METALTRAP: New geochemical and geochronological proxies for the discovery of the carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb deposits

• Grant number: 24/05057-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Andre Luiz Silva Pestilho
• Grantee: Andre Luiz Silva Pestilho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IGC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Bruno Vieira Ribeiro ; Christopher Kirkland ; David Chew ; Fernando Javier Gomez ; Koen Torremans ; Lena Virginia Soares Monteiro ; Maria Helena Bezerra Maia de Hollanda ; Ricardo Alfredo Astini ; Rodolfo Agustin Mors
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/05644-0 - Paleoenvironmental and diagenetic evolution of the Barremian La Tosca Member limestones, Neuquén Basin, Argentina, BP.MS

Abstract

The METALTRAP project aims to develop new conceptual models explaining the processes and mechanisms responsible for forming Zn-Pb deposits hosted in carbonate rocks. The concepts generated by this project focus on enhancing exploration models for carbonate-hosted hydrothermal Zn-Pb deposits, which are vital for discovering new deposits and achieving the target goals outlined in the energy transition strategy. To address this objective, we will tackle three primary challenges: (a) Understanding the role of organic matter in the genesis of major Zn-Pb deposits; and (b) Examining the timespan and chronology of the mineral system activity. The primary study area will encompass the Paracatu-Vazante District, including the Fagundes, Bonsucesso, and Vazante deposits, situated in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. In addition, comparative areas of study will also be addressed: (i) the Pb-Zn Lisheen deposit, Ireland; (ii) And the sequence of marine carbonates from the Huítrin Formation, from the Neuquén Basin. The project will utilize various analytical, petrographic, and spectroscopic methods, including major and trace element analyses of hydrothermal minerals and organic matter, U-Pb geochronology of apatite and carbonate minerals, and Raman spectroscopy. Our ultimate goal is to synthesize the data and concepts obtained from these challenges, constructing frameworks that effectively guide decision-making in exploratory campaigns, foster ongoing research initiatives, and significantly contribute to the essential knowledge required to meet the demands of the global energy transition toward a low-carbon economy. (AU)