Mineral Occurrences in the Area of the King Tut Mine, La Rioja province, Argentina

Abstract

The area of interest is located on the western side of the “Sierra de Famatina” about 50 km north of the village of Vinchina (Figure 1). Four sites of interest were visited; the King Tut occurrence, an occurrence of breccia, and the Horacio barite occurrence in Quebrada el Salto; and an area reported to contain elevated Ni lithogeochemistry in Quebrada Alumbrera (Figures 2A,B, 3A,B). The objective of the visit was to characterize the occurrences and suggest programs of work to enhance exploration interest in the area if warranted. Previous work in the area is extensive. An excellent unpublished report by Cravero (1988) summarises the geology and briefly summarises the results of an examination of mineralized sites. Cravero’s report cites several reports by earlier workers. Topography in the area is extremely rugged with base elevations in the order of 3000 metres, steep mountainsides, and mountaintops between 4500 and 5500 metres.