Characterization of Arroyo Verde Epithermal Deposit:Paragenesis,Mineral Geochemistry,Geochronology and Fluid Inclusions in Lower Chon Aike Volcanism,Argentina

Arroyo Verde epithermal deposit,in the North Patagonia region of Argentina,is located within the Lower Chon Aike volcanism and is developed between 192.6±2.5 Ma(mineralization host rock)and 189.5±2.6 Ma(overlying lava).Marifil volcanic complex is the host rock for these veins,veinlets and breccias.This particular small deposit has developed low to intermediate sulphidation characteristics,with gangue mineral textures associated with several ore minerals.Electron probe microanalysis determines electrum,silver minerals such as acanthite,and tetrahedrite,related Ag-Cu minerals like jalpaite,mckinstryite,stromeyerite,and base metals like chalcopyrite,sphalerite,galena and pyrite.Fluid inclusions in quartz of two out of five events indicate that these Low Jurassic veins were formed due to subtle boiling and dilution mechanisms and by low-salinity(3.4 wt.%to 6.7 wt.%NaCl Eq)magmatic-hydrothermal fluid at 225 to 310℃.The fluid inclusion measurements that indicate boiling(Event 3)were plotted,and based on this data,we interpret that the Arroyo Verde deposit has been eroded between 550 and 700 m.This particular character has not been previously recorded for other sectors of the eastern north Patagonian region.

Hyperpycnal littoral deltas:A case of study from the Lower Cretaceous Agrio Formation in the Neuquén Basin,Argentina

Recent advances in the understanding of deltaic deposits provide new tools for the study and analysis of deltaic deposits in shallow epicontinental seas.After the introduction of sequence stratigraphic concepts,meter-scale coarsening and thickening upward successions have been considered as“parasequences”originated by high-frequency sea-level changes.Nevertheless,recent studies enhanced the importance of wave-aided low-dense hyperpycnal flows in transporting fine-grained sediments in shallow shelfal areas.These poorly-known(and at the same time very common)types of delta,known as hyperpycnal littoral deltas(HLD),develop very low gradient progradational units,controlled by changes in the sediment supply instead of sea level changes.These small-scale progradational units are very common in shallow epicontinental seas like the Lower Cretaceous Agrio Formation in the Neuquén Basin.This study provides a first detailed analysis of hyperpycnal littoral deltas from the Agua de la Mula Member(upper Hauterivian-lower Barremian)of the Agrio Formation.This unit has been studied in three locations near Bajada del Agrio locality in the central part of the Neuquén Basin,Argentina.Six sandy facies,three heterolithic facies,three muddy facies and four calcareous facies were recognized.From facies analysis,three facies associations could be determined,corresponding to offshore/prodelta,distal ramp delta and proximal ramp delta.The three stratigraphic sections discussed in this study are internally composed of several small-scale sequences showing a coarsening and thickening upward pattern,transitionally going from muddy to sandy wave-dominated facies,and ending with calcareous bioclastics levels on top.These small-scale sequences are interpreted as delta front deposits of wave-influenced hyperpycnal littoral deltas,punctuated by calcareous intervals accumulated during periods of low sediment supply.It is interpreted that the development of hyperpycnal littoral deltas could have been facilitated by a decrease in sea water salinity related to an increasing runoff.