Ore genesis at La Colorada

La Colorada, in Zacatecas State, Mexico is an epithermal Ag-Zn-Pb system hosted in Mesozoic calcareous sedimentary rocks overlain by Tertiary volcanic rocks. The dominant vein is associated with a fault system that accommodates Tertiary normal and strike-slip faulting. The ore consists of fahlore [(Cu,Ag)10(Zn,Fe)2(Sb,As)4S13], polybasite [(Ag,Cu)16Sb2S11]–pearceite [(Ag,Cu)16As2S11] solid solu-tion, pyrargyrite [Ag3SbS3]–proustite [Ag3AsS3] solid solution, acanthite-argentite [Ag2S], and native silver; associated sulphides include galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and pyrite. The Ag:Sb of the bulk concentrate from the mine is 1.076 and the Ag:Pb is 0.088. Compositions of the assemblages fahlore + pyrargyrite-proustite + sphalerite, and fahlore + polybasite-pearceite solid solution + (Ag,Cu)2S solid solution + sphalerite encapsulated in quartz and sphalerite indicate a primary depositional temperature of ~325ºC for a depth between 725 and 960 m below the inferred palaeosurface, which is in accord with fluid-inclusion data for higher elevations in the mine