©2008 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc.

Economic Geology, v. 103, pp. 851–864

SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS

GEOCHRONOLOGY OF EPITHERMAL Au-Ag MINERALIZATION, MAGMATIC-HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION,

AND SUPERGENE WEATHERING IN THE EL PEÑÓN DISTRICT, NORTHERN CHILE

IAN WARREN,†
Yamana Gold, 9670 Gateway Drive, Suite 200, Reno, Nevada 89521

DOUGLAS A. ARCHIBALD,
Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6

AND STUART F. SIMMONS

School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

Abstract
The El Peñón epithermal gold-silver deposit, Region II, Chile, comprises multiple epithermal veins, which
contain a geologic resource (measured + indicated + inferred) of 7 million oz (Moz) Au and 199 Moz Ag. The
size, combined with bonanza Au grades, makes it the most important precious metal deposit in the Paleocene
metallogenic belt of northern Chile. Quartz-adularia-carbonate veins are hosted in Paleocene and early Eocene
mafic to felsic volcanic rocks that are hydrothermally altered up to 100s of meters from mineralized veins. Late
Cretaceous and Eocene intermediate composition intrusive rocks also occur in the district and locally preserve
alteration associated with magmatic-hydrothermal systems that are not related to precious metals mineraliza-
tion of the El Peñón deposit.
Timing of hydrothermal activity in the district and age and duration of weathering are constrained by ages
for vein adularia, hypogene alunite, and supergene alunite determined by Ar39/Ar40 step-heating experiments.
Adularias from the three largest veins of the El Peñón deposit are dated at 52 to 53 Ma (40Ar/39Ar), indicating
formation 1 to 3 m.y. later than host rhyolite domes. Magmatic-hydrothermal quartz-alunite alteration spatially
associated with Late Cretaceous and Eocene intermediate composition intrusive rocks is dated at 73 to 65 and
50 to 49 Ma, respectively. Supergene alunite dates from the El Peñón district indicate that weathering within
a semiarid to arid climate occurred from 23 to 17 Ma, prior to the onset of hyperaridity.

Introduction
The El Peñón Au-Ag deposit comprises multiple epither-
mal veins that are hosted by volcanic rocks associated with the
Paleocene and early Eocene magmatic arc of northern Chile.
Measured, indicated, and inferred resources for the El Peñón
deposit are 18 million metric tons (Mt) of ore at 12.23 g/t Au
and 343.4 g/t Ag. The Quebrada Colorada vein with 1.4 Mt of
ore at 31 g/t Au and 499 g/t Ag is exceptional because it con-
tains >1 million oz (Moz) of bonanza-grade ore (cf. Sillitoe,
1993, 2002). Although most notable for hosting Au-Ag min-
eralization, rocks of the El Peñón district, herein defined by
the limits of the mineral concession, also are exceptional in
that they record multiple episodes of magmatic, volcanic, and
hydrothermal activity from the Late Cretaceous through the
Eocene.
The El Peñón deposit is spatially coincident with, and
partly hosted by, a rhyolite flow-dome complex. Zircons and
biotite from the rhyolite domes were dated by U/Pb (54.4 ±
0.2 and 55.4 ± 0.2 Ma) and 40Ar/39Ar methods (54.5 ± 0.6 Ma),
respectively (Cornejo, et al. 2003). The rhyolites intrude an-
desite to dacite flows, rhyolite tuffs, and volcaniclastic rocks;
the age of a rhyolite tuff exposed north of the deposit area,
† Corresponding author: e-mail, ian.warren@yamana.com
likely correlative with tuff intersected by drill holes and in the
underground mine workings, is 59.2 ± 1.6 Ma based on
whole-rock K/Ar analysis (Cornejo et al., 2003). Other rocks
in the district that have been dated include 65 ± 2 to 73 ± 2
Ma (K/Ar age: Arancibia et al., 2006a) monzodiorite exposed
in the western part of the district and 48.2 ± 1.3 Ma (K/Ar
age: Rojas, 1994) and 48.2 ± 2.7 Ma (K/Ar age: Arancibia et
al., 2006a) diorite exposed in the eastern and southern parts
of the district. In the eastern part of the district, timing of
Eocene intrusive activity is further constrained by 40Ar/39Ar
age determinations of amphiboles from intermediate compo-
sition intrusions (45.8 ±0.5 and 43.7 ± 0.7 Ma: Arancibia et
al., 2006a). The age of weathering in the district is con-
strained by K/Ar ages of supergene alunite (31 ± 1 to 14.0 ±
4.5 Ma: Sillitoe and McKee, 1996; Arancibia et al., 2006b),
the 40Ar/39Ar ages of supergene alunite (27.3 ± 0.3 to 15.2 ±
0.4 Ma: Arancibia et al., 2006b), and 40Ar/39Ar ages of man-
ganese oxide (15 ± 4 to 9.0 ± 3.0 Ma: Arancibia et al., 2006b).
At various times during the latest Cretaceous to middle
Eocene, hydrothermal systems in the El Peñón district formed
gangue assemblages dominated by either quartz-adularia-car-
bonate or quartz-alunite. These contrasting styles of hy-
drothermal alteration and mineralization are spatially distinct,
and we present 40Ar/39Ar age determinations of hydrothermal

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minerals that constrain the timing of hydrothermal activity.
Data are reported for adularia from the three largest veins of
the El Peñón deposit and for hypogene alunite found in
open-space filling of acid-altered rocks from the margin of
the district. Oxidation of the El Peñón ores extends down to
400 m below surface, and supergene weathering altered both
gangue and ore minerals. The previously reported timing and
duration of weathering in the district is confirmed by
40Ar/39Ar age determinations of supergene alunite. Data pre-
sented herein are from Warren (2005) and complement re-
cently reported ages of adularia from the Quebrada Colorada
vein (53.1 ± 0.5 to 51.0 ± 0.6 Ma) and of supergene alunite
(27.3 ± 0.3 to 15.2 ± 0.4 Ma) reported by Arancibia et al.,
(2006a, b).
Geologic Setting of the El Peñón Deposit
Regional geology
El Peñón is located in the Central Depression of northern
Chile, 145 km southeast of Antofagasta. Rocks of the district
belong to the Paleocene belt, a 72 to 40 Ma volcanic suite of
basaltic to rhyolitic lavas and tuffs, subvolcanic porphyritic in-
trusions, and granitoid stocks that occur from southern Peru
to central Chile (Boric et al., 1990; Marinovic et al., 1995;
Servicio National de Geología y Minería de Chile (SERNA-
GEOMIN), 2003; Fig. 1).
El Peñón is one of several epithermal Au-Ag deposits that
occur in the Paleocene belt between 22°45' and 25°15' S; sev-
eral porphyry Cu deposits occur there as well (Fig. 1). Ep-
ithermal Au-Ag mineralization occurs in veins, breccias, and
disseminated deposits associated with two distinct gangue
mineral assemblages. Quartz, calcite, adularia, illite, and
pyrite occur at El Peñón, Faride, El Soldado, and Cachinal de
la Sierra, which formed during the Paleocene and early
Eocene (Fig. 1; Puig et al., 1988; Camus, 1990; Camus and
Skewes, 1991; Sillitoe, 1991). In contrast, quartz, alunite, py-
rophyllite, and dickite occur at the early to middle Eocene El
Guanaco deposit, which contains 1.3 Moz Au (Fig. 1; Camus,
1990; Sillitoe, 1991). Similar quartz-alunite alteration (ad-
vanced argillic) is locally developed above Late Cretaceous
and Eocene intrusions, mostly along the margins of the Pale-
ocene belt.
District and deposit geology
Basaltic to rhyolitic, pyroclastic and flow units, subvolcanic
rhyolites, and volcaniclastic breccias of Late Cretaceous to

70° 22°
70° 68°

Faride 60-63Ma
Antofagasta Spence 64Ma
24°
El Peñón Sierra Gorda 64Ma

Lomas Bayas 60Ma

Paleocene
belt
Antofagasta San Cristóbal 54Ma
Santiago

36° El Peñón 24°

52-53Ma
property/ La Escondida
district
deposit
GEOLOGY and DEPOSITS
El Soldado
51-53Ma Paleocene epithermal
Cachinal de la Sierra Paleocene porphyry Cu
48° 59Ma
El Guanaco Late Cretaceous and
49Ma early Tertiary volcanic
and intrusive rocks

100 kilometers
a b
FIG. 1. a. Map of Chile showing the location of the Paleocene belt and the El Peñón district. b. Map showing the loca-
tion of epithermal and porphyry Cu deposits in the Paleocene belt of northern Chile and the boundary of Minera Meridian’s
El Peñón property. Reported ages are from Puig et al. (1988), Camus (1990), Camus and Skewes (1991), Sillitoe (1991), and
Singer et al. (2002). Large areas of quartz-alunite alteration also occur in the Paleocene belt, forming lithocaps (Sillitoe, 1995)
associated with intrusions of Late Cretaceous and Eocene age. These alteration zones are mostly barren or contain weak por-
phyry Cu mineralization (Lorson and Robbins, 1998). The darker gray shaded regions show outcrops of Late Cretaceous and
Early Tertiary volcanic and intrusive rocks that define the Paleocene belt of northern Chile (Marinovic et al., 1995; SER-
NAGEOMIN, 2003).

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early Eocene age and volcanic rocks interpreted to be of the district in the footwall of Falla Dominador, voluminous,
Jurassic age are the main rock types in the district (Fig. 2; Zu- rhyolitic pyroclastic rocks with minor dacitic to andesitic flows
luaga, 2004; Arancibia et al., 2006a). In the western part of of Late Cretaceous age overlie interpreted Jurassic volcanic

24º15’ 24º15’
? 69º30’

CPdA
150
0

ENC

00
1800

22
2000

17
00
PdASE

1600

190
0
El Peñón
deposit CM
r

QO
do

AG
na
mi

?
Do

QC1663
QC560
lla
Fa

QC1763

21
00
Eocene
Intermediate-composition
intrusions

Paleocene and Eocene

Andesite dikes
Rhyolitic, dacitic, and
andesitic flows and domes;
rhyolitic and dacitic tuff;
24º30’ volcaniclastic rocks
LT
Late Cretaceous
Intermediate-composition
intrusions
Pyroclastic rocks, minor
N andesite and dacite flows

MEL Jurassic
? Pyroclastic rocks and
andesite flows
Faults, tick on hanging wall
5 kilometers
69º30’ 50 m contour

FIG. 2. Geologic map of the El Peñón district, as defined by the Minera Meridian property boundary (heavy outline), sim-
plified from Zuluaga (2004). White areas are covered, except for some outside the property boundary where the geology is
only partially mapped. At the El Peñón deposit north- and northeast-trending vein orebodies are shown in black; andesite
dikes in the deposit area are not resolvable at this map scale. Locations of samples referred to in the text: AG = Angelina,
CM = Cerro Martillo, CPdA = Cerro Pan de Azúcar, ENC = Encantada, LT = Lagarto, MEL = Melinda, PdASE = Pan de
Azúcar Sudeste, QC560, QC1663, QC1763 = Quebrada Colorada, and QO = Quebrada Orito.

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rocks. Here, both the Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous volcanic
rocks are intruded by 73 ± 2 to 67 ± 2 Ma (K/Ar age: Aran-
cibia et al., 2006a) dioritic to monzodioritic rocks and locally
by dacite domes, probably of Late Cretaceous age (Zuluaga,
2004).
Volcanic rocks of Paleocene and early Eocene age host the
El Peñón deposit (Cornejo et al., 2003; Arancibia et al.,
2006a). A lower sequence of volcanic breccia and andesitic to
basaltic flows is overlain by a sequence of rhyolitic to dacitic
pyroclastic rocks (59.2 ± 1.6 Ma: Cornejo et al., 2003), dacitic
to andesitic flows, and volcanic breccia. These rocks are in-
truded by, and the upper parts intercalated with, 54.4 ± 0.2 to
55.4 ± 0.2 Ma rhyolitic flows and domes (U/Pb and 40Ar/39Ar
ages: Cornejo et al., 2003). The mostly flat-lying to gently
east- and south-dipping volcanic sequence is locally intruded
by 53.7 ± 1.9 to 52.2 ± 1.8 Ma subvolcanic bodies of interme-
diate composition, the ages of which overlap the age of min-
eralization (Arancibia et al., 2006a). Andesites south of the
district have ages of 50.5 ± 1.7 to 52.9 ± 1.8 Ma (K/Ar:
Cornejo et al., 2003) that also partly overlap the age of Au-Ag
vein formation at El Peñón (see below). The Paleocene and
early Eocene volcanic rocks are locally intruded by 48.2 ± 1.3
Ma (K/Ar age: Rojas, 1994) to 43.7 ± 0.7 Ma (40Ar/39Ar age:
Arancibia et al., 2006a) diorites that are exposed in the east-
ern and southern parts of the district.
In addition to the El Peñón deposit, several outlying areas
in the district are characterized by Au-Ag epithermal veins.
Many rocks in the district, especially those surrounding the
deposit and outlying veins, contain variable amounts of
quartz, adularia, illite, albite, chlorite, calcite, and pyrite
(Warren et al., 2004). Fractures and vugs within and near
veins commonly contain supergene alunite and jarosite, in
to 2,020 m asl, with individual ore shoots having maximum
vertical extents mostly <350 m.
Veins contain crustiform banded quartz, adularia, and
quartz pseudomorphs of platy calcite crystals (lattice tex-
tures), and these minerals also form the matrices of hy-
drothermal breccias that contain vein and wall-rock clasts.
Ore minerals consist of electrum and acanthite with rare Ag
sulfosalts and commonly occur with fine-grained quartz and
adularia. Veins formed from dilute solutions (<2 wt % NaCl
equiv) at temperatures of mainly 230° to 260°C. Pervasive ox-
idation down to 400 m below surface has produced abundant
Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides that occur as bands, masses, stains,
and fracture fillings and has destroyed most sulfides leaving
traces of relict pyrite, chalcopyrite, and galena, as well as local
electrum of high fineness (up to 98 wt % Au) and Ag halides.
In unoxidized veins from the deepest levels of the deposit,
crustiform banded, commonly brecciated, quartz and adu-
laria veins contain up to 3 vol percent pyrite, chalcopyrite,
sphalerite, and galena with up to 30 vol percent Mn-, Fe-,
Mg-, and Ca-bearing carbonates. Massive base metal sulfide
pods and/or veins occur locally. Comprehensive descriptions
of the geology, geochemistry, and genesis of the El Peñón de-
posit are available in Warren et al. (2004) and Warren (2005).
40Ar/39Ar
Sample Selection and Preparation
Vein adularia, magmatic-hydrothermal alunite, and super-
gene alunite are K-bearing phases present at El Peñón that
are amenable dating by the 40Ar/39Ar method, including com-
monly very fine grained supergene alunite and alunite-
jarosite mixtures. Adularia and supergene alunite from the El
Peñón district recently have been successfully dated using
40Ar/39Ar techniques (Arancibia et al., 2006a, b). Pure sam-

part due to acidic conditions associated with weathering of
mineralization-related sulfide minerals. Locally, massive
quartz and alunite and alunite-matrix breccias occur above
Late Cretaceous and Eocene intrusions and are accompanied
by weak precious and base metals mineralization.
Epithermal veins of the El Peñón deposit are north trend-
ing and are vertical or dip steeply to the west or east. The
strike lengths of individual vein orebodies range from <1 up
to 4 km, and vein widths range from decimeters up to several
meters. The vertical extent of Au-Ag ore ranges from ~1,300
ples, or samples with no contaminant K-bearing phases, are
easily obtained because only a few grams of sample, at most,
are required (McDougall and Harrison, 1999).
Adularia from epithermal Au-Ag veins
Four samples of vein adularia were selected for this study,
and they come from the three economically most important
veins, Quebrada Colorada (QC1663, QC560), Quebrada
Orito (QO), and Cerro Martillo (CM: Table 1, Fig. 2). Two
samples are from monomineralic adularia bands collected

TABLE 1. Geochronology Sample Locations and Details

Sample no. AU no. Location Material Group Northing Easting Elevation

QC1663 55776 Quebrada Colorada Vein adularia 1 7302725 450678 1663

QC560 55777 Quebrada Colorada Vein adularia 1 7302698 450680 1708
QO 55778 Quebrada Orito Vein adularia 2 7302805 449915 1928
CM 55779 Cerro Martillo Vein adularia 2 7304125 451731 1985
CPdA-1 55780 Cerro Pan de Azucar Hypogene alunite 1 7314530 440100 2037
CPdA-2 55781 Cerro Pan de Azucar Hypogene alunite 1 7314627 439886 2159
LT 55782 Lagarto prospect Hypogene alunite 2 7289840 443906 1754
QC1763 55783 Quebrada Colorada Supergene alunite 1 7302973 450739 1763
ENC 55784 Encantada prospect Supergene alunite 2 7312210 448130 1849
MEL 55785 Melinda prospect Supergene alunite 2 7285330 451676 1844
PdASE 55786 Pan de Azucar Sudeste prospect Supergene alunite 2 7309720 443860 1750

Notes: Sample refers to the location symbol used in Figure 2; AU no. refers to the catalog number of the sample held in the University of Auckland Ge-
ology Department collection; samples from the same group were irradiated and analyzed together; coordinates are UTM zone 19S, Provisional South Amer-
ican Datum 1956; elevations are in meters asl

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from underground exposures of the Quebrada Colorada vein;
one sample is from a monomineralic adularia band collected
from a trench that exposes the northern end of the Quebrada
Orito vein, and one sample is from mixed quartz and adularia
collected from a surface trench that exposes the Cerro Mar-
tillo vein. The monomineralic adularia bands were cut away
from surrounding, quartz-dominant bands, and samples for
dating were handpicked using a binocular microscope. Adu-
laria from the Cerro Martillo vein was separated from quartz
using heavy liquids, but the small amounts of adularia and the
fine-grained nature of this sample prevented complete sepa-
ration of the two phases. The purity of all samples was con-
firmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, and quartz was
the only contaminant. The Cerro Martillo sample contained
approximately 10 wt percent adularia based on comparison to
XRD scans of measured mixtures of quartz and adularia.
Magmatic-hydrothermal alunite
Three samples of hypogene alunite were collected from ad-
vanced argillic alteration zones overlying intrusive rocks
(Table 1). Two samples were collected from massive quartz-
alunite exposed at the top of Cerro Pan de Azucár (CPdA-1,
CPdA-2), and one sample was collected from alunite matrix
breccia exposed at surface at the Lagarto prospect (LT, Fig.
2). Alunite from Cerro Pan de Azucár is light pink and rela-
tively coarse grained and easily distinguished from quartz
with which it occurs. Alunite in breccias at the Lagarto
prospect is pink and fine grained. Alunite-rich portions from
the three samples were crushed, and samples for dating were
handpicked using a binocular microscope. The purity of the
samples was confirmed by XRD, and no contaminating
phases were identified.
Supergene alunite
Four samples of supergene alunite were collected from 1-
to 3-cm fractures located in the vicinity of mineralized Au-Ag
veins (Table 1). One sample each was collected from the un-
derground workings that access the Quebrada Colorada vein
(QC1763), a trench at the Encantada prospect (ENC), a
trench at the Pan de Azucár Sudeste prospect (PdASE), and
a trench at the Melinda prospect (MEL; Fig. 2). A supergene
origin for these alunites is interpreted from their occurrence
as partial to complete fillings of fractures, their very fine
grained to cryptocrystalline nature, and their range of colors
from pale gray to yellow to green (Sillitoe and McKee, 1996).
Alunite was extracted from fractures and crushed, and at least
10 to 50 g of sample was handpicked using a binocular mi-
croscope. The purity of the samples was confirmed by XRD,
and splits of some samples contained trace amounts of
jarosite. Scanning electron microscope and microprobe analy-
ses of similar materials from the El Peñón district indicate
that supergene alunite is commonly accompanied by jarosite
(Arancibia and Matthews, 2003).
40Ar/39Ar
Analytical Techniques and Results
The mineral separates were sent to the Geochronology
Laboratory at Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario, Canada)
where they were prepared for nuclear irradiation and subse-
quently analyzed for 40Ar/39Ar age determinations. Two groups
of samples were irradiated and analyzed separately and at
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855
different times (Table 1). Data collection, processing, and
presentation (age spectra and isochron plots) were carried out
at Queen’s University. Complete details of the techniques
used for this study are given in Warren (2005), and similar
techniques are described in Clark et al. (1998) and Kontak
and Archibald (2002) for previous 40Ar/39Ar age dating stud-
ies conducted by the Geochronology Laboratory at Queen’s
University.
Table 2 summarizes the results of step-heating experiments
for samples from El Peñón. These data were used to con-
struct age spectra diagrams and isochron plots (Figs. 3–5).
Dates for all the samples are summarized in Figure 6. Re-
ported errors are for integrated, correlation, and plateau ages
(Table 2) and include 2σ errors of each heating step and also
the conservatively estimated J-value error of 0.5 percent.
Thick black lines on the correlation diagrams and the height
of bars for each heating step in age spectra diagrams are 2σ
errors for determination of isochrons and plateaus and do not
include error on the J-value. The measured age of the flux
monitor (standard) is assumed to have zero error, and the
40Ar/36Ar of trapped Ar is assumed to be equal to the standard
atmospheric value (295.5). Errors are underestimated if these
assumptions are incorrect.
Adularia from epithermal Au-Ag veins
Monomineralic bands of adularia from the Quebrada Col-
orada and Quebrada Orito veins yielded acceptable plateau
dates (Fig. 3). Dates for adularia from the Quebrada Col-
orada vein are indistinguishable at the 95 percent confidence
level (QC1663, 52.85 ± 0.37 Ma and QC560, 52.95 ± 0.40
Ma: Fig. 2), a more precise date for sample QC560, 52.86 ±
0.14 Ma, is given by the isochron correlation comprising 100
percent of 39Ar released. Adularia from the Quebrada Orito
vein is 51.92 ± 0.53 Ma (QO) and, therefore, younger than
adularia from Quebrada Colorada by a minimum of 30,000 yr
at the 95 percent confidence level (intraspectrum).
Step-heating experiments on adularia from the Cerro Mar-
tillo vein (CM) yielded an unusual age spectrum, the cause of
which is unknown (Fig. 3). The correlation date obtained from
these experiments is also limited by its determination from
steps representing <50 percent of the 39Ar released. The inte-
grated date of 53.18 ± 0.28 Ma, representing the total Ar re-
leased during step heating, is, therefore, considered the best
estimate of the age of the sample. This date overlaps adularia
dates from the Quebrada Colorada vein, but it is a minimum
of 450,000 yr older than adularia from the Quebrada Orito
vein at the 95 percent confidence level (intraspectrum).
Magmatic-hydrothermal alunite
Step-heating experiments on magmatic hydrothermal alu-
nite (Fig. 4) from Cerro Pan de Azucár (CPdA-1, CPdA-2)
and Lagarto (LT, Fig. 2) yielded acceptable plateau dates.
Dates for massive alunite with quartz at Cerro Pan de Azucár
range from 69.03 ± 0.56 to 70.81 ± 0.58 Ma, and a more pre-
cise date for the former of 69.78 ± 0.48 Ma is given by the
isochron correlation comprising 99.9 percent of 39Ar released.
The dates for the two samples are concordant at the 95 per-
cent confidence level. Step-heating experiments on alunite
from the Lagarto prospect (LT) yield a plateau date of 49.84
± 0.24 Ma.
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TABLE 2. Summary of 40Ar/39Ar Geochronologic Data for Vein Adularia, Hypogene Alunite, and Supergene Alunite from El Peñón

Heating Integrated date Plateau date1 %39Ar in Heating Correlation date Heating MSWD2 Initial
Sample no. AU no. steps (Ma ± 2σ) (Ma ± 2σ) plateau steps (Ma ± 2σ) %39Ar steps Isochron Plateau 40Ar/36Ar ± 2σ J value

Supergene alunite
PdASE 55786 11 16.54 ± 2.99 21.54 ± 2.22 62.1 6 21.29 ± 3.76 62.1 6 2.01 2.179 298 ± 80 0.002420
ENC 55784 10 19.64 ± 2.30 18.41 ± 0.21 64.8 6 17.92 ± 0.29 98 9 1.40 1.744 309 ± 14 0.002429
QC1763 55783 9 17.74 ± 0.62 17.34 ± 0.17 90.9 8 17.31 ± 0.05 100 9 0.99 1.014 297 ± 4 0.002489
MEL 55785 10 26.46 ± 0.76 none NA NA 23.44 ± 0.40 82.4 5 2.20 NA 303 ± 9 0.002425

Vein adularia
QC1663 55776 12 52.56 ± 0.45 52.85 ± 0.37 90.6 6 52.86 ± 0.14 100 12 0.93 0.651 293 ± 2 0.002479
QC560 55777 11 52.45 ± 0.39 52.95 ± 0.40 67.8 2 52.79 ± 0.42 99 8 5.593 0.558 273 ± 31 0.002482
CM 55779 12 53.18 ± 0.28 none NA NA 54.27 ± 0.44 33.3 4 3.023 NA 302 ± 16 0.002409

856
QO 55778 14 52.12 ± 0.58 51.92 ± 0.53 87.1 9 51.93 ± 1.84 95.7 11 0.15 0.015 296 ± 87 0.002414

Hypogene alunite
CPdA-1 55780 8 69.09 ± 0.55 69.03 ± 0.56 80.7 4 69.78 ± 0.48 99.9 6 0.92 0.089 284 ± 9 0.002484
CPdA-2 55781 9 70.61 ± 0.57 70.81 ± 0.58 63.6 4 70.39 ± 0.54 48.5 4 1.27 0.899 458 ± 175 0.002487
LT 55782 11 49.98 ± 0.23 49.84 ± 0.24 75.4 6 50.43 ± 0.55 17.5 4 1.89 1.083 304 ± 0.002434
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS

Notes: AU no. refers to the catalog number of the sample held in the University of Auckland Geology Department collection; dates and errors are calculated using formulas given by Dalrymple et
al. (1981), and the constants recommended by Steiger and Jäger (1977); isotope correlation analysis used the formulas and error propagation of Hall (1981) and the regression of York (1969); errors
shown in the tables and on the age spectra and isotope correlation diagrams represent the analytical precision at 2σ, assuming that the errors in the ages of the flux monitors are zero; the dates and J
values for the intralaboratory standard (MAC-83 biotite at 24.36 Ma) are referenced to TCR sanidine at 28.0 Ma (Baksi et al., 1996)
1 Plateau defined as contiguous heating steps comprising >50% of 39Ar released with apparent ages concordant at the 95% confidence level
2 Mean square of weighted deviates (McIntyre et al., 1966)
3 Fails MSWD test for an isochron
 QC1663 Quebrada Colorada adularia QC560-5 Quebrada Colorada adularia
0.10 60 60
0.10
Correlation age: 52.86±0.14 Ma (100% 39Ar)
Initial 40Ar/36Ar: 293.95±2.30 Correlation age: 52.79±0.42 Ma (99% 39Ar)
MSWD=0.93, isochron between 0.57 and 1.85 Initial 40Ar/36Ar: 273.92±31.33
50 MSWD=5.59, isochron between 0.42 and 2.15
50
0.08 Integrated age: 52.56±0.45 Ma 0.08
Integrated age: 52.45±0.39 Ma
Plateau age: 52.85±0.37 Ma (90.6% 39Ar) Plateau age: 52.95±0.40 Ma (67.8% 39Ar)
40 40

0.06 0.06

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
30 30

Age (Ma)
Age (Ma)

39Ar/40Ar
39Ar/40Ar
0.04 0.04
20 20

0.02 0.02
10 10

0.00 0 0.00 0
0.000 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.5 1.0
0.000 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004
36Ar/40Ar Fraction 39Ar Fraction 39Ar
36Ar/40Ar

QO Quebrada Orito adularia CM Cerro Martillo adularia

0.10 75 75
0.10
Correlation age: 51.93±1.84 Ma (95.7% 39Ar)

857
Initial 40Ar/36Ar: 296.58±87.02 70 Correlation age: 54.27±0.44 Ma (33.3% 39Ar) 70
MSWD=0.15, isochron between 0.53 and 1.94 Initial 40Ar/36Ar: 302.25±16.17
MSWD=3.02, isochron between 0.00 and 3.00
0.08 65 Integrated age: 52.12±0.58 Ma 65
0.08
Plateau age: 51.92±0.53 Ma (87.1% 39Ar) Integrated age: 53.18±0.28 Ma
60 60 Plateau age: none
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS

0.06 55 0.06 55

50 50

Age (Ma)
Age (Ma)

39Ar/40Ar
45
39Ar/40Ar

0.04 0.04 45

40 40

0.02 35 0.02 35

30 30

0.00 25 0.00 25
0.000 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.000 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.0 0.5 1.0
36Ar/40Ar Fraction 39Ar 36Ar/40Ar Fraction 39Ar

FIG. 3. Geochronological results of 40Ar/39Ar step-heating experiments on adularia from the Quebrada Colorada, Quebrada Orito, and Cerro Martillo veins of the El
Peñón deposit. Plateau ages, 2σ errors, the amount of 39Ar comprising the plateau, integrated ages, and heavy dashed lines indicating the heat steps comprising plateaus
are shown. Inverse isochron correlation diagrams compare isochrons (dashed lines) to uncorrected 36Ar/40Ar compositions (solid lines) and include correlation ages with
amount of 39Ar comprising the steps forming the isochron, 2σ errors, goodness of fit statistic (MSWD), and composition of trapped Ar (initial 40Ar/36Ar).
857
858 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS

CPdA-1 Cerro Pan de Azucár alunite

0.07 80
Correlation age: 69.78±0.48 Ma (99.9% 39Ar)
Initial 40Ar/36Ar: 284.50±9.84
MSWD=0.92, isochron between 0.29 and 2.41 70
0.06
Integrated age: 69.09±0.55 Ma
60 Plateau age: 69.03±0.56 Ma (80.7% 39Ar)
0.05

50

Age (Ma)
39Ar/40Ar
0.04
40

0.03
30

0.02
20

0.01 10

0.00 0
0.000 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.0 0.5 1.0
36Ar/40Ar Fraction 39Ar
CPdA-2 Cerro Pan de Azucár alunite
0.07 80
Correlation age: 70.39±0.54 Ma (48.5% 39Ar)
Initial 40Ar/36Ar: 458.22±175.52
MSWD=1.27, isochron between 0.00 and 3.00 70
0.06
Integrated age: 70.61±0.57 Ma
60 Plateau age: 70.81±0.58 Ma (63.6% 39Ar)

0.05

50
Age (Ma)
39Ar/40Ar

0.04
40

0.03
30

0.02
20

0.01 10

0.00 0
0.000 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.0 0.5 1.0
36Ar/40Ar Fraction 39Ar
LT Lagarto alunite
0.10 75
Correlation age: 50.43±0.55 Ma (17.5% 39Ar)
Initial 40Ar/36Ar: 304.41±143.77 70
MSWD=1.89, isochron between 0.00 and 3.00

0.08 65

60

55 Integrated age: 49.98±0.23 Ma

0.06
Age (Ma)
39Ar/40Ar

Plateau age: 49.84±0.24 Ma (75.4% 39Ar)

50

0.04 45

40

0.02 35

30

0.00 25
0.000 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.0 0.5 1.0
36Ar/40Ar Fraction 39Ar

FIG. 4. Geochronological results of 40Ar/39Ar step-heating experiments on hypogene alunite from Cerro Pan de Azucár
and Lagarto. Plateau ages, 2σ errors, the amount of 39Ar comprising the plateau, integrated ages, and dashed lines indicat-
ing the heat steps comprising plateaus are shown. Inverse isochron correlation diagrams compare isochrons (dashed lines) to
uncorrected 36Ar/40Ar compositions (solid lines) and include correlation ages with amount of 39Ar comprising the steps form-
ing the isochron, 2σ errors, goodness of fit statistic (MSWD), and composition of trapped Ar (initial 40Ar/36Ar).

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 858

 ENC Encantada alunite PdASE Pan de Azucár Sudeste alunite
50 0.40 50
0.40
Correlation age: 17.92±0.29 Ma (98% 39Ar)
Initial 40Ar/36Ar: 309.54±14.78
MSWD=1.40, isochron between 0.47 and 2.07
40 40
Correlation age: 21.29±3.76 Ma (62.1% 39Ar)
Initial 40Ar/36Ar: 298.98±80.45
MSWD=2.01, isochron between 0.29 and 2.41
Integrated age: 16.54±2.99 Ma
30 30 Plateau age: 21.54±2.22 Ma
(62.1% 39Ar)

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0.20 0.20

Age (Ma)

Age (Ma)
39Ar/40Ar
20

39Ar/40Ar
20

Integrated age: 19.64±2.30 Ma

Plateau age: 18.41±0.21 Ma (64.8% 39Ar)
10 10

0.00 0 0.00 0
0.000 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.000 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.0 0.5 1.0
36Ar/40Ar Fraction 39Ar 36Ar/40Ar Fraction 39Ar

QC1763 Quebrada Colorada alunite MEL Melinda alunite

0.30 20 50
0.20
Correlation age: 17.31±0.05 Ma (100% 39Ar) Correlation age: 23.44±0.40 Ma (82.4% 39Ar)
Initial 40Ar/36Ar: 297.96±4.89 Initial 40Ar/36Ar: 303.58±9.71

859
MSWD=0.99, isochron between 0.47 and 2.07 MSWD=2.20, isochron between 0.18 and 2.63
0.25
40
15

0.20
30
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS

10 Integrated age: 17.74±0.62 Ma

0.15 Plateau age: 17.34±0.17 Ma (90.9% 39Ar)

Age (Ma)
Age (Ma)

39Ar/40Ar
39Ar/40Ar

20
Integrated age: 26.46±0.76 Ma
0.10 Plateau age: none

5
10
0.05

0.00 0 0.00 0
0.000 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.000 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.0 0.5 1.0
36Ar/40Ar Fraction 39Ar Fraction 39Ar
36Ar/40Ar

FIG. 5. Geochronological results of 40Ar/39Ar step-heating experiments on supergene alunite from Enca ntada, Melinda, Pan de Azucár Sudeste, and Quebrada Col-
orada. Plateau ages, 2σ errors, the amount of 39Ar comprising the plateau, integrated ages, and dashed lines indicating the heat steps comprising plateaus are shown. In-
verse isochron correlation diagrams compare isochrons (dashed lines) to uncorrected 36Ar/40Ar compositions (solid lines) and include correlation ages with amount of
39Ar comprising the steps forming the isochron, 2σ errors, goodness of fit statistic (MSWD), and composition of trapped Ar (initial 40Ar/36Ar).
859
860 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS

80
This

epithermal deposits
study

Paleocene Belt magmatism and volcanism

Paleocene belt
70

Quebrada Colorada
Quebrada Orito
Cerro Martillo
Faride
60 Cachinal de la Sierra

San Cristobal
El Soldado
50 El Guanaco
Million years

40

30

20

10

0
Host rocks
Intermediate composition intrusions

Rhyolite tuff

Rhyolite flows and domes

Rhyodacite and dacite domes and subvolcanic rocks

Hydrothermal and supergene minerals

Hydrothermal-magmatic alunite
Vein adularia
Supergene alunite

FIG. 6. Summary of ages for host rocks, vein adularia, hypogene alunite, and supergene alunite in the El Peñón district.
Vertical dimensions of block symbols represent uncertainties (2σ errors) in the ages of the samples. Ages of rocks and ep-
ithermal mineralization in the Paleocene belt are from Puig et al. (1988), Camus (1990), Camus and Skewes (1991), Cornejo
et al. (2003), and Arancibia et al. (2006a, b).

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 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS
Supergene alunite
Step-heating experiments on supergene alunite yielded
plateau dates for three of the four samples studied (Fig. 5).
Dates for supergene alunite from the Pan de Azucár Sudeste
prospect (PdASE), Encantada prospect (ENC), and Que-
brada Colorada (QC1763, Fig. 2) are 21.54 ± 2.22, 18.41 ±
0.21, and 17.34 ± 0.17 Ma, respectively. For the Quebrada
Colorada sample, a more precise date of 17.31 ± 0.05 Ma is
given by the isochron correlation comprising 100 percent of
39Ar released. Poor results for supergene alunite from the
Melinda prospect (MEL, Fig. 2) prevent definition of a
plateau date. The isochron correlation date for this sample is
23.44 ± 0.40 Ma, which was determined from heating steps
that comprise 82.4 percent of 39Ar released and passes the
MSWD test for an isochron (McIntyre et al., 1966).
Discussion
Cretaceous magmatic-hydrothermal systems
Quartz-alunite alteration (CPdA-1, 69.09 ± 0.55 Ma;
CPdA-2, 70.61 ± 0.57 Ma: Figs. 2, 4) formed contemporane-
ously with 73 ± 2 to 65 ± 2 Ma intrusions (Arancibia et al.,
2006a) in the western part of the district. Alteration was pro-
duced by acidic fluid that formed above intrusions likely by
disproportionation of magmatic SO2 following its adsorption
into ground water (e.g., Arribas, 1995). Similar advanced
argillic alteration is recognized elsewhere in the Paleocene
belt; however, related economic mineralization has not been
found (Lorson and Robbins, 1998). The age and geologic oc-
currence of this alteration style distinguish it from that asso-
ciated with epithermal Au-Ag ores in the Paleocene belt (Puig
et al., 1988; Camus, 1990; Sillitoe, 1991).
Mineralization of the El Peñón deposit
Plateau dates for adularia from the Quebrada Colorada
(QC1663, 52.85 ± 0.37 Ma; QC560, 52.95 ± 0.40 Ma) and
Quebrada Orito (QO, 51.92 ± 0.53 Ma: Figs. 2, 3) veins, the
two most important orebodies of the El Peñón deposit, indi-
cate their formation was separated by at least 30,000 yr. The
integrated date for adularia from the Cerro Martillo vein
(CM, 53.18 ± 0.28 Ma: Figs. 2, 3) indicates that its formation
was potentially contemporaneous with adularia of the Que-
brada Colorada vein and a minimum of 450,000 yr earlier
than adularia of the Quebrada Orito vein. If the more precise
isochron correlation date is accepted as the age of formation
for QC1663 (52.86 ± 0.14 Ma), the minimum separation in
time between formation of adularia from the Quebrada Col-
orada and Quebrada Orito veins is 100,000 yr; however, Aran-
cibia et al. (2006a) report several ages for adularia from Que-
brada Colorada that overlap the Quebrada Orito age reported
here.
The amount of time represented by adularia ages from Que-
brada Colorada, Quebrada Orito, and Cerro Martillo (>1.5
m.y.) exceeds the upper limit proposed for the typical lifetime
of a geothermal system (10,000 to <100,000 yr: e.g., Heden-
quist, 1986), in modern environments partly analogous to that
of ancient epithermal Au-Ag deposits (White, 1981; Henley
and Ellis, 1983; Simmons et al., 2005) and exceeds the amount
of time modeled for the cooling of shallow intrusions that
drive geothermal systems (1,000–50,000 yr: Cathles, 1981).
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861
The minimum separation in time between formation of adu-
laria from the Cerro Martillo vein and the Quebrada Orito
vein (450,000 yr) suggests the possibility that the two veins
formed from temporally distinct hydrothermal systems or
from a single, long-lived system that migrated over time.
Epithermal Au-Ag veins formed at least 440,000 yr after
the host rhyolite domes (Cornejo et al., 2003). The duration
of epithermal mineralization, represented by the span of time
indicated by the age of adularia formation in each of the veins
is >1 to 2 m.y. (Arancibia et al., 2006; this study), not includ-
ing errors in the age determinations. This is beyond the upper
limit of the geologically reasonable time (~1 m.y.) suggested
by Cathles et al. (1997) for maintenance of a subaerial hy-
drothermal system produced by a 40- × 2-km intrusion em-
placed at 16- to 18-km depth. The time from emplacement of
rhyolite domes to the end of epithermal mineralization is on
the order of ~2 m.y., suggesting the possibility of multiple
heat sources (intrusions at depth). Arancibia et al. (2006a) in-
terpreted two distinct Au-Ag epithermal mineralization
events (53–52.5 and 51 Ma) that they attribute to at least two
short-lived magmatic events represented by 52.2 ± 1.8 to 53.7
± 1.9 Ma (K/Ar) dacitic to rhyodacitic dome-forming events
in the El Peñón district. Additionally, andesite dikes that are
interpreted to be contemporaneous with mineralization in the
Quebrada Orito vein (Robbins, 2000) provide evidence for
another, postrhyolite heat source at depth. Although these
dikes have not been dated at El Peñón, andesites have been
dated south of the district, and their ages partly overlap that
of mineralization at El Peñón (Cornejo et al., 2003).
Eocene magmatic-hydrothermal systems
Approximately 1.5 m.y. after formation of the El Peñón de-
posit, alunite in breccia formed at 49.84 Ma in association
with weak Cu-Au mineralization at the Lagarto prospect (LT,
Fig. 2). A broader area of interpreted steam-heated alteration
is characterized by tabular, fine-grained, massive silica re-
placement with alunite best developed at its base. Unpub-
lished ages of both steam-heated alunite and an intermediate
composition porphyry at Lagarto partly overlap the age of
mineralization of epithermal Au-Ag orebodies at El Peñón
(Minera Meridian-SERNAGEOMIN, unpub. 2006 report),
but it is unclear whether a genetic relationship exists.
Intermediate composition intrusions in the eastern part of
the district partly overlap the age of and are younger than alu-
nite formed at Lagarto (48 ± 1.3 Ma K/Ar age: Rojas, 1994;
48.2 ± 2.7 Ma K/Ar age, and 45.8 ± 0.5 to 43.7 ± 0.7 Ma
40Ar/39Ar age of amphibole: Arancibia et al. 2006a). Acid al-
teration and accompanying weak mineralization similar to
that at Lagarto occur northeast of the district, and their for-
mation is attributed to 48 ± 1.3 Ma intrusions (Marquardt et
al., 1994; Rojas, 1994). During this time, magmatic-hy-
drothermal systems produced economic mineralization else-
where in the Paleocene belt, for example, at the 49 Ma El
Guanaco epithermal Au-Ag deposit (Puig et al., 1988; Fig. 1).
Supergene weathering in the El Peñón district
Supergene weathering in the Atacama Desert of northern
Chile has been dated by previous workers who employed
K/Ar and 40Ar/39Ar methods (Alpers and Brimhall, 1988; Silli-
toe and McKee, 1996; Mote et al., 2001; Arancibia et al.,
862 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS
2006b). These studies indicate that regional supergene
weathering, as recorded by the formation of supergene alu-
nite, took place from 34 to 14 Ma in a semiarid to arid climate
(Alpers and Brimhall, 1988; Sillitoe and McKee, 1996),
whereas manganese oxide minerals from the El Peñón district
range from 15 to 9 Ma (Arancibia et al., 2006b). At the indi-
vidual porphyry Cu deposits where studies were conducted,
the ages of supergene alunite suggest that weathering lasted
for <6 m.y at each locality (Sillitoe and McKee, 1996). Ages
of supergene alunite from the El Peñón mine area suggest
that weathering lasted up to 10 or up to 18 m.y., based upon
the age of supergene Mn oxide minerals (Arancibia et al.,
2006b; this study).
The cessation of weathering at ~14 Ma has been inter-
preted to be coincident with the onset of hyperaridity in the
region, which is related to the complex interplay of Andean
uplift, upwelling cold waters along the Peru-Chile Coast, and
global-scale controls that produced a period of extensive
chemical weathering from Oligocene to middle Miocene time
(Alpers and Brimhall, 1988; Sillitoe and McKee, 1996). In ad-
dition to ages of supergene alunite, a ~14 Ma timing of the
onset of hyperaridity is supported by exposure ages of quartz
clasts (Dunia et al., 2005) and morphology, salt chemistry, and
mass independent fractionation anomalies of dated paleosols
(Rech et al., 2006). In contrast, Hartley and Chong (2002)
suggested that the onset of hyperaridity did not occur until
much later, at 4 Ma, based upon cessation of fluviolacustrine
and alluvial-fan sedimentation, increased dessication indi-
cated by evaporite precipitation, and development of saline
crust over the Peru-Chile Desert.
Results of supergene alunite age determinations of this
study are at least 6 m.y. younger than the previously reported
age of supergene alunite from the nearby Angelina prospect
(31 ± 1 Ma for AN, Fig. 2: Sillitoe and McKee, 1996) and
overlap the 27 to 15 Ma supergene alunite ages from the El
Peñón district reported by Arancibia et al. (2006b). Ages of
supergene alunite from both studies fall within the range of
ages reported elsewhere in the Paleocene belt (Sillitoe and
McKee, 1996) and are older than the inferred onset of hy-
peraridity in the Atacama Desert (14 or 4 Ma: Alpers and
Brimhall, 1988; Sillitoe and McKee, 1996; Hartley and
Chong, 2002).
In the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, semiarid to arid
conditions from ~34 until ~14 Ma favored formation of alu-
nite and jarosite, and descending water tables allowed their
preservation (Alpers and Brimhall, 1988; Sillitoe and McKee,
1996; Hartley and Chong, 2002). With descending water ta-
bles, progressively younger alunite and jarosite are expected
to be preserved at deeper levels. Results of this study alone
show no correlation between elevation and the age of super-
gene alunite (Tables 1, 2). Using a larger dataset of super-
gene alunite and Mn oxide mineral ages from the El Peñón
district, Arancibia et al. (2006b) interpreted two trends of de-
creasing ages of supergene minerals with decreasing eleva-
tion from two separate structural blocks. Our results are not
completely consistent with their findings, which include ages
of Mn oxide minerals, though they are compatible with a
crude district-wide trend of decreasing age of supergene
minerals with decreasing elevation (Arancibia et al., 2006b;
this study).
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Comparing the premining elevation of the water table
(1,640 m asl) to the age of supergene alunite at 1,763 m asl in
Quebrada Colorada (QC1763) indicates a minimum drop in
the water table of 123 m since 17.34 Ma, as alunite would
have formed in the oxidizing environment above the pale-
owater table. If the premining elevation of the water table
was stabilized at, or soon after, an inferred onset of hyper-
aridity between 14 and 4 Ma, an approximate rate of decent
for the water table is 9.2 to 36.8 m/m.y. Using this hypotheti-
cal rate of descent as a proxy for rate of denudation, alunite
formed at 34 Ma would have been located ~150 to 600 m
above the 17.34 Ma supergene alunite (QC 1763; 1763 m asl),
which is located ~200 m below the current surface, suggest-
ing removal of up to 400 m down to the current land surface.
Despite assumptions that overly simplify the complex history
of the paleowater table and its position through time, similar
amounts of erosion are inferred from fluid inclusion data.
Based on temperatures of homogenization and temperatures
of final ice melting of fluid inclusions in quartz from the Que-
brada Colorada vein corresponding to 243°C and <1 wt per-
cent NaCl equiv at an average elevation of 1,686 m asl, vein
formation was approximately 450 m below the paleowater
table, requiring erosion of at least 200 m down to the current
land surface (Warren et al, 2004). These results suggest that
the El Peñón area has been tectonically stable for the past
~20 m.y. (Clarke, 2006) and are consistent with the findings
of Arancibia et al. (2006b) who reported similar rates of de-
nudation and suggested a landscape only slightly modified
since the Miocene.
Exploration implications
Three broadly defined periods of hydrothermal activity are
recognized in the Paleocene metallogenic belt based on dat-
ing of hydrothermal minerals from the El Peñón district: 70
to 69, 53 to 51, and 50 to 49 Ma (Arancibia et al., 2006a; this
study). Based on K/Ar ages of volcanic rocks reported by
Arancibia et al. (2006a), Au-Ag mineralization of the El
Peñón deposit is associated with emplacement of minor 53 to
52 Ma ryhodacite and dacite. The occurrence of such rocks,
along with precious metals and pathfinder element anomalies
and quartz-adularia-illite alteration (Warren et al., 2004),
should characterize areas of the Paleocene belt most likely to
host El-Peñón-like Au-Ag mineralization. Where hypogene
advanced argillic alteration occurs in the Paleocene belt, the
potential for epithermal Au-Ag mineralization also should be
explored, especially where such alteration can be linked to
the 50 to 49 Ma period of hydrothermal activity that was re-
sponsible for mineralization at the El Guanaco deposit (Puig
et al., 1988; Camus, 1990; Sillitoe, 1991). The occurrence of
70 to 69 Ma hypogene advanced argillic alteration is not com-
pletely documented in the Paleocene belt and is likely not
completely explored. For example, Late Cretaceous quartz-
alunite alteration in the northwest part of the El Peñón dis-
trict is spatially associated with precious metals and base met-
als anomalies and quartz-barite veins and breccia (Warren et
al., 2004) that have yet to be thoroughly explored. Addition-
ally, steam-heated advanced argillic alteration associated with
El-Peñón-like Au-Ag mineralization might be preserved lo-
cally as suggested by unreported alunite ages from Lagarto
that overlap ages of adularia from the El Peñón deposit.
 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS
Conclusions
Massive quartz-alunite alteration at El Peñón formed above
contemporaneous intermediate intrusions in the western part
of the district from 70 to 69 Ma. Epithermal Au-Ag vein for-
mation occurred mainly from 53 to 52 Ma, at least 440,000 yr
after formation of the host rhyolite domes. The age of the
Quebrada Colorada vein overlaps the age of the older Cerro
Martillo vein, and several Quebrada Colorada adularia ages
from Arancibia et al. (2006a) overlap the age of the younger
Quebrada Orito vein. The duration of hydrothermal activity
inferred from the ages of the veins is >1 m.y., exceeding the
maximum inferred, measured, or modeled ages of analogous
modern geothermal systems (Cathles, 1981; Hedenquist,
1986). At least two temporally discrete, but nearly spatially
coincident, hydrothermal systems may have been responsible
for deposit formation; alternatively, the deposit may have
formed from a long-lived hydrothermal system that migrated
through time (cf. Steamboat Springs; White, 1981). The time
from rhyolite dome formation to the end of epithermal min-
eralization is >2 m.y., more than the maximum geologically
reasonable time over which a deep intrusion might maintain
a geothermal system (~1 m.y.: Cathles et al., 1997). Hy-
drothermal system(s) responsible for epithermal Au-Ag min-
eralization likely were driven by heat from coeval rhyodacite
and dacite intrusions (Arancibia et al., 2006a).
From 49 to 50 Ma, alunite alteration, accompanied by
quartz-sericite alteration and weak Cu-Au mineralization,
formed in association with Eocene intrusions. At the same
time and south of the district, an acidic magmatic-hydrother-
mal system formed the El Guanaco high-sulfidation epither-
mal Au-Ag deposit (Puig et al., 1988; Camus, 1990; Sillitoe,
1991). Unpublished K/Ar ages of alunite from steam-heated
alteration at Lagarto are slightly older and overlap the age of
veins at the El Peñón mine.
Supergene alunite formed from 23 to 17 Ma. Wide ranges
of apparent ages and large uncertainties for individual heating
steps for some age spectra possibly relate to multiple genera-
tions of alunite formation and/or the presence of multiple K-
bearing phases (e.g., jarosite). Ages do not correlate with ele-
vation, suggesting different responses to physical and
chemical weathering at each sample locality; however a crude
trend of decreasing age with decreasing elevation is apparent
when data from this study are compared to data of Arancibia
et al. (2006b). Rates for descent of the paleowater table in the
area of the El Peñón mine were estimated by comparing the
elevation of dated supergene alunite to that of the premining
elevation of the water table, assumed to have stabilized at this
elevation with the onset of hyperaridity, and possibly also due
to onset of a period of relative tectonic quiescence. Using the
rate of descent of the paleowater table as a proxy for rate of
denudation, <400 m of material would have been removed
down to the present-day land surface, in agreement with esti-
mated depths of erosion based on fluid inclusion data.
At least three broadly defined periods of hydrothermal ac-
tivity are recognized for the Paleocene metallogenic belt
based on ages of hydrothermal minerals from the El Peñón
district. Economic Au-Ag mineralization formed from 53 to
51 Ma in association with quartz-adularia-illite alteration and
from 50 to 49 Ma in association with hypogene advanced
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863
argillic alteration. Potential for Au-Ag mineralization also ex-
ists where 70 to 69 Ma hypogene advanced argillic alteration
is associated with precious and base metals anomalies that
have not been well explored. Locally, steam-heated advanced
argillic alteration might be preserved above El-Peñón-style
Au-Ag mineralization.
November 3, 2006; April 10, 2008
REFERENCES
Alpers, C.N., and Brimhall, G.H., 1988, Middle Miocene climatic change in the
Atacama desert, northern Chile: Evidence from supergene mineralization at
La Escondida: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 100, p. 1640–1656.
Arancibia, G., and Matthews, S., 2003, SEM and EMPA studies of hypogene
and supergene alunite as an aid to K/Ar and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of ep-
ithermal mineral deposits: Congreso Geológico Chileno, 10th, Concepción,
2003, CD-ROM, 7 p.
Arancibia, G, Matthews, S.J., Cornejo, P., Pérez de Arce, C, Zuluaga, J.I., and
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