A number of ore deposits are formed as the result of hydrothermal processes in the Earth crust. From the integration of field and laboratory data (petrography, isotope geochemistry, fluid inclusion and organic matter studies and numeric simulations) the research group aims to understand the role of the fluids in the formation of ore deposits and the relationship between the mineralizing processes and the geologic history of the mineralized area. The group has been working on skarn and low sulfidation epithermal deposits although during the last years the research activity has centered on Zn-Pb-F-Ba mineralizations in sedimentary basins. The current research is being done in collaboration with mining companies, geological surveys and other research groups. The approach followed usually involves 3 aspects: a) field work, in order to recognize the local geology and for detailed mapping and sampling of host rocks, ore bodies and alteration minerals; b) lab work, which includes petrographical studies through optical and electronic microscopes, analytical work for major elements, isotopic compositions, fluid inclusion analyses, etc., and numerical simulations for testing possible scenarios of fluid, heat and metals transport and deposition; c) office work, to interpret data and deduce the geological processes that contributed to the ore deposit formation. Thus a conceptual genetic model, and if possible, a quantitative genetic model, is formulated using field and lab data. The results are then used to establish exploration guides for that ore deposit type.
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| Gold grains. Río Quema |
Hydrothermal alteration (grey) with supergenic oxidation (red)
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