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Climate

The climate at Zafranal is sub tropical desertic and is dry and moderate year-round, although some rain
may fall during January and February with approximately 52 mm of precipitation per year.

Temperatures approximately range from a low of 6° C to a high of 35° C with an average maximum
temperature of 28.2° C and an average minimum temperature of 12.3° C. The scarce rain does not
permit agriculture except where irrigated in the river valleys and the limited rainfall does not support
enough vegetation to sustain grazing. These characteristics make this zone almost uninhabitable. The
dry temperate climate allows exploration and mining activities to continue year round.
Fuente: AQM

Physiography

The Zafranal Project is located at the western border of the Andean foothills of the western mountain
range in southern Peru, 12 km north of the coastal plains (Pampas de Majes).

The project area is generally characterized by a group of hills and some wild mountain ranges, separated
by a group of alluvial ravines, which typically remain dry except for seasonal periods of rainfall, which
particularly affect the Huacan and Sicera ravines. The slopes of the Huacan and Sicera ravines discharge
their waters to the Majes River, tributary of the Pacific watershed. These ravines are mainly of alluvial
origin with a "V" shape and have alluvial quaternary deposits.

The coastal plains are located at 1 000 to 1 600 masl and are characterized by large plains that climb
with a very short slope towards the northeast and have an average width of 40 km. Overall, the coastal
plains are deserts with no vegetation and are located between the valleys of the Majes, Sihuas and Vitor
Rivers, whose river beds are in average 800 m under the

surface of the plains. This unit is formed mainly on top of rocks of the Moquegua Formation, which is
mostly covered by alluvial material and wind sands.
Fuente: KP

Vegetation

The natural vegetation consists of widely-spaced cacti and shrubs. Cactus species include (Cereus
macrostibas, cereus candelaris) and the "chilca" (baccharis sp.) recognised by its greater size; and the
"pinco pinco" (Hypericum sp.) plant capable of reaching some 50 centimetres in height. The
representative wildlife species in the area correspond to wildlife typically found in the South American
Desert Coastal regions of the Pacific. The fauna in this bioregion is scarce, due essentially to the adverse
factors of extreme aridity and almost total lack of vegetation. Foxes, Culpeo Zorro or Andean Fox,
(Lycalopex culpaeus), pumas (Puma concolor) and guanacos (Lama guanicoe) have been sighted along
with their tracks on the prospect. Bird life on the prospect is limited and representative species would
be house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and the hummingbird (Oreotrochilus estella). Included with
fauna are ants, lizards and spiders like the argiope sp. These arachnids are normally found in the driest
zones.
Fuente: AQM

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