UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL ECUADOR

FACULTAD DE INGENIERÍA EN GEOLOGÍA, MINAS, PETRÓLEOS,

AMBIENTAL
ESCUELA DE GEOLOGIA
YACIMIENTOS MINERALES
NOMBRE: RICARDO VEGA FECHA: 10/12/2018

Tema: Principales alteraciones hidrotermales: describir rangos de temperatura de formación, paragénesis mineralógica, en que yacimientos es frecuente, relación entre estas
alteraciones y conclusiones.

ALTERACIONES HIDROTERMALES
ALTERACIÓN RANGO (T0) PARAGÉNESIS YACIMIENTOS RELACIÓN ENTE ALTERACIONES
SILICIFICACIÓN wide range Development of secondary quartz, jasper, It is associated with the Addition of silica, alkali leaching,
of T0. chalcedony, chert, opal or other siliceous deposition of sulfides mainly. aluminum leaching
varieties in the box rocks of epigenic
deposits.
SAUCERITIZACIÓN 2500 Epidote (or zoisite or clinozoisite) + chlorite Porphyry Cu, high sulphidation Associated with propylitic alteration.
+ albite carbonate ± sericite ± epithermal,
montmorillonite ± low-sulphidation
septachlorite ± apatite ± anhydrite ± epithermal, geothermal
ankerite ± hematite ± pyrite ±
chalcopyrite
POTÁSICA 6000 - 4500 K-feldspar (orthoclase) + biotite + quartz ± Porphyry Cu Potassic alteration is usually
magnetite ± sericite (or muscovite) ± albite accompanied by sulphides (chalcopyrite,
± chlorite ± anhydrite ± apatite ± rutile ± pyrite, molybdenite).
epidote ± chalcopyrite ± bornite ±
Pyrite
SERICITIZACIÓN Sericite + quartz + pyrite ± biotite ± chlorite Porphyry Cu This alteration grades into the potassic
± rutile ± leucoxene ± chalcopyrite ± illite type by increasing amounts of K-feldspar
 and/or biotite, and into the argillic type by
increasing amounts of clay minerals.
ARGILITICA 4000-5000 Pyrophyllite + kaolinite (or dickite) ± quartz Porphyry Cu, high- sulphidation Alunitic alteration is part of advanced
AVANZADA ± sericite ± andalusite ± diaspore ± alunite Epithermal, geothermal argillic alteration, and
± topaz ± zunyite ± enargite ± tourmaline in the presence of abundant sulphate
± pyrite ± chalcopyrite ± hematite ions and Al-rich protoliths may become a
dominant phase.
PROPILITIZACIÓN 2200-3400 Chlorite, epidote, actinolite and tremolite Porphyry Cu, high sulphidation In some situations, there can be intense
epithermal, low-sulphidation albitisation, chloritisation or
epithermal, geothermal carbonitisation
ARGILITIZACIÓN 3000 Chlorite + sericite ± kaolinite ± Porphyry Cu, highsulphidation Zoning within the intermediate argillic
INTERMEDIA montmorillonite ± illite-smectite ± calcite ± epithermal alteration may be present with kaolinite
epidote ± biotite ± pyrite being closer to the phyllic zone, whereas
montmorillonite clays occur in the outer
zones.
CLORITIZACIÓN Low T0 Replacement of ferromagnesian minerals Deposits associated with This alteration is related to propilitization.
with chlorite. sulfides.
ZEOLITIZACIÓN Low T0 Estilbita, natrolita, heulandita Deposits of native copper in Related to propylitic alteration
amygdaloid basalts
CARBONITIZACIÓN Average T0 Calcite, ankerite and dolomite Carbonate alteration can form Particularly common in limestones
zonal patterns around ore (dolomitized) and in basic rocks
deposits with more iron-rich (ankeritization)
types occurring proximal to the
deposit.
ALUNITIZACIÓN 500 - 3000 Alunite and quartz as a result of feldspar Alunitic alteration is closely This alteration can be hypogenic or
alteration associated with certain hot supergenic.
springs environments.
SERPENTINIZACIÓ 3000 Serpentine, brucite, and magnetite Submarine environments, gold Serpentinization can occur in ultrabasic
N and nickel deposits rocks also by deuteric action.
SKARNIFICACIÓN High Limestone Cu porphyries, reduced skarn This alteration can be essentially
(contact Garnets (andradite and grosularia), (Au, W and, Sin), metasomatic isochemical with removal of CO2 and
metamorphis wollastonite, epidote, diopside (Px), replacement of dolomitic other times it includes the introduction of
m) Minor idocrase, (chlorite, actinolite. limestones (rich in Mg).
 metasomatis Dolomites silica, Mg, Fe and volatiles (F, Cl, B and
m fosterita (olivine), serpentinite, talc, H2O), with an extensive loss of CO2.
tremolite, chlorite.
ALBITIZACIÓN High T0 Aluminous material becomes albite or In porphyritic systems it is Normally associated with high
oligoclase sodium interpreted as an early and temperature propylitic alteration
profound alteration during late
stages of crystallization of a
magma.

Conclusiones:

• Procesos de alteración particularmente en sistemas de pórfido. Los efectos de la alteración hidrotermal y la mineralización se extienden en un gran volumen de rocas
alrededor de la pared y por encima de los intrusivos.
• La alteración potásica es especialmente común e importante en pórfidos y Sistemas de mineralización epitermal, donde se produce en el núcleo de alta temperatura.
• En la alteración propilitica en algunas situaciones, puede haber una intensa albitización, clorización o carbonización.
• Los procesos que conducen a la alteración en los sistemas de pórfido son: adición volátil, (alteración propilítica), hidrólisis (sericítica, argílica avanzada e intermedia),
argílico), intercambio alcalino (alteración potásica, sódica-cálcica) y adición de sílice.
• Los tipos de alteraciones hidrotérmal argilitica avanzadas, potásicas, propilíticas, sericiticas, se aplican a la mayoría de los depósitos hidrotermales, y el sistema de
mineral de pórfido-epitermal.
• La composición de las rocas de la pared puede desempeñar un papel importante en la determinación del tipo de conjuntos minerales.

Referencias
1. Pirajno F. Hydrothermal Processes and Mineral Systems. primera ed. Science S, editor. Australia: Geological Survey of Western Australia, Perth, WA,
Australia; 2009.