Geology and genesis of the Naica mineral deposits, Chihuahua

Lowther, G. K.

doi:10.1130/dnag-gna-p3.259

Cited by 3 publications

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“…This sequence is cut by discontinuous, pre-ore quartz–feldspar dikes (Megaw et al, 1988), which are associated to a relatively shallow subhorizontal igneous intrusion that still generates a broad thermal anomaly in the southwest part of the region. Magnetometric studies have unveiled an igneous source at a depth of between 2.5 and 5 km, some 4 km south of Naica (Villasuso, 2002), while in 2007 a drilling close to the mine shaft met an igneous body about 1,140 m below the surface (Forti and Sanna, 2010).The ore deposit is made of extensive tabular bodies ( Figure 1 ) and is related to hydrothermal flows induced by Tertiary dykes forming one of the largest chimney-manto (skarn) Ag–Pb–Zn deposits of Mexico (Erwood et al, 1979; Megaw et al, 1988; Palacios et al, 1991; Alva-Valdivia et al, 2003). Its ore mineralogy is represented mainly by early pyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, rutile, and fluorite.…”

Section: Appendixmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its ore mineralogy is represented mainly by early pyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, rutile, and fluorite. The main ore-forming process was dated at 30.2–26.0 Ma (Alva-Valdivia et al, 2003, and references therein) and the early conditions of ore deposition were estimated to be about 400–500°C and 100–270 MPa (Megaw et al, 1988; Palacios et al, 1991). During a later stage, when the thermal fluids got colder, quartz, anhydrite, and calcite formed veins within the ore bodies (Stone, 1959).…”

Section: Appendixmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ore deposit is made of extensive tabular bodies ( Figure 1 ) and is related to hydrothermal flows induced by Tertiary dykes forming one of the largest chimney-manto (skarn) Ag–Pb–Zn deposits of Mexico (Erwood et al, 1979; Megaw et al, 1988; Palacios et al, 1991; Alva-Valdivia et al, 2003). Its ore mineralogy is represented mainly by early pyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, rutile, and fluorite.…”

Section: Appendixmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microbial diversity in the deep-subsurface hydrothermal aquifer feeding the giant gypsum crystal-bearing Naica Mine, Mexico

Ragon¹,

Driessche²,

García‐Ruiz³

et al. 2013

Front. Microbiol.

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The Naica Mine in northern Mexico is famous for its giant gypsum crystals, which may reach up to 11 m long and contain fluid inclusions that might have captured microorganisms during their formation. These crystals formed under particularly stable geochemical conditions in cavities filled by low salinity hydrothermal water at 54–58°C. We have explored the microbial diversity associated to these deep, saline hydrothermal waters collected in the deepest (ca. 700–760 m) mineshafts by amplifying, cloning and sequencing small-subunit ribosomal RNA genes using primers specific for archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes. Eukaryotes were not detectable in the samples and the prokaryotic diversity identified was very low. Two archaeal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected in one sample. They clustered with, respectively, basal Thaumarchaeota lineages and with a large clade of environmental sequences branching at the base of the Thermoplasmatales within the Euryarchaeota. Bacterial sequences belonged to the Candidate Division OP3, Firmicutes and the Alpha- and Beta-proteobacteria. Most of the lineages detected appear autochthonous to the Naica system, since they had as closest representatives environmental sequences retrieved from deep sediments or the deep subsurface. In addition, the high GC content of 16S rRNA gene sequences belonging to the archaea and to some OP3 OTUs suggests that at least these lineages are thermophilic. Attempts to amplify diagnostic functional genes for methanogenesis (mcrA) and sulfate reduction (dsrAB) were unsuccessful, suggesting that those activities, if present, are not important in the aquifer. By contrast, genes encoding archaeal ammonium monooxygenase (AamoA) were amplified, suggesting that Naica Thaumarchaeota are involved in nitrification. These organisms are likely thermophilic chemolithoautotrophs adapted to thrive in an extremely energy-limited environment.

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