El Granito Los Ratones como posible fuente de flúor en la formación de sistemas epitermales, Sierra de Fiambalá, Catamarca

DE LA HOZ MAURO; CONIGLIO JORGE; KIRSCHBAUM ALICIA

Serie Correlación Geologica

Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica

Lugar: San Miguel de Tucuman; Año: 2014 vol. 30 p. 77 - 91

1514-4186

In the present contribution it is given to know a systematic study of the Los Ratones granite pluton (LRP) and the rocks that outcropping in the surrounding area in order to evaluate its potential as Fluorine (F) source in the formation of low-temperature hydrothermal systems. This work is based on total rock geochemistry and petrography studies, it also compare the F content of PLR with other similar granitic plutons.The F content in PLR varies between 500 and 8100 ppm, with an average of 3825 ppm. In comparison with other similar plutons, the PLR metallogenetic evolution was not only related to magma crystallization, but also to several hydrothermal events. This kind of metallogenetic evolution is a typical feature of High Heat Production (HHP) granites, and it is given by the relatively high K, Th and U contents. Field features, mineralogical and geochemistry evidence suggest that LRP could be classified as HHP-Type granite. Many authors propose that HHP granites could be the source of F, U and other metals in the epithermal post-plutonic mineralization, and could generate hydrothermal convection driven by a local source of radiogenic heat by U, Th and K disintegration. The hot springs that emerge from the LRP at the present are the evidence of this environmental dynamism. They probably are the current witness of complex hydrothermal paleosystems that were superimposed during the last 280 Ma of tectonic and thermal evolution associated with this kind of high heat production granites.