Mina Pirquitas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mina Pirquitas
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Municipality and town
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| Country |  Argentina |
| Province | Jujuy Province |
| Department | Rinconada |
| Elevation | 14,240 ft (4,340 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 673 |
| Time zone | UTC−3 (ART) |
Mina Pirquitas is a small town and a local government area in Jujuy Province, Argentina. It is located in the Rinconada Department. The town is about 355 kilometers (220 miles) away from San Salvador de Jujuy, which is the capital city of Jujuy Province. You can reach Mina Pirquitas from the town of Abra Pampa by following provincial routes 7 and RP 70.
Geography of Mina Pirquitas
Mina Pirquitas is a very high place! Its homes are located about 4,340 meters (14,240 feet) above sea level. This makes it the highest town in Argentina where people live all year round. There is another place called Chico Pairique in Jujuy Province that is also very high. However, it is mostly a rural area with very few people living there permanently.
The town of Mina Pirquitas has about 673 residents. When the mine was first being built, around 2,000 people lived in the area. The town has two main parts. One part is for offices, labs, a hospital, and a chapel. The other part is about 7 miles (11 kilometers) to the west. This is where most of the mines are located.
Why Mina Pirquitas is Important
Mina Pirquitas is very important because it is in a major mining area. The rocks here contain many valuable minerals. One of the main minerals found is called cassiterite. This mineral is a source of tin, zinc, and silver.
Miners also find small amounts of other elements here. These include gold, lead, iridium, palladium, and tungsten. The mine is a key source of these important materials.
See also
In Spanish: Mina Pirquitas para niños
