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Pierina
Pierina
Enrique Garay M.
MINERA BARRICK MISQUICHILCA S.A.
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David F. Volkert - Craig J.A. McEwan - Enrique Garay M.
GEOLOGY OF THE PIERINA DEPOSIT lithologic control on the development of the alteration and
mineralization. Residual vuggy silica containing alunite is the host
The Pierina deposit is in rhyodacitic pumice and lithic tuffs that are for most of the ore. Surrounding the vuggy silica alteration is a
underlain by andesitic lavas. Smaller and more restricted bodies of zone of alunite with minor pyrophyllite and dickite. This alteration
crystal tuff occur locally at the base of the pumice tuff, and a quartz- also host ore, but generally of lower grade than in the vuggy silica.
feldspar porphyry intrusion occurs on the south flank of the deposit. The alunite zone is succeeded outward by clay alteration (kaolinitc
The chaotic nature of the rocks on the south flank of the ore deposit to illitic).
suggests the presence of a dome complex or vent area. All rocks types
within the ore deposit, except the basal andesite, are present in this The vuggy silica and strong alunite alteration are best developed in
southern dome/vent area. The quartz-feldspar porphyry is tought to be the pumice tuff unit. Pervasive quartz-alunite alteration occurs in the
either contemporaneus with the later stages of mineralization or post- overlying lithic tuff unit, wich is also cut by vuggy-silica-altered structures.
mineral. The basal andesite is characterized by pervasive clay-pyrite alteration,
with Au mineralization confined to veinlets. Propylitic alteration is almost
The pumice and lithic tuff units were deposited in a NNW-oriented, absent, and introduced silica in the form of pervasive silification is rare.
restricted graben or structural trough that was formed within the older, Steam-heated alteration occurs in the upper parts of the system, but
basal andesite. At the time of deposition of the pyroclastic rocks, the no Au accompanies this stage.
andesite formed high walls on the north, west, and east sides of the
trough. The southern part of the trough contained the dome or vent Gold mineralization at Pierina is disseminated in the vuggy-silica-
from wich the pyroclastics were erupted. altered rhyodacitic pumice tuff. More than 95% of the mineralization
defined at Pierina is oxidized. The Au is present as micrometer grains
Dominant structures in the deposit trend NNW, WNW, and NE. Cross- of native gold associated with Fe oxides, quartz, and pyrite. In parts of
sections of the ore deposit (Fig. 2) suggest that pre-mineral faults displaced the orebody, kernels of pyrite-enargite-covellite-native sulfur are
and tilted the basal andesite. Post-mineral faults apparently down-dropped present. These sulfide-rich kernels are remnants of the earliest stage
the ore deposit to the east into the Rio Santa graben. The drop occurred of mineralization in the deposit. Grades of Au and Ag at Pierina are
along NNW and NE trending structures, some of wich may be reactivated zoned, with the highest grades (> 8 g/t Au and up to 300 g/t Ag)
pre-mineral faults. localized on the north end of the deposit.
ALTERATI
TERATION AND MINERALIZA
TION TI
INERALIZATION
TION A sulfide feeder zone has been intersected in core holes in the
south-central area of the deposit. Within the feeder zone, mineralization
Alteration and mineralization at the Pierina deposit are typical is mainly associated with veins and fractures. Gold occurs with pyrite,
of volcanic-hosted high-sulfidation systems. There is a strong enargite, and sphalerite. The lithology in the deepest explored part
FIGURE 2
CROSS-SECTION OF PIERINA GEOLOGY.
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PIERINA AU-AG DEPOSIT, CORDILLERA NEGRA, NORTH-CENTRAL PERU
FIGURE 3
CROSS-SECTION OF THE PIERINA DEPOSIT, SHOWING
ALTERATION AND MINERALIZATION.
of the system is pumice tuff, suggesting that the feeder zone to (0.5-1.0 g/t) in the leached, pumice tuff. (3) Formation of quartz-
the mineralization may also have been a source of pyroclastic volcanics, pyrite-Au veinlets, with Au possibly grading 1-2 g/t. (4) Hypogene
and that the andesite basament was down-faulted prior to mineralization. oxidation that formed specular hematite after pyrite, and covellite
rims around relict localized zones of Stage 2 pervasive sulfide
Outcropping ore on the north end the deposit covers an area of mineralization. The bulk of the Au, with grades to 90.0 g/t Au, was
200 x 300 m. The total, vertically-projected area of currently defined introduced in this stage. (5) Formation of barite-Au veinlets and
mineralization is 300 x 900 m, oriented NNW. Mineralization is breccias, with Au grades of up to 1.5 g/t.
interpreted to have formed in the following sequence: (1) Formation
of pervasive quartz-alunite alteration in the pumice, lithic and local
crystal tuffs, with subsequent, probably penecontamporaneous, acid- REFERENCE
leaching of the pumice tuff to form the characteristic vuggy silica WILSON, J.REYES, L & GARAYAR, J. (1995) Geología de los Cuadrángulos
rock. No Au mineralization accompanied this stage. An age of 14.5 de Pallasca, Tayabamba, Corongo, Pomabamba, Carhuaz y Huari.
Ma has been obtained from hypogene alunite at Pierina. (2) Pervasive Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico (Lima, Perú), Bull. 60,
pyrite-enargite-covellite-native sulfur, with minor Au mineralization 64 p.
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David F. Volkert - Craig J.A. McEwan - Enrique Garay M.
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