NIR/SWIR microscopy and microthermometry of fluid inclusions from Fe-rich sphalerites, Cerro León (Zn-Pb-Ag-In-Au) polymetallic vein deposit, Deseado Massif, Patagonia, Argentina.

JOVIC, SEBASTIÁN; GUIDO, DIEGO; SCHALAMUK, ISIDORO; RIOS, JAVIER; FUZIKAWA, KAZU; ALVES, JAMES

Digging Deeper

Irish Association for Economic Geology

Lugar: Dublin, Irlanda; Año: 2007; p. 757 - 760

ABSTRACT: An alternative IR microscopy system in the NIR (near infrared, up to 10 μm) and SWIR (short wavelength infrared, up to 1.4 μm) has been used for the study (microscopy and   thermometry) of fluid inclusions in opaque Fe-rich sphalerites from the Cerro León (Zn-Pb-Ag-In-Au) polymetallic vein deposit, Deseado Massif, Patagonia, Argentina. Under transmitted light, the fluid inclusions are invisible but under IR it is possible to observe large primary (L + G) aqueous fluid inclusions (up to 100μm) with homogenization temperatures that vary between 255 and 265.2 ºC and salinities between 4.34 to 8.81 wt% NaCl, located the mineralization in the epithermal systems range and define as a polymetallic epithermal deposit. This alternative IR system represents an important tool for the study of opaque minerals fluids from polymetallic mineralization ores.