Huemul Mine, Pampa Amarilla District, Malargüe Department, Mendoza, Argentina

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Malargüe District (Province of Mendoza):
In this region which covers an area of around 250 x 100 km and it extends from the Huemul Hill by the North to Ranchueco in the South and up to Chihuido del Medio by East, are the Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments mainly represented by sandstones, conglomerates, clays, etc..., hosted in parts by "necks", ore and rocks mesosilicicas dikes.
Therein are deposits of cerro Huemul, Agua Botada, Cerro Mirano and Pampa Amarilla, and manifestations of Puesto Moya, Casa de Piedra, Arroyo de los Leones and the sierra Ránquil-có in Mendoza, and deposits of Rahuè-có and Chihuido del Medio, besides other findings in Neuquén.
In all these cases mineralization occurs as impregnations in sandstones and conglomerates that usually contain material asphalt and carbonaceous with Uranophane, Copper Carbonates and Iron Oxides, in its area of weathering, and Carnotite and Pitchblende associated with Pyrite and sulfides of copper (Chalcopyrite, Bornite and Chalcosine) in his primary area.
It's bodies of varied shape and size reaching a volume of several thousand to several tens of thousands of tons. Its law in U3O8 varies between 0.20 and 0.30% and sometimes more.

Huemul Mine:
40 Km to the SW of the town of Malargüe, same department name, there is a large uranium area which includes "Cerro Huemul" deposits, "Agua Botada" and "Cerro Mirano", apart from other manifestations in the Department.
Reservoir "Cerro Huemul", looming intermittently on a tour around 2 kilometres, has an approximate direction N-S and a dip of about 30 ° W. It is represented by various concentrations or bodies of varied size, of which stands out for its magnitude located at the northern end of its run which would seem to be housed in a former channel of water. Its mineral power is around 60-70 centimeters in thickness and in part more.
The "Huemul" orebody has an extension that varies between 60 and 100 meters according to the direction of the layers, 310 meters in the direction of the dip and strengthens average of 1.15 metres, although with works extend it both to the South and in depth.
The mineralization of the aflorante ore is Carnotite and Tyuyamunite mainly, Phosphouranilite, Uranophane and Autunite, lesser extent, associated with Malachite, Azurite and hydroxides of iron, mineral they distributed in the mass of a conglomerate and sandstone grayish color conglomeradic. In the lower parts of the mineralized Bank, it takes pirobitumen asphalt carrier of uranium and which joins Pitchblende and sulphide small grains, namely: Pyrite, Chalcopyrite, Bornite, Pirrotine, Chalcosine, Galena and Sphalerite in very small quantities.
Within the mineralized Bank and above lenticular masses of clear clays that form his recumbent, appear lenses of sandstone strongly impregnated by asphalt pirobitumen with a content of 2-3% of U3O8.
The area of "Cerro Huemul" was recognized by numerous perforations. In its main body opened several levels and a pique. In October 1955 began its exploitation constituting the largest production site in Argentina, but it is currently abandoned.

The sector "Arroyo Seco" are presented in two bodies, which has the largest 300 metres long, 100 metres in the sense of the dip and useful power of 0.80 meters.

In "Agua Botada" there are 5 modeling of variable importance levels, of which are 1 (upper), 3rd and 4th, which show a development NS 300, 500 and 600 meters, and EW of 140, 100 and 300 meters respectively.
The mineralization consists of Uraninite associated with asphalt material and Chalcopyrite, predominate in higher levels Carnotite, Tyuyamunite, Azurite and Malachite.

Chemical Analysis of samples from "Huemul":
Carnotite:
UO3: 62.30%
V2O5: 20.00%
K2O: 8.10%
CaO: 1.40%
H2O: 7.50%
Na2O: 0.70%
------------------
100.00%

Tyuyamunite:
UO3: 57.30%
V2O5: 18.90%
K2O: 0.70%
CaO: 5.20%
H2O: 17.70%
Na2O: 0.20%
-----------------
100.00%

Mineral List

Andersonite Autunite Azurite Bayleyite Bornite Carnotite Chalcanthite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite

Coffinite Covellite Cuprosklodowskite Dewindtite Epsomite Galena Gypsum Huemulite (TL) Hummerite

Idaite Johannite Malachite Marcasite Meta-autunite Metatyuyamunite Natrozippeite Pyrite Rossite

Schröckingerite Sengierite Sphalerite Thenardite Tyuyamunite Uraninite var: Pitchblende Uranopilite Zippeite

36 entries listed. 35 valid minerals. 1 type locality (valid mineral).

References