Lava-cryptodome-pumice cone volcanoes: the principal type of felsic volcanic centre in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

The Volcanic-Sedimentary Complex of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) comprises an Upper Devonian to Lower Carboniferous submarine succession with a wide variety of felsic volcanic facies. The architecture of the felsic volcanic centres include lavas/domes, pyroclastic units and intrusions that define lava-cryptodome-pumice cone volcanoes. The diversity of volcanic facies recognized in different areas of the IPB mainly reflects variations in proximity to these volcanoes. The studied volcanoes range in diameter from 2 km to >5 km and their thickest sections vary from ~400m to >800m. The intrusions are cryptodomes and partly-extrusive cryptodomes up to 2 km long and up 200m thick. At the Neves Corvo deposit the mineralization relates to rhyolitic lavas that overlie a ~1Ma older, relatively thick fiamme-rich volcaniclastic unit. In several other locations of the belt, however, the pyroclastic units include sulphide clasts that may have been derived from coeval massive sulphide accumulations on the sea floor, which widens the exploration potential of volcanic facies analysis in this province.