Evapofacies associated with the Salar Hombre Muerto, Puna: Distribution and genesis

Abstract

This paper identifies, describes and shows the areal distribution of facies and evapofacies associated with Salar Hombre Muerto, located in the eastern border of the Southern Puna, in an area with a wide diffusion of borates. The salar can be divided in two sub-basins, the western and the eastern, both separate for the central island of Farallón Catal. The eastern sub-basin is boratiferous, with low chlorides contained, while the western one shows a thick halite accumulation (up to 900 m) in surface and in depth and it is practically sterile in borates. Several hypothesis on the genesis of the boratiferous evapofacies, minerallogically represented by the borate ulexite, are proposed. This evapofacies is the economic interest mined area, where lithium brines are also extracted.