Structural control of barite and copper mineralization at the district of Caracolí and Camperucho, Cesar, Colombia

Abstract

Understanding structural controls is essential for understanding the sites of mineralized fluids, since geological structures develop a role as channels in the transport and precipitation of minerals. The study area comprises the rural area of the Caracolí district where outcrop mineralization of Barite and the rural area of the Camperucho where Copper mineralizations outcrops, both located to the south of the municipality of Valledupar, Cesar, Colombia. The analysis of the data collected on field showed a definite tectonic control of the mineralizations along a system of oriented faults NEE-SWW determined as N71E/81SE cutting volcanic and volcanosedimentary sequences associated with the Guatapurí formation, the Rhyodacite of the Tabanos and Espilitas Triassic units. These fractures allowed the rise of hydrothermal fluids enriched in barium (Caracolí) forming veins of barite, and the filtering of meteoric waters generating a secondary copper mineralization (Camperucho) represented on copper oxide and carbonate minerals. The structural control of the area is defined by inverse faults with sinistral movement product of simple shearing efforts with the following directions: σ1 and σ3, NNE and SEE respectively. The mineralizations of barite are emplaced
from compressive and shear efforts, measured on field generating inverse faults with sinistral movement allowing the siting of mineralizing fluids with "rosario" and "bolsons" shape, observed in the field along these areas of weakness. On the other hand, the copper oxide deposits are generated by secondary enrichment of volcanosedimentary litholigies with low grade of copper content throughout fault planes which allowed the filtration of meteorics water.