Metalliferous Mineralization in the Western Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract

This work involved the study of various types of mineralisation at a number of localities, during two season's field-work in the Anterctic Feninsula. A number of additional localities of minor mineralisation have also been described. Mineralisation described
in previous literature is listed.

The "Quartz-Pyrite” rocks of the South Shetland Islands have
been investigated and field-work and laboratory studies have shown
them to consist of three types of hydrothermally altered lavas;
advanced argillic, intermediate ergillic and phyllic alteration.
These deposits appear to have formed by solfataric-epithermal
alteration.

A porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit hes been discovered north
of Charity Glacier, Livingstone Island, that shows metallogenetic
zonation from a bornite-chalcopyrite-molybdenite core to an outer zone of galena-sphalerite-chalcopyrite. Breccia dykes and propylitic alteration of the host tonalites are associated with the mineralisation.

A porphyry molybdenum deposit has also been discovered on Argentine Islands, north west Graham Land. Molybdenite occurs along sheet joints in granodiorite and is surrounded by thin cuartz-pyrite
and thick quart-magnetite veins. Quartz-monzonite dykes are associated with the molybdenite. The deposit shows zonation from a core of phyllic alteration (associated with molybdenite) to an outer
propylitic zone.

A porphyry copper deposit also occurs on Horseshoe Island,
Merguerite Bay.

Chemical date using atomic absorption spectrometery and electron microprobe methods has shown the igneous rocks associated with these deposits to be calc-alkaline and the sulphides to be similar to those in other calc-alkaline deposits.

A model is proposed for the mineralisation in the Antarctic
Peninsula. Tectonically, it shows some similarity to the Andean
Cordillera of South America. It is proposed that a porphyry copper
belt is present along the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula,
which is followed eastwards by a polymetallic belt, both of which
run parallel to the trend of the Antarctic Peninsula,

Date of Award	Dec 1978
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Aston University