Trace element geochemistry and distal veins

Pallca Project Nevado Yerupaja 6617 meters

MDRU

S. Ebert April 25 2003

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e

Outline
1) Trace element dispersion patterns
2) Geology and distal veins 3) Ultraviolet fluorescence of vein calcite

4) Simplified distal vein model

MDRU
M i n e r a l D e p

UBC

Trace element dispersion patterns

1) Yauricocha Mine Minera Corona

- Reserves of 361,000 tons 7% Zn, 4% Pb, 0.3% Cu 4.9 OPT Ag

- Mineralized zones extend >400m vertically

- District contains CRD-skarn, Carlin-style Au, low-grade porphyry-Cu, low grade Au, Ag-Cu base metal veins

Yauricocha District
421 000E 423000E

marble

Km

N
8640 000N

Limit o f

B CachiCachi

B
Au - zone 60 - 264ppb Cu - zone 0.3% Cu

A Pass A

Sa nA

San Jua n

nto nio

Purisima Conception
Lim fm it o

8638 000N

Quartz monzonite intrusive Celendine Formation Jumasha Formation limestone

ble ar

Lake Acococha

Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization Quartz-sphalerite-pyrite-galenaenargite vein

Yauricocha, Pass area, looking west

Prisma Conception area looking east

Yauricocha Pass - Main Zone traverse

West
UTM 420600E 8638750N

Simplified geology and sample locations East

Conception Au zone CRD mineralization
UTM 422385E 8639090N

Elevation (meters)

2800m 2700m 2600m 2500m

? ? ? ?

Jumasha Formation Quartz Monzonite Celendin Formation Bleached marble Gray marble Gray limestone Pb-Zn-Ag orebody Rock sample location

500

1000

10

0 500

Parts per million

0 12000

0 500

0 1000

Yauricocha District
421 000E 423000E

marble

Km

N
8640 000N

Limit o f

B CachiCachi

B
Au - zone 60 - 264ppb Cu - zone 0.3% Cu

A Pass A

Sa nA

San Jua n

nto nio

Purisima Conception
Lim fm it o

8638 000N

Quartz monzonite intrusive Celendine Formation Jumasha Formation limestone

ble ar

Lake Acococha

Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization Quartz-sphalerite-pyrite-galenaenargite vein

Cachi-Cachi Looking west

Yauricocha Cachi-Cachi traverse

Simplified geology and sample locations

West
Elevation (meters)

East
Skarn - CRD mineralization

2700m 2600m 2500m

Jumasha Formation Quartz Monzonite Pb-Zn-Ag orebody Rock sample location Bleached marble Gray marble

100 Meters

200

Trace element dispersion patterns

1) Uchucchacua Mine Buenaventura

- South Americas largest Ag producer

- High grade silver hosted in veins

- Roughly 2 million ton reserve at 420 ppm Ag, 2.1% Zn

Uchucchacua surface map Cia De Minas Buenaventura S.A.A.

km

NW

Ag ore zone Vein, fault

Rosa 3 Vein

SE
Upper Jumasha Fm.

5000m

4940m

Marker horizon

Rosa Vein

Rosa 2 Vein

4900m

4800m

4700m

4725m

Uchucchacua simplified Cross section from Cia De Minas Buenaventura S.A.A.

4600m

Middle Jumasha Fm.

4500m 4450m 4400m 4360m

Rosa Vein

4300m

4200m 4180m

Lower Jumasha Fm. 4100m

0 Meters 100

Uchucchacua - Rosa Vein 4940m Section vein and footwall geochemical traverse
North
T bedded gray footwall limestone hin
Most veins strike 100 to 110
Similar calcite veins and veinlets continue for at least another 70 meters
0

Fault Str. 1100 dip 750 S

South
R osa V ein

X X
270 269

261 260 256 255

X
280

268

267

X X
278 277 276

265 263

264

X266
275

X
274

X
273

X
272 271 258

262 257

X
254

259

279

253

Vertical cliff
UTM 316754E 8826157N

1/5 6/1

0.6/7 5/1

0.5/6 40/2

2/3 0

0.1/1 25/1

0.7/3 0

0.5/3 25/1

1/4 0

3/5 0

2/4 10/2

2/4 0

1/6 10/1

0.2/3 15/2

0.2/3 7/1

0.1/6 0

Calcite veins less than 5cm

Calcite veins greater than 5 cm

Calcite vein density in limestone

Average width in cm / number per 2m interval

10

12

14

16

18

20

Meters North-south section across the Rosa Vein at surface at 4940m elevation. Face of section trends 020 degrees.

White +/- gray and brownish calcite. Crustiform banding Late Mn-Fe breccia Breccia

White calcite veinlet Calcite veinlets with Mn and Fe-oxides Crustiform banded whitebrown-gray calcite vein

265

Grab sample location 2 meter chip sample

280

Uchucchacua - Rosa Vein 4450m Section Underground at 754m (along vein)

North
* Most calcite veins strike 90 to 100 or 010 to 030 * There are some shallow dipping calcite filled tension gashes
0 0

Rosa Vein
Dark gray limestone with Str. 900 dip vertical white calcite veins and veinlets
(Projected 15 to 20m)
316

South

Limit of exposure

X
310

317

X
312

309 308 307 306

X X X
314

Adit
315 1/20 5/1 1/20 7/2

Not accessable
X
305

304

311

313

Calcite vein density in limestone

Average width in cm / number per 2m interval

North-south section across the Rosa Vein underground at 4450m elevation.

Rosa vein. Calcite vein
308

}
0

Calcite veins less than 5cm

0.5/20 0.4/25 0 15/2

0.5/9 5/1

1/20 25/1

Calcite veins greater than 5 cm

10

12

14

16

18

20

Meters

Grab sample location 2 meter chip sample

313

Distal Veins
1) Quartz-carbonate Ag-Mn base metal veins
2) Geochemistry 3) Link to intrusions

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Yauricocha District
421 000E 423000E

Limit o f ma

B CachiCachi

B
Au - zone 60 - 264ppb Cu - zone 0.3% Cu

Quartz-py-sphalgal-enargite vein Ag to 66 ppm Cu to 0.5 % Zn to 4 % Pb to 3 %

rble

A Pass A

Sa nA

San Jua n

nto nio

Purisima Conception
Lim fm it o

Quartz-py-sphalenargite Ag to 306 ppm Cu to 3.3 % Zn to 1.3 % Pb to 0.4 % As to 1.1 % high Sb-Hg

Lake Acococha

Km

Quartz monzonite intrusive Celendine Formation Jumasha Formation limestone

ble ar

Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization Quartz-sphalerite-pyrite-galenaenargite vein

100 Meters

200

Intrusive

Anamaray Skarn
241

5 to 15 cm vein Banded carbonate-silica-pyrite Ag 20 ppm Mn 3 % As 623 ppm X

X 240
239 238

1m vein Calcite-silica with 10% alabandite, 3% pyrite Ag 383 ppm Mn 12% As 1910 ppm Pb 0.06 % Zn 0.14% Hg 6.3 ppm

245

Garnetpyroxene Skarn
X 242

Limestone

X243
Ma rb le ed lim est on e

244

X
1m silicified limestone silica-calcite vein with pyrite-orpiment-realgar Ag 1640 ppm Mn 16% As 4090 ppm Pb 0.2% Zn 0.6% Hg >10 ppm

Geology data from Buenaventura and a 2002 field visit

Calc-silicate veinlets

Silica-carbonate veinlets

Ho rnf els

60

80

Quartz pheric rhyolite Jumasha Limestone

Sulfide-skarn ore zone Sulfide-quartzcalcite veins Sample location

Silicified Limestone

337

5 to 15 cm wide qtz-cal veins with 20-40% Gal-sphal-py

Ag 257 to 381 ppm Mn 1450 ppm Cu 0.2 to 1% Pb 12 to 20% Zn 9 to 16% plus Cd-Se-Te
65

Pb-Zn-Ag-Cu-Cd-Bi-Se-te
330

331 332 333

65

334, 335, 336

Localized marble and bleaching proximal to the intrusive contact

100 Meters

200

Sulfide-quartz-calcite veinlets parallel to bedding in limestone

Geology map of the Contonga Mine area. Simplified and modified from Bodenlos and Ericksen (1955).

to 361 ppm Ag Fortuna 4.1% Mn

Calcite-gal-sphal-py Ag-Au-Mn-Pb-Zn-As +/- Cd-Hg-Sb

Qtz-gal-py-cal-fluor Ag-Au-As-Pb-Zn

Ridge Road

Antamina

Peak Nine

UV Fluorescence
1) Some hydrothermal calcite associated with skarn-CRD and distal veins fluoresces red
2) Upper veins at Uchucchacua fluoresce red and white-blue 3) Syn-tectonic veins do not fluoresce
MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

C
17.77

Contonga Ag-Pb-Zn vein

Yauricocha CRD ore

11.09

Antamina - Fortuna calcite vein

14.49

13.64

Antamina - Fortuna Ag vein

12.34 6.02

Uchucchacua 4940 m level

16.17

Uchucchacua 4940 m level 15.94

15.84

UV Fluorescence
1) A hand held UV lamp may be useful in distinguishing calcite related to mineralization vs. syn-tectonic calcite 2) Can UV help distinguish level in the system? 3) What are the compositional variations affecting fluorescence?

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Simplified distal vein model

1) Geology, geochemistry, UV fluorescence (and isotopes) link distal veins and mineralization
2) A model for larger veins hosted by pure limestone
MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Surface

0 km

Carbonate host rocks

Barren calcite vein
(Very weak Mn-Hg-Tl-Ag-Zn)

Uchucchacua Ag zone Ag-Mn-Pb-Zn-As-Sb-Hg

qua rtz in v

ein s

1 km

of h imit L

e ornf

ls

e arbl of m it Lim

Dec r

e as ing

Fortuna veins Ag-Mn-Pb-Zn-As

CRD Yauricocha

Skarn Antamina

Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag
Milpo Bleached marble Low-grade porphyry Cu-Mo Gray marble

2 km

Conclusions
1) There are large and variable geochemical anomalies in carbonate rocks around skarn-CRD at Yauricocha, largely veinlet controlled. 2) Field relationships and geochemistry indicate distal Ag-Mn-base metal veins are directly related to intrusion/ skarn systems. 3) The proposed simplified vein model has important exploration implications. Additional work to test/improve the model us ongoing. 4) Combined trace element, oxygen isotopes, and UV fluorescence may provide exploration guides.

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Stable Isotopic Studies

225 Analyses

Antamina (130) Chacua (37) Yauricocha (49) Milpo (9) 21 to 25 d18O (VSMOW) 1 to 3 d13C (VPDB)

Sedimentary protolith:

Mineralized zones and distal halos record depletion of d18O +/- d13C
MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Overview

Deposits span a continuum within a magmatic hydrothermal system and allow development of a conceptual model Distal alteration controlled by stratigraphy and structure Lateral alteration haloes are narrow when hosted by steeply dipping strata (Milpo) Wider haloes are associated with gently dipping strata
MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Vertical Zonation of Targets

Shallow: 0.5 km (above Chacua)

No distal alteration 18O and 13C of veins retains magmatichydrothermal signature

Intermediate: 1 km (ore zone at Chacua, Fortuna - top of Antamina)

18O

and 13C halo (> 10 m) around veins provides largest target (larger than trace elements)
Advective bleaching of marble provides largest target (larger than 18O and 13C)
MDRU

Deep: 1.5 to 2 km (Antamina and Yauricocha)

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Surface

0 km

Carbonate host rocks

Background limestone d18O 22.5 d13C +2

Barren calcite vein d18O 18 d13C -2

d O depletion in adjacent wall rock Small d O depletion in adjacent wall rock
18 18

Simplified outline of 18 d O depletion halo

Uchucchacua Ag zone d18O 16 d13C -6

1 km

of h imit

ornf

els

of imit

bl e mar

Dec rea sin

Fortuna Ag-Pb-Zn veins 18 d O 13 13 d C -1 to -3

in v eins

g qu artz

Strong d O depletion in adjacent wall rock

18

CRD
Yauricocha

Large zones with variable 18 d O depletion halos mostly within bleached limestone

Skarn and CRD 18 d O 10 to 14 13 d C -1 to -9

Skarn
Antamina Narrow d O depletion halo within bleached limestone Milpo
18

Bleached marble

Low-grade porphyry Cu-Mo

2 km Gray marble

Milpo

Yauricocha District

Pass transect

Variable d18O depletions up to 1400 m Strong d18O depletions within inner 400 m Purisima Conception - meteoric influence? Depletions in d13C correlate with d18O. Variable d18O depletions coincident with bleached marble (~200 m) Depletions in d13C correlate with d18O.

Cachi-Cachi transect

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Yauricocha District
421 000E 423000E

marble

Km

N
8640 000N

Limit o f

B CachiCachi

B
Au - zone 60 - 264ppb Cu - zone 0.3% Cu

A Pass A

Sa nA

San Jua n

nto nio

Purisima Conception
Lim fm it o

8638 000N

Quartz monzonite intrusive Celendine Formation Jumasha Formation limestone

ble ar

Lake Acococha

Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization Quartz-sphalerite-pyrite-galenaenargite vein

Uchucchacua

Transects sample approx 500 m vertical zonation Calcite veins have light d18O (14-19 ) with lowest values at depth No lateral alteration halo at highest levels (4950 m) Lateral d18O depletion halo (> 10 m) at depth (4450 m) d13C depletion (values of 0 to -9 ) correlates with d18O MDRU Late veins record meteoric influx
M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Rosa Vein d18O vs depth

5000 4900 4800 4700 4600 4500 4400 4300 5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

d18O

Uchucchacua

Transects sample approx 500 m vertical zonation Calcite veins have light d18O (14-19 ) with lowest values at depth No lateral alteration halo at highest levels (4950 m) Lateral d18O depletion halo (> 10 m) at depth (4450 m) d13C depletion (values of 0 to -9 ) correlates with d18O MDRU Late veins record meteoric influx
M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Rosa vein 4940m surface section oxygen and carbon isotopes

15.84, -1.91
d O per mil
18

d C per mil

13

21.83, 3.20 18.67, -1.83

North

19.96, 1.82 18.49, -3.62

21.15, 2.93 15.84, -1.91 15.94, -1.96 20.56, -7.18 17.67, -1.96
South

T bedded g ray footwa ll lim estone hin

Most veins strike 100 to 1100

Rosa Vein

Similar calcite veins and veinlets continue for at least another 70 meters

X X
270 269

261 260 256 255

X
280

268

267

X X
278 277 276

265 263

264

X266
275

X
274

X
273

X
272 271 258

X262
257

X
254

259 253

279

Vertical cliff
UTM 316754E 8826157N

1/5 6/1

0.6/7 5/1

0.5/6 40/2

2/3 0

0.1/1 25/1

0.7/3 0

0.5/3 25/1

1/4 0

3/5 0

2/4 10/2

2/4 0

1/6 10/1

0.2/3 15/2

0.2/3 7/1

0.1/6 0

Calcite veins less than 5cm

Calcite veins greater than 5 cm

Calcite vein density in limestone

Average width in cm / number per 2m interval

10 Meters

12

14

16

18

20

Rosa vein 4450m level underground oxygen and carbon isotopes

17.07, 2.37 17.16, 1.23 15.56, -6.86 15.98, -6.95 15.92, -6.22 16.60, -5.88

16.41, -5.73

North
Limit of exposure

Dark gray limestone with white calcite veins and veinlets

310 309 308 307 306

Rosa Vein
317

South

X
312

X X X
314

Adit
315

Not accessable
X
305

304

311

313

Calcite veins less than 5cm Calcite veins greater than 5 cm Average width in cm / number per 2m interval

2 Meters

Uchucchacua

Transects sample approx 500 m vertical zonation Calcite veins have light d18O (14-19 ) with lowest values at depth No lateral alteration halo at highest levels (4950 m) Lateral d18O depletion halo (> 10 m) at depth (4450 m) d13C depletion (values of 0 to -9 ) correlates with d18O MDRU Late veins record meteoric influx
M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Synthesis
Skarn, CRD deposits have d18O of 11 to 14 , indicative of magmatic fluid (~ 11) Uchucchacua veins formed at 175 to 275 C (based on fluid inclusions, Bussell et al 1990) Vertical zonation in vein d18O consistent with precipitation from magmatic fluids at 200250 C

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

A
Yauricocha

Meteoric influence?

Magmatichydrothermal

Ave 22.5 (8 samples)

Limestone

Contonga

Milpo

Anamary

Antamina (Fortuna)
(F.I. Temps. Mainly 175 to 275 C, ave. 250 C)
o o

Uchucchacua
400 C
o

300 C

200 C

10

15

20

25

d O
18

Skarn-CRD calcite or proximal vein Distal vein calcite Late calcite vein

Antamina

Exposures allow sampling of vertical zonation over 500 m Highest levels (Fortuna, ~ 1km) probably slightly deeper than Ag zone at Chacua Isotope alteration style is similar to Chacua Ag zone Distal alteration target is stable isotope depletion halo Deepest levels (1.5 to 2 km) have similarities to Yauricocha
MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e

Gray Marble and Limestone

Gray Marble (G) reflects protolith composition Cryptic distal alteration recorded in some samples Gray marble from vicinity of brown carbonate veins (GVB) are depleted to as low as 11

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Grey marble and limestone

4.00 G GL GVB

3.00

2.00

d 13C (VPDB)

1.00

0.00

-1.00

-2.00

-3.00 0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00 d 18O (VSMOW)

20.00

25.00

30.00

Bleached Marble

Diffusional Bleaching (BS)

Planar harline sulfide veins with cm wide bleaching haloes Isotopically unaltered Stratigraphically and structurally controlled Massive, homogeneous d18O depletion to as low as 13 Pervasive homogeneous percolation of magmatichydrothermal fluids
MDRU

Massive Bleaching (BM)

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

MDRU

Antamina

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p o s i t

R e s e a r c h

U n i t

Antamina

MDRU

Antamina

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p o s i t

R e s e a r c h

U n i t

Antamina

Bleached Marble
4.00 BS BL BM

3.00

2.00

d 13C (VPDB)

1.00

0.00

-1.00

-2.00

-3.00 0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00 d 18O (VSMOW)

20.00

25.00

30.00

Veins

Early (syntectonic) veins (VE) are similar to protolith isotopically Syn-mineralization veins (VM) and brown carbonate mineralized veins (VMB) are low in d18O (11 to 14 ) VM, VMB also depleted in d13C with lighter values at depth Late white and clear calcite (VL) veins locally have meteoric signature

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Veins
4.00 VE VM VMB VL

2.00

0.00

-2.00

d 13C (VPDB)

-4.00

-6.00

-8.00

-10.00

-12.00 0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

d 18O (VSMOW)

Overview

Deposits span a continuum within a magmatic hydrothermal system and allow development of a conceptual model Distal alteration controlled by stratigraphy and structure Lateral alteration haloes are narrow when hosted by steeply dipping strata (Milpo) Wider haloes are associated with gently dipping strata
MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Surface

0 km

Carbonate host rocks

Background limestone d18O 22.5 d13C +2

Barren calcite vein d18O 18 d13C -2

d O depletion in adjacent wall rock Small d O depletion in adjacent wall rock
18 18

Simplified outline of 18 d O depletion halo

Uchucchacua Ag zone d18O 16 d13C -6

1 km

of h imit

ornf

els

of imit

bl e mar

Dec rea sin

Fortuna Ag-Pb-Zn veins 18 d O 13 13 d C -1 to -3

in v eins

g qu artz

Strong d O depletion in adjacent wall rock

18

CRD
Yauricocha

Large zones with variable 18 d O depletion halos mostly within bleached limestone

Skarn and CRD 18 d O 10 to 14 13 d C -1 to -9

Skarn
Antamina Narrow d O depletion halo within bleached limestone Milpo
18

Bleached marble

Low-grade porphyry Cu-Mo

2 km Gray marble

Vertical Zonation of Targets

Shallow: 0.5 km (above Chacua)

No distal alteration 18O and 13C of veins retains magmatichydrothermal signature

Intermediate: 1 km (ore zone at Chacua, Fortuna - top of Antamina)

18O

and 13C halo (> 10 m) around veins provides largest target (larger than trace elements)
Advective bleaching of marble provides largest target (larger than 18O and 13C)
MDRU

Deep: 1.5 to 2 km (Antamina and Yauricocha)

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

Uchucchacua
1000 Ag 18O 24

22 100 20
d 18O (per mil)

Ag (ppm)

18 10

16

14

12

0.1 0 2 4 6 distance from Rosa vein (m) 8 10 12

10

Surface

0 km

Carbonate host rocks

Background limestone d18O 22.5 d13C +2

Barren calcite vein d18O 18 d13C -2

d O depletion in adjacent wall rock Small d O depletion in adjacent wall rock
18 18

Simplified outline of 18 d O depletion halo

Uchucchacua Ag zone d18O 16 d13C -6

1 km

of h imit

ornf

els

of imit

bl e mar

Dec rea sin

Fortuna Ag-Pb-Zn veins 18 d O 13 13 d C -1 to -3

in v eins

g qu artz

Strong d O depletion in adjacent wall rock

18

CRD
Yauricocha

Large zones with variable 18 d O depletion halos mostly within bleached limestone

Skarn and CRD 18 d O 10 to 14 13 d C -1 to -9

Skarn
Antamina Narrow d O depletion halo within bleached limestone Milpo
18

Bleached marble

Low-grade porphyry Cu-Mo

2 km Gray marble

Pit West Wall

Massive bleaching over 20 m immediately outboard of skarn Oxygen isotope depletion is limited to ~ 2 m Limited lateral percolation of magmatic fluids Marble cap was an effective seal to the system

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p

MDRU

M i n e r a l

UBC

D e p o s i t

R e s e a r c h

U n i t

Antamina