Stable Isotopes as an Exploration Tool: Tracking Cryptic Alteration

Surrounding the Iscaycruz Zn (Pb-Cu-Ag) Skarn-CRD deposit, Central Peru

Samuel Cantor1, Craig J.R. Hart1, Gregory Dipple1, Abraham Escalante2, James Mortensen1
Mineral Deposit Research Unit, UBC1, Empresa Minera Los Quenuales S.A.2

Peru Introduction Carbon and Oxygen Isotopes

Studies analyzing stable isotopes around mineral deposits have observed consis-
The analysis of these samples is being carried out by a proprietary analytical tool de-
signed at the MDRU called the Mineral Isotope Analyzer (MIA) which quickly and
The Iscaycruz Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag skarn-carbonate replacement deposit is within tent alteration haloes of carbonate rocks with relatively depleted carbon and reliably provides carbon and oxygen isotope ratios in carbonate minerals and altered
a sequence of lower Cretaceous, layered carbonate and siliciclastic rocks lo- oxygen values proximal to the center of mineralization as well as areas of higher whole rocks.
cated in central Peru, approximately 140 km NE of Lima (Figure 1). The Is- degrees of fluid rock interaction (Figure 4). In addition to Iscaycruz, relatively
caycruz district is located on the western flank of a tightly compressed anti- proximal stable isotope haloes have been identified surrounding the nearby An- Samples were collected in transects surrounding key geologic features such as: litho-
cline (Escalante and Hart, 2011), within a larger northwest-trending tamina Zn-Cu skarn, and the Uchucchacua Ag-base metal vein. Prior work in the logic contacts, faults, veins, and mineralized zones. Each transect was sampled at spe-
thrust-fold belt in the Western Peruvian Cordillera (Wilson, 1963). Litholog- Iscaycruz district identified several stable isotope anomalies; however an investi- cific pre-defined distances in order to evaluate how different geologic features signal
ic units and structural fabrics in the district both display a north-northwest gation between these anomalies and various stratigraphic units, orebodies, or sul- isotopic anomalies (Figure 5 ). This strategy was also utilized to measure sampling ef-
trend which serves as the primary control for ore mineralization and alter- fide accumulations has not been conducted. fectiveness to better inform industry best practices for the application of C and O iso-
ation.
topes for exploration.
Ownership and Resources
Samples collected from drillholes in the Mina Chupa and Santa Este deposits were
Mina Iscaycruz is owned and operated by Empresa Minera Los Quenuales
collected utilizing the same methodology. This allows proximal and distal isotope
S.A., and contains five primary production areas named Limpe Centro,
haloes to be easily compared between surface and subsurface samples.
Mina Chupa, Tinyag II, Tinyag I, and Santa Este. At the end of 2015, the
1
Mina Iscaycruz resources are 4.6 Mt of ore (measured and indicated) grad-
ing 6.5% Zn, 0.6% Pb, 0.4% Cu, and 36 g/t Ag. Production for year 2015 to
(

(
the end of December was 1.2 Mt grading 7.1% Zn, 0.8% Pb, 0.5% Cu and

(
(
48g/t Ag (Glencore 2015.) Operations have been suspended since October

(
(
2015.
¯

(
(
#

(
##
##
#
##

(
Figure 1 - Project Location #
##
#
2016 sampling continued the focus

(
on the Chimu -> Santa contact
#

(
in Peru A for 9-km to the north-northwest of

(
# the Santa Este open pit

(
#
Anelcocha

(
Mina Iscaycruz
 ##

(
#

(
Limpe #
# Ki-ca
#
The Mina Iscaycruz district is comprised of

(
Centro ##

(
 Ki-chi

the Anelcocha, Antapampa, Limpe Norte, # 2015 samplingKi-pt

focused

(
#
#
on the Chimu -> Santa

(
#
Limpe Centro, Limpe Sur, Mancacuta,

(
contact to the NE and

(
#
SW of the
Ki-ch Santa Este
<--

Tinyag I, Tinyag II – Escondida, Mina E

(
open pit operations
----

(
Ki-f

Chupa, Santa Este, and Jumasha (Escalante

(
---A

# Santa

(
Este
Figure 4 - Diagram showing basic concept of Figure 5 - Diagram demon-
nti

and Hart, 2012) areas. E

(
#

clin

(
Ki-ph Ki-sa
using stable isotopes as a vectoring tool strating sampling strategy for

(
Tinyag
e---

Mina  #

(
The series of folded carbonate and siliceous
Legend

Chupa X (Adapted from Escalante 2008) surface transects
----

(
Ks-j
Type
X

--->

(
Iscaycruz Deposit/Prospect
X
sedimentary rocks continues from Mina Is- Fault

(
X

caycruz into the Palpas area, an 8 km2 region

( Reverse Fault X #
X Escondida

(
Sampling Transects
Area
X X

(
E MCN - Mina Chupa Norte
approximately 12 km west of the mine where
Results Summary
X

(
MCS - Mina Chupa Sur
X
# SE - Santa Este

(
# SEN - Santa Este Norte
regional exploration is being conducted. 2015 sampling focused on the
X

These two areas served as the primary investi- Pariahuanca -> Farrat contact Antapampa

¯
to the north and south of Mina 
A'
gation targets for the 2015-2016 field work Chupa Surface Isotope Sample Surrounding Mina Chupa - d18O
(Figure 2). 0 500 1,000 2,000 Coordinate System: PSAD 1956 UTM Zone 18S
Meters Projection: Transverse Mercator
Reference Scale: 1:30,000 Datum: Provisional S American 1956
Mapping: EMQSA Author: Samuel Cantor Legend
Pariahuanca d18O
Figure 2 - 2015/2016 Field E Background isotope values
d18O VSMOW (per mill)

Work 3.48 - 6.00

7
Research Objectives Ki-pt
Ki-chi

• Characterize carbonate alteration footprints of multiple ore systems and to determine the practical exploration applications and sampling 6.01 - 9.00
7
protocols associated with advancing technology. Moderately depleted
9.01 - 13.00

• Compare isotopic anomalies between stratigraphic units, ore bodies, structures, and sulfide accumulations at Mina Iscaycruz. E
13.01 - 17.00 7
• Identify visible and cryptic alteration surrounding known ore bodies and utilize the resulting identified relationships as an exploration Ki-ph
17.01 - 21.92
21.93 - 26.34
tool for regional targets. 26.35 - 27.49
Tinyag Transect Markers
Area
Mina  E MCN
•Employ the use of Pb-isotopes to characterize the isotopic signature of the mineralizing fluids of Iscaycruz deposits and adjacent intrusive Chupa YMCS
bodies. This method will group fluids with similar characteristics, can provide a mechanism for the relative age dating of deposits, and can 
Y 7 SE
Y Ki-ca
identify which intrusives are related to ore mineralization. Y Key Area Markers
Type

Strongly to extremely
 Iscaycruz Deposit/Prospect
Geological Overview Santa Formation depleted immediately
Y
The Cretaceous sedimentary formations of the district are • 70 m thick surrounding the Chupa
Ks-j CHS-7-14-01 Drill Hole
Y
categorized into an upper calcareous group and a lower clas- • Limestones, shales, and siliceous sedimentary rocks deposit (Figure 8)

tic group. The upper calcareous group consists of the Casa-

palca, Celendin, Jumasha, Pariatambo, Chulec, and Paria-
• Hosts mineralization for Anelcocha, Antapampa, Limpe Norte, Limpe
Centro, Mancacuta, Tinyag, Tinyag II, Escondida, and Santa Este
Y
Y
Y
Y
A
!
Escondida
huanca formations, with the lower clastic group consists of • Mineralization primarily occurs where overturned Santa contacts Chimu 
Ki-f

the Farrat, Carhuaz, Santa, Chimu, and Oyon formations sandstones and quartzites.
(Flores 1990). The upper calcareous rocks are unconformably Pariahuanca Formation Y
• 80-100 meters thick Ki-ch
overlain by volcanic rocks of the Tertiary Calipuy formation. Ki-sa

• Massive limestones, calcareous sandstones Moderately to

The host rocks to mineralization at Mina Iscaycruz are the • Host mineralization for the Chupa deposit strongly depleted
Santa formation and the Pariahuanca formation. • Chupa deposit is stratabound, located at the contact between Pariahuanca
Y
5
limestone and the sandstones and quartzites of the Farrat Formation 0 250 500 1,000 Coordinate System: PSAD 1956 UTM Zone 18S
Meters Projection: Transverse Mercator
Datum: Provisional S American 1956
Reference Scale: 1:15,000
Mapping: EMQSA Figure 5 - Sample results from
Author: Samuel Cantor
Surface Transects around Figure 6 - Sample Results
Mina Chupa from CHS-7-14-02 in Mina
Surface transects were often sampled to intervals of 30 meters or more, how- Chupa
ever the study results demonstrate that the value of additional samples
beyond the intial 5 meters was limited. Surface transects outlined isotopic
anomalies up to 1 km away from the Mina Chupa deposit along strike, with A total of 16 drill holes and 184 surface transects were sampled during the 2015
anomalous samples transitioning to background in as little as 10m perpen- and 2016 field seasons. The sampling and analysis strategies were able to identify
dicular to strike. isotopic haloes for both surface and subsurface investigations, a subset of which
are demonstrated above in Figure 8 and Figure 9. While anomalies in δ13C were
The results highlight the importance of a strong geologic foundation prior identified, the background values for different lithologies and smaller scope of the
to the implementation of a sampling strategy. The asymmetry in scale for haloes made δ18O the more valuable pathfinder in this study. Anomalies sur-
anomalous results was dependent on the local geology and structure, and rounding Mina Chupa and Santa Este correlate with proximity to known mineral-
would not be true for all exploration programs. ization.

Acknowledgements
We would like the thank Glencore and Empresa Minera Los Quenuales S.A. (EMQSA) for the logistical support, mine access, geological data, and
financing for this project. Additionally, we would like to thank Abraham Escalante, Jimmy Cardenas, and Edwin Yon for the continuous assistance Samuel Cantor
in coordinating the field work, ensuring safe and complete sample delivery, and providing helpful insight into project objectives. Ronald Vasquez, MSc Candidate
Figure 3 - Generalized Gonzalo Quiroz, John Ponce de Leon, and Christian Vela are thanked for their invaluable help with geologic mapping and sampling, and for their as- scantor@eoas.ubc.ca
Cross Section of Iscaycruz sistance in organizing and coordinating the core retrieval and preparation. Finally, we would like to thank Kara Zucker for her continued assistance
Mineralization as a color guide to the main author’s deuteranomaly trichromancy.
Prior investigations have detected a district-wide phase of dolomitization and chloritization prior to the main phases of mineraliza-
tion. These investigations have also indicated that the zoned mineralization observed at Mina Iscaycruz was caused by a single
References:
buried intrusive body below the Tinyag area (Escalante and Hart, 2012). Escalante, A and Hart, C., 2010, Mineralization, Alteration, Geochemistry & Exploration Applications of the Iscaycruz Zn (Pb, Cu, Ag) Deposit, Central Peru, Final report, April 2011.
Escalante, A and Hart, C., 2010, Mineralization, Alteration, Geochemistry & Exploration Applications of the Iscaycruz Zn (Pb, Cu, Ag) Deposit, Central Peru, Final report, April 2012.
Adjacent mineralization in the Chupa area represents a proximal, shallow Cu-skarn, and the Limpe Centro, Santa Este, and other Flores, G., 1990, Geology of Iscaycruz Ore Deposits in the Santa Formation, Central Peru. Stratabound Ore Deposits in the Andes Volume 8 of the series Special Publication No. 8 of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits
Zn-rich bodies represent the cooler, distal Zn components of a zoned skarn system. pp 583-594.
Escalante, A., D., 2008, Patterns of distal alteration zonation around Antamina Cu-Zn skarn and Uchucchacua Ag-base metal vein deposits, Peru: Mineralogical, Chemical and isotopic evidence for fluid composition, and infiltration,