Location
“El Macanudo” Project is an area of 6,000 hectares, which is located in the center-west of the Deseado Massif.
It is one of the largest known hot spring deposit in Patagonia, with more than 7.000ha of outcropping sinters and thermogene travertines. The deposit is in a claim, 100% owned by Tres Cerros Exploraciones.
Location of “El Macanudo”
The area has several scientific research works, since it is one of the largest sinter and travertine fields of Jurassic age, in the Deseado Massif.
We have only carried out a quick field reconnaissance in the area. By background it is known that in the southern zone of the project, there were exploration works carried out about 12 years ago.
- The several hectares deposit of silicified thermogene travertines and silica sinter evidenced the activity of a large Jurassic epithermal system, poorly eroded. The post deposition silicification of travertines also indicates a possible long life hydrothermal system
- The deposit textures indicates the zones of outflow of hydrothermal waters, possible driven by regional normal faults in a rhomb shape pull apart basin.
- Strong anomalies in trace metals and the anomalies in precious metals (reported by Schalamuk) in deposits that was formed at surface in a geothermal environment reveals the potential to find bonanza grades on fissure veins at depth
- The source of bicarbonate fluids could be related to the emplacement of dacitic domes and the mixing with more acidic groundwaters can result in the deposition of precious metals on depth. Eg Eureka West in Cerro Negro
- There are several examples of hot spring deposits associated with economic Au and Ag deposits in the Deseado Massif (Cerro Negro, Manantial Espejo) and with several Au and Ag ocurrences (La Josefina, Claudia, San Agustin, etc)
