Indium mineralization in epithermal polymetallic deposits of Patagonia Argentina

JOVIC SEBASTIAN M; LÓPEZ LUCIANO; GUIDO DIEGO M; REDIGONDA JUAN I; PÁEZ GERARDO N; RUIZ REMIGIO

Nancy

Congreso; 13th SGA Biennial Meeting 2015; 2015

SGA

Indium, used in solar panels, high-resolutiondisplays, etc., is considered a critical metal because theirdemand has grown but the mining volume is low. Thepresence of indium in epithermal systems is very unusualbut high concentrations are present associated mainly tobase metal-rich or intermediate sulphidation type andpolymetallic epithermal veins. Polymetallic epithermal InbearingAu?Cu?Zn?Pb-Ag mineralization has recentlybeen discovered in Patagonia, Argentina. These recentfinds of polymetallic In-bearing deposits in thesoutheastern parts of South America are located outsidethe Mesozoic?Cenozoic fold belt of the Andes where theBolivian polymetallic Sn deposits stand out from theoverall polymetallic ore deposits as a major host ofindium in this region. The discovery of Indium inepithermal deposits of Patagonia generates a largeexploration and metallogenic potential for the region andrepresents a new In-bearing polymetallic epithermal belt