Student: Luis Saenz Alarcon

Thesis: Formation and Discovery of High Grade Zn-Pb Carbonate Replacement and Skarn Deposits: Iscaycruz Mines; Lima, Central Perú.

Summary

Iscaycruz is a cluster of world-class Zn-Pb-Cu deposits of very high Zn grade, located in the Zn-Pb belt of the Central Andes of Perú. Iscaycruz comprises at least three different mineralisation styles:
1) Carbonate replacement massive sulphides
2) Actinolite-ilvaite Zn skarn
3) Chlorite-serpentine skarn.
Despite the economic significance of the deposit, little research has been carried out at the mine, with few papers published about its characteristics, and no articles in English to date.
The occurrence of these deposits within a ~1.5 km long belt, and the variable geological relationships between them, suggests a possible common origin for the four main deposits; although the relationship between the deposit and adjacent igneous rocks has not been thoroughly established.
The main objective of this study is to produce a sound genetic model using all techniques available, and use it to generate a exploration model, capable of prediction in the existing and possible new deposits.

Why my research is important

This approach to exploration of mineral deposits in Perú will be novel and ambitious, because it intends to make use of several geological tools, and correlate the different thermometric and radiometric methods with each other.
These deposit types are highly desirable targets owing to their high grades, coarse grain size, ease of mining and efficient recoveries; as such, they have become the focus of current research and exploration in Perú.
Considering that the main ore body in particular, Limpe Centro, was discovered on the basis of alteration features and geochemical anomalies, there is great potential for finding other unexposed deposits in the surrounding area.

Supervisors: Dr Craig J. R. Hart; Prof T. Campbell McCuaig;  A/Prof Steffen Hagemann

Funding: by Empresa Minera Los Quenuales S.A., operating company, and filial of Glencore AG in Perú; Society of Economic Geologists, the Hugh E. McKinstry Student Research Award

Contact: Luis Saenz Alarcon

CET; Phone: (+61 8) 6488 7152; Fax: (+61 8) 6488 1178