Iron ore mineralisations in Argentina

AVILA, JULIO CESAR

Mine Planning and Equipment Selection (MPES)

National Center on Complex Processing of Mineral Raw Materials of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Lugar: Almaty; Año: 2011; p. 62 - 67

In Argentina two major iron mining districts are known. They are located in the Northwest and Patagonia of the national territory, in the counties of “Jujuy” and “Río Negro” respectively. Both belong to sedimentary marine basins of Paleozoic age. The deposits of the northwest are located in Silurean sedimentites. Interbedded in sandstones and siltstones two ferriferous beds exist. The main layer has a thickness that varies from 0,7 to 11 m with an average value of 9 m and a grade of 41,8% Fe and 1,17% P. The ore mineral is hematite. In the subdistrict “Zapla - Puesto Viejo” the mines “9 de Octubre” and “Puesto Viejo” have been developed and were active until final of last century. The deposits of Patagonia are located in Siluro-Devonian sedimentites. Interbedded in micaceous sandstones one main ferriferous bed exists. It has a thickness that varies from 2,5 to 16 m with an average value of 10 m and a medium grade of 54,8% Fe and 1,43% P. The ore mineral is magnetite. In this district, “Sur” deposit of “Sierra Grande” has been developed and at the moment is in production after a period of inactivity