The Mari Rosa late Hercynian Sb-Au deposit, western Spain

The central Iberian zone of the Hesperian Massif hosts a series of late Hercynian vein-type Sb deposits. One of them is the Mari Rosa mineralization, hosted by metagreywackes and slates of the Schist-Greywacke Complex (Upper Precambrian). The mineralization is characterized by a complex paragenesis comprising three hydrothermal stages: stage H1 arsenopyrite-(pyrite); stage H2 stibnite-gold; and stage H3 pyrite-pyrrhotite-galena-sphalerite-chalcopyrite-tetrahedrite-boul-angerite-stibnite. Of these only the second episode was of importance and gave rise to the main mineralized bodies of the deposit. Hydrothermal alteration consists of a mild sericitization, chloritization and carbonatization of the metasedimentary rocks around the veins. Chemical changes in the hydrothermal halos include a remarkable increase in the ratio K₂O/Na₂O, and a decrease in the ratio SiO₂/volatiles, together with a sharp increase in Sb, Mo, Au and N. Fluids associated with ore deposition lie in the H₂O-NaCl-CO₂-CH₄-N₂ compositional system. These fluids evolved, progressively cooling, from initial circulaion temperatures close to 400 °C in the early stage (H1) to temperatures of approximately 150 °C in the late one (H3). Fluid composition evolution was characterized by a progressive increase in the bulk water content of the fluids and with an increase in the relative proportion of N₂ with respect to CH₄ and CO₂ in the volatile fraction. Massive stibnite deposition resulted from a boiling process developed at 300 °C and 0.9–1 Kb at a depth of 4–5 km. Geological, geochemical and fluid inclusion evidence suggest that the intrusion of the Alburquerque batholith (late Hercynian S-type granitoids) triggered hydrothermal activity leading to the transport and deposition of Sb and Au in Mari Rosa.