The indium-rich polymetallic Pingüino project, Deseado Massif, Argentinean Patagonia.

GUIDO, DIEGO; JOVIC, SEBASTIÁN; HICKS, KEN

Keystone, CO, USA

Conferencia; Society of Economic Geologists 2010 Conference; 2010

Society of Economic Geologists

The Deseado Massif  is a prolific metallogenic region characterized by lowsulphidation epithermal mineralization (four active mines and several advanced projects) relatedto Jurassic bimodal volcanic rocks of the Bahía Laura Group. The Pingüino project is a complex polymetallic deposit with an indium-rich mineralization, located in the central part of the Deseado Massif, in the Argentinean southern Patagonia. The veins were discovered in 2006, and by 2009 the first resource estimation was completed. This contribution intends to show the unique geological-metallogenical model for Pingüino, and the first approach to the size of this particular deposit of the Deseado Massif.The Pingüino project is the first indium-rich polymetallic epithermal deposit found in Patagonia.The indium-rich polymetallic genetic model differs from the typical epithermal deposits in theDeseado Massif, and can be compared with Toyoha Mine, in Japan.The unique geological and structural setting, the intrusion-related characteristics and theoverlapping of two mineralization stages (~ 25 Ma difference), made Pingüino a reference for themetallogenical province and for the deposits in general.