SILVER, GOLD, AND BASE METALS VEIN SYSTEMS AT SOUTHERN PART OF CORDILLERA DEL VIENTO, NEUQUÉN ARGENTINA

M. JOSEFINA PONS ; RAÚL E. GIACOSA; GERSON A. GRECO ; SANTIAGO N. GONZÁLEZ ; SEBASTIÁN DICARO; MANUEL CONEDERA ; PAOLO NIMIS

Pto Madryn

Congreso; XXI Congreso Geológico Argentino; 2022

AGA

The Andacollo district, the most important metalliferous mining district of the Neuquén province, extends over 220 km2 with more than 56 Au, Ag and base metal (Cu, Pb, Zn) veins. This work is focused on cerro Las Minas and San Pedro areas, located at the south periclinal zone of the Cordillera del Viento anticline (CVA). Previous studies (Giacosa 2011, Strazzere et al. 2017 and references there in) have proposed that mineralization in this area is the result of at least two hydrothermal events of Carboniferous-Middle Triassic? and upper Cretaceous-Paleogene age. Here, we present new structural, geochronological, mineral chemistry (EDS and microprobe analyses), and textural data of the altered host-rocks and the mineralized structures of the two main vein systems (Buena Vista-San Pedro group, BVSPG, and Sofía-Torreón group, STG) in the district. Based on this data, we defi ne new characteristics of the hydrothermal systems and constrain the mineralization events in the framework of the tectonic evolution of the area.