Geology of the Serranía Agua de las Palomas and Cerro Bayo, department of Antofagasta de la Sierra, prov. of Catamarca (Argentina)

Abstract

Geology of the Serranía Agua de las Palomas and Cerro Bayo, department of Antofagasta de la Sierra, prov. of Catamarca (Argentina)?. The Serranía Agua de las Palomas and Cerro Bayo are located in the eastern slope of the Puna, E of the Salar del Hombre Muerto in the province of Catamarca. The geology of the area is formed by rocks from the metamorphic and igneous basaments of the Puncoviscana and Oire Formations. Some volcanic processes developed during the Cenozoic; they are observed in 0 the Cerro Bayo and adjacent zones represented by hypabisales or effusive rocks from the Beltran and Inca Viejo Formations. The characteristic of the area is its structure in blocks of meridian bearing; there are also other minor movements that could be determined, A severe hydrothermal alteration was observed; it is characterized by its silica accompanied by alunite and sericite. The geologic characteristics and the hydrothermal alteration suggest that the exposition of the Cerro Bayo corresponds to the upper parts of a column of hydrothermal alteration of the porphyry type.