Estudio mineralógico y cristalográfico del distrito minero Zaruma-Portovelo

Abstract

Abstract: The research project focuses on determining the mineralogical and crystallographic characteristics of the Zaruma-Portovelo mining district, located in southern Ecuador, which is recognized for its important gold deposits. To achieve this, a methodology composed of six phases was applied: sample preparation, microscopic analysis, inventory of crystallized minerals, mineralogical characterization, identification of crystal systems, and the development of foldable crystal nets. These stages made it possible to understand the physicochemical factors that influence the formation of the minerals present in the district. Among the most important results was the identification of predominant minerals such as calcite, quartz, and pyrite, each with different crystalline varieties formed under specific conditions of temperature, pH, and levels of supersaturation. Minerals such as pyromorphite, chalcopyrite, galena, and fluorite were also identified, whose crystallographic forms are directly conditioned by the environment in which they form. The study highlights the use of the software **Krystal Shaper** for the modeling and analysis of crystalline structures, allowing the creation of three-dimensional representations and foldable crystal nets of the analyzed minerals. This research contributes to the geological understanding of the Zaruma-Portovelo district.