Navegando por Assunto "Ouro"

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A associação geoquímica Au-As-B-W-Cu-(Sn) em solos, colúvios, crosta laterítica e gossans no alvo Águas Claras-Carajás
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 1997-05-07) COSTA, Newton Cunha da; COSTA, Marcondes Lima da; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1639498384851302; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0134-0432
The studied area called Alvo Águas Claras, is located in the Mineral Province of Carajás, southwest of the State of Pará, which represents one of the largest mineral provinces in the world. It is an important area for gold research, which has been prospected since 1991 by DOCEGEO, a subsidiary of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce – CVRD. This target is located in a region of dense rainforest cover, whose geological profiles are highly weathered, showing similarities with the gold deposits described in several other regions of West Africa and Australia. In the Amazon region, the older lateritic profiles are undergoing intense alteration since the end of their formation in the Lower Tertiary, with consequent distribution of these profiles and formation of soils or colluviums. The objective of this work is the detailed study of the behavior of gold, on the surface of this truncated lateritic terrain, and its relationship with trace elements such as B, W, Sn and Cu, in latosols, colluviums and outcropping laterite-gossanic crusts in the area. Thus, a detailed geochemical and mineralogical study of this material was developed, in order to assist in the identification of geochemical signatures indicative of the primary nature of mineralizations and associated rocks, in addition to the evaluation of the dispersion and mobility of these elements during the transformations of the lateritic and gossans crusts. in latosols and colluviums, to establish criteria for geochemical prospecting of these bodies in deeply weathered regions. The work methodology consisted of a field phase, developed on the mineralized bodies denominated by DOCEGEO as Corpo da Anomalia Au/As and Corpo do F-23, with the objective of geological reconnaissance of the area, description of the units and collection of samples of surface. The samples collected were mostly oxisols, colluviums, lateritic crusts, gossans, in addition to host rocks (sandstones and siltstones) and quartz veins. The analytical treatment consisted of several phases such as: drying, quartering and separation of 200g aliquots for pulverizing and 100g for separating heavy and insoluble minerals from pre-selected samples, through the highest levels of boron and gold. Petrographic analyzes were performed using an optical microscope with reflected and transmitted light. All samples were submitted to X-ray diffraction analysis, where both the total sample composition and the different domains of complex samples and isolated minerals were analyzed. A detailed mineralogical study was carried out on tourmalines, involving the calculation and refinement of the unit cell parameters. Quantitative analyzes of the minerals, as well as detailed photographs, were carried out by Scanning Electron Microscopy, with Dispersive Energy System, involving gold particles and other associated heavy minerals. In the geochemical analyses, the following major elements were analyzed: Fe2O3, TiO2, P2O5 through colorimetry; SiO2 and loss on ignition (P.F.) by gravimetry; Al2O3 by titrimetry; Na, Mn, K, Mg by atomic absorption, and some trace elements including Au. In the statistical treatment of data, correlation studies were mainly used, based on Parson's correlation coefficient (r), through binary correlation diagrams, correlation matrices and dendrograms of cluster analysis in R-mode. Isovalue maps were made for Au, B, W, and As, in order to better visualize the surface dispersion of these elements. The geology of the area is characterized by different outcropping and sub-outcropping supergenic materials, which can be juxtaposed in the form of the following composite profile, from top to bottom: Soil horizon (latosol), Colluvium horizon, Lateritic crust and Gossans, the latter being the main gold mineralized bodies prospected in the Águas Claras area. The mineralogy of the entire profile is basically represented by quartz, kaolinite and iron oxides-hydroxides, in different proportions. Accessory minerals such as tourmaline, wolframite, cassiterite and muscovites are frequently found, occurring in varying amounts, practically in all samples. The mineralogical composition found in the various materials analyzed is quite simple in terms of the variety of minerals, but the proportions of the mineralogical phases vary greatly, even within samples from the same horizon. The minerals that represent the greatest distribution among the samples are quartz and hematite. The first occurs abundantly in the oxisol, decreasing significantly in the lateritic crust samples with almost total disappearance in the gossans samples, while the behavior of the hematite is the opposite. The geochemical associations obtained through the multi-elementary analyses: Oxisols: 1) As – Cu – B – Au – W - (Mn) - (Pb); 2) Cr – V – Ga – Mo – Ni – Zn; Colluvium: 1) As – Y – Cu – Mn – Pb – Mo; 2) Au – W – B – F; Lateritic crust: 1) As – W – Au – B – F – Sn; 2) Cu – Ni – Pb – Zn – Sc. The most characteristic geochemical association in all horizons is that represented by Au-B-W-As, possibly with Sn-Cu-F, which must reflect the geochemical signature of the Au-sulfide primary mineralizations, in addition to the influence of the host sediments in addition to the granitic intrusions. Other associations or pairs of correlations involving Cr-V-Ga-Mo-Zn are related to the ease of these elements being incorporated into the structure of iron oxides and hydroxides, abundant in all studied horizons. The gold particles found in the various horizons, have quite varied morphology and purity, which may indicate the presence of several stages of mobilization of this metal in the supergenic environment. As for the trace elements, there are strong anomalies of W, Sn and B, with the minerals responsible for the high levels, respectively, wolframite, cassiterite and tourmaline, the latter belonging to the compositional field of dravita-schorlite, rich in iron , getting very close to the field of ferridravites. Within the above, it can be said that despite the mineralogical simplicity, the concentration of trace elements is quite heterogeneous, but with characteristic signatures that remain in different horizons and that allow delineating the mineralized supergenic bodies and inferring the composition of the primary bodies. The understanding of the dispersion and the characterization of these geochemical signatures prove to be of great importance in geochemical prospecting, in the exploration of other bodies of similar nature in the region.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Caracterização da alteração hidrotermal no alvo Coelho Central, depósito aurífero Pedra Branca, sequência Serra das Pipocas, maciço de Troia, com base em estudos isotópicos (O, H, S e C) e inclusões fluidas.
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2019-05-08) LIMA, Rafael Guimarães Corrêa; KLEIN, Evandro Luiz; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0464969547546706
The gold mineralization of Pedra Branca deposit is associated with rhyacian metavolcanic rocks of Serra das Pipocas Greenstone Belt, at the Archean–Paleoproterozoic Troia Massif, in Borborema Province, NE of Brazil. The deposit comprises four mineralized targets, Mirador, Queimadas, Igrejinha and Coelho Central and has been classified as a hypozonal orogenic gold deposit based on the geological context, types of hydrothermal alterations and isotopic data obtained for Mirador and Queimadas targets. At Coelho Central target, the main gold host rocks are ilmenite- and garnet amphibolites (after mafic volcanic rocks). Some gold occurrences has been recognized in altered metadacites and metatonalites intrusive lenses. Hydrothermal and mineralized zones show mineral assemblages formed under amphibolite facies conditions. (i) calc-silicate veinlets (diopside, titanite, calcite, epidote and sulfides), (ii) hornblende, albite, biotite and garnet veinlets with pyrrhotite and gold, (iii) biotite-rich potassic alteration containing pyrrhotite, gold and tellurides and (iv) quartz veins are the main types of ore-related alterations. In addition, (v) epidote, titanite and calcite pockets, (vi) chloritization and (vii) pyrite-rich fissural carbonatization are the late and no ore-related alterations that marks a ductile-brittle deformation, probably under greenschist facies conditions. Gold occurs predominantly as inclusions in pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite and Co-pentlandite indicating their association with sulfur species and subordinately as free-milling microparticles in quartz veins. The metallic association of sulfidation zones also includes abundant Ag, Bi, Ni and Pb tellurides. Oxygen and hydrogen geothermometry for hydrothermal silicates yielded temperatures from 484 to 586 ºC for the gold-related alterations. The fluid isotopic composition in equilibrium with hydrothermal silicates (quartz, hornblende, biotite, tourmaline and titanite) shows values of δ18O (+6.8 to + 10.7 ‰) and δD (-58.4 to -35.5 ‰), as well as the values of δ34S in sulfides (-3.1 and +2.7 ‰) and δ13C for calcite (-11.1 to -5.8 ‰), indicative of deepseated magmatic-hydrothermal fluid, with possible interaction and mixing with fluids of the greenstone sequence. Fluid inclusions assemblages in quartz veins show the predominance of CO2 inclusions, with a density up to 1.15 g/cm3 and up to 15 mol% of CH4, coexisting with N2 inclusions, and also with low salinity (< 9.7 wt% NaCl equiv.) H2O-CO2-NaCl and H2O-NaCl-FeCl2±MgCl2 varieties. The petrographic and microthermometric criteria suggest the immiscibility of a CO2-H2O-NaCl-N2-CH4 fluid as responsible for the generation of the observed inclusions. Desestabilization of complexes such as Au(HS)-2 and precipitation of gold and associated metals occurred by immiscibility, fluid-rock interaction, and changes in redox conditions and fluid pH, between 2.2 and 5,5 kbar (6.3 to 16.0 km). A H2O-NaCl-CaCl2 latter fluid was the responsible for the calcite, with pyrite and sphalerite precipitation in fractures and faults. The characteristics presented above allow us to ratify the Coelho Central target and Pedra Branca deposit as a hypozonal gold mineralization formed under amphibolite facies conditions, from CO2-rich deep-seated magmatic fluids that interacted with the metamorphic sequence of Serra das Pipocas Greenstone Belt and precipitated gold and associated metals.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Entre o ouro e a biodiversidade: garimpos e unidades de conservação na região de Itaituba, Pará, Brasil
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2014) BAIA JÚNIOR, Pedro Chaves; THEIJE, Marjo de; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3764097351224416; MATHIS, Armin; http://lattes.cnpq.br/8365078023155571
Examines the policies and practices of small-scale gold mining (SSGM) and protected areas (PA) performed in the region of Itaituba (Pará), and understand the impacts of the Brazilian nature conservation policy on practices developed in the small mining Amazon context. Historical and comparative methods were utilized. Documentary and bibliographical searches, semi-structured interviews with social actors involved in the issues, and data collection on websites of public agencies were conducted. The results show that the creation of a federally set of PA in the region of Itaituba, in 2006, was a response to international public opinion on the high rates of deforestation in the Amazon verified at the beginning of the century, but that resulted in direct conflict with institutions and local social actors linked to SSGM, which considered this action authoritative and impediment to regional economic development action. Despite PA have been superimposed over the 80% of areas of interest and/or gold exploration in the region of Itaituba, this conservation policy has not prevented the continuity of SSGM in the region. However, it was found that such police put into play a series of elements that increased the difficulties to regulate their activity and prospector are forcing it to remain or be directed to the illegality. The main barriers identified for the planning of mining activity in the region of Itaituba were: the physical distances between the mines and the environmental agencies, the delay in issuing environmental permits (small-scale/alluvial mining licence, for exemple), difficulties in meeting the legal requirements, and uncertainties about mining within the PA, especially National Forests. Moreover, it was found that the PA did not leave the paper, since they lack staff, infrastructure and financial resources to the minimum compliance for surveillance, education and regulation, for example, the mining activity that occurs inside. Thus, although the federal government has created the PA as an alternative to a process of sustainable development for the region, in practice these protected areas are only creating legal barriers to the continuation of an important regional productive activities without providing alternative livelihoods to users of this resource.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Estudo do comportamento do ouro nas formações supergênicas da área Cachoeira, nordeste do Pará
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 1993-07-20) TARBACH, Milton; KOTSCHOUBEY, Basile; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0096549701457340
In the Cachoeira area, Gurupi region, northeast of Pará, there is a volcano-sedimentary sequence composed predominantly of strongly mylonitized dacites and rhyodacites, cut by bundles of quartz veins and venules from NS to NNE-SSW direction. In this sequence, gold is present in the form of fine “free” particles, disseminated both in the veins and in the heavily carbonated host rocks, as well as associated with a sulfide paragenesis consisting of pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. Over geological time, several surfaces marked by an old phosphate laterite, an immature ferruginous laterite and a level of ferruginous sandstone, respectively, developed. Furthermore, restricted-range gossans were formed early in this supergenic framework. In this work, only the most recent lateritic cover and the gossanic bodies were studied. Laterite comprises a thick saprolithic horizon, a mottled zone and a 3-meter-thick crust composed of hematite, goethite, kaolinite and generally subordinate quartz. In this alteration mantle, both gold and silver, although “invisible”, show an enrichment in the upper part of the profile and in particular in the crust. The trace elements Zn, Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, Cu and As, in turn, show higher contents in the mottled zone or at the top of the saprolite. The gossanic bodies, which mark the zones most enriched in sulphides, are composed essentially of goethite with microcrystalline quartz, kaolinite and sericite subordinated. In addition to fragments of veins. Gold, silver and arsenic show a tendency to enrich themselves in depth. In areas with higher levels of gold, it usually appears in fine visible particles or even tiny nuggets. On the other hand, the contents of Mn, Co, Zn and Pb suffer little variation in the studied profiles, while Ni and Cr show an enrichment at the top of the latter. It is assumed that during the formation of the lateritic cover, gold and silver suffered an incipient molybization, probably in the form of chlorides and/or organic complexes, whereas in the gossanic medium these elements migrated preferentially in the form of thiosulfates. In both cases the gold and silver would have been fixed by the iron hydroxide by adsorption and/or coprecipitation. Regarding the other trace elements, it is believed that their mobilization occurred mainly in the form of sulfates and according to the physical-chemical conditions of the medium. Its redistribution and fixation in the alteration products was probably controlled by its retention by poorly crystallized iron hydroxide.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Estudos de inclusões fluidas e de isótopos estáveis no depósito Moreira Gomes do campo mineralizado do Cuiú-Cuiú, Província Aurífera do Tapajós, Estado do Pará
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2013-08-29) ASSUNÇÃO, Rose de Fátima Santos; KLEIN, Evandro Luiz; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0464969547546706
Moreira Gomes is a recently discovered deposit (preliminary resources of 21.7 t Au) of the Cuiú-Cuiú goldfield, an importante and historical mining área of the Tapajós Gold Province, Amazonian Craton. The mineralized zone is about 1200 m long, 30-50 m wide, and is followed to at least 400 m in depth. The zone is controlled by a subvertical, east-west-trending structure that is related to a left-handed strike-slip fault system. The host rocks in the deposit are predominantly tonalites dated at 1997 ± 2 Ma that are attributed to the magmatic arc or post-collision Creporizão Intrusive Suite. Hydrothermal alteration and mineralization are predominantly of the fissure-filling type and locally pervasive. Sericitization, chloritization, sulfidation, silicification, carbonatization and epidotization are the observed alteration types. Pyrite is by far the predominant sulfide mineral and bears inclusions of chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite and minor hesite and bismuthinite. Gold occurs predominantly as inclusions in pyrite and subordinately in the free-milling state in quartz veins. Ag, Pb and Bi have been detected by semi-quantitatiive analysis. Three types of fluid inclusions, hosted in quartz veins and veinlets, have been identified. (1) Type 1: one- and two-phase CO2 inclusions; (2) Type 2: two- and three-phase H2O-CO2-salt inclusions, and (3) Type 3: two-phase H2O-salt inclusions. CO2 is largely the predominat volatile phase in the CO2-bearing inclusions. The CO2-bearing types 1 and 2 are interpreted as the product of phase separation of an immiscible fluid. This fluid presentes low to moderate density, low to moderate salinity (1.6 to 11,8 wt.% NaCl equivalent) and was trapped chiefly at 280° to 350°C. In Type 3 fluid, the chemical system may contain CaCl2 and/or MgCl2, salinitye varies from zero to 10.1 wt.% NaCl equivalent. Only locally salinities up to 25% have been recorded. This fluid was trapped mainly between 120° and 220°C and is interpreted as resulting from mixing of a hotter and more saline aqueous fluid (in part derived from phase separation of the H2O-CO2 fluid) with a cooler and dilute aqueous fluid. As a whole, the fluid inclusions indicate phase separation, pressure fluctuations, mixing, and reequilibration during trapping. The isotopic composition of inclusion fluids and of the fluid in equilibrium with hydrothermal minerals (quartz, chlorite, and calcite) show δ18O and δD values that range from +0.5 to +9.8‰, and from -49 to -8‰, respectively. The δ34S values of pyrite (-0.29‰ to 3.95‰) are probably related to magmatic sulfur. Mineral pairs show equilibrium isotopic temperatures that are compatible with the fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures and with textural relationships of the hydrothermal minerals. Isotopic results combined with mineralogical and fluid inclusion data are interpreted to reflect a magmatic-hydrothermal system that evolved in at least three stages. (1) Exsolution of a CO2-bearing magmatic fluid between 400°C and 320-350°C and up to 2.1 kbars (6-7 km in depth) followed by phase separation and main precipitation of the hydrothermal assemblage composed of chlorite-sericite-pyrite-quartz-gold. (2) Cooling and continuous exolution of CO2 producing a CO2-depleted and slightly more saline aqueous fluid that was trapped mainly at 250°-280°C. The predominant hydrothermal assemblage of stage 1 continued to form, but epidote is the main phase at this stage. (3) Mixing of the stage 2 aqueous fluid with a cooler and dilute aqueous fluid of meteoric origin, whis was responsible for the main carbonatization phase. The composition of the hydrothermal assemblage and the fluid and isotopic composition indicate that the mineralizing fluid was neutral to slightly alkaline, relatively reduced (only locally, more oxidezed conditions have been attained, resulting in the precipitation of barite). H2S (and/or HS-) might have been the main súlfur species in the fluid and Au(HS)-2 was probably the gold transporting complex. Gold deposition occurred as a consequence of a combination of mechanisms, such as phase separation, mixing and fluid-rock interaction. The Moreira Gomes is a granite-hosted gold deposit that interpreted to be a product of a magmatic-hydrothermal gold system. The age of ore formation (~1.86 Ga) is consistent with the final stages of evolution of the widespread high-K, calc-alkaline Parauari Intrusive Suite, although the ttransitional to predominantly alkaline Maloquinha Intrusive Suite cannot be ruled out. Notwithstanding, the deposit does not show the classic features of (oxidized or reduced) intrusion-related gold deposits of Phanerozoic magmatic arcs.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Estudos isotópicos (Pb e Nd) e de química mineral do depósito aurífero Cipoeiro, Cinturão Gurupi, estado do Maranhão
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2018-04-27) EL-HUSNY NETO, Chafic Rachid; KLEIN, Evandro Luiz; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0464969547546706
The Cipoeiro orogenic gold deposit, located in the Gurupi Belt, Maranhão State, Brazil, is hosted by tonalite of the Tromaí Intrusive Suite (2148 Ma), and shows the higher concentration of gold known to date (61.9 t Au). In order to contribute to the knowledge of the metallogeny of this deposit, this work looked for: to define the composition and temporal sequence of the hydrothermal mineralogy and/or types of hydrothermal alteration; to investigate the chemical composition of the ore; to identify potential sources of Pb and Nd in the mineralization; and to estimate the age of the mineralizing event. The studies have shown that the tonalite is strongly altered and locally deformed, which caused the obliteration of the primary mineralogy and textures. The hydrothermal alteration has distal and proximal variation and occurs in the pervasive and fissural/venular forms. The distal alteration is pervasive and comprises chlorite and sericite. The proximal alteration is pervasive and fissural/venular and is composed of quartz, chlorite, sericite, calcite, pyrite and subordinate amounts of chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena, in addition to the gold mineralization and a set of tellurides. The gold occurs in three forms: (1) particles included in pyrite, (2) precipitated in pyrite fractures, and (3) free-milling, in quartz veins. The telluride mineralogy comprises petzite (Ag-Au), hessite (Au) and sylvanite (Au-Ag), and subordinate coloradoite (Hg), kochkarite (Pb-Bi) and volynskite (Ag-Bi). The mineralization are compatible with the greenschist facies conditions. The chlorite-pyrite-sphalerite equilibrium along with the telluride composition allowed the estimation of log fO2 in the range of -29.6 to -33.2, and log fS2 ranging from -9.6 to -10.6, indicating relatively reduced fluid conditions. This values, along with available physico-chemical data, suggest gold transportation as a reduced sulfur complex. Isotopic studies, Pb in pyrite and Nd in calcite, allowed considering that the source of the fluid is likely a mixture of different regional sources, caused by the fluid-rock interaction during the ascent of the fluid through structures to the site of ore deposition. The age of mineralization could not be defined unequivocally, but the Pb and Nd isotopes indicate the Paleoproterozoic as the most probable age of the mineralization.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Estudos isotópicos e de inclusões fluidas no depósito central do campo mineralizado do Cuiú-Cuiú, província aurífera do Tapajós, estado do Pará
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2014-01-09) ARAÚJO, Ana Claudia Sodré; KLEIN, Evandro Luiz; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0464969547546706
Central is a gold deposit of the Cuiú-Cuiú goldfield, located in the Tapajós Gold Province, Amazonian Craton. The deposit is hosted in a NW-SE-trending structure and the mineralized zone is followed by 800 m along the strike and 450 m along the dip, and is 50-70 m thick. The ore bodies are hosted in a monzogranite dated at 1984±3 Ma and ascribed to the Parauari Intrusive Suite. Resources are estimated in 18.6 t Au. The hydrothermal alteration is predominantly of the fissure-filling type and sericitization, chloritization, silicification, carbonatization and sulfidation are the main alteration types. Pyrite is the predominant sulfide mineral, whereas chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena are subordinated phases occurring in fractures and rims of pyrite. Gold particles occur in fractures of pyrite and contain subordinate amounts of silver. Three types of fluid inclusions are hosted in quartz veins and veinlets. Type 1 is the least abundant and is composed of one- (CO2vapor) and two-phases (CO2liq-CO2vapor) inclusions; Type 2 comprises two- (H2Oliq-CO2liq) and three-phases (H2Oliq-CO2liq-CO2vapor) inclusions; Type 3 is the most abundant type and consists of two-phases (H2Oliq-H2Ovapor) inclusions. CO2 is the volatile phase in CO2-bearing inclusions (types 1 and 2) and these inclusions were produced by phase separation of an aqueous-carbonic fluid. The density of this fluid is low to moderate (0,33 - 0,80 g/cm³), as is the salinity (11.15 - 2.42 wt.% NaCl equiv.). The homogenization temperatures show a peak at 340ºC. Type 3 inclusions have NaCl as the main salt component, the global density varies from 0.65 to 1.11 g/cm³, and the salinity ranges from 1.16 to 13.3 wt.% NaCl equiv. The homogenization temperature shows bimodal distribution, with peaks at 120-140ºC and 180ºC. Fluid inclusion and mineral (quartz, chlorite, calcite) isotopic compositions show δ18O and δD values of +7.8 to +13.6 ‰ and -15 a -35 ‰, respectively. Pyrite shows δ34S values of +0.5 to +4.0 ‰ and δ13C values ranging from -18 to -3.7 ‰ were obtained in calcite and CO2 inclusion fluids. The fluid δ18OH2O and δDH2O values plot in the field of metamorphic waters with a weak shift towards the meteoric water line. However, considering the absence of known metamorphic event at the time of mineralization at Central, the fluids are interpreted as belonging to a magmatic-hydrothermal system. Accordingly, the aqueous-carbonic fluids were exsolved from felsic magmas related to the latest phases of evolution of the Parauari Intrusive Suite and the carbonic and aqueouscarbonic fluid inclusions were trapped in this phase, predominantly at 340°C. The continuous exsolution lead to progressive decrease in the CO2 contents of the magmas and to increasing predominance of aqueous fluids. At this time, the fluids might have interacted with meteoric waters and most of the low-temperature aqueous inclusions were trapped. It is possible that part of the aqueous fluid inclusions (those with the highest trapping temperatures) represent local mixing of the different fluid sources. These observations allow to interpret Central as a magmatic-hydrothermal gold deposit related to the final stages of evolution of the Parauari Intrusive Suite.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Evolução geológica pré-cambriana e aspectos da metalogênese do ouro do cráton São Luís e do Cinturão Gurupi, NE-Pará/ NW-Maranhão, Brasil
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2004-07-06) KLEIN, Evandro Luiz; GIRET, André; HARRIS, Christopher; MOURA, Candido Augusto Veloso; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1035254156384979
In the Gurupi region, located at the border between the Pará and Maranhão states in northern Brazil, igneous and metamorphic rocks crop out as part of the Parnaíba Structural Province. Early geochronological studies, based on the Rb-Sr and K-Ar methods have shown two geochronological domains. The rocks that crop out towards the Atlantic margin showed a Paleoproterozoic signature, around 2000 Ma, whereas the rocks that crop out towards the inner portions of the continent showed a Neoproterozoic signature, especially between 800 and 500 Ma. These domains have been then defined as the São Luís Craton and Gurupi Belt, respectively. Several lithostratigraphic propositions have been developed throughout more than two decades. However, these propositions always lack robust geochronological support. Geotectonic models discussed a one- or two-phase evolution for the Gurupi Belt, also lacking robust geochronological and isotopic data to consubstantiate the interpretations. Furthermore, among the several gold deposits that occur in both the cratonic and belt areas, only a few have geological and genetic information. These subjects are addressed in more or less depth by this thesis. New propositions for the regional lithostratigraphy and geological evolution have been achieved in this work by revaluating the available geological, geochemical, geochronological and isotopic dataset, as well as by adding new geochronological data on zircon (Pb-evaporation, U-Pb ID-TIMS, and LAM-ICP-MS) for most of the igneous and orthometamorphic rocks in the region. Whole rock Nd isotope data have also been obtained, allowing the discussion of crustal accretion and reworking. The results show a rather complex geological evolution with intensive and extensive crustal growth between 2.24-2.15 Ga and crustal reworking, involving melting, migmatization, metamorphism, and deformation around 2.10 Ga. The following results have been obtained for the São Luís Craton: Aurizona Group, metavolcano-sedimentary sequence, maximum age of 2241 Ma (juvenile) that possibly evolved until c.a. 2200 Ma; Tromaí Intrusive Suite, calc-alkaline, metaluminous tonalites of oceanic island arc, 2168 Ma (juvenile); Areal Granite, calc-alkaline, weakly peraluminous, 2150 Ma (mixing of juvenile and arc materials). In the Gurupi Belt, the following results have been obtained: Igarapé Grande Metatonalite, small and localized granoblastic tonalite, 2594 Ma; Itapeva Complex, weakly migmatized tonalitic orthogneiss, 2167 Ma (mostly juvenile); Chega Tudo Formation, metavolcano-sedimentary sequence (back-arc basin?), 2150-2160 Ma; Maria Suprema Granite, syntectonic, peraluminous muscovite-bearing granite, 2100 Ma (similar to other peraluminous granitoids in the Gurupi Belt). The Gurupi Group is tentatively placed in the Paleoproterozoic (>2160 Ma), but this must still be proved. The above data are interpreted on a plate tectonics basis, as follows. An oceanic basin is open at ca. 2260 Ma and is followed by the onset of subduction, formation of island arcs and voluminous calc-alkaline magmatism in oceanic settings, and concomitant reworking of the arcs between 2170-2150 Ma. This set of oceanic terranes has been accreted (soft-collision) onto an Archean continental margin to southwest (Archean part of the Amazonian Craton or a present day concealed cratonic nuclei). The collision provoked the metamorphism, deformation, and partial melting of the newly formed Paleoproterozoic crust and of part of the Archean bloc, or their erosive detritus, migmatization, and emplacement of peraluminous granitoids at 2100-2080 Ma. The region has been the locus of a second event in the Neoproterozoic. A continental rift developed in the bloc that was assembled in the Paleoproterozoic, as attested by the intrusion of a nepheline syenite (Boca Nova) at 732 Ma. Sedimentary rocks that filled this rift (Marajupema Formation) have detrital zircon crystals that show the youngest ages around 1100 Ma. The rift evolved probably to an oceanic basin, as suggested by the widespread occurrence of detrital zircons with ages around 550 Ma in small sedimentary basins that have been filled with immature sediments. The precise time of orogenesis climax that followed basin closure, with mass transport from SSW to NNE and accompanying metamorphism, is not yet constrained. Equivocal geochronological information point to 650-520 Ma (zircon of the nepheline syenite, Rb-Sr and KAr ages in minerals). The metallogeny of selected gold deposits occurring in both the São Luís Craton and the Gurupi Belt is addressed using varied information, such as geology, chlorite chemistry, fluid inclusion geochemistry, and stable (O, H, C, S) and radiogenic (Pb) isotopes. Structural and textural relationships, and Pb isotope data indicate a post metamorphic peak and late- to posttectonic timing for the gold mineralization with respect to the Paleoproterozoic events (post 2080 Ma). At a regional scale, the deposits show a similar signature characterized by formation temperatures between 280° and 380°C; pressures of 2-3 kbars; low-salinity (5 mass % NaCl equiv), reduced and moderately dense aqueous-carbonic (CO2 <20 mol%, traces of CH4 and N2), showing strong evidence for phase separation. Stable isotope studies suggest distinct sources for fluids and solutes. The carbonate, graphite, and fluid inclusion carbon comes from two sources: a depleted organic source, and an unknown source that may be magmatic, metamorphic or mantlederived (or both). Sulfide sulfur derived directly from magmas or from the dissolution of magmatic sulfides. Combined oxygen and hydrogen isotopes attest a metamorphic source for the fluids. Therefore, dehydration and decarbonization reactions during the metamorphism of the Paleoproterozoic metavolcano-sedimentary sequences appear to have produced the mineralizing fluids. Gold was transported as a reduced sulfur complex, such as the Au(HS)2 - and precipitated in response to the breakdown of this complex due to phase separation and fluid-rock interactions. The geological and genetic constraints are consistent with the orogenic gold model, found in metamorphic belts of all ages. As a whole the results of this study have implications for the understanding of the Paleoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic orogenies that built up the South American Platform and for the assembly and break-up of the Atlantica, Rodinia, and West-Gondwana supercontinents. The geological scenario outlined here for the Paleoproterozoic shows good correlations with those found especially in the southeastern Guyana Shield and in the southern portion of the West- African Craton. For the Neoproterozoic, the available information is still insufficient to draw major correlations.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
A extração do ouro na Amazônia e suas implicações para o meio ambiente
(1998) CAHETÉ, Frederico Luiz Silva
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Gênese do depósito aurífero do Cuca/Tucumã-PA, com base nos fluidos hidrotermais e isótopos de chumbo.
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2000-08-04) CORREIA JUNIOR, Firmino Coutinho; SANTOS, Márcio Dias; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6977793618030488
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Geocronologia e geoquímica isotópica dos depósitos de Cu-Au Igarapé Bahia e Gameleira, Província Mineral de Carajás (PA), Brasil
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2002-05-10) GALARZA TORO, Marco Antonio; MACAMBIRA, Moacir José Buenano; http://lattes.cnpq.br/8489178778254136
Copper sulfide + Au ore deposits are common in the Carajás Mineral Province and systematically occur in Archean metavolcano-sedimentary sequences associated or not with granitoid intrusions. Two of these deposits, Igarapé Bahia and Gameleira, have been chosen for a geochronological and isotopic study with the purpose of not only determining their ages, origin and relationships with the host rocks, but also the formation and evolution of the crustal segments within which both deposits are located. The Igarapé Bahia Group hosts the Igarapé Bahia deposit and is composed of mafic metavolcanic (MVR), metapyroclastic (MPR) and meta sedimentary rocks (MSR), besides banded iron-formations and hydrothermally altered breccias zone (HBZ). The whole rock pile is crosscut by mafic dikes (MIR). The Cu-Au ore forms disseminations to massive bodies, mostly occurring in the HBZ which marks the contacts between the MVR and the MSR/MPR rock units. Petrographic and geochemical data about the MVR (basaltic meta-andesites), MPR (laminated and lapilli metatuffs) and MIR (quartz diorites) show them all to be derived from mafic magmas of tholeiitic affiliation, in spite of the alteration evidence. These rocks also show geochemical similarities (major and trace elements, including REE) with the coeval Grão Pará Group volcanic rocks. Chloritization (dominant), carbonation, sulfidation and magnetitization are the most important types of hydrothermal alteration. The ore is chiefly composed of chalcopyrite with variable amounts of pyrite, bornite and chalcocite. Chrorite, magnetite, siderite are abundant as gangue minerals, whereas tourmaline, molybdenite, fluorite and biotite are subordinate. Pb-Pb dating on zircon yield crystallization ages of 2745±1 Ma and 2747±1 Ma for the MVR and MPR, respectively. Similar whole-rock ages were obtained for the MVR (Pb-Pb / 2776±12 Ma and Sm-Nd / 2758±75 Ma) and the MPR (Pb-Pb / 2758±36 Ma). A Pb-Pb age of 2764±22 Ma for the chalcopyrite and gold suggests the mineralization to be contemporaneous with the host Igarapé Bahia Group. Similar Pb-Pb ages are recorded on chalcopyrite from the HBZ (2772±46 Ma), MVR (2756±24 Ma), MPR (2754±36 Ma) and MIR (2777±22 Ma), and in gold from the MVR (2778 Ma). All these geochronological data support a syngenetic to late syngenetic origin of the Igarapé Bahia Cu-sulfide + Au ores. Pb-Pb ages of 2385±122 and 2417±120 Ma obtained by leaching of the BHZ chalcopyrite may indicate a period of remobilization probably related to tectonic reactivations of the Carajás-Cinzento Strike-Slip System. δS18 values of +0.1 to +4.2%0 in ZBH sulfides (mostly chalcopyrite) corroborate both the involvement of magmatic hydrothermal fluids and exhalative deposition, whereas δC13PDB values of -7.28 to -15.78‰ in ZBH siderite suggest the mantle as a likely source for the homogeneous CO2- rich fluids responsible for the carbonate precipitation (carbonatic source) although, if it does not have evidences of the existence of this type of rock in the Carajás region. In turn, δO18PDB values of -15.51 to -20.96%0 in the same siderite indicate some contribution of meteoric waters to the fluids that altered the breccias. The Gameleira ore deposit is hosted by the Archean Igarapé Pojuca Group which consists of mafic metavolcanic rocks (MVR), amphibolites, schists, banded iron-formations and hydrothermalites. Neoarchaean mafic intrusive rocks (MIR), Paleoproterozoic quartz-feldspathic apophyses and granitoids crosscut all the Igarapé Pojuca rocks. Petrographical and geochemical data allow the MVR and MIR to be classed, respectively, as basaltic meta-andesites and quartz diorites of tholeiitic affiliation. The schistose rocks can be classified as plagioclase-quartz-biotite schist. Biotitization, chloritization, sulfidation, tourmalinization and silicification are the most remarkable types of hydrothermal alteration. The ore occurs chiefly in veins and veinlets and is characterized by selvages of chalcopyrite, pyrite, pirrhotite, bornite, molybdenite, rare cubanite, besides quartz, tourmaline, fluorite, chlorite and biotite. The MVR seem to be contemporaneous with those of the Grão Pará, Igarapé Bahia and Igarapé Salobo groups, adopting the age of the Grão Pará Group as the age of formation of these rocks. Dating of the MIR (Pb-Pb on zircon) yields a value of 2705±2 Ma interpreted as the crystallization age of these rocks and similar to those found for the mafic sills (2.70 to 2.65 Ga) that occur in the neighboring Águas Claras deposit. Pb-Pb ages of 2615±10 and 2683±7 Ma on zircon from a saprolith of the Igarapé Pojuca Group domain probably represent rocks coeval with those sills. Pb-Pb ages of 2646±30 Ma (MVR / whole-rock), 2422±12 Ma (vero sulfides) and 2218±14 Ma (leaching of chalcopyrite) are indicative of a superimposed event on the Igarapé Pojuca metamorphic rocks, either the emplacement of granitoid intrusions (1.87-1.53 Ga) or the reactivation of the Caraj ás-Cinzento Strike-Slip System. This event probably caused remobilization of pre-existing ore as well as (partial or total) resetting of the Pb isotopic system. Both the Igarapé Bahia and the Igarapé Pojuca groups, and other greenstone-like metavolcano-sedimentary sequences of Carajás, overlie a basement made up of rocks that are contemporaneous with the Xingu and Pium complexes as well as with the Arco Verde tonalite, which are the likely sources of the inherited zircon found in the MVR and MIR of the Igarapé Bahia Group and dated at 3.03-2.86 Ga. Therefore, the ranges of 3.03-2.86 and 2.76-2.74 Ga represent, respectively, well-defined periods of crust formation and expressive volcanism in the northern portion of the Carajás Mineral Province. Sm-Nd model ages (TDM) of 3.17-2.99 Ga, obtained for the rocks of both the Igarapé Bahia and Gameleira deposits are consistent with those determined for the basement rocks and granitoids that occur in the Carajás Mineral Province. ΕNd(t) values for these rocks (-0.36 to -2.12) indicate nor only participation of older crust material in the parental magmas but also that magmas were generated in a continental rift environment. This supports the current hypotheses about the tectonic environment of formation of the Itacaiunas Supergroup to which belong both the Igarapé Bahia and the Igarapé Pojuca groups. In conclusion, both studied deposits seem to have a similar primary genesis, but distinct further history in the Neoarchaean and Paleoproterozoic times, which certainly affected their mineralizations.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Geologia e geoquímica das mineralizações supergênicas de ouro das áreas Salobo e Pojuca-Leste, Serra dos Carajás
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 1996-11-29) SILVA, Evaldo Raimundo Pinto da; KOTSCHOUBEY, Basile; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0096549701457340
In Salobo sector, the primary gold and copper mineralization occurs in two types of iron formations, both of the silicate facies: Type I composed of magnetite>50% + fayallite + grunerite and Type II constituted of magnetite<50% + biotite + grunerite + almandine, which occurs interlayered in barren metagraywacks. In iron formations gold is present as: i) microscopic (5-14m) and submicroscopic (<0,1 µm) inclusions in magnetite; ii) microscopic and submicroscopic inclusions in primary copper sulphides (mainly chalcopyrite; subordinatelly bornite and chalcosine); and iii) as rare visible gold particles in quartz-carbonate-clorite veins which cut the Type II iron formation. Magnetite is the major gold-bearing mineral at Salobo. In the veins, gold is rich in silver and copper (16,5% and 8,4%, respectively) and exhibits increasing fineness from the border to the center of the particles. In these latter, a negative correlation between silver and copper contents, and exsolution textures suggest a separation between Au-Cu and Au-Ag during gold deposition in veins. The Salobo weathering profile is truncated and developed upon a thick metagraywacke sequence with interlayered iron formations lenses. From bottom to top, the weathering profile consists of a transition zone, a saprolitic zone and a colluvium horizon. The transition zone and the saprolite exhibit textural and mineralogical variations that reflect the heterogeneous composition of the bedrock. Weathering of metagraywacke resulted in a clay-mineral rich saprolite -hidrobiotite, smectite, kaolinite- derived principally from biotite. On the other hand, the alteration of mineralized rocks resulted, from bottom to top of the profile, in a supergene sulphide zone, an oxidized zone and a ferruginous saprolite. The most important supergene sulphides are digenite and covelline, while in the oxidized zone occur minerals such as cuprite, malaquite, azurite, native copper and native silver. In the ferruginous saprolite copper is enriched in clay-minerais (smectite) and in iron oxi-hydroxides. The secundary gold mineralization at Salobo occurs only in the oxidation products of iron formations. Gold exhibits enrichment in two levels of the weathering profile: in the supergene sulphide and oxidized copper minerals zones, and in the intermediate zone of the ferruginous saprolite. In these alteration products, gold occurs as: i) tiny inclusions (7-30m) in refractory magnetite crystals and in fratures of this mineral; ii) as submicroscopic particles inclosed in martitized magnetite crystals; and iii) as submicroscopic particles adsorbed ("invisible gold") in goethite. At Pojuca-Leste the primary gold mineralization is present in quartz-tourmaline-flurite-copper sulphides veins which cut a thick quartz-biotite-schists sequence and in iron formations lenses interlayered in these rocks. Gold occurs as: i) submicroscopic inclusions in chalcopyrite of veins, schists and iron formations; ii) as submicroscopic inclusions in magnetite of iron formation; and iii) as rare microscopic inclusions in quartz of veins. In the veins gold particles shows low fineness 809). The weathering profile at Pojuca-Leste consists of a thick saprolitic horizon and a ferro-aluminous duricrust. The saprolite exhibits compositional variations related to the nature of the parent rocks. It is generally composed of kaolinite, goethite and hematite and its iron contents are higher when derived from iron formations and sulphide veins. The secundary gold mineralization at Pojuca-Leste occurs in alteration products of sulphide veins, in the ferruginous saprolite derived from iron formations and in ferro-aluminous duricrust. In these secondary products, gold is present as: i) rare particles in relict quartz-tourmaline±sulphide veins; ii) as submicroscopic inclusions in martitized cristais of magnetite; iii) as submicroscopic particles adsorbed in goethite from the veins; and as iv) submicroscopic particles adsorbed in Fe-Al oxi-hydroxides of the duricrust. The supergene concentration of gold in Salobo and Pojuca-Leste sectors, envolved principally relative enrichment, and only subordinatelly absolute enrichment. In these areal, gold enclosed in refratary cristais of magnetite and quartz, favoured a relative enrichment during alteration of the primary mineralization. On the other hand, a minar amount of gold enclosed in copper sulphides (mainly chalcopyrite) was released, mobilized and reprecipited in the sulphide oxidation zone during several phases of the lowering of water table. Such evolution resulted in individualization of several enrichment levels, which shows variable lateral extension in the weathering profile. The main factor which controlled the secondary concentration of gold in Salobo and Pojuca-Leste areas was the forro of gold occurrence in the primary ore. In these sectors, gold armoured as tiny inclusions in magnetite and quartz crystals, dificulted the supergene remobilization process and resulted in a high relative enrichment.
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Geologia e Metalogênese do Depósito Au-Ag (Pb-Zn) do Coringa, Sudeste Província Mineral Tapajós, Pará.
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2020-09-16) GUIMARÃES, Stella Bijos; KLEIN, Evandro Luiz; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0464969547546706; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4598-9249
The Tapajós Mineral Province (TMP) is located in the south-central portion of the Amazonian Craton and is considered one of the main metallogenic provinces of Brazil. A significant part of the province comprises felsic volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks and granites, which formed predominantly in two intervals, 2.02 to 1.95 Ga and 1.91 to 1.87 Ga, belonging to several stratigraphic and lithodemic units. Fieldwork, petrography, and high-resolution airborne geophysics allowed us to produce a new map at the 1:100,000 scale for the southeastern portion of the TMP, where the gold and silver (Cu-Pb-Zn) Coringa deposit is located. We identified two new geological units: (1) the volcanic and pyroclastic rocks of the Vila Riozinho Formation, previously attributed to the Iriri Group, including a facies defined here of this formation, which comprises a group of rocks with the largest magnetic content in the region (Vila Riozinho Formation - magnetic pyroclastic facies), and (2) the Serra Alkali Feldspar Granite, which intruded into the Vila Riozinho Formation (VRF). These units are the host rocks of Coringa deposit. The FVR rocks represent a magmatic arc with high K calcalkaline to shoshonitic affinities. There are similarities in the patterns of LILE and HFSE and the multielementar diagrams with the granitic rocks from Creporizão Intrusive Suite (CIS). The contemporaneousness between these units reinforce a possible petrogenetic correlation and converge to the hypothesis of similar sources, of probable remelting of arc rocks. Isotopic data revealed similar behavior between VRF, SAFG and Maloquinha Intrusive Suite expose similar behavior and present negative εNd values; however, it indicates rocks derived from enriched sources (ancient crustal rocks). Therefore these units had the same source during tectonic setting and crustal evolution of TMP. It is a transcurrent post-collisional stage that followed the collision of the Cuiú-Cuiú Magmatic Arc related to the Orosian volcano-plutonic event (2033-2005 Ma). Based on available geochronological information these units can be associated with a volcano-plutonic event that occurred in the Orosirian period, at about 1.98 Ga. The Au-Ag (Cu-Pb-Zn) Coringa deposit, occurs essentially in veins and veinlets whose match the regional trend (NNW-SSE). The host rocks are volcanic and pyroclastic rocks of the Magnetic Pyroclastic Facies (MPF) from the Vila Riozinho Formation (ignimbrites, tuffs, and breccia), and the Serra Alkali Feldspar Granite, with a predominance of the supracrustal rocks The hydrothermal processes affected all lithotypes associated with mineralization, producing distal alteration (carbonate-chlorite-epidote), intermediate-proximal alteration (sericite-pyrite) and proximal alteration (chlorite-hematite). The mineralized veins are generally composed of quartz + pyrite + chalcopyrite + galena + sphalerite + electrum + chlorite + sericite. Gold grains occur as inclusions or fractures in pyrite. The fluids presents low salinity, rich in H2O and poor in CO2, with evidence of mixing (magmatic-meteoric), and the presence of adularia and Mn-carbonate are outstanding features of this deposit. All characteristic converge to confirm an intermediate- sulfidation epithermal deposit as a genetic model to Coringa deposit.
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Geologia e metalogênese do depósito aurífero do Palito, Província Tapajós, Itaituba - Pa
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2008-07-17) COSTA, Rodrigo de Melo; SANTOS, Márcio Dias; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6977793618030488
The Palito Gold Deposit lies in the Jamanxim river region, easternmost part of the Tapajós Gold Province, sonthern Pará State. The Palito deposit comprises a mineralized quartz vein system hosted by Palito and Rio Novo Paleoproterozoic granites and is controlled by a NW-SE brittleductile stike-slip shear zone which belongs to a regional structure so called Tocantinzinho Lineament. The Palito Granite crosscuts the Rio Novo Granite and is the main host rock for the gold mineralization. The Rio Novo and Palito granites are two oxidized calc-alkaline monzogranitic stocks correlated respectively to Creporizão and Tropas Suites, characterized as magmatic arc granites. The thicker lodes, of metric width, are hosted by the NW-SE main fractures, whereas thinner veins, of centimetric width, associated with the thicker lodes, make both low angle (around E-W direction) and middle to high angle (NE-SW direction) in relation to the main shear direction. Such a structural situation is compatible to the Riedel system, with parallel lodes (D), low-angle veins (R and P), middle-angle veins (gash) and high-angle veins (R’ and X). Stockwork veinlets also occur as a minor ore type. The veins are always involved by a well developed, normally brecciated, hydrothermal alteration halo. Phyllic alteration ( quartz + phengite + pyrite) and chloritization (chamosite) are the two main hydrothermal alteration types which are followed by potassic alteration (K- feldspar + biotite), carbonatization (calcite + siderite + sericite) and subordinated sufidation (pyrite + chalcopyrite + sphalerite). The gold ore, hosted by quartz veins, is always associated to iron and copper sulfides (chiefly pyrite and chalcopyrite), besides sphalerite. Pyrrhotite, bismuthinite, native bismuth and gold are minor metallic phases. Three generations of pyrite, two generation of chalcopyrite and one generation of sphalerite were recognized. Substitution of chalcopirite1 for pyrite1 and pyrite2 for chalcopirite1 are widespread, whereas sphalerite crystallization is controlled by temperature and Cu/Zn ratio of the system, that is, substitution of sphalerite for chalcopirite1 ocurrs when temperature and Cu/Zn ratio are low and, vice versa, substitution of chalcopirite1 for sphalerite occurs in higher temperature and Cu/Zn ratio conditions. The gold is always associated or included in chalcopyrite, bismuthinite and native bismuth. Late sulfide generations are represented by veinlets of pyrite3 and chalcopirite2. The main gangue minerals associated to gold ore are quartz, phengite and chlorite, besides minor carbonate, fluorite, rutile, zircon and ilmenite Three kinds of fluids were recognized in the fluid inclusion study: 1) low salinity H2O-NaCl (up to 2,0 wt.% NaCl equiv.), interpreted as meteoric water; 2) high salinity H2O-NaCl-FeCl2-MgCl2 (45-50 wt.% NaCl equiv.) interpreted as magmatic brines, 3) low salinity H2O-CO2-NaCl (1,0-1,7 wt.% NaCl equiv.), probably of magmatic origin. The temperature and pressure conditions for the Palito gold deposit formation were estimated by combination of hydrothermal chlorite geothermometry and isochores calculated from the fluid inclusion microthermometric data. P-T values for trapping of the brines range from 340 to 405oC and 2 to 4,7 kb. The magmatic brines were interpreted as the main mineralized fluid, that is, sulphur, chlorine and metals (chiefly Au and Cu) were originated and concentrated from the residual phase of the granitic magma which gave rise the Palito Granite. The brines transported the metals as chloride complexes at high temperature (over 400oC). Fluid-rock interaction and mixing between mineralized fluid and low-T and low salinity fluids (probably meteoric water) promote a raising of pH and lowering of fS2 through hydrolysis and sulfidation reactions which have triggered ore deposition at lower temperature conditions (below 400oC) in transtension sites of the shear zone. The geological and hydrothermal alteration features and the mineralizing fluid characteristics are consistent to a structurally controlled intrusion related gold deposit model for the genesis of the Palito deposit. The host granitic rocks of the gold deposit, the vein style, the hydrothermal alteration (seritization and chloritization with minor potassic alteration), the Au-Cu-Zn (Pb-Bi) metallic association and the mineralizing fluid (H2O-NaCl-FaCl2-MgCl2) are consistent to a genetic relationship between the Palito Granite and the gold deposit. The granite supplied fluids, metals and heat to move the hydrothermal system, whereas the shear zone provided the structural traps for the ore deposition.
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Geologia e metalogênese do depósito aurífero São Jorge, Província Aurífera do Tapajós, Novo Progresso-PA
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2011-01-05) BORGES, Antonio Wanderlei Gomes; SANTOS, Márcio Dias; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6977793618030488
The São Jorge gold deposit lies in the easternmost part of the Tapajós Gold Province, SW portion of the State of Pará, far around 88km from Novo Progresso city. The São Jorge deposit comprises a mineralized quartz vein system hosted by the Young São Jorge Paleoproterozoic granite and it is controlled by a NW-SE trending shear zone. The Young São Jorge granite is an oxidized calc-alkaline monzogranite stock, characterized as magmatic arc type and correlated to the Tropas Intrusive Suite. The São Jorge shear zone is a brittle-ductile sinistral strike-slip shear zone which belongs to a regional structure known as Tocantinzinho Lineament. The thicker lodes, of metric width, are hosted by NW-SE main shear direction, whereas thinner veins in the NE-SW direction make middle to high angle in relation to the chief shear direction. Such a structural situation is compatible to the Riedel system, with parallel lodes hosted by main shear direction (Y/D) and gash veins in extension fractures (T). Minor stockwork veinlets complete the São Jorge vein system. The mineralized veins are always involved by hydrothermal alteration halo. Early alteration is characterized by chloritization of the ferromagnesian minerals (biotite and hornblende) which yielded chlorite+carbonate+magnetite mineral assemblage, followed by sodium metasomatism (albitization) of the K-feldspar and saussuritization of the plagioclase which generated sericite+carbonate+epidote assemblage. Intensification of that process evolved to phallic alteration (phengite+quartz+pyrite assemblage) associated to minor chloritization and sufidation (pyrite+ chalcopyrite+sphalerite assemblage). The gold-bearing ore, hosted in quartz veins, occurs in deep hydrothermal altered rocks, associated to sulfides (chiefly pyrite) and, more rarely, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. Galena, bismuthinite, native bismuth and gold are minor metallic phases. Free gold also occurs in hydrothermal quartz and magnetite. The main gangue minerals associated to ore are quartz, phengite and chlorite. Carbonate, rutile and zircon are minor gangue phases. Three types of fluids were recognized in the São Jorge deposit from fluid inclusion studies: 1) low-middle-salinity aqueous H2O-NaCl-KCl fluid, interpreted as meteoric water; 2) middle-salinity aqueous H2O-NaCl-CaCl2-MgCl2 fluid, with homogenization temperature ranging from 120 to 230°C, interpreted as magmatic brines; and 3) low-middle-salinity aquocarbonic H2O-CO2-NaCl fluid, with homogenization temperature ranging from 260 to 350°C, probably of magmatic or metamorphic origin. The magmatic saline aqueous fluid was interpreted as the ore fluid which transported the metals (mainly gold), the clorine, and the oxidized sulphur (SO2), concentrated in the residual phase of a granitic magma, whereas the aquocarbonic fluid transported the majority of CO2 and the reduced sulphur (H2S). The temperature and pressure conditions for the São Jorge gold deposit were established by combination of hydrothermal chlorite geothermometry and isochore calculated from the fluid inclusion microthermometric data. The temperature values for trapping the ore fluids range from 280°C to 360°C and the pressures vary from 1.35 to 3.6 kb. Such a temperature condition favors the gold transport as tiocomplexes. Early oxidation process brought about an increase of fO2 and magnetite formation which favored first generation of gold deposition. The mixing of ore fluid with aquocarbonic fluid and meteoric water and fluid-rock interaction, with associated phillic and sulfidation alteration reactions, caused increasing of fO2 and reduction of pH, fS2 and temperature which triggered the main gold precipitation in transtension sites of shear zone. The veining style of the São Jorge deposit, the host granitic rocks of the ore, the kinds of hydrothermal alterations, the Au(Cu-Zn-Pb-Bi) metallic association and the ore fluid of magmatic filliation, are consistent to a genetic relationship between the gold deposit and granitic magmatism (intrusion-related gold deposit). On the other hand, the structural control of the ore bodies and the occurrence of aquocarbonic fluid with higher homogenization temperature, deep-collected by the shear zone, hold up the mesozonal orogenic model. Such a characteristics support a hybrid genetic model for the São Jorge gold deposit, in which the granite supplied the ore fluid, the metals and heat to move the hydrothermal system, whereas the shear zone provided the aquocarbonic fluid, the flow paths for the fluids and the structural traps for ore deposition. Since the shear zone had affected the Yong São Jorge granite, the genetic relationship between the gold deposit and that granite, though possible, is little probable. Another more consistent possibility as magmatic source for the São Jorge ore fluid would be a younger granite, as the Maloquinha granite, 14 to 27 Ma younger, which occurs in the whole Tapajós Province and also neighborhood São Jorge area.
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Geologia e metalogênese do ouro do greenstone belt da Serra das Pipocas, Maciço de Troia, Província Borborema, NE - Brasil
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2018-12-13) COSTA, Felipe Grandjean da; KLEIN, Evandro Luiz; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0464969547546706
At the Archean–Paleoproterozoic Troia Massif, in Borborema Province, NE–Brazil, two major Paleoproterozoic greenstone belts are recognized (Algodões and Serra das Pipocas). These share similar ages and lithostratigraphic characteristics with other 2.2–2.1 Ga greenstone belts of the surrounding cratonic domains (e.g. Guiana shield and São Luis–West Africa craton), and also host gold mineralization. In this thesis, a U–Pb zircon age of 2185 Ma was obtained for a pre–collisional metatonalite (Mirador tonalites) with geochemical affinity similar to adakites–like rocks. For syn– to post–collisional potassic plutons (Bananeira suite) we obtained U–Pb zircon ages of 2079 Ma for a deformed quartz monzonite and of 2068 Ma for the less–deformed equigranular granite. These granitoids of the Bananeira suite are both of high–K calc–alkaline affinity, and probably derived from partial melting of crustal sources. Zircon Hf crustal model ages of all granitoids range between 2800 and 2535 Ma, indicating that Archean crustal components contributed to their magma genesis. However, two analyzed c. 2.3 Ga old inherited zircon grains showing Ɛ_Hf (t) values of c. +4.9, indicate that crustal reworking of less–radiogenic Paleoproterozoic sources also participated. Gold mineralization in the Serra das Pipocas greenstone belt is associated with a regional NE-trending shear zone. The mineralized areas (the Pedra Branca gold deposit) are located near–parallel to the stratigraphy, siting on shear zones, between metavolcanic and metasedimentary unit boundaries. The main stage of gold mineralization is found in association with quartz veins, high–temperature calc–silicate alteration (diopside, K–feldspar, amphibole, titanite, biotite, pyrite, albite, magnetite ± carbonates) and albitization. Free–milling gold commonly precipitates in close association with magnetite and gold/silver tellurides. Two fluid inclusion assemblages were identified in mineralized quartz veins. Assemblage 1 is characterized by pseudo–secondary trails that show the coexistence of CO₂–rich and low salinity (0 to 8 wt% NaCl equiv.) CO₂–H₂O–NaCl and H₂O–NaCl inclusions, suggesting formation during phase separation (fluid immiscibility). The mean isochores intersection of CO₂–rich and H₂O–NaCl inclusions of assemblage 1 suggests PT conditions of 495 °C and 2.83 kbar (c. 10.5 km depth), akin to hypozonal orogenic gold deposits. Assemblage 2 is represented by late secondary low–temperature (Th<200°C) H₂O–NaCl inclusions, probably unrelated to gold mineralization. The δ¹⁸O, δD and δ¹³C values of hydrothermal minerals (quartz, calcite, biotite, hornblende and magnetite) define fluid δ¹⁸O values ranging from +8.3 to +11.0‰ (n=59), fluid δD from -98 to -32‰ (n=24) and δ¹³C values of calcite from -6.35 to -9.40‰ (n=3). Oxygen isotope thermometry for quartz–magnetite pairs gave temperatures from 467 to 526°C (n=7, average 503°C), which probably represents the temperature of gold deposition. The association of gold with magnetite and tellurides strongly suggests an ore–forming fluid sourced by oxidized magmas, similar to those interpreted as ‘orogenic oxidized intrusion– related gold deposits’ in other Precambrian greenstone belts (e.g. Abitibi and Eastern Goldfields). Four deformation events (Dn, Dn+1, Dn+2 and Dn+3) are recognized in the Serra das Pipocas greenstone belt. The Dn event is responsible for the early Sn foliation, parallel to bedding (So) of the greenstone pile. The Dn+1 event is characterized by a pervasive, southeasterly–dipping Sn+1 foliation that is axial–planar to a number of asymmetric, tight to isoclinal and recumbent folds. The Dn+2 event represents a transcurrent deformation phase and the late Dn+3 event is characterized by ductile–brittle deformation. The main stage of gold mineralization is found as deformed quartz veins and associated high–temperature alteration, but some lower temperature gold (±Te, Ag) occurrence along the late stage brittle structures (Dn+3 event) is also observed. The U–Pb titanite age of 2029 ± 28 Ma for the high– temperature calc–silicate alteration (and gold mineralization) is presented here. However, the strong Pb loss of titanite grains defines a 574 ± 7 Ma lower intercept age, evidencing that early gold mineralization were broadly affected by Neoproterozoic deformational events and metamorphism (Brasiliano/Pan–African orogeny). The U–Pb zircon age of 575 ± 3 Ma for syn–tectonic diques bracketed the age of late Dn+3 deformation event. Then, the progressive deformation recorded (Dn+1, Dn+2 and Dn+3) is probably of Neoproterozoic age, with the maximum compressive stress (ζ1) in the WNW–ESE direction. However, at local scale, Paleoproterozoic deformation records (Dn) still preserved. The genetic model for the Pedra Branca gold deposit is suggested here by a two–stage exhumation–drive gold mineralization; represented by a (1) early oxidized hypozonal orogenic gold mineralization (main stage) that occurred at c. 2029 Ma, shortly after the high–grade Paleoproterozoic metamorphism and first exhumation processes of the greenstone pile, and later on, at c. 580 Ma, a (2) late gold mineralization (remobilization?) occurred at shallow levels (second exhumation process) associated to late Neoproterozoic Brasiliano/Pan–African orogeny.
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Geologia e mineralizações auríferas da área do Garimpo do Manelão, região do Bacajá (Pa)
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 1995-03-14) SOUZA, Valmir da Silva; KOTSCHOUBEY, Basile; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0096549701457340
The Manelão area is part of the Itacaiunas Shear Belt located in the center-west of the State of Pará. The Archean-Proterozoic lithostratigraphic units recognized in this area are Xingu Complex granites and gneisses, amphibolites, micaschists and quartzites from the São Manoel volcano-sedimentary sequence and the Felicio Turvo intrusive stratoid monzogranite. Mesozoic gabbro and diabase dykes, Cenozoic laterites and recent colluvial and alluvial deposits complete the lithostratigraphic picture. The main structures identified in the area were originated by a sinistral transcurrent deformation of a ductile to ductile-ruptile nature that involved a rock mass transport from ESE to WNW. Such tectonism caused low to medium easy amphibolite metamorphism, although locally more intense hydrothermalism caused alteration of high greenschist facies. Gold occurs both in veins lodged in amphibolites and schists of the São Manoel volcano-sedimentary sequence, as well as in lateritic cover and in alluvial/colluvial deposits. Two systems of veins were identified, one with direction N70E and dip of 80° to NW, the other with direction N23E and dip equal to the previous one. In these bodies the gold is essentially in the free form, in particles of low purity (about 870) that fill fractures in the quartz or quartz-albitic gangue. Furthermore, it is believed that the pyrite disseminated both in the veins and in the mylonitized and heavily altered host rocks also contains sub-microscopic gold. The hydrothermal alteration resulted in a rough zoning in the host rocks. Upon contact with the veins, a philic alteration is normally observed, while the intermediate zone exhibits propylitization. The outer zone is marked above all by an intense epidotization of the rocks. The metallic minerals, pyrite (two generations), pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, ilmenite and rutile are found in the form of crystals or small scattered aggregates and are more abundant in the host rocks than in the veins themselves. The fluid inclusion study revealed that the mineralizing fluids were essentially low-temperature (minimum temperature 160-180°C) aqueous solutions of low to moderate salinity (probably H2O-KCl-CaCl2 and H2O-NaCl-CaCl2) and low density. (0.9 - 1.1 g/cm 3 ). Rare three-phase inclusions suggest, however, that high temperature and high salinity solutions equally participated in the mineralizing process. Although CO2 was not detected in this preliminary assessment, its presence in subordinate amounts cannot be ruled out. Considering the predominance in the sulfide system and low temperatures of fluid trapping, the gold seems to have migrated mainly in the form of thio-complexes. In the lateritic cover developed over the São Manoel sequence, gold occurs in fine particles or small nuggets of high purity (about 985) with frequencies intergrown with iron oxyhydroxide both in the mottled zone and in relict fragments of the ferruginous crust. The high degree of purity of lateritic gold suggests that the mobilization of the metal occurred mainly after complexation with organic and thiosulfate ligands. Silver leaching into primary gold particles may also have accounted for the significant difference in purity. Gold particles and nuggets are also dispersed in the clayey matrix of colluvial deposits. Finally, gold forms concentrations of relevant economic value in the lower gravel horizon of alluvial accumulations.
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Geologia e ocorrências auríferas da área do Morro do Lajeado, Porto Nacional – TO
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 1995-06-26) MEIRELES, Henrile Pinheiro; KOTSCHOUBEY, Basile; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0096549701457340
The gelogical setting of the Morro do Lajeado region includes Precambrian and Phanerozoic formations. The first ones comprise 1- a gneissic basement of tonalitic to granodioritic composition; a volcano-sedimentary sequence (Morro do Aquiles Formation) made up of quartz-amphibolites, mylonitic schists, metapelites and gondites, and tonalitic bodies (Torre granitoid) intrusive into the former units. Folded metapsammites of the Natividade Group occur locally. Ductile-brittle NE-SW striking shear zones crosscut all these units and constitute an anastomosing system which encloses preserved, undeformed or weakly mylonitized cores of tonalitic bodies. Paleozoic sediments of the Serra Grande and Pimenteiras formations belonging to the Parnaiba Basin, Mesozoic doleritic dykes and silis, Cenozoic laterites and recent colluvial and alluvial deposits complete the lithostratigrafic framework of the area. Quartz veins, concordant and sub-concordant with the regional foliation, occur within the shear zones. They are massive and lenticular in shape (boudin-like) and are up to several meters thick. All veins are oriented N30E, except the Torre vein whose direction is N75W, and crop out over a few meters up to 200 m along the strike. The mineralization consists of native gold and pyrite aggregates. Gold occurs as sub-millimetric particles concentrated in dimimite geodes and druses or disseminated in frature planes close to the ends of the quartz lenses. Microprobe analyses of'these particles revealed a fineness of approximately 908. Chemical analyses showed that the inner parts of the veins are barren or contain only traces of gold, whereas their borders are enriched in this metal, mainly in the extremities of the mega- boudins and at the contact with the host rocks. Microthermometric study evidenced the presence both, of aqueous salihe solutions (4-15 equiv. wt % NaCl) containing NaCl and MgClh,, and CO; - rich solutions, the latter confirmed by Raman microprobe spectroscopy. Minimum trapping temperatures of 219ºC to 260ºC were obtained for the aqueous solutions, while a temperature of approximately 350ºC was determined for the carbonic ones. The intensely mylonitized host rocks belonging either to the Morro do Aquiles Formation or to the Torre granitoid exhibit a pervasive hydrothermal alteretion. Sericitization and/or epidotization of plagioclase, chloritization of biotite and amphibole, kaolinization of K-feldspar and neoformation of cabonate are the principal alteration processes. The geological evolution of the Morro do Lajeado area, after the formation of the gneissic basement, recorded the accumulation of clastic and chemical sedimentas associated to volcanic flows, as well as the later emplacement of tonalitic intrusive bodies. All these rocks underwent a high greenschist facies regional metomorphism followed by an intense shearing and hydrothermalism. Low- to middle greenschist facies transformations affected the highly deformed rocks in the shear zones while the mobilized fluids caused leaching of gold probably out of the volcano-sedimentary pile. The mineralizing fluids are believed to have been mainly of metamorphic origin though magmatic and/or meteoric contributions should not be ruled out. Thus, the precipitation of gold together with quartz and pyrite most likely was caused by the reaction between fluids of different sources.
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Metalogênese do depósito aurífero Volta Grande, Domínio Bacajá (PA), Cráton Amazônico: aplicação de espectroscopia de infravermelho VNIR-SWIR.
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2024-02-27) PARESQUI, Brenda Gomes Silva; FERNANDES, Carlos Marcello Dias; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0614680098407362; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5799-2694
The world-class Volta Grande gold deposit contains measured reserves of ~6.0 Moz at 1.02 g/t, divided into north and south exploration blocks. It is inserted in the geological context of the Bacajá Domain and was affected by the Trans-Amazonian Cycle (2.26–1.95 Ga). Part of the mineralization is hosted in a group of gneisses and mylonitized granitoids in amphibolite facies of medium to high metamorphic grade of the Três Palmeiras Group (2.36 Ga). Recent research in the northern block has revealed the presence of late volcanics and plutonics, with isotropic texture and intermediate to felsic compositions, which host disseminated gold in different types and styles of hydrothermal alteration, as well as in quartz and carbonate (±sulfides) venules and veins. Thus, this Master's Thesis represents the continuity of research in the northern block of this repository with the application of the VNIR–SWIR (visible-near and short-wave infrared) infrared spectroscopy technique. This tool helps to explain in detail the configuration of the hydrothermal system, contributing to a better understanding of the genesis of the deposit. The mineralogy observed by spectroscopy in metamorphic rocks confirms the occurrence of potassic, propylitic, intermediate argillic, pervasive carbonate, and advanced argillic hydrothermal alterations types. The latter occurs associated with high levels of gold and alunite, a mineral indicative of epithermal systems with high-sulfidation. In turn, the isotropic volcanic and plutonic rocks present more developed, intense, and larger-volume hydrothermal alterations. They reveal greater diversification of hydrothermal minerals, where jarosite is the superior indicator of advanced clay alteration, which is also consistent with high-sulfidation epithermal mineralizations. In addition, the appearance of rhodochrosite, pyroxmangite, and galena, mainly related to volcanic rocks of andesitic and dacitic compositions, suggests an epithermal system of intermediate-sulfidation. The geological features present in the region and the hydrothermal alterations, especially the propylitic alteration in the rocks with allanite, clay minerals, montmorillonite, and zeolites, portray a typical epidote subzone of a low-temperature propylitic alteration that are genetically related to the medium-depth intrusions where they appear hydrated porphyry stocks. In this way, the Volta Grande gold deposit reveals characteristics compatible with rare and base metals porphyry and epithermal mineralizing systems, already identified in other regions of the Amazon Craton. The high-sulfidation conditions at the northwest portion of this repository and intermediate-sulfidation at the southeast region point to a transitional environment. The VNIR–SWIR spectroscopy method represents an important tool that identifies and characterizes hydrothermal minerals quickly and efficiently, as well as differentiating them from weathered ones. In general, it becomes a significant prospective guide when robustly analyzing minerals that are difficult to recognize by other methods such as conventional optical microscope or scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results presented here represent a remarkable contribution to the geological and metallogenetic knowledge of the Bacajá Domain, as well as the Amazonian Craton as a whole, pointing out the potential for identifying economically viable deposits of precious and base metals associated with volcanic and plutonic systems that occur in a vast area of this domain.
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Mineralogia e geoquímica de gossans e lateritos auríferos na região de Carajás: depósitos de Igarapé Bahia e Águas Claras
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 1996-03-20) ANGÉLICA, Rômulo Simões; POLLMANN, Herbert Josef; COSTA, Marcondes Lima da; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1639498384851302
The Igarapé Bahia mine and the Águas Claras prospect are examples of supergene gold mineralization in gossans and latentes. They are located in the Carajás mining district, Pará state, Northern Brazil. These areas belong to Vale do Rio Doce Company and all the exploration programs were conducted by DOCEGEO. In this work, mineralogical and geochemical studies were performed in the weathering profiles of both areas focussing on the behaviour and distribution of gold and associated elements. The two areas exhibit similar primary geological context, with gold-bearing sulphide zones associated with shear zones and intense hydrothermal alteration, related to Archaean to Proterozoic metavolcano-sedimentary sequences. The supergene products are divided in two main groups: The gossan system and the lateritic system with evidences of superimposition of the latter on the former. The profiles were studied after different surface and subsurface sampling. The following horizons and zones were described, from base to top: (1) in the gossan system: primary sulphide zone, secondary sulphide zone and a thick oxidation zone; (2) in the latente system: a brecciated lateritic iron crust, a dismantled iron crust or stone-lines and latossols. The lateritic iron crust developed over the pre-existing gossans, resulting in a complete obliteration of the primary textures and structures and promoting a new remobilization of gold and other elements. This structuration can be observed today in the Igarapé Bahia area while at Águas Claras the latente profile over the mineralized bodies was truncated and exposing the gossans. The mineralogical composition of gossans and latentes is mainly represented by hematite, and variable amounts of goethite, Al-goethite, maghemite, gibbsite, kaolinite and quartz. Hematite predominates in the gossans and goethite becomes progressively enriched toward the latentes. In the deepest parts of the gossans the following minerais were identified: malachite, cuprite and native copper, mainly associated with hematite, besides azurite, chrysocolla and quartz; the Aguas Claras area presents a broader paragenesis in the primary sulphide zone, that includes: chalcopyrite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, cobaltite, quartz, magnetite, wolframite and tourmaline. Primary gold occur as diminute particles finelly disseminated in the sulphides and with different compositions in the Au-Ag alloy. In the Águas Claras area it occurs associated with a wide range of Bi-, Ag- and Pb-tellurides, besides native bismut. Tourmaline (dravite) and wolframite (ferberite) also occur as important accessory minerais, both in the primary and secondary environment. In the gossans they occur as centimetric cumulates, acting as important guides for gossans identification. Major element geochemistry of the profiles is mainly characterized by very high iron contents in the gossans, that progressively diminish toward the latossols. On the oder hand, the contents of Si, Al, Ti and LOI increase toward the top of the profiles. Calcium, Mg, Na e K are completely depleted in the gossans and laterites. Geochemical associations of trace elements are variable for the two areas and reflect mainly the chemical and mineralogical variations from the primary zones. In the mineralized bodies (gossans + iron crust) the following geochemical signatures were characterized: Au, Cu and Mo, for the Igarapé Bahia area; and Au, Cu, As, B, W, Sn and Bi, for the Águas Claras area. From the various horizons and zones of the profiles, different gold particles were separated and analised by Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy Dispersive System. Strong variations were described in terms of morphology and chemical compositions in the Au-Ag alloy. Silver, Pt, Pd, Fe e Cu were frequently detected, where Ag contents range from less than 1% to more than 25%. The studied grains were divided in two groups: (1) Primary particles associated with primary sulphides; and (2) Secondary or supergene particies, associated with gossans, latentes and latosols. These were further divided in two groups: (2.1) residuais particles, generally with more than 30 grn of mean diameter and exhibiting a primary core with Ag-depleted rims; and (2.2) authigenic or neoformed particles, which are extremely fine (< 5 1.un) and of very high fineness, frequently associated to the coarser and residual grains. The results obtained allowed us to interpret the supergene evolution of the area in four main phases, each one associated with or related to a major period of gold remobilization: Phase I - Gossan formation: related to the development of gossanic bodies in tropical climatic conditions which ranged from semi-arid to seasonally humid (savannas). In this work this is considered as prior to Lower Tertiary. During this phase, gold was remobilized from lower primary zones through thiosulphates complexes and reprecipited in the upper oxidized zones associated with iron oxy-hydroxides. The reprecipitated gold is fine-grained and of medium fineness. Phase Mature Lateritization: related to the broad lateritic weathering processes that took place in the whole Amazon region during Early Tertiary times. Mature lateritic profiles were formed above the gossans and their wall-rocks, with the development of a brecciated lateritic iron crust that includes gossans fragmenta. The gossan system was obviously oppened during this phase resulting in physical and chemical dispersion of gold. The role of organic matter related to biological activity was very important in the chemical remobilization of gold. Phase 111 - Post-Mature lateritization: related to all weathering processes that took place in the region after the establishment of the lateritic profiles during the trànsition Upper Oligocene-Middle Miocene. The main supergene products of this phase are the upper latosols of the Igarapé Bahia area. After the weathering of gold-bearing lateritic crusts, this element is once again remobilized following the same chemical mechanisms of phase II, but under increasing biological activity. This resulted in an intensive physical dispersion, broadening of geochemical haloes and weakening of gold signals. This new lateritic cycle was less intensive as compared to the previous one. It took place in the transition to more and conditions during the Plio-Pleistocene, resulting in an intense denudation of the landscape with erosion, truncation and exposure of the Aguas Claras gossans. Widespread gold-bearing coluvium (in the Águas Claras arca) and Placer deposits are inportant supergene products regionally related to this phase. Ali the weathering processes that took place after the establisment of the landscape in the end of phase III are considered in this work as phase IV. These are related to prevailing humid conditions that become dominant after the end of Pleistocene and during the Holocene, giving rise to new latosols, stone-lines, coluvium and aluviums.