©2015 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc.

Economic Geology, v. 110, pp. 423–443

High-Resolution Geochronology of the Coroccohuayco Porphyry-Skarn Deposit, Peru:

A Rapid Product of the Incaic Orogeny
Cyril Chelle-Michou,1,† Massimo Chiaradia,1 David Selby,2 Maria Ovtcharova,1 and Richard A. Spikings1
1 University of Geneva, Section of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
2 Durham University, Department of Earth Sciences, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom

Abstract
Precise and accurate determination of the timing and duration of ore-forming processes in porphyry sys-
tems is a fundamental step in understanding their genesis and placing them in a regional context. Here, we
take advantage of the considerable improvements in the field of geochronology over the last decade to pro-
vide a robust geochronologic framework for hydrothermal and magmatic events in the Eocene Coroccohuayco
porphyry-skarn Cu deposit, and the first robust dating of an ore system in the emerging Andahuaylas-Yauri
batholith and metallogenic belt, southern Peru. This batholith and associated porphyry systems were emplaced
during the Incaic orogeny, in a context of slab flattening, compression, exhumation, uplift, and the initiation of
the bending of the Bolivian orocline.
High-precision ages from early skarn (U-Pb, hydrothermal titanite) and later-stage mineralization (Re-Os,
molybdenite) in the Coroccohuayco deposit are indistinguishable from each other and from available high-
precision U-Pb zircon ages of the porphyries. All together, they indicate that the deposit was formed in less
than 100 k.y. between 35.7 and 35.6 Ma. We also highlight a previously unrecognized pre-ore high-temperature
hydrothermal event (U-Pb, hydrothermal titanite) that corresponds to the emplacement of a precursor gab-
brodiorite complex at ca. 40.2 Ma. A new 40Ar/39Ar age at 26.6 Ma of a post-ore alkali basalt is interpreted
as recording the initiation of slab roll-back following the flat slab episode and is therefore not related to the
magmatic-hydrothermal system at Coroccohuayco.
These data, together with structural measurements at the Coroccohuayco deposit and available regional data,
suggest that the Coroccohuayco deposit was formed toward the end of Eocene arc magmatism, in a context
of transpressional stress, intense erosion, and exhumation associated with Incaic orogeny. At the scale of the
Tintaya ore district (which hosts the Coroccohuayco, Tintaya, and Antapaccay deposits), available data and a
new molybdenite Re-Os age obtained for the Tintaya deposit suggest that mineralizing events were spatially
focused and episodic over several millions of years, while a single economic deposit may have been formed
within less than 100 k.y.

Introduction considerable improvement of the U-Pb, Re-Os, and 40Ar/39Ar

Precise and accurate determination of the timing and dura-
tion of magmatic-hydrothermal events in porphyry systems
(porphyry, skarn, carbonate replacement, high and interme-
diate sulfidation, Cordilleran deposits) has been the focus of
numerous studies over the past 30 years. Indeed, determin-
ing the timing and duration of genetic processes that result in
massive amounts of ore deposition is of primary importance
to understand how such deposits form (Chiaradia et al., 2013).
Geochronological studies have shown that some of the major
porphyry systems result from the superimposition of several
intrusion/mineralization cycles over millions of years (Harris
et al., 2004; Maksaev et al., 2004; Rohrlach and Loucks, 2005;
Longo et al., 2010). Recent high-resolution dating studies
have revealed that the duration of individual ore deposition
cycles may last less than 100 k.y. (von Quadt et al., 2011; Brax-
ton et al., 2012), despite the fact that the thermal anomaly
and minor hydrothermal activity may last much longer (e.g.,
Maksaev et al., 2004; Harris et al., 2008). Similar short dura-
tions are supported by data from active geothermal systems
that show that large deposits can be formed in ca. 50 k.y. (Sim-
mons and Brown, 2006, 2007).
Radioisotopic dating is arguably the most direct approach
to determine the timing and duration of magmatic-hydrother-
mal processes in a fossil porphyry system. In the past decade,
† Corresponding author: e-mail, cyril.chelle-michou@unige.ch
0361-0128/15/4291/423-21 423
dating techniques has made it possible to achieve internal pre-
cision usually better than 0.2% (2σ; see review in Chiaradia et
al., 2013). In particular, the geoscience community, through
the EARTHTIME Initiative (www.earth-time.org), has been
able to dramatically improve precision and accuracy down to
0.1%. Here we take advantage of these remarkable advances
in the field of isotope geochronology to precisely and accu-
rately date the ore-forming event at the Eocene Coroccohu-
ayco porphyry-related deposit, Peru, by using state-of-the-art
dating techniques.
Coroccohuayco is primarily a Cu-rich skarn deposit with
92 Mt at 3.10 wt % Cu (1.5 wt % cutoff) in the skarn orebodies
with Au, Ag, and Mo credits (Xstrata Copper, 2008). Recently,
porphyry-style mineralization has been discovered, bringing
the total resources to 290 Mt at 1.03 wt % Cu (0.3 wt % cut-
off; Xstrata, 2012). Exploration is still ongoing at the Coroc-
cohuayco project and potential for new discoveries exists.
The deposit is part of the Tintaya mining district (including
Tintaya, Antapaccay, Coroccohuayco, Quechua, and Ccatun
Pucara; Fig. 1), which hosts >13 Mt of Cu (Perelló et al., 2003;
Pan Pacific Copper, 2009; Xstrata, 2012) and is located at the
southern end of the Eocene Andahuaylas-Yauri batholith (Fig.
2). Like porphyry-related magmatism worldwide, Coroc-
cohuayco records polyphase and long-lived magmatic activ-
ity with a district-scale basic intrusive complex and at least
three porphyritic intrusions emplaced over ca. 5  m.y. (Figs.
Submitted: December 15, 2013
Accepted: July 16, 2014
 424 CHELLE-MICHOU ET AL.
245000E 250000E 255000E
YA
71°20’ W URI
-S
AL
8355000N
AD
O mantle wedge suction and oblique subduction of a frag-
Tintaya
8350000N
C
A
Ñ
IP
IA
Antapaccay
FA
U
8345000N
LT
0 km 2
Younger Tertiary-Quaternary sediments
Younger Tertiary volcanics (Tacaza gp)
Undifferentiated Late Eocene porphyries Quechua
Eocene gabbrodiorite complex
Cretaceous limestone (Ferrobamba Fm)
Cretaceous pelite and sandstone
(Mara and Soraya Fms)
QUECHUA FAULT
Faults Regional faults Folds
Fig. 1. Simplified geologic map of the Tintaya district with the location of
the main porphyry and skarn deposits (modified from Maher, 2010).
1, 2; Chelle-Michou et al., 2014). Late alkali basalt dikes have
also been recognized and have no isotopic age determination
(Maher, 2010).
Previous dating of the porphyritic intrusions (Chelle-
Michou et al., 2014) suggests that the mineralizing event was
very short (<100 k.y.). Here, we intend to test this hypothesis
by direct dating of the mineralization, using Re-Os on molyb-
denite, and of the high-temperature hydrothermal alteration,
using U-Pb on hydrothermal titanite.
Evidence for the contemporaneous involvement of mafic
magmas (intrusions, enclaves, or melt inclusions) similar to
the alkali basalt at Coroccohuayco is often encountered in
porphyry systems. They are thought to critically contribute
heat, volatiles, and metal budget to the system (Keith et al.,
1997; Hattori and Keith, 2001; de Hoog et al., 2004; Halter et
al., 2005; Pollard et al., 2005; Audétat and Pettke, 2006; Ma
et al., 2013). Therefore, we further dated the alkali basalt by
40Ar/39Ar to test its relationship with the mineralization.
This work presents the first robust geochronological study
of a porphyry system in the Eocene Andahuaylas-Yauri metal-
logenic belt of Peru, which is emerging as a world-class belt.
Our data, together with new structural observations, allow us
to place the genesis of Coroccohuayco in the context of the
coeval geodynamic evolution of the Central Andean margin
and, in particular, of the Incaic orogenic event.
Evolution of the Central Andes During the Eocene
In southern Peru, the Eocene epoch is marked by landward
migration (up to 200 km) and broadening of the magmatic
arc (Noble et al., 1984; Mamani et al., 2010), by crustal-
scale deformation associated with the Incaic compressional
event (Carlotto, 1998), and by the Bolivian orocline bending
(Roperch et al., 2006; Arriagada et al., 2008; Roperch et al.,
2011), accompanied by the early construction of the Altiplano
(McQuarrie et al., 2005). Such evolution of the Central Andes
260000E
in the Eocene is commonly interpreted as a result of slab flat-
tening (e.g., Noble et al., 1984; Sandeman et al., 1995; Perelló
et al., 2003; Mamani et al., 2010), possibly due to combined
FA
ULT
ment of the Cretaceous Manihiki oceanic plateau (O’Driscoll
and Richards, 2012, and references therein). An alterna-
tive, although not exclusive, explanation for the crustal-scale
deformation of the Central Andes involves localized increase
in the subducting Nazca plate thickness at the trench in front
of the Central Andes, starting in the Eocene and resulting in
Ccatun Pucara
Andean crust thickening and orogenic concave bending (Cap-
itanio et al., 2011). As deformation continued in the Andes,
the Nazca plate motion vector changed at ca. 28 to 25 Ma
to become normal and convergence rate increased (Somoza
Coroccohuayco
and Ghidella, 2012). Subducting slab and magmatic arc slowly
migrated trenchward, back to a normal position, from then on
(Mamani et al., 2010).
The Andahuaylas-Yauri batholith was emplaced during
the Incaic orogeny into Mesozoic to early Cenozoic marine
sedimentary sequences between the Western and Eastern
15°00’ S
Cordilleras of southern Peru. Nowadays, it forms a 300-km-
long and up to 130-km-wide belt (Fig. 2), with the exposure
decreasing southward as the Oligocene to Miocene volca-
nosedimentary cover becomes prominent. Interestingly, it
is temporally similar to the Eocene porphyry belt of north-
ern Chile, which has one of the largest Cu endowments and
hosts some of the richest deposits in the world (Fig. 2). The
Andahuaylas-Yauri batholith is known for hosting important
Cu(-Au-Mo-Fe) skarn and porphyry-style deposits (Perelló
et al., 2003) as well as Pb-Zn carbonate-replacement depos-
its with supergene overprinting (Boni et al., 2009; Mon-
dillo et al., 2014). In the last decade, this metallogenic belt,
which was previously largely underexplored due to political
instabilities in the area, has attracted massive exploratory
investments and scientific interest. The Tintaya (Fig. 1) and
Las Bambas districts currently have the most activity, with
world-class discoveries of Cu porphyry-skarn deposits (e.g.,
Antapaccay, Las Bambas, Haquira).
Perelló et al. (2003) recognized two main phases of mag-
matic activity in the batholith. The first and dominantly mafic
phase was emplaced at ca. 48 to 43 Ma and was followed
at ca. 40 to 32 Ma (K-Ar dates on biotite, amphibole, and
K-feldspar) by intermediate magmas locally associated with
porphyry-style and skarn mineralization. Magmatic rocks are
mostly emplaced into clastic (Yura Group) and carbonate
(Ferrobamba Formation) sedimentary rocks of Jurassic and
Cretaceous age, respectively. The limestones of the Ferro-
bamba Formation are the main host of skarn-type mineral-
ization. Prior to the Eocene magmatic activity, these strata
where deformed into NW- to WNW-trending folds and by
NW- to WNW-striking faults, both of which verge north-
ward (Carlotto, 1998; Fig. 1). According to Maher (2010),
this deformation is related to a late Paleocene orogenic pulse
(Inca I). Starting in the Eocene, compressive conditions
resulted in the opening of synorogenic sedimentary basins
along the northeast margin of the Western Cordillera and the
Altiplano, controlled by the Cusco-Lagunillas fault system
(Carlotto, 2013). This NW-SE–elongated fault system bor-
ders the batholith to the north and runs through the Tintaya
district (Fig. 1).
 HIGH-RESOLUTION GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE COROCCOHUAYCO PORPHYRY-SKARN DEPOSIT, PERU 425

Intrusive rocks
Alkali basalt Sample location
8347000
Rhyodacite
Hornblende-biotite porphyry
Hornblende porphyry
Gabbrodiorite complex

Metasomatic and metamorphic

0 100 200 m rocks
Endoskarn in gabbrodiorite
Magnetite skarn
B’
8346500
Marble (from Ferrobamba Fm)
Hornfels (from Mara/Soraya Fm)

Structural data
10CC78 Fault
Thrust fault
Sense of movement
Tectonic breccia
8346000
A’
Surface projection of:
Skarn body envelope
Titanite sample location
11CC04
Molybdenite sample location
B
N = 141 Limit of the property
Drainage
8345500
70°
10°
Quicay BRAZIL
PERU

BOLIVIA
A 11CC46 Lima
N
CTIO Morosayhuas
EFLE Cusco
10CC82 NCAY D ?
ABA
11CC35 Las Bambas-
Cotabambas Haquira
8345000 11CC22 11CC13 Los Chancas
11CC24 11CC09 Katanga
11CC15 Coroccohuayco
Tintaya-Antapaccay
Arequipa
La Paz
Santa Lucia
Ataspaca
Arica
Ticnamar
Queen Elizabeth
20°
Quebrada Blanca-
CHILE

8344500 Collahuasi-Ujina
El Abra-Conchi
PSAD56-UTM19S projection

Chuquicamata-MM-RT
Calama
Esperanza-Telegrafo
N = 44 Gaby
Escondida-Zaldivar-Chimborazo

Exploradora
256000

256500

257000

257500

500 km

Fig. 2. Detailed geologic map of the Coroccohuayco prospect with location of investigated samples and surface projection
of the skarn body. Strike measurements at two stations of subvertical planar porphyry-related quartz veins and veinlets (A and
B type) hosted within the hornblende porphyry are presented as rose diagrams. Inset shows the location of Coroccohuayco
within the Central Andean Eocene magmatic arc and the coeval porphyry systems (modified from Perelló et al., 2003).
426 CHELLE-MICHOU ET AL.

Coroccohuayco Geology subvolcanic rhyodacite porphyry dikes, probably emplaced

Magmatism
Surface mapping, the large exploratory data set obtained
at Coroccohuayco, and previous studies allow the recon-
struction of the geology of the deposit (Figs. 2, 3). Magmatic
activity at Coroccohuayco started at ca. 40.4 Ma with the
intrusion of a district-scale hornblende-bearing basic com-
plex, mostly composed of gabbro and diorite (Chelle-Michou
et al., 2014). At Coroccohuayco this complex is emplaced as
a sill-like intrusive body capping the limestone of the Cre-
taceous Ferrobamba Formation. Deep-seated (unexposed)
magmatism resumed at ~37.5 Ma and continued until the
emplacement of a hornblende porphyry, which was followed
by a hornblende-biotite porphyry at ca. 35.6 Ma (Chelle-
Michou et al., 2014). The intrusions were emplaced as stocks
and NW-SE–, E-W–, and NE-SW–trending dikes (Figs. 2,
3). Both porphyries are crosscut by NNW-SSE–trending
soon after the porphyries (Chelle-Michou et al., 2014). Late
alkali basaltic dikes oriented north-south crosscut the whole
sequence (Figs. 2, 3).
Alteration
Both hornblende and hornblende-biotite porphyries, as
well as the gabbrodiorite along its contact, are affected by
porphyry-style alteration and veining. Potassic alteration is
common, with biotite replacing hornblende and secondary
K-feldspar replacing plagioclase in vein envelopes. Tabular
quartz veining (1–5-mm-thick veinlets) with minor sulfides
and potassic alteration halos are locally well expressed (up
to 30 vol % vein density). The potassic alteration is often
overprinted by weak to moderate pervasive sericite-chlorite
alteration, where hornblende is partially replaced by chlo-
rite and plagioclase is altered to sericite in variable degrees.
The younger rhyodacite uniformly presents a pervasive

A A’

0 100 200 m

B B’

0 100 200 m

Intrusive rocks Metasomatic and metamorphic rocks

Overburden
Alkali basalt Endoskarn
Rhyodacite Exoskarn in Ferrobamba Fm Drill hole
Hornblende-biotite porphyry Marble (from Ferrobamba Fm) Grade envelopes
Hornblende porphyry Hornfels (from Mara / Soraya Fm) > 0.4 % Cu
Gabbrodiorite complex Quartzite (from Soraya Fm) > 1.0 % Cu
Fig. 3. Lithological cross sections extracted from the 3-D model of the Coroccohuayco prospect. Location of cross sections
is shown Figure 2.
 HIGH-RESOLUTION GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE COROCCOHUAYCO PORPHYRY-SKARN DEPOSIT, PERU 427
mafic-destructive sericite-chlorite(± hematite) alteration, but
is notably free of veining.
Skarn alteration and mineralization have been studied
in detail by Maher (2010) and are briefly described here,
together with our own observations. Skarn-related alteration
and mineralization are mostly developed at ca. 200 to 300 m
below the present erosional surface in the Ferrobamba For-
mation (from its basal contact with siliciclastic sediments of
the Mara-Soraya formations to its upper contact with the
overlying gabbrodiorite complex; Fig. 3). The exoskarn is usu-
ally massive, mineralogically zoned around the hornblende
and hornblende-biotite porphyries, extends laterally along
the bedding, and passes outward to calc-silicate marble and
marble (Maher, 2010). The anhydrous high-temperature
skarn assemblage is dominated by garnet and pyroxene with
less abundant quartz, magnetite, K-feldspar, plagioclase, and
titanite. Garnet- and pyroxene-hosted fluid inclusions sug-
gest that anhydrous skarn formed between >600° and 400°C
(Maher, 2010). Retrograde alteration locally results in the
nearly complete replacement of garnet and pyroxene by mas-
sive magnetite. The lowest-temperature retrograde altera-
tion is characterized by carbonate, hematite, silica, and clay
(± amphibole ± chlorite ± serpentine) as alteration products
of garnet and pyroxene.
Endoskarn is locally developed in the gabbrodiorite and
in the hornblende and the hornblende-biotite porphyries. In
the gabbrodiorite, endoskarn consists of plagioclase, epidote,
pyroxene ± titanite ± later zeolite, and is mostly observed
at the lower contact of the gabbrodiorite with the carbon-
ate rocks of the Ferrobamba Formation or along faults and
fractures. In the porphyries, garnet, pyroxene, epidote, and
plagioclase are the main endoskarn alteration minerals. No
endoskarn-type alteration is recognized in the rhyodacite.
Mineralization
At Coroccohuayco, Cu sulfides include chalcopyrite, born-
ite, and digenite/chalcocite assemblages. They are primarily
hosted in the garnet-dominant massive exoskarn and in the
endoskarn in the porphyritic intrusions or in the gabbrodio-
rite (Fig. 3). Porphyry-style vein-hosted and disseminated
mineralization in the magmatic rocks is usually low grade
at Coroccohuayco (<0.4 wt % Cu) but may be richer in the
vicinity of the Cu-rich skarn mineralization. Quartz-hosted
fluid inclusions suggest that Cu deposition started at ~400°C
(Maher, 2010). Pyrite may occur in the distal skarn or dissemi-
nated in sericitized magmatic rocks such as the rhyodacite. A
few galena ± sphalerite–bearing veinlets have been observed
crosscutting the massive skarn. Minor supergene enrichment
at Coroccohuayco is only developed along faults, faulted veins,
and at few places where the skarn body crops out (mostly in
the northern part of the prospect).
In the southern part of Coroccohuayco, the skarn and Cu
mineralization is zoned around a stock of hornblende por-
phyry and forms a bell-like ore shell (Fig. 3), usually more
typical of porphyry deposits sensu stricto. However, in the
northern part of the deposit the highest Cu grades mostly
occur close to the hornblende-biotite porphyry intrusions,
although minor dikes of hornblende porphyry are also pres-
ent (Fig. 3). Molybdenite is not very common at Coroccohu-
ayco and mostly occurs in the massive skarn at the southern
side of the deposit. Minor chalcopyrite ± molybdenite quartz
veinlets (1 mm thick) hosted in a postskarn porphyritic rock in
the northern part of the deposit were also reported by Maher
(2010), but neither this postskarn porphyritic rock nor the
molybdenite-bearing veinlets were observed in the present
study.
Structural observations
In the absence of oriented drill core, structural informa-
tion presented here is obtained from outcrop observation.
Widespread subvertical tabular porphyry-type quartz veins
and veinlets (A- and B-type) within the main hornblende por-
phyry outcrop, in the southeastern part of the prospect, show
regular NW-SE, N-S, and NE-SW orientations (Figs. 2, 4). Of
these three vein families, the NW-SE one commonly offsets
the other vein families by a few mm to a few cm with a dextral
displacement (Fig. 4). Locally, thick (10–20 cm) NW-SE–ori-
ented quartz veins that contain Cu oxides (D-like) are cut by
faults parallel to the vein (Figs. 2, 4). Well-expressed slicken-
sides show a prominent dextral movement with a minor nor-
mal component (Fig. 4). Other minor faults cutting through
the gabbrodiorite complex and the hornblende porphyry
strike NW-SW and N-S, but their kinematics could not be
determined. On the northern side of the prospect, we recog-
nized a prominent NNE-verging reverse fault cutting through
the skarn and the rhyodacite (Fig. 2).
Previous Isotopic Dating
A comprehensive study of the zircon U-Pb geochronol-
ogy on the magmatic rocks is presented by Chelle-Michou
et al. (2014). They used combined laser ablation-inductively
coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and single-
grain high-precision chemical abrasion-isotope dilution-ther-
mal ionization mass spectrometry (CA-ID-TIMS) dating to
constrain the magmatic history, ending with the emplacement
of the porphyritic rocks, and to obtain the age of their respec-
tive emplacement.
At Coroccohuayco, the emplacement ages of the horn-
blende and hornblende-biotite porphyries are best approxi-
mated (in the sense of Chiaradia et al., 2013) by the youngest
single-grain 206Pb/238U ID-TIMS date of the zircon popula-
tion in each rock and yield 35.633 ± 0.028 (± 0.048, includ-
ing tracer and decay constant uncertainties) and 35.597 ±
0.042/0.058 Ma, respectively (Chelle-Michou et al., 2014).
These dates are unresolvable within uncertainty and show
that both porphyries were emplaced rapidly over a maximum
of 86 k.y. (36 ± 50 k.y.), but possibly less. In each porphyry,
single-grain zircon U-Pb dates display a range over 2 m.y.,
which is interpreted to reflect crustal recycling of previous
magma batches emplaced at deeper levels (probably 5–9 km
paleodepth, inferred from hornblende barometry; see Chelle-
Michou, 2013). Most zircons from the rhyodacite yield dates
ca. 0.5 m.y. older than the porphyries crosscut by the rhyoda-
cite. This was interpreted to record remelting of an inferred
and deeper crystallized intrusion under near zircon-saturated
conditions. The emplacement age of the rhyodacite could
not be accurately dated, but probably occurred in the 35.6-
to 35.0-m.y. interval just after the mineralization event, as
suggested by crosscutting relationships. The age of the gab-
brodiorite complex was obtained from three samples, which
428 CHELLE-MICHOU ET AL.

B
faulted quartz vein (D-like)
NE SW SE NW

Fig. 4. Structural observations. (A) Photograph and sketch of subvertical tabular porphyry-type quartz veinlets (A and B
type) within the main hornblende porphyry outcrop, in the southeastern part of the prospect, with NW-SE, N-S, and NE-SW
orientations. Note that the NW-SE vein family often offsets the other veinlets with a dextral displacement. (B) Photographs
of a thick (>20 cm) NW-SE–oriented quartz veins with abundant Cu oxides (D-like; with artisanal excavation) cut by a fault
parallel to vein. Slickensides show a prominent dextral movement with a minor normal component.

yielded ages of about 40.4 Ma, with the youngest single grain
date of 40.211 ± 0.089/0.099 Ma (Chelle-Michou et al., 2014).
Samples and Methods
U-Pb geochronology and trace element geochemistry
on titanite
Porphyries at Coroccohuayco commonly contain abundant
magmatic titanite, whereas titanite is uncommon in the gab-
brodiorite complex. To ensure only hydrothermal titanite
was selected for dating, samples were selected from the
exoskarn close to the porphyries and from endoskarn in the
gabbrodiorite (Fig. 5). Sample location and descriptions are
provided in Figure 2 and Table 1. The composition of plagio-
clase associated with titanite in samples 10CC78 and 10CC82
was determined on the basis of semiquantitative energy-dis-
persive spectrometry (EDS) analysis performed on a JEOL
JSM7001F scanning electron microscope equipped with an
energy dispersive X-ray analyzer EDS JED2300 at the Univer-
sity of Geneva. In brief, titanite from sample 10CC78 is asso-
ciated with thin albitized fractures (~An10) within the altered
gabbrodiorite where ferromagnesian minerals are replaced by
chlorite and epidote. Titanite from sample 10CC82 is associ-
ated with intense sodic-calcic alteration of the gabbrodiorite
where ferromagnesian minerals are replaced by clay, epidote,
and titanite aggregates. Large euhedral titanite crystals from
 HIGH-RESOLUTION GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE COROCCOHUAYCO PORPHYRY-SKARN DEPOSIT, PERU 429

A B

Albitized
cracks

k
illed crac
titanite-f

1 cm 400 µm
C D

cpx 2
qtz cpx
qtz1+Kfs

ttn ttn

ttn
mt
qtz1+Kfs
1 cm 400 µm
E F
Gabbrodiorite

ep

hbl

ep
alteration of the
Gabbrodiorite
Sodic-calcic

ttn

1 cm 400 µm

Fig. 5. Photographs (left column) and microphotographs (right column) of investigated hydrothermal titanite-bearing
samples showing the petrographic setting of titanite. (A-B) Sample 10CC78. (C-D) Sample 11CC46. (E-F) Sample 10CC82.
Sample descriptions are given Table 1. Abbreviations: cpx = clinopyroxene, ep = epidote, hbl = hornblende, Kfs = K-feldspar,
qtz = quartz, ttn = titanite.

sample 11CC46 are associated with a green pyroxene skarn
embedded in a fine quartz-K-feldspar-magnetite groundmass,
and are sampled only 1 m away from the contact with the
hornblende porphyry that presents strong endoskarn altera-
tion (Fig. 5, Table 1).
Prior to U-Pb dating, trace element abundances (especially
U) in titanite were characterized on thin sections by LA-
ICP-MS using a Thermo ELEMENT XR sector field ICP-
MS interfaced to an UP-193FX ArF excimer laser ablation
system at the Institute of Earth Sciences of the University of
Lausanne. The mass spectrometer optimization was similar to
that described by Ulianov et al. (2012). Operating conditions
of the ablation system included a repetition rate of 5 Hz, a
pit size diameter of 25 to 50 µm, and an on-sample energy
density of 2.5 J/cm2. The standard glass SRM 612 from NIST
was employed for external standardization. Si29 served as an
internal standard. Raw data were reduced using the LAM-
TRACE software (Jackson, 2008).
Samples were crushed and sieved to obtain the <250-µm
(<1 mm for sample 11CC46) grain fraction, washed with
water, and subsequently processed using a Frantz magnetic
separator and gravimetric separation in heavy liquids (DIM)
to extract titanite for U-Pb dating. Titanite grains were hand-
picked under a binocular microscope and checked with
Raman spectrometry to ensure that only titanite grains were
selected.
Titanite with U content <100 ppm and >100 ppm was ana-
lyzed as multigrain fractions (4–6 grains) and as single grains,
respectively, by ID-TIMS at the University of Geneva. Prior to
dissolution, grains were rinsed with acetone, rinsed in deion-
ized water, briefly washed with 2N HNO3 in an ultrasonic bath
for 15 min, and rinsed again with deionized water. Single-grain
430 CHELLE-MICHOU ET AL.

Table 1. Description of Samples Used for U-Pb and Re-Os Geochronology

Sample no. Location/drill core Sample description Mineral, technique Mineral size

Coroccohuayco
11CC09 DDH: CORO-03B@354.5m Honey-brown garnet(-quartz) skarn with disseminated Molybdenite, Re-Os 20–100 µm
  bornite(-chalcopyrite-molybdenite) and molybdenite veinlets;
  late calcite veinlets are also associated with garnet alteration
  to calcite, hematite, and clays
11CC13 DDH: CORO-03B@334.8m Brown garnet-green pyroxene skarn with interstitial Molybdenite, Re-Os 10–100 µm
  molybdenite-chalcopyrite-magnetite(-hematite)
11CC15 DDH: CORO-03B@357.7m Decimetric quartz vein crosscut by quartz-molybdenite-
  chalcopyrite(-pyrite) veinlets; open spaces and cracks are Molybdenite, Re-Os 50–150 µm
  filled with calcite
11CC22 DDH: CORI-059@368m Calc-silicate hornfels with chalcopyrite-molybdenite-bornite Molybdenite, Re-Os 100–200 µm
  occuring both in veinlets and disseminated
11CC24 DDH: CORI-059@411.3m Quartzite with diseminated chalcopyrite-molybdenite and Molybdenite, Re-Os 100–300 µm
  quartz-molybdenite vein
11CC35 DDH: CORO-01A@368m Garnet-pyroxene skarn with disseminated molybdenite- Molybdenite, Re-Os 200–500 µm
  digenite-chalcocite(-bornite); calc-silicates are altered to
  calcite-hematite-clays
10CC78 DDH: 1500-17.6A@219.3m Mildly altered, fine-grained gabbrodiorite with albitization Titanite, U-Pb 100–300 µm
  (~An10) along cracks; ferromagnesian minerals are replaced
  by chlorite and epidote, and plagioclase is partly replaced by
  sericite and carbonates; titanite always occurs along intensely
  albitized cracks; late carbonate veins crosscut everything;
  this sample is taken 17 m above the contact between the
  gabbrodiorite and the garnet skarn
10CC82 DDH: OM-25@342.1m Coarse-grained gabbrodiorite with strong and sharp sodic- Titanite, U-Pb 100–300 µm
  calcic alteration zone; initial texture is preserved in thin section,
  but ferromagnesian minerals are mostly replaced by clay,
  epidote, and titanite; plagioclase (~An50) is partially replaced
  by sericite and carbonates
11CC46 DDH: CORO-03B@467.7m Pyroxene exoskarn with fine quartz-K-feldspar-magnetite Titanite, U-Pb 500–1000 µm
  groundmass and large euhedral titanites crosscut by quartz
  veins; this sample is ca. 1 m from the contact with the
  hornblende porphyry

Tintaya
10CC20 Tintaya mine bench Hornblende-biotite porphyry PM1 dike (with potassic Molybdenite, Re-Os 100–200 µm
  overprinted by phyllic alteration) cutting into marble with
  development of a zoned skarn on both sides; quartz-
  molybdenite veinlets crosscut quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite veinlets

or multigrain fractions were loaded in 200-µl Savillex capsules,
spiked with 5 to 10 mg of the EARTHTIME 202Pb-205Pb-233U-
235U (ET2535) tracer solution (http://www.earth-time.org/,
accessed June 2014), dissolved in 70 µl HF + trace of HNO3
at 210°C for more than 48 h in Parr bombs, dried down, and
redissolved in 6N HCl overnight. Samples were then dried
down again and redissolved in 1N HBr, and the U and Pb
fractions were separated by a two-stage HBr-HCl chemical
separation (modified after Krogh, 1973) in 50-µl columns with
AG1-X8 resin. U and Pb fractions were loaded separately onto
outgassed Re filaments with a Si-Gel emitter (modified after
Gerstenberger and Haase, 1997). U and Pb isotope measure-
ments were performed on a Thermo TRITON thermal ion-
ization mass spectrometer following specifications outlined in
Wotzlaw et al. (2012). Sample 238U/235U ratio was assumed to
be 137.818 ± 0.045 (2σ; Hiess et al., 2012). Procedural blank
was set to 1.0 pg for single-grain fractions and 1.5 pg for multi-
grain fractions based on long-term blank measurements. The
blank composition is 206Pb/204Pb = 18.30 ± 0.13, 207Pb/204Pb =
15.60 ± 0.16, 208Pb/204Pb = 37.60 ± 0.37 (1σ). Raw data were
reduced using Tripoli and U-Pb_Redux softwares (Bowring
et al., 2011).
Common Pb (Pbc) in excess of procedural blank was attrib-
uted to Pb incorporation at the time of crystallization. Pos-
sible sources for common Pb in this (metasomatic) titanite
include the coeval magmatic rock, the local Ferrobamba
limestone, the local Mesozoic detrital sediments, or, more
likely, a mixture of them in the hydrothermal system. Mamani
et al. (2010) showed that, in the Central Andes, the Pb iso-
tope composition of Mesozoic and Cenozoic magmatic rocks
reflects the isotopic composition of the local old (>1 Ga) and
hidden basement, and shows little variation above individual
basement blocks. We can consider that the Pb isotope com-
position of the Mesozoic sedimentary rocks is close to the one
of the local magmatic rocks sourcing these sediments. Here
we consider that the Mesozoic sedimentary rocks at Coroc-
cohuayco have a Pb isotope composition close to the one of
the Eocene magmatic rocks, with a conservative 1% uncer-
tainty on each isotopic ratio. Hence, the initial common Pb
composition of titanite is taken to be 206Pb/204Pbi = 18.478 ±
0.185, 207Pb/204Pbi = 15.612 ± 0.156, 208Pb/204Pbi = 38.456 ±
0.385 (average of whole-rock data for the gabbrodiorite com-
plex, n = 15, Chelle-Michou, 2013; reported uncertainties
are 1σ and correspond to 1% of the value) and 206Pb/204Pbi
 HIGH-RESOLUTION GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE COROCCOHUAYCO PORPHYRY-SKARN DEPOSIT, PERU 431
= 18.528 ± 0.185, 207Pb/204Pbi = 15.613 ± 0.156, 208Pb/204Pbi
= 38.537 ± 0.385 (average of whole-rock data for the por-
phyries, n =14, Chelle-Michou, 2013; reported uncertainties
are 1σ and correspond to 1% of the value) at ca. 40.4 and
35.7 Ma, respectively. At the 1% uncertainty level these val-
ues overlap with the terrestrial Pb evolution model of Stacey
and Kramers (1975). The 206Pb/238U ratios were corrected
for initial 230Th disequilibrium (Schärer, 1984; Crowley et al.,
2007). The process of Th and U transfer from the magma to
the hydrothermal titanite is likely to result in Th-U fraction-
ation, which would result in a deficit or excess of 230Th in the
238U-206Pb decay chain at the time of titanite crystallization
and would ultimately result in a lower or higher 206Pb/238U
ratio today. Assuming that most of the Th and U in titanite
are sourced by the magma (through a fluid medium), and
assuming that this magma was nearly in secular equilibrium,
we use a Th/U value of 3, similar to magmatic rocks at Coroc-
cohuayco (Chelle-Michou et al., 2014), for the initial 230Th
disequilibrium correction. We further consider an arbitrary
uncertainty of ±1 associated with this number (so Th/Usource =
3 ± 1) to cope with uncertainties associated with assumptions.
All uncertainties on the dates and isotopic ratios are reported
at the 95% confidence level.
A B
moly
moly
cpy
bn
moly veinle
t
1 cm 1 cm
D E
cpy
moly
cpy
1 cm 1 cm
Fig. 6. Photographs of investigated molybdenite-bearing samples from Coroccohuayco showing the petrographic setting
of molybdenite. (A) Sample 11CC09. (B) Sample 11CC13. (C) Sample 11CC15. (D) Sample 11CC22. (E) Sample 11CC24.
(F) Sample 11CC35. Sample descriptions are given Table 1. Abbreviations: bn = bornite, cc = chalcocite, cpy = chalcopyrite,
dig = digenite, moly = molybdenite, py = pyrite, qtz = quartz.
Re-Os molybdenite geochronology
Six molybdenite-bearing samples (Fig. 6) were taken from
drill core intercepts from the southern part of the skarn
deposit, where Mo grades are the highest. Sample descrip-
tions and locations are reported in Figure 2 and Table 1. This
selection is representative of the range of molybdenite min-
eralization styles at Coroccohuayco. In all cases, molybdenite
is paragenetically associated with Cu sulfides (chalcopyrite,
bornite, digenite) or is slightly later and has crystal sizes of
100 to 500 µm. We also added one molybdenite sample from
the nearby Tintaya mine to gain insight into episodes of min-
eralization at the district scale.
Samples were ground using a hydraulic press and sieved
to collect the 63- to 315-µm fraction. Molybdenite was
concentrated using heavy liquids (DIM) and Frantz magnetic
separation. Each aliquot was ultimately purified by flotation in
deionized water in ultrasonic bath, by fixation on an inclined
sheet of paper and, finally, by removing the remaining impuri-
ties by handpicking under a binocular microscope. An average
of 50 mg of pure molybdenite separate was obtained for each
sample. The polytypism of the molybdenite was characterized
by X-ray diffraction (XRD) on a Bruker D8 ADVANCE on
the “dirty” sunk molybdenite fraction (after water flotation).
C
moly
cpy
cpy
moly-py
1 cm
F
moly
qtz
-mo
ly v
ein
let
dig-cc
cpy
moly
1 cm
432 CHELLE-MICHOU ET AL.
The Re and Os abundance and isotope composition deter-
minations for ~10 mg of these molybdenite separates were
conducted at the University of Durham (U.K.) in the TOTAL
laboratory for source rock geochronology and geochemis-
try, following previously published protocols (e.g., Selby and
Creaser, 2001a, b). In brief, weighted aliquots of the molyb-
denite mineral separates and tracer solution (185Re + isotopi-
cally normal Os) were loaded into a Carius tube with 11N HCl
(1 ml) and 15.5N HNO3 (3 ml), sealed, and digested at 220°C
for ~24 h. Osmium was purified from the acid medium using
solvent extraction (CHCl3) at room temperature and micro-
distillation methods. The Re fraction was isolated using stan-
dard anion column chromatography. Re and Os were loaded
onto coated Ni and Pt filaments, respectively, and their isoto-
pic compositions were measured using negative thermal ion-
ization mass spectrometry (Creaser et al., 1991; Völkening et
al., 1991). Analyses were conducted on a Thermo TRITON
mass spectrometer, with the Re and Os isotope composition
measured using static Faraday collection. During the course
of this study Re and Os blanks were <4 and 1 pg, respectively,
with the 187Os/188Os of the blank being 0.25 ± 0.02. Internal
uncertainties include uncertainties related to Re and Os mass
spectrometer measurements, blank abundances and isotopic
compositions, spike calibrations (0.24% on 187Os and 0.30%
on Re, 2σ), and reproducibility of the RM8599 NIST molyb-
denite standard Re and Os isotope values. Molybdenite of this
study was analyzed during the same period as that of Lawley
and Selby (2012), which presents an Re-Os age for RM8599
of 27.6 ± 0.1 and 27.6 ± 0.1 Ma, which is in agreement with
the proposed age of 27.74 ± 0.11 Ma (n = 18; Markey et al.,
2007). Molybdenite dates were calculated using both 187Re
decay constants of 1.666 × 10−11 ± 0.017 a−1 (1% including
spike uncertainty; Smoliar et al., 1996; Begemann et al., 2001)
and the more precise value of 1.6668 × 10−11 ± 0.0034 a−1
(Selby et al., 2007).
40Ar/39Ar
geochronology of the alkali basalt
One outcrop sample of an alkali basalt dike from the south-
west of Coroccohuayco was selected for 40Ar/39Ar dating (Fig.
2). The rock is weakly porphyritic and contains clinopyroxene
phenocrysts and minor inclusions (xenoliths?) of serpentine
in the groundmass. The groundmass is composed of minute
crystals (<30 µm) of K-feldspar, plagioclase, quartz, and Fe-Ti
oxides. At the outcrop scale, abundant rounded xenoliths
(<20 cm) of porphyries, gabbrodiorite, and hornfels are found
in the alkali basalt.
A xenolith-free sample was crushed to <1 mm, and frag-
ments of groundmass that were visually devoid of any pheno-
crysts or small xenoliths were handpicked under a binocular
microscope. This aliquot was rinsed in deionized water and
5% HNO3 in an ultrasonic bath, packed in copper foil, and
irradiated in the CLICIT facility of the TRIGA reactor at
Oregon State University for 8 h. Approximately 10 mg of sam-
ple material was degassed by step-heating with a 55W CO2-IR
laser (Photon Machines Inc.), and the extracted gas was get-
tered in a stainless steel UHV line after passing through a cold
trap chilled to ~150 K. Fish Canyon Tuff sanidine was used
as a fluence monitor, with an age of 28.201 ± 0.046 Ma (2σ;
Kuiper et al., 2008). This age has been recently confirmed by
high-precision U-Pb zircon dating (Wotzlaw et al., 2013) and
is best suited for the accurate 40Ar/39Ar dating of Paleogene-
Neogene minerals (Chiaradia et al., 2013). Argon isotopes
were analyzed at the University of Geneva using a multicol-
lector GV Instruments Argus mass spectrometer equipped
with four high-gain (1012 Ω) Faraday detectors and a single
1011 Ω Faraday detector (40Ar). Time-zero regressions were
fitted to data collected from 12 cycles and ages were calcu-
lated using the 40K decay constant of Steiger and Jäger (1977).
Age plateaus were determined using the criteria of Dalrymple
and Lanphere (1974), and data reduction utilized ArArCALC
(Koppers, 2002). Internal uncertainty includes both analytical
uncertainty and uncertainty on the J-value.
Date Reporting and Comparison
Between Isotopic Systems
This paper is largely based on radiometric dating using dif-
ferent techniques and radioisotopic systems. Ludwig (2003,
p. 632) wrote “the uncertainty of a date is no less significant
than the date itself.” In other words, relevant uncertainties
should be propagated to dates that are to be compared in
order to confidently assess their differences or similarities
(e.g., Schoene et al., 2013). Although the analytical uncer-
tainty is sufficient to compare dates obtained with the same
method, additional systematic uncertainties must be propa-
gated when comparing dates obtained with different methods.
This step of uncertainty propagation has often been omitted
in the study of ore deposits and might have led to erroneous
interpretations (see review in Chiaradia et al., 2013).
In the present study, the U-Pb dates of titanite were
acquired in the same lab and with the same isotopic tracer
as the U-Pb zircon dates from the magmatic rocks (Chelle-
Michou et al., 2014). Consequently, zircon and titanite U-Pb
dates can be directly compared at the level of their analytical
uncertainties. However, the intercalibration of other isotopic
systems such as Re-Os or 40Ar/39Ar with the U-Pb system is
a matter of ongoing improvement (see review in Chiaradia
et al., 2013) and all systematic uncertainties must be propa-
gated into the dates to allow a rigorous comparison. Hence,
tracer and decay constant uncertainties are propagated to the
U-Pb zircon and titanite dates. Uncertainty on the 187Re decay
constant is propagated on Re-Os dates. Decay constants and
40K/K abundance ratio uncertainties and uncertainties on the
measurement of the primary K-Ar standard and the subse-
quent calibrations of the secondary 40Ar/39Ar standards are
propagated in the 40Ar/39Ar date.
Both analytical and combined analytical plus systematic
uncertainties are reported after each date, respectively (e.g.,
36.71 ± 0.14/0.18 Ma). Uncertainties are reported at the 95%
confidence interval (2σ).
Results
Hydrothermal titanite U-Pb dating and rare earth
element (REE) geochemistry
Results of trace element measurements and U-Pb dating of
titanite are presented in Tables 2 and 3, respectively. Titanite
dating of three samples allows the distinction of two phases
of high-temperature alteration at Coroccohuayco. In sample
10CC78, titanite crystals are associated with thin albitized
fractures (~An10) within the altered gabbrodiorite where
 HIGH-RESOLUTION GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE COROCCOHUAYCO PORPHYRY-SKARN DEPOSIT, PERU 433
ferromagnesian minerals are replaced by chlorite and epidote
(Fig. 5, Table 1), only 17 m above its contact with the Fer-
robamba carbonates, now replaced by garnet skarn (Fig. 5;
Table 1). These grains yield very high Th/U values (>10) due
to relatively low U content (Fig. 7). They display a slightly
enriched light REE (LREE) over heavy REE (HREE) pat-
tern (average (La/Yb)N = 5) with a large negative Eu anomaly
(average Eu/Eu* = 0.6; Fig. 7). These titanite grains have a
low radiogenic Pb (Pb*) content and a Pb*/Pbc ratio of about
2. This results in the U-Pb dates having relatively low internal
precision (~1%). A Th-corrected 206Pb/238U weighted mean
date of 40.16 ± 0.20/0.20 Ma (MSWD = 0.8) was obtained
for multigrain titanite fractions of this sample (Fig. 8). This
overlaps with U-Pb zircon dates obtained for the gabbrodio-
rite complex.
Conversely, titanite from samples 10CC82 and 11CC46
has similar Th/U ratios, between 0.3 and 5, but distinct REE
patterns (Fig. 7). Titanite from sample 10CC82 displays an
REE pattern very similar to that of sample 10CC78 (average
(La/Yb)N = 5), with the exception of a smaller Eu anomaly
(average Eu/Eu* = 0.8). In contrast, the HREEs are strongly
depleted compared to the LREEs (average (La/Yb)N = 16) in
titanite from sample 11CC46 and display a positive Eu anom-
aly (average Eu/Eu* = 1.2). Titanite grains in sample 11CC46
yield high Pb*/Pbc (4–7, except for one grain, where it is 1)
and could be dated with high precision. These grains yield
a Th-corrected 206Pb/238U weighted mean date of 35.664 ±
A 10000
10CC78 (~40 Ma; alb. cracks in GD)
10CC82 (~36 Ma; Na-Ca alt. in GD)
11CC46 (~36 Ma; skarn)
Titanite/Chondrites
1000
100
10
La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
B 10CC78
20 10CC82
11CC46
15
Th/U
10
5 guishable within uncertainty, weighted mean date of 35.764 ±
0 mean date overlaps with the youngest single-grain U-Pb zircon
0.2 0.6 1.0 1.4 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Eu/Eu* (La/Yb)N
Fig. 7. Plots of trace element content of hydrothermal titanite measured
on thin section by LA-ICP-MS. (A) REE spider diagram normalized to chon-
drite (McDonough and Sun, 1995). (B) Eu/Eu* (Eu/Eu* = EuN /(SmN ×
GdN)1/2) and (La/Yb)N versus Th/U. GD = gabbrodiorite.
0.040/0.057 (MSWD = 1.0), which is indistinguishable from
the youngest zircon U-Pb dates obtained for both porphyries
(35.633 ± 0.028/0.048 and 35.597 ± 0.042/0.058 Ma; Fig. 8).
Only one multigrain (n = 4) titanite fraction was dated for
sample 10CC82 and yielded a date of 36.1 ± 1.4/1.4 (Fig. 8).
The relatively low precision of this measurement is due to
very high common Pb content in these grains (Pb*/Pbc = 0.2).
The Zr-in-titanite thermobarometer was initially calibrated
for magmatic and metamorphic titanite in equilibrium with
quartz, zircon, and rutile (Hayden et al., 2007). Neverthe-
less, these authors argue that these conditions might not be
critical to apply their formulation. Hornblende barometry
at Coroccohuayco (Chelle-Michou, 2013) indicates that the
gabbro­diorite complex and the porphyries were emplaced at
ca. 100 to 200 MPa. Activities of SiO2 and TiO2 at the time of
titanite crystallization are difficult to estimate in the absence
of quartz and rutile in equilibrium with titanite. The presence
of titanite suggests that aTiO2 during titanite crystallization was
not low. In addition, the lack of quartz in equilibrium with
titanite suggests that aSiO2 was below 1. Application of the
Zr-in-titanite thermometer using a pressure of 100 MPa and
a reasonable aSiO2 of 0.8 and aTiO2 of 0.6 results in average
crystallization temperatures of 685° ± 29° and 664° ± 54°C
for the 40.2 and 35.7 Ma titanite crystals, respectively (Table
2). Variation of aSiO2 and aTiO2 by ±0.1 results only in minimal
differences (±15°C maximum, which is within the 1σ uncer-
tainty). Temperatures calculated for a pressure of 200 MPa
are, on average, 12°C higher than for 100 MPa.
Molybdenite Re-Os geochronology
Results of Re-Os molybdenite dating are presented in Table
4. The fine-grained nature of the molybdenite in our samples
and its high Re content (>400 ppm) allowed the use of small
aliquots of ~10 mg for dating from the ≥50-mg mineral sepa-
rate (Selby and Creaser, 2004). The high Re content further
minimizes the potential effect of common Os in the estimated
age. XRD analysis revealed that, in each sample, both 2H and
3R molybdenite polytypes are present in comparable propor-
tions, consistent with their high Re content (400–1,000 ppm;
Newberry, 1979a, b).
Using Smoliar et al.’s (1996) decay constant, the six dated
samples yield Re-Os dates between 35.67 ± 0.14 and 35.97 ±
0.15 Ma and are all equivalent within analytical uncertainties
(Fig. 9). Pooled together, they yield a weighted mean date of
35.781 ± 0.059/0.363 Ma (MSWD = 2.1; Fig. 9). A regres-
sion through our data on a 187Re-187Os isochron plot yields
an initial 187Os of 0.5 ± 2.4 ppb (35.71 ± 0.35 Ma, MSWD =
0.85), providing further evidence for the absence of common
Os in our molybdenite (e.g., Stein et al., 2001) and support-
ing the hypothesis that all six samples are related to the same
hydrothermal event. Using the more precise decay constant
of Selby et al. (2007) yields a slightly lower, though indistin-
0.059/0.093 Ma (MSWD = 2.1; Fig. 9). The Re-Os weighted
date of the hornblende porphyry (35.633 ± 0.028/0.048 Ma).
Two replicate analyses of a molybdenite separate from the
Tintaya mine yield an older Re-Os weighted mean date of
36.32 ± 0.10/0.12 Ma (using the decay constant from Selby et
al., 2007; Table 4).
434 CHELLE-MICHOU ET AL.

Table 2. Results of LA-ICP-MS Trace Element

Al2O3 SiO2 CaO TiO2 Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Ba La Ce Pr Nd

Sample no. wt % wt % wt % wt % ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm

10CC78
ttn-1-1 0.22 30.38 30.19 51.84 0.521 19.813 719 727 240 4.46 394 1,076 148 705
ttn-1-2 0.20 30.38 28.77 49.08 0.348 19.458 654 277 182 2.51 461 1,212 144 641
ttn-1-3 0.24 30.38 28.91 51.14 0.583 21.414 845 949 240 5.85 402 1,103 144 668
ttn-2-1 0.34 30.38 29.52 51.63 1.611 26.065 639 821 349 12.47 478 1,659 235 1,054
ttn-2-3 0.32 30.38 27.99 52.29 0.766 20.552 733 488 216 4.73 387 1,123 134 599
ttn-3-1 0.15 30.38 29.01 53.27 <0.137 17.983 343 216 183 0.29 579 1,461 173 663
ttn-3-3 0.31 30.38 28.64 57.93 <0.240 18.112 898 652 210 0.48 454 1,137 139 636
ttn-4-1 0.27 30.38 28.46 54.59 0.118 19.174 360 739 144 0.56 250 657 80 344
ttn-4-2 0.19 30.38 29.70 56.95 0.196 19.785 583 629 219 0.48 379 982 124 582
ttn-4-3 0.24 30.38 28.01 58.95 0.822 23.235 563 578 166 9.01 388 935 109 494
ttn-5-1 0.24 30.38 28.58 56.18 0.27 17.181 829 116 219 0.51 460 1,151 151 757
ttn-5-2 0.32 30.38 30.08 60.19 <0.317 21.223 297 554 269 <0.454 281 684 83 333

11CC46
ttn-1-1 0.74 30.38 31.32 47.70 0.427 28.764 168 174 112 0.19 272 775 100 404
ttn-1-2 0.48 30.38 27.33 45.77 0.521 38.496 255 574 607 0.47 559 1,441 173 690
ttn-2-1 0.76 30.38 30.75 46.33 0.225 42.778 177 44 177 0.24 794 1,788 190 673
ttn-2-2 0.83 30.38 28.59 45.37 0.59 28.952 96 53 60 0.47 236 613 77 293
ttn-2-3 0.85 30.38 27.97 47.83 0.873 35.698 577 493 542 1.19 487 1,372 174 820
ttn-4-1 0.60 30.38 31.10 50.13 1.796 43.359 422 1,018 837 0.45 752 2,103 269 1,058
ttn-4-2 0.59 30.38 28.43 47.37 0.246 28.702 175 212 121 0.25 286 761 97 392
ttn-4-3 0.42 30.38 27.24 46.16 0.235 50.809 874 795 886 0.16 895 2,271 261 1,036
ttn-5-1 0.52 30.38 28.62 48.58 1.918 35.366 322 482 504 2.02 540 1,644 212 848
ttn-5-2 0.59 30.38 29.03 48.01 1.363 37.453 590 677 971 0.52 546 1,509 200 873
ttn-5-3 0.47 30.38 28.79 49.48 0.546 37.168 826 516 783 0.15 836 1,976 245 1,045

10CC82
ttn-1-4 0.52 30.38 28.30 53.46 0.607 29.671 1,628 187 131 1.88 855 2,488 358 1,635
ttn-2-2 0.40 30.38 28.30 55.30 0.96 41.931 435 1,154 476 2.92 744 1,686 161 499
ttn-2-3 0.67 30.38 28.39 54.48 0.63 21.364 1,591 451 225 4.55 312 965 144 690
ttn-3-1 0.67 30.38 27.96 52.27 0.671 32.238 1,973 784 473 0.57 802 2,609 341 1,661
ttn-4-1 0.82 30.38 30.36 56.98 <0.137 31.861 567 58 161 0.86 643 1,255 142 667
ttn-4-2 1.27 30.38 28.04 52.69 0.945 26.801 482 33 47 1.25 388 927 121 561
ttn-4-3 0.87 30.38 28.38 49.28 0.253 18.528 1,021 104 285 0.85 359 1,024 162 785
ttn-5-1 0.30 30.38 30.82 56.18 0.361 31.093 655 1,333 343 1.23 638 1,472 158 559
ttn-5-2 0.37 30.38 29.78 55.22 1.897 42.027 369 750 641 3.51 723 1,365 120 376

1 Temperatures are calculated with the Zr-in-titanite thermobarometer (Hayden et al., 2007), using a pressure of 100 MPa and aSiO2 of 0.8 and aTiO2 of 0.6

Alkali basalt groundmass 40Ar/39Ar
Step-heating 40Ar/39Ar dating of groundmass from the alkali
basalt is presented Table 5 and yields a plateau date of 26.62
± 0.23/0.25 Ma (MSWD = 1.83) that encompasses ca. 80% of
the total 39Ar release (Fig. 10). In the inverse isochron space, a
date of 26.49 ± 0.30 Ma is obtained with a 40Ar/36Ar intercept
of 302.8 ± 11.6, which is indistinguishable, within error, from
the atmospheric value (Lee et al., 2006; Fig. 10). These crite-
ria confirm that only a radiogenic and atmospheric Ar mixture
was analyzed, and that the derived plateau date is geologically
meaningful.
Discussion
Emplacement of the gabbrodiorite complex and
early hydrothermal activity
Hydrothermal titanite grains have been dated at ca. 40.2 Ma
in sample 10CC78 from the northern part of the deposit (Fig.
2). This date is indistinguishable from zircon dates from the
gabbrodiorite complex (Fig. 11). In this sample, titanite grains
are only found along albitized fractures (Fig. 5), which reflects
the involvement of a hydrothermal fluid in their genesis. The
Zr-in-titanite thermometry indicates temperatures of about
700°C (Table 2), which is consistent with high-temperature
alteration of a solidified gabbrodiorite. Hydrothermal activ-
ity at 40.2 to 40.4 Ma, coeval with the emplacement of the
gabbrodiorite complex, has previously gone unrecognized at
Coroccohuayco, and the distribution of the alteration related
to this event is not well constrained. The hydrothermal fluid
may have been sourced directly by exsolution from the cool-
ing body of gabbrodiorite. Alternatively, local ground/connate
waters may have been mobilized upon emplacement of the
gabbrodiorite complex and caused the alteration. The strik-
ingly low U content (resulting in high Th/U) of this titanite
compared to that associated with the skarn-forming event
may indicate very specific conditions of fluid-rock interaction
in the gabbrodiorite complex (Fig. 7). Potential explanations
could be that this titanite formed concurrently with an unrec-
ognized U-rich phase or that U was leached from the gabbro-
diorite by a U-poor fluid prior to titanite crystallization.
The emplacement of the gabbrodiorite magma into carbon-
ates is likely to have induced contact metamorphism that may
 HIGH-RESOLUTION GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE COROCCOHUAYCO PORPHYRY-SKARN DEPOSIT, PERU 435

Analysis of Hydrothermal Titanite on Thin Sections

Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Hf Ta Pb Th U T1
ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm °C

156 30.2 147.0 22.4 129.7 25.7 64.8 9.9 61.6 8.0 33.9 15.3 1.13 226.2 14.5 705
151 32.8 156.7 21.3 127.7 26.5 69.3 10.1 63.5 7.6 9.0 8.2 1.18 257.5 17.9 656
160 30.3 169.3 26.2 160.1 33.0 86.3 13.5 87.5 9.9 47.3 22.8 1.96 229.0 17.5 720
207 40.2 176.2 21.3 123.1 22.5 57.9 8.8 53.9 7.7 39.7 11.2 1.86 220.8 19.7 712
144 29.5 143.3 21.8 141.1 28.0 78.2 12.1 74.5 9.1 20.2 14.5 2.79 267.6 33.0 684
114 26.1 84.8 11.8 64.5 12.2 34.2 5.4 33.0 5.1 6.1 4.5 1.79 380.4 32.8 645
166 31.2 169.0 26.8 181.2 36.8 91.3 13.8 78.2 8.8 28.5 15.9 1.59 197.0 15.8 699
79 14.0 68.2 10.5 67.7 13.5 38.5 5.4 35.8 5.1 26.1 7.4 0.95 178.8 12.4 706
138 25.6 127.6 17.6 117.5 24.2 64.2 9.3 62.5 8.0 17.7 7.0 1.09 287.6 12.9 698
110 22.6 99.8 16.2 105.0 20.6 53.0 8.4 52.0 6.5 21.8 8.7 1.37 215.6 20.7 693
194 32.5 177.1 26.3 165.7 30.3 83.2 12.1 75.3 9.2 5.0 5.9 3.48 184.7 21.6 616
65 13.7 57.5 8.3 55.9 10.6 33.5 5.3 34.7 6.0 12.3 8.3 0.96 206.4 25.2 691

65 19.8 45.7 5.7 32.0 5.9 15.8 2.2 12.3 1.1 7.6 6.2 0.79 58.2 35.7 635
100 36.5 68.4 8.1 45.4 8.6 22.3 3.0 16.9 1.9 12.3 24.5 1.48 208.6 472.1 693
85 33.7 49.7 5.7 32.7 6.0 17.1 2.4 14.4 1.7 1.8 10.5 1.75 312.9 742.3 575
43 17.4 26.3 3.1 18.4 3.4 8.9 1.2 7.0 0.8 2.5 7.6 0.95 34.6 41.4 583
172 45.1 128.9 18.3 113.8 22.5 59.6 8.8 56.9 7.0 25.2 19.0 2.10 135.6 142.1 685
167 52.7 117.0 14.3 78.8 13.9 41.6 5.6 29.9 3.0 30.4 25.2 2.74 562.6 854.6 723
63 21.2 44.1 5.6 32.2 5.9 17.1 2.3 12.7 1.3 8.0 5.7 0.71 71.2 39.9 644
230 67.3 188.9 29.1 179.6 33.9 93.6 13.0 73.5 7.2 27.5 28.0 1.35 376.7 84.7 710
134 44.3 89.9 11.0 62.2 11.2 30.3 4.1 21.1 2.2 12.1 22.0 3.25 179.2 98.4 684
177 45.3 137.9 19.8 116.4 21.6 64.3 8.7 45.0 4.1 28.6 50.4 2.26 371.0 185.9 701
242 52.5 192.5 26.3 163.3 29.9 79.1 11.1 59.3 6.3 29.4 54.8 1.45 330.7 131.2 687

331 72.9 323.4 43.6 297.8 63.5 185.4 24.3 162.1 19.9 9.6 9.6 1.44 243.1 74.0 638
72 25.5 60.1 9.5 68.2 15.0 50.6 8.3 62.2 9.4 34.6 20.1 3.14 374.4 239.8 730
225 52.6 252.5 42.8 293.6 61.4 183.9 25.8 165.8 18.5 26.5 8.6 1.61 167.5 32.3 680
337 83.2 325.8 53.7 388.3 72.7 199.9 31.5 221.7 27.7 34.4 8.6 3.03 444.4 208.0 709
170 49.8 153.1 20.7 132.3 23.3 56.8 8.0 49.7 6.0 2.8 4.0 0.46 33.0 111.3 587
131 35.9 111.9 16.4 108.1 19.6 52.0 7.2 45.6 6.2 2.2 1.2 3.31 22.2 26.9 564
221 53.3 199.3 31.5 203.2 40.4 107.1 14.8 94.3 11.1 4.9 7.2 0.50 43.0 26.8 612
102 26.6 88.0 13.5 105.0 24.1 73.8 12.3 91.7 14.0 16.6 7.1 0.81 150.7 49.3 739
58 15.4 50.7 7.8 57.1 12.5 39.5 6.7 53.1 8.2 15.4 21.8 2.78 290.2 208.5 707

have caused recrystallization of the Ferrobamba limestone
into marble at ca. 40.4 Ma. Remnants of this metamorphic
and metasomatic event have likely been overprinted by the
subsequent skarn-forming event.
Bracketing the duration of ore deposition at Coroccohuayco
Dating of alteration and ore minerals, combined with previ-
ous dating of the magmatic activity, is used to constrain the
duration of the magmatic-hydrothermal process that led to the
formation of the Coroccohuayco deposit. In sample 11CC46,
titanite is associated with a green pyroxene skarn localized ca.
1 m from the contact with the hornblende porphyry, which
displays a strong endoskarn alteration (Fig. 5). At Corocco-
huayco this assemblage corresponds to early skarn formation
between 550° and 400°C, immediately preceding and leading
to Cu sulfide deposition at ~400°C (based on fluid inclusion
data in pyroxene and quartz; Maher, 2010). However, Zr-in-
titanite thermometry yielded higher values of ~670°C, more
consistent with the proximity of the sample to the magmatic
intrusive body (1 m; Table 2). Regardless of the exact tem-
perature of titanite crystallization, the titanite formed at high
temperature in the skarn-forming event that subsequently
dropped to a lower temperature and precipitated Cu sulfide.
Petrographic observations show that molybdenite precipi-
tation is contemporaneous with to slightly late relative to Cu
sulfide deposition (Fig. 6; Table 1). Molybdenite samples and
titanite sample 11CC46 come from the southern part of the
deposit that is centered on a stock of hornblende porphyry
(Figs. 2, 3). Both molybdenite and hydrothermal titanite
were successfully dated at Coroccohuayco, thus theoreti-
cally bracketing the timing of Cu deposition. Weighted mean
dates obtained on titanite and molybdenite overlap with the
emplacement age derived from zircon dating (Fig. 11), help-
ing confirm a causative link between porphyry intrusion and
mineralization. Although the internal precision of individual
U-Pb and Re-Os weighted mean dates is very high (~0.2%),
they all overlap within uncertainty and are not resolvable.
This suggests that, at least in the southern part of the deposit,
the bulk of the Cu mineralization formed very rapidly during
and/or after the emplacement of the hornblende porphyry.
The titanite date from sample 10CC82 has a low preci-
sion and records the 35.7 Ma hydrothermal event (Fig. 8).
 436

Table 3. U-Pb ID-TIMS Data for Hydrothermal Titanite of the Coroccohuayco Deposit

Dates (Ma) Composition        Isotopic ratios

206Pb/238U1 206Pb/238U± 2σ abs 207Pb/235U1

Corr. Th/
206Pb/ 206Pb/238U10 207Pb/235U10 207Pb/206Pb10

Fraction ± 2σ abs Th corr2 ± 2σ abs coef. % disc3 Th/U4 Pb* (pg)5 Pbc (pg)6 Pb*/Pbc7 Usource8 204Pb9 ± 2σ % ± 2σ % ± 2σ %

10CC78
t1 40.60 ± 0.18 40.31 ± 0.32 39.8 ± 3.1 0.056 585.37 10.78 44.9 9.82 5 3 ± 1 93 0.006317 ± 0.44 0.0400 ± 8.0 0.0459 ± 8.0
t2 40.30 ± 0.54 40.02 ± 0.61 35.9 ± 8.5 0.031 116.17 10.73 30.5 17.39 2 3 ± 1 47 0.006271 ± 1.4 0.0360 ± 24 0.042 ± 24
t3 40.14 ± 0.28 39.88 ± 0.38 40.2 ± 5.0 0.053 8.70 10.23 34.2 12.16 3 3 ± 1 66 0.006247 ± 0.70 0.0404 ± 13 0.0469 ± 13
t4 40.52 ± 0.94 40.23 ± 0.99 40 ± 17 0.009 689.75 11.13 63.5 64.76 1 3 ± 1 34 0.00631 ± 2.3 0.040 ± 43 0.046 ± 43
t5 40.53 ± 0.48 40.29 ± 0.54 39.8 ± 8.5 0.012 1366.62 9.55 69.1 40.65 2 3 ± 1 49 0.006307 ± 1.2 0.0400 ± 22 0.046 ± 22
t6 40.77 ± 0.78 40.42 ± 0.84 40 ± 14 0.004 367.20 12.44 67.2 51.61 1 3 ± 1 37 0.00634 ± 1.9 0.040 ± 35 0.046 ± 35
11CC46
t3 35.551 ± 0.075 35.618 ± 0.080 35.8 ± 1.1 0.043 27.92 1.15 65.2 17.04 4 3 ± 1 217 0.005530 ± 0.21 0.0358 ± 3.2 0.0470 ± 3.2
t4 35.62 ± 0.10 35.69 ± 0.10 35.43 ± 0.65 0.148 -55.92 0.86 90.7 14.68 6 3 ± 1 361 0.005540 ± 0.29 0.03551 ± 1.9 0.04651 ± 1.9
t5 35.75 ± 0.37 35.68 ± 0.39 35.1 ± 6.6 0.019 383.23 4.83 20.0 16.61 1 3 ± 1 52 0.005561 ± 1.0 0.0351 ± 19 0.0458 ± 19
t6 35.627 ± 0.071 35.714 ± 0.072 35.66 ± 0.56 0.119 5.64 0.62 121 17.67 7 3 ± 1 420 0.005542 ± 0.20 0.03574 ± 1.6 0.04680 ± 1.6
t7 35.597 ± 0.056 35.637 ± 0.072 35.58 ± 0.81 0.040 -2.63 1.88 79.7 13.17 6 3 ± 1 287 0.0055372 ± 0.16 0.03567 ± 2.3 0.0467 ± 2.3
10CC82
t1 36.1 ± 1.4 36.1 ± 1.4 37 ± 25 0.001 71.75 2.15 49.5 224.95 0 3 ± 1 28 0.00561 ± 4.0 0.038 ± 69 0.049 ± 69
CHELLE-MICHOU ET AL.

Notes: Number of significant digits as determined by UPb_Redux, and column organized according to the recommendations of EARTHTIME
1 Isotopic dates calculated using the decay constants λ238 = 1.55125E-10 and λ235 = 9.8485E-10 (Jaffey et al., 1971)
2 Corrected for initial Th/U disequilibrium using radiogenic 208Pb and Th/U
magma specified
3 % discordance = 100 – (100 × (206Pb/238U date) / (207Pb/206Pb date))
4 Th contents calculated from radiogenic 208Pb and the 207Pb/206Pb date of the sample, assuming concordance between U-Th and Pb systems
5 Total mass of radiogenic Pb
6 Total mass of common Pb
7 Ratio of radiogenic Pb (including 208Pb) to common Pb
8 Th/U ratio of the source from which mineral crystallized
9 Measured ratio corrected for fractionation and spike contribution only
10 Measured ratios corrected for fractionation, tracer, blank, and initial common Pb
 HIGH-RESOLUTION GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE COROCCOHUAYCO PORPHYRY-SKARN DEPOSIT, PERU 437

41.4 10CC78

Pb/238U
41.30

0.0064
41.0

206
40.80
40.6
Pb/238U date (Ma)

0.0063
Albitized cracks in
40.2
40.30

Gabbrodiorite (10CC78)
Weighted mean

0.0062
40.16 ± 0.20/0.20 Ma 39.8
MSWD = 0.80 n = 6
39.80

39.4
206

0.0061
207
Pb/235U
39.30

39.0
0.020 0.025 0.030 0.035 0.040 0.045 0.050 0.055 0.060
36.10

10CC46

Pb/ U
238
0.00560
36.0

206
35.90
Pb/238U date (Ma)

35.8
Skarn (11CC46)
0.00555
35.70

Weighted mean
35.664 ± 0.040/0.057 Ma 35.6
MSWD = 1.0 n = 5
35.50

35.4
206

0.00550
35.30

35.2
207
Pb/235U
0.028 0.030 0.032 0.034 0.036 0.038 0.040 0.042

10CC82
Pb/ U
37.40

37.5
238
0.0054 0.0055 0.0056 0.0057 0.0058

37.0
206
36.70
Pb/238U date (Ma)

36.5
Strong sodic-calcic alteration
of Gabbrodiorite (10CC82) 36.0
36.00

36.1 ± 1.4/1.4 Ma

35.5
35.30
206

35.0

34.5 207
Pb/235U
34.60

0.015 0.025 0.035 0.045 0.055 0.065

Fig. 8. Weighted mean Th-corrected 206Pb/238U dates and concordia plots for hydrothermal titanite of three samples from
Coroccohuayco. All errors are at 2σ levels.

The strong and pervasive sodic-calcic alteration of the gab- a stock of hornblende porphyry during and/or just after its
brodiorite in this sample is in marked contrast with the small emplacement (cross section A-A', Fig. 3). On the northern
albitized fractures of sample 10CC78 (Fig. 5). These textural side of the deposit, the skarn zonation and the distribution of
differences support the interpretation that the ca. 40.2 Ma the mineralization rather suggest that fluids escaped from the
hydrothermal event was minor compared to the skarn and hornblende-biotite porphyry (cross section B-B', Fig. 3). U-Pb
mineralization event at ca. 35.7 Ma. zircon ages of the two porphyries overlap within uncertainty,
In summary, in the southern part of the deposit, the zoning showing that they were emplaced within a maximum time
of the skarn alteration, the distribution of the mineralization, interval of 86 k.y. (Chelle-Michou et al., 2014), and overlap
and the dates obtained for the magmatic and hydrothermal with the age of the hydrothermal titanite (Fig. 11). This indi-
minerals all indicate that hydrothermal fluids escaped from cates that the whole Coroccohuayco deposit (northern and
438 CHELLE-MICHOU ET AL.

Table 4. Re-Os Data for Molybdenite from the Coroccohuayco and Tintaya Deposits

Date (Ma) ± 2σ Date (Ma) ± 2σ

Sample no. wt (g) Re (ppm) ± 2σ 187Re (ppm) ± 2σ 187Os (ppb) ± 2σ λ = 1.666 × 10−11 1 λ = 1.6668 × 10−11 2

Coroccohuayco
11CC24 0.010 656.7 ± 3.3 412.8 ± 2.1 245.4 ± 1.1 35.67 ± 0.14 35.65 ± 0.14
11CC09 0.010 862.5 ± 4.4 542.1 ± 2.7 322.7 ± 1.5 35.72 ± 0.14 35.71 ± 0.14
11CC35 0.010 967.6 ± 4.9 608.1 ± 3.1 362.4 ± 1.7 35.75 ± 0.14 35.74 ± 0.14
11CC13 0.010 798.8 ± 4.1 502.1 ± 2.5 299.2 ± 1.4 35.76 ± 0.14 35.74 ± 0.14
11CC22 0.011 429.3 ± 2.1 269.8 ± 1.3 161.1 ± 0.7 35.82 ± 0.14 35.81 ± 0.14
11CC15 0.010 701.9 ± 3.6 441.1 ± 2.3 264.5 ± 1.3 35.97 ± 0.15 35.96 ± 0.15

Tintaya
10CC20 0.012 993.3 ± 4.6 624.3 ± 2.9 378.8 ± 1.6 36.41 ± 0.15 36.40 ± 0.15
10CC20 0.011 894.0 ± 4.2 561.9 ± 2.7 339.5 ± 1.5 36.26 ± 0.15 36.24 ± 0.15

Re-Os dates are calculated using Re decay constants from both Smoliar et al. (1996) and Selby et al. (2007)
1 Decay constant of Smoliar et al. (1996)
2 Decay constant from Selby et al. (2007)

southern parts) was probably generated in less than 100 k.y. titanite hosted in exoskarn (formerly a limestone; sample
In addition, both the hornblende and the hornblende-biotite 11CC46, Fig. 5) yields a much more fractionated REE compo-
porphyries may or may not display endoskarn alteration in sition (Fig. 7). This observation suggests that the primary rock
contact with the exoskarn (Fig. 3). This shows that hydrother- composition exerts a first-order control on the REE pattern of
mal fluids were preferentially focused along restricted flow titanite in these three samples. The REE pattern of fresh gab-
paths compared to the numerous emplacement locations of brodiorite is relatively unfractionated, similar to the subsequent
porphyry dikes and stocks. hydrothermal titanite (see in Maher, 2010). The REE pattern of
the limestone is not known; however, REE abundance is likely
Controls on the REE chemistry of hydrothermal titanite to be low in limestone, and the REE pattern nearly flat (e.g.,
The trace element composition of hydrothermal titanite Chiaradia, 2003). The LREE enrichment of the skarn-hosted
at Coroccohuayco is distinct within each of the three inves- titanite may be explained by the higher mobility of LREEs
tigated samples. Since this titanite results from the interac- than HREEs in a saline, mildly acidic hydrothermal fluid (e.g.,
tion of a rock and a hydrothermal fluid, its chemical signature Bau, 1991; Douville et al., 1999; Craddock et al., 2010). The
likely derives from both components. high Eu/Eu* (0.7–1.4) of the 36 Ma titanite grains compared
Titanite hosted in an altered gabbrodiorite (samples 10CC78 to the lower Eu/Eu* (~0.6) of the 40 Ma grains (Fig. 7) may be
and 10CC82; Fig. 5) yields a very similar REE pattern, whereas explained by a higher ƒO2 of the 36 Ma hydrothermal fluids or
by source fluids with elevated Eu content as a result of altera-
tion of Eu-rich plagioclase.
Weighted mean Weighted mean
35.781 ± 0.059/0.363 Ma 35.764 ± 0.059/0.093 Ma Temporal evolution of the Tintaya district
MSWD = 2.1 MSWD = 2.1
λ = 1.666 ± 0.017.10-11 a-1 λ = 1.6668 ± 0.0034.10-11 a-1
The Re-Os date obtained for molybdenite from the Tintaya
36.2 mine suggests that the mineralizing event here occurred ca.
(Smoliar et al., 1996) (Selby et al., 2007)
0.5 m.y. before the mineralizing event at Coroccohuayco (Fig.
11). Although there is no information about the geochrono-
Re-Os Date (Ma)

36.0 logical method used, data for the Antapaccay porphyry sug-
gest that several magmatic-hydrothermal events occurred
between 38.4 and 34.0 Ma and the total magmatic activity
35.8
lasted from 39.9 to 32.5 Ma (Fig. 11; Jones et al., 2007). This
indicates that mineralization commenced earlier at Antapac-
cay than at Tintaya and Coroccohuayco. Although the min-
eralizing event may be very short at the scale of the deposit,
35.6
as shown at Coroccohuayco, the Tintaya district records a
protracted building of Cu resources over 3 to 4 m.y. around
Hbl porphyry - U-Pb zircon distinct magmatic centers. At Antapaccay the superimposi-
35.4 35.633 ± 0.028/0.048 Ma tion of several magmatic-hydrothermal events in a restricted
area over ca. 4 m.y. (Jones et al., 2007) may explain the larger
Fig. 9. Weighted mean Re-Os dates for molybdenite from Coroccohu- size of the deposit compared to Coroccohuayco and Tintaya.
ayco, using Re decay constants from both Smoliar et al. (1996) and Selby et The timing of the mineralizing events in the porphyry sys-
al. (2007). Dark gray error bars correspond to internal uncertainties and light
gray error bars include additional uncertainties on the decay constant used. tems of the Tintaya district is synchronous with the world-
Emplacement age of the hornblende porphyry is from Chelle-Michou et al. class Eocene porphyry belt of northern Chile (e.g., Barra et
(2014). All errors are at 2σ levels. al., 2013, and references therein).
 HIGH-RESOLUTION GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE COROCCOHUAYCO PORPHYRY-SKARN DEPOSIT, PERU 439

The Tintaya district in the context of the Incaic orogeny

Date (Ma) ± 2σ

19.11 ± 12.94
35.40 ± 5.12
25.04 ± 2.57
32.20 ± 1.41
27.59 ± 1.04
27.66 ± 0.85
26.72 ± 0.49
26.90 ± 0.43
26.82 ± 0.38
26.59 ± 0.38
26.56 ± 0.33
26.70 ± 0.46
25.80 ± 0.59
26.02 ± 0.89
25.39 ± 0.62
26.62 ± 0.23
Our geochronological data and structural observations of

Data are corrected for blanks, interfering nucleogenic reactions, and postirradiation decay of 37Ar and 39Ar; mass discrimination value during analysis was 0.9907 ± 0.00334; correction factors for
veins and faults on the Coroccohuayco deposit are used to

interfering isotopes have been calculated from analysis of Ca glass samples and pure K glass samples and are as follows: 39Ar/37Ar = 6.73E-4, 36Ar/37Ar = 2.64E-4, 40Ar/39Ar = 1.01E-3, 38Ar/39Ar =
place the genesis of the deposit within the structural evolu-
tion of the region during the Eocene. On the basis of strati-
graphic, structural, and sedimentary data from the Western
Cordillera and Altiplano of southern Peru, Carlotto (2013) has
0.270 ± 0.008
0.335 ± 0.009
0.346 ± 0.009
0.366 ± 0.009
0.323 ± 0.008
0.347 ± 0.008
0.343 ± 0.008
0.386 ± 0.009
0.433 ± 0.010
0.472 ± 0.011
0.473 ± 0.011
0.448 ± 0.010
0.362 ± 0.008
0.305 ± 0.007
0.227 ± 0.005
0.385 ± 0.045
K/Ca ± 2σ

highlighted the existence of two phases of synorogenic basin

opening and sedimentation structurally controlled by the
Cusco-Lagunillas fault system. Although the relative chronol-
ogy of these two phases of sedimentation is well established,
the absolute timing of the two phases is solely defined by fis-
Table 5. CO2‐IR Laser Step‐Heating 40Ar/39Ar Analytical Results of Volcanic Groundmass from Alkali Basalt 11CC04

sion-track, K-Ar, and 40Ar/39Ar thermochronometry (see com-

(%)

0.49
1.04
1.20
2.05
4.23
4.99
8.97
10.98
12.12
11.80
13.68
9.78
6.89
5.78
5.99
80.01
pilation in Carlotto, 2013).
K

The first phase is characterized by NW-SE–oriented dextral

39Ar

strike-slip movement along the Cusco-Lagunillas fault system

and the opening of transpressional basins with rhombohedral
(%)

geometry in the Altiplano region (Carlotto, 2013; Fig. 12).

3.22
12.64
20.95
43.52
42.41
52.84
59.30
72.08
81.78
90.46
93.96
96.55
93.53
94.11
91.70
Plateau weighted mean (MSWD = 1.83)
40Ar*

These basins were filled by fluvial sediments (with northward

paleocurrent flow direction) that constitute the lower San
Jeronimo Group (up to 3,000 m thick; Carlotto, 2013). Con-
jugate E-W–trending sinistral faults as well as synsedimentary
3.341E-15
3.388E-15
3.287E-15
2.867E-15
3.196E-15
2.236E-15
1.572E-15
1.320E-15
2.415E-15
2.404E-15
1.186E-15
1.257E-15
2.276E-15
2.162E-15

1.370E-15
(mol)

NE-SW normal fault structures recognized by Carlotto (1998)

suggest that the principal stress was oriented N-S (Carlotto,
40Ar

2013; Fig. 12). Before the Eocene ca. 65° to 35° counterclock-
wise rotation of the southern Peru region (Roperch et al.,
2011), the Cusco-Lagunillas fault system had a nearly N-S ori-
entation. The regional principal stress was therefore oriented
± 1σ

5.054 ± 1.720
9.406 ± 0.687
6.633 ± 0.342
8.548 ± 0.189
7.314 ± 0.139
7.333 ± 0.114
7.081 ± 0.066
7.131 ± 0.058
7.109 ± 0.050
7.047 ± 0.050
7.038 ± 0.044
7.077 ± 0.062
6.835 ± 0.079
6.896 ± 0.119
6.728 ± 0.083

NNE, which is roughly consistent with the orientation of the

Nazca-South America plate motion vector during the Eocene
K
40Ar*/39Ar

(inset Fig. 12). Veinlets and faults within the hornblende

porphyry (i.e., during and after the mineralizing event at ca.
35.7  Ma) at Coroccohuayco (Fig. 4) record NW-SE dextral
movement and orientations similar to faults that were active
during the first phase of sedimentation of the San Jeronimo
basin, at 50 to 43 Ma according to Carlotto (2013). The N-S–
± 1σ

0.514 ± 0.007
0.220 ± 0.003
0.085 ± 0.001
0.038 ± 0.001
0.034 ± 0.000
0.022 ± 0.000
0.017 ± 0.000
0.010 ± 0.000
0.006 ± 0.000
0.003 ± 0.000
0.002 ± 0.000
0.001 ± 0.000
0.002 ± 0.000
0.002 ± 0.000
0.003 ± 0.000

Note: Steps in italics were not included in the calculation of the plateau date

oriented veinlet family is interpreted to have accommodated

36Ar/39Ar

the dextral motion at Coroccohuayco, and is consistent with

the N-S orientation of the regional principal stress during the
first phase of deformation (Fig. 12).
The second phase (42–30 Ma, according to Carlotto, 2013)
was characterized by NE-verging compression and reverse
movement along the Cusco-Lagunillas fault system (Carlotto,
± 1σ

1.593 ± 0.023
1.283 ± 0.017
1.240 ± 0.016
1.173 ± 0.014
1.332 ± 0.016
1.239 ± 0.014
1.253 ± 0.014
1.113 ± 0.013
0.992 ± 0.011
0.911 ± 0.011
0.909 ± 0.011
0.959 ± 0.011
1.187 ± 0.014
1.407 ± 0.016
1.888 ± 0.022

2013; Fig. 12). This NE shortening event was responsible for

further thickening of the San Jeronimo Group (up to 2,500 m)
37Ar/39Ar

and subsidence of the Anta Basin with deposition of alluvial

sediments intercalated with volcanic rocks (up to 2,000 m
thick; Carlotto, 2013; Fig. 12). Paleocurrents in the upper
San Jeronimo basin follow the NW-SE strike of synclines.
The late-mineral WNW-ESE–striking reverse faults on the
156.897 ± 1.102
74.368 ± 0.414
31.643 ± 0.141
19.625 ± 0.051
17.231 ± 0.041
13.866 ± 0.033
11.932 ± 0.025
9.885 ± 0.021
8.686 ± 0.018
7.786 ± 0.016
7.486 ± 0.016
7.325 ± 0.016
7.303 ± 0.017
7.320 ± 0.017
7.327 ± 0.017
± 1σ

northern side of the prospect (Fig. 2) display orientation and

movement similar to faults active during this second phase
40Ar/39Ar

J = 0.0021070 ± 0.0000034

(Fig. 12).
Our geochronological data and structural observations sug-
gest that deposition of the lower San Jeronimo Group (up to
3,500 m) was active during ore genesis in the Tintaya district
(ca. 36 Ma) and that deposition of the upper San Jeronimo
1.138E-2

Group (up to 2,500 m) and the Anta Formation (up to 2,000 m)

Step

started after 35 Ma (emplacement of the rhyodacite) and

10
11
12
13
14
15
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
440 CHELLE-MICHOU ET AL.

45

40 0.004 Inverse isochron: 26.49 ± 0.30 Ma

40
Ar/36Ar intercept: 302.8 ± 11.6
Plateau date
MSWD = 1.67
35 26.62 ± 0.23/0.25 Ma
MSWD = 1.83 0.003
30
Date (Ma)

Ar/40Ar
25
0.002

36
20

15
0.001

10

5 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16

Cumulative Ar release (%) 39 39

Ar/ Ar
40

Fig. 10. 40Ar/39Ar age spectra and inverse isochron plots for volcanic groundmass for alkali basalt sample 11CC04. All
errors are at 2σ levels.

Coroccohuayco Tintaya Antapaccay ended before Tacaza arc magmatism (ca. 28 Ma). Such a high
(Chelle-Michou et al., 2014; this study) (this study) (Jones et al., 2007) rate of sedimentary basin subsidence from ca. 40 to 30  Ma
42
implies rapid uplift and erosion in the Western Cordillera.
Hydrothermal titanites U-Pb

These relationships suggest that porphyry systems of the

Albitized fractures.

41 Tintaya district have formed during a period of transpres-

sional stress, associated intense exhumation, and erosion
40 toward the end of life of the Eocene magmatic arc. Their
emplacement was closely followed by a period of compres-
{ complex.
Gabbrodiorite
Zircon U-Pb

sional stress, intense uplift, further erosion, and orogenic rota-

39
tion (oroclinal bending; Roperch et al., 2011). This confirms
Molybdenire Re-Os

that the genesis of the porphyry systems of the Andahuaylas-

Mineralization.

38 Yauri batholith share these important tectonomagmatic char-

acteristics with porphyry systems worldwide (e.g., Tosdal and
Hydrothermal activity

37 Richards, 2001; Richards, 2003; Cooke et al., 2005; Sillitoe,

Magmatic activity

2010; Schütte et al., 2011).

36 Initiation of slab roll-back and alkaline volcanism
Alkali basalt dikes were sampled at Coroccohuayco and
35 also occur in the area of Tintaya (Maher, 2010). The small
High-temperature skarn.
Hydrothermal titanites U-Pb

Mineralization.
Molybdenite Re-Os

grain size of the crystals in the groundmass suggests that

Hbl porphyry. Zircon U-Pb
Hbl-Bio porphyry. Zircon U-Pb
Rhyodacite. Zircon U-Pb
Age (Ma)

34
the basaltic magma quenched rapidly. The large plateau we
obtained (>80% of total gas release) may be an indication that
the sample did not undergo postcrystallization disturbance
33 and the 40Ar/39Ar dating records its age of crystallization.
The 40Ar/39Ar (plateau; groundmass) date obtained for this
32 rock is 26.62 ± 0.23/0.25 Ma (Fig. 10), which is clearly much
36.0
younger than and unrelated to the magmatic-hydrothermal
activity in the Tintaya district (Fig. 11). Therefore, this alkali
31
basalt cannot have provided metals and sulfur to the Eocene
35.5 hydrothermal system, and is rather temporally related to the
30
?
Groundmass 40Ar/39Ar

29 35.0

Fig. 11. Summary of radiometric ages of magmatic and hydrothermal

Alkali Basalt.

events at porphyry systems of the Tintaya district. Emplacement ages for

28
the gabbrodiorite complex and the porphyritic rocks for Coroccohuayco are
from Chelle-Michou et al. (2014). For Antapaccay, the only age ranges were
reported by Jones et al. (2007) and dating techniques are not specified. For
27
inset of the ca. 36 Ma data, solid error bars represent internal uncertainties
and light error bars represent additional external uncertainties (see text for
26
discussion). All errors reported at 2σ levels.
 HIGH-RESOLUTION GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE COROCCOHUAYCO PORPHYRY-SKARN DEPOSIT, PERU 441

A Phase 1 (ca. 41 – 35 Ma) B Phase 2 (ca. 35 – 30 Ma)

Cusco sketched
13°30’
sketched
13°30’
Cusco area
area

14°00’ 14°00’

Sicuani Sicuani

14°30’ 14°30’

0 50 km Yauri Yauri

Coroccohuayco Coroccohuayco
15°00’ 15°00’

72°00’ 71°30’ 71°00’ 72°00’ 71°30’ 71°00’

Regional compression Paleocurrent flow direction

Regional strike-slip motion Alluvial deposits (Anta Basin)
Local compression at Coroccohuayco Fluvial deposits (San Jeronimo Gp.)
Local strike-slip motion at Coroccohuayco

Fig. 12. Structural sketch of the evolution of the Cusco-Lagunillas fault system during the Incaic orogeny compared to the
structural evolution inferred at Coroccohuayco only (modified from Carlotto, 2013). Insets show the location of the sketched
area and the bending of the Central Andes during the Eocene. (A) Transpressional regime with a dominant N-S compression
and NW-SE strike-slip motion. This phase is associated with the opening of basins with a rhombohedral geometry that are
filled by fluvial sediments of the San Jeronimo Group in which synsedimentary N-S normal faults are recognized. Note that,
before tectonic rotation, the compression vector was oriented NNE-SSW (see inset). (B) NE-verging compressional regime
with reverse faulting along the Cusco-Lagunillas fault system and folding of the San Jeronimo Group. This phase is associated
with the development of the Anta Basin and further thickening of the San Jeronimo Group.

Oligocene Tacaza arc. Nonetheless, this does not rule out the
potential contribution of mafic magma to the plutonic root
of the Coroccohuayco magmatic system at ca. 35.7 Ma. The
Tacaza arc marked the beginning of the trenchward migration
of the arc (Sandeman et al., 1995; Mamani et al., 2010). This
magmatism is believed to have resulted from mantle upwell-
ing and decompression melting induced by slab roll-back
and steepening after the Eocene flat slab episode (Mamani
et al., 2010). Slab roll-back was likely triggered by the rapid
change in the Nazca-South American plate motion angle that
occurred around this period (28–25 Ma, according to Somoza
and Ghidella, 2012).
Conclusions
We have presented the first robust geochronologic data of
an ore-forming event in the Eocene Andahuaylas-Yauri batho-
lith, Peru. Results from high-resolution dating of hydrother-
mal titanite and molybdenite at the Coroccohuayco deposit
are indistinguishable from previous dating of the hornblende
and hornblende-biotite porphyries that were emplaced within
less than 86 k.y., at about 35.7 to 35.6 Ma (Chelle-Michou
et al., 2014). This indicates that the bulk of the Cu mineral-
ization (>3 Mt Cu) formed very rapidly during and after the
emplacement of the two porphyries and took probably less
than 100 k.y. Our data also highlight a previously unrecognized
minor hydrothermal event that occurred at ca. 40.2 Ma and
was related to the emplacement of the gabbrodiorite complex.
One Re-Os molybdenite date from the nearby Tintaya mine
suggests that the mineralization there occurred 0.5 m.y. prior
to Coroccohuayco. These data indicate that mineralizing
events in the Tintaya district were highly focused and episodic
over several million years, whereas a single economic deposit
may have been formed in less than 100 k.y.
Dating of an alkali basalt at ca. 26.6 Ma indicates that it is
unrelated to the ore-forming magmatic-hydrothermal activ-
ity. It records magmatism associated with the initiation of slab
roll-back that followed the Eocene flat slab episode in south-
ern Peru.
Our robust geochronological data together with struc-
tural measurements argue in favor of the genesis of the
442 CHELLE-MICHOU ET AL.
Coroccohuayco deposit toward the end of the Eocene arc
magmatism in a context of important exhumation and ero-
sion, similar to the tectonomagmatic conditions documented
for porphyry deposits globally.
Acknowledgments
This project was funded by SNSF grant No. 200020-126896
and 200020-137663. We are grateful to the exploration team
of Xstrata Tintaya SA for logistical help in the field and for
kindly providing access to the exploratory data. We also thank
Alexey Ulianov for his help with LA-ICP-MS analysis, Roelant
Van der Lelij for helping with the 40Ar/39Ar measurements,
Marie-Caroline Pinget Morales Opazo for assistance with
the XRD analysis, and Bertrand Rottier for assistance with
Raman spectrometry. Constructive comments from Larry
Meinert, John Dilles, and an anonymous reviewer were grate-
fully appreciated and were helpful in improving this paper.
REFERENCES
Arriagada, C., Roperch, P., Mpodozis, C., and Cobbold, P.R., 2008, Paleogene
building of the Bolivian Orocline: Tectonic restoration of the Central Andes
in 2-D map view: Tectonics, v. 27, doi: 10.1029/2008TC002269.
Audétat, A., and Pettke, T., 2006, Evolution of a porphyry-Cu mineralized
magma system at Santa Rita, New Mexico (USA): Journal of Petrology, v.
47, p. 2021–2046.
Barra, F., Alcota, H., Rivera, S., Valencia, V., Munizaga, F., and Maksaev,
V., 2013, Timing and formation of porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization in the
Chuquicamata district, northern Chile: New constraints from the Toki clus-
ter: Mineralium Deposita, v. 48, p. 629–651.
Bau, M., 1991, Rare-earth element mobility during hydrothermal and meta-
morphic fluid-rock interaction and the significance of the oxidation state of
europium: Chemical Geology, v. 93, p. 219–230.
Begemann, F., Ludwig, K.R., Lugmair, G.W., Min, K., Nyquist, L.E., Patch-
ett, P.J., Renne, P.R., Shih, C.-Y., Villa, I.M., and Walker, R.J., 2001, Call for
an improved set of decay constants for geochronological use: Geochimica et
Cosmochimica Acta, v. 65, p. 111–121.
Boni, M., Balassone, G., Arseneau, V., and Schmidt, P., 2009, The nonsulfide
zinc deposit at Accha (southern Peru): Geological and mineralogical char-
acterization: Economic Geology, v. 104, p. 267–289.
Bowring, J.F., McLean, N.M., and Bowring, S.A., 2011, Engineering cyber
infrastructure for U-Pb geochronology: Tripoli and U-Pb_Redux: Geo-
chemistry Geophysics Geosystems, v. 12, doi: 10.1029/2010GC003479.
Braxton, D.P., Cooke, D.R., Dunlap, J., Norman, M., Reiners, P., Stein, H.,
and Waters, P., 2012, From crucible to graben in 2.3 Ma: A high-resolution
geochronological study of porphyry life cycles, Boyongan-Bayugo copper-
gold deposits, Philippines: Geology, v. 40, p. 471–474.
Capitanio, F.A., Faccenna, C., Zlotnik, S., and Stegman, D.R., 2011, Subduc-
tion dynamics and the origin of Andean orogeny and the Bolivian orocline:
Nature, v. 480, p. 83–86.
Carlotto, V., 1998, Evolution andine et raccourcissement au niveau de Cusco
(13°–16°S), Pérou: Enregistrement sédimentaire, chronologie, contrôles
paléogéographiques, évolution cinématique: Ph.D. thesis, Grenoble,
France, Université Joseph Fourier, 203 p.
——2013, Paleogeographic and tectonic controls on the evolution of Ceno-
zoic basins in the Altiplano and Western Cordillera of southern Peru: Tec-
tonophysics, v. 589, p. 195–219.
Chelle-Michou, C., 2013, Geochronologic and petrologic evolution of the
magmatic suite associated with the Eocene Coroccohuayco deposit, and
its role in the genesis of the associated Cu(-Au) porphyry-skarn mineraliza-
tion, Tintaya district, Peru: Ph.D. thesis, Geneva, Switzerland, University
of Geneva, 192 p.
Chelle-Michou, C., Chiaradia, M., Ovtcharova, M., Ulianov, A., and Wotzlaw,
J.-F., 2014, Zircon petrochronology reveals the temporal link between por-
phyry systems and the magmatic evolution of their hidden plutonic roots
(the Eocene Coroccohuayco deposit, Peru): Lithos, v. 198–199, p. 129–140.
Chiaradia, M., 2003, Formation and evolution processes of the Salanfe
W-Au-As-skarns (Aiguilles Rouges Massif, western Swiss Alps): Mineralium
Deposita, v. 38, p. 154–168.
Chiaradia, M., Schaltegger, U., Spikings R, Wotzlaw, J.-F., and Ovtcharova,
M., 2013, How accurately can we date the duration of magmatic-hydrother-
mal events in porphyry systems?—An invited paper: Economic Geology,
v. 108, p. 565–584.
Cooke, D.R., Hollings, P., and Walshe, J.L., 2005, Giant porphyry deposits:
Characteristics, distribution, and tectonic controls: Economic Geology,
v. 100, p. 801–818.
Craddock, P.R., Bach, W., Seewald, J.S., Rouxel, O.J., Reeves, E., and Tivey,
M.K., 2010, Rare earth element abundances in hydrothermal fluids from
the Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea: Indicators of sub-seafloor hydrother-
mal processes in back-arc basins: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 74,
p. 5494–5513.
Creaser, R.A., Papanastassiou, D.A., and Wasserburg, G.J., 1991, Negative
thermal ion mass spectrometry of osmium, rhenium and iridium: Geochi-
mica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 55, p. 397–401.
Crowley, J.L., Schoene, B., and Bowring, S.A., 2007, U-Pb dating of zircon in
the Bishop Tuff at the millennial scale: Geology, v. 35, p. 1123–1126.
Dalrymple, G.B., and Lanphere, M.A., 1974, 40Ar/39Ar age spectra of some
undisturbed terrestrial samples: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 38,
p. 715–738.
de Hoog, J.C.M., Hattori, K.H., and Hoblitt, R.P., 2004, Oxidized sulfur-rich
mafic magma at Mount Pinatubo, Philippines: Contributions to Mineralogy
and Petrology, v. 146, p. 750–761.
Douville, E., Bienvenu, P., Charlou, J.L., Donval, J.P., Fouquet, Y., Appriou,
P., and Gamo, T., 1999, Yttrium and rare earth elements in fluids from vari-
ous deep-sea hydrothermal systems: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v.
63, p. 627–643.
Gerstenberger, H., and Haase, G., 1997, A highly effective emitter substance
for mass spectrometric Pb isotope ratio determinations: Chemical Geology,
v. 136, p. 309–312.
Halter, W.E., Heinrich, C.A., and Pettke, T., 2005, Magma evolution and the
formation of porphyry Cu-Au ore fluids: Evidence from silicate and sulfide
melt inclusions: Mineralium Deposita, v. 39, p. 845–863.
Harris, A.C., Allen, C.M., Bryan, S.E., Campbell, I.H., Holcombe, R.J., and
Palin, J.M., 2004, ELA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon geochronology of regional
volcanism hosting the Bajo de la Alumbrera Cu-Au deposit: Implications
for porphyry-related mineralization: Mineralium Deposita, v. 39, p. 46–67.
Harris, A.C., Dunlap, W.J., Reiners, P.W., Allen, C.M., Cooke, D.R., White,
N.C., Campbell, I.H., and Golding, S.D., 2008, Multimillion year ther-
mal history of a porphyry copper deposit: Application of U-Pb, 40Ar/39Ar
and (U-Th)/He chronometers, Bajo de la Alumbrera copper-gold deposit,
Argentina: Mineralium Deposita, v. 43, p. 295–314.
Hattori, K.H., and Keith, J., 2001, Contribution of mafic melt to porphyry
copper mineralization: Evidence from Mount Pinatubo, Philippines, and
Bingham Canyon, Utah, USA: Mineralium Deposita, v. 36, p. 799–806.
Hayden, L.A., Watson, E.B., and Wark, D.A., 2007, A thermobarometer for
sphene (titanite): Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 155, p.
529–540.
Hiess, J., Condon, D.J., McLean, N., and Noble, S.R., 2012, 238U/235U system-
atics in terrestrial uranium-bearing minerals: Science, v. 335, p. 1610–1614.
Jackson, S.E., 2008, LAMTRACE data reduction software for LA-ICP-MS:
Mineralogical Association of Canada Short Course Series, v. 40, p. 305–307.
Jaffey, A.H., Flynn, K.F., Glendenin, L.E., Bentley, W.T., and Essling, A.M.,
1971, Precision measurement of half-lives and specific activities of 235U and
238U: Physical Review C, v. 4, p. 1889.
Jones, B., Kamenetsky, V.S., Davidson, P., and Allen, C.M., 2007, Antapac-
cay porphyry Cu-Au deposit: A product of Andean tectonism and evolv-
ing magmatism, late Eocene-early Oligocene Abancay batholith, Altiplano,
southern Peru, in Ores and orogenesis: A symposium honoring the career
of William R. Dickinson: Tucson, Arizona, Arizona Geological Society, p.
132–133.
Keith, J.D., Whitney, J.A., Hattori, K., Ballantyne, G.H., Christiansen, E.H.,
Barr, D.L., Cannan, T.M., and Hook, C.J., 1997, The role of magmatic sul-
fides and mafic alkaline magmas in the Bingham and Tintic mining districts,
Utah: Journal of Petrology, v. 38, p. 1679–1690.
Koppers, A.A.P., 2002, ArArCALC—software for 40Ar/39Ar age calculations:
Computers and Geosciences, v. 28, p. 605–619.
Krogh, T.E., 1973, A low-contamination method for hydrothermal decompo-
sition of zircon and extraction of U and Pb for isotopic age determinations:
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 37, p. 485–494.
Kuiper, K.F., Deino, A., Hilgen, F.J., Krijgsman, W., Renne, P.R., and Wij-
brans, J.R., 2008, Synchronizing rock clocks of Earth history: Science, v.
320, p. 500–504.
 HIGH-RESOLUTION GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE COROCCOHUAYCO PORPHYRY-SKARN DEPOSIT, PERU 443
Lawley, C.J.M., and Selby, D., 2012, Re-Os geochronology of quartz-enclosed
ultrafine molybdenite: Implications for ore geochronology: Economic
Geology, v. 107, p. 1499–1505.
Lee, J.Y., Marti, K., Severinghaus, J.P., and Kawamura, K., 2006, A redeter-
mination of the isotopic abundances of atmospheric Ar: Geochimica et Cos-
mochimica Acta, v. 70, p. 4507–4512.
Longo, A.A., Dilles, J.H., Grunder, A.L., and Duncan, R., 2010, Evolution of
calc-alkaline volcanism and associated hydrothermal gold deposits at Yana-
cocha, Peru: Economic Geology, v. 105, p. 1191–1241.
Ludwig, K.R., 2003, Mathematical-statistical treatment of data and errors for
230Th/U geochronology: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 52,
p. 631–656.
Ma, X., Chen, B., and Yang, M., 2013, Magma mixing origin for the Aolunhua
porphyry related to Mo-Cu mineralization, eastern Central Asian orogenic
belt: Gondwana Research, v. 24, p. 1152–1171.
Maher, K.C., 2010, Skarn alteration and mineralization at Coroccohuayco,
Tintaya district, Peru: Economic Geology, v. 105, p. 263–283.
Maksaev, V., Munizaga, F., and McWilliams, M., 2004, New chronology for El
Teniente, Chilean Andes, from U/Pb, 40Ar/39Ar, Re/Os and fission-track dat-
ing: Implications for the evolution of a supergiant porphyry Cu-Mo Deposit:
Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication, v. 11, p. 15–54.
Mamani, M., Wörner, G., and Sempere, T., 2010, Geochemical variations
in igneous rocks of the Central Andean orocline (13°S to 18°S): Tracing
crustal thickening and magma generation through time and space: Geologi-
cal Society of America Bulletin, v. 122, p. 162–182.
Markey, R., Stein, H.J., Hannah, J.L., Zimmerman, A., Selby, D., and Creaser,
R.A., 2007, Standardizing Re-Os geochronology: A new molybdenite refer-
ence material (Henderson, USA) and the stoichiometry of Os salts: Chemi-
cal Geology, v. 244, p. 74–87.
McDonough, W.F., and Sun, S.S., 1995, The composition of the Earth:
Chemical Geology, v. 120, p. 223–253.
McQuarrie, N., Horton, B.K., Zandt, G., Beck, S., and DeCelles, P.G., 2005,
Lithospheric evolution of the Andean fold-thrust belt, Bolivia, and the ori-
gin of the Central Andean plateau: Tectonophysics, v. 399, p. 15–37.
Mondillo, N., Boni, M., Balassone, G., and Villa, I.M., 2014, The Yanque
prospect (Peru): From polymetallic Zn-Pb mineralization to a nonsulfide
deposit: Economic Geology, v. 109, p. 1735–1762.
Newberry, R.J., 1979a, Polytypism in molybdenite (I); a non-equilibrium
impurity-induced phenomenon: American Mineralogist, v. 64, p. 758–767.
——1979b, Polytypism in molybdenite (II); relationships between polytyp-
ism, ore deposition/alteration stages and rhenium contents: American Min-
eralogist, v. 64, p. 768–775.
Noble, D.C., McKee, E.H., Eyzaguirre, V.R., and Marocco, R., 1984, Age and
regional tectonic and metallogenetic implications of igneous activity and
mineralization in the Andahuaylas-Yauri belt of southern Peru: Economic
Geology, v. 79, p. 172–176.
O’Driscoll, L.J., and Richards, M.A., 2012, Nazca-South America interactions
and the late Eocene-late Oligocene flat-slab episode in the Central Andes:
Tectonics, v. 31, doi: 10.1029/2011TC003036.
Pan Pacific Copper, 2009, Pan Pacific Copper gears up to feasibility study
phase in development project of Quechua copper deposit in Peru: News
Release, 2 p., http://www.ppcu.co.jp/eng/news/pdf/news_1130_2009.pdf.
Perelló, J., Carlotto, V., Zárate, A., Ramos, P., Posso, H., Neyra, C., Caballero,
A., Fuster, N., and Muhr, R., 2003, Porphyry-style alteration and mineral-
ization of the middle Eocene to early Oligocene Andahuaylas-Yauri belt,
Cuzco region, Peru: Economic Geology, v. 98, p. 1575–1605.
Pollard, P.J., Taylor, R.G., and Peters, L., 2005, Ages of intrusion, alteration,
and mineralization at the Grasberg Cu-Au deposit, Papua, Indonesia: Eco-
nomic Geology, v. 100, p. 1005–1020.
Richards, J.P., 2003, Tectono-magmatic precursors for porphyry Cu-(Mo-Au)
deposit formation: Economic Geology, v. 98, p. 1515–1533.
Rohrlach, B.D., and Loucks, R.R., 2005, Multi-million-year cyclic ramp-up of
volatiles in a lower crustal magma reservoir trapped below the Tampakan cop-
per-gold deposit by Mio-Pliocene crustal crustal compression in the southern
Philippines, in Porter, T.M., ed., Super porphyry copper and gold deposits: A
global perspective: Adelaide, Australia, PGC Publishing, p. 369–407.
Roperch, P., Sempere, T., Macedo, O., Arriagada, C., Fornari, M., Tapia, C.,
García, M., and Laj, C., 2006, Counterclockwise rotation of late Eocene-Oli-
gocene fore-arc deposits in southern Peru and its significance for oroclinal
bending in the Central Andes: Tectonics, v. 25, doi: 10.1029/2005TC001882.
Roperch, P., Carlotto, V., Ruffet, G., and Fornari, M., 2011, Tectonic rota-
tions and transcurrent deformation south of the Abancay deflection in the
Andes of southern Peru: Tectonics, v. 30, doi: 10.1029/2010TC002725.
Sandeman, H.A., Clark, A.H., and Farrar, E., 1995, An integrated tectono-
magmatic model for the evolution of the southern Peruvian Andes (13–
20°S) since 55 Ma: International Geology Review, v. 37, p. 1039–1073.
Schärer, U., 1984, The effect of initial 230Th disequilibrium on young U-Pb
ages: The Makalu case, Himalaya: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v.
67, p. 191–204.
Schmitz, M.D., and Kuiper, K.F., 2013, High-precision geochronology: Ele-
ments, v. 9, p. 25–30.
Schoene, B., Condon, D.J., Morgan, L., and McLean, N., 2013, Precision and
accuracy in geochronology: Elements, v. 9, p. 19–24.
Schütte, P., Chiaradia, M., Barra, F., Villagómez, D., and Beate, B., 2011,
Metallogenic features of Miocene porphyry Cu and porphyry-related min-
eral deposits in Ecuador revealed by Re-Os, 40Ar/39Ar, and U-Pb geochro-
nology: Mineralium Deposita, v. 47, p. 383–410.
Selby, D., and Creaser, R.A., 2001a, Late and mid-Cretaceous mineralization
in the northern Canadian Cordillera: Constraints from Re-Os molybdenite
dates: Economic Geology, v. 96, p. 1461–1467.
——2001b, Re-Os Geochronology and systematics in molybdenite from the
Endako porphyry molybdenum deposit, British Columbia, Canada: Eco-
nomic Geology, v. 96, p. 197–204.
——2004, Macroscale NTIMS and microscale LA-MC-ICP-MS Re-Os iso-
topic analysis of molybdenite: Testing spatial restrictions for reliable Re-Os
age determinations, and implications for the decoupling of Re and Os within
molybdenite: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 68, p. 3897–3908.
Selby, D., Creaser, R.A., Stein, H.J., Markey, R.J., and Hannah, J.L., 2007,
Assessment of the 187Re decay constant by cross calibration of Re-Os
molybdenite and U-Pb zircon chronometers in magmatic ore systems: Geo-
chimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 71, p. 1999–2013.
Sillitoe, R.H., 2010, Porphyry copper systems: Economic Geology, v. 105,
p. 3–41.
Simmons, S.F., and Brown, K.L., 2006, Gold in magmatic hydrothermal solutions
and the rapid formation of a giant ore deposit: Science, v. 314, p. 288–291.
——2007, The flux of gold and related metals through a volcanic arc, Taupo
volcanic zone, New Zealand: Geology, v. 35, p. 1099–1102.
Smoliar, M.I., Walker, R.J., and Morgan, J.W., 1996, Re-Os ages of group IIA,
IIIA, IVA, and IVB iron meteorites: Science, v. 271, p. 1099–1102.
Somoza, R., and Ghidella, M.E., 2012, Late Cretaceous to recent plate
motions in western South America revisited: Earth and Planetary Science
Letters, v. 331–332, p. 152–163.
Stacey, J.S., and Kramers, J.D., 1975, Approximation of terrestrial lead iso-
tope evolution by a two-stage model: Earth and Planetary Science Letters,
v. 26, p. 207–221.
Steiger, R.H., and Jäger, E., 1977, Subcommission on geochronology: Con-
vention on the use of decay constants in geo- and cosmochronology: Earth
and Planetary Science Letters, v. 36, p. 359–362.
Stein, H.J., Markey, R.J., Morgan, J.W., Hannah, J.L., and Scherstén, A.,
2001, The remarkable Re-Os chronometer in molybdenite: How and why it
works: Terra Nova, v. 13, p. 479–486.
Tosdal, R.M., and Richards, J.P., 2001, Magmatic and structural controls on
the development of porphyry Cu ± Mo ± Au deposits: Reviews in Economic
Geology, v. 14, p. 157–181.
Ulianov, A., Müntener, O., Schaltegger, U., and Bussy, F., 2012, The data
treatment dependent variability of U-Pb zircon ages obtained using mono-
collector, sector field, laser ablation ICPMS: Journal of Analytical Atomic
Spectrometry, v. 27, p. 663–676.
Völkening, J., Walczyk, T., and Heumann, K.G., 1991, Osmium isotope ratio
determinations by negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry: Interna-
tional Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Ion Processes, v. 105, p. 147–159.
von Quadt, A., Erni, M., Martinek, K., Moll, M., Peytcheva, I., and Hein-
rich, C.A., 2011, Zircon crystallization and the lifetimes of ore-forming
magmatic-hydrothermal systems: Geology, v. 39, p. 731–734.
Wotzlaw, J.-F., Bindeman, I.N., Schaltegger, U., Brooks, C.K., and Naslund,
H.R., 2012, High-resolution insights into episodes of crystallization, hydro-
thermal alteration and remelting in the Skaergaard intrusive complex:
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 355–356, p. 199–212.
Wotzlaw, J.-F., Schaltegger, U., Frick, D.A., Dungan, M.A., Gerdes, A., and
Günther, D., 2013, Tracking the evolution of large-volume silicic magma
reservoirs from assembly to supereruption: Geology, v. 41, p. 867–870.
Xstrata Copper, 2008, Copper mineral resources increase in southern Peru
by almost 400 million tonnes to a total of over 1.6 billion tonnes: Santiago,
Chile, News Release, 3 March 2008, www.xstrata.com.
Xstrata, 2012, Mineral resources and ore reserves as at 31 December 2012:
Annual Report, 51 p., glencorexstrata.com.