ALTERACION EN PORFIDOS

Specific opaque mineral assemblages are intrinsic parts of each alteration type (Table 2; Fig. 12)
because of the direct linkage

between sulfidation state, the chief control on sulfide assemblages,

and solution pH, a principal control of alteration type

(Barton and Skinner, 1967; Meyer and Hemley, 1967; Einaudi

et al., 2003; Fig. 12). Sulfidation state, a function of S fugacity

and temperature, changes from low through intermediate

to high as temperature declines (Barton and Skinner,

1967; Einaudi et al., 2003). In general, the alteration-mineralization

types become progressively younger upward (Fig.

12), with the result that the shallower alteration-mineralization

zones invariably overprint and at least partly reconstitute

deeper ones.}

Elsewhere,
however, lower temperature quartz-kaolinite is the dominant
overprint assemblage (e.g., Caspiche, northern Chile). The
advanced argillic alteration preferentially affects lithologic
units with low (e.g., quartz sandstone, felsic igneous rocks)
rather than high (mafic igneous rocks) acid-buffering capacities.

At several localities, the advanced argillic alteration at

the bottoms of lithocaps displays a characteristic patchy texture,
commonly defined by amoeboid pyrophyllite patches
embedded in silicified rock (e.g., Escondida and Yanacocha;
Padilla Garza et al., 2001; Gustafson et al., 2004).
Nombre del mineral Color Fórmula química
Piropo de color vino tinto a rojo sangre Mg3Al2[SiO4]3
Almandino dorado Fe3Al2(SiO4)3
Spessartina entre ámbar y ladrillo Mn3Al2[SiO4] 3
Grosularia amarillo terroso. Variantes: hesonita y tsavorita Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
Uvarovita de color verde Ca3Cr2[SiO4]3
Andradita de color amarillo o azul oscuro Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3