Full paleostress tensor reconstruction using quartz veins of Panasqueira Mine, central Portugal; part I: Paleopressure determination

Abstract

Paleostress tensor restoration methods are traditionally limited to reconstructing geometrical parameters and are unable to resolve stress magnitudes. Based on previous studies we further developed a methodology to restore full paleostress tensors. We concentrated on inversion of Mode I fractures and acquired data in Panasqueira Mine, Portugal, where optimal exposures of mineralized quartz veins can be found. To carry out full paleostress restoration we needed to determine (1) pore (paleo)pressure and (2) vein attitudes. The present contribution focuses specifically on the determination of pore pressure. To these aims we conducted an extensive fluid inclusion study to derive fluid isochores from the quartz of the studied veins. To constrain P-T conditions, we combined these isochores with crystallisation temperatures derived from geochemical analyses of coeval arsenopyrite. We also applied the sphalerite geobarometer and considered two other independent pressure indicators. Our results point to pore pressures of ∼300 MPa and formation depths of ∼10 km. Such formation depths are in good agreement with the regional geological evolution. The obtained pore pressure will be merged with vein inversion results, in order to achieve full paleostress tensor restoration, in a forthcoming companion paper.