Structure, stratigraphy and hydrothermal alteration at the Gavião orebodies, Aljustrel: reconstruction of a dismembered ore-forming system at the Iberian Pyrite … (original) (raw)

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Structural complexity and poor stratigraphic control on many local successions of the Iberian pyrite belt prevent from being fully understood promising exploration targets that have been abandoned after unsuccessful drilling. Structural analysis, palynomorph dating, physical volcanology, and ore-related hydrothermal alteration zoning of the footwall succession that hosts the two Gavião orebodies enabled reconstruction of their pre-tectonic ore-forming setting, accounting for a number of reliable exploration vectors. In particular, the sodium-rich ore-related distal alteration envelopes can be detected by means well within reach during exploration, and should constitute a suitable tool to trace paths to massive sulphide mineralization in the Iberian pyrite belt.