Finding of a Cs-rich pharmacosiderite-like mineral: preliminary data

Torino (Italy)

In north western Argentina (Jujuy Province), in some volcanic areas, soils and waters are affected by high natural background levels of arsenic (As). Elevated As content can create serious health hazard to the populations settled in the surrounding areas.
In this area As is mainly present in the pyroclastic rocks of the volcano Tuzgle (5486 m) whose activity is mainly characterized by emission of andesitic and rhyodacitic products.
High concentration levels of As associated with solphur containing Fe and Pb that characterized many deposits along the Andine Cordillera belt