci e ( > 0 . 5 g / t Au ) . S l o s e
h an p er f o r ad o l as z o n as Po r aco t a y So mb r er u n i . La mi n er al i z aci n d e
o r o d e Po r a c o t a s e h o s p e d a e n u n p a q u e t e d e v u l c a n o c l s t i c o s
a n d e s t i c o s , p e r o t a mb i n o c u r r e e n l a i g n i mb r i t a i n f r a y a c e n t e . En
Po r a c o t a , l a z o n a d e o r o c o n s i s t e d e u n l e n t e e s t r a t o l i g a d o d e
1 0 - 3 0 m d e e s p e s o r, 1 0 0 a 4 0 0 m d e a n c h o y 1 . 0 k m d e l o n g i t u d ,
b u z an d o s u avemen t e h aci a el o es t e- s u r o es t e. Ot r o s d o s h o r i z o n t es
meno r es fuer o n d escub ier t o s co n las p er fo r acio nes.
La z o n a au r f er a est en l a z o n a d e si l i ci f i caci n i n t en sa, es sl i ce
caver no sa (vuggy) y en cuar zo - alunit a so b r ep uest a p o r p ir it a. La zo na
d e cu ar z o - al u n i t a en vu el ve a l a z o n a au r f er a si l i ci f i cad a y l a al t er aci n
d e cr e ce h a ci a a f u e r a / l a t e r a l me n t e a d i ck i t a , ca o l i n i t a , i l l i t a , cl o r i t a y
cal ci t a. Lo s val o r es ms al t o s ( 4 - 1 5 g / t Au ) est n en sl i ce caver n o sa
g r i s o s cu r a a l a q u e s e s o b r e p o n e u n a ma r ca d a p i r i t a d i s e mi n a d a y
aso ci ad a a mu l t i f ases d e vet i l l eo / r eemp l az ami en t o d e p i r i t a y b r ech as
hid r o t er males.
El o r o en si es el nico ind icad o r g eo q umico co nfiab le, aunq ue hay
c o r r e l a c i n p o s i t i v a c o n e l Hg ( 0 . 4 8 ) y d b i l c o r r e l a c i n c o n l a Ag
( 0 . 1 6 ) . Lo s val o r es d e o r o se co r r el aci o n an n eg at i vamen t e co n el Zn
( - 0 . 2 9 ) y B i ( 0 . 2 5 ) y n o t i en en r el aci n co n el Cu , el Pb, el As y el Sb.
Lo s n i vel es d e o xi d aci n var an d e 1 0 a 5 0 m en l a z o n a au r f er a.
Do s int er seccio nes cer ca d e sup er ficie est n t o t alment e o xid ad as ( DH-
9 y DH- 2 8 ) . Las o xid acio nes ms p r o fund as o cur r en en zo nas d e co t as
ms al t as ( C
o
Maman i Hu ayt a) d o n d e el co n t act o xi d o - su l f u r o est a
2 2 0 m d e s u p e r f i ci e .
Po r l o men o s o t r as si et e z o n as d e al t er aci n co n p o t en ci al si g n i f i -
ca t i vo h a n s i d o ca r t o g r a f i a d a s y r e q u i e r e n mayo r t r a b a j o d e d e t a l l e .
Hay una fuer t e p r o b ab ilid ad q ue Po r aco t a est r elacio nad a a un cent r o
vo l cn i co an d est i co d esar r o l l ad o en u n amb i en t e p o st - cal d er a.
PORA PORA PORA PORA PORACO CO CO CO COT TT TTA A HI A A HI A A HI A A HI A A HIGH-SULFI D GH-SULFI D GH-SULFI D GH-SULFI D GH-SULFI DA AA AATI TI TI TI TION ON ON ON ON
EPI THERMAL GOLD DEPOSI T I N EPI THERMAL GOLD DEPOSI T I N EPI THERMAL GOLD DEPOSI T I N EPI THERMAL GOLD DEPOSI T I N EPI THERMAL GOLD DEPOSI T I N
SOUTHERN PERU SOUTHERN PERU SOUTHERN PERU SOUTHERN PERU SOUTHERN PERU
L LL LLOCA OCA OCA OCA OCATI TI TI TI TION ON ON ON ON AND AND AND AND AND A AA AACCESS CCESS CCESS CCESS CCESS
Po r a co t a i s a h i g h - s u l p h i d a t i o n e p i t h e r ma l g o l d s ys t e m l o ca t e d
a b o u t 1 6 0 ki l o met er s n o r t h west o f Ar eq u i p a, Per u , an d 2 0 ki l o met er s
we s t o f t h e Or co p a mp a g o l d - s i l ve r mi n e ( Fi g u r e 1 ) . Th e p r o p e r t y i s
cen t er ed n ear 1 5
0
1 4 ' S, 7 2
0
3 2 ' W ( UTM co o r d i n a t e s 8 3 1 5 5 0 0 mN,
7 6 4 0 0 0 m E) , s t r a d d l i n g m a p s h e e t s 3 1 - q ( Co t a h u a s i ) a n d 3 1 - r
( Or co p amp a) .
The p r o j ect i s si t uat ed i n a sp ar sel y veg et at ed ar ea o n t he west er n
s l o p e s o f t h e Co r d i l l e r a Oc c i d e n t a l o f t h e Pe r u v i a n An d e s , o n l y 3 0
J ohn Bradford
50 50 50 50 50
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 1 FIGURE 1 FIGURE 1 FIGURE 1
L LL LLOCATION OCATION OCATION OCATION OCATION AND AND AND AND ANDA AA AACCESS CCESS CCESS CCESS CCESS P PP PPORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA P PP PPROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT, S , S , S , S , SHOWING HOWING HOWING HOWING HOWINGM MM MMIOCENE IOCENE IOCENE IOCENE IOCENE E EE EEPITHERMAL PITHERMAL PITHERMAL PITHERMAL PITHERMAL
P PP PPRECIOUS RECIOUS RECIOUS RECIOUS RECIOUS M MM MMETAL ETAL ETAL ETAL ETAL D DD DDEPOSITS EPOSITS EPOSITS EPOSITS EPOSITS AND AND AND AND ANDTHE THE THE THE THE A AA AACTIVE CTIVE CTIVE CTIVE CTIVEV VV VVOLCANIC OLCANIC OLCANIC OLCANIC OLCANICA AA AARC RC RC RC RC. .. ..
PORACOTA: UNYACIMIENTOEPITERMAL DE ORODE ALTA SULFURACINENEL SURDEL PER
51 51 51 51 51
kilomet er s nor t h of Volcan Cor opuna, t he highest volcano in t he pr esent ly
a ct i ve vo l ca n i c a r c. El evat i o n s r an g e f r o m 4 , 3 5 0 t o 5 , 1 2 5 met er s, b u t
o ver t he cent r al p ar t o f t he p r o p er t y t o p o g r ap hy i s r el at i vely sub d ued ,
wi t h an ext en si ve f l at p amp a su r r o u n d i n g Lag u n a Ti n t ar cco ch a ( Fi g u r e
3 ) . Ro ad access t o t h e Po r aco t a p r o p er t y f r o m Ar eq u i p a i s vi a p ave d
hig hway t o Ap lao , t hen b y a g r avel r o ad t o Or co p amp a, wit h a fo ur - wheel
dr ive r oad cont inuing t o t he pr oper t y fr om Or copampa t hr ough t he village
o f Umachulco. A well- maint ained air st r ip ser vices t he t own of Or copampa.
Zo n e ( Fi g u r e 3 ) was co l l ect ed b y t h e JICA t eam, wh o
d i d n o t samp l e t h e Po r aco t a Zo n e.
Th e f i r s t f i e l d r e c o n n a i s s a n c e o f t h e L a n d s a t
a n o m a l y b y t h e Co t a h u a s i JV wa s l e d b y Gu d m u n d
( Bi n g ) Lo v an g i n Ju ly, 1 9 9 5 , a Can ad i an p r o sp ect o r.
Lo vang s t eam co l l ect ed 1 5 0 r o ck chi p samp l es f r o m
t h e p r o p e r t y, a n d d i s co ve r e d b o t h t h e So mb r e r u n i
( A ) an d t h e Po r aco t a ( B ) Zo n es; t h e l at t er z o n e
c r o p p e d o u t o v e r a s t r i k e l e n g t h o f a b o u t o n e
k i l o me t e r. Th e h i g h e s t g o l d va l u e s o b t a i n e d i n t h i s
fir st p ass p r o g r am wer e 1 .1 8 g / t fr o m t he So mb r er uni
Zo n e a n d 0 . 8 3 g / t f r o m t h e Po r a co t a Zo n e .
Subsequent gr id- cont r olled soil and r ock sampling
c o n f i r m e d t h e a r e a l e xt e n t o f t h e So m b r e r u n i a n d
Po r aco t a z o n es. Of 2 6 3 r o ck ch i p samp l es t aken , 1 1
c o n t a i n e d o v e r 1 g / t Au , wi t h a h i g h o f 2 . 5 5 g / t .
Rock samples wit h weakly anomalous gold values ( 4 0 -
1 5 0 p p b ) we r e a l s o c o l l e c t e d f r o m a f e w o u t l y i n g
ar eas, i n cl u d i n g t h e Pascan a Zo n e an d t h e west si d e
o f Ce r r o Hu a m a n i Hu a y t a , 5 a n d 1 . 2 k i l o m e t e r s
so u t h west o f t h e Po r aco t a Zo n e, r esp ect i vely.
Th e f i r s t d r i l l t e s t i n g o f t h e So m b r e r u n i a n d
Po r a co t a Zo n e s wa s co n d u ct e d i n t h e l a t t e r h a l f o f
1 9 9 6 , u n d e r t h e d i r e ct i o n o f St e ve Je n s e n . Twe n t y-
o n e d i a m o n d d r i l l h o l e s t o t a l i n g 3 , 3 3 3 m e t e r s
r et ur ned fo ur si g ni fi cant g o l d i nt er sect i o ns, i ncl ud i ng
o ne in t he So mb r er uni Zo ne and t hr ee in t he Po r aco t a
Zo n e . Th e b e s t i n t e r s e ct i o n wa s a n o xi d i z e d , n e a r -
s u r f a ce i n t e r v a l o f 1 . 3 0 g / t Au o ve r 3 8 . 7 me t e r s i n
DH 9 . Th e f i r s t h o l e t o i n t e r s e ct t h e Po r a co t a Zo n e
( DH 4 ) co n t ai n ed a su l fi d e i n t er v al wi t h si g n i fi can t ly
h i g h e r g o l d g r a d e s ( 5 . 9 3 g / t Au o ve r 5 . 5 me t e r s ) .
H HH HHISTORY ISTORY ISTORY ISTORY ISTORY OF OF OF OF OF THE THE THE THE THE D DD DDISCOVERY ISCOVERY ISCOVERY ISCOVERY ISCOVERY
Po r aco t a was i n i t i al l y st aked b y So u t h west er n Go l d Co r p o r at i o n , o f
Va n co u v e r, Ca n a d a i n Ja nu a r y, 1 9 9 5 , fo r t h e Co t a h u a s i Jo i n t Ve n t u r e
( So u t h we s t e r n Te c k Exp l o r a t i o n Li mi t e d ) . Th e Po r a co t a p r o p e r t y
c o v e r e d a l a r g e L a n d s a t a n o m a l y ; o n e o f a n u m b e r o f a n o m a l i e s
d i s c o v e r e d d u r i n g a n e xt e n s i v e L a n d s a t Th e m a t i c Ma p p e r s t u d y o f
s o u t h e r n Pe r u c o n d u c t e d b y So u t h we s t e r n . Si m p l e TM c o l o r r a t i o
co mp o si t e i mag es ( Ei swo r t h and Ro wan, 1 9 9 3 ) hi g hl i g ht ed a l ar ge ( 6
x 4 ki l o met er ) cl ay- i r o n an o mal y cen t er ed n ear Cer r o Hu aman i Hu ayt a,
a p r o mi n e n t 5 0 8 5 me t e r p e a k . Su b s e q u e n t l y, p r i n ci p a l co mp o n e n t
an al ysi s ( Lo u g h l i n , 1 9 9 1 ) o f t h e TM d at a i n d i cat ed t h at t h e t ar g et was
o ne o f t he mo st int ense lar g e ano malies in so ut her n Per u, and p r o b ab ly
r ep r esen t ed a si g n i f i can t h yd r o t h er mal syst em.
Th e o n l y p r e vi o u s r e co r d o f e xp l o r a t i o n o r mi n i n g a ct i vi t y i n t h e
ar ea was a vi si t t o t h e so u t h west er n co r n er o f t h e Lan d sat an o mal y b y
t h e Ja p a n I n t e r n a t i o n a l Co o p e r a t i o n Ag e n cy ( JI CA Co t a h u a s i Pr o j e ct ,
1 9 8 6 ) . One hand sample of quar t z- alunit e alt er ed r o ck fr om t he Pascana
An a d d i t i o n a l 1 5 d i a mo n d d r i l l h o l e s t o t a l i n g 2 8 1 2 me t e r s we r e
d r i l l ed i n 1 9 9 7 , al l t ar g et i n g t h e Po r aco t a Zo n e. Th i s p r o g r am r esu l t ed
i n 7 a d d i t i o n a l g o l d i n t e r s e ct i o n s , i n cl u d i n g t h e h i g h e s t - g r a d e g o l d
i n t er sect i o n d r i l l ed t o d at e ( 6 . 6 1 g / t Au o ver 2 6 . 1 met er s, i n DH 2 2 A) .
Fu r t h er su r f ace samp l i n g co n cu r r en t wi t h an d su b seq u en t t o t h e
d r i l l p r o g r am h as d i sco ver ed t wo ad d i t i o n al z o n es wi t h > 0 . 5 g / t g o l d
val u es, Zo n e C an d t h e Pu ma Zo n e. Nei t h er o f t h ese z o n es h ad b een
d r i l l t e s t e d p r i o r t o 1 9 9 9 . Th e m o s t r e c e n t wo r k o n t h e p r o p e r t y
FIGURE 2 FIGURE 2 FIGURE 2 FIGURE 2 FIGURE 2
I II IIDEALIZED DEALIZED DEALIZED DEALIZED DEALIZEDS SS SSTRATIGRAPHIC TRATIGRAPHIC TRATIGRAPHIC TRATIGRAPHIC TRATIGRAPHICC CC CCOLUMN OLUMN OLUMN OLUMN OLUMN, P , P , P , P , PORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA P PP PPROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT
700
600
500
Chalcedonic
silica cap
400
Poracota Zone
300
200
Lower Zone
100
0 m
Rt
1
- Rhyolite ignimbrite
Dp - Dacite porphyry domes
Avs - Andesitic volcaniclastics
Dts - Dacitic tuff, lacustrine
sediments
Afa - Amygdaloidal andesite
flows
Ap - Andesite porphyry
domes, sills
Af
1
- Andesite porphyry flows
Rt
2
- Rhyolite ignimbrite
Af
2
- Andagua/Firura volcanics:
mafic flows
J ohn Bradford
52 52 52 52 52
( 1 9 9 8 ) f o cu s e d o n co l l e ct i n g PI MA d a t a i n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e
al t er at i o n z o n at i o n an d t h e mo r p h o l o g y o f t h e g o l d mi n er al i z at i o n .
I n s u m m a r y, t h e Po r a c o t a d e p o s i t wa s d i s c o v e r e d b y L a n d s a t
i n t er p r et at i o n f o l l o wed u p b y p r o sp ect i n g an d r o ck ch i p samp l i n g . It i s
a r emar kab le d isco ver y in t hat sever al lar g e g o ld zo nes, which cr o p o ut
o nly 2 0 kilo met er s fr o m a g o ld - silver mine in o p er at io n fo r almo st t hr ee
d ecad es, h ad ap p ar en t l y n ever b een t r en ch ed o r d r i l l ed .
R RR RREGIONAL EGIONAL EGIONAL EGIONAL EGIONAL G GG GGEOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY
Vo l can i c r o c k s h o s t i n g t h e Po r aco t a g o l d d ep o s i t ar e p ar t o f t h e
Lat e Ol i g o cen e t o Recen t cal c- al k al i n e co n t i n en t al vo l can i c ar c o f t h e
Cent r al And ean o r o g en. Jur a- Cr et aceo us mar ine siliciclast ic sed iment ar y
r o cks co mp r i se t h e b asemen t t o t h e vo l can i c ar c; t h ese ar e exp o sed i n
a d o m a l s t r u c t u r a l h i g h s o u t h o f t h e Po r a c o t a p r o p e r t y. Vo l c a n i c
l i t h o l o g i e s i n cl u d e i g n i mb r i t e s o f va r i o u s a g e s e r u p t e d f r o m va r i o u s
p o o r l y d o cu men t ed cr yp t i c cal d er as, an d wi d esp r ead an d esi t i c f l o ws,
pyr oclast ics and der ived sediment s r elat ed t o numer ous st r at ovolcanoes
an d smal l er vo l can i c cen t er s. Al t h o u g h n o r ad i o met r i c ag e d at i n g h as
b e e n d o n e o n r o c k s f r o m t h e Po r a co t a p r o p e r t y, vo l ca n i c s u i t e s a n d
a l t e r a t i o n f r o m t h e Or c o p a m p a a n d Ar c a t a m i n e s h a v e b e e n d a t e d
( Gi b s o n e t a l . , 1 9 9 5 ; Ca n d i o t t i e t a l . , 1 9 9 0 ; To s d a l e t a l . , 1 9 9 5 ) .
Th ese st u d i es d o cu men t maj o r i g n i mb r i t i c er u p t i o n s at ar o u n d 2 0 Ma
i n t h e Or c o p a m p a a r e a ( Ma n t o t u f f ) , 1 1 . 5 Ma i n t h e Sh i l a a r e a
( Up a ca b a n a t u f f ) a n d 6 . 2 Ma i n t h e Ar ca t a a r e a ( Uma ch u l co t u f f ) .
Po r a co t a i s l o ca t e d i n a s i g n i f i ca n t b e l t o f Ea r l y t o La t e Mi o ce n e
e p i t h e r ma l g o l d - s i l ve r mi n e r a l i z a t i o n i n b o a r d o f t h e p r e s e n t l y a ct i ve
v o l c a n i c a r c ( Fi g u r e 1 ) . Th i s p r e c i o u s m e t a l d i s t r i c t i n c l u d e s t h e
Or co p amp a, Ar cat a, Sh i l a, Cai l l o ma an d Su cu i t amb o si l ver - g o l d mi n es,
t h e Ma d r i g a l s i l ve r - b a s e me t a l mi n e , a n d t h e mo r e r e ce n t Ar e s a n d
Ch i p mo g o l d d i sco ver i es. Mo st o f t h e d ep o si t s i n t h i s b el t ar e p r i mar i l y
l o w- su l p h i d at i o n q u ar t z - car b o n at e vei n s, wh i l e Po r aco t a an d Ch i p mo
ar e h i g h s u l p h i d at i o n ep i t h er mal s ys t ems . Ep i t h er mal mi n er al i z at i o n
o ccu r r e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e Mi o ce n e , f r o m ~ 1 7 . 5 Ma a t Or co p a mp a t o
5 . 5 Ma a t Ar c a t a . L o w s u l f i d a t i o n s y s t e m s we r e e s t a b l i s h e d a t
Or co p amp a an d Ar cat a su b seq u en t t o t h e emp l acemen t o f p o st - cal d e-
r a d o me co mp l e xe s, at 1 9 - 1 8 . 5 a n d 5 . 9 Ma , r e s p e ct i ve ly. Ad v a n ce d
a r g i l l i c a l t e r a t i o n i s a l s o p r e s e n t i n b o t h c a m p s . At Or c o p a m p a i t i s
ap p ar en t l y ab o u t 1 Ma o l d er t h an t h e vei n syst ems ( 1 8 . 5 ver su s 1 7 . 5
Ma ) , wh i l e a t Ar ca t a i t i s t h e s a me a g e o r s l i g h t ly yo u n g e r.
P PP PPROPERTY ROPERTY ROPERTY ROPERTY ROPERTY G GG GGEOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY
P PP PPost-min ost-min ost-min ost-min ost-miner er er er eral V al V al V al V al Volcani olcani olcani olcani olcanic U c U c U c U c Units nits nits nits nits
At Po r aco t a, ext ensively alt er ed Ear ly- Mid d le ( ?) Mio cene vo lcanics
o ccup y t he co r e o f a st r uct ur al d o me and l o cal t o p o g r ap hi c hi g h, whi ch
i s fl anked o n al l si d es b y yo ung er vo l cani c uni t s ( Fi g ur es 2 and 3 ) . The
yo u n g e r u n i t s i n cl u d e Qu a t e r n a r y a n d e s i t i c f i s s u r e f l o ws a n d s co r i a
co nes o f t he And ag ua vo lcanics t o t he so ut h and east , and t he and esit ic
Fi r u r a vo l ca n i c co mp l e x t o t h e we s t ( Un i t Af
2
) . An u n a l t e r e d r h yo l i t e
p o s s i b l y c o r r e l a t i v e wi t h t h e Um a c h u l c o t u f f l i e s t o t h e n o r t h ( Un i t
Rt
2
) .
Th e An d a g u a a n d Fi r u r a vo l ca n i cs p r o b a b l y r e p r e s e n t t h e s a me
st ag e o f vo l can i sm, t h e l at est p h ase o f wh i ch o ccu r r ed as r ecen t l y as a
f e w h u n d r e d ye a r s a g o ( De Si l va a n d Fr a n ci s , 1 9 9 0 ) . Th e An d a g u a
f l o ws a t Po r a c o t a a p p e a r t o h a v e e r u p t e d f r o m a s e r i e s o f f i s s u r e s
al o n g n o r t h west t r en d i n g f au l t s, wh i c h p r o j ect t o war d t h e co r e o f t h e
Po r aco t a al t er a t i o n syst em. Th ese may r e p r esen t o l d er, r emo b i l i zed
f au l t s.
Un a l t e r e d a n d e s i t e a n d d a c i t e p o r p h y r y f l o ws a n d h y p a b y s s a l
int r usive r o cks which ar e o ld er t han t he And ag ua- Fir ur a vo lcanics o ver lie
alt er ed st r at ig r ap hy no r t h and so ut h o f t he cent r al Po r aco t a alt er at io n
s ys t e m ( Un i t s Af
1
, Df ) .
Mu c h o f t h e so u t h er n p ar t o f t h e Po r aco t a Zo n e i s co ver ed by an
unco nso l i d at ed , 4 0 0 b y 5 0 0 met er sl i d e d ep o si t as much as 7 0 met er s
t h i c k ( Un i t Qca , Fi g u r e 4 ; cf. d r i l l h o l e s 2 2 A a n d 2 9 , Fi g u r e 5 a ) .
Pr Pr Pr Pr Pre-min e-min e-min e-min e-miner er er er eral V al V al V al V al Volcani olcani olcani olcani olcanic U c U c U c U c Units nits nits nits nits
Rhyolite Ignimbrite (Rt Rhyolite Ignimbrite (Rt Rhyolite Ignimbrite (Rt Rhyolite Ignimbrite (Rt Rhyolite Ignimbrite (Rt
1 11 11
) )) ))
Th e b asal u n i t o f t h e vo l can i c sect i o n i n t h e vi ci n i t y o f t h e Po r aco t a
Zo n e i s a r h y o l i t e i g n i mb r i t e , wh i c h c r o p s o u t a l o n g t h e e a s t s i d e o f
t h e p r o p e r t y o v e r a s t r i k e l e n g t h o f a b o u t 3 k i l o me t e r s ( Fi g u r e s 2 ,
3 ) . It also und er lies and esit ic vo lcaniclast ics b et ween Cer r o So mb r er uni
a n d Ce r r o Qu e l l o Co c h a , wh e r e i t wa s i n t e r s e c t e d i n t wo d r i l l h o l e s
( DH 1 2 , 1 5 ) . Th e b a s e o f t h e u n i t h a s n o t b e e n ma p p e d d e f i n i t i vel y,
a l t h o u g h i t ma y b e u n d e r l a i n b y a n d e s i t i c f l o ws s o u t h o f t h e Pi ch i h u a
Zo n e ( Fi g u r e 3 ) . Th e exp o sed i g n i mb r i t e i s ap p r o xi mat el y 1 5 0 met er s
t h i ck .
Th e i g n i mb r i t e u n i t i n cl u d e s b o t h we l d e d a n d n o n we l d e d f a ci e s .
Lit ho lo g ies r ange fr o m cr yst al- r ich ( mainly q uar t z, feld sp ar and b io t it e)
t uffs t o vit r ic- r ich unit s wit h co nsp icuo us whit e weat her ing p umice lap illi.
Mu ch o f t h e u n i t i s we l l b e d d e d , wi t h t h i n b e d s o f a l t e r n a t i n g cr ys t a l -
vit r ic and ash t uf f, as well as t hicker b ed s wit h gr eat er co ncent r at io ns o f
l i t h i c l ap i l l i . Th e t o p o f t h e u n i t i s co mmo n l y a cr yst al - p o o r wh i t e t o g r ey
a s h t u f f wh i c h m a y b e a c o - i g n i m b r i t e a s h - f a l l d e p o s i t . Co a r s e l a g
b r ecci as have no t b een i d ent i fi ed , and t he o ut l i ne o f t he so ur ce cal d er a
h as n o t b een d et er mi n ed t o d at e.
An An An An And dd ddesiti esiti esiti esiti esitic V c V c V c V c Volcani olcani olcani olcani olcaniclasti clasti clasti clasti clastics (A cs (A cs (A cs (A cs (Avs) vs) vs) vs) vs)
A het er o g eneo us unit co nsist ing p r imar ily o f and esit ic vo lcaniclast ic
r o cks o ver l i es t h e r h yo l i t e i g n i mb r i t e. In t en se al t er at i o n an d f r act u r i n g
t en d s t o o b scu r e p r i mar y d ep o si t i o n al t ext u r es an d st r u ct u r es i n mu ch
o f t h i s u n i t . Th e vo l ca n i cl a s t i c r o ck s a r e ch a r a ct e r i z e d b y p o l ymi ct i c
cl ast assemb l ag es whi ch have und er g o ne var i ab l e r o und i ng ; i nd i cat i ng
t h at t h ey ar e l ar g el y r ewo r ked ep i cl ast i c r o cks. Fel d sp ar cr yst al s ar e
a b u n d an t , an d q u ar t z cr yst al s u n co mmo n .
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53 53 53 53 53
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 3
G GG GGEOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY AND AND AND AND ANDM MM MMAIN AIN AIN AIN AIN A AA AALTERATION LTERATION LTERATION LTERATION LTERATION Z ZZ ZZONES ONES ONES ONES ONES P PP PPORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA P PP PPROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT ROJ ECT
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Away f r o m st r o n g al t er at i o n , Un i t Avs i s r ead i l y d i st i n g u i sh ed f r o m
u n d e r l yi n g r h yo l i t e s b y i t s g r e e n i s h we a t h e r i n g co l o r s , va r i a b l e cl a s t
co mp o sit io ns and t he low abund ance o f q uar t z. In so me ar eas it is well
b ed d ed , wi t h l o cal cr u d e n o r mal g r ad i n g o f l ar g er cl ast s. So me f aci es
co nt ain a p r ep o nd er ance o f r o und ed t o sub r o und ed clast s and ar e b est
d escr ib ed as vo lcanic sand st o nes and p eb b le t o co b b le co ng lo mer at es.
Locally mapped, poor ly sor t ed boulder conglomer at es/ br eccias r esemble
t al u s b r ecci as o r f an g l o mer at es.
Vo l umet r i cal ly mi no r bu t si g ni fi cant t hi n sed i ment ar y f aci es i nc l ud e
a n ar r o w ( 0 . 3 m) s eam o f co al wi t h t h i n s i l t y p ar t i n g s ( i n t er s ect ed i n
DH 3 ; 1 7 . 8 - 1 8 . 1 m ) , a n d d a r k g r e y s i l t s t o n e wi t h s m a l l d i a g e n e t i c
p yr i t e b l e b s ( DH 1 9 ; 1 6 5 . 7 - 1 6 7 . 1 m) .
Unit Avs was pr obably deposit ed in a fluvial t o shallow wat er lacust r ine
en vi r o n men t , p o ssi b l y i n a cal d er a l ake, i n t r acal d er a g r ab en , o r mo at
set t ing. The p r esence o f co aly sed iment s imp lies b o g g y, well veget at ed
ar eas such as r emnant p o nd s, while blo cky, p o o r ly so r t ed t alus b r eccias
i mp ly ar eas o f h i g h er r el i ef, p o ssi bl y r el at ed t o f au l t scar p s o r cal d er a
m a r g i n s . Th e l a c k o f c l a s t i c m a t e r i a l d e r i v e d f r o m t h e u n d e r l y i n g
i g ni mb r i t e i nd i cat es t hat t he l at t er l ay ent i r el y at l o wer el evat i o ns wi t hi n
t h e d ep o si t i o n al b asi n f o r t h e an d esi t i c vo l can i cl ast i cs.
Dacitic tuffs and sediments (Dts) Dacitic tuffs and sediments (Dts) Dacitic tuffs and sediments (Dts) Dacitic tuffs and sediments (Dts) Dacitic tuffs and sediments (Dts)
Th i n - b e d d e d t u f f s a n d l a c u s t r i n e s e d i m e n t s o v e r l i e a n d e s i t i c
vo l can i cl ast i cs o f u n i t Avs n ear t h e p r o p er t y b o u n d ar y east o f Zo n e C
( Fi g u r e 3 ) . Th i s u n i t co mp r i ses p l at y o r f l a g g y, d aci t i c vo l can i c l ast i cs
( s a n d s t o n e s t o p e b b l e co n g l o me r a t e s ) a n d a s h - f a l l ( ? ) t u f f s , l o ca l l y
wi t h t h i n ch er t y l ayer s. Lami n at ed car b o n aceo u s si l t st o n es wi t h i n t h e
sequence cont ain small ( t o about 1 cm) coal fr agment s. Gr aded bedding
i s l o cal l y p r esen t .
Amygdaloidal andesite flows (Afa) Amygdaloidal andesite flows (Afa) Amygdaloidal andesite flows (Afa) Amygdaloidal andesite flows (Afa) Amygdaloidal andesite flows (Afa)
Di s t i n c t i v e a m y g d a l o i d a l a n d e s i t e f l o ws wi t h i n u n i t Av s we r e
i n t er s ect ed i n DH 9 ( 5 2 . 7 - 6 8 . 5 m) an d DH 1 3 ( 1 7 0 - 1 8 8 . 5 m; Fi g u r e
5 B) . Th e f l o ws ar e r ed d i sh ( h emat i t i c) , an d co n t ai n u p t o 2 0 % cal ci t e-
q u a r t z f i l l e d a m yg d a l s u p t o 2 c m a c r o s s . T h e f l o w i n DH 9 h a s a
b r ecciat ed flo w- t o p. The amyg d alo id al and esit es d o no t ap p ear cr o p t o
o u t u p d i p f r o m t h e d r i l l h o l es.
Intrusive Rocks Intrusive Rocks Intrusive Rocks Intrusive Rocks Intrusive Rocks
Andesites (Ap) Andesites (Ap) Andesites (Ap) Andesites (Ap) Andesites (Ap)
Co a r s e a n d me d i u m- g r a i n e d a n d e s i t e p o r p h yr y cr o p s o u t o n a l l
si d es o f Cer r o Huamani Huayt a. The o ut cr o p map d i st r i b ut i o n sug g est s
t h a t t h e s e a n d e s i t e s c r o s s c u t Un i t Av s , p r o b a b l y a t a l o w a n g l e .
Demonst r ably int r usive andesit e por phyr y cr ops out on a r idge sout hwest
o f Cer r o Hu aman i Hu ayt a ( HH d o me; Fi g u r e 4 ) . Th e an d esi t es t en d t o
b e wel l j o i n t ed , wi t h sh al l o w t o mo d er at e d i p p i n g j o i n t s, su b p ar al l el t o
co nt act s and b ed d i ng i n near b y vo l cani cl ast i cs.
Two p h e n o cr ys t a s s e mb l a g e s h a ve b e e n n o t e d i n t h e a n d e s i t e s :
( 1 ) p l a g i o c l a s e - b i o t i t e - a m p h i b o l e ( i n c l u d i n g t h e HH d o m e ) , a n d
an d esi t es j u st west o f DH 2 6 , 2 5 an d 7 an d so u t h / so u t h west o f DH 1 9 ,
a n d ( 2 ) p l a g i o c l a s e - a m p h i b o l e - p y r o xe n e ( a n d e s i t e s we s t o f Ce r r o
So mb r e r u n i ) . Th e l a t t e r b o d y i s s t r o n g l y ma g n e t i c a n d f i n e r g r a i n e d
t h an t h e an d esi t es n ear Cer r o Hu aman i Hu ayt a.
An d e s i t e s i n t h e vi ci n i t y o f Ce r r o Hu a ma n i Hu a yt a a r e g e n e r a l l y
we a k l y a l t e r e d , a l t h o u g h l o ca l s i l i ci f i ca t i o n a n d / o r i l l i t i c a l t e r a t i o n o f
m a t r i x a n d p l a g i o c l a s e i s p r e s e n t . Th i s s u g g e s t s t h a t t i m i n g o f
e mp l a ce me n t o f t h e a n d e s i t e s i s l a t e s yn - mi n e r a l . Th e u n a l t e r e d HH
d o me i n t r u d e s i n t e n s e l y s i l i ci f i e d vo l ca n i cl a s t i cs a n d t h e r e f o r e p o s t -
d at es alt er at io n. Illit ic alt er at io n o f p lag io clase ( p heno cr yst s and mat r ix)
ap p ear s t o b e co nfi ned t o t he b asal sect i o n o f t he and esi t e so ut h o f DH
1 9 ; t h i s r e s u l t s i n a p a l e c o l o r e d ( y e l l o w t o p a l e c r e a m ) r o c k wi t h
co n s p i cu o u s , va r i a b l y ch l o r i t i z e d b l a ck t o co p p e r y b r o wn b i o t i t e a n d
ho r nb l end e p heno cr yst s. Si mi l ar r o cks wer e i nt er sect ed i n sever al d r i l l
h o l e s a l o n g t h e we s t e r n mo s t d r i l l f e n ce . A we a k l y a l t e r e d ( ch l o r i t e -
p yr i t e) an d esi t e p o r p h yr y si l l ( ? ) was al so i n t er sect ed 5 5 met er s b el o w
t h e g o l d z o n e i n DH 2 2 A ( Fi g u r e 5 a ) .
Dacites (Dp) Dacites (Dp) Dacites (Dp) Dacites (Dp) Dacites (Dp)
Coar se- gr ained plagioclase- quar t z- hor nblende- biot it e por phyr y cr ops
o u t o n t h e s o u t h e n d o f t h e r i d g e e a s t o f Zo n e C ( Fi g u r e 4 ) ; t h e
p r e s e n ce o f q u a r t z p h e n o cr ys t s s u g g e s t s a mo r e f e l s i c co mp o s i t i o n
t h an t h e an d esi t e su i t e. Al t h o u g h g en er al l y ver y f r esh , t h i s smal l ( 5 0 0
x 6 0 0 m e t e r ) p l u g i s we a k l y a l t e r e d n e a r i t s we s t e r n c o n t a c t wi t h
st r o n g l y al u n i t i z ed vo l can i cl ast i cs east o f Zo n e C.
Massive, dome- like bodies of locally flow- banded quar t z- plagioclase-
b i o t i t e p o r p h yr y u n d er l i e mu ch o f t h e ar ea ar o u n d Cer r o Qu el l o Co ch a,
n o r t h e a s t o f t h e Po r a co t a Zo n e ( Fi g u r e 4 ) . Th e s e h i g h - l e ve l d a ci t i c
i n t r u si o n s ap p ear t o co n t ai n b o t h massi ve p o r p h yr y an d t u f f as r af t s o r
xen o l i t h s . Al t er at i o n i s weak excep t al o n g co n t act s .
Structural Geology Structural Geology Structural Geology Structural Geology Structural Geology
Th e d o mi n an t st r u ct u r al f ab r i c el emen t at Po r aco t a i s a p er si st en t
east t o n o r t h east ( 0 6 0 - 0 9 0
o
) t r en d i n g set o f su bver t i cal sp aced f r ac-
t u r e s. Fr a ct u r e d e n s i t y i n cr e a s e s l o ca l ly t o wa r d z o n e s o f p e r v a s i ve
b r i t t l e sh ear i n g . Ti mi n g o f d evel o p men t o f t h i s f ab r i c i s l at e syn - mi n e-
r al t o p o st - miner al, as similar st r uct ur al o r ient at io ns includ e miner alized
sh ear s o ver p r i n t i n g ear l i er si l i ci f i cat i o n as wel l as cl ear l y p o st - mi n er al
f a u l t s . Syn - mi n e r a l s h e a r i n g i s mo s t o b vi o u s i n co r e , wh e r e s t r o n g l y
p yr i t i z ed r ami f yi n g sh ear p l an es su r r o u n d l o z en g e- sh ap ed al u n i t i z ed /
si l i ci f i ed cl ast s ( e. g . , DH 4 , 5 7 - 6 1 met er s) . In o u t cr o p , an ast o mo si n g
fr act ur es commonly cont ain abundant ir on oxides/ hydr oxides, suggest ing
o xi d at i o n o f p yr i t e st r i n g er s.
T h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t we e n e a s t t o n o r t h e a s t s t r u c t u r e s a n d
m i n e r a l i z a t i o n a p p e a r s t o b e t y p i c a l o f t h e Or c o p a m p a r e g i o n , a s
evi d en ced b y t h e si mi l ar p r i n ci p al vei n o r i en t at i o n s at Or co p amp a an d
Chip mo .
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55 55 55 55 55
FIGURE 4 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 4
S SS SSIMPLIFIED IMPLIFIED IMPLIFIED IMPLIFIED IMPLIFIEDG GG GGEOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY EOLOGY, A , A , A , A , ALTERATION LTERATION LTERATION LTERATION LTERATION F FF FFACIES ACIES ACIES ACIES ACIES AND AND AND AND ANDL LL LLOCATIONS OCATIONS OCATIONS OCATIONS OCATIONS OF OF OF OF OF D DD DDIAMOND IAMOND IAMOND IAMOND IAMONDD DD DDRILL RILL RILL RILL RILL H HH HHOLES OLES OLES OLES OLES, P , P , P , P , PORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA AND AND AND AND ANDS SS SSOMBRERUNI OMBRERUNI OMBRERUNI OMBRERUNI OMBRERUNI Z ZZ ZZONES ONES ONES ONES ONES
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Th e d o mi n an t r e g i o n al l i n eamen t o r i en t at i o n i s n o r t h west er ly, at a
l o w a n g l e t o t h e o ve r a l l t r e n d o f t h e An d e a n a r c ( Fi g u r e s 1 , 3 ) . Th e
m o s t c o m m o n b e d d i n g o r i e n t a t i o n i s r o u g h l y p a r a l l e l t o t h i s t r e n d ,
d i p p i n g s h al l o wly t o mo d er at ely t o t h e s o u t h wes t . Fau l t s o b s er ved i n
o u t cr o p t en d t o p ar al l el t h e d o mi n an t sh ear f ab r i c ( 0 6 0 - 0 9 0
o
) . Th ese
f au l t s al mo s t i n var i ab l y h ave l o w- an g l e f au l t l i n eat i o n s ( p l u n g es o f <
2 0
o
) , i n d i c a t i n g s t r i k e - s l i p k i n e m a t i c s d u r i n g t h e l a t e s t s t a g e o f
d e f o r ma t i o n . Amo u n t a n d d i r e ct i o n o f d i s p l a ce me n t o n t h e s e f a u l t s
h as n o t b een d et er mi n ed .
Wi t h mo r e t han 1 0 0 met er sp aced d r i l l i ng and l i mi t ed st r at i g r ap hi c
d ef i n i t i o n , f au l t s wi t h d emo n s t r ab l e o f f s et ar e n o t wel l co n s t r ai n ed at
Po r aco t a. Th e mo st si g n i f i can t o f f set af f ect i n g t h e Po r aco t a Zo n e ( Fi -
gur es 4 , 5 A) separ at es t he deposit int o a nor t hwest er n sect ion ( including
DH 2 2 / 2 2 A, 3 0 A, 8 , 3 2 A, 2 3 , 4 a n d 2 8 ) a n d a d o wn f a u l t e d
s o u t h e a s t e r n s e c t i o n ( DH 2 9 , 3 3 A, 9 ) . B e t t e r c o n s t r a i n t s o n t h e
o r i en t at i o n o f t h i s f au l t wi l l r eq u i r e cl o ser sp aced d r i l l i n g .
M MM MMINERALIZA INERALIZA INERALIZA INERALIZA INERALIZATI TI TI TI TION ON ON ON ON AND AND AND AND AND A AA AAL LL LLTERA TERA TERA TERA TERATI TI TI TI TION ON ON ON ON
Th e e p i t h e r ma l s ys t e m a t Po r a co t a co n t a i n s n u me r o u s z o n e s o f
p er v asi ve si l i ci f i cat i o n an d / o r pyr i t i z at i o n wi t h i n a l ar g e ar ea ( at l east
3 5 sq u ar e ki l o met er s) o f ad v an ced ar g i l l i c al t er at i o n . To d at e, fo u r o f
t h e s e z o n e s ( Po r a co t a , So mb r e r u n i , " C Zo n e " a n d Pu ma ) h a ve b e e n
f o u n d t o co n t a i n s i g n i f i ca n t ( > 0 . 5 g / t ) g o l d va l u e s a t s u r f a ce . Go l d
mi ner al i zat i o n i s mai nl y ho st ed b y t he and esi t i c vo l cani cl ast i c p ackag e,
Un i t Avs, b u t al so o ccu r s i n t h e u n d er l yi n g i g n i mb r i t e.
Poracota (B) Zone Poracota (B) Zone Poracota (B) Zone Poracota (B) Zone Poracota (B) Zone
Size and Morphology Size and Morphology Size and Morphology Size and Morphology Size and Morphology
Ru s t y we a t h e r i n g , i n t e n s e l y f r a c t u r e d a n d p e r v a s i v e l y s i l i c i f i e d
v o l c a n i c l a s t i c r o c k s h o s t i n g o xi d i z e d g o l d m i n e r a l i z a t i o n c r o p o u t
d i s co n t i n u o u s l y f o r 1 . 2 k i l o met er s o n t h e eas t s i d e o f Cer r o Hu aman i
Hu ayt a ( Fi g u r e 4 ) . Th e z o n e cr o p s o u t at an el evat i o n o f ab o u t 4 8 5 0
met er s. Wi t h i n t h i s z o n e, g o l d val u es i n excess o f 0 . 5 g / t ( t o a h i g h o f
8 . 3 g / t ) o c c u r i n o u t c r o p o v e r a 9 6 0 m e t e r s t r i k e l e n g t h . Si m i l a r
s i l i ci f i e d vo l ca n i cl a s t i c o u t cr o p s a b o u t 8 0 0 me t e r s s o u t h o f t h e g o l d
z o n e, n ear DH 1 9 , co n t ai n l o wer g o l d val u es. Lar g e b o u l d er s d er i ved
f r o m t h e m i n e r a l i z e d z o n e a r e wi d e l y s c a t t e r e d a c r o s s t h e h i l l s i d e
b el o w t h e mi n er al i z ed o u t cr o p s. Becau se t h ese b o u l d er s wer e i n i t i al l y
t h o u g h t t o b e i n si t u, f i ve d r i l l h o l es wer e co l l ar ed i n t h e f o o t wal l o f t h e
mi n er al i z ed z o n e.
Based on t he out cr op dist r ibut ion and dr ill int er sect ions, t he Por acot a
Zo ne has b een int er p r et ed as a 1 0 - 3 0 met er t hick, cr ud ely st r at ab o und
aur ifer ous lens wit hin a t hicker ( 3 0 - 1 0 0 + met er s) envelope of advanced
a r g i l l i c a l t e r a t i o n ( Fi g u r e 5 ) . Th e g o l d z o n e h a s a s t r i k e l e n g t h o f
ab o u t 1 k i l o met er an d a wi d t h o f 1 0 0 - 4 0 0 met er s , an d d i p s g en t l y t o
t h e west - so u t h west . Th e st r at ab o u n d l en s i s i n f er r ed t o b e r o o t ed i n a
0 6 0
o
- t r en d i n g st r u ct u r al l y co n t r o l l ed z o n e i n t h e vi ci n i t y o f DH 2 2 an d
DH 9 . Po st - mi n er al f au l t i n g al o n g t h i s co r r i d o r h as sep ar at ed t h e g o l d
z o n e i n t o t wo s eg men t s , wi t h an ap p ar en t o f f s et o f ab o u t 6 5 met er s .
Geochemistry Geochemistry Geochemistry Geochemistry Geochemistry
Th e o n ly r e l i a b l e g e o c h e mi ca l i n d i ca t o r i s g o l d i t s e l f, a l t h o u g h
t h e r e i s a p o s i t i v e c o r r e l a t i o n wi t h m e r c u r y ( 0 . 4 8 ) a n d a we a k e r
co r r e l a t i o n wi t h s i l ve r ( 0 . 1 6 ) . Go l d va l u e s a r e n e g a t i ve l y co r r e l a t e d
wi t h z i n c ( - 0 . 2 9 ) a n d b i s mu t h ( - 0 . 2 5 ) , a n d e s s e n t i a l l y u n co r r e l a t e d
wi t h co p p er, l ead , ar sen i c, an d an t i mo n y. Th e n eg at i ve z i n c co r r el at i o n
is consist ent wit h t he pr esence of st r ong zinc deplet ion zones associat ed
wi t h m i n e r a l i z e d a d v a n c e d a r g i l l i c a l t e r a t i o n i n d r i l l c o r e . Th e z i n c
d ep l et ed z o n es ar e co mmo n l y su r r o u n d ed b y a b r o ad ( 1 0 - 5 0 met er s)
z i n c- en r i ch ed ar g i l l i c al t er at i o n h al o .
Alteration Alteration Alteration Alteration Alteration
Th e a l t e r a t i o n z o n e t h a t h o s t s t h e m a i n g o l d z o n e i s o n e o f
s e ver al s t ac k ed q u ar t z - al u n i t e( - d i c k i t e) z o n es i n t h e vo l can i c l as t i cs.
Deep er d r i l l h o l es ( DH 3 2 A, 2 3 ) h ave i n t er sect ed a l o wer st r at ab o u n d
( ?) q uar t z- alunit e zo ne at least 4 0 met er s t hick, lying ab o ut 5 0 met er s
b e l o w t h e m a i n z o n e ( Fi g u r e 5 B ) . An u p p e r 2 5 m e t e r t h i c k z o n e o f
ad vanced ar g illic alt er at io n envelo p ing a t hin zo ne o f sub eco no mic g o ld
mi n e r a l i z a t i o n wa s i n t e r s e ct e d i n o n e d r i l l h o l e ( DH 2 9 : 0 . 5 0 g / t Au
o v e r 7 . 6 m e t e r s a t 1 4 6 - 1 5 3 . 6 m e t e r s ) . An e xt e n s i v e ( o v e r 1 k m
2
)
a l u n i t i c z o n e a l s o o ccu r s h i g h e r i n t h e vo l ca n i cl a s t i c u n i t , r e a ch i n g a
t h i ck n e s s i n e xce s s o f 2 5 0 me t e r s u n d e r Ce r r o Hu a ma n i Hu a yt a ( DH
1 0 ) . At t h e t o p o f t h i s zo n e i s a cap o f p er v asi ve ch al ced o n i c si l i ca,
cu t b y n ar r o w l en ses o f h yd r o t h er mal b r ecci a.
Mineralization Mineralization Mineralization Mineralization Mineralization
Go ld is asso ciat ed wit h mult ip le ep iso d es o f p yr it e r ep lacement and
st r i n g er s, wh i c h o ver p r i n t p er v asi ve si l i ci f i cat i o n , q u ar t z - al u n i t e, an d
v u g g y s i l i c a . I n a t y p i c a l s t r a t a b o u n d i n t e r s e c t i o n i n t h e a n d e s i t i c
vo l ca n i cl a s t i cs , a n a r r o w ( a b o u t 1 me t e r ) u p p e r z o n e o f vu g g y s i l i ca
( wi t h m i n o r a l u n i t e a n d < 2 % p y r i t e ) a t t h e t o p o f t h e m i n e r a l i z e d
zo ne wi l l co nt ai n 1 - 2 g / t g o l d val ues. Thi s o ver l i es a much t hi cker zo ne
( 1 0 - 1 5 met er s) o f p er vasive silica t o q uar t z- alunit e and q uar t z- alunit e-
kao l i n i t e, wi t h g o l d g r ad es o f < 1 g / t . Th e ad van ced ar g i l l i c al t er at i o n
i s co mmo n l y sh ear ed an d o ver p r i n t ed b y st r u ct u r al l y co n t r o l l ed p yr i t e
m i n e r a l i z a t i o n . So m e o f t h e h i g h e s t g o l d ( 4 - 1 5 g / t ) i n t e r s e c t i o n s
und er lie t he q uar t z- alunit e alt er at io n and ar e asso ciat ed wit h d ar k gr ey
vug g y silica o ver p r int ed b y st r o ng d isseminat ed p yr it e. Go ld values d r o p
o f f r a p i d l y i n t h e f o o t wa l l , wh e r e a l t e r a t i o n d i m i n i s h e s t o s p o r a d i c
n a r r o w z o n e s o f v u g g y s i l i c a a n d p e r v a s i v e s i l i c i f i c a t i o n i n q u a r t z -
a l u n i t e , l o c a l l y wi t h p y r i t i z e d h y d r o t h e r ma l b r e c c i a v e i n s a n d p o d s .
Fo o t wall alt er at io n b elo w t his chang es t hr o ug h zo nes o f d ickit e, d ickit e-
kao l i n i t e, an d kao l i n i t e, t o i l l i t e an d ch l o r i t e- cal ci t e- p yr i t e- ( ep i d o t e) .
Cl o ser t o t h e i n f er r ed r o o t o f t h e st r at ab o u n d l en s, t h e b ase o f t h e
a d v a n c e d a r g i l l i c a l t e r a t i o n p e n e t r a t e s d e e p e r i n t o t h e u n d e r l y i n g
i g n i mb r i t e u n i t ( Fi g u r e 4 ) . Th e r o o t z o n e a p p e a r s t o b e d e f i n e d b y a
co r e o f p e r v a s i ve q u a r t z - a l u n i t e a b o u t 1 0 0 me t e r s wi d e a n d > 1 6 0
m e t e r s t h i c k , wh i c h e xt e n d s f o r a t l e a s t 3 0 0 m e t e r s a l o n g a 0 6 0
o
vect o r, t h i n n i n g r a p i d l y t o t h e n o r t h an d so u t h al o n g t h e st r at ab o u n d
PORACOTA: UNYACIMIENTOEPITERMAL DE ORODE ALTA SULFURACINENEL SURDEL PER
57 57 57 57 57
FIGURA FIGURA FIGURA FIGURA FIGURA 5 55 55
(A) L (A) L (A) L (A) L (A) LONG ONG ONG ONG ONG-S -S -S -S -SECTION ECTION ECTION ECTION ECTION A-A; (B) C A-A; (B) C A-A; (B) C A-A; (B) C A-A; (B) CROSS ROSS ROSS ROSS ROSS-S -S -S -S -SECTION ECTION ECTION ECTION ECTION B-B. P B-B. P B-B. P B-B. P B-B. PORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA ORACOTA Z ZZ ZZONE ONE ONE ONE ONE
(A) (A) (A) (A) (A)
(B) (B) (B) (B) (B)
J ohn Bradford
58 58 58 58 58
al t er at i o n h o r i z o n . In t h e vo l can i cl ast i c u n i t , mu l t i p l e z o n es o f al u n i t i c
al t er at i o n > 7 5 met er s t h i ck al so t h i n r ap i d l y t o 4 0 met er s an d l ess t o
t he no r t hwest and so ut heast . Cl o se t o t he r o o t zo ne, a l ower bl i nd go l d
z o n e u p t o 2 0 met er s t h i ck o ccu r s wi t h i n t h e i g n i mb r i t e.
De s p i t e a l a c k o f d e t a i l e d m i n e r a l o g i c a l wo r k o n t h e s u l f i d e
i n t e r s e c t i o n s , i t i s c l e a r t h a t a t l e a s t t h r e e g e n e r a t i o n s o f p y r i t e
acco mp an i ed ep i so d i c b r i t t l e sh ear i n g an d h yd r o t h er mal b r ecci at i o n .
Fir st p hase pyr it e- q uar t z is st r uct ur ally co nt r o lled and co mmo nly o ccur s
as a fine- gr ained siliceous mat r ix t o hydr ot her mal br eccias. These br eccias
l o cal ly co n t ai n st r eak y, wi spy o r cr u d el y l ami n at ed t ext u r es su g g est i ve
o f f l u i d i z at i o n p r o cesses ( cf. Jo h n so n , 1 9 8 6 ) .
Seco nd st age pyr it e is co ar ser - gr ained and b r assy, and shows ir r e-
g ular co nt act s wher e it r ep laces wallr o ck o ut war d fr o m fr act ur es, lo cally
a l o n g t h e b r e cci a ve i n co n t a ct s . La t e p yr i t e i s ve r y f i n e g r a i n e d a n d
s o o t y , a n d o c c u r s a s n a r r o w v e i n s wi t h s h a r p c o n t a c t s a s we l l a s
mat r i x t o b r ecci at ed seco n d - st ag e p yr i t e, wh i ch f o r m cl ast - l i ke b r assy
cl o t s i n a d ar k g r ey, fi n e- g r ai n ed mat r i x.
Th e p r e s e n c e o f h y d r o t h e r m a l b r e c c i a s , p o s s i b l e f l u i d i z a t i o n
t ext u r e s, pyr i t e seams al o n g cu r vi l i n ear sh ear s, an d b r ecci at ed pyr i t e
wi t h l a t e r p y r i t e r e p l a c e m e n t a n d b r e c c i a f i l l i n g d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e
syn t ect o n i c t i mi n g o f su l f i d e an d g o l d mi n er al i z at i o n . Th i s acco r d s wel l
wit h t he st r ongly shear ed and fr act ur ed t ext ur es in miner alized out cr ops.
Po s t - mi n e r a l s h e a r i n g i s a l s o e vi d e n t , a s z o n e s o f l a t e - s t a g e p yr i t i c
a l t e r a t i o n a r e o f f s e t a l o n g cu r vi l i n e a r mi n o r f a u l t p l a n e s. Ab u n d a n t
b ar it e and nat ive sulfur co mmo nly fill vug s and vo id s, and ap p ear t o b e
ver y l at e- st ag e mi n er al s.
Ge o c h e m i s t r y o f t h e s u l f i d e i n t e r s e c t i o n s v a r i e s wi d e l y. On e
semimassive sulfide int er sect ion ( DH 3 3 A) cont ains r elat ively high values
i n c o p p e r, s i l ve r, a r s e n i c , a n t i m o n y a n d m e r c u r y i n a d d i t i o n t o g o l d
( e . g . , 7 . 5 me t e r s o f 0 . 4 7 % Cu , 5 3 . 3 g / t Ag wi t h i n a n i n t e r s e ct i o n o f
3 . 7 7 g / t Au o v e r 1 2 . 7 m e t e r s ) . Al t h o u g h e n a r g i t e o r l u z o n i t e i s
s u s p e c t e d , n o n e h a s b e e n c o n f i r m e d b y m i n e r a l o g i c a l wo r k . Ot h e r
i n t er sect i o n s h ave ver y l o w b ase met al an d i n d i cat o r el emen t val u es.
Oxi d at i o n l evel r an g es f r o m ab o u t 1 0 t o 5 0 met er s wi t h i n t h e g o l d
zo ne. Two near - sur f ace d r i l l i nt er sect i o ns ar e co mp l et el y o xi d i zed ( DH
9 and 2 8 ) . Oxi d at i o n has p r o d uced t hi cker i nt er sect i o ns ( > 3 0 met er s)
o f l o wer g r ad e mat er i al ( 1 . 0 - 1 . 5 g / t Au ) . Mu ch d eep er o xi d at i o n h as
o ccur r ed at hig her elevat io ns o n Cer r o Huamani Huayt a, wher e o ne d r ill
h o l e p en et r at ed t h e o xi d e- su l f i d e i n t er f ace at ab o u t 2 2 0 met er s b el o w
sur face.
Sombr Sombr Sombr Sombr Sombreruni ( eruni ( eruni ( eruni ( eruni (A AA AA) Z ) Z ) Z ) Z ) Zon on on on one ee ee
The So mb r er uni Zo ne cr o p s o ut alo ng t he t o p o f Cer r o So mb r er uni,
ab o ut 7 5 0 met er s NNW o f and 7 5 met er s hig her t han t he no r t her nmo st
au r i f er o u s o u t cr o p s o f t h e Po r aco t a Zo n e. Al t h o u g h a si g n i f i can t g ap
sep ar at es t he go l d - b ear i ng p o r t i o ns o f t he t wo zo nes, t he al t er at i o n i s
mo r e co nt inuo us b et ween t hem, wit h a co ver ed g ap o f o nly 2 5 0 met er s
sep ar at i ng p er vasi vely si l i ci fi ed o ut cr o p s al o ng st r i ke.
Geo chemi cal p at t er ns i n t he So mb r er uni Zo ne d i ffer mar ked l y fr o m
t h e Po r a co t a Zo n e . Go l d va l u e s co r r e l a t e we l l wi t h s i l ve r ( 0 . 6 0 ) a n d
mer cu r y ( 0 . 4 2 ) , an d t o a l esser ext en t wi t h an t i mo n y ( 0 . 3 6 ) , b i smu t h
( 0 . 2 9 ) , c o p p e r ( 0 . 3 0 ) a n d l e a d ( 0 . 2 5 ) . As i n t h e Po r a c o t a Zo n e ,
g o l d a n d z i n c h a ve a n i n ve r s e r e l a t i o n s h i p ( - 0 . 5 0 ) . Th e So mb r e r u n i
Zo n e i s l o cat ed i n t h e cen t er o f a l ar g e ( 1 km
2
) ar sen i c i n so i l an o maly.
Th e So m b r e r u n i Zo n e i s i n a l l o t h e r r e s p e c t s s i m i l a r t o t h e
st r at ab o und p o r t i o n o f t he Po r aco t a Zo ne, wi t h p er vasi vely si l i ci f i ed t o
q u a r t z - a l u n i t e a l t e r e d vo l ca n i c l a s t i c r o c k s o ve r p r i n t e d by 0 6 0 - 0 9 0
o
t r en d i n g b r i t t l e sh ear i n g . In t en sel y si l i ci f i ed r o cks cr o p o u t o ver a 2 5 0
x 7 5 0 me t e r a r e a , h o we ve r, o n l y a b o u t a t h i r d o f t h i s a r e a co n t a i n s
g o ld values > 1 .0 g / t . The lo cat io n and st r at ab o und mo r p ho lo g y o f t he
z o n e s u g g e s t t h a t i t i s a n e r o s i o n a l r e m n a n t , a n d o n l y a s m a l l g o l d
r eso ur ce mi g ht b e d evel o p ed .
Other Zones Other Zones Other Zones Other Zones Other Zones
At l e a s t s i x o t h e r a l t e r a t i o n z o n e s o f p o t e n t i a l s i g n i f i ca n ce h a ve
b een f o u n d wi t h i n t h e Po r aco t a p r o p er t y; mo st o f t h ese h ave yet t o b e
ma p p e d a n d s a mp l e d i n d e t a i l . Th e C Zo n e i s a b o u t o n e k i l o me t e r
so ut h o f t he so ut her nmo st i nt er sect i o n o f t he Po r aco t a Zo ne, cr o p p i ng
o u t at ab o u t t h e s ame el evat i o n ( 4 7 2 5 - 4 7 5 0 ) met er s . Go l d - b ear i n g
( u p t o 0 . 7 8 g / t Au ) , p e r v a s i v e ly s i l i c i f i e d a n d s t r o n g l y f r a c t u r e d
vo l can i cl ast i cs o ccu r o ver a 3 0 0 x 1 5 0 met er ar ea, wi t h i n a b r o ad h al o
o f q u ar t z - al u n i t e t o q u ar t z - d i cki t e al t er at i o n .
Th e Pu m a Zo n e i s l o c a t e d a f u r t h e r 2 . 6 k i l o m e t e r s t o t h e SSW.
Pe r v a s i ve l y s i l i ci f i e d , p yr i t i z e d a n d l o ca l ly b r e cci a t e d a s h a n d l a p i l l i
t u f f s c o n t a i n s i g n i f i c a n t g o l d v a l u e s ( u p t o 3 . 7 7 g / t Au i n l i m i t e d
samp ling ) o ver a 2 0 0 x 7 0 0 met er ar ea. Ot her alt er at io n zo nes includ e:
t he No r t hwest and So ut hwest Zo nes ( p er vasi ve si l i ci f i cat i o n t o q uar t z-
alunit e) , Pascana ( q uar t z- alunit e) , and Yur aco r cco ( o p al, chalced o ny) .
P PP PPORA ORA ORA ORA ORACO CO CO CO COT TT TTA AA AA M MM MMODEL ODEL ODEL ODEL ODEL
Po r aco t a i s o ne o f t he f i r st d i sco ver i es o f a si g ni f i cant g o l d d ep o si t
in a Miocene high- sulfidat ion epit her mal syst em in sout her n Per u. Acid-
sulfat e alt er at io n zo nes sp at ially asso ciat ed wit h silver - r ich b ase met al
veins ar e r elat ively common ( e.g.,Sucuit ambo; Er icksen and Cunningham,
1 9 9 3 ) , and silver - b ase met al veins and g o ld - co p p er d ep o sit s ar e kno wn
t o b e asso ciat ed wit h hig h sulfid at io n syst ems in g laciat ed Lat e Plio cene
st r at o vo l can o es ( Ccar h u ar az o , Pal l a- Pal l a; Vi d al et al . , 1 9 8 9 ) .
Th e e v i d e n c e a t t h i s s t a g e o f e xp l o r a t i o n i n d i c a t e s a s t r o n g
p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t Po r a c o t a i s r e l a t e d t o a n a n d e s i t i c v o l c a n i c c e n t e r
d e v e l o p e d i n a p o s t - c a l d e r a s e t t i n g . St r a t i g r a p h y h o s t i n g t h e m a i n
miner alized zo ne over lies a t hick ( 1 5 0 - 2 0 0 + m) , p ar t ly weld ed r hyo lit e
ig nimb r it e unit which co uld r ep r esent an int r acald er a t uf f. Miner alizat io n
i s h o st ed mai n l y i n r el at i vel y p er meab l e vo l can i cl ast i c r o cks sh ed f r o m
o ne o r mo r e and esit ic vo lcanic cent er s lo cat ed eit her wit hin t he cald er a
o r p r o xi mal t o i t . Th e p r esen ce o f r o u n d ed cl ast s o f mi xed l i t h o l o g y i n
we l l b e d d e d s e q u e n c e s , l o c a l g r a d e d b e d d i n g , a n d t h i n - b e d d e d t o
PORACOTA: UNYACIMIENTOEPITERMAL DE ORODE ALTA SULFURACINENEL SURDEL PER
59 59 59 59 59
l ami n at ed car b o n aceo u s s ed i men t s p o i n t s t o d ep o s i t i o n o f r ewo r k ed
v o l c a n i c m a t e r i a l i n a f l u v i a l t o l a c u s t r i n e e n v i r o n m e n t s u c h a s a n
i n t r acal d er a g r ab en o r cal d er a mo at b asi n .
Hyd r o t her mal alt er at io n p r o b ab ly acco mp anied r enewed mag mat ic
a ct i vi t y s o me t i me a f t e r t h e d e p o s i t i o n o f t h e a n d e s i t i c vo l ca n i cl a s t i c
u n i t . I t i s a l s o p o s s i b l e t h a t s o m e o f t h e s e v o l c a n i c s e d i m e n t s
accu mu l at ed i n a cal d er a l ake ab o ve t h e act i ve h yd r o t h er mal syst em,
b y a n a l o g y wi t h t h e Ru a p e h u cr a t e r l a k e , Ne w Ze a l a n d ( Ch r i s t e n s e n
an d Wo o d , 1 9 9 3 ) . Hi g h l evel d aci t i c t o an d esi t i c i n t r u si ves wer e l at er
emp l aced i n and ar o und Cer r o Huamani Huayt a i n t he wani ng st ag es o f
t h e h y d r o t h e r m a l s y s t e m . Th e g r e a t t h i c k n e s s o f a d v a n c e d a r g i l l i c
a l t e r a t i o n ( > 2 5 0 m) , d e e p o xi d a t i o n l e ve l s , a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n o f l a t e
andesit e por phyr y suggest s t hat t he magmat ic cent er dr iving t he Por acot a
h yd r o t h er mal syst em u n d er l ay Cer r o Hu aman i Hu ayt a.
Hyd r o t h e r ma l a ct i vi t y wa s a p p a r e n t l y i n i t i a t e d d u r i n g a p e r i o d o f
act ive t ect onism, which gener at ed widespr ead east t o nor t heast t r ending
fr act ur es and br it t le shear s. Hydr ot her mal fluids wer e channeled t hr ough
fault s and fr act ur es and spr ead out war d fr om a pr imar y st r uct ur al conduit
al o ng p er mea bl e vo l cani cl ast i c b ed s wi t h r emar kabl e l at er al co nt i nui t y.
Ne a r t h e c o r e z o n e m i n e r a l i z a t i o n a l s o o c c u r r e d i n t h e u n d e r l y i n g
i g n i m b r i t e . P o s t - m i n e r a l f a u l t m o v e m e n t a l o n g t h i s r o o t z o n e
d o wn d r o p p ed t h e so u t h er n p ar t o f t h e g o l d zo n e.
An e a r l y s t a g e o f a ci d l e a ch i n g p r e ce d e d mi n e r a l i z a t i o n , l o ca l l y
cr e a t i n g z o n e s o f vu g g y s i l i ca wi t h i n t h i c k e r z o n e s o f q u a r t z - a l u n i t e
an d q u ar t z - al u n i t e- cl ay. Typ i cal ly, t h i s p h ase o f t h e al t er at i o n syst em
i s i n i t i a t e d wh e n m a g m a t i c SO
2
a n d HCl f r o m a d e g a s s i n g , c o o l i n g
i n t r u si o n p er co l at e i n t o g r o u n d wat er, cau si n g SO
2
t o d i sp r o p o r t i o n at e
i n t o H
2
SO
4
a n d H
2
S ( e . g . , He d e n q u i s t e t a l . , 1 9 9 4 ) . Mi n o r g o l d wa s
d e p o s i t e d i n t h i s s t a g e , a s e vi d e n ce d b y z o n e s o f l o w- s u l f i d e vu g g y
s i l i ca wi t h g o l d g r a d e s t yp i ca l l y a r o u n d 1 g / t o r l e s s . Th e b u l k o f t h e
g o l d was p r o b ab l y d ep o si t ed f r o m a l at er met al l i f er o u s mag mat i c f l u i d ,
as evi d en ced b y t h e asso ci at i o n o f h i g h g o l d g r ad es an d st r o n g p yr i t e
vei n i n g an d r ep l acemen t . St r o n g p yr i t i z at i o n an d h i g h g o l d g r ad es i n
vug g y silica t o war d t he b ase o f t he st r at ab o und zo ne r eflect s enhanced
p er meab i l i t y cr eat ed b y ear l y aci d l each i n g .
Th e g en er al d i sso ci at i o n o f l each i n g an d g o l d mi n er al i z at i o n al so
p r o d u ces z o n es o f i n t en se al t er at i o n wh i ch ar e n o t mi n er al i z ed , ei t h er
b ecause t he g o ld - r ich seco nd - st age f luid s fail t o p enet r at e p ar t s o f t he
aci d l eached z o ne, o r b ecause go l d d ep o si t i o n f ai l s t o o ccur i n p ar t s o f
t he zone in which t he lat er met allifer ous br ines cir culat e. This is consist ent
wi t h t h e ext en s i o n o f i n t en s e al t er at i o n f o r h u n d r ed s o f met er s al o n g
st r i ke, b eyo n d t h e z o n e co n t ai n i n g g o l d mi n er al i z at i o n ( Fi g u r e 4 ) .
Fu t u r e exp l o r at i o n a t Po r a co t a wi l l i n c l u d e f u r t h e r d r i l l t e s t i n g o f
t h e m i n e r a l i z e d s t r u c t u r a l r o o t o f t h e Po r a c o t a Zo n e a s we l l a s t h e
o t h e r s t r a t a b o u n d a l t e r a t i o n z o n e s a b o ve a n d b e l o w t h e g o l d z o n e .
Th e o u t l yi n g g o l d mi n er al i z at i o n i n C Zo n e an d t h e Pu ma Zo n e al so
wi l l b e d r i l l ed . As wel l , f u r t h er g eo l o g i cal an d geo ch emi cal wo r k o n t h e
o t her alt er at io n zo nes co uld lead t o d isco ver y o f unexp o sed g o ld zo nes
at d ep t h .
R RR RREFERENCES EFERENCES EFERENCES EFERENCES EFERENCES
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A AA AACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CKNOWLEDGEMENTS CKNOWLEDGEMENTS CKNOWLEDGEMENTS CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Th an ks t o Ro n Br i t t en o f Fi r st Po i n t Mi n er al s Co r p. fo r h i s h el p f u l
co mmen t s o n an ear l i er d r af t o f t h i s p ap er.
J ohn Bradford
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