Modeling of the large Miocene epithermal and porphyry gold deposits of Colombia using Monte Carlo simulations

The Cauca metallogenic belt is an inter-Andean area located along the Cauca-Romeral fault zone, which made up of a group twelve Miocene magmatic-hydrothermal Au-Ag-Cu mineral deposits positioned between Western and Central Cordillera Colombia. In addition to being widely developed region in exploration exploitation with known Au endowments over 1,700 tons, this represents exceptional metallogenetic laboratory for modeling typical Andean-type mineralization from calc-alkaline source high Sr/Y ratios. Efficiency processes such as ion halogen transport, oxygen fugacity sulfur content have been extensively studied geochemical approach; however, quantification these efficiency currently debated. Through multiple iterations using Monte Carlo simulations (N > 2 million), modeled reservoirs corresponding upper crust, flux dacitic magma 0.007 km3/year efficiencies 1 – %, showed that gold bear heavily magmatic hydrothermal Metallogenic Belt. Outcomes including 1,000 tons can be obtained below 400 km3 hydrous melt brief intervals 40 120 ka volumes 800 200 window. contrast, hypothetical lower middle through basaltic 0.0007 0.0011 km3/year, ~0.7%, pressures 5 kbar, sufficient available exsolvable H2O feed crust or generate them, but longer time (>1 Ma).