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The government says that the company Latin Resources conducted tests without permission in two mines.
The Australian mining company Latin Resources, with operations in Peru and several Argentine provinces, said in a report in English that it had found lithium in San Luis, after a mapping and sampling in two mines, Gemini and Don Gregorio, located five miles southeast of San Francisco del Monte de Oro. However, the provincial government reported that they have not issued authorization for the study of the land or extraction of minerals.
"We found out about notes that came out in the media and that put us on the alert," said Eugenia Cantaloube, head of the Industry and Agroindustry Program, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Environment, Field and Production, and added that they decided to send a body of inspectors to examine the area. "If it is verified that sampling has taken place, we would be in breach of the regulations imposed by both the National Mining Code and the Code of Mining Procedure at the province level, which preset stages of the process for both exploration and exploitation of the soil . So far nothing has been approved, "he said.
Cantaloube said that the Peace Agreement between Progress and Environment promotes the growth of mining areas, but in a sustainable way over time and with the protection of natural resources. He also referred to the exploitation of lithium: "As with quartz and feldspar, their extraction does not generate pollution, but an impact, because it erodes the soil. Now, when it is processed, there can be contamination, depending on the method used. "
The official also said that there would be no inconvenience for a miner to work in the area, provided that it complied with the standards required by the peace treaty and explained that although the company approached the Government to make some requirements, they were not given authorization to the mapping and sampling they would have done and assured that they only have concessions over the Gemini and Don Gregorio mines, but not over the rest of the four surrounding hectares.
The company also failed to present the environmental impact study required by provincial law, said María Julia Veinticinco, head of the Environmental Control and Control Subprogram. "That's why it was decided to send geologists and engineers to mines to see if samples were taken. Also, since they did not deliver any documentation, we can not know what exploitation methodology they would be using, "he warned.
The formations found in the deposits cover an area of more than 2 kilometers long by 1.7 meters wide and are composed mainly of pegmatite, very common in the central zone of the Sierras Puntanas. It is an igneous rock generally formed by three minerals: quartz, feldspar and mica. Although sometimes also composed by other elements "residual", as is the case of lithium, an alkali metal very precious for the manufacture of batteries, such as those used by cell phones and some electric cars and so is also known as "White gold". The current price of the ton of this chemical element is 130 thousand pesos.
Argentina ranks third among the nations with more lithium reserves in the world, after Bolivia and Chile. Most are found in the salt flats and desert areas of these three countries.