ECONOMIC

AND THE

GEOLOGY
OF THE SOCIETY OF
GEOLOGISTS

BULLETIN
ECONOMIC

VOL. 50

MAY, 1955

No. 3

GEOLOGY OF THE ATACOCHA MINE, DEPARTMENT OF PASCO, PERU

ROBERT F. JOHNSON

CONTENTS
PAGE

Abstract .............................................................. Introduction ..........................................................

249 250

Descriptive geology .................................................... Introductory statement .............................................. Triassic and Jurassiclimestone.......................................

Cretaceous rocks ................................................... Intrusive rocks .....................................................

252 252 253

253 255

Contactmetamorphism ..............................................
Alluvium .......................................................... Structure ............................................................. General statement .................................................. Folds ............................................................. Faults .............................................................

255
255 255 255 256 257

Geologic history ...................................................... History and productionof the Atacocha mine ............................
General features of the Atacocha mine ...................................

258 259
259

Ore deposits .......................................................... Replacementbodies .................................................

Veins .............................................................

262 262
264

Mineralogy and classification ........................................... Hydrothermal alteration ............................................... Depositionalhistory ...................................................

Conclusion ........................................................... References ............................................................
ABSTRACT

266 268

269
270 2?0

The Atacocha lead-zinc mine, 15 km northeast of Cerro de Pasco in Central'Peril, was the object of a detailed geologicinvestigationin 1952 by geologistsof the Instituto Nacional de Investigaci6n y Fomento Mineros and the U.S. GeologicalSurvey. The mine is about 4,000 m above sea level, in an area of steeptopographywith about 900 m of relief. Rocks exposedat Atacocha consistof limestone,chert breccia, quartz sandstone, and basalt that range from Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous
Publication authorized by the Director, U.S.
249

Geological Survey.

250

ROBERT F. JOHNSON

in age. These rockshave been intrudedby dacite of probableTertiary

age.

The most prominent structural features are the east limb of a large antidine east of the mine, and a south-plunging syndine to the west. The two folds are separatedby a major fault zone. The rocks west of the fault have been dragged along it and are bent into a small crossfold, which seems to be the primary controlfor the localizationof the ore. The
main structural feature in the mine is a reverse fault on which limestone

has been thrust over quartz sandstone. The Atacochamine containsabout 30 km of underground workings on

16 levels,spaced over a vertical distanceof 700 m. The workingsexplore portionsof a reversefault and follow veins in limestone and sandstone. Productionwas 600 tons of ore per day in late 1953.
Ore occurs in veins filling tension fractures in limestone and sandstone near the axis of the cross fold and in irregular replacementbodies in a narrow limestonehorizon above and closeto the reverse fault. Replacement bodiesare also found west of the syncline in limestone dose to the contact between limestoneand overlying chert breccia. The typical sulfidemineral association is galena, sphalerite,and pyrite, with minor chalcopyrite and jamesonite. Gangue minerals other than pyrite are calcite, rhodochrosite,clay minerals, and a minor amount of fluorite. Late veins of realgat and orpiment cut the ore minerals. Very little oxidationor supergene enrichmenthas taken place.
INTRODUCTION

Purposeand Scope.--During the courseof a nationwidesurvey of Peruvian lead and zinc resources, undertakenjointly by the Instituto Nacional de Investigaci6n y FomentoMinerosand U.S. Geological Survey,a few districts
were examined in detail. The Atacocha area was one of those selected,

both because of its presentimportantproductionand because it is little known geologically. This report describessome of the geologicfeatures of the Atacochamine, the largest in the district. Locationand Access.--The Atacochamine is in the Departmentof Pasco in CentralPeril, 15 km northeast of the greatcopper-lead-zinc deposit at Cerro de Pasco(Fig. 1). Atacocha is near the centerof a miningdistrictextending about 10 km from Machicn on the north to Milpo on the south. It is by far the most importantmine in the district with a productionof 600 tons of leadzinc ore per day in late 1953. At that time Milpo produced about 75 tons of ore per day and Machictn about 5 tons. Allweather roadslead from Atacochaand Chicrin (the mill site) to the
railroad at Cerro de Pasco. A 3-kilometer aerial tram and a 20-kilometer road

connectAtacochaand Chicrin. An underground connection has also been madeby meansof raisesfrom the Chicrin adit, or 3,600 level, which passes underthe principalmine workings. The nearestairport with scheduled service is at I-Iumuco, 80 km by roadnorth of Chicrim Topo#raphy andRelief.--The campat Atacocha is 4,000m above sealevel; mine workingsextendfrom 4,300 m downto 3,600 m, the altitudeof the mill
at Chicrin.

The areais on the eastern edgeof the highcentralplateau of Peril and is

GEOLOGY

OF THE ATACOCHA

MINE

251

characterized by veryrugged topography; theslope overthemineworkings between 4,000and4,300m, for example, is 30-35degrees. Quebrada Chicrin, which drains thearea,is a tributary of the Huallaga River, a north-flowing stream thatis partof theAmazon riversystem.The Huallaga River is an actively downcutting stream andreliefis considerable, 400m in thearea mapped in Figure 2 andnearly 900m between theriverand
the higherpeaks.

Climate andVe#etation.--A wetand a dryseason characterize theclimate, withthedryseason lasting fromMayto October. During thedry season, showers dooccur, butingeneral thedays areclear. Nights arecool throughouttheyear withfrosts common above 3,500 m. Neartheendof thedry

FIG. 1. Indexmapof Peru,showing the location of the Atacocha mine.

season the scarcity ofwater becomes a problem atAtacocha, butChicrin, being

neartheriver,hasample waterall year.
Mostof theAtacocha areais above thetreeline. Scattered trees arefound

in sheltered places up to an altitude of 4,000m, butabove thisaltitude the only ground cover isgrasses and herbs.Eucalyptus has been introduced and isfound asfar uptheHuallaga RiverasChicrin, butstands suitable for mine
timberare not foundabove 3,000m.

Field Work and Acknowledgments.--Field work began in May1952 and continued intermittently until December ofthat year. A plane-table map was made of theimmediate mine area, using thecompany triangulation netfor horizontal andvertical control. Theunderground workings were mapped geologically ona scale of1:500 using company maps.Magnetic north isused
for direction onall maps of thisreport.

252

ROBERT F. JOHNSON

The aid of two geologists of the Instituto Geo16gico del Peril is gratefully acknowledged.Alberto Manrique P. assisted the writer from May to October, and Ing Eliodoro Bellido B. worked from October to 'December. Wholehearted cooperation was received from all personnel of the Compafila Minera Atacocha. Ing Edgardo Portaro, generalmanager,made the necessarypreliminaryarrangements for the study. IngFelipe BautistaC., general superintendent, providedliving accommodations at Chicrin, and Ing Carlos ValdiviesoS., mine superintendent, providedaccommodations and officespace at Atacocha. Both gave freely of their time to discuss problemsconnected with the work, giving the writer the benefitof their long experience at Atacocha. Ing Ortiz T. providedassistants and guides,as well as any information needed pertainingto company surveys. The otherengineers at Atacocha, in particular Jorge Quintana S., who were in daily contactwith the mining operations, assisted the writer by calling his attentionto various points of geologic interestfound in the courseof mining. Officialsof Hochschild y Cia., Ltda., kindly allowedaccess to an unpublished report on Atacochaby
Otto Welter.

The work wasgreatlyfacilitated by the cooperation of Dr. JorgeA. Broggi, Directorof the InstitutoGeo16gico del Peril, who madeavailable the resources of the Instituto. Mr. Frank Simons,Chief of the Geological Surveyparty in Peril, madevaluablesuggestions when visiting the party in the field, and also reviewedthe manuscript for this report. Previous Work.--Earlier geologicwork in the Atacochaarea consisted of a surface reconnaissance by J. B. Stone,of the Cerro de PascoCorp., in 1928 and studies of the mineby Otto Welter in 1929 and by David Torres Vargas in 1948. The area was mentioned briefly in a reportby Diaz (1). The report by Welter was made before the mine was developed to any great extent. His interpretationof the surfacegeologydiffered from that of the writer in that he considered the quartz sandstone to be older than the limestone, the reverseof the presentinterpretation. As a consquence of his stratigraphic interpretation he considered the synclinal fold in the sandstone, shownin Figure 3, to be an invertedanticline. In addition,a fault was necessary between the sandstoneand the limestone to the west and north. The

writer'sopposite interpretation will be discussed in subsequent sections of this

report.

Geologic mapsof D. Torres Vargas were madeavailable by the company. The mapsare similarto the writer's,exceptfor a difference in the correlation of the alteredrocks. Torres Vargas mapped most of the alteredrocksas quartzite,whereas the writer believes that they are largelyalteredlimestone.
DESCRIPTIVE GEOLOGY

The generalgeologyof the Cordillera Central in the Department of Pasco

andJuninhasbeendescribed by McLaughlin(3), Steinmann (5) and Harrison (2). In brief, the historyof the region,from the middlePaleozoic to the
Upper Cretaceous,was one of intermittent marine sedimentation,with the exception of somevulcanism and the deposition of nonmarine red bedsin the

Permian,and again in the Cretaceous.Orogenybeganin Late Cretaceous

GEOLOGY OF THE ATACOCHA MINE

253

timeandcontinued intermittently through the Tertiary. The sedimentary

rockswere foldedand faulted,and intruded by igneousrocksof intermediate composition. Depositionof metallic sulfidestook place after the intrusions. The region was erodedto a low undulatingplain, which was subsequently elevated to its present position by a series of threeuplifts. The regionis being erodedso rapidly at presentthat excepton the centralplateauthere is little opportunity for supergene enrichment of the mineral deposits. Triassicto Cretaceous sedimentary rocksand Tertiary intrusives are the only rocks exposednear the Atacochamine. The mine is locatednear the axis of a smallfold caused by drag alonga major fault. Small reverse faults probablyassociated with movements on the large fault are found in the mine and are important ore controls.

Triassic andJurassic Limestone.--The oldest rocks exposed at Atacocha

are limestone and interbedded shaleof Late Triassicage. They crop out over a wide area north, east,and southof the mine (Fig. 2). Gray to blacklimestoneis the predominantrock, and black shalea minor constituent. Chert nodulesand lenses are common in the limestone. Individual bedsrange in thickness from 10 cmto 1 m. The entireseries is at least1,300and probably
more than 2,000 m thick, as 2,100 m of conformablelimestone beds are ex-

posed in the Chicrinadit, although there may be somerepetition by faulting.

The base of the series is not seen at Atacocha but is found a few kilometers

west of the mine where the limestones rest with slight angularunconformity on the red bedsof the Mitu formation of Permianage. Limestone and shaleof Early Jurassic agerest conformably on the Triassic
rocks near Chicfin. Fossils are rare and the contact could not be located

precisely. No Jurassic fossils were found near Atacocha, but the presence
of Jurassicstrata cannotbe ruled out.

In the mineareathe lowerpart of the section consists of thick-bedded gray limestone. Thesebedsare overlainby 100 m of thin-bedded blacklimestone and shale,that is overlainby 40 m of thick-bedded limestone. Conformably overlyingthis sectionare 40 to 80 m of interbedded brecciated red chert and clasticlimestone that is in fault contact with quartz sandstone of the Goyllarisquisga formation. Ore hasbeenfoundonlyin and above the thin-bedded
limestoneand shale; the lower thick-beddedlimestone seemsto be barren.

Cretaceous Rocks.--Resting with slightdisconformity on the limestones are beds of the Goyllarisquisga formation of Early Cretaceous age. The formationwas first namedby McLaughlin(3) from exposures at Goyllarisquisga,northwestof Cerro de Pasco. In the mine area the formationconsists

of bedded chertandchertbreccia at the base, overlain by darkshale andfinegrainedsandstone containing charredwood fragments; thesein turn are overlainby white cross-bedded quartzsandstone that makesup the bulk of
the formation.

The Goyllarisquisga formation crops out in thetroughof a south-plunging syncline at Atacocha andis foundalsoabove the limestone along the Huallaga
River at Chicrin.

Bedded dark-graychertcanbe seenlying on the limestone in the Curiajasha area. This chertand associated chertbrecia contrasts strongly with

254

ROBERT

F. JOHNSON

GEOLOGY OF THE ATACOCHA MINE

255

the brecciated red chertmentioned previously, but bothmay be in the same stratigraphic position. Basaltflowsare interbedded with and over!i.he upperquartz sandstone beds. The flowsare metamorphosed by a dacite intrusion nearthe mineand are indistinguishable in the field from fine-grained borders of the intrusive; exposures werenot goodenough to map the two rocksseparately. Unmetamorphosed flowsnear Chicrinare foundto be olivinebasaltwith diabasic texture. Violet-colored titanaugite phenocrysts up to 4 mm in diameterare a strikingfeatureof someflows. IntrusiveRocks.--Thesedimentary rocksand lava flowshavebeenintrudedby dacite(or tonalite porphyry). The largest intrusive is an irregular stockthat cropsout from the San Gerardoadit northwesterly to Curiajasha. Dikes and sillsof similarcomposition are foundon all sides of this stockover
an area of severalsquarekilometers. The rockis greenish gray to dark gray on freshsurfaces, and weathers to a reddishbrown. Phenocrysts of plagioclase and quartz up to 3 min. in diameter,with smallercrystalsof hornblende and biotite, are enclosed in a fine-grainedgroundmass. In thin sectionthe composition of the plagioclase proves to be on the andesine-labradorite boundary, Ano:. Phenocrysts make up 50 percentof the rock with plagioclase forming about half of the

phenocrysts. The percentages of quartz, hornblende, and biotite are about equal. Biotiteis commonly alteredto an aggregate of carbonate, chlorite, and epidote. Quartz and plagioclase phenocrysts generally haverounded comers or are embayed showing the effectsof resorption. The groundmass is crystalline and is largely plagioclase and quartz; orthoclase is probablypresent but couldnot be positively identified. ContactMetarnorphism.--Contact effectsof the intrusiverock vary both
in the intrusive bodiesthemselves and in the intruded rocks. Along some contacts the dacite has a chilled border very similar in color and texture to the metamorphosed basalt,but on other contacts no chilledborderis evident. Quartz sandstone shows little change;alongsomecontacts the sandstone has beenconverted to quartzite. Contactalterationof the limestone, with the developmentof wollastoniteand garnet, was found in two areas, one on the
4,103 level near coordinate 3,600 N, and the other on the mine road about 2

km from the mine. Limestoneseems to be unchanged along someporphyry contacts, particularlynear the smallerdikes. Alluviurn.--No rocksyoungerthan the daciteare foundat Atacocha. Unconsolidated alluviumcoversthe bottomsof valleys,and slopewashand talus
mantle from hillsides. This unconsolidatedmaterial is not thick, but it effec-

tively obscures the bedrockover extensiveareas.

STRUCTURE

The mine area can be dividedinto three distinctstructuralgroups. East of the minethe sediments form the flankof a largeanticline and havea regular east dip. South and west of the mine the rocks are folded into a southplungingsyncline that has beenintrudedby the igneous rocks. North and

256

ROBERT

F. JOHNSON
into minor folds that

west of the mine the beds of limestone seem to be thrown

are difficult to relate to either of the other structures,but the major structure seems to conformto the synclinalstructurefound farther south. Faulting is
extensive in the western blocks, and strike faults are found in the mine where

the 3,600-leveladit crosses the easternblock,althoughtheseare not apparent

on the surface. western block. The ore bodies and veins seem to be confined to the south-

Folds.--The mostprominentfold in the area is a faultedanticlinethat can

be traced for several kilometers. The east flank of this anticline is well ex-

posedbetweenAtacochaand Chicrin; the anticlineis faulted, probablynear

:':- .

<..

"* .

..

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,. :-;.. .

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, :.

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FIG. 3. View southward shovingthe Atacocha mine. The syncline in sandstone is visible at upper right and cross fold on the left. The dashed line representsthe approximatetrace of the No. 1 fault.

its axis, and the westflank is not clearlydefined. The sandstones and immediately underlying limestones west of Quebrada Chicrin and south of La Laguia have a steepwest dip, and probablyrepresenta portion of the west flank. The structurein the limestone is not well known north of La Laguia where small irregular folds complicate the picture. An asymmetricsynclineis well exposedin the sandstone cliffs near La Laguia (Fig. 3). The steeper eastflank dips75 W and the westflank dips 40-60 E. The axis of the synclinestrikes N 20 E and plunges40 SW. To the south the synclineis interrupted by intrusive rocks. The limestone bedsto the north seemto reflect the synclinalstructure,but the relationsare
not clear.

GEOLOGY OF THE ATACOCHA MINE

257

A small crossfold formed by drag along a large fault was mappedin the sedimentaryrock directly over the mine workings. This fold seemsto be one of the principal controlsin the localizationof the Atacochaore bodies. Ore is foundnear the axis of the fold, in veinsand in replacement bodies. Faults.--A largefault zoneextends alongthe eastsideof the mapped area and for several kilometers north and south. Its position is well markedtopographically alongpart of its length,particularlyon the eastsideof Quebrada Chicrin., but in manyplaces it cutsacross the present topography, and its position is markedby changes in strikeof the limestone bedsand by a breccia zone. A 60-meter brecciazone was found where the 3,900-leveladit crosses the fault
zone.

Total displacement and direction of movementare not known. The east sidemay havemovedup and to the north relativeto the west side. North of Atacocha the bedswestof the fault are bentsharplyand dragged to the north showing that the movement had a horizontalcomponent. The fault appears to be premineralbecause the structures that controlore deposition are due to movements alongit. In the 3,900-leveladit the fault breccia is recemented, exceptalongthe westerncontact where a gougezone may representa later period of movement. The No. 1 fault is the chieffault exposed by the mineworkings. Its trace on the surface is not well exposed, but it mustcropout at the baseof the brecciatedred chert zone; blackgougemarksthe outcropof the fault just south of La Laguia. The No. 1 fault dips 45 to 60 degrees east below the 4,103 levelandis the contact between Triassicor Jurassic limestone in the hanging wall, and sandstone of Cretaceous age in the footwall; this relationship indicatesthat the fault is a reverse fault. The fault closely followsthe strike of the bedding, evento the turn,madein the crossfold. On and abovethe 4,103 level the No. 1 fault steepens and joins a steepwest-dipping fault (Fig. 4). This latter fault is on the contact of the red breccia and sandstone and closely followsthe dip of the bedsas well as the strike. No direct evidence was foundfor the premineral or postmineral age Of the No. 1 fault. Veins terminateagainstit, but no evidence was found that

indicated offsetting of the veins. The abundant gouge formed alongthe fault may have inhibitedthe formationof potentialore-bearing structures. Mr.
Bautista reported that on one level mineralization seemedto be continuous

across the fault zonebetween the Veta Prima (Main Vein) andthe No. 1 ore body, which also suggests a premineralage for the fault. Smaller faults
branching from the No. 1 fault in the sandstone do offsetveinsa few meters, so possibly there was both premineraland postmineral movement.

Numerous smaller faultswere observed in the course of surface mapping. The most commonstrike directions are within a few degreesof north and BI 60-80 W. Many otherfaultsare undoubtedly present but escaped notice. A probable fault existsin the San Gerardoarea where the quartz sandstone southof the porphyrymassin the quebrada is offsetto the west relative to the sandstone north of the porphyry. The porphyry may have been intruded alonga zoneof weakness caused by faulting.

Hydrothermal alteration and offsetting of the contact between the che.rt

258

ROBERT F. JOHNSON

and limestone in the Curiajasha area indicate faulting,and smallnorthweststrikingfaultshavebeenfound,but no largefault wasfoundthat couldbe the onemapped by Welter (8). He mapped a largefault on the contact, extending from near Curiajasha eastto La Laguiaand on to the north,and indeed sucha fault wasessential to his stratigraphic interpretation that the sandstone is olderthanthelimestone.Thereis evidence of localfaulting on thecontact, but in otherplaces the chertcanbe seen lyingconformably on the limestone.
GEOLOGIC HISTORY

Limestoneof Triassic age is the oldest rock exposedin the mine area, eitheron the surface or in the mineworkings. The limestone is largelyrecrystallized, but its association with limy shales indicates that it is biochemical

in origin rather than clastic(4, p. 293). The presence of blacklimy shale alsosuggests that stagnant conditions existedat timesduringthe deposition
of the limestone.

The area was probablyuplifted and erodedin the interval betweenthe deposition of the limestone andthe Goyllarisquisga formation, eventhough the two formations are largely conformable.A conglomerate containing limestoneand chert cobbles is presenton the contactat Chictin. The contactis markedby chert and chert brecciain the mine area, indicatinga possible
marine basin that did not extend as far east as Chicrin. The isolated lime-

stoneoutcrops in the Curiajashaarea, near the contact,may represent an unevensurfaceon which the chert was deposited.

The sea receded during the period in which Goyllarisquisga sediments were deposited. The marinechert was followedby carbonaceous shaleand fine-grainedsandstone representing deltaicconditions, and thesein turn were followed by crossbedded quartzsandstones that probably represent flood-plain deposits. Volcanicactivity begannear the end of the period of sandstone deposition and brought that period to a close. A new marine invasionfollowedas shownby marine limestone bedsabovethe basaltflows. This limestonehas beenerodedfrom the mine area, but is presentat Chictin.
After a period of unknown duration the sediments were folded and faulted

and subsequently were intrudedby dacite. The daciteintrusions in Central Peril are generallyconsidered to be Tertiary in age. Sometime afterthe intrusion, the rockswerealteredby hydrothermal solutions,and the metallicsulfides were deposited. Galena-rich veinswere formed in the quartz sandstone, and galena-sphalerite-pyrite veinsand replacement
bodies in the limestone.

A largeregionin centralPeril was reduced to an area of low relief by

Pliocene time, according to McLaughlin (3) and Harrison (2), and subsequentlyelevated to its present heightin three stages. Glacierswere presentin the Atacocha area during the Pleistocene but their
extent is not known. Excavationsin Quebrada Chictin above the mine exposedunsortedgravels,probablyof glacial origin. Closedbasinsand Ushaped valleys foundabove 4,000 are alsoevidence of glacialactivity.

At present erosion is proceeding sorapidlythat thereis little opportunity

GEOLOGY OF THE ATACOCHA MINE

259

for soil development, or for the development of zonesof oxidationor supergene enrichmentof ore bodies. Sulfide minerals are found at the surface, notablyin the San Gerardoarea.
HISTORY AND PRODUCTION OF THE ATACOCHA MINE

The presence of mineralization at Atacochawas known in colonialtimes,

but no work was done due to the low silver content of the ore.

Modern explorationof the depositbegan about 1910. J. H. Fleming abandoned the propertyafter doinga smallamountof work near the present 4,240 level. Anothergroupalsoabandoned the propertywithoutdoingmuch
work.

About 1920 a claim on the propertywas filed by Sr. J. F. Gallo of Cerro de Pasco. He carried on intermittentoperations until 1929 when conditions
TABLE 1

METAL PRODUCEDFROM THE ATACOCHAMINE, 1940-1952 (METRIC TONS)

Silver

Year
1940 1941 1942 1943

Ore milled
49,019 47,470 50,868 51,146

Lead
3,337 4,054 5,615 5,769

Zinc
2,734 6,215 5,267

(kilos)
9,335 10,208 12,628 14, 718

1944 1945
1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952

57,329 58,519
52,257 54,902 56,613 59,263 111,162 155,106 192,692

7,710 7,240
5,768 5,628 4,409 6,105 9,306 11,357 14,950

9,195 9,657
7,373 4,529 2,242 1,852 4,419 5,135 6,698

16,636 17,894
16,967 13,640 10,980 14,583 26,100 28,931 35,216

Data from "Anuario de la Industria Minera en el Peril" and from company records.

caused by the world economic crisisforceda shut down. In 1936 he resumed operations on the4,000level,andsubsequently foundthe No. 1 ore body. On the basisof this discovery the CompafiiaMinera Atacochawas formed. The company developed the mine rapidly,and expanded it to its presentimportant
position. Production figuresfor the early operations are not known. Table 1, show-

ing the production since1940, givessomeidea of the steadygrowth of the operation.

GENERAL FEATURES OF THE ATACOCHA MINE

The mine is developed by about30 km of workingson 16 levels,covering a verticaldistance of 700 m. Vertical spacing betweenlevelsrangesfrom 25 to 55 m, with onegapof 175m betweeen the Chicrintunnel,or 3,600 level, and the principalmine workingsabove. The altitudesused for numbering levelsare basedon an arbitrary datum that is about25 m too low, but the

260

ROBERT

F. JOHNSON

distances between levelsare correct. All the levelsare connected by internal shaftsor raises. The workingsfollow veins in limestoneand quartz sandstone,and in the upper levelsalsoexplorea strongfault zone extendingsouth
toward the San Gerardo area.

Severalunmineralized faults containing abundant gougeare found in the mine. The relationbetween four numbered faultsof this type is best shown by Figures4 and 5. Number 1 fault is the main fault alongwhichthe limestonehas beenthrust over the quartz sandstone; it has beentraced from the 3,805 level up to the 4,103 level. At the 4,103 level the fault steepens and joins a steeplydippingfault separating the brecciated red chert and reddish quartz sandstone. The downwardextension of this latter fault is not known;
it does not cut the "D" vein on the 4,048 level. Faults numbered 3 and 4

LIMESTONE
146 LEVEL

_103

4._048

4--000

$_70

LIMESTONE' x

OS %*
I J

'x _775 I00200 METERS

Fro. 4. Cross section through the Atacocha mine.

seem to be splitsfrom the footwallof No. 1 fault as shownon the section

(Fig. 4).

Theimportance oftheNo.1 fault and itsextension above the4,103 level

is its relationto the replacement ore bodies. The largestore bodies found to date have beenin the limestone hangingwall within a few metersof the fault. The abundant gougemay have actedas a barrier to the ascending
solutionsfrom which the ore minerals were deposited, concentrating them below the fault. In areas where the fault surfacewas broken by cross structures, suchas Veta Prima (Main Vein) and possibly the Tres Mosqueterosdike, the solutions had easyaccess to the limestone and the replacement of favorablebedsby ore mineralswas possible.

The No. 2 fault is a steepfault belowNo. 4 fault that seems to followa shaleband between the quartz sandstone and the underlying chert breccia. The intersection of the two faultsplunges southeast.Neither the shalenor

GEOLOGY OF THE ATACOCHA MINE

261

tiJ

LU

SANDSTONE
ATACOCHA MINE

BRECCIA ,] CHERT CHERT AND

F
.'
.... -'
w-

LIMESTONE
FAULT SHOIh'ING DIP
INFERRED FAULT
VEIN SHOWING DiP

GEOLOGY

OF

THE

3900

LEVEL

////

OREBODY
TOP OF WINZE OF WINZE BOTTOM

215
SCALE
GEOLOGY BY R F JOHNSON

5 I0
IN METERS

lOG
i

AND E BELLIDO

t ,1952

FIG. 5. Geology of the 3,900 level, Atacochamine.

262

ROBERT F. JOHNSON

a fault was found abovethe No. 4 fault. On the 3,900 level the No. 2 fault

contains abundant gouge, but on lower levelsit is markedonly by shearing in the indurated shales. The Veta Primaterminates on the westagainst No. 2 fault or its enclosing shale. This vein may be faulted,but, as it narrows and becomes pyritic on enteringthe shale,a more probable explanation is that the vein fissure diesout in passing from the brittle sandstones into the incompetent shale, Not enough work hasbeendonewestof the shaleto see if the fissure develops againin the brittle chertbreccia.
Innumerable small fractures are found in the mine. Some are unmin-

eralized, otherscontain only pyrite, and otherscontain sphalerite and galena

as well as pyrite.
ORE DEPOSITS

Ore is found as irregular replacements in limestone and as veinsin either limestone,quartz sandstone, or chert breccia.

Replacement Bodies.--Severalreplacement ore bodieshave been found during the development of the mine. The majority have beenfound in the limestone aboveor east of the No. 1 fault or its upper extension;the No. 5 ore bodyis partly in red chert brecciaeastof the fault (Fig. 6). Ore bodies havealsobeenfoundbelowthe3,900levelin the limestone westof the syncline
in quartz sandstone. The contactof the chert brecciaand limestone is faulted on the 3,900 level, but seems to be a normal depositional contactbelow. Veinshavebeenfollowedwestward throughthe quartzsandstone and gray chertbreccia, andon entering the limestone someof themhaveopened up into irregular replacements. Not enoughwork has beendoneas yet to determine the sizeof these bodies. A largeore bodyin limestone wasfoundon the 3,600
level west of the chert breccia.

The replacement deposits are the major sourceof ore. They consistof incomplete replacements of limestone by pyrite, sphalerite, and galena,with varyingamounts of gangue, largelyclayminerals. They vary widelyin both size and grade. The No. 1 ore body, now largely worked out, had a pitch lengthof about250 m, a breadthof 40 to 70 m, and a thickness of from 4 to 10 m. The No. 4 ore body has a stopelength of 35 m and a thickness of as muchas 25 m but may not havethe verticalextentof the No. 1 ore body. The grade of the ore rangesfrom 8 to 20 per cent combined lead and zinc in approximatelyequal proportions. A spatialrelationship existsbetweensomeore bodiesand the stronger veins. Ore body No. 1 and the Veta Prima are found togetheron opposite sidesof the No. 1 fault. Fault No. 3 splits from the No. 1 fault near the Veta Prima (Fig. 7) and may also have somerelationship with the localization of the No. 1 ore body. Ore bodies 3 and 4 are located at the change in
strike of the No. 1 fault, near the axis of the cross fold mentioned earlier,

andon theopposite sideof the No. 1 faultfromthe "D" vein. Orebody No. 5 is adjacentto the Tres Mosqueteros dike that may crossthe No. 1 fault. Theserelationships suggest that the ore bodies formedwherestrong fractures
crossedthe No. 1 fault and intersected the favorable limestone horizons above.

GEOLOGY

OF THE

.4TACOCHA

MINE

263

! ORE O(DY

+' r' j-- -

*'
...-"
.....

DACITE

SANDSTONE RED CHERT BRECCIATED LIMESTONE

FAULT SHOWING DIP
INFERRED VEIN FAULT DiP SHOWING

SS

t
t t t

CONTACT

%-'" ORE .BODY ---.'j INACCESSIBLE WORKING

u

NO

,OREBODY

ATACOCHA
GEOLOGY OF

MINE
THE

4103

LEVEL

GEOLOGY BY R F JOHNSON

AND A MANRIQUEP, 1952

I 0

i 25

510
IN METERS

I70

SCALE

FIG. 6. Geologyof the 4,103 level,Atacochamine.

264

ROBERT F. JOHNSON
--

The dacite doesnot seemto have been important in the formation of ore

bodies, exceptfor the Tres Mosqueteros dike, whichformsthe northernlimit of the No. 5 ore body. The contact-metamorphic area on the 4,103 level in whichgarnetand wollastonite were formedis not ore bearing.

4-000

Level

3970

Junction and Veto

of No.I Prima

fault

3935

3900

3870 '. I

and

Junction No.$

of No.I faults

$840

II II
II
Ii

0 I

25 ,

50 I

meters

ii

Fro. 7. Longitudinalsectionof a portionof the No. 1 fault, showingthe pro-

jectionof the No. 1 orebodyto the fault plane,andthe relationof the ore bodyto
the Veta Prima and the No. 3 fault.

Veins.--Veinsare foundthroughout the mine in any rock type. They range in sizefromirregular stringers to largeveins, such as the "D" vein, whichhasbeenfollowed for over 150 m alongthe strikeandfor over300 m vertically. The veins nowbeing mined areusually less than1 m in thickness,
but locally may be 3 to 4 m thick.
Veins of minable width are found in limestone and thin-bedded shale above

the 4,000 level,and eastof the No. 1 fault. They are mostnumerous and

GEOLOGY OF THE ATACOCHA MINE

265

largest nearthe axis of the cross fold shown by the bendin the No. 1 fault (Fig. 6). The veinsnarrowand pinchdownward and havenot beenfound
belowthe 3,970 level. The reasonfor their pinchingis not known; the curve in the No. 1 fault is not as pronounced on the 4,000 level as it is above,so possibly the crossfold dies out in depth. Very little work has been done

alongthe No. 1 fault belowthe 4,000 level. The veinsin limestone rangein grade from 15 to 28 percentcombined lead and zinc, with zinc generally
slightlyin excess of lead. Veins in quartz sandstone and chert brecciaare found on all levels;below the 4,000 level they are the principal sourceof ore. The Veta Prima and the "C" and "D" veinsare the largestof this type. The Veta Prima has been found on every level from the 4,000 to the 3,775 and it still continues downward. The No. 1 and No. 2 faults form the east and west limits of the Veta

Prima, whichstrikesnorthwesterly and has a steepsouthwest dip. The vein is 80 to 100 m long and 1 to 4 m wide. The "C" vein strikesnearly east and dips 50 to 70 N. It is limited on the eastby the No. 1 fault and on the west by the "D" vein or by the No. 4 fault. The segment between the No. 1 and No. 3 faultsis missing belowthe 3,935 level. The "C" vein wedges out abovethe 4,000 level againstthe intersection of the "D" vein and No. 1 fault, but lengthens rapidly down dip reaching a lengthof about 100 m on the 3,935 level. Below the 3,900 level only segments of the fault are known, but it has been followed to the 3,840 level.
The vein is from 0.5 to 2 m wide.

The "D" vein has been followed from above the 4,192 level down to the

3,900 level. It hasa nearlyverticaldip and the strikevariesfrom N 40-70

W. The No. 1 fault is the easternlimit on most levels. On the 3,900 level,
The vein dies out in

however, the veinhasbeenfoundonlywestof the No. 3 fault; a diamond-drill

hole drilled east of the fault failed to locate the vein.

chert brecciato the west on somelevels,but on others it has not beenfollowed beyonda large fault. On the 3,900 level the vein has not beenfound west of

the No. 4 fault. The "D" vein hasa maximumlengthof about150 m and a
width of from 0.5 to 2 m.

The gradeof the veinsin sandstone or chertbreccia ranges from 10 to 17

percentlead and from 2 to 3 percentzinc. The reasonfor the differencein
the lead-zinc ratios in ores from the siliceous rocks and those from the limestone is not known.

Veinsin dacite are mostlysmall,but ore-bearing fractures are widespread. Many of the dacite contacts are mineralized. The Tres Mosqueteros dike is foundon all the levels above the 4,000levelin the hanging wall of the No. 1 fault. It contains veinsof rainable width, and the No. 5 ore body extends south from it. The dikehasnot beenexplored to seeif it crosses No. 1 fault; a dacitedike mapped on the surface westof the fault may be the sameas the
Tres Mosqueteros dike. A suggestion of a radial pattern can be seenin the plan of the veins on

the 4,103 level (Fig. 6).

The veinsin and near the Tres Mosqueteros dike

strike nearly east, but those farther north strike a little north of west. This

patterncouldbe due to tension fractures formedduringthe formationof the

266

ROBERT F. JOHNSON

crossfold. Fracture filling seemsto have been the principal process in vein formation; replacement is of minor importance.
MINERALOGY AND CLASSIFICATION

A brief description is given of the modeof occurrence and paragenesis of the ore and ganguemineralsnoted during the Atacochastudy. A detailed mineralogicstudy of the ore was not attemptedso the list is probablynot
complete.

Sulfidesand Suljeosalts

1rsenopyrite.--Small amounts of arsenopyrite are foundintergrown with and replacing pyrite, and in turn beingreplaced by sphalerite and galena.
The arsenopyrite is massive;crystalfaceswere not noted. Chalcopyrite.--Copper is a minor constituent of Atacochaore and is not of economicinterest. Chalcopyrite,the most commoncopper mineral, is

foundthroughout the minein scattered small grains andasblebs in sphalerite. Galena.--Galena is one of the principalore minerals. Small crystals are foundbut the usualoccurrence is in granularmasses with typicalcubiccleavage. The cubes in a specimen from the 4,263levelare oriented soas to give the specimen a banded appearance.Cleavage fragments are smalland cubes over5 mmonan edge arerare. Galena wasdeposited aftermost of thepyrite and probably contemporaneously with the sphalerite. Galena-bearing veins canbe seencuttingpyrite veins. The "D" vein hasa galena-rich centerbordered by sphalerite and pyrite so at least someof the galenaseems to be
younger than sphalerite.

The silvercontent of the ore variesdirectlywith the galenacontent. No silverminerals were seen,so probably the galenais argentiferous. ]amesonite.--Alead-antimony sulfide, tentatively identified as jamesonite, wasfoundon the 3,900level. The mineralshows a goodcleavage in onedirection. It is associated with galena,sphalerite, and pyrite. Marcasite.--Marcasite fromAtacocha is listedin theCatb, logoMinera16gico Nacional, but nonewas notedduringthe mine mapping. Orpiment.--Bladed and micaceous yellow orpiment is found associated with realgar. Orpimentis more abundant than realgar,but mostof it seems
to be an alterationproduct.

Pyrite.--Pyrite is themostabundant sulfide in the area,andwith sphalerite and galenaformsthe characteristic mineralassemblage.Pyrite, however,is
found over a much wider area than the other sulfides. Concentrations of

pyrite are commonly present alongintrusivecontacts, and barrenpyrite veins occur. Massiveand crystalline pyrite are both common. Pyrite in the ore bodiesis massive or forms small striatedcubiccrystals,but in the hydrothermallyalteredzones the disseminated pyrite is generally foundas smallpyritohedrons. Crystals over 2 cm in diameter are rare. Pyrite was probably the earliestsulfideto form, and it continued to be deposited throughout most of
the period of sulfidedeposition. Real#ar.--Realgar and orpimentare abundanton the 4,240 level and were

GEOLOGY OF THE ATACOCHA MINE

267

notedin seams in the gougeof No. 1 fault as far down as the 4,103 level. They are alsofoundin fractures in limestone on the 3,600 levelbetween1,200 and 1,300m from the portal. Large specimens of realgar and orpimentwere obtained from a vein in limestone on the 4,240 level. The realgaroccursas orangeplaty masses enclosed in orpiment,and as small red crystalsthat resemble cinnabar. The larger realgar-orpiment veinsare not foundassociated with lead-zincminerals,but realgarfills fracturesin a smallbodyof ore. Sphalerite.--Light-brown to nearlyblacksphalerite occurs in varyingproportions with galena. It occurs as a massive mineralwith goodcleavage, as roundedgrains, and as crystalsthat may show multipletwinning. Age relations of the sphalerite are not well known. Specimens from the ore bodies are difficult to secure asthe ore crumbles readily. In the veins,sphalerite and galenaare later than someof the pyrite. Tennantite.--Tennantite was identifiedin onepolished surface of Atacocha ore. It was found replacingpyrite, but its age relation to adjoininggalena and sphalerite couldnot be determined.
Calcite.--Veins of calciteare abundantin limestone,and someare found in

quartzsandstone, wherecalciteis a common ganflue mineral. The calciteis white or creamand mediumgrainedwith rhombohedral cleavage. It is commonlyintergrown with rhodochrosite in the ore-bearing veins. Thesecarbonatesare amongthe latestminerals to form; they fill the centers of veinsand enclose angularfragments of sulfides. Veinsof fibrous calciteI to 2 cm wide are common features in the uppermineworkings. They are definitely postore and may be supergene in origin. Cerussite.Cerussite was foundin the Curiajashaarea as colorless grains in a yellow earthy groundmass. Chlorite.--One or more membersof the chlorite group of mineralsare present in two areasof the mine. Chloriteis abundant in a sheared zoneon the contactof the limestoneand chert west of the quartz sandstones on the 3,935 level and alsooccursalongwhat may be the samecontacton the 3,600
level.

Clay Minerals.--White clay mineralsare common constituents of the hydrothermally alteredrocksclose to and in the ore bodies. Positive identification wasnot possible, but the microscope revealed clay minerals with high and low birefringence, so both the kaolin and montmorillonite groupsmay be
represented. Fluorite.Violet and green fluorite occursin carbonate veinletsin the upperminelevels, bothin ore bodies and in countryrock. Abundantfluorite

is reported on the 3,840levelbelowore bodyNo. 1, but the areawasinaccessibleat the time of the examination. Fluorite alsooccursin tiny fracturesin porphyryand quartz saffdstone.Cubesand irregularmasses with grainsas
much as 2 cm in diameter are associated with calcite and rhodochrosite.

Fluorite is apparently oneof the last minerals to form, as the carbonate veinlets in which it is found cut the ore minerals.

Gypsum.--Gypsum occursas thin scalycrystalsin fracturesand on exposedsurfaces, and in massive granularaggregates in the alterationzone of
the ore bodies and veins.

268

ROBERT F. JOHNSON

Limonite.--Limonite occurspseudomorphous after pyrite, and as stalactitic and botryoidal formsin old workings. It is a common oxidationproduct. Malachite.--Malachitewas foundboth in old workingsand on the surface. The bestoccurrence of malachite is alongthe road about2 km from the mine, whereit is foundin old prospect trenches associated with chalcanthite. ManganeseOxides.--Black manganese oxidesare commonon the walls of someworkings,and in vein outcropsin limestoneadjoining the mine area. Psilomelane is the mostabundantmanganese oxide in the vein outcrops with pyrolusitepresentin small amounts. The manganese-bearing outcropsare not indicatorsof ore below; someof the larger veins.of this type have been exploredwith discouraging results. Melanterite.--Fibrous green melanteritewas found in old workings. Muscovite.--Sericiteis presentin shearedzones in the hydrothermally altered rocks,but it is not a commonalterationproductat Atacocha. Phlogopite.--Abundant phlogopite was foundin a fault zoneon the 3,600 level associated with biotite,hematite,chlorite,and pyrite. Quartx.--Small acicularcrystalsof quartz are found in rugs in the veins and ore bodies, but veinsof quartz are not known. Silicification of the limestoneis the common type of alterationnear No. 1 fault, but the silicamineral couldbe either quartz or chalcedony. Rhodochrosite.--Rhodochrosite is a commonganguemineral. It is gen.erallymassive, but a scalyform linesvein cavities. The fresh mineralis pink, but it becomes nearly white on exposure. to air. Serpentine.--Serpentine nodulesoccur in limestone south of Gueshgua and westof La Laguia. Massiveserpentine and the fibrousvariety chrysotile
were found in a fault zone on the 4,240 level.

The mineralogy of the Atacocha oresis indicative of deposition undermoderateconditions of temperature and pressure. Realgarand orpimentare typical epithermal minerals, but they were deposited after the deposition and fracturing of the othersulfides. The galena-sphalerite-pyrite association is found in all classes of hydrothermal deposits, but the association with jamesonite and tennantite,and particularlywith the ganguemineralsrhodochrosite and fluorite, indicate moderate to low temperatureand pressure. The deposits shouldprobablybe classified as leptothermal.
HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION

Well-defined alteration envelopes around the ore bodiesare not found at Atacocha. Alteration of the carbonatewall rocks is nearly everywherepresent,but it variesgreatlyin intensity and shows no consistent relationto known features. The sandstone and chert seemto be little affectedby hydrothermal
alteration.

The limestones havebeenalteredfor varying distances from the ore bodies and veins, and alteration is nearly continuous in the hangingwall of No. 1 fault. Silicificationis the commonest type of alteration. Argillization is prominent nearsome ore bodies but maybe weakor absent nearothers. Disseminated pyrite is presentin both typesof alteration.

GEOLOGY

OF THE ATACOCHA

MINE

269

The first alterationeffectis a bleaching of the limestone, whichmay be slightand may be the only change notedoutwardfrom the ore. With more intense alteration the limestone becomes nearlywhite and loses its distinctive structural features. Highly alteredlimestones are difficultto distinguish from fine-grained quartz sandstone, but chertlenses that resemble thosein unaltered limestone may be present. In onearea on the 4,000 level,north of coordinate

3,760N, andeastof No. 1 fault,alteration is sointense thattheoriginal rock

type couldnot be determined;the fault is shownas the contactbecause of similar relations elsewhere.

Zones of hydrothermal alteration arefavorable for exploration at Atacocha,

but additional factors need to be considered. Alteration near the veins in

sandstone is negligible, and someore in limestone is foundin only slightly alteredrock. On the other handthe limestones near No. 1 fault are nearly everywhere altered,so alteration aloneis not an infallibleguideto ore. Detailed microscopic examination of alteredrocksmay showan association betweencertainalteration minerals and ore, but withoutequipment and trained personnel this is of doubtful practical aid in prospecting.
DEPOSITIONAL HISTORY

The events leading up to the deposition of metallicsulfides at Atacocha are not well understood, but a possible sequence is offered. The major fault zone eastof the mine,andthe subsidiary thrustfaultssuchas No. 1 fault, may have originated duringthe period of orogeny in whichthe strong foldingtookplace, probably prior to the porphyryintrusions. The intrusions may haveaccompaniedrenewedmovements on the faults during which the crossfold that
localized the ore bodies was formed or accentuated. No. 1 fault is conform-

able in strike with the sediments in the crossfold, so it may have beenfolded with them and wouldthus predatethe crossfold. The fracturesin whichthe veins formed seemto have developed as a consequence of the crossfolding. They couldnot haveremained openfor a long periodsoit seems probable that they were formedafter the porphyryintrusions. Silica and pyrite were then deposited from hydrothermalsolutions from an unknown source. The porphyry contactswere favorablechannelways at this time, as most of them are mineralizedwith pyrite. Later solutions carried lead and zinc sulfidesthat filled accessible fracturesand replacedfavorablelimestone beds. The replacement6re bodies may haveformedfrom localconcentration of solutions guided by the gougezonesof the thrust faults, or in areaswhere intensefracturing permittedthe access of abundantsolutions to the favorablelimestone horizon. Arsenic sulfideswere deposited as a later phaseof hydrothermalactivity. Their occurrence in the upper mine workings,or at somedistance from known lead-zincore on the 3,600 level, suggests zoning,but where arsenicand ore mineralsoccurtogether,the arsenicmineralsfill late fracturesin the crystallized lead and zinc sulfides, and are not found intergrownor replacingthem. Postmineralmovements appearto be minor. The "D" vein has beenoff-

set as muchas 10 m, and a larger displacement may havetakenplaceon a strongfault that cutsoff the vein on the west. Many veinsterminate against

270

ROBERT F. JOHNSON

the gougezonesof the thrust faults, but as there is no evidence of faultedore

andno knowncorrelation between veinson eithersideof the faults,the vein fissures mayhaveended in the incompetent gouge zones. Supergene enrichment is of minorimportance inasmuch as the veinsdo
not have muchsurfaceexpression, and the ore bodiesdid not reachthe zone

of oxidation.An exception is at SanGerardo, andtherebecause of rapid

erosion, sulfide ores are found on the surface.
COiXl CLUSIO ixl

Structural relationsare of prime importance in the Atacochamine. Knowledge derived fromthe mapping, such asthe location of the majororebearing areanearthe axisof thecross foldandthe location of the largest ore bodies nearthe hanging wall of the No. 1 fault, should be of assistance in the
layingout of future exploration. The areasurrounding the Atacocha minehasbeenwell prospected.Sev-

eral smallore bodies havebeen mined, andotherore bodies will probably be discovered. An aditwasdriven in theCuriajasha areain late 1952to explore
mineralized faults that crop out there. The faults were not found to be of economic interest at depth, butfurtherwork is planned to explore the contact
of the limestone and chert breccia in that area. A small amount of ore was

found along a contactof the dacite and lava near coordinates 3420 N and

5,110E (Fig. 2).

Further work is alsobeingdonein that area.

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WAStllNGTON,D.C., .4g. 10, 1954

REFERENCES

1. Diaz, L. F., 1909, La regi6n rainera de Atacocha: Bol. del Cuerpo de Ing. de Minas del Peril, No. 74. 2. Harrison, J. V., 1943, The geology of the Central Andes in part of the province of Junin, Peru: .Bol. Soc. Geol. del Peril, Tomo 16, p. 55-97. 3. McLaughlin, D. H., 1924, Geology and physiography of the Peruvian Cordillera, Departments of Junin and Lima: Geol. Soc. America Bull., vol. 35, p. 591-632. 4. Petrijohn, F. J., 1949, Sedimentary rocks: Harper & Brothers, New York. 5. Steinmann, Gustav, 1929, Geologie yon Peru: Heidelberg. Spanish translation by Jorge A. Broggi, 1930. 6. Stone, J. B., 1928, Private report. 7. Torres Vargas, David, 1948, Private report. 8. Welter, Otto, 1929, Private report.