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Re–Os isotope systematics for the Lince–Estefanía deposit: constraints on the timing and source of copper mineralization in a stratabound copper deposit, Coastal Cordillera of Northern Chile

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Abstract

The Lince–Estefanía stratabound copper deposit in the Michilla district is one of the most important deposits in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile and is one of the most representative of this type of deposit. Chalcocite and bornite characterize the main stage of hypogene copper sulfide mineralization. Rhenium and osmium isotopes are used here to constrain the age of hypogene mineralization and the source of osmium contained in these ore minerals. A Re–Os isochron yielded an age of 160±16 Ma (2σ), with an associated initial 187Os/188Os ratio of 1.06±0.09 (mean square of weighted deviates=1.8). This age is consistent with available geochronological data from volcanic rocks that host the mineralization and associated alteration phases. The high initial 187Os/188Os ratio indicates a lower crustal component for the source of Os and, by inference, the Cu sulfides that contain this Os. Late hematite occurs as an isolated phase or, more commonly, is associated with the chalcocite–bornite and supergene chalcocite–covellite associations. Analyses performed on pure hematite indicate a disturbance of the Re–Os system, and hence, this mineral phase is not useful as a Re–Os geochronometer.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Geology department of Minera Michilla SA for their help and geological contribution. We thank Mark Baker and John Chesley of The University of Arizona for their assistance with the analytical work. We thank John Chesley and Victor Valencia for helpful comments and discussions. The manuscript has also benefited from reviews by Anders Schersten and an anonymous reviewer. Editorial comments by Bernd Lehmann are greatly appreciated. This study was partially supported by a Mejoramiento de la Equidad y la Calidad de la Educación Superior-Chile scholarship and Minera Michilla SA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Av Angamos 0610, Casilla 1280, Antofagasta, Chile

    Dania Tristá-Aguilera & Shoji Kojima

  2. Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Fernando Barra & Joaquin Ruiz

  3. Instituto de Geología Económica Aplicada, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile

    Fernando Barra

  4. Departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Chile, Plaza Ercilla 803, Santiago, Chile

    Diego Morata

  5. U.A Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, A.P.197, Taxco Guerrero, 40200, Mexico

    Oscar Talavera-Mendoza

  6. Superintendencia de Geología, Minera Michilla S.A. km 110 camino a Tocopilla, Mejillones Segunda Región de Antofagasta, Chile

    Fernando Ferraris

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  1. Dania Tristá-Aguilera
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Correspondence to Dania Tristá-Aguilera.

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Editorial handling: M. Chiaradia

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Tristá-Aguilera, D., Barra, F., Ruiz, J. et al. Re–Os isotope systematics for the Lince–Estefanía deposit: constraints on the timing and source of copper mineralization in a stratabound copper deposit, Coastal Cordillera of Northern Chile. Miner Deposita 41, 99–105 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-006-0048-8

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