3D modeling of buried intrusives in Pan de Azúcar zone (northern Puna, Argentina) from ground magnetic data

Abstract

The Pan de Azúcar volcanic complex crops out in the southern border of the Laguna de Pozuelos Basin and consists of several volcanic dome centers of approximately 12 Ma. The volcanic complex hosts the Pan de Azúcar mine. Previous interpretation of seismic lines north of the Pan de Azúcar outcrops has indicated the presence of buried bodies, probably related to the volcanic complex. To confirm the existence of these buried intrusives, a detailed ground magnetic survey of the southern portion of the Laguna de Pozuelos Basin (north of Pan de Azúcar) was conducted. Three-dimensional modeling of the magnetic data shows an intrusive body of approximately 1 km in diameter buried at approximate depths of 250 m. The results obtained here are valuable for further mining exploration in the area and also support the hypothesis of a large caldera buried beneath the Laguna de Pozuelos Basin.