Volcano tectonic setting of the Salares Norte Au–Ag epithermal belt, central Andes of northern Chile

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsames.2024.104882
• Publication Date: 2024-03-28T16:44:37Z
• Authors: J. Clavero; P. Pérez-Flores; F. Rojas; D. Huete-Verdugo; B. Droguett; V. Ramírez
• Keywords: Phreatomagmatic eruption; Maar; Diatreme; Cinder cone

The Salares Norte (SN) Au–Ag belt is here defined as an Upper Miocene-Pliocene metallogenic area, extending for nearly 200 km, located NE of the northern end Oligocene-Lower Miocene Maricunga Belt in central Andes Chile. just east main reverse NS fault systems which are part Sierra Castillo, Potrerillos Mine and Claudio Gay Cordillera faults, limited to north south by NW-striking oblique arc Imilac Wheelwright-Incahuasi regional faults systems. epithermal deposits within SN intimately associated with occurrence Middle volcaniclastic basins phreatomagmatic vents their related high-sulfidation hydrothermal volcanostratigraphy comprises sequences, subvolcanic volcanic rocks ranging between Lower Pliocene. High-angle involving Paleozoic lower Cenozoic units form western-southwestern limit belt. Folded faulted sequences host rock at least 4 events that generated maar-diatreme fields discrete maar vents, facies, widespread arc, age ca. 15 Ma. These four spatially temporarily have altered both country explosive activity. formed dozens hydrothermally areas where argillic, advance silicification steam-heated alteration common. Most emplaced a strike-slip tectonic regime NE-trending shortening accommodated sinistral-normal NE-striking extension structures. crosscutting interaction favor fluid circulation migration, well mineral precipitation on structural and/or primary lithological traps tension cracks. In summary, almost km long 60 wide mainly NNE-oriented, during Pliocene (ca. 13-4 Ma), small volcanotectonic oriented NS, NE-SW NW-SE directions, most or repetitive structurally-controlled fields.