Log InRegister
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreOur ScienceMindat Newsletter [Free Download]Contact Us
Donate to MindatSponsor a PageCorporate SponsorshipSponsored Pages
Learning CenterWhat Is a Mineral?The Most Common Minerals on EarthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesMindat Newsletter [Free Download]The ElementsThe Mineral Quiz
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDMinerals by CountryAlphabetical Mineral IndexAlphabetical Locality SearchMineral Association SearchList of CountriesLocalities Near MePhoto SearchSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMore Search Options
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
MineralsPetrologyFossilsMeteoritesGeologic Time
Mining CompaniesStatisticsMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsDevice SettingsTime Machine
Read DiscussionsIdentification Request
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColourPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Altar deposit, Calingasta Department, San Juan Province, Argentinai
Regional Level Types
Altar depositDeposit
Calingasta DepartmentDepartment
San Juan ProvinceProvince
ArgentinaCountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Contact us for sponsorship opportunities.
PhotosMapsSearchMineralogy
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
31° 28' 59'' South , 70° 30' 0'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-31.48333,-70.50000
GRN:
S21W44
Type:
Deposit
Deposit first discovered:
1995 (approx.)
Kรถppen climate type:
ET : Tundra
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Salamanca13,265 (2013)54.8km
Owned/operated by:
Aldebaran Resources Inc.
Mindat Locality ID:
264290
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:264290:4
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Piuquenes


The Altar deposit was discovered in the mid-1990s.

Altar is a Middle-Late Miocene porphyry Cu-(Au-Mo-Ag) deposit, located in the Andean Main Cordillera of San Juan province. Characterized by the superposition of multiple vein generations consisting of both porphyry-type and high sulfidation epithermal-style alteration and mineralization. Sulphosalts are present.

The Altar Concession comprises numerous mining concessions and exploration permits. The main ore zones within the Altar deposit area:
Altar Central (Leona Mine), Altar East, Altar North, La Esquina, Quebrada del la Mina (QDM), and Chinchimoye.

The coordinates are for the Altar Campsite.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

30 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

โ“˜ Alunite
Formula: KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
โ“˜ 'Amphibole Supergroup'
Formula: AB2C5(T8O22)W2
โ“˜ Anhydrite
Formula: CaSO4
โ“˜ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3A
โ“˜ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
โ“˜ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
โ“˜ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
โ“˜ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
โ“˜ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
โ“˜ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
โ“˜ 'Chlorite Group'
โ“˜ Covellite
Formula: CuS
โ“˜ Dickite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
โ“˜ Digenite
Formula: Cu9S5
โ“˜ Enargite
Formula: Cu3AsS4
โ“˜ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
โ“˜ 'Feldspar Group'
โ“˜ Galena
Formula: PbS
โ“˜ Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
โ“˜ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
โ“˜ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
โ“˜ 'Hornblende Root Name Group'
Formula: ◻Ca2(C2+4C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
โ“˜ Jarosite
Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
โ“˜ Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
โ“˜ 'K Feldspar'
โ“˜ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
โ“˜ Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
โ“˜ Molybdenite
Formula: MoS2
โ“˜ 'Monazite Group'
Formula: REE(PO4)
โ“˜ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
โ“˜ Muscovite var. Illite
Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
โ“˜ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
โ“˜ Native Gold
Formula: Au
โ“˜ Native Sulphur
Formula: S8
โ“˜ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
โ“˜ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
โ“˜ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
โ“˜ Quartz var. Milky Quartz
Formula: SiO2
โ“˜ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
โ“˜ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
โ“˜ 'Tennantite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S
โ“˜ Tetradymite ?
Formula: Bi2Te2S
โ“˜ 'Tourmaline'
Formula: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
โ“˜ Tsumoite ?
Formula: BiTe

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
โ“˜Native Gold1.AA.05Au
โ“˜Native Sulphur1.CC.05S8
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
โ“˜Chalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
โ“˜Digenite2.BA.10Cu9S5
โ“˜Bornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
โ“˜Covellite2.CA.05aCuS
โ“˜Sphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
โ“˜Chalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
โ“˜Galena2.CD.10PbS
โ“˜Tetradymite ?2.DC.05Bi2Te2S
โ“˜Tsumoite ?2.DC.05BiTe
โ“˜Molybdenite2.EA.30MoS2
โ“˜Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
โ“˜Marcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
โ“˜'Tennantite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S
โ“˜Enargite2.KA.05Cu3AsS4
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
โ“˜Goethite4.00.Fe3+O(OH)
โ“˜Magnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
โ“˜Hematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
โ“˜Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
โ“˜var. Milky Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
โ“˜Rutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
โ“˜Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
โ“˜Anhydrite7.AD.30CaSO4
โ“˜Baryte7.AD.35BaSO4
โ“˜Alunite7.BC.10KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
โ“˜Jarosite7.BC.10KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
โ“˜Gypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 ยท 2H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
โ“˜Epidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
โ“˜Muscovite
var. Illite		9.EC.15K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
โ“˜9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
โ“˜var. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
โ“˜Dickite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
โ“˜Kaolinite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Unclassified
โ“˜'Amphibole Supergroup'-AB2C5(T8O22)W2
โ“˜'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
โ“˜'Chlorite Group'-
โ“˜'Feldspar Group'-
โ“˜'Monazite Group'-REE(PO4)
โ“˜'Tourmaline'-AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
โ“˜'Hornblende Root Name Group'-โ—ปCa2(C2+4C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
โ“˜'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
โ“˜'K Feldspar'-
โ“˜'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3A

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hโ“˜ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Hโ“˜ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hโ“˜ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hโ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hโ“˜ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Hโ“˜ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hโ“˜ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Hโ“˜ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Hโ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hโ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hโ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
BBoron
Bโ“˜ TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
CCarbon
Cโ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oโ“˜ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Oโ“˜ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5(T8O22)W2
Oโ“˜ AnhydriteCaSO4
Oโ“˜ BaryteBaSO4
Oโ“˜ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oโ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Oโ“˜ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oโ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oโ“˜ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Oโ“˜ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oโ“˜ HematiteFe2O3
Oโ“˜ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Oโ“˜ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Oโ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oโ“˜ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oโ“˜ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
Oโ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oโ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Oโ“˜ RutileTiO2
Oโ“˜ TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Oโ“˜ Quartz var. Milky QuartzSiO2
Oโ“˜ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
Oโ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oโ“˜ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oโ“˜ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
FFluorine
Fโ“˜ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
NaSodium
Naโ“˜ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgโ“˜ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
AlAluminium
Alโ“˜ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Alโ“˜ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alโ“˜ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Alโ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alโ“˜ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Alโ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Alโ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alโ“˜ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
Alโ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alโ“˜ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SiSilicon
Siโ“˜ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siโ“˜ DickiteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siโ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siโ“˜ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Siโ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siโ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siโ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Siโ“˜ Quartz var. Milky QuartzSiO2
Siโ“˜ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
Siโ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siโ“˜ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
PPhosphorus
Pโ“˜ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
Pโ“˜ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
SSulfur
Sโ“˜ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Sโ“˜ AnhydriteCaSO4
Sโ“˜ BaryteBaSO4
Sโ“˜ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sโ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sโ“˜ ChalcociteCu2S
Sโ“˜ CovelliteCuS
Sโ“˜ DigeniteCu9S5
Sโ“˜ EnargiteCu3AsS4
Sโ“˜ GalenaPbS
Sโ“˜ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sโ“˜ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Sโ“˜ MarcasiteFeS2
Sโ“˜ MolybdeniteMoS2
Sโ“˜ PyriteFeS2
Sโ“˜ SphaleriteZnS
Sโ“˜ Native SulphurS8
Sโ“˜ Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S
Sโ“˜ TetradymiteBi2Te2S
KPotassium
Kโ“˜ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Kโ“˜ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kโ“˜ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Kโ“˜ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Kโ“˜ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kโ“˜ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caโ“˜ AnhydriteCaSO4
Caโ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Caโ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caโ“˜ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caโ“˜ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(C42+C3+)(AlSi7O22)W2
Caโ“˜ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Caโ“˜ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
TiTitanium
Tiโ“˜ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Tiโ“˜ RutileTiO2
FeIron
Feโ“˜ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feโ“˜ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feโ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feโ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Feโ“˜ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Feโ“˜ HematiteFe2O3
Feโ“˜ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Feโ“˜ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feโ“˜ MarcasiteFeS2
Feโ“˜ PyriteFeS2
CuCopper
Cuโ“˜ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuโ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuโ“˜ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuโ“˜ CovelliteCuS
Cuโ“˜ DigeniteCu9S5
Cuโ“˜ EnargiteCu3AsS4
Cuโ“˜ Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S
ZnZinc
Znโ“˜ SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
Asโ“˜ EnargiteCu3AsS4
Asโ“˜ Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S
MoMolybdenum
Moโ“˜ MolybdeniteMoS2
TeTellurium
Teโ“˜ TetradymiteBi2Te2S
Teโ“˜ TsumoiteBiTe
BaBarium
Baโ“˜ BaryteBaSO4
AuGold
Auโ“˜ Native GoldAu
PbLead
Pbโ“˜ GalenaPbS
BiBismuth
Biโ“˜ TetradymiteBi2Te2S
Biโ“˜ TsumoiteBiTe

Localities in this Region

Argentina

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

South AmericaContinent
South America PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Zwahlen, C., Cioldi, S., Wagner, T., Rey, R., Heinrich, C. (2014) The Porphyry Cu-(Mo-Au) Deposit at Altar (Argentina): Tracing Gold Distribution by Vein Mapping and LA-ICP-MS Mineral Analysis. Economic Geology, 109 (5) 1341-1358 doi:10.2113/econgeo.109.5.1341
Maydagรกn, Laura, Franchini, Marta, Rusk, Brian, Lentz, David R., McFarlane, Christopher, Impiccini, Agnes, Rรญos, Francisco Javier, Rey, Roger (2015) Porphyry to Epithermal Transition in the Altar Cu-(Au-Mo) Deposit, Argentina, Studied by Cathodoluminescence, LA-ICP-MS, and Fluid Inclusion Analysis. Economic Geology: 110: 889-923.
Maydagรกn, L., Franchini, M., Lentz, D.R. (2016) Quebrada de la Mina, a new porphyry Au deposit (31ยบ 29' S, 70ยบ 32' W) in the Andean Main Cordillera of San Juan, Argentina: a petrogenetic analysis. International Geological Congress, South Africa.
Maydagรกn, L., Franchini, M., Impiccini, A., & Lentz, D. (2016). Geoquรญmica de los filosilicatos en el pรณrfido de Cu (Au) Altar, San Juan: su aplicaciรณn en exploraciรณn minera, geotermometrรญa y metalurgia. Acta geolรณgica lilloana, 28(1), 212-213.
Quick NavTopCommoditiesMineral ListRock TypesLocalities in RegionOther RegionsReferences
 
and/or  
Mindat.orgยฎ is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindatยฎ and mindat.orgยฎ are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are ยฉ OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833โ€“844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: October 15, 2026 03:30:41 Page updated: July 24, 2026 13:56:51
Go to top of page