18 ______c0NSE10 DE RECURSOS MINERALES 2.2 GEOLOGICAL SYNTHESIS The Potosinian geological basement is constituted by Upper Paleozoic metamorphic racks, which crop out on the Sierra de Catorce nucleus, located in the northeastern portion of the State. The sedimentary sequence that covers discordantly the Paleozoic basement, is repre~ sented by an Upper Triassic marine mesozoic sedimentary sequence, corresponding to the Zacatecas Formation and the Upper Triassic continental Huizachal Formation red beds, Which in turn are discordantly covered either by La Joya Formation Jurassic red beds or by Upper Jurassic marine sediments (Oxfordian Zuloaga Limestone). This sequence is overlain by the apparently concordant Cretaceous calcareous marine sedimentary package in practi- cally all the State of Sen Luis Potosi, and in a very restricted area by a volcanosedimentary package (Chilitos Formation), which crops out on the central part of the State of Zacatecas, ‘boundary, The Cenozoic in different areas discordentiy covers some of the above mentioned rocks and is represented here by undifferentiated volcanic rocks, 3s well as by marine clastic rocks. The existing intrusive igneous rocks are of felsic to intermediate composition andi they in- trude the metamorphic basement end the sedimentary package. Finally, conglomerates with evaporitic sediments were deposited during the Pleistocene. The Quaternary includes basalt flows, piedmont deposits, alluvium and occasionally evaporites and caliche layers. A State geological map is included in this monograph (Plate A), in which is shown the distribution of the above mentioned rocks and a generalized stratigraphic column (Figure 9). tna synthetized form the existing mineral deposits ae also shown, and the main ones are pre- sented in a geological-mining chart (Plate B). The geological models for the most important istrict, ae illustrated on Plate C. 2.2.1 Metamorphic Paleozoic (Pzm) In the State of San Luis Potosi the oldest rocks so far dated correspond to the late Paleozoic. The only locality where these rocks have been reported is the general canyon in Sierra de Ca- torce (Plate A), where they form an anticlinorium that plunges north and where an old block constituted by a package of metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks, mostly metagraywac- kes (greenstone), crops out. A thin horizon of andesitic metatuffs and metapelites (phyllites) exists, which according to Reaser et al. (1989), contains spores of Lycospora sp. and Denos- porites sp., whose age covers Late Mississipian and Early Pennsyivenian. These rocks are in- trudled ly mafic dikes (diabase). The old metamorphic package is covered unconformably by either Upper Triassic continental Huizachal Formation red beds or Upper Jurassic Zuloaga Limestone, 2.2.2 Mesozoic ‘The Mesozoic metamorphic, marine sedimentary, continental clastic, and volcanosedimentary rocks, are found exposed mainly in the central, northeastern and southeastem parts of the Sta- te; their geographic position coincide with the Sietta Madre Oriental Physiographic Province eastern boundary, which crosses the State along its length in its eastern, northwestern and northem boundary, as well as and the westem and northeastern part of the Central Plateau Pro- Vinee. These rocks locally overlie some Paleozoic racks (Sierra de Catorce) in apparent un- conformity (Plate A). 2.2.2.1 MARINE UPPER TRIASSIC (-sm) The Upper Triassic Marine in the State of San Luis Potosi corresponds to one stratigraphic unit that was plotted on the geological map of this monograph (Plate A), represented by the Za- catecas Formation. The rocks belonging to this series crop out in small areas in the western portion of the State (Charcas and Penn Blanco), considered as Late Triassic. The Zacatecas Fermation has its tyne locality in the Zacatecas Mining District, where it has keen dated with certain precision by its fossil content (Juvavites and Sirenites Sp., among others); on this ba- sis itwas determined that the age of this sequence is Upper Triassic Marine (Carian). The Z- catecas Formation is constituted lthotogically by philtes, sites, quertzites end limestones. ‘Also in this zone there have been recognized metamorphosed conglomerates and volcanic rocks that show a low-grade metamorphism and weak foliationCGEOLOGICAL-MINING MONOGRAPH OF THE STATE OF SAN LUIS Poros! ‘The Zacatecas Formation crops out in the Charcas Mining District, where its constituted by ‘Shiites and shales, with dark gray limestone lenses and similar fossil contents (Juvavites sp). tn Cerro del Perién Bianco area, metamorphic rocks crop out ithologicelly identified as guartzites, schists, sercitic phyllites and metaconglomerates that by their stratigraphic posi- tion, metamorphic grade and a fossil clasified as Sirenites sp. (Chavez-Aguitte, 1968), have been considered as Marine Upper Triassic. 2.2.2.2 CONTINENTAL TRIASSIC (F-c) In Real de Catorce, in the notth of the State, the continental Mesozoic crops out, represented by the Huizechal Formation red beds. In Sierra de Catorce, this unit crops out and is consti- tuted by conglomerates that contain fragments of igneous racks, shales, and green, stay and red siltstones, whose thickness is around 100 m; on the basis af its stratigraphic position it has bbeen assigned to the Late Triassic; it rests discordantly on Paleozoic metamorphic rocks. 2.2.23 MARINE LOWER JURASSIC (Jim) ‘The Marine Lower Jurassic in San Luis Potos' is represented by the Huayacocotla Formation, defined by Imlay (1948) as a more than 300 m thick section, situated in Tlahualompa and Tian- guistengo, north of Tulancingo, Hidalgo. It is constituted by a sequence of banded black, fractured, siaty shales, which also contain some thickly stratified sandstones. This unit is found widely distriouted in the Hyayacocota, Hidalgo, region, and in San Luis Potost is seen onty in small areas in the Tamazunchale resion (Plate A). 2.2.2.4 CONTINENTAL MIDDLE JURASSIC (Jmc) ‘The Middle Jurassic has been studied in the region by several authors, standing out among them Carrillo Bravo (1965) who formally proposed the name Cehuases Formation for & se ‘quence of continental sediments constituted by sendstones, conglomerates and red silt- stones, approximately 1,000 m thick. Its type locality isin the Cahuasas ranch, Hidalgo, on cone side of the Amajac River southeast of Chapulhuacén, This formation discordantly overlies the Huayacocetis Formation and lies under the Taran Formation. It is constituted by alluvial and fluvial sediments deposited in intermountain basins, probably associated to tectonic sgrabens; by its stratigraphic position the Cehuasas Formation is considered as Micdle Jures sic (Bajocian - Bathonian). This unit does not crop out in San Luis Potosi, since its presence has only been reported underground in the eastem region of the State. La Joya Formation crops out in the Charcas Mining District, where it discordantly overlies the Marine Upper Triassic of the Zacatecas Formation and is constituted litholosically by = conglomerate, sandstone and shale package of approximately 40 m. For its stratigraphic Po- sition it has been assigned to the Middle Jurassic. The Minas Viejas Formation was informatly proposed by Humphrey (1954), to designate a packege of gypsum, shale and sandstone, in which the red color predeminates, it overlies the. Zuloaga Limestone near Monterrey, Nuevo Leén. In San Luis Potosi, this unit has been mapped as such, but its suspected that it may correspond to certain gypsiferous horizons belonging to the Zuloaga Formation in Sierra El Tunal, located in the northwestem side. 2.2.2.5 MARINE UPPER JURASSIC (Jsm) The Marine Upper Jurassic includes the following Formations: Zuloaga, Santiago, Tamén, La Ca- ja, La Casita anci Pimienta (Figure 9) Zuloaga Limestone, The oicest part of this system is represented by a sedimentary sequence constituted by Upper Juressic (Oxfordian) rocks from the Zuloaga Limestone. This unit is found widely dietributed in the north part ofthe State end generally constitutes the anticlinal structures mucleuses. It consists of thin- to thick-oedded limestone (0.30 to 4 m) with colors that vary from light to medium gray and cream, which change by weathering to reddish anc) yellowish to very light gray. Occasionally they present layers composed of angular clasts, as well as clayey layers. In some isolated areas, it contains cryptocrystalline dolomite. The Zulos- ga Limestone underlies the La Caja Formation in e conformable form; $0, its age is consiciered 2s Upper Oxtordian. This unit contains mussels and coral fragments. Santiago Formation. |t crops out in La Huasteca; it was formally defined by Canté-Chapa (1969). This formation conformably underlies the Jaman Formation and also conformably20 CONSEJO DE RECURSOS MINERALES overlies the Tepexic Formation, a8 revealed by its ammonites; its age has been determined and ranges from middle Callovian to late Oxfordian (Canté-Chapa, 1971). ‘Taman Formation. It was defined by Heim (1940), in Rio Moctezuma Valley, located south: ‘west from Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosi; it consists of a black limestone in medium to thick layers with black shale interlayering; ts thickness was estimated at 500 m. This formation con: formably overties the Santiago Formation and conformably underlies the Pimienta Formation. La Caja Formation. it crops out in the north and north-west of the State of San Luis Potosi, mainiy inthe shape of paralie! strips on the limos of an anticline whose nucleus is formed by the Zuloage Limestone. Litnologicelly, La Caja Formation is constituted by calcareous clay, with thin interlayering of black chert in the middle and upper parts. It has thin strata of limestones, shales, calcareous shales and clayey limestones. Its presents calcereous clay concretions up to 1 m diameter and phosphate rich horizons. ‘The incompetent character of this formation makes it easily attacked by erosion, thus forming saddles and elongated valleys parallel to the strike of the strate. Fossil content has permitted to determine the age, which varies trom upper Oxfordian to Tithonian, through Kim- meridian anc Portiandian, The emmonite aoundance suggests an infraneritic environmental deposition La Casita Formation. it crops out in small areas in the far northern reaches; it was formally defined in Cafién de La Casita, Sierra de Parras, Coahuila, by Imlay (1967). Ths formation is re- presented by a sequence of shale, siltstone, sandstone and clayey limestone occasionelly slightly phosphetic. In the lower part, it occasionally presents carbonaceous horizons and also erratically very fossiliferous calcareous concretions; its thickness is variable, more or less of 200 m, The age was determined on the basis of its fossil content (ammonites), a5 being from Kimmeridgian to Tithonian, and it is corelatable with La Caje and Pimienta Formations. Pimienta Formation. It wes defined by Heim (1926) ts type locality is on the Moctezuma river bank, southwest from Temén. It crops out in San Luis Potos in the southeast Husstece re- gion. This formation conformably overlies the Chapulhuacén Formation, east ftom the Valles- San Luis Platform, andi El Abra Formation. In the Valle de Guadalupe well (PEME®, it conform- ably overlies the Taran Formation. Lithologicaly it consists of black micrtic limestone with thin stratification and intelayering of black chert nodules, and clayey limestone that occa- sionally contains spherical concretions of limestone and greenish to reddish-brown shale horizons. Its age was determined, on the basis ofits ammonite contents 8s corresponding to the Tthonian, and it can be correlated in time with La Casita and La Cala Formations 2.2.2.6 VOLCANOSEDIMENTARY LOWER CRETACEOUS (Kiv) Towards the west, on the boundary with the State of Zacatecas, a volcanosedimentary litho- logical unit has been observed and denominated as Chilitos Formation, whose age cores- ponds to the Lower Cretaceous. It has only been observed in the area that covers the central fpart of the State of Zacatecas boundary (Plate A). The Chites Formation is @ volcanosedi- mentary sequence that occasionally exhibits a very low grade of metamorphism. It is consti- tuted by lavas of basaltic-andesitic composition with volcaniclastic and calcareous interlayer ing. Its age has been determined by its ammonite contents, collected in Arroyo de Chilites, ear Fresnillo, Zacatecas (type locality), and radiolaria collected! in El Saucito (Panfilo Noters); 'nS age corresponds to Lower Cretaceous, 2.2.2.7 MARINE LOWER CRETACEOUS (Kim) The Lower Cretaceous is widely distributed in the northeastern end southeastern parts of the. State (Plate A). It's represented by marine sedimentary rocks. The stratigraphic column of this, system (Figure 9) includes five lithologic units covering from Neocomian to Albian (Lower Cretaceous); in general they are constituted by limestone with bedding that can be thin, me- dium, thick and, in parts, massive. Each of these formations is briefly described as follows Taraises Formation. In the north part of the State, this unit has @ wide distribution anc is constituted by limestone that can be thin- to medium-bedeled and for some very thin shale layers at the top, ot a color that goes from light gray to bluish dark gray andi tan; in the upper part of this unit there are bands of black and cream colored chert nodules. These rocks alsoGEOLOGICAL-MINING MONOGRAPH OF THE STATE OF SAN LUIS POTOS! Contain pyrite as weak disseminations and in nodules, which when oxidized gives the rock @ Coloration that goes from yellowish ochre to brick red. The age has been determined, on the lbasis of its fossil content (ammonites), 38 Neacorian Cupido Limestone, It crops out in the north of the State and is constituted by medium- to thick-bedded limestone; the color varies from light to medium gray, which when weathered ‘acquires 3 tan color, These limestones contain chert lenses and nodules, more abundant thar inthe Taraises Formation, with which the contact is transitional andi not easy to aistinguishy; By- Tite concretions are more abundant and larger than in the underlying unit; on the other hand, the shale interlayers are very scarce and they are very thin, In this unit the fossi! fauna consists only of badly preserved ammonites. However, an upper Hauterivian to Barremisn age has been assigned due to is stratigraphic position Lower Tamaulipas Formation. It crops out in the northem and northeastern parts of the State. It consists of dark grey end steel gray microcrystalline limestone, with layers from 95 to 50 em thick, they join to form 1 m thick layers with stylolites along the stratification planes, It has gray to light brown chert nodules with some hematite pseudomorphs after pyrite crys- tals. Weathering gives this limestone a yellowish color. Average thickness of the unit is about 300 m; it conformably overlies the Early Cretaceous Taraises Formation or La Casita or La Ca- ja Formations, both from the Late Jurassic; its upper contact is conformable with the Otates La Pera Formations, and laterally it presents a change of facies to the Guaxcamé Formation. Its 8ge corresponds to Neocomian, Guaxcama Formation. The type locality is in the Guaxcama mining district, originally described by Martinez (1966). Itis formed by a sequence of anhydrite and gypsum with oc~ |2) ovesiav p —Al CALLOVAN ‘Continental Middl Jurassic conglomerate, sandstone Laer : #2 [Lecthonmos | sme | 80 shale. Catuasas and La Joya Formations *8 T pasocian | PT a ‘Marine Lower Jurassic, Slaty black shale and sandstone, a Huayacocotia Formation &3 eae a eS 5 Tanned Upper Tai = & NORIAN Upper Tassie Hulzachal Formation So Khe TCARINIAN Zebstocas Formation = 3 Metamorphic Paleozoic evan Bg | cores | RSmSa congo si ais 8] mcsisseran FIGURE 9. GENERALIZED GEOLOGIC COLUMN.5 MONOGRAPH OF THE STATE OF SAN LUIS POTOSI The San Luis Potost volcanic field belongs to one of the world’s most important ignim- boitic provinces, having a thickness greater than 1,000 m of f'sic voleanic rocks extruded dur- ing a relatively short interval in the Oligocene, from 31 to 9% Ma bp. Before this event, the only volcanic activity present in the State is reptesented by isolated Eocene (44 Ma 6.0.) ancesitic flows, which unconformably overlie Mesozoic sedimentary rocks or Tertiary conti- rental sediments Extensive ash flows, and thyodacitic to rhyolitic ave flows have been mapped in discrete units by the Instituto de Geologia, UASLP (Geological institute, UASLP); all this has been published in @ series of technical papers In the southeastern part of the State ignimbrites and rhyolites crop out. Within this se- ‘quence rhyolitic lavas with topaz and tin mineralization have been identified in Ahualulco, Vi lla de Reyes and Villa de Arriaga 2.2.3.4 VOLCANIC QUATERNARY (Qb) Basalt flows crop out in several localites in the State of San Luis Potosi, which in most cases form small plateaus, occasionally they developed columnar jointing, flow stucture or amyg- daloidal texture. A Pieistocenic age has been attributed to some of them, such as the case of the basanites of Sierra de Catorce. 2.2.3.5 CONTINENTAL QUATERNARY (Qal) ‘The clastic Continental Quatemary includes detritic deposits that are in the process of being induratedt they are composed of gravels, such as the unit informally named El Jabonero gre- vel, which crops out in the northeastern part of the State, This formation consists of unsorted subrounded to anguiar gravel, with grain size that varies between 5 cm and 1m, predominat- ing the size of 15 to 20 cm in diameter. Some times such sediments are poorly cemented ty caliche and clays; the fragments are of limestone from the area's formations. It covers uncon- formably the other formations, in particular the ones from the Upper Cretaceous, as talus de- posits and alluvium tha? in some localities are somewhat cemented by a calcareous matrix (caliche). The thickest detrital material is generally found on the mountain slopes andl towards the valleys its stain size decreases until it consists of gravels, sands and silts 28 2.3 REGIONAL TECTONIC FRAME ‘The characteristic physiographic features are the result of the continental tectonic evolution, ‘The genesis, and time and space distribution of the various intrusive igneous bodies em- placed during the lower and middle Tertiary have a close association with the metallic and nonmetallic deposits located in the State ‘The pre-Laremide strictures are not evident; nevertheless, it can be mentioned that in the Paleozoic of Sierra de Catorce there isa fracture schistosity that affects the pre-Juressic rocks and the corresponding structures of the anticlinorium that form the Sierra de Catorce. In San iuis Potosi the Triassic rocks (Charcas anc! Peiton Blanco), do not allow the region- al tectonic features to be identified; only local structures, some of great complexity in their evelopment and orientation, can be identified. The pelitic rocks present up to three folia- tons, which may or may not be parallel with the stratification. Also, different types and sizes of folds, normal large angle faults, and reverse faults are present. In San Luis Potosi, the dominant structures are the ones that are directly related to the La- ramide or the Hidalgoan Orogeny, mostly develoged during the lower Cenozoic (Paleocene), ‘when anticline and synctinal folded series were originated (Figure 10). In the Sierra Madre Oriental Province, the Laramie tectonic phase began at the end of the Central Mexico's 4aesozoic basin development (Mexican Geosyncline) and is genetically responsible for the Paleocene, north-south elongated folds. ‘A later phase produced the basement-fold development by compressive stress along @ NNW-SSE strike, mong which there stand out the Sierra de Catorce and Sierra de Charcas, ‘which show tectonic slippage of the calcareous Mesozoic cover followed immediately by sranedioritic pluton emplacement. The emplacement of such igneous bodies during the Ter- tiary gave way to the formation of mineral deposits of skarn and vein types, sornetimes of eco- nomic importance, originated by fault and fracture filing, as is known in Charcas, Real de Ca. torce, Santa Maria de la Paz and El Sabino mining districts, among others.f 191 STATE OF SAN LUIS POTOSI _ (ea CONSEJO DE RECURSOS MINERALES — GEOLOGICAL-MINING MONOGRAPHS — 94 \ source: PADWLAY SANCHEZ, ET AL. 1998. EXPLANATION surgeon uve sea sure BouNoAR totctt SYMMETRICAL ANTICLINE ve ASYMMETRALANTICLNE = scate vem oe ese 1201 [REVERSE FAULT. aoe ae nena xy raaonsco x | co a var 3 FIGURE 10. SIMPLIFIED TECTONIC MAP.GEOLOGICAL-MINING MONOGRAPH OF THE STATE OF SAN LUIS POTOSI itis thought that during the Oligocene some calderas were developed, such as thet at Ahualulco, and other similiar tectonic features exist in the State (Figure 10), to which eco- ‘nomi mineral deposits, whether metallic cr nonmetallic, could be related. An Oligocene tectonic phase (28 Ma 6.p., eopvoximetely) generated a series of distension faults, This was responsible for the tectonic grabens, such as those of Villa de Reyes, Bledos, and Villa de ‘Arista (Figure 10). On this easter side there are depressions, some of them occupied by Intermountain lakes that present the possibility of containing lithium, potassium, baron and sodium salts of economic importance, in particular those located in the semidesertic zones in the central and easter parts of the State in Salinas, Villa de Ramos ancl Santo Domingo municipalities. 2.4 GEOLOGICAL HISTORY In San Luis Potos', the oldest known geological feature seems to be the Paleozoic rocks that represent the metamorphic basement in Sierra de Catorce, whose protolith was @ volcano- sedimentary sequence; very probably, these rocks were deposited during the late Paleozoic After an intense erosion period, the Huizachal Formation was unconformably deposited over the Paleozoic metamorphic rocks, constituted by red beds with interlayered volcanic heri- Zzons. The first known marine sedimentary event cortesponds to the Zacatecas Formation de- posit in the Upper Triassic; afterwards, in the Early Jurassic, Huayacocotla Formation seci- ments were deposited in the Valles-San Luis Potosi Platform. La Joya formation red beds swere deposited at the end of the Middle Jurassic. In the north region of the State, at the end Of the Oxfordian, a transgression was started, when the Zuloaga Formation was deposited ‘over the erosion surface that had teen developed on the Huizachal Formation red beds. The relative proximity of the sea and the prevailing climatic conditions during this period con: trolled the development of an evaporitic environment occasionally present on the top of Zu: Joega Limestone (Olvido Formation). ‘Afterwards, in the Kimmeridgian-Tthonien, in an infraneritic environment with relatively ‘uiet periods, in which pure calcareous muds were deposited and a small amount of clastic materials originated, the Tamén, La Caja, La Casita and Pimienta Formations were deposited ver an irregular surface which probably originsted by minor tectonic movements, 30 they are mostly, though not entirely, clastic. It is considered that the prevailing climate in neighboring areas during this period was desertic. After this event the Taraises and Cupido Formations ‘were deposited in central Mexico, and the Lower Tamaulipas Formation was deposited in the Tempico-Misantla Basin, in the clear waters of shallow seas that allowed the development of some ammonites and pelecypods; there were also euxinic zones, as indicated by the pre- sence of syngenetic pyrite. Simultaneously with the Lower Cretaceous calcareous sediments deposited on the pilat- form zone, west of this region, an insular arc was under development. thus originating the deposition of the volcanosedimentary sequence that constitutes the Chilitos Formation, ‘Also, during the Early Cretaceous, the deposition of the evaporitic Guaxcamé Formetion boegen over the Valles-San Luis Potost Platform. ‘The La Pera andl Orates Formations were deposited in an environment unsuitable for life, as suggested by the lack of fossils in them. At the end of the Lower Cretaceous, the El Abra «andi El Doctor Formations reef limestones were deposited on the platform, the Temabra Formation wes deposited! on the platform edges, as well as the Upper Tamaulipas Formation in the Tampico-Misantla asin and the Cuesta del Cura Formation in the Central Mexico Mesozoic Basin. The lithology of Cuesta del Cura Formation implies the continuity of the marine transgression, which evened out the marine bottom depth At the beginning of the Late Cretaceous a sudden change happened in the sediment supply, among which the clastics predominated, ‘Some authors consider that the Indidura Formation deposition in the central Mexico Me- sozoic Basin was the beginning of a cyclical deposition that constituted a fiysch that started in the Late Cenomanian and continued until the Paleocene. In the Cenomanian, during the Ca- racol Formation deposition, the same conditions prevailed as when the Indidura Formation ‘was deposited, but the presence of sandstone layers points out a hish-energy deposit envi- ronment During that epoch, clastic and calcareous sediments from the Temasopo and Cérdenas Formations were deposited over the platform, just as on the Tampico-Misantia Basin, where the Agus Nueva, San Felipe and Méndez Formations, were originatedCONSEJO DF RECURSOS MINERALES ‘The Cenozoic Era was characterized by the extinction of a great number of organisms ‘and the beginning of the Laramide Orogeny that drastically ansformed all the country to the north and northeast, thus giving rise to the Sierra Madre Oriental, due to folding of the Meso- zoic sediments, and to the building up of the Sierta Madre Occidental, by the accumulation of enormous volumes of volcanic rocks; thus, it was also originated the region denominated “Altiplano” (Plateau) and the emplacement of intrusive igneous bodies. The most important rmetallogenic processes that gave origin to the economic rineralization known in the State of San luis Potos! are from the Cenozoic and its genesis had a close relation with the tectonic and magmatic processes The Sierra Madre Oriental folding took effect at the beginning of the Eocene and consti- tuted the culmination of the Laramide Orogeny. Deformation was accompanied by uprising ‘end erosion of the northwestern slope that gave piace to the formation of great alluvial fans ‘and this filled the synctinal troughs Toward the ending of the Laramie Orogeny the granodiorite intrusives were emplaced in the anticline fold nuclei, deforming even more the sedimentary rocks. The compressional stresses were followed by a relaxation during which the tensional stress predominated by provoking a faulting in blocks. A calc-alkalic volcanism began to develop representing the base of Sierra Madre Occidental felsic volcanic series, and during the Oligocene the San Luis Potosi Volcanic Field (Campo Volcdnico) was developed. From the Pliocene until the Holo- ene, the predominant process was of the erosional kind more than of deposition. 2.5 MINERAL DEPOSIT TYPES In the State of San Luis Potosi a great diversity of mineral deposit types are known, both me: tallic and nonmetallic (Plate 8). The host rocks for these deposits are very variable and they include formations that represent from the Palezoic up to the Tertiary. The mineralization age Cotreponds approximately in a 75% to the Tertiary, and is mainly epigenetic (Plate C). A. VEINS A. Hydrothermal Veins in Faults and Fractures The State of San Luis Potosi an important fluorite producer and its of medium importance in siives, gold andi zinc. Its main ore deposits are veins in sedimentary igneous intrusive and inoleanic rocks, as well as those due to thermal or dyramothermal metamorphism. The veins were originated by fault and fractue fling by hydrothermal processes with 8 thickness that varies from a few cm up to 10 m (Real de Catorce and Nueste Sefiora de la Huriidad in Real de la Maroma), in some cases, their lengths exceed 3 km (Rosario vein, Charcas district). ‘Among this kind of deposits, we can also consider the celestite veins formest ny fauiting, fil ling, and partial replacement, hosted in Lower Cretaceous calcareous rocks, B. STRATIFORM DEPOSITS B.1 Sedimentary Deposits The marine, sttiform phosphorites are syngenetic deposits contained in La Caja Formation, which are of wide distribution in the north of the State, mainly in sierra Presa de Santa Ana, Volumes of this material and! their average srade are not known owing to lack of evaluation studies. Nevertheless, in such sieirathe maximum mineral grade, after Garcla-Calderén (1968), 's about 16.5% of phosphorous pentoxide (PO), which was obtained in a locality situated 5 km southwest from Presa de Santa Ana village B.2 _Evaporitic Chemical Deposits Important evaporite deposits exist in San Luis Potos’, constituted by large volumes of anhy- rite and gypsum, contained in a wide range within the Guaxcamé Formation in the central- aster portion ofthe State; it was deposited on the Valles-San Luis Potos! Platform during the Early Cretaceous (Neocomian-Aptian). In the western region, by the State of Zacatecas boundary, there are brines with sodium salts and very probably economic concentrations of lithium, boron and potassium, in lagunesGEOLOGICAL: MINING MONOGRAPH OF THE STATE OF SAN LUIS POTOSI and in the brackish waters of shallows aquifers, such as at laguna Los Hemnéndez in the Santo Domingo and Salinas municipality (in exploitation since the XVI Century) C. DISSEMINATES C1 Veinlets In Sierra de Catorce (after Pantoja-Alor, 1963), there are a series of asbestos veinlets of the “ac tinolite* variety, and also in small pockets i greenstones of mafic composition. They are found. as well in the stockwork of Cerro de San Pedro, D. JRREGULAR DEPOSITS D.1 Skarn Wollastonite is abundantly present in the northern end of Panfilo Natera (El Zacaton) monzo- nitic contact with the Mesozoic limestones. Although no actual reserves are known as such, it is estimated that in the State there exist important resources of this materia D.2 Replacement In the State of San Luis Potos! there are silver, lead, zinc, gold and copper deposits criginst- ‘ed by metasomati¢ replacement in metamorphic aureoles (stam), developed in Mesozoic calcareous rocks in or near their contact with intrusive igneous rocks, which originated big mineralized bodies, such as those of Chercas, Santa Maria de la Paz, Res! de Catorce and Gua- dalcézar, In the Wadley antimoniferous district, there also are iregular antimony bodies hosted in Mesozoic calcareous rocls. D.3. Cavity Filling In Vanegas, Cectal, Matehusla, La Paz and Santo Domingo, in the central and northern portions. of the State, there are important onyx deposits of different textures and colors; some of them are already in exploitation and others are at present under technical-economical analysis stu dies to determine the est manner of their exploitation. 0.4 Hydrothermal Alteration Deposits In Ahualulco, Mexquitic, Villa de Ariaga and Villa de Reyes municipalities, there are impor- tant kaolin deposits in inegular bodies derived from the hydrothermal alteration of rhyolitic voleanic rocks. D.5 Volcanic Materials Because some 10% of the Stete is covered by volcanic rocis, there are many localities in which these are quarried for architectural, as well as other ornamental uses. They are ot va~ flous colors and textures, There are also indications of the existence of nonmetallic minerals, such as zeolites, which constitute ireguler bodies of greet size. In the San Luis Potosi City area, tuffs belonging to the locally called Toba Peaje, are zeolitizated; such material has been identified as clinop- tilolte in the Escalerilla locality, about 10 km southwest from Sen Luis Potosi City E, DETRITIC DEPOSITS These deposits are represented by alluvial placers formed by the detritus derived from intru- sive igneous rocks as well as from the volcanic rocks. E.1 Alluvial Placers These deposits are present in the State at the Guadalcazar mining district, as alluvial fans that are constituted by granite derived gravels and sands, which crop out in this locality. Estimat- ed volume for these places is of the order of 550 Mm? of gravel with gold, silver, tin, and mercury contents.30 (CONSEJO DE RECURSOS MINERALES BIBLIOGRAPHY Apna Gonzhez, S10, 1991, Carta metafagenética del estado de San Luis Potost Gobierno de estado ond Universidad AutSnoma de San Luis Potosi, four sheets inthe scale 1:950, 000. Bass, AF 06, 1872, forme sobre f& mina La Pass, Concepcicn cel Berlei. Tipografa de Silverio M CLP —— 1873, informe rendido pore! perto de la mina San Safvador. | Minero Mexicano |, NP 38, Bawos, AF. of, ano Eunove StANES, 1872, Informe sobre ls mina Purse Concepcién det Bemelejo: El Mine- fo Mexicano |, N°43 Bees, Gl, 1968, Notas de geolagia petroler de México: nterational Geological Congress, 920, Mexico, DF, Simposium sabre yacimientos de petbleo y gas, Tomo Il, North Americ. Bose, Eu, 1993, Vestiges of an ancient continent in northeast Mexico: American Journal of Science, ser. 5,v.6, p. 197 - 136, 196 - 214, 310 -337, Bios, Cano, 1869, forme dado por el C. tos af C. Marcas Gareia Rams de! reconocimiento que practicd en ef mineral de £ Sabino, SP. San Luis Potes!, Tipogratia del Gobierno. Burcernior, Cat, 1904, Sobre e! descubrimiento del Tiss marino en Zacatecas. Boletin dela Sociedsd Geo- logica Mexicana, v. 2, p. 43-45. 1980, dude stetiaue sure Mésozoique mexican: Mémoires de la Sccéeé Palotolosique Suse, v 49-50, 290 Bunt, Josen, 1836, Aufenthat und Reisen in Mexico in den Jahren, 1895 bis 1834: Stutgat, Schweizer- bart, 1, 399 9, 986 p. ‘Casl-Cianna, ABEURDD, 1969, Estratirafa de! Jurdsico Medio Superior de! subsuelo de Poza Rca, Ver. (So: Jeded - Miquetle area} Revisia de! Instituto Mexicano del Petrdleo, v. 1, p. 3-9 Cxan.o-Baavo, Jost, 1971, La plataformea Vales - San Luis Potost:Boletin de le Asociacién Mexicana de Ged- logos Petroleos, v.93, N°1-6,p. 1-118, Cstna, Zostan 0&, 1956, Tecténica de ta Siena Macke Oriental de México, entre Tomreén y Monterey: Inter- rationel Geological Congress, 20, Mexico, Di, Monogrephy, 87 p. CCusver-Acum, Raza, 1968, Bosquejo geolésico de fa Siema de Penén Bianco, Zacatecas: Mexico, DF, Uni vetsidad Nacional Auténoma de México, Facultad de Ingenieria, Tésis Ing. Gedlogo, 78 p. (unpublished), Gasca-CaLo0n, JON, 1968, Hoja El Safado 148,11, with Resumen de la eologta dele hoja Et Sodio, es- tados de Zacatecas y San Luis Potos! Universidad Nacional Auténoma de México, Instuto de Geolosia, ‘map with expianatory text in the reverse, scale 1:100,000, 41978, Hoja Sonta oss, with Resumen de ls geoloaie de ls hoja Santa Rosa, estados de Nuevo Ledn ¥ Sen Luis Potosi Universidad Nacional Auténoma de México, Instituto de Geologia, escala 1:100,000. Hels, Anew, 1996, Notes on the Jurassic of Tamezunchale(Siere Madre Oriental), Mexico: Eclogae Geolo sicae Helvetae, v. 20, p. 84-87. —— 1940, The Font kanges of Siera Made Crienta, Mexico, from Ciudad Victoria to Tamazunchsle: Eclogne Geologicae Heivetize, v. 33, 9. 314-362 Heanoso o¢ 1 Tots, Casts, ano MARINE PEE, JESS, 1978, Medicion detallnda de formaciones de Jurdsico ‘Superior ene! frente de le Sierra Macre Orienta!: Boletin de la Asociacion Mexicane de Geblogos Petileros, ¥.94, 9.45 - 64, buss, RY, 19382, Ammonites ofthe Taaises Formation of northern Mexico: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v.49, p,39-602. — 1938, stucies of America Bul, v.49, . 1051-1694. 1943, Evidence for Upper Jurassic iandmass in eastem Mexico: American Asscciation of Petroleum Geolosiss Bulletin, v. 27, p. 524-58. 1944, Cretaceous formations of Certval America and Mexico: Americén Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v.28, p. 489-504.GEOLOGICAL MINING MONOGRAPH OF THE STATE OF SAN LUIS PoTost Kay, LB, may, RW. ano Kaul, W.G., 1936, Evolution ofthe Coabulla Peninsula, Mexico; part | Relation of structure, statigraphy, ankt igneous activity to an early continental mergin: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v.47, p. 969-1008, Love-Rauos, Enso, 1979, Geologia de Mexico, Values It and it Mexico, DF, Editorial Escobar, 900 p. Lovez RAuos , Eevsto, 1971, Carta geolegica ce! estado de San cuit Rotos Universidad Nacional Autonome de Mésico, Instituto de Geologia, scale 1:500,000, 2nd edition (unpublished). Maza L, 0 Math J, 1967, Geologio y mineralizaciOn de fos pincipoles strites lel estaco San Luis Potesh Universi! Autonoma de San Luis Potos, Instituto de Geology Metalurga, Folleto Técnico N° 12, 65 p. ‘Mug, 1M, 1936, Geology ofthe Tampico region Tulsa, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 980 -Mveis, RL, 1968, Siosvatigraphy of the Cércenas Formation, Upper Cretaceous, San Luis Potos|, Mexico: Uni: versidac Nacional AutGnoma de México, Instituto de Geologia, Paleontologis Mexicana 24, 89 p. Panwa y Séncez, JR, 1983, Hoje La Ventura, con resumen de fo geolosia dela ho La Ventura, estados de Coahuile, Zacatecas Y San tuis Potosi. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, Instituto de Geologs, scale 1:100,000, Praia ¥ SAXCHED, JR, £7 A, 1988, Carta tectanica de México: Universidad Necional Autonoma de México, Instituto de Geotisica and Facutad de Ingenieria; nsttute de Investigaciones Eléctricas and Petréleos Mex!- anos, scale 141000, 000. Paxton, ALO, JERKS, 1963, Informe geologico del yacimiento de asbesto “4 de Octubre’, ubicado en tos Ca- torce, San {Ws Botos!: Universidad Nacional Auténoma de Mézico, Instituto de Geologie, Unpublished Re- pot, 98. eas, D. F., BACON, R. W., AND ENCSO OE LA VEGA, SALVADOA, 1989, Geology OF Siera de Catorce, Son Luis Po- tos), Mexico: Intemational Geological Congress, 28, Abstracts, volume 2, 3 p. Rosths, CL, CSERUA, ZOLTAN Dé, VITEN, ROGEUO VAN, TAVEEA-AMEZCUA, EUGEMO, ¥ OXDARWEEA, JE505, 1961, RECO- rociniento geoligico y depésitos de fostatos de! norte de Zacatecas y sreas edyaceres en Coahuila, Noe vo Led y San (us Potos: Consejo ce Rectssos Naturales no Renovables, Bal. 56, 399 p. Saco, Awos, 1987, Late Trassic-luessic paleogeography and oigin of Gulf of Mexico: American ASSO Ciation of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 71, 0. 419-451 — 1971, ta Serie Huasteca (Jurdsico Medlo-Superior) det centro este de México: Revista del institto Mexicano del Petrdleo, v. 3, p. 17-40 ‘UIE, Max, 1980a, Tectonics ef the external part ofthe Siera Madre Oriental foreland thwust and fold ber between Xilitla anc the Moctezuma cver (Hidelgo and Sen Luis Potos! states Universidad Nacional Auto ‘roma de Mexico, Instituto de Geoiosia, Revista, v. 4, p. 19-31 19808, Tecténica de is parte fontal cela Siora Macie Oriental entre Xiltla y Bio Ge Moctezume, es tados de Hidalgo y San Luis Potost: Sociedad Geologica Mexicans, Convencion Geoigica Nacional, 5, Mexico, DF, Programa y Restmenes, p. 31-39 (abstract) 1990, Hoja Tamazunchale, con Gealogia cle la hoja Tamazunchae,eslacos de San tus Potes e Hickal- 450: Universidad Nacional Auténoma ce Mico, Instituto de Geologia, scale 1:100,000, with explanstory text. Wison , BW, Heminon-M, J.P, ¥ Meat, T. , 1955, Un banco calizo de! Cretécico en la arte oriental det estado de Querétaro. Boletin de la Sociedad Geolégica Mexicans, v. 18, 6. 1-10 31Photograph 1. Panoramic view of the Guaxcamé mining district, located in the municipality of Villa Juarez, S.L.P. Dumps of the San Rafael mine can be seen. San Agustin mine is on the left. At center, the ruins of the treatment plant (sulfur sublimation).CHAPTER MINING ‘With four hundred years of mining activity, San Luis Potost is @ producer of metallic and non- metallic minerals. It has important deposits of fluorite, sypsum, sulfur silver, lead, zinc, cop- pe, and in lesser amounts, gold. t also has small deposits of tin, antimony and manganese In the near future, itis hoped thet nonmetallic minerals mining will reach a greatet develoo- ment, since the State has large deposits of fluorite, gypsum, sulfur, dolomite, phosphate, ze0- lite, kaolin, perlite, wollestonite and in lesser proportions, celestite, calcite, optical calcite, boaite, bentonite and quartz, besides dimensional stones such 8s gabbro, grenite, hewn sto- ne, onyx and marble This is @ brief summary of Sen Luis Potosi mining history; the main mining regions are described, with their mineralized districts and zones as well as the infrastructure thet the State possesses for the support of the mining and metallurgical development 3.1. MINING HISTORY OF THE STATE OF SAN LUIS POTOSI In the Precolombian epoch, the State of San Luis Potos! belonged to the region denominated! the Gran Chichimeca, whose inhabitants were hunting nomads and wild fruit gatherers who did not know anything about mining. Nevertheless, Montejano (1991) paints out thet there ‘was a culture that wes developed in the Sen Luis Potosi valley, between 200 and 7,200 A.D., that exploited the red ocher and cinnabar; but these groups of people disappeared and only ‘some caves and primitive mine workings remain in Guadalcézer, 0 it can be said that mining arrived in San Luis Potosi with the Spanish conqueros. ‘The first mineral discovery was in 1561 and it corresponded to Las Reales Salinas de Pe- ‘96 Blanco, something of relevant importance, considering that salt was an essential element for metal obtention (this saltworks supplied Zacatecas, Fresrillo, and Sombrerete). Neverthe less, the Guachichile ingians bravery blocked the access to the east In 1574, the exploitation of the Charcas mineral began, located precisely in a dangerous ‘and badly defended frontier; for that reason, two years later, in 1576, it wes attacked by the. bbarbarians and prectically demolished, but beginning July 1584 it was reconstructed where it is atthe present time. Towards the end of the XVI Century, some prospectors that departed ftom Zacatecas to explore the Guachichiles land (to which they had agreed) discovered a rich deposit that they named Cerro de San Pedko, although the discovery stayed forgotten for some time due to the fact that the prospectors were smelting their ores in that seme locality and then carried the sil- ver and gold for sell them in Zacatecas. Nevertheless, it was not until 1592, that Captain Cal- dere registered legally the “San Pedro Mines" and shortly after the town was founded, arriving at it expert miners such as Pedro Arizmendi Gorrén from Zacatecas, who was one of the first to establish the new treatment plants.‘CONSEJO DE RECURSOS MINERALES Thanks to the San Pedro mines, the town of San Luis Minas del Potosi de la Nueva Espa- ‘fa was founcled, bringing in edition with it the establishment of ferms, towns and treatment plants, in Valle de Sen Luis Potost as in the neighborhood, for example: San Antonio de la Sau- cede, Monte Caldera or Real del Monte, San Francisco de los Pozos, La Pila, Armadillo, and others Afterwards, in 1624 the mine working was not easy, because there were serious pro- ‘blems due t0 the vein behavior, gold and silver refining, droughts and lack of experience. Inspite of all those difficulties, in 1698 the Real Caj8 was opened in San Luis Potosi and in that same year, in San Pedro, the “Mina Los Briones” discovered one native gold vein that in only two months produced more than ene million gold pesos, At the beginning of the XVII Century, Don Juan Dozal discovered the Ramos deposit; 1608 was taken as the original dete forthe Villa de Ramos township foundation. The fist bo- nanze period covered from 1608 to 1640, in which rich ore were exploited and treated in Ra- mos, Saltrl de Carrera, lescas and Espiritu Santo, in 1640 the mine was attacked boy the in- dians and in 1652 a second indian invasion destroyed the houses, leaving the mineral in runs. 1n 1796, the San Juan Nepomuceno, alias "La Cocinera’, rich mine was discovered, star ing in this way a second bonanza period, as attested by the Cabildo and by Zacatecas con- sgressman Don Miguel Alejo Torres, who informed, after royal registry, that this mineral produced $ 918,000.00 pesos from 1798 to 1807, even though Montejano (1991) mentions tras. from 11798 to 1809 La Cocinera mine gave to its owner the amount of nine million pesos. In those times, the Ramos Zone ores were treated in Ramos, San Luis Potosi, Pinos and jo Caliente, Zac. During thet time fine Spanish haciendas were built as well as also plazas and lined up streets. The Independence War, started in 1810, stopped for some years the ex- ploitation of such mines. The third bonanza was developed from 1819 to 1897, producing some hundreds of silver bars and during that time of intense production (1826) was when JH. Burkart visited the district; from this visit he included @ detailed description in his work “Aufenthalt und Reisen in Mexico un den Jahren” published in Sttutgart, Germany (1836). ‘After that bonanza epoch, the Ramos exploitation has been sporadic and practically res- tricted to the utilization of telling, dump and lag extraction from the old mines. Later, after the discovery of Cero de San Pectro by the Captain Caldera (1592), his friend and partner, Don Juan de Ofate, discovered the Guadelcézar district, and it is worth to men- tion that the natives worked more than one hundred mercury and gold mines in that region. This district tarted to be populated in a formal way during 1614 to 1620. In Cerro de San Cris t65al (1629) a great amount of claims and works occurred and as a consequence three patio system beneficiation plants were established. In 1722.9 heavy rainstorm flooded all the aperating ‘mines and it was not until 1743 that new discoveries were made of more than 80 mines, most of them in Certo de San Cristébal The discovery of Real de Catorce (1772), caused the migration of miners from Guadal- cézer, but the workings were restarted in 1790 and were again abandoned in 1794. From then on and until the present century, the silver mines exploitation of this locality was resumed at prospector level and it is aimed mostly to the recovery of the tailings. In the present century this mining activity has had a great development, specially during the 60's decade, stopping the works in 1973, From then, several exploration works have been one without positive results and at present this mining district remains in 2 total abanclon- ment. In 1773 the prospectors Sebastién Coronado and Antonio Llamas found in Sierra de Ca- torce an argentiterous vein, starting its exploitation at once, naming the mine La Descubrido- 1a. In 1778, the prospectors of the Matehuala metallurgist end miner, Don Bemabé Antonio de Zepeda, discovered a vein outcrop branching out from the rich large vein which they opened ‘on the “Guadalupe” winze; its outstanding richness called world-wide attention, with the re- sult that e large crowd of miners arrived to enjoy this richness but in a very disorderly manner; the congested town lacked water, food end most of the newcomers were poor and inexpe- rienced, so they had great difficulties for the metal extraction and treatment In view of that, don Silvestre Lopez Portillo was commissioned by the mining and au- dience court to soive all problems related to the Real de Catorce mines establishment and treatment, the mission was efficiently fulfilled, sterting then very successfully the exploita- tion, in Real de Catorce the best known bonanza in La Purisima mother lode produced three million pesos, Pade Flotes mine yielded three andi 8 half million pesos, and some other ones produced enormous richness, such as Valenciana, Concepcién, San Agustin and Socavon del Refugio, among others. With the outoreak of the Independence Wer mining in Catorce fell off, but after Inde- pendence mining began to recover thanks in part to the British enterprise Gorda and Murphy Company, which installed in Catorce the fist steam engine in @ Mexican mineCGEOLOCICAL-MINING MONOGRAPH OF THE STATE OF SAN LUIS POTOSI ‘The State government in 1894 ratified the mining orcinance; in those days there were in San Luis Potosi, Catorce, Charcas and Guadalcézar “Mining Courts", Nevertheless, the frequent civil wars in those: days hampered mining development. In 1857, the leasing of the San Luis Potosi mint house was attempted plus the permit to establish another mint in Ctorce, but only the fatter was cstried out, for which in January 1865 the Catorce Mint House was opened, but it closed in 1866. In November 16, 1864, the Santa ‘Marla de la Pez company was incorporated and it operates to this day. In Mexico, in 1873, for the first time, in La Purisima de Catorce mine, dynamite was used for the mine workings; a the same time steam drillers were installed, and afterwards, in 1877, also for the first time, compressed air for mechanical drilling was used. Don Francisco M, Coghlan, in 1886, installed the first electrical plant that moved @ winch in Santa Ans. in those days, there were two other electrical winches in the United States and none in this country Finally, in June 1896, General Porfirio Diaz, President of the Republic, inaugurated the PUMPS, which Mi. Coghlan hadi manufactured in San Francisco, California, for the Santa Ana drainage through the general adit During the Porfirio Diaz regime the railroad and other technical innovations were intro- duced andi the transition took place ftom the private concemns with their primitive mining to the organized mining of the transnational enterprises. From September 7880 to 1885, E/ Minero Potosino was published; it was @ newspaper- imate of Ei Minero Mexicano that informed end oriented the Potosinians on mining matters. In Real de Catorce other publications appeared such as E! Eco Minero and La Voz Catorcer In 1891, in San Luis Potosi city, the Morales founciy installations were finished, and in 1900 they were taken over by ASARCO. |i 1901, in Matehuala, a modem foundry was installed, equiped with all the technologic- al advancements; this led to the disappearance of the Catorce and its neighboring beneficia- tion haciendas (plants), as well as the Morales foundry and others Because of the decease of Don Francisco M. Coghlan in 1903 and the return of Don Vi- ccente Iizar in 1905 to Spain, plus other circumstances, such as the flooding of some mines and the unfeasible tracitional methods, Real de Catorce started to decline, in such a way that by the beginning of 7910 only the famed Santa Ana mine was working. In 1910, the Mexican Revolution started, and this caused @ serious decline in mining ope- ration in the country as a whole; San Luis Potosi was no exception and the State was almost paralized, Real de Catorce practically turned into @ ghost town, while Ramos, Guadalcézar and Cerro Prieto, among others, were operated only in a primitive way by a reduced group of prospectors by hand picking of dumps, reworking old slags or extracting small amounts of high-grade ores from the abandoned mines. When the Revolution ended, mining started to rise Up again, going through the usual highs and lows due in part to the development of the economy and, most of al, to the fluctuation in the prices of the various mining products. During the two World Wars, Guscalcazar and Wadley had a great economic boom with the mercury and antimony expicitation During the second half of the XX Century andl until the 80's decade, the Potosinian min- ing reported a sustained growth of its exploration, exploitation and metallurgical activities ‘At the beginning of the 50s, Las Cuevas fluorite deposit was discovered by a prospec tor It is worth to mention that at fist the activities in this deposit consisted in the picking out of high-grade ore (almost pure fluorite) which had been used to build up fences around cor- rals and farm lands. Soon after mining exploitation started, though at the beginning it was done in a rudimentary manner by obtaining only selected high-grade ote, the Noranda Co. ac- hired the property and they carried out @ wide exploration program that allowed the cis- covery of large mineralized bodies, which sre being mined even now. In San Luis Potosi City, in 1970, the Consejo de Recursos Naturales no Renovables set up a Geochemical Department, in order to speed up the analytical processing of samples cbotain- ed through the geactemical exploration programs that were then undertaken, Afterwards, in 1978, the name of the institution was changed to Consejo de Recursos Minerales and the Io cal Residence increased the capacity for the development of geological and mining expiore- tion programs to help up the State's mining industry 3.2 MINING SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE The State of San Luis Potosi, plus other two local institutions, help the mining and metallur gical industries in agreement with their own capabilities, their economic capacity and their