Pirquitas Placer Mine

Past Producer in Jujuy, Argentina with commodities Tin, Gold
Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Alteration
  8. Mineral occurrence model information
  9. Host and associated rocks
  10. Nearby scientific data
  11. Geologic structures
  12. Ore body information
  13. Controls for ore emplacement
  14. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  15. Mining district
  16. Ownership information
  17. Links to other databases
  18. Bibliographic references
  19. General comments
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10068836
MRDS ID W002094
Record type Site
Current site name Pirquitas Placer Mine
Alternate or previous names San Marcos

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -66.48723, -22.69197 (WGS84)
Elevation 4100
Relative position 7 KM E OF CAMPAMENTO; AT AND WEST OF TOWN OF MINA PIRQUITAS ALONG RIO PIRCAS (PIRQUITAS)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Jujuy(province)

Argentina(country)

South America(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Argentina Jujuy

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Tin Critical Primary
Gold Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Cassiterite Ore
Gold Ore

Alteration

  • (Local) No Data Available

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 123
USGS model code 39e
Deposit model name Alluvial placer Sn

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
    Rock unit name Volcanic & Sedimentary Rocks, Sandstone, Dacite Stock Of Cerro Galan, Dikes
    Rock description Volcanic & Sedimentary Rocks, Sandstone, Dacite Stock Of Cerro Galan, Dikes
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Holocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Permian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Unconsolidated Deposit > Gravel
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Conglomerate
    Rock unit name Metamorphic Rocks, Phyllite, Schist, Quartzite, Talc Rock
    Rock description Metamorphic Rocks, Phyllite, Schist, Quartzite, Talc Rock

Nearby scientific data

(1) -66.48723, -22.69197

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description High Plateau, Undrained Basins, N-Trending Steep Fault Block Ranges And Gentler Anticlinal Structures, Extinct Qat Volcanoes To W.
Type of structure Local
Structure description Two Systems Of Faults, Of Ord And Tert Ages Influenced The Course Of The Rio Pircas And Intrusion Of Cerro Galan

Ore body information

  • Length 30000M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Erosion From Nearby Pircas Sn Deposit

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant No
Discovery year 1930
Discoverer Alberto Picchetti
Year of first production 1933
Year of last production 1939
Production years 1933-1939

Mining district

District name Pirquitas-Coyaguayma

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Cia. Minera Pirquitas, Picchetti Y Cia. S. A.

Comments on the workings information

  • DEPOSIT CONSISTS OF YOUNGER AND OLDER ALLUVIAL MATERIAL. OLDER FORMS TERRACES OF GLACIAL FLUVIAL ALLUVIUM; THICKNESS IS 5-8 M. YOUNGER ALLUVIUM CONSISTS OF OVERBURDEN 1-5 M THICK, MINERALIZED ZONE, 0.5 M, AND A BARREN CAP ROCK, 1.5-5 M THICK AMOUNT OF SN AND AU DECREASES IN LAST 20 KM OF ALLUVIAL TRAIN

Comments on development

  • ECON.COM: DEPOSITS HAVE BEEN NEARLY WORKED OUT

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    ANGELELLI, V., FERNANDEZ LIMA, J. C., HERRERA, A., AND ARISTARAIN, L., 1970, DESCRIPCION DEL MAPA METALOGENETICO DE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA: DIRRECION NACIONAL DE GEOLOGIA Y MINERIA, P. 67 (SPANISH)

  • Deposit

    TURNER, J.C.M., 1982, DESCRIPCION GEOLOGICA DE LA HOJA 3AB, MINA PIRQUITAS: DNGM BOL. 187, P. 44-45.

  • Production

    ANGELELLI, 1970, REF

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit LPLEIST TERRACE CONGLOMERATES OCCUR 50 M ABOVE MODERN RIVER BED. THESE ARE CEMENTED BY FE OXIDES AND CONTAIN A BASAL LAYER, 5-10 CM THICK WITH LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF CASSITERITE. A HOLOCENE TALUS FAN, 400 M WIDE, CONTAINS A LAYER 0.6 - 1.5 M THICK AVERAGING 15 KG CASSITERITE PER CUBIC METER WITH A FEW COLORS OF GOLD. THIS LAYER IS COVERED BY UP TO 5 M OF BARREN TALUS AND ALLUVIUM.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-AUG-1973 Davidson, Claire B. U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-FEB-1993 Long, Keith R. U.S. Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.