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GEOLOGY

San Juan Province in northwest Argentina, comprises a series of north-south elongate mountain ranges that rise in altitude to the west to form the rugged Andean Cordillera (Argentina and Chile). The mountain ranges are separated by sometimes wide valleys.

The principal Cordillera in the west is composed of strongly folded, faulted and elevated Palaeozoic-Mesozoic sediments and volcanics overlain by extensive Upper Miocene ignimbrites. Mineralization here includes two world-class, high sulphidation epithermal gold-silver deposits named Veladero (12.8 million ounces gold) and (Pascua-) Lama (18.3 million ounces gold and 685 million ounces silver), as well as porphyry copper-gold (-molybdenum) deposits, and numerous similar prospects and showings.

The western Precordillera comprises strongly folded and faulted Palaeozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary rocks and minor volcanics. No major mineral deposits are known in this area.

In the east two major ranges of Upper Proterozoic-Lower Paleozoic metasedimentary-intrusive basement lithologies are exposed overlain in places by Mesozoic sediments and minor volcanics.

 
 

Shear zone vein gold mineralization is widespread in this area and some small mines operated in the past but no major deposits have yet been located.

Valleys separating the mountain ranges are filled with Holocene alluvial conglomerates, gravels and sands and some Aeolian deposits.

Property holding

PGSA does not hold any properties in San Juan and the Province is extensively covered by mining claims.  

However through PGD's active appraisal of the potential of the region it has identified a number of highly prospective zones and one Option to Purchase has already been signed in the El Morado area in eastern San Juan. Assessment is continuing and reconnaissance has commenced in other northern Provinces.