La Guajira Geological Commission
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32685/0120-1425/bol.geol.1.3.1953.332Keywords:
Commercial, composting, economic geology, sedimentary horizons, reserve, phosphate deposits
Downloads
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Published
Abstract
First, information on the geographical and economic aspects of the Colombian Guajira is presented. Followed by a synthesis of the geological observations made during the general reconnaissance of this territory.
A distinction is made between the sedimentary rocks covering the lower parts and the crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks forming the mountain ranges and isolated eminences. The stratigraphic succession of the former includes Quaternary deposits and Tertiary and Cretaceous formations. The crystalline rocks are composed of porphyries, granites, schists, and phyllites whose age cannot be defined by local studies.
The chapter on economic geology refers to the rigorous sampling carried out for the phosphate research, which covered almost all the sedimentary horizons. From the field studies and laboratory analyses, this work concludes that only in the small archipelago of Los Monjes, recently recognized as Venezuelan territory, there is a small reserve of phosphate material (24-33% P205) which at most reaches 5,000 tons, economically unusable due to difficulties in extraction and transport.
