Description: The "Li_Triangle_ARG_MRP_NMIC.gdb" geospatial database was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey for use in a geographic information system (GIS) to support mineral resource research and assessment of lithium resources in the Argentina portion of the central South American “Lithium Triangle”. The Lithium Triangle is host to significant amounts (nearly 60%) of the worlds known (identified) resources of lithium. Over 100 salars and lagunas, ranging in area from a few square kilometers (km2) to approximately 9,000 km2, are found within this region. The Lithium Triangle is approximately 400,000 km2 and encompasses about 150 internal drainage basins in northwestern Argentina, western Bolivia, northern Chile, and southern-most Peru. This inventory documents the geologic occurrence of lithium, including mineralogy, type of occurrence, and any quantitative data related to size and grade, from publicly available data. Datasets that summarize the distribution of known occurrences and their geologic setting are integral for geologically-based evaluations of undiscovered mineral resources. The distribution of known occurrences allows for the understanding of factors that control their distribution and degree of variation, which can facilitate forecasting of areas where similar undiscovered occurrences may be found. The database includes both brine (also known as salar) and pegmatite deposit-type occurrences, of which brine are the greatest in number and most important type found in the Lithium Triangle, as well as lithium processing facilities. It consists of 5 geodatabase feature classes: "Arg_Occurrences_MRP_NMIC ", "Arg_Facilities_MRP_NMIC", "Salars_Li_Triangle_MRP_NMIC", "Salar_Centroids_Li_Triangle_MRP_NMIC", and "MRP_NMIC_Refs". These are further described in the “Purpose” section of the metadata below.
Copyright Text: National Minerals Information Center created an initial database of lithium occurrences in Argentina. Mark J. Mihalasky added new occurrences and salars based on new company reports and additional databases. Deborah A. Briggs created an Esri file geodatabase and wrote the metadata.