Insights into timing of mineralization in the Neves-Corvo VMS deposit (Iberian Pyrite Belt)

Zircon geochronology in the rhyolite units related with the Neves-Corvo VMS deposit combined with chemostratigraphy-based classification indicates three different volcanic stages acting from late Famennian to Tournaisian times. The first two are space-related and with similar volcanic facies but chemically distinct; the third episode, chemically akin to the second, but with coherent volcanic facies, lasted longer until Tournaisian times. Overall felsic volcanic activity associated with the NevesCorvo VMS deposit spanned the range of ca. 363-349 Ma within a time span of 14 Ma. The late Famennian-early Tournaisian zircon ages (ca. 363-357 Ma) of the three main rhyolites confirm the exploration potential of the main ore mineralization given by palynological data of enclosed black shales. The younger volcanic activity during mid-late Tournaisian (~350 Ma) is exclusive of Rhyolite 3 unit and is probably related to a late syn-deformation mineralizing stage. This late input of a magmatic fluid component in the Neves-Corvo system could contribute to the late anomalous Cu-enrichment.