Baritization in the Villa de Cura complex, state of Aragua, northern Venezuela

Abstract

Along the northern coast of Venezuela a metallogenic zone has been discovered, which is characterized by masses of barite in metamorphic volcanics and sediments of the Villa de Cura Group. This zone is situated at 25 km SE of the city of Villa de Cura, in the industrial centre of the country. The minerals occur in lenses and masses within a sequence of strongly tectonized phyllites and meta-andesites of the El Chino Formation. Most probably these deposits are associated with the numerous occurrences of metals along the Villa de Cura complex in the states of Guárico and Aragua.