EconomicGeology

Vol. 85, 1990, pp. 1669-1676

4A'/39Af
AGESOF MAGMATISMAND TUNGSTEN-POL
YMETALLICMINERALIZATION,
PALCA 11, CHOQUENE DISTRICT, SOUTHEASTERN PERU

EDWARD FARRAR, BRIAN K. YAMAMURA, ALAN H. CLARK,

Departmentof GeologicalSciences,
Queen'sUniversity,Kingston,Ontario, CanadaK 7L 3N6

AND JORGETAIPE A.
SociedadAn(nimaMinera Regina,Morelli 181, SanBorja, Lima 41, Peru

Introduction foothillsof the Cordillerade Carabaya,a segmentof

The tin-silver belt of the Cordillera Oriental of north- the central Andean Cordillera Oriental (Fig. 1). A
westBolivia(AhlfeldandSchneider-Scherbina, 1964; 1:500,000 reconnaissance geologicmapof thisregion
Turneaure,1971) haslongbeen animportantsource was made by Laubaeher(1978); Clark et al. (1984,
of tungsten,the major producingdepositsbeing 1990a) and Kontakand Clark (1988) review its me-
quartz vein swarmsassociated with granitoidplutons tallogenieevolution.The geologyof the districtsur-
of both Late Triassicto Early Jurassicand late Oli- roundingthe Palea11 mine and aspectsof the struc-
goceneto early Miocene age (Everndenet al., 1977; ture and mineralogyof the deposit have been de-
McBride et al., 1983). In the adjacentarea of south- scribed in unpublishedreports by Arenas (1978),
easternPeru (Fig. 1), correspondinggeographically Robertson(1978), Vargas(1979), Miranda (1980),
to the Cordillera and Precordillerade Carabaya,de- Tijero (1981), andTumilin and Torres (1985).
velopmentof the undergroundPalca11 (PalcaOn9e) Mineralizationismainlyconfinedto a north-north-
mine, situatedat lat 14o42'38"S, long 69o40'44"W, west-trendinglode system(Fig. 2), hostedentirely
in the Choquenedistrict of northern Puno Depart- by predominantlyelasticsedimentarystrataassigned
ment, has confirmed the occurrence of substantial to the MississippianAmbo Group (Laubaeher,1978;
tonnagesof high-gradetungsten ores (Willig and Tijero, 1981). The shales,sandstones,
quartzarenites,
Delgado, 1985). The mine is operated by Sociedad andminormarlsof the group,andthe overlyinglime-
An6nimaMinera Regina,who in 1987 reported re- stonesof the Pennsylvanian to Lower PermianTarma-
servesof 1.2 millionmetric tonsat 1.3 percentWO3. CopaeabanaGroups(Fig. 2), are stronglydeformed.
Ferberite was first recorded from the depositby The mineralizedveinsaresuperimposed upona major
Aguilar (1976). Productionover the period 1978 to overturned anticline, a member of a homoelinal as-
1987 amounted to 3,800 metric tons of ferberite con- semblageof west-southwest-verging foldsandthrusts
centrates(68% WO3) and 100 metrictonsof scheelite (Miranda, 1980). Fold limbs dip at ca. 60 to 65
concentrates(74% WO3). Palca11 hasrecentlyre- east-northeastin the mine area, and axial-planar
placedthe PastoBuenomine, of the CordilleraBianca sehistose andslatyfoliationsare commonlydeveloped
(LandisandRye, 1974), asthe majornationaltungsten in shalyunits.Miranda(1990) recognizedbothintra-
producer.Indeed, its 1988 productionof 545 metric formationalfolding and regionalcompressional de-
tonsof W metal in concentrates wasthe highestin formation,the latterbeingassigned mainlyto the late
the westernhemisphere.The grade of the ores ex- Hercynian orogenicevent of Mgard et al. (1971)
ceedsthat of all othersignificantW depositsin South andLaubacher(1978). Recentstratigraphic andgeo-
America(Willig andDelgado, 1985). chronologic studies to the west of Lake Titicaca
We record new 4Ar/3"r data for the Palca 11 (Klinck et al., 1986; Clark et al., 1990b) have con-
mineralization, andfor associated subvolcanic grani- firmedthatthiscompressional phaseoccurredin Early
toid intrusions, whichnecessitate revisionof ageas- Permiantime. The major foldinghasbeen inferred
signmentsmadein earlier papers(Clark et al., 1984; to have preceded the depositionof predominantly
Kontakand Clark, 1988). The geochronologic re- clasticstrataof the mainlyLower CretaceousCotacu-
searchis part of an ongoinginvestigationof metal- choGroupandof the shalesof the Campanian-Danian
logenicrelationsin the CordilleraOriental of south- VilquechicoFormation,widely exposedin the south-
easternPeru, andmorespecifically, of a studyof the ern part of the Choquenedistrict(Fig. 2). Refolding
geology ofthisremarkable deposit(Yamamura, 1990). during Tertiary time is also recognized(Miranda,
1980). However, it shouldbe emphasizedthat the
District Geology age of the main foldingepisoderemainspoorly de-
The Choqueneminingdistrict,formerlya minor fined:it couldbe Tertiary andessentiallycoevalwith
sourceof argentianlead concentrates, lies at a mean the mineralization(seebelow).The youngestsupra-
altitude of 4,600 m aslnear the northern limit of the crustalunitsmappedin the areaby Tijero (1981) have
Precordillerade Carabaya,which constitutesthe been assignedto the probablymid-TertiaryHuaya-

1669
1670 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS

bamba Formation, which comprisesred beds and

__ .[] Miocene
Inlrusive Rhyohte
and tuffs
rhyoliticignimbrites.
-- ] Unconsohdalad
Intrusive rocks
':..."i[]
Huayabamba
Formation
Two smallrhyolitic(or microgranitic)stocksanda [] V,l(uechlco
Formaoon
diatremeare exposedin the Palca11 mine area;none
of thesebodiesis affectedby folding.Sixkilometers ColacuchoGroup
southof the mine,a subcircular,steep-walledintru- Tarma
and
Copacabana
Groups

sionca.1.3 km in diameterunderliesCerroCorimpata -- Ambo

Group
(or Cerro Choquene:Figs.2 and3b). Immediatelyto Am,cline
the west,a diatremefilled by lithic-lapillituffs,with
a core andthin outer sleeveof rhyolite,crosscuts the
Cretaceousstrata(Fig. 2). The smallerPucaorcostock ,neral,ze
Vs,ns
cropsout closeto the northernextremityof the Palca Cornours:
slew.ohs
, meters s

vein system,intrudingAmboGroupsediments (Figs.

2 and3c). This stockhasa crescent-shaped outlinein
plan (ca.550 X 200 m). Bothstockscomprisemainly
fine-grained,white to pale cream rocks showing
strongflowlamination.Xenolithsof amphiboliteand
granulitefacies,schistoseand gneissose, metasedi-
mentarybasementrocksare locallyabundantin the
Corimpataintrusion(Injoque et al., 1983), whereas
the Pucaorcobody incorporatesfragmentsof local
Ambo Group metapelitesand inclusionsof coarse-
grained, serioporphyriticmonzogranite(Fig. 3d).
Normativecalculations, followingMielkeandWinkler
(1979) and Streckeisenand LeMaitre (1979), show
that both stocksare of syenogranitic composition.
The Corimpatarhyolite containsphenocrystsof
quartz, plagioclase,biotite, and sanidine,the last lo-
cally attaining4 cm in length (Fig. 3b), set in a fine-
grained quartzofeldspathic matrix which originally
containedconsiderable glass.Sillimanite(perhapsthe
FIG. 1. Locationmapsshowingpositionof the studyareanear
the apparentnorthwesternextremityof the centralAndeanSn-
Ag belt (inset) and mineral depositsof known and inferred late
Oligoceneto earlyMioceneagein the CordilleraandPrecordillera
deCarabaya.
Mineralization
agesarefromClarket al.(1983)and
Kontaket al. (1987); seealsoClark et al. (1990a).
FIG. 2. Geologicsketchmapof the Choqueneminingdistrict
(modifiedafter Tijero, 1981). Structuraldata are considerably
simplified (after Miranda, 1980). Geologicrelationshipsin the
southernhalf of the area, includingthe diatremewest of Cerro
Corimpata, are approximate.See text for agesof stratigraphic
units.
"tremolite" of earlier workers),andalusite,ilmenite,
and apatiteoccurwidely asinclusionsin the pheno-
crystminerals;the latterthreealsoformmicropheno-
crysts.The Pucaorcorhyolitesare similarin petrog-
raphy, but muscoviteis a major phenocrysticcom-
ponent in mostareasof the stock,and andalusiteis
absent.
Petrochemicalstudies(B. K. Yamamura,in prep.)
demonstrate that the leucocratic intrusive rocks are
highlyperaluminous
(A/CNK1= 1.21-1.57),siliceous
(69-73 wt % SiO2),andpotassic(K20:Na20 > 1) and
are enrichedin P205,Rb, andF anddepletedin CaO,
MgO, Fetotal,andSrin comparison to the low Ca gran-
ite (i.e., monzogranite)of Turekian and Wedepohl
(1961). The Pucaorcorockshavemore extremecom-
positionsthan thoseof the Corimpatastock(e.g., K/
Rb = 47-57 vs. 65-90). The rocksare variablybut
stronglyenrichedin Sn (< 119 ppm).
The petrogenesisof theseunusualintrusiverhyo-
lites,whichhavevery elevatedcontentsof numerous
rare elements,indicatesthat they bear similaritiesto
That is, molesA1203/moles
(CaO + Na20 + KO).
 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS 1671

FIG. 3. Aspectsof intrusiverhyolite bodiesin the Choquenedistrict. (a). Cerro Corimpata (or Cerro
Choquene)from the northeast.The contactbetween the stockand the Cretaceouscountry rockslies
ca. 50 m downslopefrom the lowestrocky outcrops(cf. Fig. 2). Flow jointing is clearly shownon the
eastslopeof the hill. (b). Characteristicleucocraticappearanceof Cerro Corimpatarholite,showing
scatteredsanidinemegacrysts. (c). Outcropof Pucaorcorholite(foreground:exposureca. 35 m across),
intrusiveinto quartzitesandshalesof the AmboGroup.Lookingwest-southwest. (d). Xenolithof coarse-
grainedmonzogranite(left-center)in sanidineporphyriticrholite,Cerro Pucaorco.Lengthof hammer
head, 18.5 cm.

two-micaleucogranites (e.g., Price, 1983). A highly trusionsis translucent.We thereforeinfer (seeKontak

peraluminousmetasedimentaryprotolith is impli- et al., 1984; Kontakand Clark, 1988) that the stocks
cated.Closeparallelsare evidentwith rhyoliticash- have not been penetratedby hydrothermalsystems
flow tuffs of the Mio-Pliocene Macusani Volcanics at their presentlevel of exposure,whereasthe mon-
(Noble et al., 1984; Pichavantet al., 1987, 1988a and zogranitewas affectedby suchactivity prior to its
b), one area of which, the Picotani field, is situated incorporationasxenolithsin the Pucaorcomagma.
only 11 km to the northwest(Laubacheret al., 1988;
Pichavantet al., 1988a; Clark et al., 1990a). Palca 11 Vein System
The inclusions(Fig. 3d) of coarse-grained serio- The ferberite and scheelite mineralizatioR 'of the
porphyritic biotite monzogranitein the Pucaorco Palca11 undergroundmineis locatedin the southern
stockare of interestbecausethey representa less extremity of a laterally extensive,north-northwest-
fractionatedcomposition thanthe rocksof the intru- striking,structurallycomplexvein system(Fig. 2).
sions:the monzogranite isrelativelyenrichedin CaO, Four majorsubparallelveinsare exposedin the mine
MgO, Na.O, and Fetota.Moreover, at least one such workings--PalcaOeste(west),PalcaEste(east),Evita,
inclusion contains disseminated tourmaline and is tra- and Pulcapollera,of which the first two have been
versedby a quartzveinletwith a weakgreisenalter- the most productive. The veins, which dip east-
ationenvelope,both of whichare truncatedby the northeastat about45, comprisea complexseriesof
enclosing rhyolite.A sampleofmonzogranite yielded cymoidloops.The tungsten-richore zonesaverage2
a Sn contentof 164 ppm (B. K. Yamamura,unpub. to 4 m in width, but locallyattainca. 15 m; they are
data).The alkalifeldsparsin the inclusions are turbid characterizedby extensivebrecciadevelopment.Al-
and perthitic; in contrast,the sanidineof the two in- though assaydata for the vein systemin its central
1672 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS

andnorthernsegmentsare scanty,andin part, incon- infillingof dilatingstructures,characterizethe shal-

sistent,it is evident that there is a broad lateral metal lower levels of the mine. The second association com-
zonation from W(-Cu) in the Palca-Evita section, prises coarse-grained pegmatoidK feldspar and
throughCu(-Bi)andCu-Zn(-Sn)in the Cobreminaand quartz. The feldsparcommonlymakesup over 60
Minsursections,respectively,to Zn-Cu in the north- percentof the veinsandis an adulariawith the high
ernmostAlejandritoworkings(Fig. 2). Tungstenores sanidinestructure.Althoughthisfaciespredominates
havebeen stopedover vertical and horizontalinter- in the deeper mine workings,textural relationsin-
valsof 125 and 500 m, respectively.The Sn content dicate that its emplacementoverlappedextensively
of theveinrarelyexceeds 0.4 percent(Miranda,1980) with that of the hematitic paragenesis.Extensive
andis erratic,attainingits highestlevelsin the Minsur chloritic,biotitic,andsericitic(Fig. 4a) alterationof
area.The outlyingEspafioles veins(Fig. 2) havebeen metapeliticcountryrocksisassociated with bothvein
workedon a smallscalefor Ag-richPb-Zn-Cuores. facies.
Characteristicaspectsof the Palca Oeste-Evita Whereasthe gradeof the scheelite-dominated vein
veinsare illustratedin Figure 4a to d. The veinscom- segmentsrarely exceeds0.7 percentWOa, a marked
prise two predominantlithologicassociations, both tungstenenrichmentaccompaniedintenseadvanced
originallyscheelitebearing.Laminatedintergrowths argillicalterationof the veins.Wide areasof theveins
of quartz, specularitichematite,biotite, pyrite, and exhibit a kaolinitc-quartz (-pyrite) assemblage,in
minorchalcopyrite,displayingevidenceof multistage which scheeliteis extensivelyreplacedby ferberite,

FIG. 4. Characteristic!ithologiesof the Palca-Evitavein system.(a). Stockworkof adularia-quartz

(-scheelite)veinscuttingblackbut phyllicallyalteredAmboGroupmetapelites.Samplefrom the 4,450-
m level, ConsueloCentral ore shoot,PalcaOeste vein. Hammer head is 18.5 cm long. (b). Texturally
complexfeldspathicvein stone(mediumgray) containingangularfragmentsof biotitizedshaleand
massivepyrite (both dark gray to black)and cut by barrencombyquartzveinlets(white, on the left).
Locationasfor (a). (c). Hematite-pyrite(-quartz)veinassemblage(black,darkgray)cementingfragments
of coarse-grained adularia(pale gray). Left-handside of sampleis mud covered.Scheeliteoccursin
both hematitic and feldspathicdomains.Location as for (a). (d). Medium-gradeferberite ore zone,
Consueloorebody (southeasternlimit of the workings,(4)450 stope,June, 1985) on the PalcaOeste
vein.Fragmentsof argi!!izedshale(whitish)enclosedin intenselyargi!!izedfeldspar-quartz vein stone
(mediumgray).Ferberite(black)occursaspatchesof minutecrystals(center)andasa minorconstituent
of crosscuttingquartz-hematite-pyriteveinlets.(Undergroundphotograph--notepenumbra).
 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS 1673

TABLE1. 4Ar/39Ar
Data for TotalFusionAnalyses,
ChoqueneMiningDistrict,Southeast
Peru

Sample 4Ar* Age 4- 2a error

no. Mineral(mesh) 4Ar/39Ar 36Ar/3Ar 37Arcd3"rc J value (%) (Ma)
Cerro Corimpata intrusive rhyolite
Palca-8 Bi (-45 + 60) 3.066 5.702E-3 3.853E-3 3.460E-3 44.6 8.51 4- 0.14
Palca-8 Bi (-60 + 80) 2.852 5.071E-3 2.372E-3 3.473E-3 46.9 8.36 4- 0.18
Palca-8 Sa (-45 d- 60) 1.464 2.630E-4 6.689E-3 3.415E-3 93.7 8.43 4- 0.11

Pucaorcointrusive rhyolite
Palca-12 Bi (-45 d- 60) 3.006 3.454E-3 1.893E-3 3.520E-3 65.5 12.42 4- 0.10
Palca-12 Bi (-60 + 80) 3.370 4.705E-3 2.224E-3 3.516E-3 58.3 12.41 4- 0.17
Palca-12 Ms (-45 d- 60) 3.927 6.613E-3 3.150E-3 3.446E-3 49.9 12.13 4- 0.17
Palca-12 PI (-45 + 60) 4.607 9.351E-3 1.319 3.430E-3 41.8 11.90 4- 0.48

Palca Oeste vein

Palca-72 Bi (+25) 4.406 1.500E-3 6.057E-3 3.529E-3 89.6 24.96 4- 0.13

Palca-72 Bi (-25 + 40) 4.356 1.377E-3 6.316E-3 3.522E-3 90.3 24.82 4- 0.15
Palca-72 Ad (+25) 5.820 7.096E-3 7.375E-4 3.420E-3 63.7 22.60 4- 0.12

Ad -- adularia,Bi = biotite, Ms = muscovite,P1-- plagioclase,

Sa -- sanidine,4Ar*= radiogenic4Ar

in part pseudomorphously ("reinitc"). The ferberite gas-releasespectrawere preparedfor vein adularia

occursassootyblack aggregatesof minute crystals, (Table 2) and for biotite from a xenolithof coarse-
formingpatchesthroughoutthe alteredveinsandalso grainedmonzogranite fromthePucaorco stock(Table
concentrated within thin crosscuttingquartz(-pyrite) 3). Mineral separateswere concentratedemploying
veinlets(Fig. 4d). Gradesexceeding2 percentWO handpicking,heavyliquid, and magnetictechniques
arewidelydevelopedin suchzones.Argillicalteration and were at least 99.9 percent pure. The adularia
is consideredto have occurredlate in the develop- (with0.90 wt % BaOand0.84% Na20) wasunaltered
ment of the veins. but containedabundantminute fluid and opaquein-
The major veins, subparallelto but not strictly clusions.Sampledescriptionsandlocationsare given
foldsin the in the Appendix.
coaxialwith the north-northwest-trending
Ambo Group, are obliquestructures,showingevi- Totalfusion4Ar/3Ar
analyses
andanalysesof4At/
dence both of normal and dextral as well as minor 3"r fluxmonitors(samplesLP6 andSP-85,aninternal
reverse movement (Miranda, 1980; Tumilim and standard)were carriedout by resistiveheatingin a
Torres, 1985). turret furnace.4Ar/"r step-heatinganalyses
em-
ployeda Lindbergfurnace.Samples usedfor 4At/
4Ar/a9Ar AgeData "r analyses were irradiatedin the McMasterUni-
Total fusion4Ar/gArage determinations have versityreactor,andcorrectionsfor Ca- andK-derived
beencarriedout on ten mineralseparates
fromrocks Ar isotopeswere madeusingvaluesdeterminedby
of the Choquenedistrict,comprisingsamplesfrom BottomIcyand York (1976). The quotederrorsrep-
outcropsof the Corimpata and Pucaorcointrusive resentthe analyticalprecisionat 2a, and to facilitate
rhyolites, and from undergroundexposuresof the comparisonof step ages,do not include an error in
Palca Oeste vein (Table 1). In addition,incremental the J value.The mineraldateswere calculatedwith

TABLE2. 4Ar/3"r GasReleaseData for Palca-72Adularia

Temperature Vol. 3"rc 39Arc 4Ar Apparentage Error 4- 2r

(C) 4Ar/3Ar 36Ar/3Ar 37Arc/3Arc (10-6 cm NTP) (%) (%) (Ma) (Ma)
550 718.1 2.306 1.086E-1 2.395E-3 0.472 5.13 154.6 92.0
750 13.11 2.574E-2 3.386E-3 5.217E-2 10.28 41.9 23.92 0.19
7501 6.769 3.712E-3 1.541E-2 9.158E-3 1.810 83.6 24.63 1.18
975 5.863 1.766E-3 1.711E-3 8.076E-2 15.92 90.8 23.20 0.41
1,220 6.740 4.462E-3 9.896E-4 0.3628 71.52 80.2 23.54 0.26

value= 2.430X 10-3;integrated

age= 24.164-0.36 Ma;4Ar-- radiogenic
4Ar
Temperatureheldat 750Cforanadditional
40 minafterstep2
1674 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS

TABLE3. 4Ar/39Ar
Gas-Release
Data for Palca-60Biotite

Temperature Vol. 39ARK 39ARK 4Ar* Apparentage Error -+20-

(C) 4Ar/39Ar 36Ar/39Ar 37Arcd39ArK (10-6 cm3 NTP) (%) (%) (Ma) (Ma)
500 108.4 0.3604 4.798E-3 1.034E-3 0.224 1.71 10.59 43.0
700 5.016 9.391E-3 4.264E-3 0.1193 25.79 44.6 12.82 0.20
850 2.934 2.313E-3 1.416E-2 7.790E-2 16.85 76.2 12.78 0.23
1,000 2.997 2.556E-3 1.711E-2 0.2085 45.09 74.3 12.73 0.25
1,200 2.915 2.484E-3 0.2628 5.571E-2 12.04 75.0 12.49 0.31

J value= 3.180 x 10-3;integratedage= 12.70 -+0.33 Ma; 4Ar= radiogenic4Ar

reference to the decay constantsrecommendedby significantlyyounger.However, an incrementalheat-

SteigerandJfger (1977) and are referred to the time ing run (Table 2) on a secondfeldsparconcentrate
scaleofPalmer(1.983).
The4Ar/39Ar
datesaredis- yielded an integratedage of 24.16 ___ 0.36 Ma, i.e.,
cussedherein essentiallyin antichronologic order. onlya little youngerthanthe meanof the biotitedates
The age of the Cerro Corimpata(Choquene)in- (24.89 ___0.14 Ma). The spectrumdeterminedfor the
trusiverhyoliteis established by datesfor two biotites adularia(Fig. 5) definesa plateaufor over90 percent
(differinggrainsizesandirradiations) andonesanidine of the gasreleased.The higherror in step3 is a func-
from a singlesamplefrom the northeasternarea of tion of the relativelylow ageandthe smallgasfraction
the stock.The three concentrates yield (Table 1) es- releasedasthe samplewasheatedfor 40 min at the
sentiallyidenticallate Mioceneagesin the range8.36 same temperature as that of the previous step
_ 0.18 to 8.51 _ 0.14 Ma that agreewith a conven- (750C). Althoughthismineralappearsto havebeen
tional K-Ar age (8.4 ___ 0.2 Ma) reportedby Kontak slightlylessretentiveof Ar thanthe associatedbiotite,
et al. (1987) for biotite from a specimencollectedby the plateauistakenasevidencethat the hydrothermal
R. C. R. Robertsonin 1977. That sampleis markedly feldsparcooledrapidly.
more cafemicthan any we have observedfrom this In view of the clear indication that W mineraliza-
small intrusion and contains,in addition to sillimanite,
tion in the Palca-Evitavein zone long precededem-
phenocrysticcordieritc, a mineral absentin other placementof both of the nearbystocks,our attention
samples.We infer from the identicalages,however, was drawn to the inclusion of coarse mineralized
that the Corimpatastockcontainsa restrictedvolume monzogranitein the Pucaorcorhyolite, in the hope
of cordieritc-bearingrhyolite. that direct evidenceof late Oligoceneintrusionmight
The ageof the Pucaorcointrusionis established by be obtained. However, an unaltered biotite from one
total fusiondates (Table 1) on two biotite fractions suchinclusionyielded an integratedage (Table 3) of
and one eachof phenocrysticmuscoviteand plagio-
clase.The four samplesyielded agesin the range
11.90 _ 0.48 (plagioclase)to 12.41 ___0.17 Ma (bio-
tite). The four overlappingagesare convincingevi-
dence that intrusiontook place in middle Miocene
time at about 12 Ma. Althoughnot significantlydif-
ferent at the 95 percentconfidencelevel, the slightly
youngerplagioclasedate is in conformitywith the
lower Ar-retention temperature inferred for this
30
1 ADULAR
(PALC NTEGRATED AGE =24.16 Ma

mineralrelativeto biotite (e.g., McDougallandHar-

rison,1988). The datesreportedherein are the same
asthosedeterminedby Bonhommeet al. (1988) and
Laubacheret al. (1988) for K feldspar(12.7 ___ 0.6
Ma) andbiotite (12. i ___0.3 Ma) from this intrusion.
20 i
Againstthisbackgroundof middleto late Miocene 0 0.2 O'.4 0:6
magmaticactivity, the datesobtainedfor freshhy- CUMULATIVEFRACTION 39 Ar RELEASED
drothermalbiotiteandadulariacloselyassociated with
scheelite mineralization in the Palca Oeste vein were FIG.5.4Ar/39Ar
agespectrum
forhydrothermal
adularia
(Palca-
entirelyunexpected.Total fusiondates(Table 1) for 72) from the PalcaOestevein. Widths of stepbarsindicateana-
two biotite fractions(24.96 ___
0.13 and 24.82 ___
0.15 lytical errors (_+20-).The spectrumexhibitsa plateau at 24.2 Ma
over 90 percentof the 39Arreleased.The third steprepresents
Ma) and one adularia (22.60 ___
0.12 Ma) are late Oli- gascollectedfor 40 min at 750C after the samplehad been
goceneto early Miocene.The micaagesagreewithin degassedfor 20 min at that sametemperature.The high error is
the analyticalprecision,whereasthe feldspardate is a consequence of the minutevolumeof gasreleasedin this step.
 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS 1675

1990a). Severalof the intrusionsare associated

with
BIOTITE (PALCA-60) high-gradeSn-basemetaloAg veinsystems,including
the highlyproductiveSanRafaelSn(-Cu,Ag) lodes
(Fig.1).Althoughnotknowntoberelatedtogranitoid
intrusions,
the Pb-Zn-Agveinsandmantosof the Ce-
cilia-San
Antoniodistrict(Fig.1) are,onmineralogical
grounds(Clarket al., 1990a),tentativelyassignedto
INTEGRATED AGE = 12.70 Ma
the samemid-Tertiarymetallogenicepisode.It is now
evidentthat the rich tungstenveinsof the Choquene
camp representa southeasterlyprolongationof this
domain (cf. Clark et al., 1984; Kontak et al., 1987;
Kontak and Clark, 1988) and are, moreover, coeval
10 I I I I I I I I with the major Sn-W vein systemsof the Cordillera
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

CUMULATIVE FRACTION 39Ar RELEASED

QuimsaCruz of northwestBolivia (Everndenet al.,
1977; McBride et al., 1983).
FIG.6.4Ar/S9Ar
agespectrum
for magmatic
biotite(Palca-60)
from a coarsemonzograniteinclusionin the Pucaorcointrusive
Acknowledgments
rhyolite. The spectrumexhibitsa plateauat 12.7 Ma. Field researchby B.K.Y. and A.H.C. was funded
by Natural SciencesandEngineeringResearchCoun-
cil (NSERC) of Canadagrantsto A.H.C., and labo-
12.70 ___ 0.33 Ma. At the 2a error level, this date is ratory studiesby NSERC grantsto E.F and A.H.C.
the same as that of the phenocrysticbiotite in the We are gratefulto the SociedadAn0nimaMinera Re-
stock. The good plateau configurationof the age gina,andparticularlyto FernandoAriasVargas,Ger-
spectrum(Fig. 6) yieldsno evidenceof a significantly ente General,for generouslyprovidinglogisticalas-
event.It is,therefore,uncertain sistance,accessto the Palca11 mine, and permission
earliercrystallization
whether the monzogranite represents an intrusion to publishthispaper.Ing. MarioArenasFigueroaalso
parentalto the Palca11 vein system,andentirelyde- gavemuchhelpfuladviceandhospitality.GlenFell
gassedat ca. 12.7 Ma, or a deeperfaciesof the Pu- assistedwith the mineral separationsand age deter-
caorco intrusion. minations.Ela Rusakand BeccaLane prepared the
illustrations and Sheila McPherson and Diane Parr the
Discussion
typescript.
Our demonstrationthat the Palca 11 vein system This is a contribution to the Queen's University
is considerablyolder than either of two spatiallyas- CentralAndeanMetallogenetic Project("CAMP").
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APPENDIX
Locationsand Descriptionsof Dated Samples
Palca-8.Intrusive rhyolite, NE slopeof Cerro Cor-
impata (or Cerro Choquene).
Palca-12.Intrusiverhyolite, Cerro Pucaorco.Sample
wastaken from approximatecenter of intrusion.
Palca-72. Comprisestwo specimens,collectedca. 40
cm apart, from the PalcaOeste vein (4,547-m level;
mine coordinatesN73550/E26633; 5 m northof 543
der Mesonormfiir granitischeGesteine:Neues Jahrb.Miner-
alogie Monatsh, October, p. 471-480.
Miranda, C. M., 1980, Mina Palca 11, Puno-Peru: Lima, Peru,
Soc.An6n. Minera Regina,unpub. rept., 145 p.
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N. K., Jesck,D. A., and McKee, E. H., 1984, Rare-element
enriched,S-typeash-flowtuffscontainingphenocrystsof mus-
covite, andalusiteand sillimanite,southeasternPeru: Geology,
v. 12, p. 35-39.
Palmer, A. R., compiler, 1983, The decadeof North American
geology1983 geologictime scale:Geology,v. 11, p. 503-504.
Pichavant, M., Valencia Herrera, J., Boulmier, S., Briqueu, L.,
Joron,J. L., Juteau,M., Maria, L., Michard, A., and Sheppard,
S. M. F., 1987, The Macusaniglasses,SE Peru: Evidence of
chemicalfractionationin peraluminous magmas:Geochem.Soc.
Spec.Pub. 1, p. 359-373.
Pichavant,M., Kontak, D. J., ValenciaHerrera, J., and Clark,,
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Peru: I. Mineralogyand magmaticevolutionof a two-micaalu-
minosilicate-bearingignimbrite suite: Contr. Mineralogy Pe-
trology, v. 100, p. 300-324.
Pichavant,M., Kontak, D. J., Briqueu, L., Valencia Herrera, J.,
and Clark, A. H., 1988b, The Miocene-Pliocene Macusani Vol-
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metaliferos del departamentode Puno, Peru: Lima, Peru, Inst.
Cient. Tec. Minero, unpub. rept., 56 p.
Steiger,R. H., and J/iger,E., 1977, Subcommissionon geochro-
nology:Conventionon the use of decayconstantsin geo- and
cosmochronology:Earth Planet. Sci. Letters, v. 36, p. 359-
362.
Streckeisen,A., and LeMaitre, R. W., 1979, A chemical approx-
imation to the modal classificationof the igneousrocks:Neues
Jahrb.Mineralogle Abh., v. 136, p. 169-206.
Tijero, L. A., 1981, Geologlade la mina Palca 11: Unpub. Ing.
Geol. thesis,Lima, Peru, Univ. Nac. Ingenierla, 95 p.
Tumili/tn, P. H., and Torres, R. S., 1985, Consideracionesgeo-
16gicasde la mina Palca 11: Lima, Peru, Soc. An6n. Minera
Regina, unpub. rept., 59 p.
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60 p.
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of tungsten:Internat.TungstenSymposium, 3rd, Madrid, 1985,
Proc., p. 58-85.
Yamamura,B. K., 1990, The Palca 11 tungstendeposit and as-
sociatedgranitoidrocks,Choquenedistrict,Puno,southeastern
Peru: Unpub. M.Sc. thesis,Kingston,Canada,Queen'sUniv.,
255 p.
raise). The Palca Oeste vein in this area is adularia
rich, the feldsparcoexistingwith hematite, quartz,
scheelite,coarsebiotite, andblackchalcedony.
Palca-60.Coarse-grainedbiotite (-tourmaline)mon-
zogranite from a 12-cm-wide inclusionin the Pu-
caorcorhyolite. Samplelocationcloseto easterncon-
tact of the intrusion.