Metallogenesis of Zn-Pb Carbonate-Hosted Mineralization in theSoutheastern Region of the Picos de Europa (Central Northern Spain)Province: Geologic, Fluid Inclusion, and Stable Isotope Studies

Drones in carbonate geology: Opportunities and challenges, and application in diagenetic dolomite geobody mapping

“…The dolomite has higher concentrations of iron, manganese and barium compared to the limestone (Racine, 2017), which influences the weathering colour. The microscopic features of the host limestone and dolomite in the studied formations have also been described and illustrated by Bahamonde et al (2000) and Gomez-Fernandez et al (2000). Fluid inclusion data demonstrate that the dolomitizing fluids were highly saline, 20-23 wt% NaCl eq., and relatively warm, 100-170ºC (Racine, 2017).…”

“…From Late Paleozoic to present day, the Cantabrian zone has undergone several tectonic episodes. The main tectonic events include: 1) Compression in the Late Carboniferous with the emplacement of east-west thrusts of the Picos de Europa Province over the Palentine Zone or Pisuerga-Carrión province (Gomez-Fernandez et al, 2000); 2) Extension in the late Carboniferous-Permian along sub-vertical faults that are oriented N 105° to 120° E, and in the north of the Picos de Europa province, along some of the east-west sub-vertical thrusts (Gomez-Fernandez et al, 2000), Merino-Tome et al (2009) attributed this extensional episode to the formation of wrench and normal faults that cut previous structures due to North Atlantic rifting; 3) The Late Eocene Alpine Orogeny with uplift and emergence of the Paleozoic Asturian Massif and overlying Mesozoic sediments (Gomez-Fernandez et al, 2000).…”

“…The Carboniferous stratigraphy in the Picos de Europa unit is characterized by pre-orogenic stratigraphic sequences that consist of dolomitized limestone overlain by syn-orogenic stratigraphic sequences that consist of predominantly shale (Gomez-Fernandez et al, 2000) ( Figure 3). This study focuses on the upper part of pre-orogenic sequences which are known as the Caliza de Montaña Group (Montaña Beds) and Picos de Europa Formation.…”

“…Valdeteja Formation consists of 300 m of thick-bedded carbonate breccias of micritic lithoclasts and microlaminated mudstones separated by thin, well-bedded graded grainstones with spiculitic alternations (Bahamonde et al, 2000). The Picos de Europa Formation is characterized by interbedded limestones and shales in the lower part and massive bioclastic limestone in the upper part (Gomez-Fernandez et al, 2000).…”

“…The use of drones in addition to manual sampling fills crucial gaps in continuity of documenting exposed sections by covering inaccessible parts and in high-resolution mapping of subseismic-scale heterogeneities by comparatively brief field surveys. The Carboniferous carbonate outcrops of the Picos de Europa National Park in northern Spain (Figure 1) are well studied and are considered reference outcrops for the Carboniferous (Bahamonde et al, 2000;Gomez-Fernandez et al, 2000;Merino-Tome et al, 2009). The outcrop conditions of the carbonates in the Picos de Europa make them an ideal candidate to evaluate the use of drone technology.…”