STRUCTURAL CONTROLS ON PORPHYRY Cu DEPOSITS, NORTHERN CHILE

LOCATION MAP OF CENTRAL ANDES

(USGS DEM)

75

70

65

20

PACIFIC OCEAN

ALTIPLANO

Antofagasta

25
STUDY AREA

J. Skarmeta 1, K. McClay 2, & A. Bertens

Gerencia Corporativa de Exploraciones, Codelco, Chile Royal Holloway University of London

1,

30

SIERRAS PAMPEANAS

Iquique

70

69

Collahuasi (34-32 Ma)

ATACAMA FAULT SYSTEM

36

DU
14

Ujina (34-32 Ma) Quebrada Blanca (37-36 Ma) El Abra (37-36 Ma) Radomiro Tomic (33-31 Ma)
22

TERTIARY PORPHYRY Cu-Mo DEPOSITS, NORTHERN CHILE

Determine 4D Structural Evolution of the Cordillera Domeyko, Northern Chile Determine Structural Controls on Cu-Mo Mineralization Determine Structural Styles and Strain Partitioning using Analogue Models Develop 4D Evolutionary Models Develop New Models for Porphyry CuMo Mineralization in Oblique Subduction Regimes

AIMS

Tocopilla

U 90

Chuquicamata (34-31 Ma) Mansa Mina T elegrafo (40 Ma) Salar de Atacama Chimborazo (40 Ma)
24

CORDILLERA DOMEYKO

DU
Antofagasta

34 La Escondida, Zaldivar (35-31 Ma)

Taltal

1 13

Exploradora (33-32 Ma) El Salvador (44-41 Ma) Potrerillos (36 Ma)

26

36
Mt Fine Cu 100km

(from Cuadra & Camus, 1998)

TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE CORDILLERA DOMEYKO

M.a.

Chronostratigraphy from Domeyko Range

1,6 5,2

Quaternary
Pliocene

Logitudinal Valley

Domeyko Range

Preandean Depression

Western Cordillera

Tectonic stages

Structural features
Normal Faulting

Permo-Carboniferous Basement NW-SE Triassic Rift Basins N-S Jurassic - Lower Cretaceous Back Arc Rift Basins Late Cretaceous - Oligocene Contraction Paleocene - Oligocene Porphyry Intrusion Late Oligocene - Present Day Contraction

Neogene
25,2

Miocene
+ ++ + + +

Fore-arc basin

Thin-Skinned Thrusting

36

Tertiary
Paleogene

Oligocene
+ + + ++

Porphyry Copper Intrusives

CONTRACTION

Eocene Paleocene

54

Tertiary Inversion

(nverted Fault, Thin and Thick-Skinned Structures

66

Later
96

Hiatus

EXTENSION

Cretaceous
Early

131

v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v

v v

Cretaceous Rift

Steep Nomal Faults & LIstric Faults

THERMAL SUBSIDENCE
Jurassic Back-arc Basin

Later
152

Thermal Subsidence, Little Faulting

Jurassic
180

Middle Early

EXTENSION

210

Later

Triassic
Early

+ + +

Triassic Continental Rift

Steep Basement Normal Faults en-echelon NW -SE Half-graben Basins

Porphyry Intrusives

CHUQUICAMATA MINE
Qda. Guatacondo

A A
Q. Blanca

Qda. Guatacondo

A A
Q.Blanca

Qda. Quehuita

Qda. Quehuita

B
Pampa Puno

Pampa Puno

B
Rio Loa Qda. Sama
Qda. Sama

B
Rio Loa

Cretaceous-Tertiary Intrusives Permo-Carboniferous Collahuasi Fm. Volcanics Permo-Carboniferous Collahuasi Fm. Intrusives Permo-Carboniferous Metamorphic Complex Thrust Fault

C
Qda. Arcas
Qda. Arcas

C C

El Abra

El Abra

Anticline Syncline

Qda. Chug Chug

Qda. Chug Chug

Quebrada Loa River

Chuquicamata
Chuquicamata

Structural Cross-Section
Rio San Salvador

Rio San Salvador Rio Loa

Calama
10 km

Calama
10 km

Rio Loa

Quebrada Blanca-Quebrada Guatacondo Section A-A`

5 4 3 2 1 0 -1
0 2 4 Km

Sierra Yocas Cross Section B-B`

Quebrada Blanca Quebrada Guatacondo - Quebrada Blanca

38 Ma

34-35 Ma 34-37 Ma

> 1000 m

490000

495000

500000

505000

510000

515000

-3

520000

-2

ICANCHE FORMATION, SIERRA YOCAS

5 Km

Capillas Cross Section

C C

5 km

FOLDED SICHAL FORMATION

ESCONDIDA

QUEBRADA VAQUILLAS

QUEBRADA PROFETA

TRIASSIC BASEMENT THRUST OVER JURASSIC

FOLDED JURASSIC-CRETACEOUS SHALES & LIMESTONES

10

LANDSAT: Exploradora - El Salvador

W-E: 1 17 Quebrada Doa Ins Chica

Section-2(B-B): Q. Sur Ins Chica

N
Dip Data STEREOPLOT

Sierra Exploradora
N = 255

W
4

E
Photo-2A
Jkqv

Photo-2B

Jm

Jm

Tqv(2) TJqv(1)

Jm

Terpr

Ksa Jm Tqv

Ja Jm

Tqv(2)

2 PZgr

PZgr PZgr

0 km

El Salvador

Sierra Castillo

Salar de Pedernales
LEGEND
Terpr Kll

Riolithic Porphyrs and Sills Cretaceous (Fm Santa Ana, Fm Llanta) icuas, Fm Sierra Fragua)

N
0 4 km

JKqv Ja Jm TJqv(1) Tqv(2) PZgr

Jurassic - Cretaceous (Fm Q.V Jurassic (Fm Asientos) Jurassic (Fm Montandn)

Triassic-Jurassic ( Fm Quebrada del Salitre - Upper Member) Triassic ( Fm Quebrada del Salitre - Lower Member) Pre-T riassic Rift Basement ( Permian intrusive complex & Fm La Tabla)

20 km

11

W-E: 115 Montandon Cuesta

Section-1(A-A): Cuesta Montandn

Pin point

Photo-1A

W
4 3 2 1 0km

E
QBF SCF
Terpr

Photo-1B

Kll

JKsf

PZgr

Ja Jm
Tjqs

Jm Ja

PZgr PZgr PZgr

LEGEND
Te r p Tertiary r Porphyry Intrusives and Sills
Cretaceous (Fm Fm Llanta) Agua Helada, Fm Sierra Fragua, icuitas)

Jm TJqs PZgr

Jurassic (Fm Montandn) Triassic-Jurassic ( Fm Quebrada del Salitre) Pre-T riassic Rift Basement ( Permian intrusive complex & Fm La Tabla)

Kp / Kll

JKqv
0 4km

Jurassic-Cretaceous (Fm Q.V Jurassic (Fm Asientos)

Ja

12

Cuesta Montandn-Restoration CuestaSection-1 de Montandon Resortation

UpperJurassic Cretaceous Basin
Pin point

W
0km -1 -2 -3 -4

E
Kp

Kll

JKqv

Ja

JKsf

Jm

TJqs

PZgr

PZgr

LEGEND
TerCv Kp / Kll
Paleocene (Fm Estratos de Cerro V Cretaceous (Fm Fm Llanta) aliente)

Jm TJqs PZgr

Jurassic (Fm Montandn) Triassic-Jurassic ( Fm Quebrada del Salitre) Pre-T riassic Rift Basement ( Permian intrusive complex & Fm La Tabla)

Agua Helada, Fm Sierra Fragua, icuitas)

JKqv Ja

Jurassic-Cretaceous (Fm Q.V Jurassic (Fm Asientos)

13

SCALED ANALOGUE MODELLING OF OBLIQUE SUBDUCTION

2 x 3 m Deformation Rig Homogeneous Dry Quartz Sandpack 90 to 15 Oblique Subduction Angles Digital Photography & Animation Vertical & Horizontal Sectioning 1 cm in Models ~ 1 km in Crustal Strata
Foredeep Miogeoclinal FoldThrust Belt Gneiss and / or Schist
Foreland Foredeep Moho

DOUBLY-VERGENT OROGEN

Foreland Fold-Thrust Belt Ophiolite

Metamorphic Core Shear Zone Crystalline Nappe

Foreland Fold-Thrust Belt

Multiply Deformed Pluton Metamorphic Complex with Shear Zone M a f i ++ ++ + +

Slate-BeltU c

l t r Foreland Foredeep

Late Post-Tectonic Pluton

Ophiolite Suture

Slate Belt C o n c o Bodies High-Angle Shear Zones r

Pre- and Syn-Orogenic Plutons d ++ a+ + n t U l t r Post-Orogenic Pluton Ophiolite Complex a m a

Continental Basement f i c Mantle

(after Hatcher & Williams, 1986)

14

DEFORMATION RIG
Cross-Section View
Motor Subduction Slot Layered Sand Pack
2.5 cm

2D DOUBLY-VERGENT WEDGE MODEL CROSS-SECTION

Detachment Sheet

Plan View
1-3m V ariable Angle Subduction Slot 90 60 45 Detachment Sheet 30 Base 15

Forward-Breaking Thrust Sequence

Static Sandpack Subduction Vector Moving Sandpack
T2

T1

1m
T4 T6 T5

T3 TR

Motor
Subduction Slot

15

Static Sandpack

90 ORTHOGONAL MODEL
12
Subduction Vector

90 ORTHOGONAL MODEL - CROSS-SECTIONS

10
5

MAXIMO DESPLAZAMIENTO d (km)

10 10 10 10
0 3

?? 10

10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Fallas de modelos

-3

10 ??

21

10
-1

L= 10km

10
- 2

10
- 3

32

LONGITUD L (km)

10 10
- 4

10

- 3

10

-2

10

- 1

10

10

10

10

10

LONGITUD L (km)

Moving Sandpack Subduction Slot 10 cm Subduction Slot

16

45 OBLIQUE MODEL
Static Sandpack 15

45 OBLIQUE MODEL - CROSS-SECTIONS

25

Subduction Vector

30

Subduction Slot

10 cm

Moving Sandpack

Subduction

Slot

17

30 OBLIQUE MODEL
Static Sandpack 10

30 OBLIQUE MODEL - CROSS-SECTIONS

22

Subduction Vector

35 Subduction Slot

10 cm

Moving Sandpack Subduction Slot

18

15 OBLIQUE MODEL

Static Sandpack

345500 m

>1000 m

Subduction Vector

Subduction Slot

Moving Sandpack 10 cm

19

SUMMARY OF ANALOGUE MODELS

90 Convergence - Doubly-Vergent Wedge - Dip-Slip Thrusting 75 - 45 Convergence - Doubly-Vergent Wedge - Oblique-Slip Thrusting <45 - 30 Convergence - No Doubly- Vergent Wedge - Strike-Slip & Oblique-Slip Faulting 0 No Convergence - Strike-Slip Faulting 90 - 45 Margin-Parallel Thrusts <45 Margin-Parallel Strike-Slip & Oblique-Slip

APPLICATION TO THE CORDILLERA DOMEYKO

70 - 60 Convergence Since the Late Cretaceous Deformation within Cordillera Domeyko Characterized by E-W Contraction Thrusts & Folds No Evidence for Major Strike-Slip Deformation Minor Late Plio-Pliestocene Dextral Strike-Slip Contractional Deformation Focused along Steep Basement Faults - Inversion Oligo-Miocene Growth Strata

20

90 10 0

80

70

60

50

90 10

80

70

60

50

PORPHYRY EMPLACEMENT DURING INVERSION

Erosion of Inversion Anticline

0 10 20

Forelimb Thinning Porphyry

10 20

Syn-Inversion

Tip-Line Folds

Cretaceous Syn-Extension

30

30

40

40
Jurassic Syn-Extension

Basement Palaeozoic T riassic

50
50

60

Nazca (Farallon) Hotspot Phoenix

60

Nazca (Farallon) Hotspot Phoenix

(after Cole, 1990)

48-33 Ma

33 - 8 Ma

MAGMA

21

MAGMA EMPLACEMENT DURING CONTRACTION

Emplacement of Intrusion along Steep Reverse Fault

22

Torres del Paine Intrusion Steeply-Dipping Thrust Torres del Paine in Intrusion Southern Chile Fault

23

APPLICATIONS TO THE CHUQUICAMATA DISCTRICT

Chuqicamata Disctrict

(Castelli, 2002, Pardo y Rivera, 1998 )

Surface Geology

Structural compilation

24

Geology below gravels

Geology level - 500 m

RTP CMT

2a DV RTP RTP -500 -500

25

Section 7550000

Section 7536000

Section 7526000

Section 7517000

26

STRUCTURAL EVOLUTION
Esquema de evolucin estructural

NUMERICAL VISCOUS MODELING:TWO LAYER BASIN INVERSION

EXTENSION

STRONG WEAK HOMOGENEOUS

WEAK

Neutral surface

STRONG

SLIP ZONE (VERY WEAK)

Zone maximum Mof xima dilatacin dilation

COMPRESSION

STRAIN RATE

27

Tectonic Map of the southern segment of the Cordillera de Domeyko

LATE EOCENE - OLIGOCENE SUBDUCTION

Offshore Accretionary Complex Relict JurassicCretaceous Arc Eocene-Oligocene Arc Foreland Fold-Thrust Belt

Accommodation Zone

Porphyry Intrusions 70 Oblique Subduction

Retro-Arc Foreland Basin

Ancestral Atacama Fault Continental Margin System?

Obliquely Inverted Jurassic-Cretaceous Retro-Arc Basin

28

CONCLUSIONS - I
Northern Cordillera Domeyko Exhibts N-S Contractional Tectonics with Little Evidence of Strike-Slip Deformation Eocene - Oligocene Porphyries Emplaced as Sills and Tabular Dykes along Thrusts Porphyries are Emplaced in a Regional Contractional Stress Field Basement Blocks Show Significant Uplift There is a Close Spatial Association of Basement Uplifts, Reactivated Faults and Porphyry Intrusions

29

CONCLUSIONS - II
Eocene-Oligocene Plate Motions Indicate Consistent N70E Oblique Convergence Modern Subduction Margins Show Strong Partitioning with Consistent Margin Normal Shortening & Very Limited Strike-Slip Scaled Analogue Models of Oblique Subduction Only Show Strike-Slip Faulting at Convergence Angles , 45 An Inversion Model is Proposed for the Emplacement of Porphyry Cu-Mo Deposits in Northern Chile

30