Palaeozoic Magmatism Associated with Gold-Antimony-Tin-Tungsten-Lead-Zinc and Silver Mineralization in the Neighbouring of Porto, Northern Portugal

Abstract

In the studied area there are evidences of Palaeozoic magmatism along the stratigraphic succession from Cambrian to Carboniferous. Igneous, volcanic and sub-volcanic rocks occur along and around a significant Variscan structure, the Valongo Anticline, an asymmetrical antiform anticline, trending NW-SE, located in Central Iberian Zone in the neighbourhood of Porto (Northern Portugal). Mineralizations of gold-antimony-tin-tungsten-lead-zinc and silver occur in the area. Magmatism related to acid and basic subvolcanic and volcanic rocks occurs interbedded in Montalto Formation metasediments (conglomerates, quartzite, wakes and slates) of Cambrian age. In the transition Cambrian-Ordovician (Tremadocian?) underlying the Lower Ordovician massive quartzite of Santa Justa Formation (Floian age), volcanic rocks show bimodal composition and occur interbedded in a lithologic association mainly composed of conglomerate and quartzite with minor slate and wake intercalations. The acid volcanism consists of interbedded volcanoclastic rocks of rhyolitic affinities and black and green cherts in thick layers represent the basic volcanism. To the top of this basal Early Ordovician volcano-sedimentary succession, overlaying Floian massive quartzites, a succession of interbedded quartzite’s, wackes and slates, enriched in ironstones in the normal limb, and bearing prints of volcanic origin occur. Sub-concordant quartz veins (exhalative-origin) interbedded in the ironstones were interpreted as volcanic layers recrystallized during the circulation of hydrothermal mineralizing fluids. The presence of igneous rocks in Palaeozoic Carboniferous metasediments around Porto is known since middle of nineteen century. Granodioritic porphyry intrusion occurs interbedded in carboniferous metasediments. Metasedimentary country rocks are surrounded by pre- to post-orogenic Variscan granites with no direct spatial relationship with mineralization but hidden granitic apexes suggest an indirect genetic relationship with Sb-Au veins. Chemical analyses were performed on some of the rocks evidencing their origin. Some of them are related to mineralizations. Earlier the main Variscan Au-Sb metallogenic hydrothermal event, metallic preconcentrations (Au, Sb, Pb) occurred during the Palaeozoic, often related to magmatic events.