Tetraedrita de la Mina Achalay, Mallín Quemado, Cuenca Neuquina. Consideraciones metalogenéticas

Abstract

Tetrahedrite of the Achalay mine, Mallín Quemado, Neuquén Basin. Metallogenic considerations. Achalay mine, Mallín Quemado district, Neuquén province is one of the main barite deposits of the Neuquén Basin. It was exploited since 1935 to 1993. A copper sulfosalt (tetrahedrite) has been identified as minute inclusions within galena of the barite bed. Tetrahedrite was studied by reflectance spectral methods and microprobe analysis. Also, mineral paragenesis, fluid inclusion and S stable isotope data from Achalay mine support a hydrothermal (epithermal) origin for the baritic mineralization. In addition, some negative 34S data obtained from galena suggest a possible mixing with meteoric waters. The age of the deposit still remains unknown but it is plausible to situate its genesis during the Eo-Tertiary times, linked with the magmatic activity of the Naunauco Group.