Indium mineralization in epithermal polymetallic deposits of Patagonia Argentina

JOVIC, S.; LOPEZ, L.; GUIDO, D.; REDIGONDA, J.; PAEZ, G.; RUIZ, R.

Encuentro; 13th SGA Biennal Meeting; 2015

SGA

Indium, used in solar panels, high-resolution displays, etc., is considered a critical metal because their demand has grown but the mining volume is low. The presence of indium in epithermal systems is very unusual but high concentrations are present associated mainly tobase metal-rich or intermediate sulphidation type and polymetallic epithermal veins. Polymetallic epithermal Inbearing Au?Cu?Zn?Pb-Ag mineralization has recently been discovered in Patagonia, Argentina. These recent finds of polymetallic In-bearing deposits in the southeastern parts of South America are located outside the Mesozoic?Cenozoic fold belt of the Andes where the Bolivian polymetallic Sn deposits stand out from the overall polymetallic ore deposits as a major host of indium in this region. The discovery of Indium in epithermal deposits of Patagonia generates a large exploration and metallogenic potential for the region and represents a new In-bearing polymetallic epithermal belt.