Discovery of the Sierra Pintada uranium District, Mendoza Province, Argentina

Abstract

Since 1956, uranium-bearing minerals have been known to exist in Sierra Pintada, Mendoza Province, Argentina. Based on paragenetic considerations, a first radiometric prospection was curried out, leading to the discovery of two groups of anomalies (Puesto Agua del Toro and Cuesta de los Terneros), such as veintype deposits, with uraninite and ‘ydlow minerals’ and one sandstone-type deposit (Puesto La Josefa), related to sediments with carbón trash. Many anomalies of both types have been found prior to 1959, but all of them turned out to be of small size and continuity. Soine recent geological research and surveys in the area, and a reduced drilling programme carried out on selected anomalies, led to reinterpretation of the potential of the area. Furthermore, and as a result of an airborne radiometric prospection performed in mid-1968, numerous anomalies have been discovered.