Cerro Quema (Azuero Peninsula, Panama): geology, alteration, mineralization and geochronology of a volcanic dome-hosted high sulfidation Au-Cu deposit

Corral, Isaac, Cardellach, Esteve, Corbella, Mercè, Canals, Àngels, Gómez-Gras, David, Griera, Albert, and Cosca, Michael A. (2016) Cerro Quema (Azuero Peninsula, Panama): geology, alteration, mineralization and geochronology of a volcanic dome-hosted high sulfidation Au-Cu deposit. Economic Geology, 111 (2). pp. 287-310.

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Abstract

Cerro Quema (Azuero Peninsula, SW Panama) is a high sulfidation epithermal Au-Cu deposit hosted by a dacite dome complex of the Río Quema Formation (Late Campanian to Maastrichtian), a fore-arc basin sequence. Mineral resource estimate (Indicated + Inferred) are 30.86 Mt @ 0.73 g/t Au, containing 728,000 Oz Au (including 76.900 Oz AuEq of Cu ore). Hydrothermal alteration and mineralization are controlled by an E trending regional fault system. Hydrothermal alteration consists of an inner zone of vuggy quartz with locally developed advanced argillic alteration, enclosed by a well-developed zone of argillic alteration, grading to an external halo of propylitic alteration. Mineralization produced dissemination and microveinlets of pyrite and minor chalcopyrite, enargite and tennantite, with traces of sphalerite, crosscut by late stage base metal veins. New 40Ar/39Ar data of igneous rocks combined with biostratigraphic ages of the volcanic sequence indicate a maximum age of Lower Eocene (~55-49 Ma) for the Cerro Quema deposit. It was probably triggered by the emplacement of an underlying porphyry-like intrusion associated with the Valle Rico batholith. The geologic model suggests that in the Azuero Peninsula high sulfidation epithermal mineralization occur in the Cretaceous-Paleogene fore-arc. This consideration should be taken into account when exploring for this deposit type in similar geologic terranes.

Item ID: 40248
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1554-0774
Keywords: Cerro Quema, high sulfidation epithermal, volcanic dome-hosted, alunite-APS geochemistry, geochronology, Panama
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Funders: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain (MCI) , SEG Foundation, SEG Canada Foundation, Departament d'Universitats, Recerca i Societat de la Informació (Generalitat de Catalunya)
Projects and Grants: MCI CGL2007- 62690/BTE
Date Deposited: 01 Sep 2015 23:44
FoR Codes: 37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3705 Geology > 370502 Geochronology @ 30%
37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3703 Geochemistry > 370302 Inorganic geochemistry @ 20%
37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3705 Geology > 370508 Resource geoscience @ 50%
SEO Codes: 84 MINERAL RESOURCES (excl. Energy Resources) > 8401 Mineral Exploration > 840105 Precious (Noble) Metal Ore Exploration @ 50%
84 MINERAL RESOURCES (excl. Energy Resources) > 8401 Mineral Exploration > 840102 Copper Ore Exploration @ 50%
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