Metallogenic geological characteristics and regional prospecting direction of the Morococha porphyry-skarn-epithermal deposit in Peru

GUO Weimin; YAO Chunyan; ZENG Min; YANG Xiantao; WANG Tiangang; LIU Jun'an

doi:10.12097/gbc.2022.12.024

2024 Vol. 43, No. 7

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GUO Weimin, YAO Chunyan, ZENG Min, YANG Xiantao, WANG Tiangang, LIU Jun'an. 2024. Metallogenic geological characteristics and regional prospecting direction of the Morococha porphyry-skarn-epithermal deposit in Peru. Geological Bulletin of China, 43(7): 1158-1172. doi: 10.12097/gbc.2022.12.024

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GUO Weimin, YAO Chunyan, ZENG Min, YANG Xiantao, WANG Tiangang, LIU Jun'an. 2024. Metallogenic geological characteristics and regional prospecting direction of the Morococha porphyry-skarn-epithermal deposit in Peru. Geological Bulletin of China, 43(7): 1158-1172. doi: 10.12097/gbc.2022.12.024

Metallogenic geological characteristics and regional prospecting direction of the Morococha porphyry-skarn-epithermal deposit in Peru

1.
Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing, 210016, Jiangsu, China
2.
China Copper Corporation, Kunming 650041, Yunnan, China

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Corresponding author: YAO Chunyan, ycyan@126.com

Received Date: 27 December 2022

Revised Date: 28 June 2023

Publish Date: 15 July 2024

Abstract

Abstract

The Morococha area of central Peru, located in the Miocene metallogenic belt of Central Andean Peru, is one of the most representative porphyry−skarn and epithermal ore−forming systems in the world. In this paper, the characteristics and latest research progress of polymetallic mineralization of Cu, Mo, Pb, Zn and Ag in this area, such as porphyry type, skarn type and epithermal type, are systematically summarized. Combined with regional magma-hydrothermal mineralization process, the next prospecting direction in central Peru is proposed. The Morococha deposit, located in the northern section of the Yali Dome in central Peru, consists of a central Toromocho porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit and an peripheral polymetallic vein of lead, zinc, silver and gold. The main structure in the area is the NW Morococha anticline, and the stratigraphy is mainly composed of Permian−Triassic Mitu Group pyroclastic rocks, Jurassic Pucara Group carbonate rocks, Early Cretaceous Goyllarisquizga Group marine clastic rocks and carbonate rocks. The Miocene magmatic activities in the mining area are mainly the ore−free diorite (14.3~14.1 Ma) intrusive rocks in the Middle Miocene and the ore−forming granodiorite and feldspathic porphyry strains (9.4~7.7 Ma) in the Late Miocene. Morococha magma−hydrothermal system (8.5~7.2 Ma) is one of the reasons for the formation of super−large porphyry copper mineralization. Pb−Zn−Ag polymetallic mineralization mainly occurs about 0.5 Ma after porphyry mineralization and is controlled by regional structure. The deposit shows distinct metal zonation features spatially, with the central porphyry area hosting rich Cu ores, while more Zn, Pb, and Ag ores appear farther away from the porphyry zone. The Middle Miocene metallogenic belt in central Peru hosts numerous economically significant vein−type hydrothermal Pb−Zn−Ag polymetallic deposits. Recent comprehensive geological surveys and research results indicate that these polymetallic deposits are all part of the porphyry−skarn metallogenic system. Therefore, porphyry−skarn copper deposits and epithermal precious metal deposits are important exploration directions in central Peru.
- porphyry Cu-Mo deposits /
- Pb−Zn−Ag polymetallic deposits /
- mineralization process /
- Peru

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References

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