Petrography Report

Abstract

As part of the Work Program for the Geoscientific Mapping of the Sierras Pampeanas Argentine-Australia Cooperative Project, thin sections were prepared and descriptions made of selected samples from the three detailed study areas (Figure 1.1 ). All samples collected in 1994 and 1995 during field programs 1 and 2 correspond to GPS located sites recorded using the AGSO field database system, and stored in the ARGROC database. In total 542 thin sections were prepared, and of these, 435 thin sections are described in this report; 144, 159 and 132 from the Córdoba, San Luis and La Rioja project areas, respectively. The described sections are representative of basement rock-types found in the three detailed study areas and include samples associated with the mineral occurrence mapping program. All samples submitted for geochronological and geochemical analysis were petrographically described. This report presents these descriptions (in Appendices 1, 2 & 3) in accordance with the Work Program Delivery Schedule. Of the remaining thin sections cut, 91 were selected for specialist purposes such as fluid inclusion analysis, ore petrography, structural or metamorphic analysis and the resultant information will be incorporated in the final reports of the project. In addition, 26 thin sections have been submitted to the Subsecretaría de Minería for description and are not included in this report.