Geology of the La Pava emerald mine, Colombia

This paper includes the main results of an integrated geochemical and structural study of the La Pava emerald mine. Despite several works having been carried out dealing with the unusual genesis of the Colombian emeralds, limited information is available about the geological features of this mine. Through a detailed mapping and stratigraphic approach, we determined the predominant mineralogy of the enclosing black shales and state how the circulation of sodium and calcium-rich solutions modified the sedimentary rocks. Additionally, we evidenced a fault propagation that played a key role in focusing the circulation of the mineralizing hydrothermal fluids.