Whole-rock geochemistry and fluid inclusions as exploration tools for mineral deposits assessment in the Serre batholith, Calabria, southern Italy

Abstract

Field and geochemical studies of granitic plutons belonging to the SeITe batholith, in southern Calabria, show that some of these plutons are associated with minor molybdenite, base-metal OCCUITences, and granitophile geochemical anomalies. The results of a geochemical survey of granitic bedrock and treatment of the data by statistical techniques indicate a grouping of geochemically anomalous sampies, with clusters of high R-mode factor scores that identify potential hosts of significant granite-related mineralization, especially Mo, Sn, and W. Especially favourable hosts are siliceous and generally potassic differentiated granitic rocks, especially near the village of San Todaro, and near Bagni di Guida, Monte Cola, Monte Crocco and Mongiana. These areas are candidates for more detailed exploration, as they contain c1ustering of significant geochemical anomalies for Mo, Rb, W, Cu, Nb, etc., and more importantly, these granites are known to host base-metal sulphide veins. Granite specialization indices for (RblSr>5, K/Rb<200 and Rb 3 /Ba•Sr. K>O. I) are also typical of granitic rocks hosting base-metal and granitophile

Hercynian subduction‐related processes within the metamorphic continental crust in Calabria (southern Italy)

“…In the Hercynian Serre and Sila massifs of Calabria (southern Italy; Figure 1a), the pressure peak was reached during the Upper Mississippian to Lower Pennsylvanian (Acquafredda, Lorenzoni, & Zanettin Lorenzoni, 1994;Festa et al, 2012;Fornelli, Pascazio, & Piccarreta, 2011;Langone et al, 2010;Micheletti, Fornelli, Piccarreta, Barbey, & Tiepolo, 2008). Subsequently, decompression and exhumation of the thickened continental crust was accompanied by large volumes of granitoid emplacement leading to the Serre batholith (De Vivo et al, 1992), that occurred during the Upper Pennsylvanian-Early Permian at intermediate crustal levels (Caggianelli, Prosser, & Di Battista, 1997;Caggianelli, Prosser, & Rottura, 2000;Graessner & Schenk, 2001;Langone, Caggianelli, Festa, & Prosser, 2014;Langone et al, 2010). The Serre batholith is underlain in the north by a granulite facies basement ( Figure 1a) with maximum pressures of ~0.9 GPa recorded in the migmatitic metapelite (Fornelli et al, 2011;Figure 1b), whereas it is overlain in the south by the low-P Stilo-Pazzano Phyllite Unit and by the Mammola Paragneiss Unit (Figure 1a).…”

Geotechnical and landslide aspects in weathered granitoid rock masses (Serre Massif, southern Calabria, Italy)

“…1B). The Serre granitoid complex represents the intermediate crustal section of a Late Hercynian batholith (Serre Batholith) and is composed of foliated tonalite with minor Qtzdiorite and gabbro, with increasing felsic and peraluminous granitoid in the upper crustal levels (D'Amico et al, 1982;Rottura et al, 1990;De Vivo et al, 1992;Del Moro et al, 1994;Fornelli et al, 1994).…”