Pingüino In-bearing polymetallic vein deposit, Deseado Massif, Patagonia, Argentina: characteristics of mineralization and ore-forming fluids

Abstract

The Pingüino deposit, located in the low sulfidation epithermal metallogenetical province of the Deseado Massif, Patagonia, Argentina, represents a distinct deposit type in the region. It evolved through two different mineralization events: an early In-bearing polymetallic event that introduced In, Zn, Pb, Ag, Cd, Au, As, Cu, Sn, W and Bi represented by complex sulfide mineralogy, and a late Ag-Au quartz-rich vein type that crosscut and overprints the early polymetallic mineralization. The indium-bearing polymetallic mineralization developed in three stages: an early Cu-Au-In-As-Sn-W-Bi stage (Ps 1 ), a Zn-Pb-Ag-In-Cd-Sb stage (Ps 2 ) and a late Zn-In-Cd (Ps 3 ). Indium concentrations in the polymetallic veins show a wide range (3.4 to 1,184 ppm In). The highest indium values (up to 1,184 ppm) relate to the Ps 2 mineralization stage, and are associated with Fe-rich sphalerites, although significant In enrichment (up to 159 ppm) is also present in the Ps 1 paragenesis associated with Sn-minerals (ferrokesterite and cassiterite). The hydrothermal alteration associated with the polymetallic mineralization is characterized by advanced argillic alteration within the immediate vein zone, and sericitic alteration enveloping the vein zone. Fluid inclusion studies indicate homogenisation temperatures of 308.2-327°C for Ps 1 and 255-312.4°C for Ps 2 , and low to moderate salinities (2 to 5 eq.wt.% NaCl and 4 to 9 eq.wt.% NaCl, respectively). δ 34 S values of sulfide minerals (+0.76‰ to +3.61‰) indicate a possible magmatic source for the sulfur in the polymetallic mineralization while Pb isotope ratios for the sulfides and magmatic rocks ( 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios of 17.379 to 18.502; 15.588 to 15.730 and 38.234 to 38.756, respectively) are consistent with the possibility that the Pb reservoirs for both had the same crustal source. Spatial relationships, hydrothermal alteration styles, S and Pb isotopic data suggest a probable genetic relation between the polymetallic mineralization and dioritic intrusions that could have been the source of metals and hydrothermal fluids. Mineralization paragenesis, alteration mineralogy, geochemical signatures, fluid inclusion data and isotopic data, confirm that the In-bearing polymetallic mineralization from Pingüino deposit is a distinct type, in comparison with the well-known epithermal low sulfidation mineralization from the Deseado Massif.

Deposition conditions for the indium-bearing polymetallic quartz veins at Sarvlaxviken, south-eastern Finland

“…The fluid inclusion data presented in this paper are basically similar to data for In-bearing vein-type deposits in Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Germany and Japan (Schwarz-Schampera and Herzig, 2002; Seifert and Sandmann, 2006; Sinclair et al , 2006; Jovic et al , 2011; Shimizu and Morishita, 2012) with proposed formation temperatures in the range from ca. 200 to 400°C.…”

“…Other In-enriched veins are typically characterized by <9 eq. mass% NaCl (Schwarz-Schampera and Herzig, 2002; Seifert and Sandmann, 2006; Sinclair et al , 2006; Jovic et al , 2011; Shimizu and Morishita, 2012; Dill et al , 2013). In the fluid inclusion study of the Mangabeira Sn-In deposit, Moura et al (2014) recorded a large range of salinities, comparable to what now has been documented for the ore-forming fluid in the Sarvlaxviken area, i.e.…”

Indium in cassiterite and ores of tin deposits

“…However, whole indium, which has been recovered during processing of the ores of hydrothermal tin and Sn-bearing VMS deposits, occurs as impurity in the In-bearing sulfides and sulfosalts. In recent years new data on the In contents in the mineral-carriers has been obtained (Cook et al, 2009(Cook et al, , 2011a(Cook et al, ,2011b(Cook et al, , 2011cGavrilenko and Pogrebs, 1992;Jovic et al, 2011;Jung and Seifert, 1996;Kieft and Damman, 1990;Kissin and Owens, 1989;Moura et al, 2007;Murakami and Ishihara, 2013;Murao et al, 2008;Ohta, 1989;Seifert, 1994;Seifert and Sandmann, 2006;Semenyak et al, Ore Geology Reviews 66 (2015) …”

Roquesite and Associated Indium-Bearing Sulfides From a Paleoproterozoic Carbonate-Hosted Mineralization: Lindbom’s Prospect, Bergslagen, Sweden

“…1.89-1.88 Ga. Such a scenario could be compared with a large number of felsic volcanic and subvolcanic-associated hydrothermal indium-rich vein or stockwork-type deposits known from much younger terrains, particularly in Japan, but also to some extent in India, Canada, and Argentina, featuring similar geological settings (Ohta 1991, Shimizu & Kato 1991, Sinclair et al 2006, Murao et al 2008, Jovic et al 2011a. Notably, the trace metal inventory in Lindbom roquesite, i.e., cadmium, iron, silver, and zinc, is virtually identical to roquesites from the subvolcanic vein-type deposits of the so-called Inner Zone of Japan (Shimizu & Kato 1991), indicating a similar geochemical environment of formation.…”