When mining saves the day: Studying emplacement processes of subvolcanic bodies in poorly outcropping volcanic terrains

PAEZ, G.N.; PERMUY VIDAL, C.; DE MARTINO, F.J.

Malargüe, Mendoza

Conferencia; LASI 6 Conference: The physical geology of subvolcanic systems: laccoliths, sills and dykes; 2019

Poorly outcropping volcanic terranes pose a challenging task when studying volcanic and subvolcanic processes. This is especially true for two of the most economically relevant volcanic provinces of South America: the Paleocene Belt in Northern Chile and the Deseado Massif in the Southern Argentinean Patagonia. These two regions are characterized by numerous mines producing precious metals (Au and Ag) from epithermal deposits genetically related to the evolution of complex volcanic events: the Paleocene Chile-Alemania Fm. in the Paleocene Belt, and the Jurassic Bahía Laura Volcanic Complex in the Deseado Massif. In both regions, the close relationship between volcanism and epithermal mineralization makes understanding volcanic processes a priority in order to focus exploration efforts. In this abstract we summarize two examples of how access to mining infrastructure and information (open-pits, underground labors and drill holes) can provide invaluable information for studying intrusion mechanisms of subvolcanic bodies in poorly outcropping regions.