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El Laco Fe deposit, San Pedro de Atacama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chilei
Regional Level Types
El Laco Fe depositDeposit
San Pedro de AtacamaMunicipality
El Loa ProvinceProvince
AntofagastaRegion
ChileCountry

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PhotosMapsSearchMineralogy
07226940017272055175136.jpg
El Laco mining operation

El Laco Fe deposit, San Pedro de Atacama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chile
02731730017272055189559.jpg
Rockbridgeite, etc.

El Laco Fe deposit, San Pedro de Atacama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chile
08987580017271998528581.jpg
Rockbridgeite, etc.

El Laco Fe deposit, San Pedro de Atacama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chile
07226940017272055175136.jpg
El Laco mining operation

El Laco Fe deposit, San Pedro de Atacama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chile
02731730017272055189559.jpg
Rockbridgeite, etc.

El Laco Fe deposit, San Pedro de Atacama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chile
08987580017271998528581.jpg
Rockbridgeite, etc.

El Laco Fe deposit, San Pedro de Atacama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chile
07226940017272055175136.jpg
El Laco mining operation

El Laco Fe deposit, San Pedro de Atacama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chile
02731730017272055189559.jpg
Rockbridgeite, etc.

El Laco Fe deposit, San Pedro de Atacama, El Loa Province, Antofagasta, Chile
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
23° 50' 38'' South , 67° 29' 8'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-23.84389,-67.48556
GRN:
S16W44
Type:
Deposit
Kรถppen climate type:
ET : Tundra
Mindat Locality ID:
24996
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:24996:7
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
El Laco deposit; El Laco iron deposit


A highly unusual lava flow consisting principally of magnetite!
Iron oxide deposit, hosted in a Pliocene stratovolcano. The deposit comprises seven orebodies of massive magnetite within an 8 x 4 km area. Reserves are estimated at 500 million tons of ore grading at 60% Fe.
The ore formed by deposition of hot magmatic Fe-saturated gas. The ore contains magnetite spherules.

The magnetite mineralization predominantly occurs as large stratabound lenses containing massive ores and brecciated, scoria-like or friable magnetite ores and veined ores. The deposit is dominated by massive iron ores with the reserve of >1.5 billion tons (Gt) at a grade averaging 60 wt % Fe.

The Kiruna iron ores in Sweden are genetically similar.

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

26 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“˜ Anhydrite
Formula: CaSO4
โ“˜ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3A
โ“˜ Beraunite
Formula: Fe3+6(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
References:
Field collected by, and analyses by, Gรผnter Frenz.Identification: Raman Spectroscopy
โ“˜ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
โ“˜ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
โ“˜ Cristobalite
Formula: SiO2
โ“˜ Destinezite
Formula: Fe3+2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2O
โ“˜ Diopside
Formula: CaMgSi2O6
โ“˜ Fluorapatite
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F
โ“˜ Fluorite
Formula: CaF2
โ“˜ 'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
โ“˜ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
โ“˜ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
โ“˜ Hematite var. Martite
Formula: Fe2O3
โ“˜ Jarosite
Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
โ“˜ Kaolinite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
โ“˜ 'K Feldspar'
โ“˜ Lipscombite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2
โ“˜ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
โ“˜ Magnetite var. Mushketovite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
References:
Dr Federico Ahlfeld collectionIdentified by Alfredo Petrov: Visual Identification, Inferred (explain how)
โ“˜ Marialite
Formula: Na4Al3Si9O24Cl
โ“˜ Montmorillonite
Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
โ“˜ Natrojarosite
Formula: NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
โ“˜ Phlogopite
Formula: KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
โ“˜ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
โ“˜ 'Pyroxene Group'
Formula: ADSi2O6
โ“˜ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
โ“˜ Rockbridgeite
Formula: (Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)5
โ“˜ 'Scapolite'
โ“˜ Siderite
Formula: FeCO3
โ“˜ Strengite
Formula: FePO4 · 2H2O
โ“˜ Variscite
Formula: AlPO4 · 2H2O

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
โ“˜Chalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
โ“˜Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 3 - Halides
โ“˜Fluorite3.AB.25CaF2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
โ“˜Magnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
โ“˜var. Mushketovite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
โ“˜Hematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
โ“˜var. Martite4.CB.05Fe2O3
โ“˜Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
โ“˜Cristobalite4.DA.15SiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
โ“˜Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
โ“˜Siderite5.AB.05FeCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
โ“˜Anhydrite7.AD.30CaSO4
โ“˜Alunite7.BC.10KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
โ“˜Jarosite7.BC.10KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
โ“˜Natrojarosite7.BC.10NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
โ“˜Gypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 ยท 2H2O
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
โ“˜Lipscombite8.BB.90Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2
โ“˜Rockbridgeite8.BC.10(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)5
โ“˜Fluorapatite8.BN.05Ca5(PO4)3F
โ“˜Strengite8.CD.10FePO4 ยท 2H2O
โ“˜Variscite8.CD.10AlPO4 ยท 2H2O
โ“˜Destinezite8.DB.05Fe3+2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) ยท 6H2O
โ“˜Beraunite8.DC.27Fe3+6(PO4)4O(OH)4 ยท 6H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
โ“˜Diopside9.DA.15CaMgSi2O6
โ“˜Phlogopite9.EC.20KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
โ“˜Montmorillonite9.EC.40(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 ยท nH2O
โ“˜Kaolinite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
โ“˜Marialite9.FB.15Na4Al3Si9O24Cl
Unclassified
โ“˜'Scapolite'-
โ“˜'K Feldspar'-
โ“˜'Pyroxene Group'-ADSi2O6
โ“˜'Garnet Group'-X3Z2(SiO4)3
โ“˜'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3A

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hโ“˜ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Hโ“˜ BerauniteFe63+(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
Hโ“˜ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hโ“˜ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Hโ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hโ“˜ LipscombiteFe2+Fe23+(PO4)2(OH)2
Hโ“˜ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Hโ“˜ NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
Hโ“˜ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hโ“˜ Rockbridgeite(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe33+(PO4)3(OH)5
Hโ“˜ StrengiteFePO4 · 2H2O
Hโ“˜ VarisciteAlPO4 · 2H2O
Hโ“˜ DestineziteFe23+(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2O
CCarbon
Cโ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Cโ“˜ SideriteFeCO3
OOxygen
Oโ“˜ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Oโ“˜ AnhydriteCaSO4
Oโ“˜ BerauniteFe63+(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
Oโ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Oโ“˜ CristobaliteSiO2
Oโ“˜ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Oโ“˜ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Oโ“˜ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oโ“˜ HematiteFe2O3
Oโ“˜ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Oโ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oโ“˜ LipscombiteFe2+Fe23+(PO4)2(OH)2
Oโ“˜ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oโ“˜ MarialiteNa4Al3Si9O24Cl
Oโ“˜ Hematite var. MartiteFe2O3
Oโ“˜ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Oโ“˜ NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
Oโ“˜ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oโ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Oโ“˜ Rockbridgeite(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe33+(PO4)3(OH)5
Oโ“˜ SideriteFeCO3
Oโ“˜ StrengiteFePO4 · 2H2O
Oโ“˜ VarisciteAlPO4 · 2H2O
Oโ“˜ DestineziteFe23+(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2O
Oโ“˜ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
Oโ“˜ Magnetite var. MushketoviteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oโ“˜ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
Oโ“˜ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
FFluorine
Fโ“˜ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Fโ“˜ FluoriteCaF2
NaSodium
Naโ“˜ MarialiteNa4Al3Si9O24Cl
Naโ“˜ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Naโ“˜ NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
MgMagnesium
Mgโ“˜ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Mgโ“˜ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Mgโ“˜ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alโ“˜ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Alโ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Alโ“˜ MarialiteNa4Al3Si9O24Cl
Alโ“˜ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Alโ“˜ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alโ“˜ VarisciteAlPO4 · 2H2O
SiSilicon
Siโ“˜ CristobaliteSiO2
Siโ“˜ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Siโ“˜ KaoliniteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siโ“˜ MarialiteNa4Al3Si9O24Cl
Siโ“˜ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Siโ“˜ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siโ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Siโ“˜ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
Siโ“˜ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
PPhosphorus
Pโ“˜ BerauniteFe63+(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
Pโ“˜ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Pโ“˜ LipscombiteFe2+Fe23+(PO4)2(OH)2
Pโ“˜ Rockbridgeite(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe33+(PO4)3(OH)5
Pโ“˜ StrengiteFePO4 · 2H2O
Pโ“˜ VarisciteAlPO4 · 2H2O
Pโ“˜ DestineziteFe23+(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2O
Pโ“˜ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
SSulfur
Sโ“˜ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Sโ“˜ AnhydriteCaSO4
Sโ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sโ“˜ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sโ“˜ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Sโ“˜ NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
Sโ“˜ PyriteFeS2
Sโ“˜ DestineziteFe23+(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2O
ClChlorine
Clโ“˜ MarialiteNa4Al3Si9O24Cl
KPotassium
Kโ“˜ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Kโ“˜ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Kโ“˜ PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caโ“˜ AnhydriteCaSO4
Caโ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Caโ“˜ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Caโ“˜ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Caโ“˜ FluoriteCaF2
Caโ“˜ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caโ“˜ Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Caโ“˜ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
FeIron
Feโ“˜ BerauniteFe63+(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
Feโ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feโ“˜ HematiteFe2O3
Feโ“˜ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Feโ“˜ LipscombiteFe2+Fe23+(PO4)2(OH)2
Feโ“˜ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feโ“˜ Hematite var. MartiteFe2O3
Feโ“˜ NatrojarositeNaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
Feโ“˜ PyriteFeS2
Feโ“˜ Rockbridgeite(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe33+(PO4)3(OH)5
Feโ“˜ SideriteFeCO3
Feโ“˜ StrengiteFePO4 · 2H2O
Feโ“˜ DestineziteFe23+(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2O
Feโ“˜ Magnetite var. MushketoviteFe2+Fe23+O4
CuCopper
Cuโ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2

Localities in this Region

Chile

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

Wegner, Reinhard (1982) El Laco/Chile. Lavastrรถme aus Eisenerz [El Laco/Chile. Iron ore lava flows]. Lapis, 7 (5) 15-18
Nystroem, Jan Olov; Henriquez, Fernando (1994) Magmatic features of iron ores of the Kiruna type in Chile and Sweden: ore textures and magnetite geochemistry. Economic Geology, 89 (4). p.820-839. doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.89.4.820
Bookstrom, Arthur A. (1995) Magmatic features of iron ores of the Kiruna type in Chile and Sweden: ore textures and magnetite geochemistry - a discussion. Economic Geology, 90 (2). p.469-473. doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.90.2.469
Nystroem, Jan Olav; Henriquez, Fernando (1995) Magmatic features of iron ores of the Kiruna type in Chile and Sweden: ore textures and magnetite geochemistry; reply. Economic Geology, 90 (2). p.473-475. doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.90.2.473
Maskaev, V., Townley, B., Palacios, C., Camus, F. (2007) Metallic Ore Deposits. In The Geology of Chile. The Geological Society. p.179-200.
Fischer, W. (2011) Eine Mineralienreise durch Chile & Argentinien. Mineralien-Welt, 22(2) 38-48 [in German].
Nystrรถm, J.O., Henrรญquez, F., Naranjo, J.A., Naslund, H.R. (2016): Magnetite spherules in pyroclastic iron ore at El Laco, Chile. American Mineralogist: 101: 587-595
Velasco, Francisco; Tornos, Fernando; Hanchar, John M. (2016) Immiscible iron- and silica-rich melts and magnetite geochemistry at the El Laco volcano (northern Chile): Evidence for a magmatic origin for the magnetite deposits. Ore Geology Reviews, 79. 346-366 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2016.06.007
Tornos, Fernando, Velasco, Francisco, Hanchar, John M. (2016) Iron-rich melts, magmatic magnetite, and superheated hydrothermal systems: The El Laco deposit, Chile. Geology, 44 (6) 427-430 doi:10.1130/g37705.1
Tornos, Fernando, Velasco, Francisco, Hanchar, John M. (2017) The Magmatic to Magmatic-Hydrothermal Evolution of the El Laco Deposit (Chile) and Its Implications for the Genesis of Magnetite-Apatite Deposits. Economic Geology, 112 (7) 1595-1628 doi:10.5382/econgeo.2017.4523
[1]Xie, Qiuhong, Zhang, Zhaochong, Hou, Tong, Cheng, Zhiguo, Campos, Eduardo, Wang, Zhenchao, Fei, Xianghui (2019) New Insights for the Formation of Kiruna-Type Iron Deposits by Immiscible Hydrous Fe-P Melt and High-Temperature Hydrothermal Processes: Evidence from El Laco Deposit. Economic Geology, 114 (1) 35-46 doi:10.5382/econgeo.2019.4618
Bain, Wyatt M., Steele-MacInnis, Matthew, Tornos, Fernando, Hanchar, John M., Creaser, Emily C., Pietruszka, Dorota K. (2021) Evidence for iron-rich sulfate melt during magnetite(-apatite) mineralization at El Laco, Chile. Geology, 49 (9) 1044-1048 doi:10.1130/g48861.1
Guo, Dongwei, Li, Yanhe, Duan, Chao, Fan, Changfu (2022) Involvement of Evaporite Layers in the Formation of Iron Oxide-Apatite Ore Deposits: Examples from the Luohe Deposit in China and the El Laco Deposit in Chile. Minerals, 12 (8) 1043 doi:10.3390/min12081043
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