Pircas Mine

Producer in Jujuy, Argentina with commodities Tin, Silver
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. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10068835
MRDS ID W002093
Record type Site
Current site name Pircas Mine
Alternate or previous names Potosi, San Miguel, Nueva Granda, Chocaya, Pirquitas

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -66.53612, -22.68253 (WGS84)
Elevation 4300
Relative position 4.5 KM W OF TOWN OF MINA PIRQUITAS IN QUEBRADA 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
Silver Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Argentite Ore
Cerargyrite Ore
Miargyrite Ore
Polybasite Ore
Proustite Ore
Silver Ore
Stannite Ore
Stephanite Ore
Tetrahedrite Ore
Alunite Gangue
Anglesite Gangue
Ankerite Gangue
Boulangerite Gangue
Chalcopyrite Gangue
Galena Gangue
Jarosite Gangue
Kaolin Gangue
Limonite Gangue
Malachite Gangue
Marcasite Gangue
Pyrite Gangue
Sphalerite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Hydrothermal Alteration, Sericitization, Pyritization

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 77
USGS model code 20b
Deposit model name Sn-polymetallic vein

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Dacite
    Rock unit name Galan Formation
    Rock description Galan Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
    Rock unit name Acoite Formation
    Rock description Acoyte Formation;
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone

Nearby scientific data

(1) -66.53612, -22.68253

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 West, Overturned Folds
Type of structure Local
Structure description 2 Main Faults (No Data On Trend) A Smaller System Of Vein-Filled Faults Of Tert Age

Ore body information

  • General form OVAL, ORIENTED WNW
    Strike N65-80E
    Dip 85NE
    Thickness 1.5M
    Length 800M
    Width 600M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Veins Emplaced In Fractures Transverse To Fold Axes

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Discovery year 1934
Discoverer Alberto Pichetti
Year of first production 1936

Mining district

District name Pirquitas-Coyaguayma

Ownership information

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

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Area 0.024HA
    Overall depth 300M

Comments on the workings information

  • DEPOSIT CONSISTS OF 2 SETS OF VEINS, THAT STRIKE N 65-80 DEG. W AND N 45 DEG. W DIP OF BOTH SETS ALMOST VERTICAL.

Comments on development

  • AS OF 1970, 2 PLANTS FOR CONCENTRATION: EACH ONE PROCESSES 70 TONS ORE PER DAY (GRAVITATIONAL AND FLOTATION PLANTS)

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    ANGELELLI, VICTORIO, 1984, YACIMIENTOS METALIFEROS DE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA, VOL. II: LA PLATA, COMISION DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS, P. 393-704.

  • Deposit

    TURNER, J.C.M., 1982, DESCRIPCION GEOLOGICA DE LA HOJA 3AB, MINA PIRQUITAS: DNGM 187, P. 42-43.

  • Production

    ANGELELLI, 1970, REF., ANGELELLI, VICTORIO, 1984, P. 489.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit 3 GRUPOS MINEROS TOTALING 16 VEINS OF WHICH POTOSI AND CHOCAYA ARE THE MOST PRODUCTIVE

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-JUL-1973 Davidson, Claire B. U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-AUG-1991 Bolm, Karen S. 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.