Mineralization in the Blanca Creek, La Huerta range, San Juan Province, Argentina.

MOGESSIE, A.; GALLIEN, F.; SCHNEIDER, I; CASTRO DE MACHUCA, B.; MEISSL, E; BJERG, E. A.; DELPINO, S; PREVILEY, L; PONTORIERO, S; KOSTADINOFF, J

Innsbruck, Austria

Congreso; PANGEO AUSTRIA 2006; 2006

Universität Innsbruck-alpS-Österreichische Geologische Gesellschaft-Österreichische Mineralogische Gesellschaft-Österreichische Paläontologische Gesellschaft-Österreichische Vereinigung für Hydrogeologie-Geologische Bundesanstalt

The Sierra de La Huerta is part of the Western Sierras Pampeanas Range and consists of granulitic gneisses, coronitic gabbros, marbles, calcsilicates and rhyolitic extrusives and breccias. The range owes its present configuration and elevation to uplift by block-faulting in the upper Tertiary. As reported by Stoll (1958) the ore deposits are of three types: 1) sulphide replacements along shear zones in non-calcareous metamorphic rocks, including auriferous pyrite deposits (Caledonia Mine in Blanca Creek) and galena -sphalerite deposits with carbonate gangue; 2) lenticular deposits of auriferous quartz (e.g. El Morado); and 3) fissure veins with argentiferous galena (e.g. Santo Domingo).The mostimportant old mine is the Caledonia mine situated 6 kms north of Marayes. It is a pyritic gold deposit, apparently formed at considerable depth and at medium to high temperatures.