2.igneous Geochemistry

Final report: Sources and Exhausts in Polymetallic Carbonate Rock-hosted Ore Deposits
Petrochemistry of Late Cenozoic intrusions and volcanic rocks and

metallogenetic implications, eastern Cordillera Occidental, Central Perú
Introduction
Intrusion-related ore deposits are widespread in the Central Andes and include a variety of
porphyry copper, skarn, carbonate replacement and epithermal deposits. These deposits, while
emplaced in shallow crustal environments, are largely formed from magmatic-derived fluids.
Establishing geochemical criteria to distinguish intrusions that are associated with economic
mineralization from those that are not has been the focus of a number of studies in the last
decade (Bissig et al., 2003; Chiaradia et al., 2004; Ishihara, 1998; Kay and Mpodozis, 2001;
Thieblemont et al., 1997). It is, however, inherently difficult to separate regional metallogenetic
factors related to the type, age and composition of arc magmatism from influences by the local
ore-hosting environment. In contrast to the Neogene arc above the Chilean flat-slab segment
(e.g. Bissig et al., 2003; Kay and Mpodozis, 2001; Kay et al., 1999; Reich et al., 2003), the
central Peruvian Andes, currently situated above a segment of flat subduction, have been studied
in a less comprehensive way and no metallogenetic study relating evolving magma chemistry to
ore deposits has been attempted to date. Here, we present a new geochemical dataset on Eocene
to late Miocene intrusions and volcanic rocks, which were emplaced in central Perú from the
Cordillera Occidental eastward. Most of the magmatic rocks investigated during this study lie
largely east of the principal Cenozoic volcanic arc. The data include chemical analyses of
magmatic rocks directly associated with mineralization, but also stocks that have no apparent
relation to significant polymetallic mineralization. Geochronologic data are available for the
majority of these intrusions (Noble and McKee, 1999; this study).
The Central Peruvian Andes consist of a relatively complex geological basement, which, due
to a different orientation of the convergent margin relative to plate convergence, has undergone a
distinct geodynamic evolution when compared to more southerly segments of the Andes in Chile
(Hampel, 2002; Pilger, 1984). Mineralization is known to have occurred in several
metallogenetic episodes through time, albeit most importantly in the middle and late Miocene
(Peterson, 1965; Noble and McKee, 1999). Much ground-based geological work must still be
completed to fully establish the volcanic evolution of the Eocene to late Miocene arc. With these
limitations in mind, it is not surprising that a comprehensive and simple petrogenetic model is
not available for the metallogenesis of central Perú. In this chapter, we put forward an attempt to
relate the petrochemical evolution of the volcanic arc portions to the east of the Cordillera
Occidental to the known ore deposits.
Controls on the chemistry of continental arc magmas, a brief review

The Cenozoic arc of the central Andes is the classic example of a subduction-related arc
emplaced on a continental margin. Although most Cenozoic Andean igneous rocks are of
intermediate composition, considerable compositional variations particularly in trace element
contents are observed. It is these second order variations that have been widely used to constrain
the tectonic and geodynamic evolution of crustal segments in Chile (e.g. Haschke et al., 2002a;
Hildreth and Moorbath, 1988; Kay and Mpodozis, 2002). Trace element patterns in calc-
alkaline rocks (mostly Sr, Y, Ba and REE) are generally a function of residual mineralogy,
fractionated crystallization and degree and type of assimilation of crustal material. It is however
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widely accepted (Rollinson, 1993) that garnet, hornblende and plagioclase, in the respective
residuum mineralogy, largely define the trace element composition of the melt. Thus, the heavy
REE fractionate preferably into garnet and hornblende, whereas middle REE (Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho,
Er) are best incorporated into hornblende. Sr and Eu2+ are most easily accommodated in
feldspars whereas the oxidized Eu3+ behaves similar to the middle REE. If a melt is generated
from a basaltic protolith at high pressure (minimum of 12-15 GPa or 45-50 km depth), it will be
in equilibrium with a garnet - pyroxene residue which depletes the melt in middle and heavy
REE, but, due to the absence of residual feldspars, the melt will be enriched in Sr. In contrast, if
a melt is generated at lower pressure, the residuum would include plagioclase and pyroxenes.
The resulting magma would be depleted in Sr and would not exhibit fractionated HREE patterns.
Hornblende may be present in the residuum in both cases, depending on the availability of water
at the site of melt equilibration. Hornblende fractionation during ascent of the magma is only
feasible if the magmas are sufficiently hydrous. Fractionation may also have the potential to
deplete the remaining melt in HREE and Y.
To complicate matters, in relatively thick continental crust, such as present in the Andes,
some magma may assimilate significant portions of material contributed by partial melting of
metasedimentary rocks at intermediate crustal levels. If these middle crustal protoliths are pelitic
and/or calcsilicate rich, garnet would be a stable residuum phase to pressures significantly below
those required for mafic protoliths (Patiño-Douce and Harris, 1998). Furthermore, the same
magma may coexist with feldspars, which would cause a depletion of the melt fraction in HREE,
Y and possibly Eu. A further mechanism to generate magmas with fractionated HREE is
subduction erosion at the continental margin with subsequent foundering of crustal material in
the mantle wedge (Kay et al., 2005).
In summary, the trace element compositions are strongly influenced by the geodynamic
environment in which these magmas formed. Depleted HREE and Y, presented as high Sm/Yb
and Sr/Y ratios, may originate from melting of young and hot subducted slab (in this case they
would be true adakite; Kay, 1978) or melting in the lower crust if the latter is thicker than
approximately 45 km (Hildreth and Moorbath, 1988). However depleted HREE and Y may also
originate from extensive interaction of ascending melts with sedimentary rocks or fractional
crystallization of hornblende.
The reasonably well-studied Chilean flat-slab segment shall herein serve as an analog to the
Peruvian flat-slab in order to provide a basis for discussing the more complex magmatic and
metallogenetic relationships in the latter.
The observed general pattern for the arc in the northern Chilean flat-slab region (28-34°S) is
an increase in HREE and Y fractionation during the Miocene (Bissig et al., 2003; Kay et al.,
1987; Kay et al., 1999; Reich et al., 2003). This is paralleled by an increase in Sr content;
indicative of a change from moderate to high pressures at the site of melt generation. The
change in trace element patterns occurred at 17 Ma in the northern segment (Maricunga belt;
Kay et al., 1999), at 14-13 Ma in the middle segment (El Indio-Pascua belt; Bissig et al., 2003)
and at 7-6 Ma in the El Teniente region (Kay et al., 1999; Skewes et al., 2002), a pattern which
reflects a southward propagation of petrochemical change. As an indication of the different
possible ways to generate melts with depleted HREE and Y, there is considerable debate over
whether the evolution of the trace element signature in northern Chile reflects dominantly crustal
thickening (Bissig et al., 2003; Kay and Mpodozis, 2002), partial melting in the subducted slab
under flat-slab conditions (Gutscher et al., 2000; Reich et al., 2003), or melting of crustal
material introduced into the asthenospheric mantle by subduction erosion (Gutscher et al., 2000;
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Kay et al., 2005; Reich et al., 2003). However, petrological and geological evidence detailed in
Kay et al. (2002) and Bissig et al. (2003) and references therein, strongly favor the magma
generating model based on crustal thickening possibly with variable contributions from
subduction erosion over much of the Chilean flat-slab. The decreasing subduction angle thereby
increased compression and led to tectonic crustal thickening (Haschke et al., 2002b).
Metallogenetic implications of the trace element chemistry

The middle Miocene porphyry gold deposits of the Maricunga belt, as well as the giant
breccia hosted El Teniente and Los Pelambres Cu deposits were emplaced shortly after the
observed increase in HREE fractionation. A similar relationship can be observed in northern
Chile, where giant porphyry copper deposits were emplaced shortly after a general increase of
HREE fractionation in the Eocene arc (Haschke et al., 2002a; Matthews et al., 2000). High-
sulfidation epithermal deposits of the El Indio-Pascua belt (Chile) are most closely associated
with magmatic rocks of similar characteristics, but that were emplaced 3-5 Ma after the
petrochemical change (Bissig et al., 2003). However, it should be noted that porphyry related
deposits appear to be more closely linked to magmas generated under high pressure (P), whereas
epithermal deposits, exemplified by the Paleocene or Eocene El Peñon and El Guanaco as well
as the late Oligocene La Coipa deposits, have no apparent relationship to magmas with depleted
HREE.
Trace element signatures indicative of high pressures are common in spatial and genetic
association with the majority of large porphyry copper and many high-sulfidation epithermal and
other ore deposits around the Pacific Ocean (Sajona and Maury, 1998; Thieblemont et al., 1997).
This general association of magmatic hydrothermal ore deposits with magmas generated at
pressures exceeding 12-15 kbar can be used as empiric guidelines for regional exploration in the
Andes. However, given that porphyry related deposits form most efficiently from highly
oxidized magmas (e.g., Cline and Bodnar, 1991), it is apparent that the formation of potentially
fertile magmas is favored under high-P melt generating conditions. The generation of highly
oxidized magmas (2 log units above the QFM buffer) has been explained by fluxing the mantle
or lower crust by slab derived melts or supercritical fluids, the only agents capable of
transporting sufficient ferric iron for efficient destabilization of sulfides at the site of melting
(e.g. Mungall, 2002). While slab melting requires geodynamic scenarios (i.e. subduction of
young and hot oceanic lithosphere), which are unrealistic in the central Andean context, flat
subduction has the potential to generate supercritical fluids in the subducted slab. Thus, the
high-P environment of magma equilibration in thickened lower crust, in combination with a
geodynamic setting which allows for direct incursion of slab-derived supercritical fluids may be
the key to generating potentially fertile magmas for porphyry copper deposits. Shallow
epithermal deposits on the other hand may also form from magmas that do not meet the
requirements for porphyry copper deposits.
The petrochemical evolution of the Central Peruvian intrusions
Data and analytical methods

Our database includes 73 whole-rock analyses of igneous rocks representing mostly Eocene
to late Miocene intrusions and volcanic rocks. This database has been complemented by 7
analyses from the Domo de Yauli area (Beuchat, 2003) and the Bosque de Piedra ignimbrite
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(Soler, 1991). Igneous rocks were analyzed for major and trace elements by ICP-MS methods at
the ALS-Chemex laboratories in Vancouver, Canada. Some trace elements, including the REE
and Y have additionally been analyzed by solution ICP-MS in Memorial University at St. Johns,
Newfoundland, Canada. Seven samples from south of Domo de Yauli have been chosen for
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Sr/86Sr and Pb isotopic analyses carried out at the Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical
Research at UBC in Vancouver. The isotopic analyses, with exception of one whole rock
analysis were performed on mineral separates of fresh plagioclase. Pb isotopes were measured on
a Multi-Collector ICP-MS system whereas Sr isotopic analyses were carried out on a Finnigan
Triton Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer. Analytical techniques are presented in the
appendices of the report. Reliable age constraints are available for the majority of the analyzed
rocks (this study).
Cretaceous magmatism
Four samples of basaltic rocks, assigned to the Cretaceous, were analyzed in the course of
this study.
Alkaline basaltic rocks occur widely as sills and dikes within the Lower Cretaceous units.
Two samples from small alkaline intrusions have been analyzed: one from Santander and one
from Chongos Alto (Fig. 1), the latter dated at 115.3 ± 0.6 Ma, which corresponds to the Aptian
stage. Two calc-alkaline samples representing laccoliths and dikes intruding Casapalca
Formation red beds in the Chungar area. These rocks contain abundant hornblende phenocrysts,
locally to 10 cm in diameter, which were dated at 77.8 ± 1.3 Ma by the 40Ar-39Ar method.
Standard trace element discrimination diagrams (e.g. Wood, 1980) readily discriminate between
the two groups of basaltic rocks.
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Eocene magmatism
Eocene intrusions ranging from 49 to 33 Ma are observed in a variety of locations. These
include the ~38 to 49 Ma intrusions near Antamina (D. Love, 2002 written communication), as
well as dacitic domes west of Cerro de Pasco, which range from 33.5 to 37.5 Ma in age. South
of Domo de Yauli, the 39.34 ± 0.28 Ma granodioritic Huacravilca intrusion and a coarsely
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porphyritic rhyolite dike (40.14 ± 0.61 Ma) near the locality of Canchayllo are included in this
time range, as well as a group of hornblende diorite bodies between Chaucha and the town of
Tomás, north of Yauricocha. Two intrusions of the cluster near Chaucha were dated at 36.05 ±
0.1 (U/Pb on zircon) and 33.09 ± 0.43 Ma.
All of these rocks are subalkaline, but belong to the high-K calc-alkaline series and range
from andesitic to dacitic compositions (Fig. 2). The trace element patterns are typical for calc-
alkaline rocks of the Andes. The LREE are enriched whereas the HREE have flat patterns in
chondrite normalized REE plots (Fig. 2). However, in contrast with other Eocene rocks, the
intrusions between Tomás and Chaucha have variable and in some samples strongly fractionated
HREE patterns with Sm/Yb values ranging from 2.4 to 10, the highest value belonging to a dike
near a small mineral showing named Mina Llipillina. This dike crops out near the largest diorite
body at Chaucha, and is most likely associated with that mineralized body. Thus, the wide range
of Sm/Yb ratios probably originates in the variable degree of fractional crystallization of
hornblende.
Europium anomalies in Eocene rocks are generally minor with Eu/Eu* values between 0.8
and 1. Such values indicate that either plagioclase was not fractionated or, more likely, that the
magmas were highly oxidized. The exception is one rhyolite (PCB600), which has a somewhat
lower Eu/Eu* value of 0.62, indicating shallow crustal plagioclase fractionation.
None of the Eocene rocks analyzed has a direct relationship to significant polymetallic
mineralization, but the Quicay epithermal system, located west of Cerro de Pasco has been dated
at 37.5 Ma (unpub. K-Ar date on alunite; see Noble and McKee, 1999), which presumably
reflects contemporaneous but undated magmatic activity.
Early Oligocene Magmatism

A number of small dioritic to granodioritic porphyry stocks intruded at Milpo and near Ticlio
were dated between 32 and 29.5 Ma. Relatively voluminous early Oligocene extrusive
volcanism is manifested in the 32-31 Ma andesitic to dacitic Astabamba Formation, deposited in
the southeastern part of the study area. Important skarn mineralization was emplaced at Milpo in
the early Oligocene and is associated with porphyry intrusions lacking phenocrystic quartz,
which contrasts markedly with the barren and quartz phyric granodiorite porphyry stocks of the
area. None of the other intrusions appear to be related to significant mineralization.
Like Eocene magmatism, magmatism in the early Oligocene was high-K calc-alkaline in
character. The intrusions at Ticlio and Milpo have high potassium contents (up to 11.3 % K2O
for the Milpo stock), which can be attributed to potassic alteration (Fig. 3). Rare earth element
(REE) patterns of the rocks at Milpo and Astabamba Formation are enriched in light REE and
exhibit flat to moderately fractionated HREE (Sm/Yb = 2.6 – 3.7); the highest value belonging to
a dacite dome from the Astabamba Formation whereas the Milpo stock has a Sm/Yb ratio of 3.38
(Fig. 3). The two samples of stocks at Ticlio have moderate to high Sm/Yb values of 3.3 and 4.8,
which, as at Chaucha, may be attributed to hornblende fractionation. Europium is slightly
depleted in the intrusions at Milpo (Eu/Eu* = 0.8), but not anomalous in the other rocks (Eu/Eu*
= 0.9-1), indicating that the magmas were relatively oxidized, but that at Milpo, minor
plagioclase fractionation may have occurred.
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Late Oligocene magmatism

Late Oligocene magmatism is rare in the study region, but has been described from the
Cordillera Negra to the northwest of the region considered herein (Noble et al., 1999;
Strusievicz, 2000). Volcanic rocks mapped as Calipuy Formation (Cobbing, 1973) in the wider
7
Uchucchacua area were dated at 25 Ma, and similar ages were obtained for potassically-altered
intrusions in deep parts of Uchucchacua. It is unclear whether the altered intrusions are
associated with the bulk of polymetallic mineralization at Uchucchacua, since middle Miocene
intrusive events associated with at least small-scale skarn mineralization are also known in the
same area (Petersen et al., 2004; this study). A small rhyolite dome and two dacitic stocks, dated
at 20.5 to 21 Ma, define an isolated and small magmatic province in the triangular region
between the towns of Junín, Tarma and La Oroya.
All the igneous rocks are of high-K calc-alkaline character (Fig. 4). Europium anomalies of
the dacitic rocks are moderate with Eu/Eu* between 0.7 and 0.9; the most anomalous samples
being the potassically altered intrusions from the lower parts of the Uchucchacua mine with
Eu/Eu* = 0.7 and 0.71. The rhyolite dome at Santa Sabina between La Oroya and Tarma has a
markedly deeper europium anomaly, which reflects the felsic composition. Heavy REE are
distinctively more fractionated in the volcanic rocks (Sm/Yb = 4.4-5) near Uchucchacua, than in
younger rocks to the east of La Oroya (Sm/Yb = 1.7 – 3.8). However, it is worth noting that the
intrusive rocks, possibly associated with mineralization at Uchucchacua, have only moderate
HREE fractionation (Sm/Yb = 2.97 and 3.36 respectively). South of Domo de Yauli, no
magmatism of late Oligocene age is known.
Early Miocene Magmatism

After an extended period of magmatic quiescence south of Domo de Yauli, igneous activity
resumed at 18.5 Ma with the intrusion of the garnet-bearing, peraluminous rhyolite sill near
Canchayllo. This sill and nearby small intrusions have columnar joints, suggesting shallow
crustal emplacement. At 17 Ma, a voluminous granodioritic to tonalitic complex intruded near
the town of Vitis situated in the Cordillera Occidental west of Yauricocha. The intrusive phase of
Vitis was followed by a small quartz- monzonitic to granitic intrusive complex intruded
approximately 15 km NE of Vitis. Two intrusions have been sampled; one is an equigranular
granite occupying an outcrop area of ~10 km2 at Chuquipita (Cerro Bronce) and was dated at
16.2 ± 0.15 Ma, whereas the other is the small, granitic porphyry stock of Jesús Maria, less than
2 km north of the former. Small-scale skarn is described adjacent to the Chuquipita and Jesús
Maria stocks (Muñoz, 1994), but the most significant polymetallic sulfide body is found at
Azulcocha (Muñoz, 1994), also known as Grán Bretaña. The Azulcocha orebody was emplaced
in collapse and fault breccias along the Grán Bretaña fault zone, approximately 5 km east of the
early Miocene intrusions. Modest amounts of Zn, Mn, Pb and Au were produced from 1969 to
1986 (Muñoz, 1994). In the areas north of Domo de Yauli, no early Miocene magmatism has
been confirmed. Pallca, for which only a poor isotope correlation age of 18.7 ± 2.5 Ma has been
determined for a coarse-grained granodiorite porphyry, may be the exception. All rocks are
high-K calc-alkaline in composition and, with the exception of the tonalitic sample at Vitis are
felsic with SiO2 > 68 wt% (Fig. 5). HREE are generally not fractionated with Sm/Yb values
between 2 and 2.7 and variable europium anomalies with Eu/Eu* ranging from 0.9 to 0.49; these
chemical characteristics are thought to reflect the relatively felsic compositions of the rocks (Fig.
5). However, two analyzed samples differ from the rest: the coarse porphyritic granodiorite from
Pallca has moderately fractionated HREE with Sm/Yb = 3.7, but only a shallow Eu anomaly of
Eu/Eu* = 0.82. In contrast, the peraluminous rock of Canchayllo has a Sm/Yb ratio of 3.73
combined with Eu/Eu* of 0.58 (Fig. 5). The chemical characteristics of the latter probably
indicate involvement of partial melts with a pelitic residue where garnet coexisted with
plagioclase.
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Middle to early late Miocene Magmatism

In the middle Miocene, magmatism resumed across a broad region, and is represented by
numerous small stocks and volcanic domes north and south of Domo de Yauli, but also includes
the large igneous complex in the Cordillera Occidental near the town of Tanta and in the Cerro
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Tunshu area. The middle to earliest late Miocene between 15 and 10 Ma is metallogenetically
the most significant time period with numerous economic and subeconomic ore deposits being
related to shallow stocks. However, economic mineralization occurred exclusively from Domo
de Yauli to the north and includes, from south to north: the Toromocho porphyry Cu at Ticlio,
the abandoned skarn deposit of Chungar, the Colquijirca base metal lode deposit, the Iskaycruz
10
skarn deposit, the giant Cerro de Pasco Pb-Zn(-Cu) carbonate replacement deposit, the Pallca
prospect. The HREE patterns in the middle to earliest late Miocene rocks range from flat to
highly fractionated and are thus not straightforward to interpret (Figs. 6, 7). South of Domo de
Yauli, rocks from the intrusions at Cerro Tunshu and Tanta have generally low Sm/Yb ratios
from 1.6 to 2.6 and slightly negative europium anomalies ranging from Eu/Eu* = 0.73 to 0.94
(avg. 0.84). One sample, a garnet-bearing dacite dike from the Cerro Tunshu complex, however,
has a slightly positive Eu anomaly and fractionated HREE (Sm/Yb = 5.5), which is interpreted to
reflect incorporation of partial melts of pelitic rocks with garnet in the residue.
In contrast, the large igneous complexes, the dacite domes and a basaltic dike from the Río
de la Virgen have distinctly higher Sm/Yb ratios (basalt: 3.72; dacite: 8.4) and only a very minor
Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0.88-0.94). These rocks exhibit neither petrographic nor chemical
evidence of a peraluminous character and the REE pattern is therefore interpreted as evidence for
garnet in the residue of the primitive source rock in the lower crust.
North of Domo de Yauli, rocks of basaltic composition with relatively high Sm/Yb ratios are
observed at Marcapomacocha (Sm/Yb = 3.48; Eu/Eu* = 1), again an indication of the stability of
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12
garnet in lower crustal source rocks. Felsic rocks associated with polymetallic ore deposits at
Chungar and Iskaycruz exhibit only minor to moderate HREE fractionation (Sm/Yb = 2.5-3.2),
in marked contrast to rocks associated with the giant deposits of Colquijirca, Cerro de Pasco and
Antamina, which have consistently high Sm/Yb ratios (Colquijirca: 8.3; Cerro de Pasco: 6.4-
12.1; Antamina: 4-7.1) and minor europium depletions (Eu/Eu* = 0.8-0.85). The rhyolite dike
north of Uchucchacua exhibits a high Sm/Yb ratio of 3.7 and Eu/Eu* value of 0.71.
Late Miocene magmatism

Late Miocene magmatism is represented by dikes, domes, small stocks and, at Yauricocha,
by intrusions of considerable size. The igneous rocks, scattered over the study area, include
domes near Chongos Alto (40 km E of Cordillera Occidental) as well as dikes and intrusions
along the axis of the continental divide. All rocks are high-K calc-alkaline dacitic to rhyolitic
composition with SiO2 from 62 to 76 weight percent (%) (Fig. 8). Although the most important
metallogenetic episode in the region was the middle to early late Miocene, significant
polymetallic mineralization occurred in the late Miocene in the vein deposits of Domo de Yauli
(San Cristóbal) and in the carbonate replacement deposits of Yauricocha, including the silicified
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14
rocks in the Carlin-like deposit at nearby Purisima Concepción (Alvarez and Noble, 1988).
Epithermal mineralization is also described at the abandoned Carhuacayán mine whereas skarn is
known at Raura (8.2 ± 0.2 Ma; Noble and McKee, 1999), as well as the replacement and skarn at
Huanzalá situated between Antamina and Cerro de Pasco.
Trace element patterns of the Miocene rocks exhibit little variation and HREE are generally
fractionated with Sm/Yb ratios between 3.7 and 7.5 with values of up to 10.1 for the ignimbrite
of Bosque de Piedra (Figs. 8, 9; (Soler, 1991)). Europium anomalies are relatively minor
between 0.79 and 0.9, which indicates that residual hornblende and garnet rather than plagioclase
controlled the trace element patterns of the melt.
Radiogenic isotope signatures

Seven samples of igneous rocks from south of Domo de Yauli have been selected for
radiogenic Sr and Pb isotopes. Fresh material and, with exception of the fine-grained basalt at
Río de la Virgen, mineral separates of plagioclase have been analyzed to avoid alteration effects.
Given the relatively young age of the samples, the 87Sr/86Sr ratios have not been corrected to
initial values.
The strontium isotope ratios exhibit a wide range from 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7037 for the late Eocene
diorite intrusion at Chaucha to 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7089 for the middle Miocene garnet-bearing dacite
dike near Cerro Tunshu (Fig., 10). The Chaucha diorite thus has interacted only to a very limited
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degree with the crust and its origin is consistent with a depleted mantle. Within the available
data, there is no correlation between silica content or age with Sr isotope ratios. The most mafic
rock analyzed from the Cerro Tunshu intrusive complex has a relatively high 87Sr/86Sr ratio of
0.7064, whereas the basalt from Río de la Virgen exhibits a significantly lower ratio of 0.7048.
The three remaining samples from the Eocene granodioritic Huacravilca intrusion, the late
Miocene granodioritic Yauricocha-Exito stock at Yauricocha and a dacite dome of the Herú
Formation have strontium isotope ratios of 0.7052, 0.7053 and 0.7056, respectively.
Lead isotopes in general correlate well with the Sr isotopes. The least radiogenic rocks
identified in this study are the basalt at Río de la Virgen and the Chaucha diorite intrusion which,
in the uranogenic isotope diagram (Fig.10a) are the only ones to plot below the average crustal
growth curve of Stacey and Kramers (1975). In contrast to the Sr isotope systematics, the Pb
isotopes indicate that the basalt at Río de la Virgen is somewhat less radiogenic than the diorite
of Chaucha. The highly radiogenic end of the spectrum is occupied by the two samples from the
Cerro Tunshu intrusive complex; the most radiogenic one being the garnet-bearing dacite dike.
The overall isotopic signatures indicate a typical continental arc origin for the rocks with
generally moderate, but in the Cerro Tunshu more significant, crustal assimilation. It is however
interesting that the middle Miocene basalt, which had only limited interaction with the lower
crust, was emplaced approximately 25 km to the east of the continental divide whereas the
samples with the most crustal contamination intruded almost at the same time in the Cordillera
Occidental.
The lead isotopic composition of ores from different mines can be broadly separated into a
radiogenic group (#1), which includes Milpo, Uchucchacua, Iskaycruz and Pallca, and a less
radiogenic group (#2) with Antamina, Huanzalá, Contonga, Colquijirca and Yauricocha.
Morococha may be considered transitional, as the sulfide Pb isotopic composition plot at the low
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17
206
Pb/204Pb end of group 1. However, no obvious pattern in the geographic distribution of these
two groups is recognized.
The granodiorite intrusion at Yauricocha and the dacite domes have a Pb isotopic
composition similar to the group 2 deposits. The rocks from Cerro Tunshu coincide in the
thorogenic diagram with the group 1 ores, but are less radiogenic than the latter when the
uranogenic isotopes are considered.
Discussion
The temporal chemical evolution
Sm/Yb values show an overall increase with decreasing age (Fig. 11). A clear trend from
low ratios in the Eocene to values ranging from 3 to 10 in the late Miocene is apparent. A similar
trend can be observed with respect to Sr/Y ratios, where the values for Eocene rocks are below
40 but range from 40 to 110 in the late Miocene. Rather than a general increase of Sm/Yb and
Sr/Y ratios, a wider spread of values with decreasing age is observed (Fig. 11). Middle Miocene
rocks range from Sm/Yb = 1.5 to 9 and Sr/Y = 10-130, whereas in the late Miocene rocks, low
Sr/Y and Sm/Yb ratios are absent (Fig. 11). This general trend towards a wider spread in values
is more apparent if samples where significant mid crustal assimilation of pelite-derived melts or
important fractional crystallization of hornblende are excluded.
Middle Miocene intrusions emplaced near the Cordillera Occidental have generally lower
trace element ratios where compared to domes and intrusions farther east. South of Domo de
Yauli, low trace element ratios have been obtained for the igneous complex at Cerro Tunshu and
nearby intrusions whereas middle Miocene dacite domes and basalt at Río de la Virgen exhibit
higher values. North of Domo de Yauli intrusions with high Sm/Yb and Sr/Y ratios are the rule
and the only sample with low trace element ratios is from Chungar with Sr/Y = 33.6 and Sm/Yb
= 2.52. Assuming that the trace element ratios reflect crustal thickness, the crust beneath the
Cordillera Occidental appears to have been relatively thin compared to the areas 20-50 km east
of the continental divide. It is also apparent that south of Domo de Yauli the crust beneath the
Cordillera Occidental thickened later than to the north of it.
Metallogenetic relationships
The majority of rocks related spatially and temporally, and by inference probably also
genetically, with the known ore deposits of the Central Peruvian cordillera exhibit a relatively
low Y content, but elevated Sr/Y, Sm/Yb and Lan/Ybn ratios (Fig. 12). Those rocks, which are
unrelated to mineralization, exhibit a wide compositional range with respect to these trace
element ratios. This general association of mineralization with melts generated under high
pressures, commonly incorrectly referred to as adakites, are widely recognized around the Pacific
Ocean (Sajona and Maury, 1998; Thieblemont et al., 1997). There are, however, igneous rocks
associated with ore deposits that do not coincide with adakite-like compositions most notably at
Milpo, Chungar and Iskaycruz, although the association of the dated dome rock at Iskaycruz and
the polymetallic replacement deposit is unclear. The mineralization at Milpo occurred in the
early Oligocene at a time when the crust probably has been thinner than in the Miocene, whereas
Chungar and Iskaycruz were emplaced in the middle Miocene in the Cordillera Occidental where
the general trace element patterns of magmatic rocks indicate a thinner continental crust
compared to areas further east. However, Pb isotopes on ores from throughout the study area
may represent a potentially useful tool to understand the trace element chemistry of igneous
rocks associated with the deposits. Thus, the ore deposits can be subdivided into a high and a low
18
radiogenic group on the basis of the Pb isotopic composition of the ore. The ore deposits
associated with rocks with relatively low Sm/Yb and Sr/Y ratios (ranging from 2.97 to 4.3 for
deposits with Pb isotopic constraints) are all contained within the highly radiogenic group
whereas those deposits with lower radiogenic Pb isotope signatures have generally higher Sm/Yb
ratios, ranging from 4.2 to 8.3. This general association of trace element chemistry with Pb
isotopes, assuming that is not an artifact of the limited database, may indicate an important
metallogenetic difference between the two groups of ores. It is apparent that deposits such as
Antamina, Colquijirca and Yauricocha are related to magmas characterized by limited interaction
with radiogenic old crust, whereas other deposits including Milpo, Uchucchacua and potentially
Iskaycruz are associated with magmas that have interacted to a more significant degree with the
crust.
As a simple and brief guideline for future exploration the ideal characteristics of magmatic
rocks potentially associated with a large polymetallic ore deposit in central Perú can be
summarized as follows: 1) Middle and late Miocene in age, or located in the transect
Uchucchacua-Milpo; 2) Igneous rocks of dacitic to rhyolitic compositions with high (>4) Sm/Yb
ratios and only limited crustal contamination. Some, generally smaller ore deposits may also be
associated with magmas with moderate Sm/Yb ratios (2.7-4), especially if they are located in the
Uchucchacua-Milpo transect and are Oligocene or older in age. Magmas associated with these
deposits may have undergone more significant crustal contamination.
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21

2.igneous Geochemistry

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2.igneous Geochemistry

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Final report: Sources and Exhausts in Polymetallic Carbonate Rock-hosted Ore Deposits

Petrochemistry of Late Cenozoic intrusions and volcanic rocks and

Controls on the chemistry of continental arc magmas, a brief review

Metallogenetic implications of the trace element chemistry

The petrochemical evolution of the Central Peruvian intrusions

Data and analytical methods

Early Oligocene Magmatism

Late Oligocene magmatism

Early Miocene Magmatism

Middle to early late Miocene Magmatism

Late Miocene magmatism

Radiogenic isotope signatures

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