Cerro Huañaquina
Yocalla Municipality, Tomás Frías Province, Potosí, Bolivia
Key Information
Do not enter mining areas without proper authorization.
Cerro Huañaquina is in Yocalla Municipality, Tomás Frías Province, Potosí, Bolivia, near the historic city of Potosí.
It is known for outstanding octahedral magnetite crystals and other minerals like cassiterite and apatite.
The area features an eroded dacite laccolith with Cretaceous Miraflores Formation sediments.
Mining includes small-scale operations for magnetite, with historical cassiterite dredging at nearby El Molino.
The local population is predominantly Quechua, with hematite locally called "vinchu."
The climate is cold and semi-arid, with cool, wet summers and very cold, dry winters.
Location and Accessibility
Cerro Huañaquina is located in the highlands of Bolivia, specifically in Yocalla Municipality, Tomás Frías Province, Potosí Department. Its coordinates are 19° 31' 20'' South, 65° 52' 8'' West, placing it 13.9 km from Potosí, a city famous for its colonial silver mines. Nearby, Betanzos is 43.6 km away, offering additional context for regional exploration.
Minerals and Geological Features
This locality is a magnet for collectors, renowned for its striking octahedral magnetite crystals. Other minerals include almandine, apatite, cassiterite, and quartz, among others. Geologically, it is an eroded remnant of a dacite laccolith, with foothills showcasing multicolored marls from the Cretaceous Miraflores Formation, which also contains fossilized stromatolites used in lapidary arts.
Mining History and Cultural Context
Mining here includes recent small-scale operations for magnetite, with historical alluvial dredging for cassiterite at El Molino. Some magnetite has been misattributed to the "Tazna mine," adding a layer of intrigue. Culturally, the area is predominantly Quechua, with 93.8% of the population of Quechua descent, and local miners refer to hematite as "vinchu," reflecting deep cultural ties to mining.
Climate and Environment
The climate, similar to nearby Potosí, is cold and semi-arid, with summers (December to March) being cool and wet, and winters (June to August) very cold and dry. Temperatures range from 25°F to 65°F annually, with the wettest month, January, seeing 3.0 inches of rain. The high altitude supports unique ecological features, including the stromatolites of the Miraflores Formation.