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Although the formation of exotic-Cu deposits is controlled by multiple factors, the role of the sedimentary environment has not been well defined. We present a case study of the El Tesoro Central exotic-Cu deposit located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. This deposit consists of two mineralized bodies hosted within Late Cenozoic gravels deposited in an arid continental environment dominated by alluvial fans with sub-surficial ponded water bodies formed at the foot of these fans or within the interfan areas. Both exotic-Cu orebodies mostly consist of chrysocolla, copper wad, atacamite, paratacamite, quartz, opal, and calcite. The most commonly observed paragenesis comprises chrysocolla, silica minerals, and calcite and records a progressive increase in pH, which is notably influenced by evaporation. The results of stable isotope analyses (δ13C and δ18O) and hydrogeochemical simulations confirm that evapoconcentration is the main controlling factor in the exotic-Cu mineralization at El Tesoro Central. This conclusion complements the traditional genetic model based on the gradual neutralization of highly oversaturated Cu-bearing solutions that progressively cement the gravels and underlying bedrock regardless of the depositional environment. This study concludes that in exotic-Cu deposits formed relatively far from the source, a favorable sedimentary environment and particular hydrologic and climatic conditions are essential to trap, accumulate, evapoconcentrate, neutralize and saturate Cu-bearing solutions to trigger mineralization. Thus, detailed sedimentological studies should be incorporated when devising exploration strategies in order to discover new exotic-Cu resources, particularly if they are expected to have formed relatively far from the metal sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Magnetic proxies for paleoclimate are tools widely used to understand climate variability, yet current proxies focus on loess-derived soils in humid to temperate climate zones, whereas coarse-grained sediments in arid-hyperarid climate zones remain poorly investigated. To test the potential paleoclimatic-environmental significance of the magnetic record of coarse-grained sediments deposited in a region with a mean annual precipitation (MAP) <200 mm yr−1, we selected three previously studied sedimentary sequences from the Atacama Desert (Centinela area) and explored their magnetic properties, paedogenic features, salt chemistry and mineralogy. These sequences were deposited under different climate-environmental conditions from the Eocene to the Miocene, and correspond, from oldest to youngest, to the Atravesados II gravels (AtII), the Arrieros gravels (Arr) and the Ratones sediments (Rat). The magnetic susceptibility values (k) obtained in the stratigraphic record of the gravels are mainly controlled by the concentration of detrital (titano)magnetite, which is concentrated in the finest fraction (<0.5 mm) of sediments. The values decrease in the coarse sediments from AtII to Arr following a climatic transition from arid to hyperarid conditions, an interpretation that is supported by the transition from carbonate-rich (MAP ~ 40 mm yr−1) to sulfate-rich paleosols (MAP < 10 mm yr−1), and changes in the tectonic conditions and/or sedimentary source. In contrast, the Rat fine-grained sediments record changes in paleo-wetland dynamics. The high frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility (kfd%) values obtained from these layers are mainly controlled by the concentration of authigenic magnetite-maghemite and/or hematite crystals of superparamagnetic/single magnetic size. The increase in kfd% is linked to an increase in the authigenic degree, which is related to variations in the depth of the local water table. These results demonstrate the potential of magnetic proxies to reveal climatic/environmental signals in coarse-grained sediments deposited under desert climate conditions. Highlights • Magnetic record of coarse-grained continental sediments records climate changes. • Arid/hyperarid context favors magnetic record preservation. • The magnetic susceptibility is controlled by detritic Fe-mineral concentrations. • The kfd% parameter in wetland deposit is an indicator of local water-table changes. • Longer records would help to constrain the Atacama Desert aridification history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]