t9r

Jo uollEsflolq e^DJelasJo olsq uoltuetlp rrtsotodpuno.B\rqq e8nq p qlr,\1,ttsodopeqt Upd tueqUou

Jo
eql ul llsotu'sula^zuenb,,ediq-v,,uerJpqJolro,trlJotsesuaturuo pacnpoJdlue^asrql pt
'sau,{qdlod t tI rtl pe]rlp
ocug pus lsa^l laller.lsaqlJo uorsruluraqt iJ}t,t\srrouorqcu,{s se,,nua,raBursretaurur pacunouo.rl
elotu V uouEslleleuluPue uollPJallecteutSeru-ac '{Ee^i ,(q paturdurcrcu ,{uo.routeq ueeq^sq
o sreedde,0,(qdJodlsg aqf esPqde^rsnJlursrrllfursrecour oor ,{a>1 p pe,4uld,tualruoJt^uaolroJal
erxapa,rrssardsucll E r{tl,.'rpalerJossB,{lqpqold,euoz uotleuloJa(J lsr?A-lnoJ rqcssal!aql tcq} aJ'epr^a
st areq o>,(p Surpuarg q8norc se f.r,{qrLlo lseg eh 9 tt attJo uotstlJur cruocaufsaq qrm
Surcuauruocllsod"p lurBsult Jo uornlo^e ucr3ooa8eq stsaqru,4s
1o ,nau u peuodtlnssuq llo,r\ trro.eU
,uortpstlp,Jeurut
Jo se8Ets,(llseeqt Bur-rnp ,{qnqordpue ,,{_rfqd-ro rnbnq.l aqr.o
uotsrululeqlJaUPpueSuunp'ero.oq a,rtJe st^\pue's^\oLlcrls^rlcutoo pulslr(ol,{ru flupolcur.sf,r.lqot clttrnp
-rtrtespue elrlJnppecnpodpue ',ft,{qdtodrnbnqJ eqt slJor aq: slJe.{lp,strd puu
Jo lle^l Jd ulcurecrnbnq3
eqlJo suJRrulsea-quoupue lseeeqt uo pasruSocar sr qJrq,$,euol uolrTrur(lel lsp3-tlllrry rqesser{ eql
'ltsodapeleuecrnbnqJeqtJo
uortnlo^e leeulLu tsodaqt pueJleslruorlt?srlceutu aqt .sarr,{qrJ.rod Fuqsoqato
aqlJo Suutesoql a^o oruoc anlcus Suoltse pEqseqpuc ,stueua^oueslf,^oqeqord pueua.uncsuu
Surpnour,{rosrq creuteurxaduoc e seql .e8uur crozoueJeq ot lra^erleq sr o.nssr{ lse^A?ql .lse,r\eql
ot xoldtuo3 eunuoJ ueJlpqoql uorJ'sua eql ot rqd:otnbnq3 posre_reurtu,(lq8tq arlt ffrlpr^rplrsodap
eeurecrnbnq3 eqsltlds qcrq,a\ lueuace ldsrp e.raut u sodsq rqxat .lrsodepqlJose,$aqtot
l petBJolllnp,+
ecro,rqns'Surpua:l qlnos-quou,leuotBaJ e sr ,ulats,(Stlnul olfauroq lEuorFa eqtJo qJutqelef,stctlsp
lueodturuE'aJnssrJlse^Aeql atlotpoucJDEualgEl\ .t eqt lse,\\prursceerlol qtoq puc.xaduro3
e^rsnjlul EunuoJ fJeruel EW gf ol aql slrrclt lse^r eqt ol ellq^r.scrucclo^f,rozosahlpuEstueutrpes
'oluotpoupr8rrsseuJ
!uauaseq crqdloureaur-snoau8r crozoepled sepnllut rseaeq o1 .serrfqtLorjoctreg
pue tse ,\ lseg aql'seseqdaelql sasrrduroc pup(fu,{qdrodrnbrrq3)ifqo rnbnq3eql seu,,noulst .aurul
aqtot trd uadoeeuecrnbnq3aqturo.rJ spuerxrlJrrl^,\ 'xaduroc srql -Burr.ldrp
tsa,n,{dears or Il7:ue^qos
st qcrq,.{'xelduoc e^rsruluru.tl S,l x .lelnqu,pereiuoa E c ,(q pasoqsr llsodapEtnursclnbnq3 aq
'luaurqcrJue puu uorllplxo'SurqJEal oua8radns uanbasqns pue
'uousllereulu pue uollrallP euaffod,(qJo seslndJrposrde-llnupupsuorsnllur rllr^\'JntJIrlJJE lpJntJruts pu
,tltqearuad cruopal ol pelplelsesseoordJo ecuenbesxaldurocfua Jo lcnpotl eql srtl .e,uarur furpuar
lcurl
g '8uo utl 0t E Je^o posodxefercd tnq ,sa,rerff tuocar,(q pata,roc,{leflEl .lteq pesllpJaurut Rrl lI
oCesaslJdtuocpueJaddocauuJolWslpauruluoce^eqotpetrurrtsesr,.,(leuroueelcsrrtauurl,,srqt
' E u t u t t u o r r o u d . , f e L u o u e e e c s , f t e t e u e d , , e p a e c a q , ('u su er . r a r u r
eq J r u r o u o J e s t u a u r e lJee q op u e
J o
urnuapqflotu'raddocJououPltuaJuoJ snolEuou olscsleuorSor euortdarxa uelo rsodap ureu punaroceqsr
leuJEcrnbnqJ lqalecrput'uorlEuuoJur Suqsrxe-erd urorSpeluap sderuocmaupue,lctlstCeuoN oJlepoJ
aqto srrsodep raddoc/,{qdrodaBEeusJosrlo-euacoE eseq1o,(1ruror,r eqrur Burrrptlaopluaca .ralsn1
IIoI eqt pue lrsodepht{ eql l tse,^\qtnos eqt ot uortesrlsJaurtu leuotrpp peEtolscq flutllup tequnJ
',{poqeroeeuecrnbnqJuttu
aqtJo uosualxeuJequoueql Buttueseldaj,Jaddoc eurJJotr{ 9jo euuatod
? ql/d (IU) Jltuol oruopeu puE .EtEulEJrnbnqJllo{ pe^tJepraddoc aug jo thl g qtr^r uoltclnunrJe
cuoxanS zur eq lurpncurlJulsrp aqt urqtrmsrrsodep leuortrppe peutltnoosle seq ll .epupcrnbnqJ
1e:addoc sug nris ?r Jo 0hl) souuotuotllrru9 Jo oJrnosalE palEurlap suq s0s6l eq erurs uottDroldxg
'^BpJeoats,tlJosauuol
000 00t pue
eoJo sauuol 000 0l lapu||xodd turnoure_r flluaLjnc,.(Bp luesetd ol
eql penutuoJseqBuruthl .sepxo
pe"ulruassrp urruaqJo uorlerodxe lrd uedoqlrm gl6l lltun eJuauruoJ lou prp SulutruoJEJsEtJlsnpur
q8noqlle lrsodep oql Jo uorssadxeef,p,Jns aq ele/$ teql sute^ eprxo eper8 qflrq pue stlorcno pasrpixo
pesodxeeqt perJro,rf1errursJeuttx llplS
.etse8elouyo,{trr
aqt tseequou
Jo url 00 .eltqJ ulequou
o se8uesepuv eql ur ?rlsr(leuoN oclapoJ aqt urqtl^\pelecolsr lrsodep eqJ funlual q,6l eql eJurs
u^roul ueeqsuq rsodapeeurecrnbnq3 oql Jo uortestlpJeurur urnuapq,{our pue raddoceqJ _ lJgJlsqv
2l!qJ't tDttJrrlhtltlJ,aLrcN 04rpo1 nolDlJ p Dt.ruaraD-
'altqJ'ltqJ
al, oSD,tt/,s .stutrlnsuoJ tDrt.td
I
(t00Z.lo)JBIS ecr3ooag,pue
orup lA ouel^l. ,zrlg^ JolJoH.,l?urSopuetxlVi ,czlurHopuEtucJr,scuneo:puefcy,
.IYNONY OW-N
J U-IYJS UYJ,UNV'IdV .{O gU OJ'YIVWVJ I NONgC
' '! '6t\stqt
!.t9 ! dd il aplepry CAdaAtpadsred/eqolgV sttsoda7plog p taddoS CNIHSI.lBNd
Iitldto edns '(pj nl tatrodllqeuouvol1-ngaFlS teFueldeJoelo3 'eeusJtnbnqC
. 900'(eOO p) aS pr!6opagpue yI ')ue^h' H ,2[6^, v 'ev6 ,! 'e4urH, V 'sounej
CCdul
152 SottthAmeca

macs,andsecondary potassicfeldsparpartiallyreplacingplagioclase.Thishaloallectsnrcstol'theChuqui
Porphyry carryingweakandmostlydisseminated chalcopyrite, pyriteanrJbonrite.s hile in its outerfringes
chloriticalterationwith pyrite predorninates,with litile or no copper.The brckgrourrdpot ssic llerlrlion
preservedthe originaltextureofthe porphyry,adding,depentliugon the altcrltroointensity.ct4rrcrvalues
rangingfrom 0. I to 0.5% Cu. Following the backgroundpotassicalterirliu),art irl,r.rc,/rrrlrr.{.r( cvcrl
ensuedwhich was responsible for the rnainhypogerre rnineralisationstageat Chuquicirnrala.l'his intense
potassicalterationoccurredas NNE orientedbands,probablyrelatedto rereaterl reirctivation ol'the lVlessrbi
Fault-EastDeforrnationZone. The two resultantalterationassernblages (potassiclldspar-fine qu rtz.lnd
grey-greensericite)sharedthe samelocusas earlierpulses,destroyinglhe porphyrylexturesand rdding
abundantveininganddisseminated assemblagesof bornite-digen ite-chalcopyrite-covellitewith cunrulrlive
gradesin therangeof0.6 to | .2% Cu. Towardtheendof I he intensepotassic eventa latepulseo fchalcopyrite
was zonallydepositedon tsfringes,generatingan averagegradeof0.8% Cu, and rrtarkingthe onsetofthe
more destructive episodesofphyllic alteration.During the transitionfrornthe potassic[eldspar-fine quartz
to the immediatelyfollowing grey-greensericitephase,a seriesof rnassivequartz-nrolybdenite veinswere
emplaced. This veining prorJuced a tabular,subvertical,nortlr-southto NNE orientedcore zorrein the
central-southportionofthe deposit,with averagemolybdenumgradesrangingfrom of0.l to 0.2% Mo.
Clear evidenceof brittle-ductiledefornationis registeredfrorn the period betrveenthe early alleration/
barrento weakmineralisation stagesandthe latermainpoly-episodic quartz-sericitic (phyllic)event.Durirrg
this period,which extendedfrom 33.4to 3 | . I Ma, the depositwas subjectedto iIllorlunttectonicstresses.
lntensemain and late stagequartzsericilicalterationwas imposedon a north-southelorrgitted zone in the
westempart of the depositat 3l.l Ma. This phaseobliteraledthe fonner mineralogyand gerrerted a
telescoped, high sulphidation,primaryrnineralassernblage, with theadditionofabundantpyriteandvariable
amountsof digenite,covellite,enargite,chalcopyriteand bomite,representing a signicantincreasein S,
Fe, As and Cu. There is evidenceto suggestthat the coppergradesfollorvingthis lirstphaseof intense
quartz-sericitealterationlargelyreflectthe distributiorrirhcritctl liorlr lhc intcnscrolrssicphaservith rare
remobilisationand the adrlitionof no nrtrethan 0.3 to 0.5% Cu- Dextral-nornral, north-castoricrrtcd,
distributivefaulting,e.9.,the EstanquesBlancosand PortezueloSystenrs, producele ecltelon,progressrve
"southblockdown" displacement, finally truncatingthe ore body to thesouth.while exposngit closeto lhe
rootsofthe mineralisedsystemto the north,in the directionofthe RT mine. Thiswas followedby uplifl and
sinistraldisplacementalong the West Fissurejuxtaposingthe barrenblock on its rvestemside wilh the
orebodyto the east. Fnallya sinistral-normal north-westfault systemrvasreactivatedto produceweak
segmentation of both the hypogenemineralisation and the WestFissure,while increasingthe permeability
that influencedthe subsequnt supergene processes.
Betweenl9 and l5 Ma the depositwas subjectedto at leasttwo leaching,oxidisinglnd enrichnrertevenls.
The firstgenerated a thick,stronglyenrichedblanketwith gradesaveraging2 to l7n Cu. which waslocussed
by the late and waning stagequartz sericiticalterationthat producednou-reactiverocks with abuntlant
pyrite. This blanketextended,althoughrelativelythinly developed,beyo|ldthe quirfz-sericiticzone,into
more teactivesectorsto the eastand north with lesserpyrite and predonrinantly early polassicaltera(iou.
Subsequent tectonicuplift loweredthe meteoricwater table,oxidising the enrchedblanketto produce
hematiticleachedremnantsin the quartz-sericite rich lithologies,and high graclecoppersulphatesn the
potassicalteration of the near surface in the easternand nothem sectors,which were th target of early
miningactivilyat Chuquicamata. Lowgraderemnantsofthisoxidecapmaystill beobserverjin thenorthem
partofthe presentpit. The leaching,which originatedin the phenomenon ofsuddendorvnwardfluctuation
ofthe meteoricwatertable,alsoproducedexoticmineralisation thatwasprincipallytranspofedsoulhfiom
the main deposit through a palaeo-channelto form the Mina Sur orebody.

Introduction The Chuquicanrata depositwas originallyexposedat the

Hisloric Ertolulion of the Mining Operniut
The presently named Codelco Norte Dstrict has been
known for its coppemineralisationsince the l9'n century
although it is most famous for the Chuquicamatadeposit.
Chuquicamatais located lgE km northeastof the port of
Antofagastaand l8 km due north ofthe city ofCalama, in
nonhem Chile, close to the gulch and hills of the same
name. The district lies within an extensivemetallogenic
belt of large Eocene-Oligoceneaged copper porphyries,
between the El Abra district to the north and the La
Escondida-Zaldvarcluster to the south (Fig. 2).
surfaceas a barclofaltered and rnineralisedrock a couple
of kilometreslong and sorrelew huudrednretreswide. lt
branchedinto severalstrandsbforepassingbeneathgravels
in thenorth,while il wasstructurallytruncatedto thesouth.
Intensefracturing,gradingto brecciation,wascharacteristic
ofthe oulcropping orebody,particularly at "La Llampera"
whereleachedand oxidisedsurfaceore averagedmorethan
1.5%Cu, althoughthe samefracturingcontinuedinto the
low grade adjacentzonesto the west. The westem fringe
of the depositwas chaacrerised by intensesilicilication
and rae to no copperrnineralisation.To theeast,at Cenos
de Chuquicamata,early small miners exploitedseveral
'metre wide' veins with averagegradesof 8yoCu, hosted
 'uor8cr.rIJo srsodcpot{-nJ fuqdrod
cucsSrlo ol cucro3ctslrofBlu.qlpuE(scurljit^ecq)qs,{Stln?Jo,{cruoc.qtJo
sffneJurBrucql alflJ |,aqvou u! utattDdlnDlaqt 8r!oqs uDtd uoltJo1 :l ejnald
'seJopexru e q l A q p e r r n D a rs E s l r c r e r l l p e r u E ^ p Es J e l r o ^ l J o
PuesePrqdtns(nJ %S 0>) eper8/$ol Eerlot parrorssrrltLuoJ srunal trd aqr3otrro pucero erllpelnqloql slpJlrr?l
se/r\Jea,{rad Jeddoceuu Jo 000 g l eJnpold ol i(ltJod[c auuo0 qI,r surI pBol "tsc,r
ot sla^orls urDels Sursn puc3urscq
q t r i nl u E l dS u t q c e a l o reg' 9 6 3 u r : n 6 9 8 6 t S u u n p 'rapaaod loJ saloqtsElq
.oJuV,,{ltuacererourpueelruruufp
pescAlleuull lltun pse.rJ.p,{a,rrssarSord uoucnpold 3urrrppeprrour cseql _lEupc gtueucdaqlJo uorlJnrtsuot
aprxos,ueurecrnbnqJ',(ltuanbesqns ecueuodul lenbaJo loJ pedole^ap,{lletlut sanbruqceuonrertxe e^rsspu
ueeqpeq 'saprqdnspuE seprxoaql 'seul uorlJnpod qoq pesn'seur(upunoSJapun elEcsllBrrslJe^esqlr^r palsrxeoc
rs096l aqt dn xoleJluecuocaqt q passaco:duaeq
IFun qcrq,n'rduado aq sg66 eqt pue E16l uea^1lag eurtu
osepeqsBurre pexltlrJol l 6 '096| g 1rnqser'rued lns ?url,\luen3aq urou eJoeprxoJuoxeloJ esnut lltls
rnqdnsaqueq,nsgg61aqr Surrnproeruecuoreql q8nolqt sr pue patdepeuoq eJursspqqJrq,r\lueld Surqcealte^
pessacordlsJU aJe^i seo ,Oeuud pue fuepuocag tue eql tE passe?oJd sE^\eJoeql nf %g l Jo ssacxaur sapaS
rBA aql Sursrtltnsgg6 ,{reeeqt ur pef,uetrluorlaluelq qlr^r(etrtueqroJq-alrurEJpt) seprxoBurtroldxa 'J qJuequo
lueuqcuua aprqdnseql o seplxouo{ uo!llsueJleql ut selo 'eJeEredtt|el'le'l aql 'S
Jo tjod uetsEaeql uo peJlual l6 |
pextu Jo luauleeJ eq. J yoLZ'1pe8ere,resseco.rdre Suunp uuBaqsuorteradord uado aecsletlsnput'e8lp'I
eqtJo s8urtletqJeeleqt qBnoqte'passacord uaaqpeq aro 'ereurecrnbnq3
1euollelJUeueq pue
Jo W 0tJo llol 3'09l S 9 0:l sE^\ouer alse^1:eo Sururur fq pare,rocar
uaaq,{pealE e^EqJe<ldocaug3ot,15
eql Z56l SutJnO eo eql Jo enlApus sceslelcetuqc
eutos qJrq^\Jo lt^{ 9 ol suru e^U tsourle ,(q eJnSrlteql
s u t m o o 3e q 1
e q l o t u t t q 8 r s u ru e a p r a o r d s c r s r e S
perdrntu e^eqseteultses.,{epoJ (reddoceuu ,rrisl1rJo
's.96 aql Euunppauopuequ eaduroc t r,{ t I lelewrxorddE)nJ 9,ao0
Jo aprr e8ura,ruuc qrn ero
1vugara,nsurerlaq '8urneqecuetsrpuoqs loJ 0961 mol.l Jo (ll l) souuoluorllur00 roJ eruaod e pecetord'9 6
eutu ql ur pasrlrtnuoaqpcqscrut qBnoqllp's.061 ortlol ul ualnuapun 'lrsodapneuccrnbnqJeql loJ uotltttus
po^Iruns'srgcflurdutnplpretEl.reircqlr.trpadclnbaaq ot aclnosallcreue8tsr!JeqJ tsa^\o0o 09 c drp ot pa,raraq
Jalel'ualss eBBln?qurell eql SurururrrSojduaurdoc,rep sc,,npoqaroureLueqt ,(nrru slJoJ llc^l uallcq ,(q
091 le to seuneJ v-ett43 eteurectnDnqc
 154 Soulh Anedca

a
A
Tocopllld

u
h
di
c(

lir
th
AS
e
rh
Doevko Faull I I ln(
Syslen Coidor I EX
foi
I of
m!
,tr':"
h;i
I .
acl
op
ln
Figrrc 2t Location plan showing the Codelco No e Dsrcj fini
w i r h i nn o r h c m C h i l c a n d n a c r i a l p h o t o g r a pw
h t ht h c k c y
dcposils and prospcclswithrn rhc district
Ch

Th(
Explorationdrilling programs,whichcommencedin 1957, acQ
discoveredlhe exotic deposit,now known as Mina Sur, in f<
with potential for 5 Mt ol- recoverablefine copper This geq
exotic mineralisationwas fomed by the leaching of we
sulphidesatChuquicamataand transportin solutionlhrough dui
a palaeochannel to finally be depositedat the basement- ofO.5%oCu, andprocessingin a heap/dumpleachingfacility dee
gravel contact at Mina Sur. The centre of tbis deposit is locatedclose to the mine. To the Dresent.2Mt offine Thc
approximarely 2.5 km SSE of the fringe of the primary copper has beenproducedby that plant. resQ
ore, below a totally barren overburdenofthick gravels. prol
A review ofproduction from all ofChuquicarnata'sfacilitics dep
Mining began at Mina Sur in 1967, removing the to 2001 showed that clos to 2000 Mt of ore had been add
overburdenand exploiting exotic oreswith averagegrades processed at the differentplants,conrprising:i). 1300Mt app
ranging from 2.0 to 3.0ToCu. These ores prolonged the of I to 2% Cu sulphides(the tailingsfrornwhich are in the the
life ofthe VatLeachingPlant,althoughin placesfineclays Talabre Durnp with gradesof O.29. Cu anr.l0.08% Mo); Chu
madeit difficult to recovercopper,and althoughthe grades ii). 550 Mt of Chuquicamata oxides treatedthroughthe andi
weregood,suchmetallurgicallycomplicatedmaterialwas Vat LeachingProcesswiih tailingsgadesof 0.25YoCu;
stockpiled and is now known as the 'Stocks de Alterados and iii). 150Mt of exoticoresfrorn Mina Sur with a head The
de Mina Sur'. The rate of production has been gradeof 1.5to 2.5% Cu, and stockpiled tailingsof0.44% in th
incrementally increasedto the cu[ent 30 000 tonnes per Cu. Additionalhigh graderesources areavailablein other altel
day ofore with a gradeof 1.5%Cu. To date,closeto 2.5 Mt untreatedstockpiles- and
of fine copper hasbeen ecoveredfrom Mina Sur. lnver
T h e p r o g r e s s i v ed e e p e n i n ga n d c o n s e q u e n tl a t e r a l of e
From the explorationdrilling programcommencedin | 957 expansionofthe Chuquicamataopen pit has resultedn an proje
to the presentday, the NNE extension of Chuquicamata, increasein the waste:oreratio which, in the first 5 years eleva
mostly concealedbelow barren gravels and occurring as of mining had remainedvery low. Emcientmanagement
The
oxidisedandsulphidebearingporphyries,hasbeena target ofthe adtlitionalmaterialwhich mustnow be sentto waste
Ceol
for advanceddrilling reconnaissance.Those extensions, dumpshasbeenmadepossibleby the intensiveuseofhigh
conl
now part of the RadomiroTomic (RT) deposit,are relatively tonnagetrucks, that for newer expansionrequirementscan
of thq
low gradecomparedto Chuquicamata,but dueto the length alsoremoveoldertrain durnpsandhaul tlremto moredistant
confir
ofthe mineralisedintewal (up to l0 km), haspotentialto sites,or even to bc retreated.
patic
contain 25 Mt ofrecoverable fine copper
In summary, to the present,approximately 14 Mt of fine in the
Mining operationswere startedon the northem side ofthe copper has been produced from the ChuquicarnataMine, supp(
RT mine during 1995,with productionschedules growing while a fairly well constrainedpotentialesouceofJ3 Mt rock i
to the present180 000 t ofore per da at an averagegrade emainsavailablewithin thedeposit sched
 'perolsrBalaleudoddEse^rpuP
apor'ucr8ooe9600raquratagoqJ ttd uadoparpqJs
ButapoutuoucespuetsodepeqtSoSurpuetsepunIecol eql eql /holeq sJrsrJeJEJEqJ puB suorrpuoJ,(rlrqels rI^
IJoJ 'eu
roJ luE^ales"\orluuoJursrqJ 'eroJ pe88ol lsnor^e.d aqt se lla^r se'qdap o saperi reddoccefordot uoddns
,Oesseaeu aql s8uriq sururopfuepuocespu fuEurudor{lur
eu
Jo ru 000 ttl eqt roJ ..3ul33ol rrlEluaql,, se pe,rar^e.l
eJa,r' cta'seprxoreddoc'sreepecrSoloqlll'sulooq pue aro uo slojtuocaq3o Surpuetsrapun Jlleqeqt lrenarrd
sdolseqansscadsu ecr8oloatreqlo,,suoDces urEu,, uJ uorlElnJlcJecnoserrura 3uo1 aqt ur eJueplJuoo
"qJo luEl
uotzerdretutaqSuunp'^oqpequcsepsB'slaeqs3ul33ol o a,raracor8e ro Sur,troeosle alrq^l lrsodep aqtJo UE
^\eu eql ur paproceluorleuuoJuraqt ol uoDrppEuI 000I:I suorodradaapaqrur llcroodse 'opEJBJaddocuo soruoc qE!
Jo eleJs e e patereur-ar ,{tuanbesqnsere^r suorlJas aqt 1o e8pa,nou> reaq e sapr,rordlapo err3ooe9 01s
'pecedsu 'patueuo
llup ese{J ..suorlJesureui,, 661 lsr,4r f 0 0 Z J a q u r e r C e q J o a s p e l e Jp u e u o r t e r a u a Ba q
-lsze'peqsllqelse le
' eqtJo qcauo trsodepero eql SuDtnr '(roou SC
saloq(rrr :uorlesrleleurueql Jo se8uuJlelatploql auuep lrd uedot00 eql ^roleqtu{ I ot er) "1 uort^ela
ru 00| eqt se daapse o sa8euuoeruaod jo uorcoord ue
ot pesn eq osle plnoc tlJrq/'\pue'leuuou ot eqrssodse
esolJse stJeluoJIecrra,rqnsaq 8urncsaloq elSuptse,rol eql (^l :-l)l uorle^eleuI 0991 eql ol u/r\opseJnosa Jo | r
,(qerelerdpueseiuol aql (r rsodepequo sle^elre^roleql uouurrlse aq(rtl :trsodapteueJrnbnq3aqtro fuoue,rur
Surqcear'saoqsedaepeqt (r :ualrjcBur^\olloJ acnosaeddoc eql Jo uorlelnllEJ elpJnJreeJotu pu
eqtJostseq Jaql
aqt uo 3ur33o-a.r 3urepdneqt ]re^rollR (ll :sua^auotEsrlpJeurur/uoreJalls
ro pelcalasero^1seloqllup 3ursrxe-erd o/,v
'prlospallepotaql ulqltr''\ Jo tas ^lau eJo uorlruuepaql (! :paltrurad'radedsrqtul pBa
pesueulunspuopessncsrp sc'lepoN 00JequaJeoeqJ
roc IIUp Jo ru 000 tst lutol oql Jo o69 faeurrxordde :n
'laforl pue
turuesardo]'lrsodop oo uteuectnbnq3 eqt Jo tepor! [00 raqurora6aqr sn patuasa:d eql
t00z eunf ur pa,rarqcc,(eur sum rsodapeeurecrnbnqS :(o
f00 qt el"reue8 ol (salecs qtoq tp) eror peSSolarpu
/neuJo l 000 st Jo lslo rxo{ uorterrloJurecr3ooe8 e l o q ^ \ q J o I a p o u r e c r 3 o o e 8e q t 1 o S u r r e p t l ne q t eqt
'stdacuoc
pepr,rordurerSo:dsrql trsotlapeql urqtt,rrsuorcol ecr3ooa8,,irouSursnpue 3urf8o roj saqceordde ll^
pue suorrodcgrcadsuor3 uorlpuuoJurfueluauraduroc lecrSoloe8^1euJo uorteJeue8aqt pue BlEp lsuortrppe ue
a p r , r o r do 1 ' 0 0 0 1 : l J o e l B J sE t E p e S 8 o l e rs e / r ra J o J s r q t q l r ^ \ ' - l U u o n e ^ e l at u 0 0 R l e q t e s e m t r s o d e p set
clrotsrqJaqtoJoru 000 58 uEqteJoul'uorrppeul 00:l eqtlo ped lerlueceqt ur qcrq^\'trnullrd luUpauurerSold
'pe88oler sm aoc Surlsrxe-erd aqt ,$oleq ,{lsour'acuucgruSrscrurouoceJosef,rnosel
Jo elecs e e peod pue
'porad aql Suunp pelrnpuoc Jo aJussardaql pauuLluoo3ur1rrpsrqt uroJ lep eqJ eu
Jo ru 000 0S lnoq elrq^i 'rd
turr.lp,r,rauJo ru 000 0t ol asolc JoJ eJoc llup rxo{ utuurecnrbnq3 eqt urqlr,^r uar?uepun sur,r8urrrpdeap !
'gg Surrnp
peploce.r se^tuorteruoJur lecrSoloeS'qJeorddp srqlSursn Jo sartatu'0 0t Jo ltot E t00 pue 99
',{lluenbesuoJ
'uunJoJeues aqt ur paLalsr8ar lepotu S66l eql ur tueJeqursessaulee,r
are pup sercuelsrsuoJUr eql eruocre^oot sdecuoccct3ooa8
'sellr^"c Eulqceel luutuJJr"q o'alup,(rlue pue urnsd,(8 ,,rreu.o uorcraueS aqr pue 3urupdaaptuoJuorleuuoJUl
'ecue^ele reqt o enc uoqEu[xlrcslp
o acuasardeql leuortlppE 1 o A n u c n b u e c 1 3 r u Sur s o u o r r s r n b c e
pu uorBcurluepreprqdns,Oepuocespue ,{reurrd aq uo pa,lo,rurco8sacrnoser^\eu eql roJ qcnordtlecrler,,rseql
stseqdrua qum uaserdsreq,.euoze"reurur,, eqlSuoecrpur
'nnurncrnbnq3
utunloc e ur pepnlcur erp lueuqJrueauaSradnsrue
uorleprxo'SurqrealJo sJall" eqt 'lellredul uou?telle .oJlepotuecr3ooa8 aqtJo SurtepdnpuEecupssrttuuorer
pasodturradnsaqt fq pacodatsotautw8u4sua-atd at1(|t sac:nosar3ourruflo.rda^rsueurue peJueuruoJpuEpecuEuU
pue uoUeJatfAq pafolsap satwxatlo a8ouauad aq (n prpoq le.ruqcel srq pue ra8eue1,{3o1oa9eqt'purur ur
'uoffEfcosse 'stueuerrnbaleseql3ur^EH euru eql e3r
Jo euorerado
f E c f S o l E r e u r u J o a J a a - u n ) x oq \ t ( r
: s : a t a u e e dc r r c e d se a r q l ", {gql t a o q s 3 u r 3 3 o e q t u r eql errurluo?ot arn8g aseq Sururu raaq e Sur,rarqce
peusa-d ueql sl lua^e uortesrlereuur-uorlprel qceaJo uo ptojucuoJoq ot peq suoJJ'fJuff-rr.loelleu
,qrsuaturqJ sle:eu!u lenpr^rpureql uaa^uaqsdrqsuoulaJ s 'lluanbesuoJsuorlDrado lld uadoEl[rxEJrnbnqJJo
lcBuoc elqe^resqo eqt puE'lua^e qcee 3uruosarde.r pue pe lnpeqcs eql sp l0 peuruErSortl gg .ree,(aqt ro1
(an8ue8pue ero qloq) suorlerJosse lereurtuaqt Sulpocel uedsseursnq crcq-o aq'Jelncrucd ul ue8oduorsuedxe
,(q pauuolred sr l trsodep eql urqtr^1pe^rasqo stue^e rduedoequro.rj8urnsar uoudurnsuoc e^reserSurseercul
uotles!lEaurtu pue uorlEJellepasodurrrarlns e^rsseccns aqtetppoururoJce o sJJnoseJ lBuourppe3o uo0craualaqt
aqt 3o (a8euacradeunlo^ alnlosq ur) luauernsceu uoddnsot pa.rnber oslEsp uoreurJoJur elle uorsuelxe
pue uordrrcsepaqt uo pespq sr poqleu 3ur33o1eq JnS Eurt! eqt puc eSur uraqtnosstr uaa,rlaqsE lle^{ s
'plpu|llJrnDnqJJo uorsuatxa uraquouaqt pus 0urrqJU eqt
'rom ssr3ooa88ureporu
-stuqlnsuoJpa{url ruo{ 3usuesueue^o:duerssa8od Jo slepour pue 8ooa8eqt uoa^lteqparrnbarse,naBerur
'aurl atueseql tv ('lu)
le^al e^ueleJ uo0E^eleur 008[
Jo lJnpoJd eql se^r qcrq,$ eaqs 3ur33o1 ^\u e uo eql ^\olaq lrsodepoqt uoruod edaapeq uo slortuoc
pespq'petereue8sE^\ aroc llup 3ur33oarpue flur33ojo Jo
'aJueprruoJ seraqBrq fuessef,au eql
poqlar lnau E eJSord 8ur1apouaqt.o e8els,(pee ue tV ecr8ooeleqt Jo
urqlra'trefoJdo trcedec aql a,req]ou prp ]r'uoutppeuf
sao uq lo Surlioay puo 3u!33oT 'aptr8jo uottctpard srtur i(lurguJJoe8apf.ole.lsrtesun
'sJJnose uE IEa^er o1 unSaq pcq ,{poqeo cutuecrnbnq3
eraurtudaap
s.eteuectnbnq3toldxe fqergord ot eurut punoJflrepun e q l J o J p e l t r e u e ? a r o u e c r 3 o o e fe q l ' 9 6 6 1 , { g
enlnJ eql rol pedoa,repaq o1 sLuerSo.rd Surururrue onn n:ntt h n q3 nl apo1
Jrulouoce eql JoJ uoddns parrnbaraql apr,ro.rrJ
ose r,,n !mopag parop.In unlo uautdoataq a4t nlsataafto
'V - olt.lC 'epwednbnqC
991 F Ia squneJ
 156 South Aerca
Fiq|nre 1. Aerial photograph ofthe Codelco Norte Dislrict operoti.nts
RegionalGeodynamicFramcwork
Chuquicamatais the main deposit of the Codelco Norte
District,locatedin the Pecordilleran rangesof Regioull
in northemChile, and west of the recentvolcanicac of
the Los Andes Mountains. It is a porphyrystyledeposit,
associated with Eocene-Oligocene agernagrnaticintrusives
(Maksaeve/ a/., l9E8; Maksaev,t990) emplacedwithin,
and relatedto, the Domeyko Fault Systern(Maksaev,1990,
op. cit., Lindsay et a/., 1995;Tomlinson and Blanco, 1997
a,b). This regionalsystemof north-southtrendingfaults
has been interpretedto epresenta transcurrentintra arc
systemora .rench-Iinketlstrike sIiplauIt ts/er (Sylvester,
l9EE), formed by transpressivetectonicswhich originated
during oblique Eocene-Oligocene subduction(Lindsay
et al., 1995; Reutterer a/., 1996).
The Codelco Norte Disrrict is part of a rnajor belt of
porphyrycopperdepositsalignedalong the DorneykoFault
System(Fig. l). This belt exrendsfrom Poterillos-El
Salvado to the south to Quebrada Blanca-Collahuasiirr
the north, also including La Escondida. Maksaev and
Zentlli( 1988)determined thatthosedepositswereformed
during a restrctedinterval (from 4l to 3l Ma) at the
culmination of a major compressiveevent (the Incaic
Phase),which resultedin shortening, thickening,uplift and
terminationof the widely distibutedperiod of Upper
Cretaceousto Lower Tertiary magmatsm. As such these
porphyry deposits and their related plutons representthe
final magmaticactivity pior to eastwardmigration of the
volcanic arc. This event is interpretedto have provided
the geodynamic famewok responsible for the optmal
tectonc,magmatic and hydrothermal conditions required
to generatethesehuge porphyry copper deposits.
Geochemicalstudiesof lhe intusionsrelatedto these
Eocene-Oligoceneporphyries showed them be "l-type",
r-
J )-
,..i;+',f
plutonsol'theMitgrrctite
calc-alkalinc Series.Theirisotopic
and traceelernentcourpositionssuggesta deepmagmatic
mantleorigin in the Benioff Zone, with a residualgamet
phase(> 70 knr),andsubducted oceanic,but no cotrtinental
crustalcomporeDts (MaksaevandZentilli, l98tl; Maksaev,
l99o).
UsingCe(lV)/Ce(lll) ratiosin zircons,Ballard(200l) and
Baflartl er ul. (2rJ02),denronstratedthat the nlagrnatic
evolutionoflhe intrusives relatedto El Abra.Chucuicamata
andOpache(the Toki Cluster).correspondedto a systematic
incremen(al increasein the oxidatio||stateofthe magmas,
cuhninatingin a maximum in the youngerfelsic phases.
This incrementing ofthe magmaticox idationstateis a key
geochenricalfactor in the magma'spoteltialto deposit
cqppernineralisation. Sinilarconclusions wereobtained
fronr studiesof the Upper Mioceneporphyrydepositsof
CentralClrile(Garri<Jo et a|.,2O021.
Geologyof the CodelcoNorte District
T h e C o d e l c oN o r t e D i s t r i c t c o n s t i t u t e sa w o r l d c l a s s
porphyrycoppercluster (Ossandn arrdZentilli,1997).The
districtincludeslh depositsof Chuquicanlata,Radomiro
T o r n i c ( R T ) , M a n s a M i n a ( M M ) , T o k i , O p a c h ea n d
Cenoveva,andtheexoticoresof Mina Sur (Fig-2)- All lie
w i t h i n a N N E t r e n d i u g ,3 0 k n r l o n g a n d l 0 k m w i d e
mineralisedconidor (Fig. 2). On the basisofprotluction
recordsfrom the nrines,drilled reservesand resources,and
guresfrom advancedexplorationprojects(Ossandnand
Zentrlli, op. cir.), it has been estimated that the district
originallycontaineda total ofapproximately125 miltion
tonnesoffine coppe ofwhich closeto 38.5Mt havebeen
extractedto date,leavingaround86.5 Mt in situ. A range
of age dating determinationson lhe rernainingcopper
mineralisatonindicate that it was ernplacedduring a
restrictedtime periodbetween38 and 3l Ma.
tV 'pa"curul 8ureq,(ll?uu aroJeqansstClse^ ql luole ' l E r n J n J t s ' e c r l o o a au o p a s e q a e ^ \ s u o r s n l c s o c
Ja^rls rlnqul'pe3pe,r r(erncnrs'\olrll ur 0t o 0 sE Jreql ernssrC tsa^t eql Jo qrBuel Eq ra^o tul S
ssrsradr araqm'( 3rg) rsodepaqro qtnos eql ol tlnEJ jo ueruacedstp lerslurseu sm eqleqt pepnlJuoJ
olanzeuod aq Pus lse aq ol auoz uoDEuuoJsctspa eql (66f) oruel8 Pue uosurlroJpus (661) 'lD td slltq
:$e,tr q ol 'ernssrClse \ aql :fletuEu 'sllnEJluEuodrurq
'eJnssclse^\ aql uo
luaua^ou uol
pepunoqsI ll 'qtnos eql o paradefuncruts sl tr elrq^\
'(u 'Icots a^rsnrurer e>fpsfue ero tsod,(q pacedstparugaporo,nseserduorerete
006) quou eql ur tsoprm
Jo u[oJ eqt seq xadu.ro3&r(qd:o eeruucrnbnq3aq IErureqtorpq,(lee erl tErll nq'saSets uorlesrlsreurur pu
pup uorluetle tsalpl aqt qlr,^\peprcurocl:ql fdolosue puE
'luegodtut tsour aq JeJq 'llcf,lrteu|nlo^'sl fu,(qr!od
'sugeq sau,tlto 3ursrxa-erde 1o a8uue,rpeIoot lr leq pue aro sod
tsa141pue oJuDg ?.rr3reql ,serteue^ ,{lueururoperd se,nllne.jaql uo uoueuroJep
'(,rf4d,ro teql salctpul
lrntxelulEu eaqur pepr,rrpsr xelduoc s1g trsodapaqrgo3ooa8pareep aq 'ssaaqua,ralrsodap
tnbnqX,, aqt) xodulo3,(r,{qd:o eetuecrnbnq3
eeLuucrnbnqS aq.ouauracedsrp aro sodro3aqrsuodsar
eql urqtt,nleJIua
pasoqsrrsodaparo etpurpctnbnqJ eqJ sc 'sessaco.d
Suraqse 1a,,ir 8urtu.ro. arolo uorlEstlcol
xadno3 tfttho Dtnut o)rnbnq J e t { u o a ? u e n u u l l E r n l c n l | s, { a I p p e q e J n s s t Jt s o ^ \
.a,rasrqt,r,roaq aqt teql e lll s.loqlnepauollueuaJoJeeqt Jo lsol,l etuu
qtdaple uedo
.a^oluaura^oulJo uortJerppueesusoql ur saSueqJ eJe^s
sureuu aper8ttues eqlJo uotlesrleraurrtd uelnc eql
t{tr^\lnq luaLttaJeldsrp esre^aeqeqordpue luaxnJSuE
Jo oou eql moleq u 0001 tnoqs o Surpualxa'tu00gl sl qloq Jo seel8ep 3ur,(re,rSurpncur'rotsqcDetueut{
uor.l?srlBaurtu
epej8 clruouoJeJoluelxe lclua^u,\\oul qI
'(ur g6t) qlnos eqt ol 8uredet'(r xalduroce seq tnq'a8r ur JrozoueJ eq o pateraut
006) quou aqt ur tsepr.^\ s! ll (6661 '! ,t seuulrl^l :L661 -lD a sellc :661
/,
lrsodap pote8uolegNN'8uol ru 000t E sr eeurecrnbnq3 'oJul8 pue uosurlurol :866 fEspurl :S
| 661' p ta espt'l].1
:9661'f66 t '/rr,,aellneU:0661'^eEslEl 3 e) lcrrlsrpeql
llsodo0 ulsruBrrnbnqJ aqf Jo 8ooag
ur uollesrlcreurur raddocol drqsuoqulalpue uollnloArsll
'uorestlBteuttu eueJollo-auacog oqlJo uo passnco-lsuol|ea.d.ratur puo satpntsler^esJo loafqns
uoreru:o3 lurcuengursassaco;d aqpue,(-tqdro tnbnq3 eqt ueeqseqrnssrltsey',l qI tse^leqt ot '( 100PlElleg
aql qoqJoluetuereldeeql SullloruoJs[coJelqprlo^p, :uo rz ur q-n 'et^l lit-6t) xeldurcJ e^rsrrlul EurruoC
e Surpr^old'senlcrusqloq uo luaura^ou leuorlElsuel urrpq aqt tuo{ tsee aqt ot J,(qdrodrnbnq3 pesreraurur
'(sad&
lrlxap eqt ulo{ Surtlnser uetle llnd Jo la^o dals) , { a , r t s u a auqr t S u r t p r e d epsu e ' l r s o d e pe e t u e c r n b n q 3
xadnpeuorsuaxa anrlceue patueselderllneC tqassahl e q t S u r l c e s s r p ' t u e u t e ^ o leur o t s o d s t l q ! q x e t E q l
pue arnssrCtsa^\ qt teqt pasodo.rdqcrq^a'(066 | ) ^acslsl,"l
ne Surpualqtnos-quou lEuorBar EsEsrnJJo'urels,{S llne{
Aq pauasardsrseqlodqpadoo,rap,tsnor,rardeq qtr.,r,r ol,{etuoc aq Jo qcuprq uuodurue 'ornssrJ tsaA orll
luetsrsuocled ur sr srqJ lrsodep eq o uotleuuoJ pue
'url
uortecol eql ur alo a e pe,(edne1 rqessel{ eq'Sutfldur s lx
'uorlesleJaurur sa8es,(.rea
Jo eqt 3urnposle flqpqold eu|osJosuorsueturp pasodxeqlr,A\ IJols enrsruur areri(p
'Surpuargq 'futdrftp 'alp8uoleu sE
pue '/fu,(qdrodrnbnqJ aql .o uauacudursrege pue se,r,ro JEJUe^qns
oroJaqe^lltg sB^\ tlnJ aq leql Juapt^e peiejlo sJoqtn pasodxesr puesauturf,ruroJoruopeUpueeteurectnbnq3
esaqJ (966f) /p ra ralne pue (S661) o a Aesput'l aql qtoq le uorr?srlEreurur eql ot lsoq uEururopeql sl
,(q paqucsap sE'sroleolput clleuaur lEltxep qll,s,rrou ,(r,trd.lo rrrt1.]oql (100' tD,apellcfl)uocltzurqd-n
crlselcplcpue seruo,{ru Sulpnlcul'ctJqEJuorlsutt(Uap uro{ et1 9 fC lDpelcpse,lltu,{rldrodts eqJ- (',(.t,qdto
elrcnprus ot elrtJnpe sttqtqxaauoz tlnEc rqlssel eqJ n t b n q 3 , , a q t ) r a d n o 3 , Q , i t d . r o o o u t o )t t r b f i t l 3
'slcuoc aqt o 8ooqttureru aq ',tlr.frrl.kr lrz3 aqt ,{q papruur
lenlntuasnJrppue enper8rraql puese^rsnlluro,,r,tl
eqt Jo ,(lrel|turscrqderSoredaq 'aBesr o1enp fu,{qdro .Je sJrupJLo^eett| .ql 'trsodepeqt Jo tulJ uletsraeqt
rnbnqC aql o rosrncardB aq ol pa^orlaq,(1ereuaa sr uroJeroo llup ur pup 'trd uteruerrnbnq3 aqtJo tseequou
'( otlt ol pelecol 'eurhl uerurEJplo tq Jo ftrurJr^ aql uJ
lEtfl t00'prEIleB:uorrzul qd-n 'l J Lt)atuolpouotC
Dual! atB osl? nq 'selrsepupEletx puE soruEclo^elaru '(8661 fPspurl :9661 ' ,a reuneu)eoz
/,
crozosel4lureru'srcorll/rr uoJ fuqdrod Inbnqf, ?ql
uoDeuuoJeclsea-tlnegrqessorr aqt luole sesuelpapcolsrp
seJdes lr seereseqlul lrd elEUEJrnbnqJeqlJo surfunr
PUpeuuoJePse pu8 sIJoJ lusrxsqqlr^\ lJsluoJ llngJ
gNN pu $ee aql uo pasruSocar'trlrtslO auoN oclapoJ
ur pasodxeare 'pasoqdroureaur lJtuoJ ueaq a^q qcrt{^l
aql ul arnloruls luJUruSrsraqto ?ql sr llnpJ rqessehler{I 'stuawtpasDtatupue sJntDJlo^olau clozosal p!JrlJls
'ernssrg
sa1aql Suole tueueceldslp 'seoj8eueseql ul euru crruol oruropEueq
Jo lsEe
uecur8rslnoqtr,$ loqu"qc cDetu8Eruuourruof, p uto{ eqt o puerd eeuecrnbnq3aql.otscequouanpxoduro3
pe^uep 'e8e JelrtursJo o fjcodueluoc aje teql seltueJ rrozoeelpdeql seprurur'( 100' lo ta uopuesso)e^lsnJlur
crleu8etu elerdesomuesarda:,(aqlleqt st eArttuellaqJ renuurBtnbepauter8 utntpour ol esJeocE 'atl.tollzouDtg
'erns$C
lseAeqt ,(q paJeldsrpllltsrursqlrloqtEques aqt /sDgf,rssEr eql (861'uesqp'IpuEJr^ouucl!) antxel
'saxelduroJ crssraui,(erede qll^r eIuErAurlcoJr U.l',urdp,'apuo.to
Jo uEd el eqtlql srsaqodi(qeql Suruoddns
asoqluee \equoDelaxocaql peuuUuoJa^Eq'fulsrueqJo.8 ?sr4lsnoreJruoqrJeql apntur xarlurocatuessrqo
sluweleecpuee8pluequocJlz'uo?zul q- uror3sa8e slcor crtuolc eurhElEueJrnbnqJeqtJo tsPauI I pu
uoupsrllels/cpelrelep Sursn'( 69'prellEB)serpnlsluecar 'tfd rns Eutl,! eqt urq|l,r qtoq sdoJno tltrym'nduo3
erotyxelduoJ qV eql puexelduloJ ^tsnllul punuoJ
lg ttrdtoutoa1'sttoarST crsserr le^{o'l ol ctozoeplcd p
oql uee^\lqsuorllaJloc crqdaSoradpueecr3oouorqcoa8 o 8uoaqcrrsrqaoN oolapoJeqt ql!/r1s{ro. tsoploaqJ
l9l p lsouneJ'V- elqC'epwernbnqC
158 SouthAmeica

depth,in the samearea,whereit is represented by the East porrhyritictexhrreswithin a nrediurrrgrainedfabric. It

Porphyry,it is structurallywedgerlto a wi<Ithofonly a few c o n t i r i n ss p a r s et o i n c r c a s i n g l ya b u n d n tc e n t i n r e t r i c
metres.To thenoth,thecon'rplexis colrtinuously exposed nregacrysls of-K lbldspar,accorr4ranicd by subhedralto
over a length of severalkilometres,throughthe Chuqui euhedralphgioclase,producinga poikilitic texturewith
Norte Projectarea,into the RadorniroTorricnriue. inters(itialquartz.K l'eldspar,subhetlralbiotite and rre
hrrublcrrdc.l\'1rgrrctitc. lilnilc irrrcl rrconrtrcaccessor ics.
'I
The Easl Po4thyry variesin conrposition fiorn grarrodiorite he crystallisalion ugc of the Est Porphyry was drtcd at
to biotite quartz monzonite,with phaneriticto iDciprent 34.(r Ma by U-Pb in zrrcon ( ljallard c a1.. 200 | )-
-l-he
Eastl)orphyryis locallyintrLrded by snrallerbodiesof
Bonco Po4tht''and lest PorT[,r'n, both of which are
preferentiallylocatedin tlre northernpart of lhe deposit.
; i Thesetwo poryhyrieshavea sirrilarcornposition to thatof
lhe EastPorphyry,but ar distinguishedby their binxrtlal
txtures,wlrich are clearlyporpbyritic,withirrfine aplitic
groundnrasses.Althorrghthe Bancoand Westporphyries
by the presence
are sirnilar,the Banco is characteriserl of
plagioclasein its ground rnass. In addition,the Banco
I'orphyryoccursr the fornrofdykes and its contactswith
the EdstPorphyryare both sharranrl regular. In c(nrtrast
theWestPorphyrybodieshaveruoeirregularshapeswitlr
diffirsegratlationalcoutaclswitlr thc Erst Perphyry.
'lhe
crystallisatiorr agesofthc Wcstand lIluco porphyies
aresinrilar(33 5 Ma nd 3l.l Nla resrectivcly lirnrU-Pb
i n z i r c o dr c t c r n r i n t i o n[s] ; l l a r d ,
1 1 .2
. 0 0 1 ) .T h c l i n a l
coprergratlcdistribLrtion is not irrl)rrcnced by thepresence
o f B a n c o a n d W c s t p o r p h y r i e sa, l t h o L r glho c a l l y t h e s e
lithoJogies nrayconcsporrdlo snrallzonesof Iowergrades.
Both (he Banco ud Wesl porphyriesare crosscutand
o v e r p r i n t e dt,o t h e s a n r ei n l e n s i l y ,b y t h e s r l l e n a i n
alteratiul0nd nrineralisatior eventsas the EastI'orphyry.
C o n s e q u e n t l yl h , e C h u q u i P o r p h y r ya s a w h o l e i s
co|lsideredto b esseDtially "pre-mineral"!vith respectto
thenrainnrinealisirrg eventsthatwereresponsible for th
fonnationof the deposit. Nevertheless, as the Westand
Bancoporphyriesare simila in age to the early pulsesof
alteration,the porphyriescouldrepresentthe Iocusoflate
m a g n r a t i ca l t e r a t i o nc, h l o r i t i c a u d p o t a s s i ch a l o sa n d
mineralisatiorr.

)lhll Rocks to the Chuqui l\trph'rv

The Chuqui Porphyryis truncatedon its westernmargin

by the WestFissure,separating it frorr the locally weakly
nrineralised to tolally balen Fortu d Granoiote
Contplex,which has been dated at l9-18 Ma (U-Pb in
zircon;Ballard,2001).1'heFortrrnaCornplexoccursasa
s t o c k o f h o r n b l e n d e - b i o t i tger a n o d i o r i t ew h i c h h a s a
Inediurnto coarsegraiucd plraneritictextrrrervith local

E ChuquicamataPorphyry
l'Sl
Complexlt-lveins>sovolume%
ouartzmotyudenite variations,specilicallythe Grey and ClearCranodiorites,
and the SarLorenzoPorplryry.Closeto the WestFissure
ffi Melamorphosodvolcanr.
c|aslcrocts
ffiff.fl
lllllli
st'ongseconoary
I enfichmenlrone thisirtrusive is brecciated andshearctl with abundant calcite

E2 Andesitedyke
Marginof total
sulphateleachng
andhernatiteveining.The Inaficsaregenerallychloritised

re
t-1 by low intensityalterationwhich is not clearlyrelatedto
Pit oLillne,2200m RL
Elena Granodiorile the rnineralising even(soccurringwithin theneighbouring

m
al December2003

ForlunaGranodorle Final plannedpit ChuquiPorphyry.Inplaces,somedeepzones,lqcated I to

oullne.2200m RL
2 km west of the West Fissure,aud relatedto the San
ffi East Defomon Zone \.. !8l,ito"o*o Lorenzo facies of the For(uneGranodioriteComplex,
cortainweak potassicalteration(secondarybiotite and
Figure 4: Geolog! aid slucture on the 2200m RL, bench QJ, K feldspar), accorrrpalied by low grade, lale [lagnratic,
of the Chuquicorrraaa line. rnineralisation (pyrite,chalcopyriteand nrolybderite).
 leql rrnlEJl?rnlcnJlseql qr^\ euoz uorpuroJec lsea 'ures Suuaaqatrlauinu puv arrr,{rlocuqc
oql etElejocol elqrssodtr 8u{EullnEc olsnzeuodeq Jo suortcesreur laddoc ape-ri aro e^eq stueurpspteu
Jo lrurct^eql ur lse^\ eq ot lesllo 8uos E auoSlepunsq f u x s J l u E J l o ^ p t uer q l s l o r . l r - r r . l : a pl r a a e r a t u o s
euoz uorlrrlroJeclsEEeql '(Nlu00tz eleutplooc ID.ol Jo ur qSnoqtc'ue!trq?iE s>corcrqoureeueseql'lEaueE
qtnos)llsodapaqtJo suortces tueqlnoseql ul futauoeSsl ul rluou aqt ol tlnEJ rqesse!\ aql qtr,r osle puE lrsooep
uI lrlIqeuB^p sBldstp r.lnlut qJtq/r\'arrozuorlprutoJeO eqt.lo sutSrptuu:eqnospue lnrluec aqt uo pesruSorar
lseg eqlJoquel e{r}seqtSuolEuorpuuo.lopJo sncolpue auoz uorleuuoJaotseS erll qtoq rllr^\ euoz pasrrrolao
ear8epeqt ur uorleue^fluorsc ceer scrJqp,l lpJnt.nlls tUeqtiousrqt:Jo uot|earroc e slsaflflns uonluuo.JopJo el,{ls
luerafjtpasoql r^rtJeJruolJeesuetulssclJoslc^Jetur erll srrcJarqJruotJatpesrtuolrlc punseruo,(tu patloanop
ueserdarsorsecu1sc eql slelute^aoprdapauuo3apun ,4ucoqtr,,'rpaploJpur pauroJep,4esuaur uaaq e,req
'el q qJrq,^\s?rozp?uJolsrp llerncnrls.ro
Inc eJ soruol,(uraql seceldu ar.rfdoccqc sesualsuncJopuu
p u e e l r J , ( dJ o s e c s J l q l r ^ r ' e l u E l n J e d sJ o s c . ? a l q 'ecuerrbes Jlozosal,J eqJoued eJeslueulpespuesJLueolo^
llruspue slelute^alel fq lnc ere errrcnrs aq Surpunoq pagrteltsesaqJ utSJu uJalscaslt uo stuerurpesetaur
setSooqttlto8 eJnlxelerccajqeql uo pasodturradns p u p s J r u P J l o A P l atul ttt , r \t J n t r t ( ) a
J , r t s n t uur t o s o d x a
ueeq s"q settuol.(rueql Jo clrqeJ e^rlEleued'elrcnp sr fufqto tspE eql 'lrsodepeqJo Jlurl ur?quoueql ul
aq q1toordsnoeu8rue uoJ pe^rrep ueaq seq qcrq,\\ 'ura1s,(suortesrleraurtu
eteurecnrbrrq3
sqau8eu pue redsplaJ'eluolqJ Jo xr.reu pasres,{rcar e
eqt Jo sastndatl flultuasa:da:fqeqord pue 'o rllrurs
urqlr.a\pelEJodJoJur'(uouEsrlErauruJo seBesf reeeq1uror. 'slolur.^ 'uogesrlnroumr
ur
,.ed,{l-C,, er:,{dqrm elcleqse
,{lqeqord)'zuBnb se lle^\ sB'snc erntcn.s aq sarSooqr
feco1paaresqouaaqseq atrrdocrqc+ alr.erceds
au
e^lsnJlur lueJeJrp eql Jo sluau8e{ apnlcul slccerqerll 'trsodep 'au.r,{d
'ts3^1aql ol (o08-)deats eqtJo ur8rr',rutueqtnos eqruO peeurtuassrp
drp nq'sseurrqtalqeuB^a^Eq
routtusulBuoJ aJEslEeuru
l]ef,oltr puEpesuuolqr,4llrrsn
tlcu{^i Jo lle'sercca.rq ne3 pasresfuca: pue selrselceluc
'selruol,{u.tJo Upurs1rq8noqtlE 'ue!eq sratuorpouErC nualEeqt'LlEr^O
spuq a,rrsaqoc Surssudurocua euoz xeduroc e
',{rqd.ro rnbnq3
sr eeuecnrbnq3Jo lepotu,^\eu eql t,(Io{ uesre sEqtq
suolsnlcuoc tuecuru8rs lsotrt eqlJo euo sr anleJ Iejnnjts uteu aqlol a^rsrutur rounrarde aq ,4eur arrorpoupJD eualA
nq I
l u e t . o d r usr r q j o f l u r p u e s r a p u e e l rorpoueJC aqt lsaSSns'aao<u p;ruoruaru sdrqsuorcar ucrflooeipue
sualA aql pue fu,(qd:ornbnq3 pesrereurur eqt uae^rleq crqdnrfortadaqtrtr.,rr uolcunfuoJrl 'a3ptueJeJaou srqJ
'( 'prcllpg) El e peu-rnar
cetuoceqt suuo; t 'lrsorJep aqr3o sur8rcu uetseeqtnos 100 t lo aie uoresresrc
'uocrz ur q- iursn ,(pntsa^rsuaqarduoJpu
pu leJluacaql SuoleflrnurluoJ leuedsqtr,r poardlatur uaJaJ
pue pasu8ocajueeq e^eq auoz uottDruJo/a1$Dg qJ- e r o u V ( 1 0 0 ' / r r , , u o p u u s s o : g ' /| , l a , { o s p u l :-6l |
'sruqtrrv,|aluorqul Jv-) puDuocjrz ur l)-qd Juteurorpet
'llsodepeql
Jo luauocaddoc uo pasq 'e8e .rozosat{ lnJtqnopc 1r peu8rsseserpns
Jql ol lup^leJuortesrlereuru Jo se8etslserlJpJrlt prre replg -a3estrsr par.rcoaq teAecuarrrrcJo s.alrJorpoue.C
,(qcLotnbnq3 eqlJo uorsnluraq paoruoc ,4qr:qord pualAot{lJolJedsp Sururcruar aql (t BrC)llne{
IErrSooa8
pue lrsodep eqt lE pe^Jasqoles lsallrpe ql sr uals,(s uey 3urr.rtstseequouaqt puEe.nssrllsa aqfq papunoq
Sutpuerlg snll sllnuJuzoetaT pue -J'eue.ueuV 'etuorpoupJDIunuoJ a(l]pue,OfrldrodInbrrqJeqt ree,rtaq
eql ,{lqeqordpue '(.a\oleqpalrclep)uortrellV crsslod paqJr,4\puts^ aflpo^'\lerrlJruts e sc rsodepaqt Jo luetl
esualulJo uotnqtlsrpeql loJluoc1qlseuozJtlsBIcEltrJ aqtuo pasruSorer osesr arrorpouerD EuelAeqJ
lse^1quou
e q t ' e u o z u o r l e r u r o J e 6l s e g e q l s ? p n l J u ld r r o l 8 s r q l 'lrsodapcleuccrnbnqSeqjo sur8reu
(uatslts tqossaw) sauoz naqs ENN al,rxn0-aqqg uleqtnospuBlEIrueJeqt uo elqrssodfu.{qdrodlsEAeql pue
'pr-t8aurur aluorPouPJ[) Eul!l erlluee^\eqlccllroJaqlJo uorBautlap
p a l e t p c f l u E r t t ' l a p o u rp r l o s q t u r p u s u e l d u l
elweJrnbnqJeql ot a^uplel peonbete suorce:rp crrlg 'uouces
'rapro ot uooJas uro{ pete.rdJaur,{llnJarec puESulllup
ect8olouo:qrur lrsodap eql ur seJnlceJlelnlcus daop ramau ur puu s.lorl 1r-rp tsed ur paB8osc,r euoT
lu^aleJlsoru eql eqlcsep sqder8ered3ur,,i\olloJeql
uorlBuroJaC lsEAaq,{rqo tsegaqtpuEetuorpousrC
'serncnrs e u e l a e q q l o q o l u r s e q J E o J J upau e ' u o t l e s t e s , ( r l a r
edrcurrdaql uo,tlurtlpaspq'pelerceldde 'sErcceJq
o
st eeurecrnbnq3 f8ooaE erncn:saql Jo uo,^{eure. auoS.rapun quqordo^Eqqcrq,,rr llrreJa^rseqoc pue
'eJoJeJeql salrselJelEJ 'selluol,4ru xelduroJe sessBdruocue
Jo (^,\oleq
lerauaSaql luo lueserdlV uollesrlEeurul
pueuorEJatle o uorear rraqtpuetrrJeql ul ueesselntJnlls ,arnfJnls, eas) auoz uolouuolae lJ?g aqt pauuet ^rou
'euoz srqJ
Jo aqunu e8nq aqt uaa,ntaqsdrqsuoqeara8e procel rsodapaqt Jo lueU uietseearruaaqr 8uou
ol lJeue8ur ernlreJaql puu lsed eqt ur Surddeurqcuaq petlole,rep,(snonurtuoJsr r{clq^1ssulJrqt euoz
uortpuuoJepelucnp-auuqorposrda-,(od "lqEue^Jo
o satntrtsuoJ
ctures,{sjoce oqt 'uepcrrostqaq1.o,(renb ur,{rrqeuaa lr teql
e q l o t u e d u r e n p o s l e s r S u r p u e s r a p uen o d u r o c u r uouru8ocareqt flurmolloJecuepUuoraurosqlr,41pflopo
srqJ poolslepun freac a,( lou anteal ccrfooa8 p u e l J e l s p , 4 t\ J p t u o r q t l e p o ! ^ l n r r 3 o o a 9g g g
ueuoduruc sr sa8elsl?aJJtpeql Jo lle ur uortnlalle aql Jo uortp.aue8 eqt Surrnp'sseleque^eN aluorpoulD
puolErclnuerSlnba aqtur stsfuQl?put ledspleJ-)loaJuesq
PUEuouslls.leulul qlJoloJtuoclenlJnrsaql'ltxaduroc
s r ro r e n p ' s s e l a q l | a ^ e-( 9 6 6 ) , { u s p u p
r lu n( 9 6 | ) ' 7 D J a aqt sr aJuereJlrpcrqdu8orad,(luo oql lorse^olluoJ
retlne :(566l) '7, ra ,{pspur-Iur peuodrocura:u rsodap s r d r q s u o u e a ri r a q l p u e r u l r u r r s e c r d o c s o . r c c u r
eewectnbnq3eqtjo sepnlslerntcn-rts palrcleplsou eqJ erE se lslllfur oml eqI a n . t o t p o u D . t !D ) uala e\l
t0r^\lseaeql ot lcttuoc louolnppJS'.srrl1rrc suq,{.tfqdro
cJnfJnrs rnbnqJ eql 'trsodepeql 1o urflreururelsroqtnos etl uO
'eeuecnbnqC
691 le leseuneJ V - allqC
 160 SouthAmeica
narrows the East Porphyry on its eastemside in the south
to a wedgeonly a few tensofrnetresin width. As noled
previously,both structural featurescontrol the eastern
margin of the Chuqui Porphyry, although their
characteristicsand thicknessesare different, probably
reflecting different lcvels ofexposure frorn north to south
acrossthePortezueloFaultandhencethedeereeofductile
versusbrittle defornation.
An equivalent offset acrossa NNE trending defonnation
zone separatingthe Chuqui Porphyry and the Mesozoic
metasediments andmetavolcanics on the northeastem side
of the deposit has allowed the East Defonnation Zone to
be extrapolatedfurther to the nonh ofthe orebody. Onthe
basisoflhis extrapolation,the EastDefonnation Zone can
now be consideredto be the southern projection of the
Messabi Fault. In fact, Reutter et al (1996) refes to the
East DeformationZone as the EastMessabiFault,while
Lindsay(1998) showsit to be part of the MessabiF-ault.
T h e p r o g r e s s i v ec u r v a t u r e t o t h e w e s t o f t h e E a s t
Deformation Zone n the south is explained as a wedging
and dextral displacementof the fault producedby the
EstanquesBlancos-PortezueloSystems, Both authors
identi$ a dextraldisplacementalong the MessabiFault-
East Deformation Zone based on ductile kinematic
indicators. The geological contact relationsobserved
betweenthe individual mylonites,zonesof brecciation,
quartz fragmentsand the Chuqui Porphyry imply that the
EastDeformation Zone had a complex and multi-episodic
history. lt certainly existed prior to the emplacementof
the Chuqui Porphyry but was reactivatedafterthe ntrusion,
to produce deep, intra-mineral structures within the
porphyry, while also confining the hydothennal system
along the its eastemmargin.
The Americana Fault (Fig.4) is another important
defomationzone that can probably be included wirhin this
samegroup ofstructures. lt is a subverticalfeature,mostly
developedin the southem part of the deposit, where it is
expressedas a breccia zone that fractures and defomrs
quartz-molybdeniteveins. The Americana fault, not only
controls the location oflate stagepulsesof quartz-sericite
alteration but also appears to exert control over the
emplacementof rhe earliestquartz-molybdenite veining-
To the southofthe depositthe AmericanaFault is offset by
the PortezueloFault.
In the northern part of the deposit, other north-south
trendingand sub-vefically dipping structureare recorded,
including the: Zaragoza Fault and C-2 Fault (paft of the
Zaragoza Domain of Lindsay et al., 1995)- These are
similar to the AmericanaFault in the southempofion of
the deposit. ln the north, the margins of the Chuqui
Porphyry intrusivecorrespondto the ZaragozaFaultSystem
to the eastand the West Fissure to the west, defining the
northem end and original symmerry of the deposit. The
C-2 Fault System is an important structural feature
influencing both primary and secondaryminemlisation,as
well as the developmentof copper oxides at the northem
end ofthe ChuquicamataMine, wbere thesnorth-southto
NNE striking faults are relatively abundant. The latter
observation suppofs the inference that the C-2 System
faultsweredevelopedearly in the evolLrtion of thedeposit
a n d p a r t i c p a t e idn t h e l o c a l i s a t i o n
of'the prinrary
mineralisation, belbrebeiug reac(ivatcd.
Dt clile Foliali.t,t l'ithin tlrc Chuqni Poth.1,r'
This structuralcharacteristic correspordsin dilTerentzones
to either foliated mylonitic shearing,strcssfoliation or
ductilelineationresultingfromthetranslation andstretching
of mafic and silicatenrinealsin the dill'erentlithological
phasesof the Chuqui Porphyry. Contact relationships
indicatethat this defbnnationlbllowed the early potassic
alteationbut precededthe lale quarlz-sercitic (phyllic)
pulses.
Eslanquei Blortos o d Porte,ueh,Fsult S!,slenl
T h i s s y s t e m c o n t p r i s e sa s e t o f n o r t h e a s tt r e n d i n g ,
subverticalfaultsthat are exposetlacrossthe deposit,but
are more penetrativein ils northenl sectionswhere the
EstarEresBlancosFoll/is Inapped(the EstanquesBlancos
DomainofLindsay et al., 1995). This fault hasa dxtl
sense of movernent in the north-easternparts of the
Chuquicarnata pit. ln the northernsectionsofthe deposit,
lh Estanques BlancosSystemplaysan irnportantrole in
thelocalisation ofboth earlyand lateepisodes ofalteration
and mineralisation, as well as supergene processes.This
is reflectedin lhe strikeofthe alteratiorr zones(Fig. 5) and
theanisolropyofminealisedveinsanlveinlets,indicating
thatthis faultsysternis 'old'and influencedhydrothermal
processesthroughoutthe evolution of lhe deposit. ln
parallelwith this,well documented evidencefronrprevious
structrrral reponsand studiesshow that this sanresystem
was reactivatedwith a post mineral dextral senseof
movemente.9.,Renzetti's(1955)geologicalsurfacemap
which considersthe EstanquesBlancos Fault to have
produceda 200 nr to 300 m dextraldisplacernentofvarious
mappedunits. The BalnaceclaFaul1,locatedin the centrai
ponionofthe dposil,alsobelongsto theEstanques Blancos
System.
The PorlezueloFotll,which striksat 80'and dips 80"N,
is locatedat the southemend of the nine,and has been
rnappedin tlreeastemsectionsol-themain Clruquicarnata
pit. lt can be conelatedwith fault traceswhich havea
similar dip/strikethat have recentlybeen mappedin the
old Kl drainagetunnel,andrecognised in about6500m of
lrill corefrom the sanrearea.The traceofthis faultis well
defined,particularlywhereit limitsthechlorite-specularite-
chalcopyritemineralisationof the Chuqui Porphyryto
producethe sharpsouthemnrarginof the ore deposit. lt
alsoesultsin theabruptfolclingand westwarddisplacernent
of the East Defonnation Zone, which defines the eastern
marginof the Chuqui Porphyry to bring it closeto the
WestFissuretherebytapering the Chuqui Porphyry on its
southernside to becornea nanow tabularslab wedged sln
betwecn the West Fissure and East Deformation Zone. as
Theseobservationssuggestthat the PonezueloFaulteithe:
i) cut anddextrallydisplacedtheChuquiPorphyryandthe
East Deformation Zone by more than 300 m, or
i) that t was a pre-existing,pre-mineralstructurethat
contolledthe intrusionofthe Chuqui Porphyry. Further
detailed wok and acquisitionof data fron drilling is
requiredto resolvethis question.
 'seEls a^rtre ^lqBqordaJe^\puPpasrxesllneJJo las A\NN aql
Eurluudre^o luonbesqns qpauerqosE^\ ,peardsepr^\tnq tqr,{le)itl aroJereql sr ll sllntrJ ^ANN eseqt,(qpa1oruoc
e o l u s E ^ \ l r S u r t s e S S n s' t s o d e p a q l J o eputputar are rrsodap aqt -o sa8cls ,{reuornoae tuele.lJtpeql ol
eqt q8no:ql praltecsosle eJe slcleu trsodapeqt Jo SurBuoe< slelura^puesure^aurosurplrsodapaqt urqlrrrr
suolltasuaquou puptuelseeeqt ur palnqulstp,{lepr,ilsr pup acuopr^aoslE sr arql 'Ja^^rolJ luurecEldstp lellstuts
'pa^Jesqo srtur
lue^auorlestl?leutut/uorlpJellc lstlJee eql st slql .lo ..^1.1.. n qt.1\rllrrl rll (n ro.fn-rrpcrrprrru e
'1Uetuqluue Surcnpo,rd'leluelq tuaruqJUua eue8jednsaqt puDaltrssrC
rourrx Jo sauoz lecol ur ue^e 'nJ %9 0 ol l 0 nto{ lsa A eql qtoq aredsrppuv rc ose,{aqttqtaf,uapr^ase
Surfe^ lpJeue8ur ^\ol st uorleJellectssetodpunor8ceqeql lla,\1sE'slcetuoJ lccrSoloe8 puEslnuJqtnos-rluouIlljlsluts
'sure^ pastlereuru.t
ur sapJ8JoddoJ sarquenbeeurproqns,{ra,rur ,(uo rq .o uaurarndstp IErlsrursolE?seletu
'aruepq,{our pue euelpqds'alrcocleqt'etllle^oJ'ettue8rp rrlt r(r lisnq rn srro|][^rsqoasaql cr;rurursodpue
epnlcur tueserdseprqdlnsreqto .{ecolueuodu| Suraq eBesaeare stne.otessrrltlEqtpepnlJuoJe^Eqsarpnts
,{luo etu,{do elturoq'eptqdlnslupururoprqt srtufdoJleqJ lJntonrls J.rppE rsodepero aql.osuortcesuaqlnos pu
'stuial lBlluaceqtur luepunqetsou areqJrq^\(S66| "/r,a.{Npur.I 1I
lpjaue8 ul suolercosspetU,(d+ elu,{docleqc ol
o e l r u r o q + e r r f d o c e q c e u e a o d , { q s e 3 u r . J t l c c o :lo urEuroctse,NluoNaql) sarntJtutslcarue^qns'Surpuel
'(%l>) /dol sr
luetuoc aprqdlns eqJ slelure^-otolul ,4N ol ,4 NN unrodurrsepnlJur sllnJJo elrns stqJ
eo
sBluelxeessal ot 'pue suotlcutruesslp se,(1ureusrncoo s4no Snpuat,11
"
uousrleJeur4 peruasard,(1:eacsr,t,{qdod InbnqJ aquo
'lnf,lrJlseql uo perlueJaJeqJtq^l
a.rnlxaeurBrroaql lql sr uoqeree ctsseodpunor8lcnq
e q l J o c r t s u e c J E qe. ^ r l J u r l s r p , { r e , ry seprqdns sua,ra Sursruraurur alu.(d/alrcres e8elsae,al oruocot
pu elrclEc'zrenb,(q peruedruocce Jpeddp!a^a,a1og s?op'ernssrC se/t\aqJ. uo|l]srlcJautupue
slelure^-oltlrll
eJps rncco osle uec rndspa1 uorl|?letluureuL erllJosrxef NN ,{leteut|xo-rclde eqlpuutnr,1
) pue atllol8 tlnruaq
ol peua^uoco pa,{ortsap sr alrlauBur asnlulIuulSr0 Surpuelqtnos-quou,{lluururoperd eqt ueemeq uorlJarrp
's^lJ Jolpup alrcues 'redsplal eIrjts ur saJueJ-l||p aql ,{q puoddnsoslualDuorsnlJuo3
) o peJellE,4a,rucacs
ro ed ur ,{rnsnsr aselcolSEld alrrl^r,lrorq,{-rnpuoces fq aseq ruas,{p s a s r l E r u r r ll nr u r f u o ? q l J o y g t u [ q l
fu,(qdlo. rnbnq3 eqt ur :,^Jrr?ur ssasuascrdor unsslJ tsAoqt .{q pJtrldsrppunpalcessrp
Jo uauecctler a,rrcaas
eql ,(q pesuetcereqcsr.el,{lsuoneratlea8es,(reasrq. fpoq aqt 3o uortoeseqt cqt slsailns raqunJro^r srql
'rnrce auaSotl,{q erlt
uuuoqorp,(q to erluar eql Jo tse,$
(d rtssDtopuflorfupoB
) ot pelpcol sr r lr?rlltnq'trsodap eqt-lo srxraqt uasaldal tou
suortotrossv (a4rt-,ro7) uouDplqdryS 6to7 ltog seoParnssrlseAaq t[rlt acrrpur,4reac'3urrrp daap
,,nau eqt,(qpona,rar uouesrlcreurtrr pue!rorl|?tle eue8od,{q
'atud
ucpunqe pup uorlrrqutsrpeql lsa/y\eql ol lncJaql
Jo Jteruur,(s
puE'uorEsIlejeurur uortprqdlns raq8rqqcnu qlr/r\'tue^e ssol:) eluorporcrc cunuol ue!Eq eql qI,^1 uotestlEtautu
cr1,(qd ee(rr pue'etelquessBeprqdlnseqt utqtt,t\eju,{d pue
,(rea fufqdro. rnbnq3aqSursodetxnflrsotlap ato eqt
,arolqtl^\ 'uorleprqdlns,rol ,{ltee (r :olul pepr,tp fcrodure
.orurru.rase,r duqg arllsaurlopll luaura^orrl]osesues
eq etu slue^e uoDeJalle-uoQpsrlerautru eueSod,{qaq ese^erpuEasJaASusJl lcrsrurs rllrA\'erntcn.rs nreurur sod
'uoru.ro1n afcs e sr lr leql eccrpr,u'Je^e^\orl rd aq urqlrmsuoE^resqo
eel ,(q petelalrlqo,(aire1uaaqe^pq qctqm suorttrrossc -rsodap rrddo:r ,4.,(rdlod crnLuecrnbnq3 eql.louoltuJolaql
uorlpJalle ,(peeeqlJo nd se pacnpo.rur sn,+r teddoceq1o 3urortuocur pautltr loJ rlt puo rotrrlo^cJtlurrourI
lsou.l'asEqd (rrll,{qd)ercuas-zcnb ae1aqtSouaurdoa,rap slr auruuetepo apo1ncrlorag t00 eqt rq paur]p
Suunp peuaua8era,r seper8raddocq8rq euroselrq^r 'lpql tualsrsuoc pus,(llcJpruats,(s se,t pun'ecurrlrrrbnqS
pelealersqryo^1srql uretsfsletuteqtorp,{q eqtJofuolstq c nej aqestuSorer tsoLueqr st t qtdapqtr^^^\ollqs
rrposrde-,{lod eql pucladdoJJouoqJnpotut aql ol lue^oloJ ,{a,,rrssorSortl qcrqm,1.ggor se3uesdrpqrrrrgr
"g-o
uoDErrroJurlucr3ooe8lueUodut ancaso tlrnuoddo ot qtnos-quousel ts'lJeue8ur llnDJ errssrl lseArqJ
eql pepr^odsnJoJ lenldecuoc srql trsodapeql urqt!,,r\ atnssr! tsall aqI
ecEldlool leqt uo!tpJallepup uortesrlpreurw oueSod,{q Jo
sue,ra adqnu aq3ouoreardraur pereap pueSutddetu 'eseqd crrire paJuu^pe eqlJo ecuesqE lntol
'uorru8oca; eql ueeq sel oqt pue Jlll,{tldatpurproqns qll^r'pesodxost rsodapeq
apo4ecr3ooagg9 eqr
;o ueurdoanap aql tuoJSursuEsJue^pe ueqraqlJoauO 3tl aroc crssc<xJ eqtJo rrorlusrlrr'lrr(rt puc uo(lr?Jallp Ja^el
tadeap'qtroueql ur cruol oruropcu r,alq^r'pc,uesatd
uorlurallv ry uo!lBs!lBroulNauc8od,tH sr uot|crelluJrllrfl.lepaJuE^pe(la^al {3rq)acp,l-trs lnru
'uorteJallp pue afes aepe,rrasard'1,\rll tE'rJtnosaql ul uonulell
JrrJues-z.renb anrseruetl
pue uonesllEJaurtu.o sa,rapasodxaeq ul seJu?reJJtp
eql Jo ,{lr^DJBaJ IEcltueqc-oJls{qd pse snJol rll s.{rolloJ
a q t S u r u r e l d x e' q n o s a q l u r u r s e qi a ^ t u e o . l e r l t o l
osle lueurqcuuaeaSredns Jo uoltnqutslp eqt qSnoqlle eetuertnbnq3.oquou utorl Suuamountuts orssa8od
laluelq luaruqcuuerepuocasaqt sureluoclErllurseqsqlJo
t l r ^ 1s l J o l q l l r l e J u o l a q c e u e J o s e r . e se p a c n p o r d
,(3ooqrJ.rour
eqt ortuoc-redur o s.readdetas nca Surpuer
seq srql lueue^ourleuuouJo uauodruoo ..u^\opJolq
^\NN eqt lrsodepeqlJosuorlcasLe.rtuec aql u 'uotltppBul
qtnos,,tupuodur up e^EqllE urats5oanzeo-socueg
'spoued
uecarpue uaurursodecSurrnppae,rrceer senbuesEeql Jo slncJeql tpqt atrpur'epouruaserd
'uretsf5
n e g o l n z e u o d - s o t u e l gs a n b u e s ga q t o t aql roJ tno paur7Jo,r ecr8ooe8 aqt pua rsotlapaqt
arnsee8nfuoc e arEpuE'ltsodapeqtJo stsue8eql Suunp Jo ued uq)rou eql ur pat.npuoJsuorte8rsa,rur etncnrg
'epuetlnbnqC
19l le tasaunef V - ot lj
162 South America

^q)
N
\-

F-
^q)

tli

m Easl Delormation Zone

N I n t e n s ep o t a s s i cr e l i c l( P l R )
afler overprinling by
transilionalquarlz-sericile

N I n l e n s ep o l e s s i cr e l i c l( P l R )
a f l e r o v e r p r i n l i n gb y
prvasrve quan-seflc'le

E Transitionel quart2-sericite

E Pervasivo querlz-sericite

ffi
NSS
Zone of quartz-molybdenite
veining (>50 volume%)
Intensepolass'c(Pl),ncludingK leldspar.
b}}SJ Unequarlz(K-sil)&gry-greensericile

Backgroundpolassic(PF)

m Chlorilezon(CMH)

Alteration

Figwe 5t The sEes and distrbution of ohemtion on lhe 2200m RL, bcnch Q3, ol the Chuquitomota
Mrze, Fig 7 showsthcsamcaltcraton
stylcson thrccrcprcscrtativc throughthcdcposit(2700rnN,
scc(ions
3600mNand450OmN- indicatcdon thcDlansabovc).
 'N,x00z),sodpcqqBnorq,suo,,r.sr'q,uosr'"
'$,11.",'J,1il:j:"",:tifilli:ill'ffiJHit;X(;;;
otDuoltnbnqJaqtlo'fi qeuaq,7rua|r uo uo\Dsr,an.]Io aorrrrllrrsllr
puD sal,tJ
rlJ :geJnald
uorleslleJautn
-
_ nnnt
tuauqcuua,adctdJ6uo4a
-!
NOU_VSt'tVUf
Ntn ^uvoNoc3s
^ aurnp^ q %09< r..
DurutgJ\
euepqpul-4reno ..j
ntnNfo^10y\lN300d^H
.tpoq"q, . -l
"r-e
!urcq< etudoteqt --
eru^d
<eN,(dcoreqc
ttttffif,f
ept'dln |gtol %! LDqt erolt
..
e l u ^ o o o r e q< oe r r ^ d
rrT-r_n
llllll
aTffrl.rrn
eru^d
<ep^doneqs
llllllllllll
-r-
arurcq < err^docpqc F_l
.Ptqotn |Eot%l uEr[ so.l
uotlelcossv glu^d rro.l
alu^doqeqe - st'r,(d
eru6|p- atufd
etrl^c}J- etud
atroreua- otufd f"F
tuPuruiopa|Ud
uouebossveu,(dq6rH sq
NOIJ.VStlVU:lNtyI3N300d^H
D
N
'le
]e seuneJ v - oltqc 'eEureclnbnqc
164 SouthAmerca

Backgroundpotassicaterationhasbeendatedat 13.4 Ma, acconrpanicd by irrcguhr K l'eldspLtr

halos,nrostofwhich
based on a set of A-Ar ir brotite and K ltlclspar with thc alteratiou.
are rn equilibriLrnr
masurements (t{eynoldsel a/., 1998). This date is very
Chloti.,4IIcrolit, (ClI|)
similar to the age of crystallisationobtainedlbr the West
andBancoporphyries, irnplyir)ga geneticlink. 1he intplied S e l e c l i v ec h l o l r t r c l l c r r t i oor rl ' r r i r t r a r ay t t d s c c o n r l a r y
link is supportedby a spatialassociation in the northoIthe rrralicnrinerals.antl the develorrnerrt of chloriteveinlets,
depositbetwenthe background potassicalteriltionandthe are fourdon the fiingesol the deposit,accorrrpitnied by
main bodiesof the Westand Bancoporplryries,aud by a low gradecopper(<0.3'% Ctr)mineralisation- ln thehigher
densestockworkofbanen "A-type" veinletsthatareusually benchesof the nrirre.ivheredrilling infbrruationis more

Ltl
E

c.

Section4500mN section3600mN
UJ rJ 1000
E 0 500
|-'_-______
Melres

m Eesl Deformation
lntensepotassic
zone
relicl(PlR)
t
/ faun

N atleroverprnlrng
by
quarlz-sericle
transitional
a\-
f:-l IntensepolassrcretictlCtR P'l profle Dec 2003
- \\
l. i I afieroveFnntrng by
oervasrveouanz-Sencrte

E Transitronelquelz-sericile \
\
Boundarvof rleralion
lype Lcwercerla'nlly
\ below 1700mRL
E Pervsive quriz-sericile

ffi Zone of quartz'molybdenite

v e i n i n q( > 5 0 v o l u m e % )

N I n l e n s ep o l a s s i c( P l ) . i n c l u d i n gK f e l d s p a r -
line quarlz (K-sil) & grey-green sericile

gackground potassic (PF)

=
m Chlorite zone (Cl\,4H)

Base ol slrong copperenrchment

Base ol total sulphateleaching

Base ol parlialsulphale leaching

Soction2700mN
Figure 1t Sclionslhrough the Chuqnicomota deposil illt,slrolhtg lhe distubulion .rf olteralon sq'lcs. l;or loc(('rssccFigs.4 and5
thcgmlogyandmincralsation
whichllustralc stylcson lcvcl2200m Conlparc alsowiththcmincrlisalion stylcss shownon Irg6.
olur alruepqloru oqlJo {lnq aql peJnpoJlutpuElusuodrur pur qlrn snoauerodLueluoJ sr uorcsrlr?Jaurut aptqtlnseql
'a^tsnlf,xe
tsotu eql J ,(q sr uana elura^ pue ura,ralruapq,{our teql srlsJUaql pesodorduaa<e,'ieqsesaqlod,{q
-zlrenb aqt '('61 'olos pue snrqtr|V) sarnlcEr-lpus ,{ll[nlnu lou lnq'a^retuelle o,tu sslndero pel|luuerallrp
sule^ pesrlrqoureJ e8esell fua^ ur pue'aseqd crsselod , ( l J e a l c' e l r r o d o so , n l t u a s e r d a o
r t utees.{eql'serpnls
punorSceqfrea eqt,(rencrupd'stua^euortesrlprulru pelrPtapJosrs[q eql uo'eqlaflol punoJaq ,(utu'etrfdoceqc
/uorleJellBeqo ur pasruSocarose sr aruepq,(otuarq1 t u E u r u r o pq l r ^ r J a q l o a q l ' 3 u r l u r u r o P e Jedl r u J o qq l l / n
'uorlesrlerauru ?uo (suorprJossE o^i aseqq8noqty lruairp+ertuoq+
reddocpelpuruessrp puepello.tuoc
cre,rocarr,(docqJJo 'erll",^oc+arrrraflrp+eru.roqarE
a r n c e r l u a n b e s q n sj o l u s u r a c e d u ea q l p e t J u s e r
uoquellcIrS-) 8ur,{uedutocce sa8equtasse uauturectdA
qJrq^r sura^ eql Jo lueluor eprqdnspue ,{trlrqeauuad
eqJ petnqutsrp,(ue,raun fensn a.Bqclq^1'saptqdns
Jo )tcel oql pue'Surure^ aruapq.(our-zucnb luepunqn 'septrfl addoc sureuoc,(uraua8
lEtolZoI < qlr^\ ucrlru8rs
eql fq uorlpsrleJaurru .teddoc,(reeaqlo uortnlrpssptueql
puE stalure^-orcrru pue selule^sc srnJco,(nrua.re1:rd
ol onp'(nJ %9 0>) parnparsr reddoc'saper8 aruopq,(1our
u o l e l e l l e I I S - ) q l ! / \ ' \ p a l c o s s u o l l s l l e J o u I h J
qBtqseqauoz srql elrq^\JeAe^roH qtdaple uado rssr
'ur 'uenba.r are atup,{quee^lssEtrrpuEleluleA'petpururessrpJo
lnq 009 Jo le^JelrleJrue^ E a^o pasruSocaruaaq scq
puE qlp!^\ eEeeelU 0S 'rtt8uel ul r 000l Jo suorsueturp sacueunJco'lrsodp aqo suorceseua8od,(qredeepeql uJ
'slelura^-orJ[lt sP uaserdose are redspa1
sBq ot{ %1 0 3o aper8 e8era,reuE qtr,r\ 'JoJ srr{J ) PUEzuEno
'rsodap eq13o:ed eqt urqlr,^r '/t\"08 Surddrp ':udspla3 pue z-rrnb oulllsls,&o-otd,OJ
etuec-qtnos Ie ot -oJJrtuJo xrJtetu
pue3NN ot qlnos-quouSurIuls llraua8 'aJoJpllorluof, aug E qtr,41 Elacerq-orartrl e SuluuoJuanbar 'crseceec
,(llenlcnJsE seuuep'slalure^ puE sule^ elruepq^loru ,{lSuorlssr uortprallI slql Jo cuqEJeq] 'adocsoJrtueql
-zenb (aruno,rAq V,09.' a r) luepunqeJo euoz eql ropu uooc .{e.t3JusuetJErErlJEuo selel pue pafosep
'lur1craua8 ,{e o ,{erpetlsr qtrotordeqtjo eruxel lDut8uoeql
'zuenb pueatrqlefuepuocas,(q perueduroi)ce oslBsa?uptsul
JO lloduret e ueqt JaqlBJ'snJol lunlcnjls uourruoJ e Jo
euos ur 'rcdsplal) ,{ropuoces,{q atotq pue rcdspa
3ureqseq3urcagaf lqrssod'leluapr?uroJ s uour??ossE
Jo lueureccldarJsuetul ol atJepoutsesudtuoo..lls-),,
ereds aqteqsseE8ns srq rarreesr ue,rearuapq,(otu
s t]lpurcrnbnqJlE,{llerol u^loul ells uo!tpra}leaql
-ztJnb e q l p q l s e t e r l s u o ( e p , ( l r e a l c ' t u e ^ a( c r l l , { q d )
elrcrres-zenbeteeql ol peErrosse ,{llJarrp surarr,.ed,{-q,, (lrS-X) uottDrrossl/zHDn pautDrC ar!!-rDdsppC X
a1rr,{d-q8rqpue Surure,reruopqflour-zueub eql uoe^'\eq 'arr,(doceqc
sdrqsuorea: lJ?luoJ'sselaqlJ^eN'(,rroleqp"quf,s"p)
qlrm u,tor8ralureq seJuctsur palulosrut,(nLuatrencedg
uorlralealrJus-zuEnbaEl or{t pun ollcres uaa8-,(ar8 'trsodapaql3o surSreurtuetsueqtrros eqt uo flulEtu punoJ
oqt qlr/rl uortgrtossgeeds e aauq qcrq,.nJo qloq 'selura^
'sart||urnb sr puo'lJor eql Surlercceq fcco'tuenbarlfla^ttElarsl
.,ad,$9,,papueqpue.,suraaenq,,seSuruncco ' s l J J u r eu^r p u ps u r r t u u r r u a ssserqpt o q ' a t r n u r ar eq n c a d s
lueuodrurur luasedsr uouesrlcJeuruatruapq,(our-zrenf
atel etu,(tlorr:qcarpJ'luool qlr^r uouErcossB alr,{doclcqc+
s,Iu,A
puD su|l a upq.qoW-ztlutt a l r , ( de S u r s r - d u fol cl s c t l s t r a c e i e q c ' s u o r l E u r u l e s s r p
'PeLloruoc (ournlo^.(q % t>) aprqdlnsl!ot $olsE srJco uorerell
1ll,\Jaq qll^r PJlPlJossP uolleslleleut(ueper8r'rooq1
,(erncnrls ,{euuassase,.rruortpJetlpsrq roj 8ursa33ns
Josur[urop 'strsodep radtloc,{.lf rdrod JrleLrrAetuoquo
lrsodepeqt urqtr/'\stlaqpeuUeplle,$.{le^rtele. Jo
.eIrl-ureA,, se penqllsrperP uorlesrleeulu pelelerpuP sur8.etuaqt uo poraunocue,(cuuou olcq pepualxeaJour
seuozuoqeelle lrs-) eql nJ %S I o g g uror Sur8ue-r errdaqt toJ sraflrp'uot[lellP ctsseodpunorS>ceq
'q8rq osusr aperSraddo? ?ql '(%0t<) luepunqp eqt ot a8rur3pal.ulsare sEuoueretleHhJJo uoltnqtlsrp
"uaSodfq
sr uouEratlPlrs-) ejeq^\ lEqt /y\oqs'srpntsleJrtsrlBls aq dnor8 elrrolqc eqt Jo requau E 'erolrlJourlc
,(q petroddns 'suoll^lesqoeldrtlnur 'seuoz uorlrell ol spuodsarroc..etrJolrlJ,, sE perluuepr,{ucttlocsorctut
lrs-){ urqtr^\ se,rralureperS,i'\olpug ot eqrssodsr r p u e , { e c r d o c s o . r J E ul e l e u r t e q l t e q t e l c c r p u r
qBnoqry eseqduouerellecrssetod punol8lceqaqlfo lpql uorlerallpllhlJJo saduresSo sascuc uortccrrp er-y
e^oq,(llqSrls lsntepElS reddocpuelueluoceprqd rs leote ',{ero pasru,Socer ,(uosretoprdg rrortpratlcJo al,{tssrtltJo
qlr^rsauozrlnterjr 'esn! rp suuoJpup'eA|lor lsepernlxa
Solls^uaJuleqc sepepnlJuloSlEeJESlelula^el.laliull-ellJlEJ
lou sr'anrse^adaotu sl puoJ"s oq arnxat,{rqod
puuesu1cor3c611o uotrrsrtrqle e^tlceles sertrlxalfuutd
soq curBrroeql .Io uortJn:tsap8uo.rsfq posualcErBrlJ
u fr ,' q l r , a \ ' e p u e l q u - o q
p e a r a s a r d , 4 l l u r T u t u o p J d ' slel ss p
s r p u E ' o p e r Br a d d o J p u P e p r q d l n sl p t o q 8 r q I q l r ^ \
qsa.r1,fiettttrd Jo)uc elt:euletu ,{reuttrd pa,rrasal ropue
se1ura,r eprqdns o soleqsSurxnJco'pellojtuocserucp{
scrlur.lo uortesurJoqc anrtcaas qpaugapasurrJ crssetod
sr tslU eql urBuo rraql lurpreBer ,{s.ta^ortuoc autos
punorScec aql Jo aSuuJapei? ^iol eqt ol parlddeueeq
o Surpeel 'pesruSoceert uoqeretle 5-y jo sad,4o,u1
suquoIEJLtrssll||('ueJtlnHhJ eql urels,(suo0trJell
'( '1, ,a uqpuesso)
l00Z crsselod punor8lceq aql Jo lred tou ae sauoz eseql
uortpr.rlloJep crlsElcetcr.ltr/ttpterJosssesseJordlElntJruts SurlseSSns'epualqtuoq pue aluauBetu,(reurrrd pa,rrasard
/lcruqceurqSnorql llS-) eqt olur pecnporlur Sureq qlr,\{lnq'eluolr{J^\ol ,{qparueduroccE eJer\uoresrlerourru
uoDsrlreultu eqt qtr^\ '(^\oleqpaqucsep)uorpJatlE atrJUes apnr8,no-osuotJesJalur auros'seloq rrpdeapneu ur
uaarS-'(aA Surpaaccns aql Jo s8plsfrva eqr o peear 'Je^a^\oH-uorluell crssetorl prnro-rfl1enq aqt ol lrurrlralno
'asnd az e,{q pecnpord sr uortesluJeulu aqt ssa88ns eql sIJcurpueerau8eur,{rnurud po^lasord-lo atuerrnJco
puorseqt alr.1,^\'uorlE:elle lrS-) eql ol palur .{ecrtoual a q l q t r ^ { l u e p r c u r o cs u 1 3 - e ucr l u o l q c s r q ' l u c p u n q e
99t p p seuneJ V - etlqc 'elewesnbnqc
 166 SoulhAmoica

tl lJ t

Section4500mN
tJ tJ
E

Mhs
m(
HYPOGENE
MINERALISATION
ha
Hgh Pyrils Assocalion Loh, Pyrito Assocation vl
Losalhsn i% lotsl .ulphd
O
EN l-l
t-
rrrrllrn
ChalcooYnle> bomit th
sh
ffi Pyrie - enargite

fr-rr-n
>eyfir
llllllllllll chrcoeyr"e te)
as
ffi ll llll >
Pyrle chelcopynte

Mor.lhao 1% lotl lulphld.

gft

I Pyrile- dgenils

m
> pyrite
Chlcopyrite
(P)
toc
AS
|:1 Chalcopyrit> bornite
dip
an(
Bornle> chlcopyrle
-l wi
SECONDARYMINERALISATION gra
toI
suone ..-,\_-z Bas ol lollsutphale
! "n,i"t..nt lcnng

,r'-.- '-' , Bas ofgypsum zon l/ei,

{fradielsulphaieles}
Sec
pot
Ffgure 8: Seclions through lhe Chuquicamna deposil illustralng lhe dislribulon of mineralisation .rtJ,rs. For rocsUonsscc coI
Figs.4 and5 whichlluslratclhc gcologynd mincralsalion
stylcson lcvcl 2200m Comparcwiih thcdistributionofaltcl-tion
stylcsas haf
shownon Fic. 6.
 -eu,{d'(eruroq+)etrueBrp-elu,(d'ar.r,(doceqr-err,{d salule^asqf etrrdoccqc poteuruesstpurutptuocsoltl
:s^tolloJs 'uoqeprqdns;o eaJ8apeqt pup uollerf,oss alcas-zuunb qtr/r\slalute^arr,{tloreqc a,rtsseuuteuoc
aud q8rq eql Jo uorlnlo^e eql Surtceuei puE 'aceds puc uorlernoloJqsr,(erfu aaeqsauozperetlE(ld) crsselod
pueaur ur Surddere^o'uorleslle.rauru eprqdlnsJoseslnd asualuraql3osa8urrjaql uo petecollrsodepeqJosuolcas
e^IsseJtoJdJo seuese pasrrduroc uareuorcrate (cr,(qd)
rolDII .,rtt.,t.t.1s \tLtr rtr,rilo,,lDtlJJ stlurl
atcr:as-zenb eeeqt ql^\ pelercosse uollesrlprouru aql
'trsodep eqtJo suortces ueqnos puc
'eurtu (Jll) crruoJ l?ueJ
eqt ur pue sie^ei req8rq lc luepunqe aroursr qcrq,^r lrs-) ol
orruoppu eql sprE^\ol 'lrsodap eqr Jo uoqrod uraqrou 'qdap puE quou eql ol ercuas uearS-far3uror3uoreper8
le
a q u r l u e p r ^ Js r u o r l e r e t l ee r c l J e s - z u e nl E
b uotrsueJl elqu^Jasqo ue sr eJeql seuoz (ld) JrssEtodesueturaql urqlr^\
stql 'elqruajsrp llrts eje qJrq^rsa8Elquesse uoleratl 'pasodxe arc sancal uollrrxroJapelrtcnp'ecopue
p u " s e J n x erte r r e e( E u r e r a t r q o , { e r r tuoau } n q ) u o 'sernxelcrlsr?lcBlBJ s.uoz esql ul ,nog o e lurddtp
pesoduruadns altcuas-zenbse SuuJnJco',euozelrcuas pue g Surpuart'sauozrBlnqelren8arro seuesp sB
-zvenb 'lrsodap
PuoltsuPJj,eql peuua sr lsq,t\ ur ssBtupaJell9 srrrcro r ereq,h aqt 3o uetl urasEe eql ur pesrlecol
aql So sar.raqdrred eqt uo Jalee^rsr uorluelleJo ,{trsuatur ,(tueuruopardsr Surdnorf (ld) Jrssstodesuelursrrl
lird,)
eql einssrClse.A\aql ol tueJE[plsodep oql Jo epts assDpd asuaul uouellE re33rqe otut pednor8
uetsa^r eql uo petEcol'sseu fulddrp ,{lleclue^ pueSurpuat ,{llpuorrunJ ueaq "tll'lrun
e^eq sa,(s uorterau qoq '(se8BlquessB
qlnos-quou'a8nq? sBsnJJouorlElelleorcpas-zenbsrq r a d d o c q B r q r e r u r s , { r e , r p u e s e rntxe
a p r q d l n s
_alr^ocsntu .losrncardo uoucnsap esuetur' a r) scrsUelJeBqJ parEqs
pu? elrllr Jo selE8arB8ssasdruoctr [Ee^JuorleatlE reql puE'sue^ alrues uaa.8-fe.8 lJEepue lrs-) eql
arcras-zlenb aqt uo{ elrcrJesJo ses,(leueuorlcE{JIp Jo uqunqutsrp^roIeleJos lerteosesolceqlJo srsPqeql uo
er- 1ue,re-qns ae1aqt ur .{ercedsa'punoJ eearutrlE 'a3ur esolc fua^ eq plnoc stuene
-zenb3osura,r-erccerq puestelue^orpJarqm'asucor8ed eseqttsa88nssuorturaossc asaql uoleler esre^utue e^eq
3cldor,(pl3 crlturlol Jo slunotu8Jourl^J elrlorq puE ose,(nurree eq i(lleJolrlSnoqtl'Surura^ artrepq,(oru
rudspe33o lueuecedare,rrsueur eq1q8norq,{r,(qdrod eqt-zrerrbeql puE elrJr.lesue?3-^erfleql uae^ueq osle
Jo arnlxel eurfuo aql elerelrlqoqJrq,rretudpuu zuurb l n q ' u o r l c r o t llnr S - ) p u ne l l J r J aus a r 8 - a r 8 1uoo r t n q u s r p
qll/r1'selEBerSSp eltcuessasrrdurocuorte"rae elrcuas-zenb eql uee/r\taq ur1 rnedsasolcfua^ P,(luoururocsl ereql
eqJ Surdd?u ourlno u eleedesot llncrp fua,r ere pue 'Irsodap eleurecrnbnqJ eqt urqr^r lua^e aJo auaSod,(q
paear,(uqedsare stue^e-qnsesaql slue^a-qnsarrT pug rrtpureqlasnqdsrqtfurleLu'n 7, < ,(tuasrsuoc-o sapnrB
t,lD,4,
ql letJjEu'peurluepr eJetue^e ltottD]aID (Jtll,lild) qtr,r 'amrlo^ ,{qsaprqdns :atldor9,oa urcluocpuersodap
attcltas-z\tonbaqt 3o seseqde^rtnJesuoJo^\l lseel lV '(euno,r q
ql Jo suouoesluecgru8rsuasa.rder 7og1a
'sura,r 'e^rse^led ' e r) uorteJallu etrrues uear8-,(ar8 tupunqe
,.ed,$-g,, o soleqJo uroJaql ur Jo Jo seuozeqJ
Jaqtrasr uorleJelE sr.lJ (auJnlo^,{q'Icor eqto yn<etrr.{d 'atrlle^oJ
puE :$prtldlns qtr^\ ' e'r) uo0psrlpraurut -aufd
lElolJo 79sqetu,(d ro etru.toq;alruo8rp-"tud ,{q peJedarare saprqdns
elIr,(d q E l q p u e s e p r q d n sr o d d o c p a e r c o s s eq r , r , r ,{lEe'etrJuesueer8-,(er8 eql uo pasoduuednseJesure^
fuord,{'uorerau (crll,(qd) etrcuas-zuEnb ateleuo8rpun 'eposrda rettc aqtu arua8rp4era,roc4
,.atl{-6,,ueqm
sqlrsodap eqtSo;equretsa^leqlJo lsol4 aruoq; err,{doceqJ o'etrlle^o3+etrJoJIEqJ+ otruoSrP+
"leueornbnq3
suolto!"ossy @r!r -t!8tH) uoltopltt.t nS q8!H'dtD'J aruroq :faureu 'uortcralle /.S-;yeq fupdruocce tuql
'elufd
InoqlrAl'se8elquasse leJaurureluESaq sasrrdtuoc
'unxal
ll suo!leuruassrP3u$ luPPunqse srnrJo uorlerelle
rosrncud aql sforlsap e1o uorleraeelrcrJesueerfl alrclasuea8-fa:3 qtr,^\pelErJossu uortesrlpJrurruJO
-er8eq pa,r.resa.rd fllErued eq seale {uur ernlxal 'satEld
elrcuas 'patuauo-eq
,t,{qdrod rosrncerd aq} pue {e"^\ sr oleq elrJtJes lallercd-qns
pesrJat?pJlqt
arntxale eJrrpordol'e8plquressBuorlprell
eqt'peElosr eJEsule^eufdorlEqcIEnpr^rpur ueqA (r!!
'elrdou qtr^\ elruioqtr ar.r,(doceqc srql uo pasodurradnssatu[atuosere uorErloJ elrlcnpJo
sesr-rdtuoc
stcelleeqJ etruapq,4otu-zpenb Joetru.loq-zlettb'zuenbJo
SBlqtuessE eprqdlnsaqt 'auoz uortJelLe atrouasuroJ8 ',(lJc
-,(er8eql ul -etruroqou qlr^{'a}rr,{d1arrdoceqc seure,r fruanba.r3
aered-qns ol solEqsE ro'sruoz
sr
a,rrsu,uadpedeqs,(rnn8arrrsr srnccoarcrresuaarS-fetg
slelure^aql urqlrA\uouerJosse eprqdnsecrd,{taq ( ! ! 'saseqduorlu.tatu
'esle^eJ0qt st uollEnlts 'tatcllurfueduroccpetcueso petrdurol
erntxetesrro.srrouoloustr fq pue rnoocfar8-qsruaari
eqt'etrcr?sueeJ8-e8 aqt ul soleqeq ur nruud
sr q pasua:rureq.sr atl:ru?s ,(ppa eqJ rcdspa1;
uopue seure,r aql ur ltsoursr etu,(dorleqc (!
"qJ aurospuusaprqdns reddocpeuururassrp luepunqt'zuenb
:cadsar3ur,noo1 aqt ur uorleJelE 'elrf,ues ,{q .(Soleraurur
Jo sals8a,33e str 1o uaureceder
arcrrasueerS-farBflJEe eql tuo{ JaIlrp solEqcurcuas aql 3ur,{uedLuoccn
,,{qdrod rnbnqJ oqlJo arntxol IcoJ eql
tllr^1slelura^ elu(doJfaqJ eqt 'e"uareJrp Jnoloo eql uroJ .lo uolJnlsp suelureqt ur sllns el,(lsuo||eJetlcsrrlJ
uvdy 'erruepqfourq peruEdurof,r8 .(llecosr au,(doceq3
'euinlo^,(q 'nJ aua uag uaat8-,blg ltog
septqdlns 9zoor Surpuodsa:roc %8 0 ol 0
Jo JeproaqlJo ei sauozcru,{doceqcaseqturqtr,,rr seppJfl .ue^eeqt
etp FutcaUaJ '( '7D uopunssg)Sututa,r
leddo3 uorlercosseau,{dmo ,{rcaaq} ol 8uoleq 'saserld -o,{tsuout I00 a
uorlEsrIpreurur/uonnretlr paqlJJsap,{srror,rard erlt Jo llI aruapq,(our-zunnb aqr.ocuanbarlor:auurl,raql sr opmS
lnc,{eqlqBnoqllepuear,(dou ot eJcJo enurproqns furco ol,\eqt rc lolrroc lccrtoloe8udrcurrdaq. urassaql
'te
fgL le seuneJv- elqc'etewwnbnqc
 168 South Ame ca
covellite(tenargite),pyrite-enargite
(lsphalerite).The ore
andganguelnineralshaveopenspacefilling textureswithin
the "D-type" veins,and occur as dissernina(ions in their
I'yrite (usually>2yoby
halos,and in local beccia-vejDs.
volurne)is the donrinantsulphide.
The late pyrite-enargite sulphidepulsewas rhc dominrrt
sourceof arsenicwithin the system. This arsenicevent
was structurallycontrolled,being ernplaceditl brittle
environmentin the fonn of massiveveinsor as breccia
matrixin zonesof abundanttectonised quartz-nolybdeuite
v e i n s , f r i n g e d b y p y r i t e - e n a r g i t es t o c k w o r k v e i n s
superirnposed on earlierassociations.
The latequalz-sericite(phylLic)alterationstageapparently
terminated with a final post-orepulse located acljacentto
the WestFissure,cornprisingbarrento very low totalcopper
bearingpyrite veinlets(pyrite >90olo,and coppersulphides
<10% of total sulphides).
The contact relations between the late quartz-sericite
(phyllic) alteration,with its high pyrireassociations,
the earliermainly potassiclow pyrite associations,
demonstrate thatthe quartz-sericite eventis laterafld that
it cuts and obliteratesthe earlier mineral association.
R a d i o m e t r i ca g e s o f s e r i c i t e ( t l e t e r r n i n e db y A r - A r
techniques)from this late qurrlz-sericite
y i e l d a n a l t e r a t i o n a g e o f 3 l .Ml a ( R e y n o l des r a t , 1 9 9 8 ) ,
2 Ma youngerthantbebackgroundpotassicalteation event,
and 3 Ma youngerthan the crystallisation
Porphyry.
SuperimposedRelations (PI R)
The coppergradedistributionwithin the latequartz-sercite
alteredbody is very unevenand independent ofthe locally
dominantsulphideassenrblage (with the exceptionof the
very late pulse of pyrite-low copper sulphide which
averagesaround0.5% Cu)- For all of the other sulphde
assoaiations,thegradeis variable,panicularlythe primary
zonesthat havenot undergo[esupergene enrichnrent.
There is evidenceto suggestthat the gradedistribution was
largely inherited from ealier associationsthat were
overprintedandmodilied by the latequartz-sericite(phyllic)
alteration. Locally, within the late quartz-sericitealteration
zone, relictsof previousalterationassemblages may be
recognised, as halosto early veinlets,or on a largerscale,
asirregularbandswith ghosttexturesfom earlieralteration
eventssuch as K-Sil or grey-greensericite of the intense
potassic(Pl) stage.Theserelictscontainabundantsulphides
as veinletsand very fine disseminations, suggestingthat
priorto the impostiouoflate quartz-sericite alteration,the
p.e-existingintensepotassic(PI) altation/mineraiisation
stage had been responsiblefor emplacing high grade
mineralisation.The earlier associations were replaced,
transformedand upgradedby the higher sulphidation late
quartz-sericite(phyllic) event, althoughthe early grade
distribution was preserved,at least partially, as were the
textures and mineralisationstyle characteristicof the
previousintensepotassicevent(P[), in the fonn of micro-
veinletsor sulphidesdisserninations.Thesepreservedzones
have, in general,highercontentsofcopper sulphides(> l%)
as digenite,bomite or covellite,all associated with pyrite,
and coppergradeso[ abt.rut1.4-1.5'% Cu. Those zones
whiclrhaverroreor lcssspatialcontiIui1yandexhibitthese
chrractcristicsare rel'erredto as 1rcl.r(,I\ tts.titRelict
1Pl11./.However,while the grade distrbutionh s been
irherited.the l'll{ hasclearlyexlrcrierrced
rrllrortrntgrarJe
inrprovenrent and occursasa contirruous
band.strb-parallel
to the WestFissurebut locatctjin th central-eastfli oart
of the deposit.
Fotlowingwith thesameanalysis,but contrer'o se su,tlre
lower grade{0.7-0.8'k Cu), low coppersulphidecontent
( < l % b y v o l u r n e )z o n e sw i t h i n t h e l t eq u a r t z - s e r i c i t e
(phyllic)alterationzone,tlratdo not containrelicttextures
fton)the intensepotassic( Pl) stage.arenow interpreted to
representpre-existirrgbackgrcrund potassicas-scrciations
with originallorvergrades.
1 ' h e s eo b s e r v a t i o n a
s n d c o r r c l r s i o nssu g g e s t h a t t h e
pervasivelate quartz,-sericite (phyllic) event contributed
S , F e , A s a n d C u t o l h e s y s t e n rb, u t o n l y s u l l i c i e n t o
and increrrrentally upgradethe pre-existingurirreralisationby
clearly 0 . 3 t o 0 . 4 %C u .
ln sunrnrary,it nray be concluded (hat the grade and
rlistribution ofprirnarycoprerwithinthe latequartz-sericite
(phyllic) cvent (phyllic) zr.rneis largely inheritedfiorn lhe pe-exsting
p o t a s s ce v e r r t so v e r w h i c l r t l r e l a t e q u a r t z - s e r i c i t c
a s s o c a t i o nh a s b e e n s u p e r i m p o s e db, u t w i t h a n
ageof the Easr accompanyingupgradingdrroughthe additionof further
copper.
Lute trtcis, li'inl ond Mier-lrclLie.
T h e f i n a l k n o w u h y p o g e n er n i r e r a l i s a t i o ne v e n t a t
Chuquicanratacorrespondsto very locally distributed
v e i n l e t s ,m i c r o - v e i n l e t sa n t l r r r i c r o - b r e c c i acsa r r y i n g
chalcopyrite1c<rvell tetdigenite lred heoratlelanhydrie
tgypsunr. This very lastpulsetloesnot however,include
pyrite. It ct(s all theeveutspreviouslydescribed, including
the high pyriteassociatioro r sf t h e l l t e q u a r l z - s e r i c i t e
(phyllic)eventsand,irrgeneral,doesnot producealtertion
halos. In the zoes where tbis eveDtis obseved,it does
not appearto have had a|ly aflect orr the collper grade,
irnptying that the pre-exislingnrineralassenrblage was
locallyalteredandrenrobilised withoutthe introduction of
additionalcopper.
SupergeneMineralisation
S u p e r g e n ep r o c e s s e s h a v e e s u l t e l i n i r n p o r t a n t
rnodificationsof hypogele nrineralisation throughoutthe
Chuquicanrata deposit,manly in its uppcrmostportions,
with tfie generation of extensive zones <rf leaching,
oxidation and enrichnentof sulphides,and total/partial
leachingof sulphates.
Copper dissolved through the leaching of hypogene
sulphidesalso migrated,mainly lo lhe south,via palaeo-
channelsand wasdeposi(edat the grvel-basernent interface
at the baseof the channel to produce substantial
a c c u r n u l a t i o n so f e x o t i c c o p p e r r n i n e r a l i s a t i o n ,
RadiometricK-Ar age dating of supergenealunitefiom
thesepalaeo-channels indicatethat the main supergne
sarpoqaprxo 3r{tereq^l trsodapeqlJo pue tusquou le paurlcep
pesrlcoL
eJEJaddoceprxoJoseuozlulTuutr "ql ,(a,lrsser8ord aq qtclapte pue salutrl
rolJp,J1uatuqJuue
IEdrJuudeqJ 'u
eql uo elrq^\ 'tueruq.uu.,ftopuoces^q Pelqnop,{lq8nol
'(sed,{tclloxepue,tr.rlr qtoq)uortEstleJaurlu
sr?,,t\
epErflraddocfuuurdaql 'auoz uortljetlE(Jtll,{tld)
l
Jeddoceprxo o/pue s{Jor Suttltlec peqceaqf,u atruourtl alrcras-zuerrbalnl aql .lo eJoJeqt Ul (uotlclaue8Pl3
qtoq asrJdruoceseql euoz ero repuocespue ,eurrd fluo.s
Surrno,rrsuortrpuoJ ' e r) etudqBlqpu ,{lt^tlct:el
eqlJo seueqdrJed eqt e^o pedole^ep1rd uadotuallnc eql mo ',(rrqnatured
fuors tltl^r uottcretulr,{qd-o sauoz
Jo sellruellx r.raqtnospue uequou qt uo pasodxaaru ?ql urqlr,r\esuelurtsorusr stetucJrnDnqJ lc (luau|qcllue
sueuueraptr8 ramol ,{luopue patodxeroTpucpaaouer eua8rrdns ro) rotJr,ltuatuqJuuefreruoccsaql
Jo oa.l8ep
uaaqa,reqtrsorlopt?urecrnbnqJ eqJo suo|l3esPesrprxo
pue peqJeeL JaddneqtJo qcntu fsnor,rardpaquJsapsV t u,rtl q.,u l I .t trlr t,ar,r.r
S
3u14aoa7puo uotopx ,ng a, fo sauoT -suorrloseue8redns (lJd re,{oJ)prJpelorue.upordol
peurquoc rlonl^\'uauocattr,(d.leq8rq st puea8elqutesse
'Isrluessa sr a^oqEpoquJsepsueluc lPJnlxelJo esn uotterellgltllfrld aqtJoelnlEue^llf,oel,{llll.lutaqcssaleql
eql pue luerurlcrJua auaSedns Jo ,(lrsuelur eqt Surugepur
Jo llnsarlJerP e sr srrlJ l s D ul 009| sP,\1olssuollP^ale
lrUesnlou sr seprqdlnsreddocfrepuoras aqlJo ,(SolpJeutru o Surpuaxa llcJollrsodep eql.jo alutJ uatsa,,lorll uo
e q l J o e s n 3 ^ r s n l c x o q otlcoJlqc (cr,{qd)
arcuas-zuenb ateaqut padoe,rap
auozuorterate
,(fuo qtr,r seuozlualuqcuue IEe/r\ "{llua ere esuoc
n bereqt'ps'/a^ 'pue
,(1daapalour elE seuoz,hopuoJas pue louo!flsuoq e\L
lueurqcuuaSuorseq ur ueuodurst eltlle^oc ereq^1sauoz
pecnpeJ eJB eaq'srql alrdsaq .uozlueuqcuue lea/t\, aql sauozelEqdlns.to Sutllapoueql ut peJeptsuoJ
urqlr,nqldepreteerStEluePunqE eJou aq ol sPUateltlle^oc ou sr r q8noqa'salecsleJollc ncco,{utuultrsd,{8
elrq^l .euoz lueruqJrJueSuoJls, eql ut seeututopard auafredns crlruaas alelfua^e 'euozsrqtul tueladuoc
ssol ol 's?rntJp{ uedo
a l ! J o J l q c ' l r e u e uBl s e l u u e n be ^ r l E t U r u B l s l u e l a d t u o u ls s l t u I c o J
punoJ osle sr elrlle^ocaua8radnsq8noqlp'etnurp.rnbnqJtE puEseDr^PJ tunPunqE'poqrEel ,4lalaldru0 ern,{oqlse
ereurur reddocf.rcpuocas luguodur lsou eql srelrcoJleqJ luesqc erE erupqtrcpue tu'rsd(fl - auoz ,l.tt:,lrtn)as (ttl
'ssrlLU ssel'serrrlaPl.l
'e^oqEsuorlrugapeql ur laor 1uledtuoJ
PaPnlcur uado rue sarr,rel'at!rp,{que ercr puc ctpcrodsfuel
,(aql a:e rou 'ecuecgrutrs.rofuruo i(puarrnc ou 'ttrnsd,(8qtt,$ - ar?ozpaq)Da1,lllDtrtoro
ltruotttsuotJ (ll
eJEtnq pellapourueaq^eq qlo8 trd tunJ eqlJo 'tustaduoc'palPes ssEur IJor'sarllAJllloqll,r\
serlrttrexeuoqlnos pu" uequou eqt le pasodxefuo 'urrrsd,{8pur ar.rp,{que Sututcluoc- auoT ttttut (l
eresauozuePrnqr^o/PaqJeel q pueslPJaurureddoc
pesrprxo reddn - auoz paqroaT po pasfpfxo lll :(g4 sflr) poqsrn8ursrpereseuozu eu aarql'3utqcee1
"qL
'urnsd,(8;o acuaunJJo aeqdns1o er8epeql pue tuetuoJ elpqdlnsuo paseg
tsel aql a^oqe u 0+ punore
8ulpue i(llensn luauqcrue fluoJtsaql qlr,r ',JooJ 'saruodord
ectueqcatuoa8
urnsd8,,aqt qtr,^\,{llcxeeplcuroclou seop euoz p e c n p e p u P a c u a l a d t u o c a s s e l q t ^ \ s s e l l J o J E
lueiqruue Buors eq 3o trrurl Ja^\ol oqt ie^a^\oH f,npo.d ol'peuedoele sarntcE{paees'{snor,rard aqt pue
'3urrncer3oaerSepq3!q e pueserlr^ecluppunqeqtr/r\
',(lsnor^edpeqrJsep snorodeJoursr lJor eqt 'paqceeutued.tolletotueeq
saleqdlnspeqceleqtJo .euoz eApqs?tpqdlnsasaqleJaq^t',{asraauo3'scttstteJnJeqc
,{:upuocas,aql ol spuodseloc euoz sr.ll saptqdns poof pue Sutrncer1 /$ol tllt/rl'ssPullsoJ
lncrunqsuroo8
raddoc repuoces3o s8uueoc qtr,r ../0Jrp,,sr atld aqlSutruaseJd 'slco eql tutrsrJ,(8 pueatrp,(que
eurSrro lEas
pue pacedar,(llElol sr etruro septqdlns:addoc 'sesseJoJd 'euoz
eua8radns Jo eJuenUur Jo le^el aqt .^rolaq
fueurrrdaq3o7g uEqlaroruSurcEldr'eeuruopej(l fueurrrdaqtu seteqdlns Jo BurqJpellerudol letoteqlueeq
saprqdfns,(puoces- auoz tuawqrlruE SuoLtg fi11 seq eeureernbuqJ eqtJosuoruodleddneqt utqlt/rl
'elp,(que rsodap
sassecoJd eue8ladrrsJo slJeJJelueurtuold tsoul aql Jo euO
i(rencrged 'soteqdlns Surqcealeqt fq pacnpord
Jo
sernce uado pue sartr^EJJoauoz eq ol spuodseoo 'seuoz(HtlJ)
'unsdf8 qr^\ ssrxaocpue ,{lsnol^ard pequcsap
nq crluolqc eqt ur lrr?squllanul^ ol erc.ere pult uotllelle
.auozaleqdnseuorlrsue.1, eql ql..ir seprJurocp^Jaul (Cd) ?ssetodpunor8ceqeql qtoq ur erer ere lnq rsauoz
srqJ paJatlsunpuulq8uq 'upelcSururtuar a1u,(dqta,r uorleralc(crll,{qd)etrJues-zucnbelul pu8 (ld) ctssElod
'slereuruJeddo?eue8od,(qerelder,(lloq^'\Jo ,{lLEIued asualur3ql qloq uqtr^\ luDpunqB,(lJclnf,lund ell slelult!
puE sauoz llneJ 'sarnlceJur JncJo ,{eqJ sloJeurur qlou etuPfqueJouotterpfqate.otcnpordaqt,{lqEqord
aueSodfq eql ol ateurproqnsoru lnq pesrufloar sr pupstalure^ur tueserdorqcst unrsd,{3 eltq,\r'slelure^
are saprqdns,{rtrpuoJas- auoz awqrt.ntg loai4 (ll s pun suorInururJSSrp s0 qt()qsrnl.rrratt.tp,4quyttsodap
',(lsnor^erdpequcsepseseJnlJB{peleasar:pfquepuu eqto
eeuecrnbuq3aqrurqlr^rsauozuoncJaltauaflorlq
unsdAJo.auoz,&Eurud,eqtJolpqt qtr,$aecsrsodep lsor.u
Jo sluauodruoc are umsd,43
lurtodurt pupelup,{quV
eql le luoplculoc sr euoz srql JelJcJEtlJut euaSod,(q
satoZ arnq.lpS
,(talelduoc aJE seJo eqJ purloJ sr lueuqcrJue
o u , { l l u a n b e s u o cp r r e p e s r u S o c eor r e s a p t q d n s fu trpuoces
'eleurerrnbnql! uorlnsrlu.taurur
fuepuoies lo ,(l,rrceaua8rednso - auoT ftoutt,r (l
-lo sauoz pettrleJpuu sassoord auaSradnstuara..tp
:,{leurEu
lotJPluaLuqcuue aql seqursopSurmor. aq._19661 'ce}|:rt{ pu0 eorllrS)
aqtJosrseqql uo pauUJppuppasrufloJereJcseuozearqJ ehJ SI pur?6 | uaa^\teqpertnJJoc]nuecrnbnq3ln sassacord
'eleenbnqc
69t P tO SOuneJ V - eltqJ
 17O South Aerica
occur as subvertical,elongatebands, interspersedwith
leached zones in which limonites coexist in variable
propotions with copper oxides. The generaltend af the
copper oxides in this area is consistentwith structural
control relatedto the northeaststriking EstanquesBlancos
Fault System,and the north-southto NNE trendingC-2
FaultSystem.The highergradeand volumeoxide btdies
are developed vertically above, and are the upward
continuationofhigher hypogenegradeslocatedbelowthe
'top
ofdominantsulphides'modelledsurface.Hypogene
alterationis pedominantlya late qualz-sericite(phyllic)
assemblage,with copper occurring in veinlets locally
superimposedon the widespreadbackgroundpotassic(PF)
alteratron.
The dominant mineralogy in thesenorthernoxide ores
comprisethe sulphatebearingrnineralsantlerite-brochantite
(tatacamite),with accompanying hematite,lessersericite
and rareclays, Sulphiderelictsare very common within
the oxide ores, mainly as leachedchalcocite partially
replacedby hematite,indicatingthatthe cur.entoxideore
zonesweredevelopedfrom an earliersupergeneenrichtneot
blanket which was oxidised, leached and its copper
redistributedto a nwer and deeperzonc of supergene
enrichment.
On the southemmarginsof the Chuquicanrata pit, i, slt
copperoxides are found over the southem sectionsof the
Chuqui Porphyry at a deeperlevel than the exotic oxides
describedbelow.Theseoxides,which includebrochantite,
atacamiteand antlerite, are consideredto be i/r stu, based
on their occurence in oxidised "D veinlets" with quartz-
seicitic halos.
Zones with Erotic Oxides
The more impofanl zoneswith remainingexotic copper
oxide resourceare at the southemend ofthe deposit,where
the Chuquicamatapit overlapsthe ExtensinNorte de Mina
SurProject. This areaincorportesan exoticpalaeo-channel
(and its ors) that run due south froln Chuquicanratato the
Mina Sur mine open pit. The mineralisationassociated
with this palaeo-channel staddlesthe contactbetweenthe
basementand the overburdengravelsofthe palaeo-channel.
The copper oxides developed along this entire zone are
chrysocolla,atacamiteand copper wad which represent
deposition from, or remnant products oi poly-episodic
flows of pregnant acid solutions derived fom supergene
leachingof themainChuquicarnata sulphidemineralisation
- both hypogeneand supergene.They are presentascment
within the gravelsor as fillings and coatingsofthe fractures
within the immdatelyunderlying basementlithologies.
Sulphide Zoning & Related Grades
The giant Chuquicamataporphyry copper deposit is the
cumulative product of a complex set of evolutionary
processeswhich include: i) its tectonic conditioning and
ground preparationresulting from the enhancedstructural
permeability ofthe rock mass, ii) the multi intrusive suite
of minerlisationrelatedporphyriesand iii) therelatedand
subsequentmulti-episodicalteration/mineralisation events,
of both hypogeneand supergeneorigin. Together,all of
t h e s e l i n k e d p r o c e s s e sg e n e r a t e dt h e s p e c t a c u l a r
p o l y r n i n e r a l l i cc o r e o f t h e h u g e a n d u n i q u e c o p p e r -
molybdenum rleposit{t Chuquicanr'La.The lorge variety
o f o r e a r d g a n g u e n r i u e r a ls p e c i e s ,t h e i r r n o d e so f
occurences. interrsilies antl texturulfeaturesare specific
and characleristic of eachof the alteration/rnineralisrtion
events. In addition. the lbcus of each of theseevents
successively rnigrated,bothin spaceand tirneto producea
complexoverlappirrg pattenr.I'atientinvestigaton ofthis
patterB has allorvetl the dierentiatioll of the imlivirlual
'lb
contributionsofeach nrineralisingepisode. do this,it
was necessaryto coDsidera range of aspects,such as
mineralspecies,textures,modesof occunence,intensity,
location and contactrelations.to correctly identify the
individLral geological eventsanJrnodeltheurin a predictive
way. Any oftheseaspectsconsideredin isolation,may not
reflect the resull of a sirgle event. For example,the
c o n t r i b u t i o n o f p y r i t e f r o m t h e d i f T e r e n te v e n t s i s
distinguishetlby sturJyingthe vaiation in ts intensity,
texturesandcontactrelationsllips.
The 2003 Model allorvs the distribution of a range of
pararletersto be plottedthroughouttheorebody,including
the differentnrileral speciesanclnretalgrades,geological
units,struclures,specificgrrvity,etc. aDdthe production
o f p l a n sa n ds e c t i o n s .
GeologicalEvolutionof Chuquicamata
Usingtheaccurnulated geological knowledge ofthe deposit,
asdescribedpreviously,it is possibleto preparea synthesis
of the geological evolution and genesis of the giant
Chuquicarnata deposit. This synthsisis expressedin a
seriesof stepsin geologicaltime order,as follows.
Structural Accotnnodation for llte Intrusion ttl lhe
Chuqui Porph,r',Eleno & F.r uua Granoditries
The evolutionof the depositgeologycommencedat thc
b e g i n r r i n go f t h e O l i g o c e u e , w i t l r t h e s y n l e c t o n i c
introductiorloI the FortunalntrusiveCornplex,fbllowed
by ernplacernent ofthe ElenaGranodiorite.Thisoccured
in a dextraltranspressive reginre(thelrcaic Phase)which
producedshortening alongan ENE directedtectonicvector
The defonnedcountry rocks inclulerJCarboniferousto
Lower Triassicbasenentrocks, mainly plutonic bodies
(locally representedby the Mesa Granite and Este
Granoriiorire) contprisinggranitesand granodiorites with
botiteand ohopyroxeneand a mild rnagnraticfoliation,
overlainby Jurassicmarinecarbonalerocks allectedby
contactmetatnorphism, discretemylonitesandpenetrative
subverticalaxial planecleavagestriking north-soulhand
dippingat E5'W The ENE tectonicvergenceofthe Incaic
Phaseprorluced a reverse-dextalNNE foliation and the
structurallylinked perrneabilityconditio0sfor the next
ntrusion.
The Fortuna Complex probably post-datesthe Paleocene
eastwardmagmaticmigration,and was nitiatedwith lhe
e m p l a c e m e not f t h e L o s P i c o s d i o r i t e p l u t o n , a f e w
kilometres to the wst of Chuquicarnata.The Fortuna
Complex comprisesa biotite- and hornblende-bearing
granodioriticstock datedat 39-38 Ma (U-Pb in zircon),
which is cut by severalbandsofductile defornation andis
 8 u r s t x a - e r de q t J o S u l p e r 8 d n e r l t l o J e l q r s u o d s e l 'UlS-t) zunbaur t!r.,njedspla. y era,na,{ssrql eullep
1 u os e , n ' s e e i e e ^ s s ^ J a dl s o u l e q l u r u e ^ e , u e ^ o leql suoq?rf,ossE uorlJallp aql ules,{S euoz uouuoJaO
cDrcuas-zuenbalel eql lErll uearu plno^\ ,paldaf,Je
lt eJE tseg-llnsl rqcssehl eqlJo uot[^rtJDeJ ot paaltaq
uosade
suoqrerdteur asaqlJl uorlEstlRJeulwTuorletee crsseotl e.l qcrq^\ 'uoncutJoJap ctlsulJEIO.o seuoz Surpuor
puno.rS{JRqleulSuo Jo sea.reuasardarot peterdeul sc,,nasuorerae
ENN urrltr^\pedole^ep,{ltueururopeld
ou eE '(nJ o/og'0-%L.O,.a.r)sapur8 redcloc.e,,no srqJ pleruocrnbnqJ le uot|tstlprautu eueSod,tq 3o a8us
le^rlslale^q Inq
'uottuall ercUes-zenb
etEl eql ,{q ureu eqf palnlflsuoJ qf,!rlm'lue^a uotlEla1e ctssood anra1tt
peloltlqoueaqe^eqsernxe eur8uo asoq^1.slotres JeqO eq tqt aced sessecord pue
'lepo6 PelEJeuaS oo nurroqo.rpq
lpJr8oloag00eqlur ( ld),lcrlrJrsseJod esuatur, JruolJalJolJs E 'luee crssod puno.3lccqeqSuraroog
peuljet as 'sepJ8eddocleq8rq Sunsrxe-ordpeppJffdnpuE
peurporurll^1eprcuroJrctrl/r1 'spusqesaq stuar -!l uonontl y xlssoto asuatuI
1ue,rarrsseod
asualureq o{ st8olsjaut(Upug seJnlxel3ur>rrurur 'nJ o/.b
'auoz snll unlt!,t\ pasruSoret (n3 0
a:e 79 -.1 qtrn) ot yof-g ,{leteulxoldde se^\ trsodepeq 1o apu.r8raddoo
uorl?stleJaurturaddoc apu8 q8rq 3o spueg .ruesseql
eq'tue^e creurfrru-ae stqt 8ur,^{ollol uotEsrJEeutut
olur nJ pue sV'eJ 'S Jo uorlcnpoJtur tuecgru8rsBuucaer (?truJoq+'err,(d) a r r d o c e q c , p o t u rutessrp
'uoqercossE(elru.oq+'errr,{doceqcl)
arBlpue+.atrlle^oJ+ ,(lurpru'lca^r ,(q peruedruocce ,fu,{qdro
'orueBrparr,(dpadocsaee rnbnqS ar.t1o
eureua8ot saAElqutesse uorleJalle.t/ssototl puno.Eytoq
lsotrrJo an se,,tred aqt sear,r
uorlstJpJeurtuporlEelle,(tetuud uotlEptqdlns^rol Burlsrxe sElrsodepeqlJo 110du-raqrou aq ur i(uretu,sure,lzrcnb
-erd peleJerlqo le^esrql trsodaptua.rrnJ eqlJo suorlcas
.,od,{-y,,uarrrqo llo^{lools esuaturue pecnpodluae
u:elsa^\eql ur euozSurpuelgNN ol qlnos-rJuouBseldrrcf,o
'I slqJ ch t tt tE selqdrod oJucU puE lsaA elD[ts eql
l I l punoje le peJuoulu.loc qcll^\ ,ue^auotteJe]lE
Jo uorstutureqt qtr,4\ucSaqssacordflursrlcleurur ulr?tueqJ
(ctfqd) elrcrras-z-rnb elEl'Suttuudra^olueuodrur uV
'pasllPJaurul
stua^A uolroratlV atllrtas_ztnn atoT
,{1ee,n.(rrolo uaJtpq se,\rpepnttuuaq,r,r,,{rfqdto
'suotlPrcosse ls3 aql Eqt serdturaluopr,ralEJt8oloaD .uorsn.tut -Jo
elrcrles-zuenb elel Surpe?ccns eqlJo uollecolaql sloJtuoJ uotlpcoleql Surlloluoour ar.rfal n pacd.uauruorr,rue
qcrq^rllnEJ eue.ue(rlV eqt o pelcleJ'3rta^erupq,(lor(t rruot)r) ^rssatdsuull e qtt^1petctcosse
lellrep aqeqo.rd
-zyunb aq pacageleq ulstuolJel pup uotletJcalqasuetul 'euoz uorleuuoJe(l
lsJ-tlneJrqpsset^laqt Jo ,(dorosrue
eqt (IIr pu :stue^euoUPsrleJeutur/uorlBellE PEaar.{turoJ eqt lltll lseSSnssIJo lls^\ sl! Jo uottpurj(Upaqt pu?
stueur8uJ zUpnbsalelodtoaurqctq^\ ouoz uotlcruJoJe6 er.leqsa:r-c>1,(r
raruauo qNN stl .e19. c,{rfqrlroseg
lseg eqt Jo uotlErccejqpue uoqrloJeql (lr :uorle.relle eqtJo uorsnrtureqt qtr.,\{pecuauuoe(.,,,(qd-lo rnbnq3,,
alrcues-zuenbetleqt fq palurrcLeao tnq ,uortpJallE Jtssptod eqt)xalduoJ,{J,{qoucueernbnqaqtJo uaureJelduE
asuaurSoseuoz 3urnc pue,&,(qdto rnbnq eqtSurtcege
oloH xnuolqJ l to
,{ecol'uoqrrocruo,(ru(r :qpecalJe sr uortEuuoJep ,xa^g xrssrt| JlIIotSIXng,suolsn,|ul oxtDg T tsdl
uolEretl?/uorl esrlreur(u E_lurslrll sse.rlsJruolcel lsng :xadno3 ftrdto nbnqS ary lo tuawaxoing
asualutol pecelqnssumltsodepoJoeq],lua^e uotlplall
ellclJes-zuenb elEl aqt ol rorrd nq,e^oqBpeqrcsep '.uquJ Jluotcet
s u a ^ e u o r l E s r l E J a u t u / u o t e J e t l 9 , ( l Jeeqel l u t ^ 1 o l l o J asie^eJ-lrtxep petualjogNN e puB uotlEtloJcreurieur
'eI
l t pue t f[ ueemteqleqt ecuapr^aSuorssr eraql e e^pq 'eur8ar lEJnlctulselrlonp-tLrras aq3o cnpoltle se
uotouuoJag uot os otau t pu 'stueur
e pasEleut c rsse:n f Jo lJe lncrupd
.stucpued
JooJ
lpoa-stt
,1
esolJuepuEslJor Ilp^r petcltLurssE a,req,ursrtdrourceu
'ot\ 'ot{
%2 0 ol dn Jo sanf^SurpnlJur IculuoJJosoftttfptrraue8saarsruur qlog'(uocjtz ur qd-n)
yol 0Jo epeJ88ete^eue seqtr eeq^i,sudleluecpue eW L Lf te petepetrlorq ql^i lJots crrrorpouerS pouru8
u"qnos slr ur lsodapaql ot eloc J?lnqelSurdrlpfldaats urnrpeut'JelnuEtStnba uu sr .ssa.s a,rrssardsuetl uesuoc
tuEuodur up suuoJ tl uorlterp gNN ol qtnos-quouE ot pecefqnsuaaq peq qcrq^r euoz celuoctuetueseqeqt ur
ur ru ggg 3o qlSuaE te^o spuetxatnq ,trsodapeqt3o3eq paceldtuesE^\elrolpoueJCEualgctuolcaluseql,fuqdJod
uJar{lnos aqt ur esualurlsoru sE^\.uoqestlejautu olljues tnbnq3 eqt Jo uorsnJtuto rosrncardE se ,lluanbesqns
uaar8-,{ar8 ,{reaqlno,{lpelrsr lnq,uorlpre}l lrS-) eqlJo
'lrd uedo Btpuprrrrbnq3
aqt rul eulos
Jo lsa/r\rlllos f
slceJJa eqt sncssorci(ereds qcrq,r\les ura^ srqJ .lue^a seuozdeepuf 'nJ %S 0 ot dl flleJol ^Je^ pue,nJ o/o O
ctssvodesuauraqtSurddereno i(elodurelpeJnpoturala^1 ot l sepcr8reddooqrrar'crua4,{oul etpurproqns pue
0.ro
slelura^puesute^aruepqfrtu-zenb.o tasluplrodruttV elruJoqrourLu'arr,{doleqc 'ar.rrl.lo uouestlolaurur lce^1
spl u!a./l p utt su,a ar!,tapqtl.rw-2tttt ,{:.rnc,t,{qd.roozuaro-.upSaql urrlttrt\seuozpatate,{cco

essqJ slor llp^\ e|llotpouprcrcalJ slt ur puc fu,(rldlod
nJ %g 0Jo sepprSJaddocqtraa,tue^auelEletle ozuaro-lUESeqturq m stalutaA-o.lJtul sc puI sseutpunol8
srql Jo sallueJ ureru eql Jo sur8lerueq uo padoe,rep aqt qloq ur Pedole^ep sr qcrq,nrudspe3;pus,uo[DrreJq
sE,r solq crlrcrJasqlr,$ sura,r elrrdoceqcao esnrj peueso.rdar
l J o l ' s o r l p u rp a J e t l pa l n o t q , { l p p u o J e s , { q
atpl e'elc.(c crssElodasuelutaqlJo pue eql lV nJ %0 f sr te^e srqj tua^a uoueletfe crssetodpunor8lccq
punoJesr uppunqpsr uotlpJatlE ctsselodesuelureql eaq^l J r t p u t 3 8 t u - a p' ll u e r d l f , u t' l r u r u e , { q p a t u r r d r a , r o
seuozeql Jo epe8 atllle^oJ-alll,{dotlcqc-aruaSrp u a e q s p q e s l n d r e l p l e q J . , ( 1 , ( q d l o do z u a r o l u c s
-luroq "qJ
l u e l o d u | r, { q
J o p e s o d u r o ra r o 1 o s a r t u e n b pu erJorpouuDlralJ 'eluolpouflD ,(arg aq ffurpncur
petuedurocceere,,rr :aqefloqorqa,r'ar.rrtas uaa.t\-(ati puc 'scslnde^rsntLr pur adrnrufq pesua3llteqJ
ll1rrnbas
ll tele seuneJV - qC'epurecnbnqC
 172 SouthAmeica
mineralisation
by 0.3 to 0-5%o Cu andthegradedistribution
observedis basically inherited froln the earlier evnts.
F su |ting- Di slocation-D i sf,lacerxet,t & P ostJtypogene
Mineralisqtion
Throughoutthe mineralisingeventsthe lrost rock nrass
remainedundetectonicstress,producingrepeatedepisodes
of brittledeformation.Towardsthe endol, and following
the late quartz-sericite(phyllic) event, this continued
defomation had resulted in the developmentof new
structures andthe reactivation ofearlierstructuralsysterns
t h a t h a d i n f l u e n c e dt h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e p r e - e x i s t i n g
hypogenemineralzones.Distributive,dextral-nomlal,
trendingfaults,suchasthe Estanques Blancos,Balmaceda
and PortezueloSystems,produced moderate,en echelon,
progressive, "southblockdown" displacement
truncationofthe ore bodiesto the south,while the "roots"
of the mineralisedsystem are exposedto the north in the
Radomiro Tomic mine. On a regional scal, the Wesl
Fissuresystemproduceda majorsinistraldisplacenrent
the ore body. This north-southtrending,subverticalto
steeplywestdippingfaultzone,locallyexhibilsclearpost-
mineraldisplacement, but alsohasa deepseatedrotational
component.The senseofmovementofthe blockson either
side the fault zone differs. [n (he miue area,the west block
is uplifted relative to the easlern side, but is rotaled
downwards further to lh south. [t bisectsthedepositand
juxtaposesthe intenselyminemlisedand alteredChuqui
Porphyry to the east with the barren, unaltered Fortuna
Intrusive Complex, to the west, clearly truncating the
alterationevntsup to and including the late quartz-sericite
(phyllic). A boad zone of tectonic becciation and
dislocationis evidenton the westemor hangingwallmargin
of the fault, producing the complex geomechanical
conditions encountered on the western wall of the
Chuquicamata pit.
A late, NW trending, sinistral-normal structural system,
reactivated,displacedand weakly segmentedthe hypogene
m i n e r a l i s a t i o na n d t h e W e s t F i s s u r e ,i n c r e a s i n gt h e
permeability,and enhancedsubsequentsupergeneactivity.
Supergene Processes
At leasttwo leaching,oxidising andenrichmenteventshave
been recognisedas having taken place at Chuquicamata
betweenl9 and l5Ma. The first,a thick blanketof stong
effichment was developedin the zone that was physically
and chemically the most favourable, namel the core of
the late quartz-sricite(phyllic) alteration,which was
intensively fractured and hence more permeable,but also
non-reactive and rich in pyrte to generateacid waters.
These acid solutions were able to penneate through the
fractu.ed, high grade primary mineralisationto leach and
then transportcoppervia the samepermeable,non-reactive
host to ultimately be depositedin the supergeneblanket
when neuhalised at the water table. The copper grades
resultingfom this enrichmentaveraged2.0-3.0%Cu. This
highly enrichedblanlt probably extendedto the eastand
north of the main late quartz-sericite(phyllic) zone, but
with reduced thicknessesantl grades,in sectors with
predominantly backgroundpotassicalteratio[, and hence
Inore reactive and less perrneablerocks. Subsequent
tectonictrplifl lorveredthe nleteoricwater table and the
chalcociterich supergene blanketin the latequartz-sericite
(phyllic) zone was oxidisedto producehenratiticleached
rernnants,while high gradecopltr sulphutesweredeposited
iu the adjacentpotassicalteredrnincralisedzonesto the
northanderst.1'heearlyhistoricexploitalionwascentred
on these sulphalezones. whiclr were locatedclose to
surlace.Weakersulplratezonerernnants arestillavailable
at the northenlend of the Chuquicarrrata pit.
Coppersolutions.denvedfrornthe intenseleachiugofthe
s u l p h i d ed e p o s i t ,a l s o c i r c u t a t e dl a t e r a l l y ,a n d w e r e
NE
transported to thesouthalonga favourablepalaeo-channel
follorvinga depressiort topographically controlledby the
WestFissure.Thesesalutionswereprecipitating asexotic
andfinally,
copperoxidesat the bedrock-channel gravel interfaceto
producethe rnajorMina Sur oxidecopperrleposit.Partof
the palaeochannelis exposedlodayon the Lrpper benchcs
a t l h e s o u l h e r ne n c l o f t h e C h u q u i c u n r a t ao p e n p i t ,
of
I t e c o n n a i s s n c ed r i l l i n g o f t h i s p a l a c o - c h a n n ehl a s
deronstrated theexistcnceof two nroreoeriodsofsolution
flow and copper t.rxidcprecipitation.which Inust ben
related1()smrlr waler table chansesover the mother
deposit.
Conclusions
. The rnain mineralisingeventsat the Chuquicamata
deposit have affecled,been inrposeduxrn,or are
structurallyemplacedwithin the diflerent textural
phasesofthe Chuqui Porphv',, evidencingthat this
intrusiveconrplexis essentiallya pre-rnineralhost
rock. The sourceof the fluids responsiblefor the
hypogenealteration-mineralisation andthe porphyries
that must be genetically related with those same
events,haveuotyet beenrecognised andareprobably
deeperin lhe systern,below the reachof the drilling
undertakento date.
. The principal hypogenemineralisingevent is the
intensepotassic alteration(Pl) phase,not recognised
as such in previousgeologicalmodels. This early
e v e n t c o n t i b u t e d a b u n d a n tb o r n i t e , d i g e n i t e ,
chalcopyrite andcovellitemineralistion, structurally
controlled by cataclastic deformation zones, in A
esponseto the combinationof a complex set of
ln
deformatioualand hydrothermalpulses. More detail
co
n e e d s t o b e g a t h e r e do n t h e s e g r a d e a n d o r e
tnr
localisationprocesses.
. An irnportant set of quortz-nol,ltdenie veins and
pr(
veinltswere emplacedin the coreof the depositto
de
form a body defined by a steeply dipping, tabula
Ge
vein-likeenvelopeorientedin a generalnonh-south
Fr
to NNE directionin thecentralandsouthemsections
pa
ofthe mine(minesections 2500mNto 3500nrN).This
to1
body averages0.13% Mo and becauseof its large
ga
tonnage rcpresentsan economic deposit in its own
ex
rght.
co
o The intense late quattz-sericite (phyllic) alteration
event,which is locatedin the westempartsof the
pa
deposit,adjacentto theWestFissure,obliterated pre-
fig
existing mineralogicalassernblages by introducing
 eqlJo urSroeqt pue 'qlnos ogpuEotz sapurte.I -saJnu
uae,{leq sepuv ueelrqJ aql Jo r(Solouolrlcoruoqt puBuorsre^qsrlSuElsururJnopelrpepuepasr,rar flusBed
pu? uorlnlo^e lecrSoloaS',(ueSoll?tet^l- 06l . ^ .^eslEN sqoq^\'Jeuodelrtl aflpamou>ce o arl oslpplno^l A\
' t t r s - 6 0 t sd d 'apor,
'f '^ 'oBDttuDS 'oualry) elr8ooag00 aqlJo ssarrnseqt ot SuurqutuoJ
oltSgloat 'stcedsp
l E n t d a c u o ep u e f 8 o o p o q t e u 1 r o ocuar.redxe
osatSuoJ I :sepuv urTellqJ uleqljou eql Jo p u e a 8 p a m o u e ^ r s u a t x el a r l tJ o t u e u e qa q l s n a ^ E 8
strsodepladdoJ /r{qdrodJo Solouorrlro3JV^, oq^l 'lunll uqof pupleJo.rduqof .srssehlsuctlnsuoc eqol
' 'sploufeu pue 'J^'rllruez '^ i^eDslol.{
/Vo, - 8861 H d epnrc.r8 rno ssardxaot Itl plno^\er$'uonrppl,ul adzd
.z
t s-t8ts .dd srq 3o uortccrqndaql r< rrorssruuad a,rc8oqr'r 'nnrarg
'l ^ 'oualtqJ oJtSoloa!) osaiSuoJ oueqo)l JI,^l'uorsr^r6 euoN 61969 eqt ro ,{8ooag
I sDtJV :eltqJ ep epuB3alJou lep oreJrJdnc 'a']|'lJ .al!q) ap
Jo reflpupl^l aqr frcncrped OJ-lgeOJ
opuod odll ep solrsgdepeleusol ep Euotiel a.tqoJ lap lDuonDN uotJotod.@) eg! esruSocaro pesead
oclu?Solelel^J ooren - 8861'hl'rt|luaz pue A,^essIBW oslE JEaA f.eJJoJlsP,l lapot{,, eql uo s|l q]t,r{ pallo^\
'erlocs^oN
oq^1asoqtfllerJedsepuE',fuolsuls.euu eql lrroq8noJqt
'xeyp7 'frstauup alsnoqp1 'flsaqJ
IDtotJoO !rsodapuctuucrnbnqJ aqlJoeSpal^1oul eql o patnqutuoJ
paqsllqndun :eqJ urequoN 'lrsodep raddor e^EqeqsLeuorsseJo.rd aq e urlt ot lsr^lsJoqtneeqJ
,t,(qd:od eeurecrnbnqJ aqt utqttrr\uooEzrtEauttu
Jo doosrus pue loJluoc lEJnlJnJlS- g66l ,.C fespur-I sluotuaSpcl,raoulcv
'8S6-5'6'dd
'Lt ^ 'MaaE ,(8ooag
louoqnutajuJ :elyJ .
I0 rpe,{eqt loJ
u.lequou'lrsodep:addor,&f qdJodpltupctnbnqJ salnpeqcssr 'ecrnosesrql trodxellt^l rpnl^ ,eurtu
a q l l e u o r t s z r l s J e u r r uS u r l l o J l u o c u l s , ( s eteurecrnbnq3 aqlle suoqetadoloosuqdpunotBrapun
eeqs elllrJq ot elrlcnp e^rtJe ue Jo uoonlo^E eqt Jo lua(uaJuururoJ aql sIlJ ssort pue stlure.r
- ' 'Ea^rU l ep sefo pue 'rltuez..C ,,{cspur-l
966l f l^ ' 3 u r r r pq t r m u o u o r r l p ^ ep e r e a p
lepunftuorrnc
't9-f.v dd 'eJo,OcutJd nJ
'(I)'6Z ^'aIfqJ ap DitS<\oaDDtst^V %l.lo th 0001Ja^oelc eleql'espq
:(Sobt-|tl rd uedorrrr- pauued.4ua.r.rnc cq ,noaq'qttlcpty
elrqJ IEtuec'strsodapeddoc fu,(gdrorl uuapuy 'n qo5go apcrS
Lorc
Jo slsau3eqt ur srolJEJ,(ey :8uruaoqs esnrc E puE 'uollll^le 'lu ru 00 | eq ol ur 00g l auos Jo
,
Ilnq pue etelsuoupprxoetu8eurqAlH - Z00Z C lB^returlcr|lo^u raao 8urr.rp 1o ur 000 0gt+ ruoJ-j
'zeuE^ 'uEurpals' ' 'ouErqual ,.1,oprrpc
PUEu v'pg!s f Etr?p uo pascqsr slql nJ %gg gJo epct8affr:aaeue
'88
I-t88 I drJ.g. t,, ouary) l lw 000t Jo leplo oqlJ0 sr rsodapeeruucrnbnq3
oa8g1oag osat8uoSr1 sDlry :eseo ellpJ aq uetBaq1eSurureura ecJnoselecr3ooa8 pateurrse
,(q pecedstp,(usrursqrloqleqreddoc,tu,(qdrod aql 'leporl ecr8ooagt00 eql Jo srseq eql uO
y :saxaduo3 ?unuoC pu ErqV ,.N 'rsodepaqt
lg - 661 tnoqSnoJqt uorlnqrsrp
'orulg pus '/t|Fl 'urut! 'f ,.H.f ,selllc
V'rrosurluroJ reddocaqt luaserdarraloq ot Iepout^reuaql Sur,^\ollE
' 8 O t - 9 0 td d , , t Z ^
pup'slue^e uorlesrle.raurut puE uoteJallpeuetodfq
ilSoloag :alntcnJlsfrrqeauuodpue erncorqJe l u e r e J J r pe q t 3 u r , { J u e p r ' , { t t l t q ? U e ^o p r r f e q t
euozlnEJ- 966I f g 3 elsroJpuEa f ,suE^a..s.f ,eureJ tceJEleqt slorluoJect3ooaleqt runoJJcotr salEl
'Wt-LbE dd'VVI '^'Solota puD 8olDnn{
apo,1ecr8ooagt00 r$euaqJ slepoutsnor^etd
ol suounqutuoJ :altqJ uaqlJouJo sllsod"p uo{ palerce.iddE uaaqpcq ueqt:a8relsr llsodepeqt
raddoc,{.lqdrod o1uollecrldds:suoclz ur (lll)aJ urqlrmepnrflreddoceqlJotserluocpuc,(lrqurJe^ qJ
^^l)eC u.|o{ pelaJur seruaeurSosaesuoreprxo 'qtdep peqsrururrp
te sr paJplpqlJo lErluelod
e^rlEIeU- O0Z' t 'lleqduiBJpue ,^l f 'urled .f .prllE8 crurouoJaer{t lql selpcrpursrq saeururoperd
?tlgllsnv'ts/.a/.tun louortpN uD\otlstlY saper8raddoc Ja,^\olsll qt!Ar uolleletlp Jrssrtol
'srseql
lEJotJoOpeqsrlqndun:suorstulul eurlellB pu\ot*lJqg eq eroq^\ qtdap lE lltcodse,lelEe^l
-clec uerreq puu Surreaq-ero .{Jlsruleqcoe8 freec arc slue^euortestletauttu
Jo epet8 tseq8rqaqt
eql uea^rrq ,(pns a,rre.reduroc . pJpllp8 'sel nfEeJ
V - t00 f lprncnllsureu aq ere sraalsilsl nDJE-J puq
'98-t8f dd '62 ^ l6opaD:df\tXHS
DzoEDrnZ egt ateq,4\ 'Nut00 uorlces eulur
| S Jo qUoN
pue Sn-dCI-V.lg fq erq3 u:aqou 1o rsodap 'stue^cSursrlEteutru a,rrssecons pue,,lqo
raddoceteruecrnbnq3uer3-lednsaqtro1 po,rosa.r n b n q J e \ t J o t u e [ e J p l d u e e q 3 u r o r u o cu r
uorsnjlurfu,{qdlodJosa8eo,n1- r'V seunpJ
I00Z eloJa pa,(elda^Eqot sueasauoz lelntcnjtsstqJ
h
p u e | ' l l e q d u E J' f ' s u r E r l l r ^'A i.f .prelleB ',lno tqDssawqt
f'ullEd Jo uotsuelxeuleqlnosoql aq ol
't8-s dd' piterdJalursr'lepon
|t L' v)rcoT0gc lecrSoloeC f00 eqt ur fu,(qdrod
'.elqJ - eleurecrnbnq3 ue ouapqtlot{
flO,lJS rnbnq3aqt3ourS.rrtu urlspe eq Suole pellepou pue
'-H 'otos pup .f ,snquv pasruSoca't
ap ocrEgoa8orpntsg - t61 ,(uasrsuoa'auoz uoItt utJoJaO tsDE aql
'urdS,EcueuelpS 'slua^auoucsrleeutut/uorlelell
l ltBa
'oJuouDlps ap pop!sra^!un 's6aqJ 'lo-to|Joo
uto{ po}uqur uounqrlsrp roddoc -o uaed aures
p a q s l n n d u n : a l r q C e p s o r a 3 r r d n cs o p g r o d eqt Sutulelutltuarqmsepcr8petuqua leqlg lnq
sol ep uor?eztleJeutru ,(ouaruezeldtug 'uorlesrlpJeuur addoc 3usrxe-ed pue
- 66l . f sruquV elnqlrlstpel
esrlrqourel,(uuorru8rs ou ptp tue^e srql utets/(s
soJuarcJou a q t o t n l p u Es V ' r J ' S J o s a t t t l u c n e b, r r e c g r u S r s
'eteuecnbnqC
Elj le le ssuneJ V- olltl)
 174 South Ameica

major porphyry copper deposits; Unpub. PhD

Thesis,Dalhousie Uniu, Halfax, Nova Scotia.
M a r i n o v i c , S . a n d L a h s e n ,A . , t 9 8 4 - R e g i n d e
Antofagasta. Santiago, Chile: Instiluto de
InvestigocionesGeolriglcas, I :250.000scale.
Mclnnes,B.I.A., Farley,K.A., Sillitoe, R.H. and Kohn, B-P,
1999 - Application of Apatite (U-Th)/He
thermochronometryto the determination ol the
senseand amount of vertcal displacernentat the
Chuquicamata porphyry copper deposit, Chile;
Economic Geolog, v.94, pp.937 -948.
Ossandn,G. and Zentilli, M.. 1997 - El Distrito de
Chuquicamata:una concentracnde cobre de
clase mundial; Actas l4ll Congreso Geolgico
Chileno,v.3, pp. 1888-1893.
Ossandn, G., Frraut,R., Gustafson,L., Lindsay,D. and
Zetilli, M.,200!. - Geology of tbe Chuquicamara
Mine: A Progress Report; Economic Geologt,
v.96, pp.249-270.
Ramirez, F. and Chvez,W J,. 1996 - Distribucin rle la
Enargita en la Mina de Chuquicamata; Inforne
inteno Gerencia cle Geologa - Divisin Codelco
Norte. Unpublished
R e n z e t t ,8 . L . , 1 9 5 7 - G e o l o g y a n d P e t r o g e n e s ias t
Chuquicamata, Chile1' Unpublished Doctoral
Thesis,University oJ lndiana,92p, rnap scale -
l: I0 000.
Reutter,
K-J.,Chong, E.,193 - TheWest
C. andScheuber,
Fisstreand the Precordilleranfault system of
northem Chile; 3d lntemationalSymposiumon
A n d e a n G e o d y n a m i c s ,O x f o r d , U K , 2 l - 2 3
September, 1999.ORSTOM- Universiry oOxlotd,
ExtendedAbstracts, pp. 237-24A.
Reutter,K-J., Scheuber,E., and Chong, G.,1996 - The
Precordilleranfault system of Chuquicamata,
northemChile: Evidencefo eversalsalongarc-
parallel strike-slip faults; Tectonophys i cs, v. 259,
pp.213-228.
Reynolds,P.,Ravenhurst, C., Zentilli,M. and Lindsay,D.,
eAr/reA
1998 - High-Precison dating of two
consecutive hydrothermal vents n the
Chuquicamataporphyry copper system,Chile;
Chemical Geologt, v. 148,pp. 45-60.
Sillitoe, R.H. and McKee, E.H., 1996 - Age of supergene
oxidation and enrichmentin the Chileanporphyry
copper province; Economic Geology, v.91,
w. 164-179.
Sylvester, A.G., l9E8 - Strike-Slipfaults;Geological
SocietyofAmeica Bulletn,v 100,pp 1666-1703.
Tomlinson,A.J. and Blanco,N., 1997a- Srructural
evolutionand displacement historyof rhe West
tn
fault systm,Precordillera, Chile:Part l, Syn-
t5
mineralhistory;Actas VIII CongresoGeolgico
Chileno,v.3, pp. 1873-1877.
T o m l i n s o nA, . J . a n d B l a n c o ,N . , 1 9 9 7 b- S t r u c t u r a l
evolutionand displacement historyof the West
fault system,Pecordillera,Chile: Part 2, Post
mineraf history; .4ctas Vlll CongresoGeolgico
Chileno,v.3, pp. 1878-1882.