Editing Atacama Region (section)

==Natural features==
Much of the region is desert, and encompasses considerable mineral resources.<ref>Teresa Moreno and Wes Gibbons. 2007</ref> Numerous flora and fauna species are found in the Atacama Region. One [[subspecies]] of the [[lesser rhea]], known by the scientific name ''[[Rhea pennata]] tarapacensis'', is a notable large terrestrial bird in this region, which subspecies is considered [[endangered]]. The diminished numbers of this bird are due to prehistoric and modern hunting but more significantly due to agricultural land conversion in order to feed the [[Population growth|expanding human population]].
<gallery>

File:Laguna Verde - Atacama 2.jpg|Laguna Verde
File:Desierto florido.jpg|Desert in bloom
File:Lamas in the sunset San Pedro de Atacama Chile Luca Galuzzi 2006.jpg|Llamas in the desert
File:Valle Arcoiris, Río Grande, Chile, 2016-02-05, DD 19-25 PAN.JPG|Rainbow Valley
</gallery>

The geology of the region has four [[metallogenetic belt]]s where deposits of valuable metals are found. From west to east these belts are the [[Atacama Fault|Atacama Fault System]] (copper and iron), the [[Inca de Oro Belt]] (silver, gold), the [[West Fissure System]] (copper) and lastly the [[Maricunga Belt]] (gold) close to the [[Argentina–Chile border|Argentine border]].<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Geological development and mineralization in the Atacama segment of the South American Andes, northern Chile (26°15′–27°25′S) |journal=[[Geologische Rundschau]] |last=Palacios |first=C.M. |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00191492 |volume=82 |pages=652-662 |last2=Townley |first2=B.C. |last3=Lahsen |first3=A.A. |last4=Egafia |first4=A.M. |doi=10.1007/BF00191492|year=1993}}</ref> The [[Chilean Iron Belt]] largelly follows the Atacama Fault System.<ref name=Simonetal2018>{{cite book |last1=Simon |first1=Adam C.|last2=Knipping |first2=Jaayne|last3=Reich |first3=Martin|last4=Barra |first4=Fernando|last5=Deditius |first5=Artur P. |last6=Bilenker |first6=Laura |last7=Childress |first7=Tristan |date=2018 |title=Metals, Minerals, and Society|chapter=Kiruna-Type Iron Oxide-Apatite (IOA) and Iron Oxide Copper-Gold (IOCG) Deposits Form by a Combination of Igneous and Magmatic-Hydrothermal Processes: Evidence from the Chilean Iron Belt |series=Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication|volume=21|doi=10.5382/SP.21 |pages=89–114 |isbn=9781629493084 |editor-last=Arribas R.|editor-first=Antonio M.|editor-last2=Mauk|editor-first2=Jeffrey L.}}</ref><ref name=Travisanyetal1995>{{cite journal |last1=Travisany |first1=Vinicio |last2=Henríquez |first2=Fernando|last3=Nyström |first3=Jan Olov |date=1995 |title=Magnetite lava flows in the Pleito-Melon District of the Chilean iron belt |journal=[[Economic Geology (journal)|Economic Geology]] |volume=90 |issue=2 |pages=438–444 |doi=10.2113/gsecongeo.90.2.438 |bibcode=1995EcGeo..90..438T }}</ref>