Basal Conglomerate As A Diffusion ZoneAs I have previously posted, the basal conglomerate at La Pitarrilla marks the interface between lower sedimentary layers and upper volcanics. Conglomerates often have very high permeability and are therefore easily flooded with mineralizing fluids. Elsewhere, the basal conglomerate goes by the name "Manto Rico" or rich layer (cloak).
It is reasonable to assume that, where fluids are migrating upwards through a deep fault that cuts through the basal conglomerate, those fluids will move easily into the conglomerate and use it as a part of the pathway upward. This is the "diffusion" that forms the title to this post.
Lateral fluid diffusion through the Manto Rico causes a large areal extent in the surface expression of the oxide silver zones. All this can be easily seen in cross-section in the 43-101 filed on SEDAR for La Pitarrilla, where shallow oxide silver zones are widely scattered around a deeper, rich sulfide ore body, centered on the Manto Rico hanging wall, where it is transected by deep faulting.
Is the Manto Rico present at Sandra Escobar? Was it seen in Hole #62, in the unmineralized the footwall of the regional NW to SE fault? What prompted REX to say that the exploration model at Sandra-Escobar has now become a La Pitarrilla analogue?