Re-Os geochronology of the El Salvador porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, Chile: Tracking analytical improvements in accuracy and precision over the past decade

Based on the Re-Os and other geochronologic data, the Middle Eocene intrusive activity in the El Salvador district is divided into three pulses: (1) 44-42.5 Ma for weakly mineralized porphyry intrusions, (2) 41.8-41.2 Ma for intensely mineralized porphyry intrusions, and (3) ∼41 Ma for small latite dike intrusions without major porphyry stocks. The orientation of igneous dikes and porphyry stocks changed from NNE-SSW during the first pulse to WNW-ESE for the second and third pulses. This implies that the WNW-ESE striking stress changed from σ3 (minimum principal compressive stress) during the first pulse to σHmax (maximum principal compressional stress in a horizontal plane) during the second and third pulses. Therefore, the focus of intense porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization occurred during a transient geodynamic reconfiguration just before extinction of major intrusive activity in the region.