Economic Geology Vol. 86, 1991, pp.

1301-1316

The AndacolloStrata-Bound Gold Deposit, Chile, and Its Position in a Porphyry Copper-GoldSystem
MANUEL REYES

Josd Zapiola 7666-Q, La Reina,Santiago, Chile

Abstract

The Andacollo miningdistrictis in the Coastal Cordilleraof centralChile, 400 km northnortheast of Santiago. The Andacollo deposits are the products of a complex hydrothermal system andconsist of a porphyry copper-gold deposit andperipheral strata-bound manto gold deposits andveinswith minorassociated basemetals. The hydrothermal system waspart of the Pacific porphyry copper belt whichwasgenerated duringdevelopment of anEarlyCretaceous magmatic arcdisplaying shoshonitic petrochemical affiliations. Rocks that cropout in the area includea volcanic sequence, the Arquerosand QuebradaMarquesa Formations, consisting of andesitc anddaciteflows,volcanic breccias, andpyroclastic rocks of Early Cretaceous age.Intrusiverocks rangefromdioriteto granodiorite in composition anddatebetween 87 and 130 Ma. The porphyrycopper-gold depositis zonedverticallydownwardfrom a

leached capping through a supergene enrichment blanket to ahypogene sulfide zone. Alteration is characterized by centralpotassic (K feldspar-biotite), phyllic,and peripheralpropylitic zones. Abundant northwest-trending tensional fractures were superimposed onthe porphyry copper-gold deposit andsurrounding areas duringthe laterstages of the evolving mineralized system. The fractures channeled mineralizing fluidsfromthe centralpartsof the porphyry copperdepositoutwardfor up to 5 km. Replacement by adulariaand sericitetook place together with deposition of gold-bearing pyriteandminoramounts of zincandcopper where
these fluids encountered permeabledacite flowsand andesitcflow breccias. The alteration processcausedremobilizationof aluminumand alkaliesand additionof K20, which attafns values of 12 to 13 wt percent.The Andacollo system is interpreted to be a porphyrycopper-

golddeposit that is transitional outwardto distalepithermal, adularia-sericite-type contact

metasomatic gold orebodies.
Introduction
Location

THEAndacollo miningdistrictislocated in the Coastal Cordillera of central Chile, IV Region,Coquimbo Province,400 km north-northeast of Santiago (Fig. 1). The district lies in the Andacollobasin at an altitude of 1,000 m above sea level, near the town of

Andacollo. It is part of the Pacific porphyrycopper belt, definedby Llaumett(1975), whichextends for about1,300 km northfromSantiago (Fig. 1).
History and productionof the district

Two typesof mineralization arepresent in the Andacollo district: copper in a porphyry copper deposit andgoldin strata-bound bodies(mantos) andveins. Some goldisreworked intoplacer deposits peripheral to the porphyry deposit. Veinsandplacers haveconstituted the mainsource of goldat Andacollo andhave

beenmined since Incatimes priorto theSpanish conquest(Cuadraand Dunkerley, 1991). In 1607, Andacollo wasdescribed by localminersasthe "district with riversof gold." It becameandremainedChile's

maingoldproducer to the endof the eighteenth cen0361-0128/91/1271/1301-1653.00

tury. During the last century and throughthe early 1900s, the placersand the richer veinswere mined intermittently. The first record of Andacollo's gold productionis in the Archivesof the Indies, at Seville, Spain,and datesfrom 1568. Llaumett(1983) estimated that between 8 and 10 metric tonsof gold have been mined by various companiesfrom 1930 to the present. Miiller (1986) statedthat Andacolloproduces about 70 to 80 kg of Au per monthand Zepeda (oral commun., 1987) estimates a monthlyproductionof 100 kg of Au. The porphyrycoppermineralization at Andacollo wasdiscovered by placer miners35 to 40 yearsago afterworkings went deeperinto bedrockbeneaththe alluvialgravels. The firstproduction of approximately 5 million metric tonscontaining40,000 metric tons of fine coppercamefromunderground workings during a period of 20 years.In addition,600 kg of gold is reported as a by-product(Llaumett, 1975). From 1980 to the presentday, copperwasproducedat an estimatedmonthly rate of 100 metric tons of fine copper, which is derived from in situ bioleachingof a supergene copperenrichment blanket. Porphyrycopper-type mineralization in the district

1301

1302

MANUEL REYES

72

70

68

18

22

26

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PACIFIC

BELT
I_A

I ANDACOLLO
3

38
CONCEPCION

KEY
PORPHYRY AND CITY COPPER DEPOSITS PROSPECT

600km I

FIG. 1. Locationof the Andacollodistrictandthe Pacificporphyrycopperbelt of Llaumett (1975).

has beenanexploration targetfor several companies: GeologicSetting Anaconda in the early 1960s, EmpresaNacionalde rocks Minerla (ENAMI) between 1970 and 1974, and No- Volcanicand sedimentary randafrom 1977 to 1980. Theselasttwo companies Andacollodistrict geologyhasbeen describedby conducted the most detailed evaluation andreported Llaumett et al. (1975), Llaumett (1983), and Miiller geologicreserveson the order of 300 million metric (1986). The Andaeollo gold deposit is enclosed by a tonscontining 0.7 percentCu (Llaumett,1975). Seventy millionmetrictonsis present assupergene-en- succession of volcanic roeks of earlyto lateCretaceous richedore.The goldcontent in the protore averages age, known locally as the Arquerosand Quebrada 0.25 g/metricton (Sillitoe,1981;Perell6andCabello, Marquesa Formations (Thomas,1967). The sequence 1989). consists of andesiteand daeite flowsand pyroelastic

ANDACOLLO Au DEPOSIT, CHILE

1303

rocks,with sandstone bedslocallyinterbedded with Structure the volcanic rocks(Fig. 2). Structures at Andacollo are dominated by two maTheArqueros Formation istheoldest stratigraphicjor fault systems. The first is premineral (Llaumett, unit and cropsout in the westernpart of the district 1975); it comprises normal faults,joints, and shears alonga north-trending, gently east-dipping mono- and strikesN 45o-70 W and dips 70 southwest. cline.The formation consists of marine sedimentaryMovementsalongfaultsof this system providedthe and volcanic rocks, which in the Andacollo area are necessary openspace for circulation of mineralizing dominatedby volcanicbreccia and limestone.The fluids and controlled the locations of veins and mantos. breccia comprises angular blocks in a clay-rich matrix Premineral faults were reactivated subsequently, (Miiller, 1986). causingdisplacement of the mineralizedmantosas The Quebrada Marquesa Formation is distributed exemplifiedby their relationswith Toro and Socorro widelyandcrops outin thecentral andeastern parts faults(Fig. 2). of the district, whereit conformably overlies the ArThe second fault system strikes north-south, is queros Formation. The Quebrada Marquesa Forma- postmineral, and consists of a series of extensional tion is madeup of a rhythmicflow sequence of an- faultsthat displace both intrusions and ore deposits. desitic, dacitic, andrhyolitic composition whichtotals The mostprominentfaultsof thissystem are the An2,000to 2,300min thickness. Thesequence iscapped dacollo, La Hermosa, andMariposa faults(Llaumett, by a heterogeneous unit of limestone, breccia,con- 1975; Fig. 2). glomerate, and andesitic flows(Miiller, 1986). The Mineralization Quebrada Marquesa Formation,in the Andacollo district, strikes north-south anddips30eastin theToro
and Socorro sectors of the district and 10 east in the

Porphyrycoppermineralization

TresPerlas area(Fig. 2). Llaumett(1983) andMiiller The porphyrycoppermineralization at Andacollo (1986)subdivided theQuebrada Marquesa Formation wasdescribed by Llaumettet al. (1975) and is only into six mappablemembers(Figs.2 and 3). Two of summarized here.Mineralization ishosted by volcanic
the six, the Cerro Toro Member and the Andacollo copper mineralization. The Cerro Toro Member

rocksofandesiticanddaciticcomposition (80%); the

Member, arethehost rocks fortheprincipal goldand remainder (20%)ispresent in irregular apophyses and
smallstocks of Andacollo porphyry.The mineraliza-

comprises four rythmicvolcanic units(Fig. 3), each tion is located in the downthrown block west of the starting withdarkandesites followed byfelsic (dacitic) Andacollo faultandmayrepresent the shallow, apical volcanic flows, andesitc flowbreccia, or thin layers partsof the moredeeplyerodedfelsicintrusions that
of rhyolite.The Andacollo Member consists of a se- cropout eastof the fault (Fig. 4). quenceof andesitc,dacite, and andesitcflow breccia. Mostof the coppermineralization is concentrated in a singlecentralbody and in satelliticbodiesto the Intrusive rocks north (La Coipa and Perlita) and South (Hermosa) (Fig. 4).
The mineralization underlies an area of 1,500 Theintrusive rocks ofthedistrict arepartofa major batholith whichcrops outfor 50 kmin a north-south X 1,300 m and is almostcircular in plan. The lateral direction. The batholith varies in composition from zoningis interruptedalongthe easternsideby the dioritethrough granodiorite to tonalitc. Mostof the Andacollo fault.The mineralization iszonedvertically rocks, withtheexception oftheAndacollo porphyry, froma leached capping downward to a supergene enhave not been altered or mineralized, and Thomas richmentblanket, and finally, to a hypogenezone.

(1967) assigned them to the Late Cretaceous. In the

The capping averages 30 m in thickness andcontains

and at the surface. Basedon the distribution of intru- eralization consists of chalcocite rimmingsubordinate siverocks, Miiller (1986) identifiedwestern andeast- amounts ofpyrite andchalcopyrite. Grades rangebeern zones in the district, whichareseparated by the tween 0.6 and 1.5 percent Cu. Stronglyfractured Andacollo fault(Fig. 2). The western zonepossesseszonescontainthe highestgrades, asin the Hermosa onlya fewsills anddikes ofAndacollo porphyry strik- area (Fig. 2). The enrichmentblanketwasdisplaced ing northwest and north-south,whereas the eastern by postmineral faulting(Fig. 4). zoneincludes batholithic rocks (Fig.2). Hypogene mineralizationconsists of pyrite and

central part of the district the Andacollo porphyry, variousamountsof goethite,jarosite, and hematite. of tonalitic composition, crops outover2 km 2 (Llau- The average copper gradeof the capping isonly0.07 mett,1975)andisbelieved to be related genetically percent.Oxide coppermineralsare presentonly loto the copperand gold mineralization. Sills,dikes, cally. and small irregular intrusive bodies ofAndacollo porThe enrichmentblanket averages 40 m in thickphyryareobservable in theunderground workings ness andoccupies an areaof 1.5 km2 (Fig. 4). Min-

1304
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FIC. 2. Geologicmap of the Andacollodistrict, after Miiller (1986).

ANDACOLLOAu DEPOSIT,CHILE

1305

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TYPICAL SECTION
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FIG. 3. Stratigraphiccolumnshowingrelative positions of strata-bound gold deposits, Andacollo

district.

1306

MANUEL REYES

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ENRICHMENT

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ROCK CONTACT

FIG. 4. Distributionof hydrothermal alterationandmineralization, Andacollo district,after Mfller (1986). Geologiclegend as for Figure 2.

ANDACOLLO Au DEPOSIT, CHILE

1307

chalcopyrite with moderate amountsof hematite, is accompanied by chalcopyrite,sphalerite,galena, subordinate molybdenite,and minor gold. Grades and cinnabar(Llaumett, 1983). rangefrom 0.30 to 0.80 percentCu. The mineralizaMicroscopicand electron microprobestudiesretion extends for 100 to 200 m beneath the enrichment veal that the gold is located in pyrite, chalcopyrite blanket(Llaumettet al., 1975; Marquardt,1980). andaikinite-bismuthinite intergrowths, alonggalena Three hypogene zonesmay be recognized in the andsphalerite crystalmargins with quartz,andin the porphyrycoppersystem (Fig. 4). The internalzone interstices of hematite-quartz assemblages. Gold hasthe highestcopperand molybdenum valuesin a grainsrangein sizefrom a few microns to morethan pyrite-chalcopyrite-specularhematite association 100 tm. characterized by low pyriteto chalcopyrite ratios(1All veins have an oxidized upper zone which ex4:1). The centralzone givesway outwardto an in- tendsto depthsof 40 to 60 m with average goldgrades termediate zone carryingpyrite-chalcopyrite min- of 5 to 6 g/metricton. Locally,values of 100 to 300 eralization with lower copperandmolybdenum con- g/metricton are found.The oxidizedzoneisunderlain tents and an elevatedpyrite to chalcopyrite ratio, by a hypogene zonewhichextends to depthsof about which varies from 4:1 to 9:1. The external zone has 250 m. Grades in thissulfide-bearing zonerangefrom highpyrite contents andonlytraces of chalcopyrite, i to 5 g/metric ton Au (Llaumett, 1983). and pyrite to chalcopyrite ratiostypicallybetween On the basisof mineralogicassociations in the 9:1 and 20:1. veins,Llaumett (1983) distinguished three separate zonesthat form discontinous ringsaroundthe porCold mineralization phyry copper deposit(Fig. 4). The first of these, the internal zone, is located in Gold in the Andacollo districtis presentas vein, manto, andplacerdeposits. Veinsandmantos arepe- the immediatevicinity of the porphyry copper deripheralto the porphyrycopperdeposit, alongits posit.Mineralizationconsists of gold-bearing pyrite, western margin, and form a north-south band ap- galena,chalcopyrite,sphalerite,and specularhemaproximately 7 km longand3 km wide. Placers formed tite. Gangueminerals are quartz,andlocally,calcite. mostlyby erosionof the veinsandmantos are located Pyrite is massive or presentas smallcrystals. There at distances of tens of meters to as much as I km from are two types of sphalerite:dark and iron rich, and the apparent bedrock goldsources (Fig.2) in gulches pale yellow. Chalcopyriteis presentasinclusions in crossing the porphyry copper deposit. Approximately sphalerite or asrimssurrounding it. Goldvalues range 100 veins of various mineable dimensions have been from 5 to 56 ppm (Llaumett, 1983). The mostimrecognized in the district. They are emplaced along portant veinspresentin this zone are Socorro,Toro, faults, shear zones, and the contactsbetween dikes Fragua,and Bahamondes (Fig. 4).
and southeastern parts of the district between i and 3 km from the porphyrycopperdeposit(Fig. 4). The zone is characterizedby the presenceof gold and coppermineralization carrying chalcopyrite andsmall amounts of sphalerite andgalenain veinswith quartz gangue.Some of these veins have been mined for timeters in aphanitic andesiteto 5 to 6 m in more copper.Gold valuesrangefrom 2 to 25 g/metricton permeable felsic volcanic rocks, such as dacite and (Miiller, 1986). Important veinsin the zone are Arandesite flow breccia. enilla andAltamira (Fig. 4). The distribution of economic mineralization in the The third or peripheralvein zone is locatedin the veinsis discontinuous. Generallysinuous, lenticular southernand southeastern partsof the district,more ore shoots extend locallyfor 100 m along strike.Vein than 3 km from the porphyry copper deposit.The contactsare sharpin andesiteand diffusein dacite. veinsare characterized by an association of mercury
The veins are associated with adularia-hematite or

andhostvolcanic rocks. They strikeN 45 W in the central and southernparts of the district but eastwestin the northernpart, parallelto the mainstructural trends.Veinsdip from 70 to verticalandstrike lengthsrangefrom tensof metersto severalkilometers. Widthsof individual veinsare controlled primarilyby the type of hostrockandrangefromcen-

The intermediate

zone is located in the northern

and copperwith smallamounts of gold and silver. chloritic alteration halos, whichvaryfroma few cen- Mercuryvalues rangefrom 10 to 4,000 ppm andgold

averages0.04 g/metric ton. The mineralizationincludes cinnabar, pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite,galena, are about0.2 to 5 g/metricton in andesite and 5 to and tennantite. Gangue mineralsare mainly quartz 20 g/metric ton in dacite. These zones are presently and barite (Miiller, 1986). Important veins are minedby small-scale miners (pirquineros). Mercedesand Dichosa(Fig. 4). The strata-bound or manto orebodies contain the Pyrite is the mostwidespread sulfidepresentin the ore shoots; commonly therearetwo generations disseminated gold mineralizationin the district and of pyrite:the first,barren(Miiller, 1986), andthe possess reservesof about 15 million metric tons of second, goldbearing. Pyriteof the second generation 1.5 g/metricton gold.The mantos are developed only

timeters in width in andesite to 5 to 8 m in dacite. Gold contents in the alteration halos around the veins

1308

MANUEL REYES

in favorable felsic volcanic rocks, i.e., dacite and andesitc flow breccia of the Cerro Toro and Andacollo

Members (Fig. 3). The lengths andwidths of the mineralized mantosin each of the favorablelithologic unitsare highlydependent uponthe numberof veins thatcutthemandonhost-rock permeability. The lateral extension of mantosaway from veinsis determinedby the degreeof fracturing. Average goldcontentsare lower thanthosein the veins,ranging from i to 6 g/metricton. Silvercontents varybetween0.5 turing. and 1.5 g/metric ton, arsenicis lessthan 100 ppm, Zonesof subparallel veinlets (yeneros),i to 9. m antimony lessthan10 ppm,andcopperbetween200 wide, are developedparallelto andbetweenthe subppm to 0.1 percent. verticalbodies. The veinlets consist of calcite,quartz, In the andesitcflow breccia, the mineralized man- and visiblegold (Fig. 5B). The strikeof the veinlets tosdisplay lateralandverticalcontinuity, whereas in is sinuous; their lengthsrange from 5 to 30 m and may attaina few centimeters. Venerosare the dacitethey havelateralcontinuity onlyin the ve- thicknesses near the subvertical orebodies, with a sicular partsof theflows andvertical continuity along closelyspaced crosscutting structures (Fig. 5 A, B, andC). The strata- frequency offiveto tenveinlets per meterdecreasing boundbodies are presentonlywestof the porphyry to one to five per meter in zonesmidwaybetween copperdepositandconstitutea semicircular zoneap- veins (Llaumett, 1983). The gold mineralizationat proximately 7 km long and 3 km wide (Fig. 4). Five Churrumata is present only in the subverticaland mineralizedmanto-bearing zonescanbe recognized subhorizontalbodies; the rest of the dacite is barren. from westto east:Toro-Colorado-Las Vacas-Cabafias, Mineralization consists of gold-bearingpyrite and Socorro, Floridor-Chisperos, Churrumata-Mercedes, lesseramounts of chalcopyrite and sphalerite.Gold andTresPerlas (Figs.9.and3). Based onthe predom- distribution iserraticandvaries between3 and20 g/
inantrocktype in eachzone,the mantomineralization metric ton in the mineralized bodies and 0.1 and 0.3 canbe classified intothreetypes(Fig. 5A, B, andC). g/metricton in unaltereddacitebetweenthe bodies. Strata-bound mineralization that developed in anStrata-boundmineralizationwhich developed in desitcflow breccia(Socorro Norte type) is the first daciteand flow breccia(TresPerlastype) is the final type of strata-bound mineralization.This group of type of mineralization. Thisgroupof orebodies isemorebodies is found in the andesitc flow breccia of the placedin daciteandandesitc flowbrecciain the upper Cerro Negro Member and is underlainby aphanitic part of the AndacolloMember, which is overlainby andesitcand overlainby volcaniclastic sandstone. sandstone lensesand andesitcand underlainby dark Depositsin this unit give rise to the mostcontinuous aphanitic andesitc. The dacitedisplays flow texture mineralized bodies, with lengths that vary from 1 to defined by elongate vesicles, andthevolcanic breccia 1.5 km and thicknesses typically from 10 to 20 m contains smaller fragments thanthose in similar rock (min: 1-3 m, max:40-50 m). The Socorro, Toro-Co- of the Cerro Toro Member. These two rock types lorado-Las Vacas-Cabafia,and Floridor-Chisperos containthe Tres PerlasNorte andSur orebodies (Fig. zones in the westernpart of the districtare the prin- 5C), which constitutethe disseminated gold zones cipalorebodies of this group(Figs.9.and 5A). Min- closest to the porphyrycopperdeposit. The orebodies eralizationis present as gold-bearing pyrite, sphal- display lateralcontinuity similarto that of the Socorro erite, andtracesof chalcopyrite. Gold concentrations Norte-typedeposits anda strong structural controlof maybe grouped into two populations: 2 to 3 g/metric the highestgold grades.Structurescontrol the subton, and 5 to 8 g/metricton but up to 20 to 30 g/ vertical, high-gradelenses,similarto the situationat metric ton. The highestgradegold mineralization is Churrumata, but with the difference that the rock found in the central part of each manto, close to between the subvertical lenses is also mineralized. crosscuttingveins and fractures. The northwestMineralization comprises pyrite, specular hematite, trending Toro and Socorrofaults cut these mantos magnetite,and tracesof chalcopyrite. Averagegold

fracturesin the dacite and by subhorizontal bodies locatedin the upper, vesicularpartsof daciteflows. The Churrumata deposit typifiesthe group(Fig. 5B). The widthsof subvertical bodiesvary from a few meters to a maximumof 30 m, lengthsrangefrom 100 to 130 m, and depths from 40 to 100 m. The subhorizontalbodieshavevariablethicknesses, up to 12 m, andlateralextensions thatdependonthe proximity of faultsandveinsandthe intensityof associated frac-

(Fig. 2) creating a setof parallelfractures whichpro- contents in this zone are lower than those in the videdchannelways for the mineralizing fluids. Churrumata andSocorro orebodies, ranging from 1.3 Strata-bound mineralizationwhich developedin to 1.5 g/metric ton in the mantos and 5 to 10 g/metric vesicular dacite (Churrumata type)isthesecond type ton in the subvertical lenses. of strata-bound mineralization. Thisgroup of orebodies is emplacedin the lower part of the Andacollo Hydrothermal Alteration Member,a unit of strongly magnetic, amygdaloidal, Two typesof hydrothermalalterationassemblages porphyritic daciteoverlain andunderlain by porphyritic andesitc.The group is characterized by sub- are recognized at Andacollo: alteration associated verticalmineralizedbodiescontrolledby faultsand spatiallywith the porphyry copper systemand al-

ANDACOLLO Au DEPOSIT, CHILE

1309

porphyry copper
environment

m
W

F'I

Andesite -]Volconic fow breccio AJ' Docite ' Veinet zone (Yeneros)
Sondstone
Gold
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Fault/vein

FIG. 5. Geologic sketches showing the threedifferent oredeposit typesandemphasizing lithologic control(seetext for details). A. Socorro Norte type. B. Churrumata type.C. TresPerlas type.

1310

MANUEL REYES

terationassociated spatially with goldmineralization. kaolinized whereas the groundmass is alteredto chloBoth types were produced during the samehydro- rite and calcite. Potassic alteration is the most imthermal event and are linked genetically. portantand shows a closeassociation with gold mineralization. This alteration caused the introduction of

Alterationassociated with porphyrycopper

mineralization

KO, which attainsvaluesof 12 to !3 wt percent in

some rocks.

Mineralogically, the alteration consistsof both Thisalteration, described by Llaumettet al. (1975), underliesan area 5 km long by 0.6 to 5 km wide. It open-space filling, and predominantly, feldsparreis characterized in the centralpart of the depositby placementby adularia and hematite, with lesser of quartz,therebygivingthe rocka pale pink potassic(K feldspar and secondary biotite) assem- amounts color. Thin sectionsshow plagioclase in dacite reblages associated with pyrite-chalcopyrite-magnetitewhich alsofills in spaces molybdenitemineralization.The assemblage passes placedby quartz-adularia, outwardinto propyliticalteration, with chlorite,ep- between fragmentsin the flow breccia.The potassic idote,andcalcite,andis overprinted locallyby quartz- alteration has a strong lithologic control and is desericiteassemblages. The distribution of the potassic velopedpervasively in the felsicvolcanic units.In analterationis stronglycontrolledby primary volcanic desiteit is developedonly weakly as narrow halos rock composition. The andesite developed biotite as alongfractures.In highly altered rocks,the primary disseminations and microveinlets whereas dacite and texturesare completelydestroyed, whereasin modare partiallypreserved andesite flowbreccia developed K feldspar asdissem- eratelyalteredrockstextures are present in veinlets or form inatedgrainsandveinlets(Marquardt,1980). A typ- andalterationminerals ical east-westcrosssection through the porphyry reaction rims aroundfragmentsin the flow breccia. on the degreeof fraccopperdepositshows an inner K feldsparzone over- Intensityof alterationdepends lappedoutwardby a biotite zonethat dipseastward turing of the rock and the proximity to principal at 15 to 20 , concordant with the volcanicsequence structures and veins. The vertical and lateral boundariesof potassic al(rig. 6). teration range from abrupt to gradational.Vertical Alterationassociated with gold mineralization limits were controlledby the composition and perRocksassociated with gold mineralizationdisplay meability of the stratigraphic unit, whereaslateral propylitic, potassic, and argillic alteration.Propylitic limitswere controlled by rockpermeability,andprealterationis regionalandconsists ofchlorite, epidote, sumably, by the pressure,temperature,and salinity andcalcite.Underthe microscope, feldspar ispartially of the mineralizingfluids.

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BRECClA

IA ^1 K-FELDSPAR .ow
/// /// /// (VENERO)

FIG. 6. Schematiceast-westcrosssectionthrough the Andacollo district showingrelative positions of the different orebodytypes. Note the relation between the porphyry copper-golddepositand the distal gold orebodies.

ANDACOLLO Au DEPOSIT,CHILE

1311

andToro areas, kaolinite-sericite-altered rockdisplays remnants of potassic alteration.

Radiometric Dating

Four altered and mineralized sampleswere se-

lectedfordating by the standard K-Armethod (Table 1) to determine the ageof the alteration-mineralization and to establishthe time relationsbetween por-

phyrycopper andgoldevents. Two samples arefrom the porphyrycopperandtwo fromthe gold-bearing environment. Porphyrycopper samples were collected from west of the Hermosabody and from a shaftsouth of the centralbody(Fig. 2). The goldzone
samples are from the Tres Periasand SocorroNorte

orebodies, but onlythesample fromTresPerias could be utilizedfor dating; the sample collected fromSoFRAGMENTS

corro contains excessive calcite. K-Ar determinations were made on whole-rock

FIG. 7. Metasomatic brecciashowing distribution of alteration and disseminatedpyrite. Note that alteration affects both the originalfragments andthe matrix.Socorro manto,Andacollo district.

Potassic alteration produced metasomatic breccia

due to variablealterationby fluidscirculating along multidirectional fractures in flowbreccia in fragments greaterthan 2 to 3 m in diameterandalongfractures in dacite.The brecciais characterized by fragments with reaction rimsor by parallelalteration bands along jointsin fragments (Fig. 7). Miiller (1986) recognized two intensities of potassicalteration associated with goldmineralization. The firstcorresponds to moderate alteration in whichthe rockispalegray,contains relicsof the originaltexture, and possesses smallpyrite crystals. The second type is moreintense;the rock shows pale colors,ghosttextures, and cubic pyrite crystals larger than i cm. Argillicalterationgenerallyis superimposed on the potassic alterationand is characterized by kaolinire and sericite, affecting mainly phenocrysts and groundmass. In the TresPerias area,late-stage pyritequartz veinlets with sericite-kaolinitehalos, like D veins in porphyry copper deposits(Gustarson and Hunt, 1975), cut potassic-altered rock.In the Socorro
TABLE1.
Sample

samples in the Geochronology Laboratory of the Servicio Nacional de Geologla y MinerVa (SERNAGEOMIN) in Santiago, Chile. Resultsare 91 _ 6 Ma for the gold-bearing rock and 98 _ 2 and 104 _ 3 Ma for samples from the porphyry copper deposit (Table1). These EarlyCretaceous minimum ages support a relationship between the porphyrycopperand gold mineralization but suggest that gold mineralization may be slightly youngerthanthe porphyrycopper. These radiometricdatesare comparable to those obtained previously by otherinvestigators fromunalteredintrusive rocks in the general region(Zentilli, 1974; Bergand Breitkreuz,1983) and fromhydrothermallyaltered rocksfrom the Pacificporphyry copperbelt (Sillitoe,1981; Munizaga et al., 1985). They are alsosimilarto agesof rocksrelatedto iron deposits associated spatially with thePacific porphyry copperbelt (Pichon,1981; Montecinos,1983; Munizagaet al., 1985). Agesof the rocks associated with iron andcoppermineralization rangefrom 89 ___ 0.6 Ma for LosLorosporphyry copperprospect (Sillitoe, 1981) to 128 ___ 4 Ma for the Boqueron Chafiariron deposit(Zentilli, 1974), whereas agesfor the intrusions unrelatedto mineralization rangefrom 87 ___ 3 Ma (Zentilli, 1974) to 130 ___ 1 Ma (BergandBreitkreuz,1983).Thebroadly similar K-Arages obtained

Details of K-Ar Dating

K-Ar

no.
M-1

Rocktype
Quartz-sericite-altered rock, quartz veins Quartz-eyeporphyry, potassicalteration Andesiteflow breccia,
Andacollo Member

Location
West of La Hermosa pit North of Culebr6n area Tres Perlas

Mineralogy
Pyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite Pyrite, chalcopyrite, magnetite Pyrite

age (Ma)
104 _ 3

M-2
M-3

98 _ 2
91 _ 6

1312

MANUEL REYES

ANDACOLLO Au DEPOSIT, CHILE

1313

for both altered rocks associated with mineralization and unaltered intrusive rocks in the Coastal Cordillera

potassium in theserocks wasintroduced by metasomatic phenomena and that the originalrockshad a content. For example, unaltered dark of thispart of centralChile suggest that they were all highpotassium from the Cerro emplaced duringa single,early stageof Cretaceous dacitewith no gold mineralization
volcano-plutonic arc development. Rock Geochemistry Toro Member hasa KO contentrangingfrom 6 to 9 wt percent(Table 2). Levi et al. (1988) investigated Early Cretaceous
volcanic rocks in the Coastal Cordillera of central

The alteration processes thataffected rocks hosting Chile, which includesAndacollo, and concludedthat possesses a shoshonitic affiliation, with the Andacollogold deposit producedsignificant the volcanism ratio. changes in bulk chemistry, notablywidespread ad- a KO/Na20 ratio of 1.5 and a low S6Sr/S7Sr thatpotassium couldhave dition of K20 and corresponding Na20, CaO, and Levi et al. (1988) suggested MgO loss(Table 2). As KO increased, CaO, NaO, beenadded duringselective crustal contamination of and MgO decreased, but the sum of the four com- magmasand/or as a postdepositional enrichment caused by regional burialmetamorphism, whichmay ponents remainednearlyconstant (Table2). of potassium contents in upper Twenty-eight chemical analyses of Andacollo sam- haveled to anincrease plesshown ona KO-NaO-CaOdiagram (Fig. 8) plot partsof lava flows. tendency in theK20 field,although relatively unaltered samples In order to investigatethe shoshonitic clustertoward the center of the diagram.The less- postulated by Levi et al. (1988) for the volcanic rocks alteredrockshavea KO/NaO ratio of 1.8, whereas ofAndacollo, analytical results for 11 apparently fresh strongly alteredandmineralized rocksfrom the same andesites were plottedon the KO-SiO2diagram of andTaylor(1975). Seven of thesesamples stratigraphic unit have considerably higher ratios, Peccerillo were collectedfrom the Andacolloarea andanalyzed from 40 to 60 (Table2). All workers who have studied altered rocks from by Kaiser (1942), Miller (1986), and Reyes (this the Andacollogold deposit (Kaiser, 1942; Chavez, study), and four from near La Serenaby SERNA1982). Samples with NaO 1974; Llaumett,1983; Miller, 1986; Oyarzfn, 1987, GEOMIN (writ. commun., 1988; Mfller et al., 1988) concluded that not all the + CaO > 2 percentandKO < 6 percentare consid-

K20

Unaltered

rock

samples

CaO
a REYES,THISSTUDY x MULLER (1986) A KAISER (1942)

Na20

FIG. 8. Altered and unaltered rock analyses from Andacollogold depositsplotted on a K20-Na20CaO ternary diagram.

1314

MANUEL REYES

r'l
925-6

i ARC THOLEITE SERIES

II CALC-ALKALINE SERIES Ill HIGH-K CALC-ALKALINE SERIES
IV SHOSHONITESERIES

A-OCOITA,STA, GRACIA(CHAVEZ,1974)
TS -1,2,4-CERRO TORO(MULLER,1986) A-WESTERN LOWERCRETACEOUS(LEVI,19
G-4$,AND 2 --PORFIRITAS(KAISER.'1942) 9'5-6 -- CHURRUMATA (M. REYES,THIS

[]

TS-4

TS

.--" "'"

/
/

HIGH - K DACITE
RHYOLITE

,'

HIGH-

BASALTIC
ANDESlTE

HIGHK

DACITE
II ,.----..--

BASALT

......'"''"''"'
BASALT

BASALTIC
ANDESITE

ANDESITE

--

'

LOW- K

LOW ' K

LOW-K
BASALT
o

LOW- K
BASALTIC.ANDES.
54 55 58

LOW- K
ANDESlTE
62

DACITE
I
66 70

RHYOLITE
74

5o

0/0 S i 02
FIG.9. KO-SiO2 diagram (Peccerillo andTaylor,1975) showing the petrochemical character of
fresh rocksfrom the Andacolloand nearby La Serenaareas.

ered unalteredand plot either in the shoshonitic or high K calc-alkaline fields(Fig. 9). Chemical variations produced duringalteration and mineralization were studiedusingchemicalanalyses of 21 samples, of which two (G-43 and 9-25-6) are relatively unaltered dacites.Major gainsin K and losses in Ca, Na, A1,andMg were detected,although
the combined amounts of these elements tend to re-

the development of the system, two mainmineralizing stages maybe recognized: an earlyporphyrycoppergold stage,and a relativelylate gold-bearing stage developedin the surrounding area. The porphyrycopper-gold and peripheralgold

mainconstant duringthe mineralization process (Fig. 10). The mineralogic effects of thesechemical changes are the production of an epidote-calcite-chlorite assemblage aboveand alongthe marginsof the mineralized zonesand the deposition of adulariaas replacements of grainsand in veinlets.
Summary and Discussion

The Andacollo districtis the productof a complex hydrothermalsystemthat gave rise to a porphyry 1989). Younger northwest-trending fracturesystems procopper-gold deposit andperipheralpyriticgoldzones of regionalfaultingapparwith relativelyminor associated basemetals.During ducedas a consequence

stages arelinkedto the magmatic development of an Early Cretaceous shoshonitic arc. Several othermineraldeposit typesarerelatedto thisarc,whichisthe locus of the Pacific porphyry copper belt of Llaumett (1975). The Andacollo porphyrycopperdeposit displays a typical alteration mineralizationzonation characteristic of suchsystems. It hasa centralpotassic core containing copperand gold mineralization surroundedby sericiticandpropyliticalteration.An unusualfeature of the Andacollodepositis its anomalously highgoldcontent (0.25 g/metric ton)compared with mostporphyrycopperdeposits in Chile (about 0.1 g/metric ton)(Sillitoe, 1981;Perell6andCabello,

ANDACOLLO Au DEPOSIT, CHILE

1315

mg/cc Si

Na

Ca

AI

Mg

Fe*5 Fe*2

I00

80

60

40

The Andacollo porphyrycopper-gold andgolddepositsare probablycontemporaneous on the basis of preliminaryK-Ar dating,but duringthe evolutionof the porphyry copper system,gold was depositedat different times; gold in the porphyry copper-gold stockworkswas depositedin the early mineralizing events andgoldaround the porphyry copperappears to havebeenprecipitated duringlate events. Therefore the Andacollo porphyrycoppersystem maybe dividedinto a porphyrycopper-gold core with associated distal contactmetasomatic gold deposits(Sillitoe, 1988, 1989). The distalgoldconcentrations may be considered to be of epithermal,adularia-sericitetype manto-replacement and vein deposits. Acknowledgments

- 20

- 60

I thank ChevronMinera Corporationof Chile for supporting the workreported hereandfor permission to publish.Critical comments by P. Dunkerley and Economic Geologyreviewersare muchappreciated. I amgratefulto the manygeologists whose work,between 1975 and 1989, contributed to the current un-

- 80

derstanding of Andacollo geology.

REFERENCES

- 100

FIG. 10. Estimates of gainsand losses during alterationand mineralization in the Andacollo golddeposit.

Berg, K., and Breitkreuz, C., 1983, MesozoichePlutonein der Nord Chilenischem K6stecnkordillere: Petrogenese, Geochronologie,Geochemie und Geodynamikmantel bertonter Magmatite:Geotekton.Forschung., v. 66, p. 1-107. Cuadra,W., and Dunkerley, P.M., 1991, A historyof gold in Chile: ECON. GEOL., v. 86, p. 1155-1173. Chavez,L., 1974, Metamorfismo de contacto y alteraci6n regional
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p. 331-348.

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--

1316

MANUEL REYES

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