ABSTRACT
It was analized the environmental impact produced by Vil Achay tin mine placed in the southeastern edge of Fiambalá hill, Catamarca, Argentina. The hill belongs to Sierras Pampeanas morphostructu-ral province. The ore, cassiterite, took place in a granitic dyke sited in amphibolites close near the boundary with granitic intrusive of paleozoic age. The deposit has neumatolitic – hydrothermal genesis related with greisen alteration. Stoping and Caving methods were chosen as optimum mining methods. Processing methods include gravitational and magnetic stages. The highligth of environmental impact is related to mining subsidence and tailings management. Annual rainfall is about 200 mm. The region is sparsely populated and the site facilitates environmental management.
