Epithermal mineralization in the Sierra Madre Occidental, and the metallogeny of northwestern Mexico.

Abstract

Studies of the metallogeny of northwestern Mexico (Baja California to Chihuahua to Durango) at the mining district, geologic province, and regional scale, show that deposit formation and preservation is an intricate interrelationship between magmatism, tectonism, and hydrothermal activity. These are not only complicated by superimposed factors including erosion, enrichment, and cover, but in northern Mexico, tectonic translation as well. Using palinspastic reconstructions the relative positions of geologic units are restored to their pre-extensional configuration. Metallic "belts" are heterogeneous with numerous metal associations and deposit types superimposed in the same area. The reconstructions show that magmatism and mineralization were coeval and coincident. Superimposed environments and processes cover, erode, enrich, and preserve mineralization thus substantially affecting perceived metal distribution. Cover sequences including mid-Tertiary ignimbrites and late Tertiary clastic sediments preserve and commonly conceal mineralization. Mid-Tertiary and older extensional events preserve near surface deposit types (e.g, supergene blankets, Jurassic rift-related deposits). At the Sierra Madre Occidental (SMO) province scale, ore deposit types exhibit enormous variation from adularia sericite-dominated to advanced argillic to closely pluton related. The advanced argillic alteration with gold+/-copper+/-silver deposit types appears related to magmatic centers occurring in both the older (pre-Oligocene) and younger (Oligocene) volcanic sections and is a major focus of this dissertation. Acidic alteration-related deposits make up some of the largest Au occurrences including the Mulatos >2 million ounce gold district. Extensive kaolinitic alteration halos (>8 km²) zoned around a core of vuggy silica and quartz+/-pyrophyllite host enargite-pyrite ores. Sulfide isotopes are near zero δ³⁴S(pyrite) = -5 to -3%; δ³⁴S(enargite) = -6 to -4%) with corresponding barite (δ³⁴S = +18-22%). Phase equilibria and isotopes indicate early pyrophyllite-pyrite ores formed at ∼ 300°C with later barite-pyrite-dickite ores deposited at T = ∼ 260°C. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopes show possible mixing between magmatic and meteoric waters with a late (shallow) meteoric (heavier D, lighter δ¹⁸O) overprint. District tilting (∼ 25°NE) exposes >1.5 km altered section containing two separate centers. Alunite occurs late, rarely and is above pyrophyllite, suggesting a vertical transition in acid sulfate systems.