The indium-bearing minerals of the Pingüino polymetallic vein system, Deseado massif, Patagonia, Argentina

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

CANADIAN MINERALOGIST

MINERALOGICAL ASSOC CANADA

Año: 2011 vol. 49 p. 931 - 946

0008-4476

The Pingüino vein system is located in the low sulfidation epithermal metallogenetical province of the Deseado Massif, Patagonia, Argentina. The ores are complex, and correspond with high tenors of Zn, Pb, Ag, Cd, Au, As, Cu, Sn, W and Bi. The mineralization developed in three stages: 1) an early Cu-As-Sn-(W-Bi-Ag-Au-In) stage (Ps1), 2) a Zn-Pb-(Ag-In-Cd-Sb) stage (Ps2) and 3) a late Zn-Cd-In (Ps3). Indium concentrations in the polymetallic veins show a wide range (3.4 to 1184 ppm In). The highest Indium values were achieved during the Ps2 mineralization stage, although significative In anomalies are also present in Ps1 (up to 159.4 ppm). Three types of In concentration can be distinguished, based on microanalytical study. Fe-rich sphalerite from Ps2, volumetrically important at this stage, has very high In contents (up to 2.56 wt. % In), and therefore it is the most important carrier of In at Pingüino. Sn-minerals (ferrokësterite and cassiterite) from Ps1 are the second In carriers in importance in these deposits, and their In contents may achieve up to 3.02 wt. %. The third type is represented by greenockite crystals from Ps3 which presents important In contents (up to 3.63 wt. %) but unfortunately these minerals are scarce in the deposit. The presence of high values of In and Zn, Pb, Ag, Au, Cu, Sn, W and Bi, in the polymetallic veins from the Pingüino vein system opens interesting possibilities for mineral exploration in the Deseado Massif.