Colombia Gold & Porphyry Project (CGPP)

The Vetas-California Au-Ag (Cu, Mo) Mining District has been a long-producing district in eastern Colombia and was given prominence with new discoveries.  Detailed petrographic characterization accompanied by geochronology and isotopic geochemistry in selected deposits (i.e. La Bodega and La Mascota) associated with the NE-trending La Baja structural corridor, allowed establishing the genetic relationship between the mineralization and young late Miocene-Pliocene-Pleistocene(?) magmatism.  This completely changed the previous metallogenic models for the region which suggested early Cretaceous and Paleocene mineralizagion ages. Detailed characterization of intrusions at the district-scale allowed to unveil the magmatic history and petrogenesis of magmatism of different ages spatially related to this mineralization.

The most significant mineral deposits, occurrences and prospects within the Middle Cauca Au-Cu Belt (i.e. Titiribí, La Mina – Venecia, Nuevo Chaquiro, Yarumalito, Caramanta, Marmato, Quinchía and El Poma) were visited and evaluated to compose a regional metallogenic understanding of this highly prospective region. Detailed petrography, geochronology and lithogeochemistry allowed to MDRU to confidently expand the age range of magmatism with respect to previous metallogenic studies, establishing five magmatic events and mineralization within the belt during late Miocene to Pliocene times. Regional magmatism migration and geochemical trends enhanced mineral prospectivity within the belt.

 

IMPACTS

• New updated geological compilation maps for the Middle Cauca Au-Cu Belt and the Vetas-California-Angostura Au-Ag (Cu, Mo) district
• New age dating unveiled the absolute timing of Late Miocene-Pliocene-Pleistocene(?) magmatism in these highly-prospective areas, and its direct genetic relationship with the mineralization
• Significantly improved understanding on critical tectonic and magmatic controls on the generation of fertile porphyry intrusions and characterization of garnet-bearing porphyries within the Middle Cauca Au-Cu Belt, revealing their petrogenetic role in the early stages of magmatism associated to Au mineralization and implications for mineral exploration

External Collaborators

• Thomas Bissig (Director Geochemistry, Goldcorp Inc. – former MDRU Research Associate and CGPP leader)
• Luis Carlos Mantilla Figueroa (Professor Universidad Industrial de Santander – Former MDRU Post-Doctoral Research Fellow)
• Robert P. Shaw (Consulting Geologist)
• Richard Goldfarb (USGS)
• Gloria Sierra (EAFIT University)

Publications

Bissig, T., Leal-Mejía, H., Stevens, R., and Hart, C.J.R., 2017. High Sr/Y magma petrogenesis and the link to porphyry mineralization as revealed by garnet-bearing I-type granodiorite porphyries of the Middle Cauca Au-Cu belt, Colombia. Economic Geology, 112(3), 551-568.

Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., Bissig, T., Hart, C.J.R., and Mantilla Figueroa, L.C., 2017. Late Pliocene High-Sulfidation Epithermal Gold Mineralization at the La Bodega and La Mascota Deposits, Northeastern Cordillera of Colombia. Economic Geology, 112(2), 347-374.

Bissig, T., Clark, A.H., Rainbow, A., and Montgomery, A., 2015. Physiographic and tectonic settings of high-sulfidation epithermal gold–silver deposits of the Andes and their controls on mineralizing processes. Ore Geology Reviews, 65(1), 327-364.

Bissig, T., Mantilla Figueroa, L.C., and Hart, C.J.R., 2014. Petrochemistry of igneous rocks of the California-Vetas mining district, Santander, Colombia: Implications for northern Andean tectonics and porphyry Cu (–Mo, Au) metallogeny. Lithos, 200-201, 355-367.

Mantilla Figueroa, L.C., Bissig, T., Valencia, V., and Hart, C.J.R., 2013. The magmatic history of the Vetas-California mining district, Santander Massif, Eastern Cordillera, Colombia. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 45, 235-249.

Mantilla Figueroa, L.C., Bissig, T., Cottle, J.M., and Hart, C.J.R., 2012. Remains of early Ordovician mantle-derived magmatism in the Santander Massif (Colombian Eastern Cordillera). Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 45, 235-249.

Mantilla Figueroa, L.C., Mendoza, H., Bissig, T., and Hart, C.J.R., 2011. Nuevas Evidencias sobre el Magmatismo Miocenico en el Distrito Minero de Vetas-California (Macizo de Santander, Cordillera Oriental, Colombia). Boletín de Geología, 33(1), 43-58.

Map Products

Leal-Mejía, H., Bissig, T., Jenkins, S., Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., and Feng, L., 2014. Geologic Map of the Middle Cauca Belt. MDRU-Mineral Deposit Research Unit, The University of British Columbia.

Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., Bissig, T., and Jenkins, S., 2012, Preliminary Bedrock and Tectonic Map, California-Vetas Area, Santander and Norte de Santander Departments, Colombia. MDRU-Mineral Deposit Research Unit, The University of British Columbia, Scale 1:24,000.

Theses

Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., 2014. Geology, Alteration, Mineralization and Hydrothermal Evolution of the La Bodega-La Mascota deposits, California-Vetas Mining District, Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, Northern Andes. MSc Thesis, Mineral Deposit Research Unit, The University of British Columbia.

Stevens, R.P.B., 2013. Garnets in Diorite to Granodiorite Porphyries Related to Gold Mineralization, Middle Cauca Belt, Colombia. BSc Thesis, Mineral Deposit Research Unit, The University of British Columbia.

Uribe Mogollón, C., 2013. Hydrothermal evolution of the Titiribi mining district. BSc Thesis, Universidad EAFIT, Medellín, Colombia.

Raley, C., 2012. Mineralogical Characterization of Sulfide Mineralization, Alteration and Microthermometry of Related Fluid Inclusions of the La Plata Prospect, Colombia. BSc Thesis, Mineral Deposit Research Unit, The University of British Columbia.

Posters and Presentations

Leal-Mejía, H., Bissig, T., Hart, C.J.R., and Shaw, R.P., 2017. The Late Miocene Middle Cauca Au-Cu Porphyry Belt, Colombia – Time-Space Distribution of Magmatism and Controls on Au Mineralization. Oral presentation, Session S02 – Ore-forming magmatic-hydrothermal processes along active margins, SGA Quebec 2017 XIV Biennial Meeting – Mineral Resources to Discovery, Quebec City, Canada.

Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., Bissig, T., and Hart, C.J.R., 2014. Geology, Alteration, Mineralization and Hydrothermal Evolution of the La Bodega-La Mascota Deposits, California-Vetas Mining District, Eastern Cordillera of Colombia.. Poster presentation, AME RoundUp 2014, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., Bissig, T., and Hart, C.J.R., 2013. La Bodega and La Mascota Deposits, California-Vetas Mining District, Colombia: Geology, Alteration, Mineralization.. Poster presentation, AME RoundUp 2013, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Bissig, T., Mantilla Figueroa, L.C., Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., Raley, C., and Hart, C.J.R., 2012. The California-Vetas district, eastern Cordillera, Santander, Colombia: Late Miocene porphyry and epithermal mineralization hosted in Proterozoic gneisses and Late Triassic-Early Jurassic intrusions.. Poster presentation, XVI Peruvian Geological Congress & SEG 2012 Conference, Lima, Peru.

Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., Bissig, T., and Hart, C.J.R., 2011. Geology and Metalogenetic features of La Bodega Concesion, California Mining District, Santander, Colombia.. Poster presentation, XXX Curso Latinoamericano de Metalogénia, Bogotá, Colombia.

Technical Reports

Bissig, T., and Hart, C.J.R. (eds.), 2014. Colombia Gold and Porphyry Project Year 3 Technical Report. MDRU-Mineral Deposit Research Project, The University of British Columbia, 126 p.

• Leal-Mejía, H., 2014. Review of the Regional Geology and Tectonic History of Colombia with Emphasis in the Middle Cauca Belt
• Leal-Mejía, H., and Bissig, T., 2014. Geochronology and Lithogeochemistry of Meso-Cenozoic Magmatic Rocks of the Middle Cauca Belt
• Bissig, T., and Leal-Mejía, H., 2014. Porphyry fertility and Zircon Geochemistry: Results from El Poma and Quinchía Garnet Bearing Porphyries
• Bissig, T., Leal-Mejía, H., and Uribe, C., 2014. Landscape Evolution in the Middle Cauca Belt: Tectonic and Metallogenic Implications
• MCB Mineral Deposit Fact Sheets

Leal-Mejía, H., Bissig, T., and Hart, C.J.R., 2014. Preliminary report on the Re-Os (molybdenite) age of the Nuevo Chaquiro target at the Quebradona Project (AngloGold Ashanti Ltd.). MDRU-Mineral Deposit Research Project, The University of British Columbia, 3 p.

Bissig, T., and Hart, C.J.R. (eds.), 2013. Colombia Gold and Porphyry Project Year 2 Technical Report. MDRU-Mineral Deposit Research Project, The University of British Columbia, 64 p.

• Leal-Mejía, H., 2013. Ages and Petrochemistry of Intrusives Spatially Related to Porphyry and Epithermal Gold Deposits in the Middle Cauca Belt: Current State of Knowledge
• Bissig, T., and Stevens, R., 2013. Igneous Garnet Bearing Granodiorite Porphyries in the Middle Cauca Belt: Environment of Formation and Exploration Implications
• Bissig, T., Mantilla Figueroa, L.C., and Hart, C.J.R., 2013. Petrochemistry of Igneous Rocks in the California-Vetas District, Santander, Colombia:Relationship to Late Miocene Porphyry Cu-Mo (-Au) Mineralization and Tectonic Implications
• Bissig, T., and Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., 2013. Update on the Advances in the California-Vetas Mining District
• Hart, C.J.R., 2013. Redox Regimes for Intrusion-Related Gold Deposits: Where does La Colosa fit?

Bissig, T., and Hart, C.J.R. (eds.), 2012. Colombia Gold and Porphyry Project Year 1 Technical Report. MDRU-Mineral Deposit Research Project, The University of British Columbia, 64 p.

• Mantilla Figueroa, L.C., Bissig, T., Valencia, V., and Hart, C.J.R., 2012. The Magmatic History of the California-Vetas Mining District, Santander Massif, Eastern Cordillera, Colombia
• Bissig, T., and Mantilla Figueroa, L.C., 2012. Whole Rock Geochemistry of the Mesozoic and Miocene Igneous Rocks and Relationship to Magmatic-Hydrothermal Deposits, California-Vetas district, Santander, Colombia
• Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., and Bissig, T., 2012. La Bodega and La Mascota Deposits: Geology, Alteration, Mineralization: Summary of Preliminary Results to Date
• Mantilla Figueroa, L.C., Bissig, T., and Hart, C.J.R., 2012. Wall-rock Alteration and Mineralization of the Angostura Au-Ag-Cu Prospect, Vetas-California Mining District (VCMD)
• Bissig, T., Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., Mantilla Figueroa, L.C., and Hart, C.J.R., 2012. Hydrothermal Evolution of the California-Vetas District, Santander Colombia: New Age Constraints on Hydrothermal Minerals
• Guerra, A.M., and Bissig, T., 2012. Tectonic Evolution in the Middle Cauca Belt, Colombia: The Current State of Knowledge
• Guerra, A.M., and Bissig, T., 2012. New Results – Middle Cauca Belt

Bissig, T., Rodríguez Madrid, A.L., and Mantilla, L.C., 2012. New age data from the California-Vetas district, Santander Colombia. MDRU-Mineral Deposit Research Project, The University of British Columbia, 16 p.

For more on the MDRU Colombia Gold & Porphyry Project or other MDRU Colombia Metallogeny projects, please contact Hildebrando Leal-Mejía or Craig J.R. Hart