The University of Tucumán, founded in 1913, was the first one in northwestern Argentina, but it was not until the creation of the Miguel Lillo Institute that research and teaching of Natural Sciences began. This university created the Institute of Geology and Mining of Jujuy in 1946, which for many years concentrated geological and mining studies in the provinces of northern Argentina. This institute hosted numerous European geologists who emigrated to the country after World War II, especially from Italy and to a lesser extent from Germany. Among them, Giovanni Cecioni and Federico Ahlfeld stood out for their important contributions. The director of the Institute was Abel Peirano, who is credited with having discovered the Agua del Dionisio district that became some years later the Bajo de la Alumbrera copper and gold mine. Peirano returned to Tucumán in 1951 and developed geological studies at that university. An excellent teaching staff was formed and the first students in geology graduated in 1960. Natural Sciences began in Salta in 1952, dependent on the University of Tucumán. In 1962 the first geologists graduated and in 1972 the creation of the University of Salta allowed the consolidation of geological studies and research.