LATITE DIKES WITH GOLD-SULPHIDE MINERALIZATION IN THE LAVRAS DO SUL SHOSHONITIC ASSOCIATION, SOUTHERNMOST BRAZIL - PETROGENESIS AND GEOCHEMISTRY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22456/1807-9806.35911Keywords:
latite dike, shoshonitic rocks, Au-Cu mineralizations, monzonite dike, high-Tydrothermal deposits.Abstract
The Neoproterozoic Lavras do Sul Shoshonitic Association (LSSA) is situated in the southernmost Brazil, and hosts Au-Cu-sulphide mineralizations, that, according to some authors, could be related to porphyry copper-gold deposits. Field, petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical data led to the identification and classification of late dikes, which crosscut the hypabissal monzonites, andesites and lamprophyres of LSSA, in three main types: authoclastic composite dikes, latitic dikes, and amphibole-bearing latitic dikes. Their large lithological and textural variation is attributed to magmatic differentiation, mineral segregation, and, magma mingling processes. The dikes show shoshonitic affinity, with K2 O > (Na2 O – 2), contain rela- tively high amounts of Rb, Ba, and Sr, and low to moderate contents of Nb, Zr, HREE, features that are characteristic of the LSSA. Two main compositional trends were observed: (i) an high-Ti trend, with higher contents of Fe2 O3 t, P2 O5 , HFS, LILE and REE, and lower K2 O / Na2 O ratios( < 0.8); (ii) low-Ti trend, which is predominant in the LSSA, with lower contents of the cited elements and K2 O / Na2 O > 1.4. The lower K2 O / Na2 O ratios of high-Ti dikes indicate an evolution of magma sources and processes towards more sodic, silica-saturated alkaline compositions, like is usually described in the post-collisional magmatism. Magmatic crystallization and, the concurrent volatile enrichment, together with Au-S-Cl complexes formation, led to the fluid oversaturation of the magma system and to the second boiling point, which caused the dike vesiculation in the late magmatic stages. The lamprophyre magma is admitted as a possible source of Au and S in the magmatic system. Comingling between the trachyte or latite magmas with the lamprophyre one, can have caused the increase of volatiles and the consequent oxidation of this system, so, promoting the fluid phase separation, the breakdown of complexes, and precipitation of Au-bearing magmatic sulphides, as well as the hydrothermal fluid phase generation.