2.

6 The Mina Justa Cu (-Ag) Deposit

The Mina Justa orebodies are hosted by the upper Río Grande Formation (Fig. 2-28), dominated by

porphyritic andesite flows and medium to fine-grained andesitic volcaniclastics with minor horizons

of sandstone, siltstone and limestone with a Callovian to Oxfordian fauna (Caldas, 1978; Hawkes et

al., 2002; Baxter et al., 2005). The volcaniclastic rocks locally incorporate rounded plagioclase

phenoclasts in a much finer-grained matrix. Subordinate host rocks include

69
Figure 2-28. Geological map of Mina Justa Cu deposit, hosted by the upper Río Grande Formation.
B-B’ and C-C’ show locations of the Figure 2-29 cross-sections (Modified from Rio Tinto 1: 10,000
mapping of Mina Justa Prospect, February 2003, unpublished report). Ab-albite; Kfs- K-feldspar;
Act-actinolite

plagioclase- and hornblende-phyric andesite with vesicles filled by chlorite and carbonates (Fig.

2-4D). Lens-like marble bodies occur mainly in the southeast part of the area, but host no

economic mineralization. The host rocks at Mina Justa are pervasively altered, and although

Injoque (1985) described the majority of the volcanic rocks in the Marcona area as shoshonites or

70
latitic andesites, but the absence of petrographic evidence for magmatic sanidine and, particularly, the

abundant secondary hydrothermal biotite and sericite argue against such a marginally alkaline nature

(Hawkes et al., 2002). However, the andesites at the base of the upper section of the Río Grande

Formation in Cañón Río Grande (Fig. 2-5) are K-rich and have high Cu contents (average 400 ppm:

Aguirre, 1988).

Two principal arrays of orebodies, the main and upper, constitute the Mina Justa deposit (Figs.

2-28 and 2-29A). The mineralized bodies incorporate massive magnetite-sulphide cores enclosed by

hydrothermal breccias, comprising strongly altered host rock clasts in a magnetite+sulphide matrix,

in turn surrounded by extensive stockwork (Fig. 2-30). They are controlled by subparallel, northeast-

trending and shallowly southeast-dipping faults and range from 10 m to 200 m in vertical extent

(Baxter et al., 2005). The main mineralized body crops out as a 400 m long, discontinuous belt of Cu

oxides and albite - K-feldspar - actinolite alteration (Fig. 2-28), which dips 10° to 30° to the southeast.

It has been intersected to a maximum depth of 500 m, where it remains open (Fig. 2-29A). The upper

mineralized body, cropping out subparallel to and approximately 400 m southeast of the main zone

(Fig. 2-28), has a similar elongate to oval shape in section, and a similar dip of 10° to 30° to the

southeast. On surface, this zone has been identified over a distance of at least 400 m. and it has been

intersected to a maximum depth of 300 m (Fig. 2-29A). The northeast-trending and southwest-dipping

magnetite lenses are also exposed on surface (Fig. 2-28). They commonly contain minor Cu oxides

and are locally cut by the southeast-dipping Mina Justa normal faults (Fig. 2-29A). Copper oxides

dominate the upper 200 m of the deposit, giving way gradually to sulphides with depth (Figs. 2-29A

and B). In individual orebodies, the major sulphides are zoned upwards, and locally laterally (cf.

Moody et al., 2003), from pyrite-chalcopyrite to bornite-chalcocite (± digenite), with an increase in

Cu grade (Figs. 2-29A and B). Around the magnetite-sulphide orebodies, the alteration is zoned

outwards from potassic (K-feldspar - dominant), through calcic (actinolite) to sodic (albite).

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K-feldspathization and calcite development are spatially associated, respectively, with iron oxide

and Cu sulphide mineralization. Hematite commonly occurs in the upper parts of the zones of Cu

mineralization.

Figure 2-29. Cross-sections through the major Mina Justa orebodies. A - NW-SE section through
the Main and Upper orebodies (from Baxter et al., 2005). B - SW-NE section through the Main
orebody (sulphide zones modified after Moody et al., 2003).

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Figure 2-30. Mineralogical and structural zonation of the Mina Justa orebodies, based on logging of selected drill cores. The locations of holes MA-
64, MA-17, MA -35 and MA-27 are shown in Figure 2-29A. MA-45 and MA-89 are collared 600 to 800 m southeast of the upper zone and out of the
map area in Figure 2-28. * Magnetite either occurs erratically as haloes around coarse-grained pyrite or is absent in this zone. Mt-magnetite, Bn-bornite,
Cp-chalcopyrite, Cc-chalcocite, Py-pyrite

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Paragenetic relationships

Seven stages of hydrothermal alteration and mineralization are recognized at Mina Justa (Fig.

2-31).

Stage J-I: Albite-actinolite alteration. The earliest hydrothermal event at Mina Justa is albite-

actinolite alteration. Light pink albite and green, fine-grained, actinolite (Mg/Mg+Fe = 0.70: Table 2-

4) replace both plagioclase phenocrysts and the matrix of andesites (Fig. 2-32A; Reynolds, 2002a),

recording Na-metasomatism.

Stage J-II: K-feldspar – magnetite alteration. Rocks affected by this alteration generally appear

massive in hand-specimen, and range from pink to black. K-feldspar commonly occurs as extremely

small grains (< 0.05 mm) replacing both fresh and previously albitized plagioclase (Fig. 2-32A), and

the associated magnetite is mainly fine- to medium- grained (0.05-0.1 mm), locally forming

aggregates interstitial to the feldspar (Fig. 2-32B). Stage J-II alteration, unambiguously the result of

K-Fe metasomatism, was probably contemporaneous with the development of lenses of sulphide-free

magnetite which strike NE and dip NW, locally crosscut by massive magnetite - pyrite bodies (Fig.

2-28). Overprinting by Stage J-III actinolite and Stage J-V coarse-grained K-feldspar ± magnetite is

common (Fig. 2-32C).

Stage J-III: Actinolite (± magnetite ± diopside) alteration. Green actinolite (Mg/Mg+Fe = 0.74:

Table 2-4), associated with minor magnetite, occurs throughout the deposit, commonly as massive

aggregates along the contacts of Stage J-V magnetite bodies or as coarse, acicular crystals in veins

cutting Stage J-II K-feldspar-magnetite alteration. More locally, it forms the matrix of hydrothermal

breccias (Fig. 2-33A) incorporating clasts of K-feldspar-magnetite - altered host rocks, termed “red-

green breccias” by Hawkes et al. (2003). Along the contacts of the Stage J-V magnetite bodies with

their actinolitic alteration haloes, actinolite relics occur as irregular clasts in a magnetite-sulphide

matrix. A temporal evolution is evident from K-feldspar – magnetite, through actinolite, to

magnetite-pyrite alteration (Fig. 2-33B). Actinolite is strongly

74
Figure 2-31. Alteration and mineralization paragenesis of the Mina Justa deposit (Note: supergene minerals are omitted).

75
 Table 2-4. Representative Electron Microprobe Data for Hydrothermal
Silicates and Sulphides from Mina Justa

Mineral Act Act Chl Dg Dg Bn Cc

Stage J-I J-III J-V J-VI J-VI J-VI J-VI
Sample MA64 MA89 MA89 MA64 MA64-4 MA64 MA64
number -3 -4-1 -4-2 -4-II-1 -II-1-A -4-II-2 -4-I-1

SiO2 52.88 56.14 32.62 As n.d. 0.12 n.d. 0.10

TiO2 0.20 0.02 0.02 S 20.99 21.38 25.18 20.13
Al2O 3 3.25 0.95 14.41 Fe 0.14 0.08 11.17 0.04
FeO* 11.76 10.73 20.41 Ni n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.

MnO 0.10 0.10 1.06 Zn n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.

MgO 15.71 16.88 17.71 Ag 0.24 0.26 0.12 0.14
CaO 12.72 13.16 1.56 Cu 78.40 78.25 63.41 80.46
Na2O 0.44 0.15 0.12 Co n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
K2O 0.23 0.06 0.03

Cl 0.10 0.04 0.04

F 0.33 0.17 0.32

Total 97.70 98.41 88.31 Total 99.773 100.088 99.880 100.865

Si 7.63 7.95 6.67

Al 1) 0.37 0.05 1.33
Al 2) 0.18 0.10 2.14
Ti 0.02 0.00 0.00
Fe 1.42 1.27 3.49

Mn 0.01 0.01 0.18

Mg 3.38 3.56 5.40

Ca 1.97 2.00 0.34

Na 0.12 0.04 0.05

K 0.04 0.01 0.01

Cl 0.02 0.01 0.01
F 0.15 0.08 0.21
R** 0.70 0.74 0.39

*Total iron. Number of ions calculated on the basis of F, Cl, and 23 O for actinolite (Act); 28 O for chlorite (Chl),
Dg-digenite, Bn-bornite, Cc-chalcocite. R**: Mg/Mg+Fe ratio for amphiboles; Fe/Fe+Mg for chlorite.
1) Al-tetrahedral; 2) Al-Octahedral. Detection limits for sulphides (in weight percent): Fe - 0.02; Ag - 0.04; As -
0.07; Cu - 0.02; S - 0.02; Ni, Co and Zn - 0.06. n.d. – undetected.

76
Figure 2-32. Albitization and actinolite alteration (Stage J-I) and K-Fe metasomatism (Stage J-II) at
Mina Justa. A - Light-pink albite (not stained) and fine-grained actinolite extensively replaces original
phenocrystic and groundmass plagioclase (stained pink to red). Stage J-II red microcline (stained
yellow) replaces albite. Stage J-III actinolite is superimposed on albite and microcline (# MA64-7,
drill core MA64, 394.4 m, 80 m from main orebody). Staining method is documented in Appendix I.
B - Fine-grained microcline coexists with magnetite in a clast cemented by Stage J-III actinolite (see
Figure 2 -34A). Subhedral to euhedral actinolite crystals locally replace microcline (# MA64-3, drill
core MA64, 220.1 m, plane-polarized transmitted light). C - Magnetite-sulphide-calcite veins with K
-feldspar haloes (red) cut Stage J-III actinolite and Stage J-II fine-grained K-feldspar-magnetite (grey
to pink) alteration. Actinolite is extensively chloritized. (# MA17-7, drill core MA17, 364 m).

chloritized and carbonatized, and locally replaced by quartz. It clearly replaced both albite and

K-feldspar, evidence for Ca metasomatism. Diopside is spatially associated with actinolite in the

albitized and K-Fe metasomatised host rocks, but is also locally replaced by it.
77
Figure 2-33. Mineralogical and textural relationships of Mina Justa actinolite alteration (Stage J-
III). A - “Red-green breccia” in which stage J-III actinolite (green) matrix cements clasts of stage J-
II fine-grained K-feldspar - magnetite (Mt-1) (pinkish red to dark gray). Coarse-grained Stage J-V
magnetite (Mt-2) occurs with actinolite and locally as veins (# MA64-3, drill core MA64, 220.1 m).
B - Stage J-V magnetite (Mt-2)-bornite-chalcocite assemblage occurs as a matrix to pinkish -red
Stage J-II K-feldspar - magnetite (Mt -1) altered clasts cut by Stage J -III actinolite (green) veins.
The magnetite-sulphide matrix was reopened and partially replaced by late specularite (# MA64-6,
drill core MA64, 276 m).

Stage J-IV: Early hematite-calcite alteration: “mushketovite”, i.e., magnetite unambiguously

pseudomorphous after specular hematite, occurs commonly in the main magnetite bodies,

evidence for a now covert hematite-dominant stage which temporally separated the actinolite

alteration and the main magnetite alteration in andesite. The hematite originally formed fractured

plates (Fig. 2-34). Anhedral to subhedral, and medium to coarse-grained calcite is intergrown

with the pseudomorphs, and is locally replaced by quartz, magnetite and chalcopyrite. Rarely,

coarse-grained, subhedral to euhedral allanite (Stage J-V) occurs in Stage J-IV calcite in contact

with Stage J-V magnetite and pyrite.

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Figure 2-34. Platy Stage J-V magnetite (after Stage J-IV hematite) occurs with calcite, quartz and
chalcopyrite. Chalcopyrite extensively replaces pyrite and locally occurs along fractures in
magnetite. Chloritized Stage J-III actinolite relics occur between the magnetite crystals. Stage J-IV
calcite grains have planar contacts with platy magnetite, but are locally replaced by Stage J-V
granular magnetite and quartz veins. (# MA17-6 from drill core MA17, 355.1 m, combined reflected
and transmitted light).

Stage J-V: Magnetite-pyrite alteration: The massive, lensoid and brecciated magnetite-pyrite

bodies which host the highest-grade copper sulphide mineralization at Mina Justa (Fig. 2-30)

were controlled by the NE-striking, SE-dipping, Mina Justa system faults, but are dislocated by

the NW-striking, NE-dipping Huaca faults and associated ocöite dikes. Magnetite-pyrite veins,

varying from 0.1 to 5 cm in width, cut alteration assemblages of Stages J-II and J-III adjacent to

the massive magnetite bodies. Hydrothermal breccias commonly occur in altered host rocks in

contact with the magnetite bodies, and comprise a magnetite-pyrite – dominant matrix and

angular clasts of andesite altered to microcline (Stage J-II) or actinolite (Stage J-III) (Fig. 2-35A).

However, the textural relationships between Stage J-V magnetite-pyrite and Stage J-III actinolite

are complex. Locally, unambiguous crosscutting or replacement textures are shown (Fig. 2-35B),

but magnetite and pyrite more commonly occur as elongated, locally ellipsoidal, aggregates in

massive actinolite in contact with the main magnetite bodies, and magnetite-pyrite intergrowths

replace Stage J-III actinolite (Fig. 2-35B). The aggregates comprise pyrite cores enclosed by
79
magnetite haloes. Actinolite veins peripheral to the main magnetite bodies are in places reopened by

magnetite and pyrite, which clearly replaced actinolite. Rarely, Stage J-V magnetite-rich alteration

occurs as spots in altered host rocks peripheral to the main magnetite bodies (Fig. 2-35C).

Magnetite and pyrite of Stage J-V are medium to coarse-grained (0.5 to 10 mm; locally over 1 cm in

the case of pyrite) and subhedral to euhedral. Magnetite commonly occurs interstitially to pyrite and

has planar contacts in general (Fig. 2-35D). The major mineral associated with magnetite-pyrite

alteration in the main magnetite bodies is quartz, which occurs as 0.1–1 mm, subhedral to euhedral,

crystals interstitial to magnetite and pyrite and commonly with actinolite inclusions (Fig. 2-35D).

Accessory calcite is generally anhedral to subhedral and medium-grained, coexisting with magnetite,

pyrite and quartz. Pink to red K-feldspar, predominantly microcline, is a common alteration mineral

in rocks associated with Stage J-V magnetite-pyrite mineralization, forming haloes to magnetite-

pyrite veins or patches incorporating medium to fine-grained magnetite crystals and superimposed on

early alteration (Fig. 2-32C). Chlorite, largely clinochlore and diabantite (Reynolds, 2002a;

classification of Hey, 1954; Table 2-4), extensively replaces actinolite or diopside (Fig. 2-35E), and

locally occurs in veins with magnetite, pyrite and quartz. In the massive actinolite aggregates in

contact with magnetite orebodies, chloritization of actinolite is commonly focused around the

ellipsoidal magnetite-pyrite aggregates. Although characteristically related to magnetite-pyrite

mineralization, chlorite veins which cut actinolite are in turn cut by magnetite-pyrite-quartz veins.

Locally, chlorite-albite-quartz-calcite-hematite veins related to late Cu mineralization (Stage J-VI)

transect microcline grains associated with magnetite-pyrite mineralization. Titanite commonly forms

medium to coarse-grained subhedral crystals or aggregates in chlorite, and euhedral grains in

magnetite - pyrite - quartz - chlorite veins. Fluorapatite locally occurs in Stage J-V mineralized veins,

but more commonly forms

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Figure 2-35. Mineralogical and textural relationships of Mina Justa magnetite- pyrite alteration
(Stage J-V). A - Hydrothermal breccia at the margin of Main Orebody. Magnetite (Mt-2)-sulphide
occurs as a matrix around angular Stage J-II microcline-magnetite (Mt-1) clasts. Actinolite relics
occur in matrix (# MA35-0, drill core MA35, 484.3 m). B - Replacement of Stage J -III actinolite by
Stage J-V magnetite-pyrite. Strong chloritization of actinolite is locally evident (lower-right) (#
MA27-2, drill core MA27, 366.9 m; transmitted light, crossed nicols). C - Spotty magnetite-
chalcopyrite-quartz mineralization in earlier actinolite and microcline-magnetite (gray to pink) -
altered host rocks. Chalcopyrite coexists with magnetite and quartz (# MJ-38, drill core MA54, 341.8
m). D - Magnetite-pyrite-quartz alteration. Quartz is coarse-grained and euhedral. Stage J-III
actinolite crystals occur as relics in quartz grain (# MA17-6, drill core MA17, 355.1 m, combined
reflected and transmitted light). E - Magnetite alteration and related chloritization. Magnetite coexists
with pyrite, quartz and chlorite. Chlorite (locally with quartz) extensively replaces Stage J-III
actinolite (# MA89-4, drillcore MA89, 360.2 m, plane-polarized transmitted light) .

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coarse-grained subhedral to euhedral crystals in Stage J-III actinolite in contact with magnetite

orebodies. The textural relationships of apatite and actinolite are ambiguous.

Stage J-VI: Copper sulphide mineralization: Stage J-V magnetite alteration, although rich in

pyrite, lacks inherent Cu sulphides. Cu sulphide–bearing veins, assigned to Stage J-VI, locally cut

altered host rocks and Stage J-V magnetite-pyrite-quartz (Fig. 2-36A) but, more commonly, Cu

sulphides and associated assemblages occur in massive magnetite-pyrite bodies or veins and exhibit

unambiguous microscopic replacement textures with the latter (Fig. 2-36B). Locally, Stage J-V

magnetite-pyrite aggregates in Stage J-III actinolite veins have been almost completely replaced by

chalcopyrite or bornite, giving rise to the common actinolite-Cu sulphide association.

The main hypogene Cu sulphides at Mina Justa are, in decreasing abundance, chalcopyrite,

bornite, chalcocite and digenite. Except for chalcopyrite, these are concentrated above, or in the upper

parts of, the main magnetite bodies (Fig. 2-30), commonly as veins that cut the host rocks and earlier

alteration assemblages. Supergene covellite occurs mainly in the oxide zone, replacing bornite or

chalcopyrite (Fig. 2-36C). Chalcocite, digenite and bornite typically form large patches with

vermicular, eutectic-like intergrowths (Fig. 2-36D), such as are inferred to form through noncoherent

exsolution at low temperature (< 250oC) and under protracted cooling (Brett, 1964). Similar

relationships are documented at Olympic Dam by Roberts et al. (1983). Cu sulphides exhibiting

vermicular textures are all rich in Ag (Table 2-4), and represent the major host of Ag in the ores.

Chalcopyrite occurs as veinlets in the upper parts of the main magnetite bodies, but beneath the

bornite-chalcocite zones. Chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite locally occur together with no

unambiguous mutual replacement relationships. Rarely, chalcopyrite veins cut bornite bodies,

evidence for repeated Cu mineralization in the upper levels. Unambiguous replacement textures

between chalcopyrite and earlier magnetite and, particularly, pyrite are common (Fig. 2-36B). Such

textures also locally occur between bornite-chalcocite aggregates and magnetite.

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Figure 2-36. Mineralogical and textural relationships of Mina Justa Cu mineralization (Stage J-VI).
A - Chalcopyrite-calcite veins cut altered host rocks. Microcline occurs as haloes around calcite veins
and locally cuts calcite (# MA45-6, drillcore MA45, 404.2 m). B - Chalcopyrite replaces Stage J-V
pyrite and magnetite (# MA17-9, drillcore MA35, 507.9 m, plane-polarized reflected light). C -
Supergene covellite replaces chalcopyrite (# MA14-3, drillcore MA14, 394.7 m, plane-polarized
reflected light). D - Fine-grained bladed hematite coexists with bornite, digenite and chalcocite with
vermicular, eutectic-like textures, occurring as patches in a magnetite vein which cuts host rocks (#
MA64-4, drill core MA64, 248.3 m, plane-polarized reflected light).

Accessory Stage J-VI sulphides include sphalerite, galena, molybdenite and rare fine-grained (<

25 μm), carrollite (Reynolds, 2002b). These generally coexist with chalcopyrite and locally

replace pyrite, but some sphalerite surrounds chalcopyrite with an ambiguous replacement

texture.

The iron oxide associated with both chalcopyrite and bornite-chalcocite mineralization is

dominantly fine-grained platy hematite, commonly occurring as aggregates around Cu sulphides

83
(Fig. 2-36D). Locally, Stage J-VI hematite formed with chalcopyrite along the boundaries of

earlier magnetite grains or Stage J-IV coarse-grained hematite (“mushketovite”). Calcite is the

dominant gangue mineral associated with Cu mineralization, generally occurring in veins which

cut the host rocks and magnetite mineralization (Fig. 2-36A). Calcite-Cu sulphide assemblages

dominate these veins but give way upwards to hematite-bearing assemblages. Albite (±

microcline) locally occurs in chalcopyrite-calcite veins cutting altered andesite host rock, or

replaces magnetite - pyrite - quartz and chalcopyrite bodies. Sparse epidote veins with chalcopyrite

or bornite cut Stage J-V magnetite-pyrite mineralization and associated chloritic alteration zones.

Locally, the epidote-calcite-prehnite assemblage occurs in altered host rocks, replacing Stage J-III

actinolite. Red microcline and subordinate albite occur as narrow haloes around calcite-

chalcopyrite veins, and locally cut calcite, evidence that they partially postdated Cu mineralization

(Fig. 2-31). Epidote and clinozoisite commonly occur in calcite in contact with K-feldspar. Barite

locally occurs in these late K-feldspar veins, but the temporal relationships between K-feldspar

veins and specular hematite (Stage J-VII) are ambiguous.

Stage J-VII: specular hematite: In the upper parts of the orebodies, a Cu sulphide-barren

hematite stage locally developed. Medium to coarse-grained (0.1-0.5 mm), specular hematite

forms veins cutting Stage J-III actinolite alteration zones and Stage J-V magnetite mineralization.

Locally, Stage J-VII hematite replaces Stage J-V (magnetite) and Stage J-VI (Cu) mineralization

in hydrothermal breccias. The replacement and crosscutting relationships between Stage J-VII

hematite and Cu sulphides confirm the distinction of Stage J-VII.