Lithogeochemical Characterization and Alteration Model to Determine its Implication in the Controls of the Mineralization of the VMS Cerro Lindo Deposit

Abstract

The objective of this study is to characterize, using lithogeochemistry, the magmatic series and the enclosing rock that took place in the formation of the Cerro Lindo VMS; At the same time, alteration lithogeochemistry was performed to determine the relationship between mineralogy, lithogeochemistry and intensity of alteration, obtaining as a result, vectors towards the center of the system. The primary purpose is to bring this 2D information from the lithogeochemical diagrams to a 3D approach, and thus establish correlations with other mineral occurrence controls (structural, geophysical, geochemical, and lithological). From the analysis and interpretations it was determined that Cerro Lindo belongs to a calc-alkaline magmatic series with high K content, the box rock definitely corresponds to felsic volcanic with degree of differentiation from andesite to rhyodacite according to the degree of proximity to economic zones; that is to say, the deposit is located in the oldest bimodal felsic level of the Casma basin, and it is these first stages of rupture that are usually better enriched in economic mineralization contents, mainly of base elements, followed by the presence of Ag*-Au, It is precisely this location that makes it much more powerful than the other VMS in the area. The SerK+ChlFe (Py) alteration halo has greater potency and dominance in deep, lower-angle faults, which have brought economic Zn-Cu mineralization (NW-SE and NE-SW), faults related to high- grade bodies and to high chargeability areas; while the shallow NW-SE faults, with greater angles, which bring low-grade mineralization and related to low chargeability edge bodies, would correspond to the Ser-Chl alteration and towards the most distal zones of the system, the SerNa-Chl alteration appears. Chl Mg.