A new model for the structural controls on the emplacement of porphyry Cu±Mo±Au deposits

José Piquer1,*, Pablo Sánchez1, Pamela Pérez-Flores2

(1) Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
(2) Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
*jose.piquer@uach.cl

I. INTRODUCTION II. ANALOGIES WITH ACTIVE SYSTEMS

Prevailing models about the large-scale structural controls on the A very useful analog to evaluate this hypothesis is provided by the active volcanic centers
emplacement of porphyry-type deposits tend to agree in that an environment of southern Chile, an area where the structural controls on volcanism have been
of local extension, within a regional context dominated by compression, is the extensively studied (Cembrano and Lara, 2009; Pérez-Flores et al., 2016 and others).
most favorable for their emplacement (e.g., Tosdal and Richards, 2001; Those works have shown that in general, volcanic centers controlled by NW-striking fault
Richards, 2003; Drew, 2005). This combination is thought to be most systems, strongly miss-oriented for activation under the prevailing stress field with ENE-
commonly achieved in pull-apart basins formed at releasing bends in strike- trending σ1, erupted highly differentiated volcanic products and allowed the development of
slip faults. However, this type of localized extension would produce a very long-lived crustal magma reservoirs. In contrast, when the controlling structures of
efficient vertical conduit for magmas, inhibiting its storage in upper-crustal volcanism strike NE to ENE, sometimes associated with pull-apart basins developed along
magma chambers. This condition is fundamental for producing the dextral, N-striking faults, volcanic products are more primitive. As shown below, the
differentiated magmas and the high concentrations of volatiles, necessary for analogies with Andean porphyry Cu-Mo deposits are remarkable.
the formation of a porphyry-type deposit. We propose that miss-oriented faults
normally under compression or transpression provide the most favorable
structural control for this type of deposit. III. CASE 1: NEOGENE METALLOGENIC BELT OF CENTRAL CHILE
In the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene belt of central Chile (Figs. 1, 2), an E-W to ENE pre-
and syn-mineral direction of σ1 has been well established (Piquer et al., 2016; Giambiagi et
al., 2017). In the Rio Blanco-Los Bronces cluster, a ~10-km long corridor of differentiated
porphyries, diatremes and hydrothermal breccias was emplaced along the strongly miss-
oriented, sinistral-reverse, NNW-striking Río Blanco-Los Bronces fault system (Piquer et
al., 2015). On the other hand, the emplacement of andesitic dikes and late “D” and “E” type
veins, was controlled by favorably-oriented, dextral, NE-striking branches of the El Salto
fault system (Piquer et al., 2015). At the El Teniente deposit, the dacite porphyries and
associated hydrothermal breccias have a N-S to NW elongation, while the late alteration
stages and the emplacement of the primitive lamprophyre dikes were strongly controlled
by the ENE-striking Teniente fault system (Cannell et al., 2005). Finally, at the Los
Figure 1: metallogenic belts (orange = Paleogene, Pelambres cluster, individual mineralized centers and intrusive bodies are strongly aligned
pink = Neogene) and mineral deposit cases in a NW trend, while phyllic and advanced argillic alteration are strongly controlled by NE-
presented in Figures 2 and 3. striking faults, which also show post-mineral reactivations.

IV. CASE 2: PALEOGENE

METALLOGENIC BELTS OF
NORTHERN CHILE
In northern Chile, a predominantly WNW-
trending σ1 has been proposed for the
Eocene-early Oligocene (Cornejo et al.,
1997; Hervé et al., 2012; Mpodozis and
Cornejo, 2012), although periods of
stress reversals have been proposed
(e.g. Lindsay et al., 1995; Hervé et al.,
2012). In the porphyry Cu-Mo deposits
emplaced during this time (Fig. 3), felsic
porphyritic stocks and dikes related to
porphyry-style mineralization ubiquitously
show NNE-trending elongation and
alignments (e.g., Chuquicamata, Toki
cluster, Centinela cluster, Escondida, El
Salvador, and also the older Spence
deposit), perpendicular to the
predominant direction of σ1 during the
Paleogene (Fig. 3). In turn, late veins
related to advanced argillic alteration and
high-sulfidation mineralization, post-
mineral dykes (commonly more primitive
and less differentiated than the NNE-
trending intrusions), and also faults with
evidences of post-mineral reactivation,
Figure 2: Schematic maps of Neogene porphyry Cu-Mo and epithermal Au-
show a strong preferred NW-strike in all
Ag-Cu deposits of central Chile. Geology modified from Henley et al.
the cases cited above (Fig. 3).
(2012), Perelló et al. (2012), Piquer et al. (2015), Toro et al. (2012),
McKinnon and Garrido (2008) and Vry et al. (2010). Approximate σ1
orientations from McKinnon and Garrido (2008), Piquer et al. (2016) and
Giambiagi et al. (2017); not shown when unknown.

Figure 4: schematic model showing felsic porphyries and hydrothermal breccias emplaced along a strongly Figure 3: Schematic maps of Paleogene porphyry Cu-Mo deposits of northern Chile. Geology
miss-oriented fault (which may correspond to a restraining bend of a larger fault system). A conjugate, modified from Lindsay et al. (1995), Rivera and Pardo (2004), Cameron et al. (2004), Mpodozis and
favorably oriented strike-slip fault with a tensional component is also shown, which controls mainly late-stage Cornejo (2012), Perelló et al. (2004, 2010), Hervé et al. (2012), Gustafson and Hunt (1975) and
alteration veins and post-mineral dikes. In cases where such a favorably oriented fault is deep-seated, it will Gustafson et al. (2001). Approximate σ1 orientations from Lindsay et al. (1995), Mpodozis and
promote magma transport from the lower crust, and it will inhibit the formation of a porphyry deposit. Cornejo (2012), Hervé et al. (2012) and Cornejo et al. (1997). Legend as in Fig. 2.

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