Indium distribution and correlations in polymetallic veins from Pingüino deposit, Deseado Massif, Patagonia, Argentina

JOVIC, SEBASTIÁN; GUIDO, DIEGO; RUIZ, REMIGIO; PAEZ, GERARDO; SCHALAMUK, ISIDORO

GEOCHEMISTRY-EXPLORATION ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS

GEOLOGICAL SOC PUBL HOUSE

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2011 vol. 11 p. 107 - 115

1467-7873

The Pingüino deposit is characterized by the presence of In-rich polymetallic veinmineralization representing an atypical epithermal occurrence for the low sulfidationepithermal mineralization from the Deseado Massif, Patagonia, Argentina. Polymetallic veins display high In, Zn, Pb, Ag, Cd, Au, As, Cu, Sn, W and Bi values represented by complex sulfide mineralogy. Mineralization developed in two main stages: a Cu-Au-In-As-Sn-W-Bi stage, and a Zn-Pb-Ag-In-Cd-Sb stage. Correlation coefficient is used to estimate the degree of interrelation between metals concentration in each stage and specifically to determinate the indium behavior. Indium concentrations show a wide range (3.4 to 1184 ppm In) and based on the correlation coefficients of ore geochemistry, in the first stage indium is associated mainly with Sn, present in the ferrokesterite and cassiterite, while the highest indium values are related to the late mineralization stage, closely associated with Zn and Cd and present in the Fe-rich sphalerite, being the most important In-bearing mineral in the deposit.