Geology and geochemistry of California, Santander
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https://doi.org/10.32685/0120-1425/bolgeol22.2.1979.392Keywords:
Colombia, metamorphism, intrusive rocks, lithological description, mineralization, economic possibilities
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Copyright (c) 1979 Servicio Geológico Colombiano
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Abstract
The California Mining District is located about 50 km northeast of Bucaramanga, in the municipality of California, Department of Santander; it has been known and exploited for gold and silver since colonial times.
Pre-Devonian rocks constitute the area with a high degree of metamorphism, which shows a migmatitic character. This sequence is affected by intrusive rocks of the Jura-Triassic age, whose composition varies from quartz diorite to quartz monzonite and granite. Younger porphyritic facies are emplaced within the pre-existing rocks as dykes and small stocks. A dacitic porphyry silo occurs within Lower Cretaceous sediments.
The mineralized quartz seams, usually gray in color and brecciated in texture, are in igneous and metamorphic rocks. The intensity of hydrothermal alteration observed in these rocks does not depend on the composition but mainly on the degree of fracturing. Mineralization consists of gold, silver, pyrite, quartz, and minor amounts of sphalerite, tetrahedrite, galena, and chalcopyrite; several seams contain trace amounts of uranium ore.
To gain further insight into the economic potential of a large, mineralized zone, a 24 km2 area was limited, and detailed geological and geochemical prospecting studies were carried out. The results of this work constitute the purpose of this report.
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