ZONED TOURMALINE ASSOCIATED WITH CASSITERITE: IMPLICATIONS FOR FLUID EVOLUTION AND TIN MINERALIZATION IN THE SAN RAFAEL SN CU DEPOSIT, SOUTHEASTERN PERU

Abstract

The composition of tourmaline in the San Rafael Sn–Cu lode, in southeastern Peru, provides an important record of the early evolution of the hydrothermal system that produced the world’s richest tin deposit. Many forms, colors and compositions of tourmaline, ranging from dravite to schorl, are present in the deposit, but the late tourmaline that accompanied deposition of early cassiterite has an unusual dark green color, and exhibits a strong trend of enrichment in iron. Appearance of this tourmaline in the paragenesis coincided with a marked change in the vein style, reflecting an opening of the vein system, and a dramatic change in the mineralogy of vein and alteration assemblages, evident from the precipitation of other iron-rich minerals (Fe-rich chlorite and cassiterite). This abrupt change in the plumbing of the hydrothermal system was associated with the introduction of dilute, relatively oxidizing, externally derived waters of meteoric origin that mixed with hot magmatic brines carrying high concentrations of dissolved tin and iron. The resulting sudden cooling, dilution, and oxidation of the ore fluids created the conditions required for massive precipitation of cassiterite and formation of a very large, high-grade ore deposit.