Argentina Andes ...(new photos added)

[astro_south]

Hola from Argentina

I have been over here on work for the last week and will be back in Aus by the end of next week, but thought I would post some pics of the beautiful scenery and bright blue skies over here. Unfortunately I haven´t been able to do much site seeing, but every corner you turn up here there is a photo opportunity. I am staying on site at the Alumbrera copper mine and unfortunatley being a 24hr opperation I haven´t escaped the artifical light of the mine to check the dark skies out yet.

The last photo is a strange beetle - bug which I haven´t identified as yet ... wish I had of brought my macro lens!

NEW PHOTOS FURTHER DOWN !!

[iceman]

Wow they are awesome, nice pics Andrew!

Travel safe!

[acropolite]

Lovely scenery Andrew, a little desolate, that bug even looks south american...:lol:

[Dennis]

Top shots Andrew, thanks for posting.

Wow – it looks a very dry and dusty place. Those skies and landscapes look stunning. I would expect the mountain ranges with snow capped peaks must be around the 2500m-3000m mark to have that much snow on them?

What altitude is the mine at?

Cheers

Dennis

[Quark]

Nice shots Andrew,

A truly desolate place, besides the mountains and the snow, it looks a bit like Broken Hill with the mining and the deep blue of the sky.

Thanks for posting.
Regards
Trevor

[gary]

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the great shots! Your altitude there at the mine at 2500m is
very similar to the observatory at Paranal at 2600m. However, whereas
the Atacama desert is one of the driest places on Earth, your location further
East will be considerably moister and the clouds in some of your pictures
are testimony to that. Nevertheless, if you can get an opportunity to get
away from the light pollution of the mine during a dry spell, the observing
locale could undoubtedly be among the best on the planet. :thumbsup:

If you get the opportunity, we'd love to hear the description!

That beetle certainly is very interesting too!

Go safely!

Best regards

Gary

[h0ughy]

great shots and what an opportunity!!!!

[StormGirl26]

Wow good shots. well done :thumbsup:

Marie :)

[renormalised]

Nice piccies:D:D

Au-Cu mine??. Is it your typical subvolcanic massive vein hosted type of deposit??

[astro_south]

Thanks for the comments all. It is going to be hard to get a chance Gary, but if I do, and if I can find the words to describe it I will :thumbsup:



As Gary has indicated, the mine site is at 2500masl. The ¨snow¨covered peaks (been describe to me more like hail - balls of ice) are at around 4500 to 5300masl.

Coords of the mine for all the Google Earth junkies is 27-19-50S, 66-36-30W. The photos of the snow cap mountains and the plain with a range in the background were taken from about 30kms NNE of the mine where the mine´s water suppy is source from. The snow-capped mountains are to the east.



Yes Norm - ¨alteration and mineralisation of a porphyry and is volcanic host rocks¨ as the rock lickers have described it ;) ... I´m here for the groundwater issues.

[[1ponders]]

Wow!! Desolately stunning Andrew!! What a beautiful place.

As for your bug, it looks related to ants and wasps; order hymenoptera

[renormalised]

I am one of those "rock lickers" as you described them:P:D

[glenc]

You have a tough job Andrew. Happy travels.

[astroron]

Great Pics Andrew:):) I hope you manage to have a look at a dark South American Sky:):)
Happy Travels, and safe return to Auss:thumbsup:

[astro_south]

Thanks Paul - yeah it definitely has the head like an ant.



Not as tough as yours Glen ;)



Thanks Ron, will be up to Cambroon in the coming months (not this month though after having just come home .... although I will have the body clock for an allnighter :confuse3: )

Anyway, a couple of pics from yesterday. I was using a CPL filter for some of these, then the others where taken with the 10-22mm lens ... still get those dark blue skies.

[astroron]

:eyepop:Wonderful Pic's Andrew:):) I just Loove #4:D:
Look forward to your next visit to Cambroon:thumbsup:

[Octane]

Andrew,

Awesome. Just awesome.

I can only imagine what the night sky is like there. Dang!

Regards,
Humayun

[gary]

Hi Andrew,

Beautiful pictures amigo!

Fabulous looking environment.

Best Regards

Gary

[Dennis]

I bet the melt water in those streams is bitterly cold, but oh so sweet tasting!

Cheers

Dennis

[StephenM]

Nice shots Andrew! I especially like the first and last ones with the polariser.

Cheers,
Stephen

[astro_south]

Thanks all, the comments and feed back are much appreciated. When I get back I will put the originals and many more up on my Flickr site and post a link in here.

[astro_south]

Made it back safely, although all 4 planes to catch home were delayed in some way.

If you are interested here is a link to my Flickr page for some better quality pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrew-durick/sets/72157612452467094/

[renormalised]

That "El Colon"...does the food taste like s**t there??!!:eyepop::P:P:D:D