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Stratigraphy of the tectonically imbricated lithological succession of the Neves Corvo mine area, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal

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Abstract

Biostratigraphic research, based on palynomorphs and ammonoids, of the tectonically imbricated lithological succession of the Neves Corvo mine, in the Portuguese part of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, has yielded ages for all formerly recognised lithostratigraphic units. These can be assembled in three main lithological sequences: (1) detrital sandy/shale substrate (Phyllite-Quartzite Formation) of late Famennian age; (2) Volcano-Sedimentary Complex, divided into a lower and an upper suite, in which one basic, three dolerite sills and four felsic volcanic units and a mineralised package of massive sulphides are identified with ages which range from the late Famennian to the late Visean; (3) flysch succession (Mértola Formation) composed of shale and greywacke dated as late Visean to early Serpukhovian. Precise biostratigraphic dating of the sedimentrary host rocks of massive sulphide mineralisation constrains the age of the latter to the late Strunian (354.8–354.0 Ma). Three stratigraphic hiatuses, corresponding to early/middle Strunian, Tournaisian and early Visean respectively and a south-westward progressive unconformity were also recognised. Sequences 1 and 2 are related to extensional episodes while sequence 3 marks the beginning of compressive tectonic inversion which gave rise to south-westward flysch progradation in close relation to a foreland basin development. Our results lead to the reinterpretation of the tectonic structure of the Neves Corvo mine, with implications for the interpretation of the regional basin dynamics and metal exploration.

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Acknowledgements

This work represents the final results obtained under the subproject “Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography of the Neves Corvo mine region” which was part of the Geommincor Project funded by Somincor, and by the research contract “Palynostratigraphic Investigation of the Algaré region” between Somincor and the Instituto Geológico e Mineiro of Portugal. The authors would like to express their sincere thanks to Somincor and the Instituto Geológico e Mineiro for all facilities provided during this research. Special thanks also go to all the colleagues involved in the Geommincor Project, for their enthusiastic discussions and exchanges of opinions during the project meetings. Thanks are also due to Richard Herrington and Michael Solomon who kindly improved the English of a first version of the manuscript. Special thanks are also due to Bernd Lehmann for his encouragement and final revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Geológico e Mineiro, Apartado 7586, 2721-866, Alfragide, Portugal

    J. Tomás Oliveira

  2. Instituto Geológico e Mineiro, Apartado 89, 4466-956, S. Mamede Infesta, Portugal

    Zélia Pereira

  3. CONSMAGA, R. Cova da Burra 5, 7700-031, Almodovar, Portugal

    Pedro Carvalho

  4. SOMINCOR, Apartado 12, 7780, Castro Verde, Portugal

    Nelson Pacheco

  5. Museum für Naturkunde, Humboldt Universität Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115, Berlin, Germany

    Dieter Korn

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  1. J. Tomás Oliveira
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Correspondence to Zélia Pereira.

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Oliveira, J.T., Pereira, Z., Carvalho, P. et al. Stratigraphy of the tectonically imbricated lithological succession of the Neves Corvo mine area, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal. Miner Deposita 39, 422–436 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-004-0415-2

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