ESTUDIO GEOLÓGICO Y PETROGRÁFICO DE LOS YACIMIENTOS VIRORCO (Cu) Y EL FIERRO (Fe), PROVINCIA DE SAN LUIS

ZAFFARANA CLAUDIA B., LEAL PABLO R. Y BRODTKORB MILKA K. DE

Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, UBA

Congreso; VII Congreso de Mineralogía y Metalogenia 2006; 2006

VII Congreso de Mineralogía y Metalogenia

ABSTRACT: The aim of this contribution is the study of the copper and iron deposits (Virorco and El Fierro respectively) hosted in mafic-ultramafic rocks (Las Águilas Group) that occur in San Luis ranges. Las Aguilas Group also present a primary mineralization of nickel, iron, copper and platinum group elements (PGE). Vein-filling textures and pyrite-chalcopyrite assemblages suggest that Virorco copper mineralization is a secondary process superimposed to the above mentioned primary ore minerals. Thus, the copper mineralization could have been originated by remobilization from a copper-enriched lense within the layered mafic-ultramafic igneous body. El Fierro iron deposit seems to have been generated by a similar process, however the protolith must not have been as rich in copper as Virorco mine.