Professional Documents
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Introduction
Generalities.
This
report
was
requested
by
Mister
Claudio
Castillo
Ramirez,
Chief
Executive
of
the
mining
company
Claudio
Alberto
1
S.A,
which
operates
the
mining
property
ANA
MARA,
located
in
the
village
El
Trapiche,
of
the
municipality
of
La
Higuera.
The
field
work
was
done
on
October
of
2011,
by
covering
all
the
developed
levels
of
the
mine.
Objectives.
The
main
objective
of
the
tour
was
to
diagnose
the
current
geological
and
mining
situation
of
the
mine
and
to
focus
new
works
related
to
reconnaissance
and
mining.
Location
and
approach
roads.
Ana
Mara
Mine
is
located
in
the
village
El
Trapiche,
in
the
municipality
of
La
Higuera,
Province
of
Limar,
Coquimbo
Region.
The
coordinates
of
the
center
of
the
mining
property
are:
294.625
E
and
6.746,000
N
with
an
approximate
elevation
of
600
m
a.s.l.
The
main
access
to
the
mine
is
through
the
North
Panamerican
Highway
or
Ruta
5
by
the
village
El
Trapiche
(75
kms
North
of
La
Serena
city),
from
Ruta
5
to
the
mine
the
distance
must
be
done
through
a
dirt
road
of
regular
state
for
a
total
of
3.2
kms
(Figure
1).
Mining
Property.
The
mineralized
structure
is
protected
by
the
Mining
and
Mining
Concession
constituted
and
denominated
as
ANA
MARA-GABRIELA,
Role:
04102-1293-5,
whose
owner
is
Mr.
Mario
Alvarez
Vega,
who
leases
to
the
Mining
Company
Claudio
Alberto
1
S.A.
The
above
mentioned
area
covers
several
important
structures
which
are
positioned
in
NW
direction,
parallel
to
the
main
vein.
Towards
the
North
extension
of
the
structure,
constituted
properties
can
be
seen.
These
properties
cover
the
projection
of
the
veins.
(Fig.2)
Figure
2.
Mining
properties
in
the
surroundings
of
Ana
Mara
Mine,
Mining
Company
Claudio
Alberto
1.
A detailed list of the mining concessions of the field of study is presented below:
Mining Labors. The current mine started to develop in 2003, with a ramp main entry of 115 m length which through a spiral ramp is connected with 4 levels located approximately 10 m away in a vertical distance. In each level, mining and mining labors have been performed. These labors consist on raises which begin in draw points made on the reclining side of fault which controls main mineralized structures, where vein structures of an average power of 4m with width ranges from 3 to 6 m, are exploited in stope.
Figure
3.
Aerial
view
of
Ana
Mara
Mine
where
the
lines
in
red
indicate
the
main
structure
of
Mine
Ana
Mara
and
the
lines
in
blue
show
tracings
associated
with
potential
mineralized
structures.
As seen in Figure 3, the surrounding area of the mine or mining property contains several mineralized structures with a paragenesis of copper-iron-gold, determined by visible lines in the aerial image. These structures are included in different mining properties located in the surroundings, which is an important factor to consider when exploring and adding geological resources to the project. Works performed. In order to meet the objectives of the work, the main mining settlements in current development and mining, which consist of two sectors with total longitudinal developments of about 650 m. The first and oldest one is located to the North end and the second one, which is in a developing state, will reach depth levels below 400. In the south sector, 5x5 drifts, which are made lengthways of the vein, are being developed, initiated with the scaling of old labors, which will reach an elevation of 250 m.
The
horizontal
levels
are
separated
by
a
height
of
25
m,
with
section
drifts
3.5
m
high
x
4.0
m
wide,
where
the
power
of
the
veins
are
variable
between
1.5
and
5
meters.
In
both
sectors
the
structure
is
more
or
less
constant
in
relation
to
power,
which
allows
the
appreciation
of
several
parallel
structures
of
similar
characteristics.
Sampling was performed, whose resulting averages are shown in the table below:
Table
1.
Mina
Grande
sampling
results
Ore
Total Cu % 2.7
Total Fe % 53.6
Au g/ton
Ag g/ton
2. REGIONAL GEOLOGICAL SETTING Generalities. Granite rock from Earlier Cretaceous is found in areas adjacent to the mine, i.e. from Vallenar South border to La Higuera, corresponding to Illapel Superunit (Kiag), which is a great intrusive body dating from Early High Cretaceous to Late Low Cretaceous, formed by light to dark grey granodiorite to quartzipherous diorite (monzogranite) of medium to coarse grain. Regions III and IV are associated to copper-gold and iron (Cu-Au- Fe) mineralisation, just like Candelaria IOCG ore deposits, located near Copiap, and (Cu- Au) Andacollo, located Southeast of La Serena. This unit is equivalent to the wall rock vein in Mina Grande. Intrusive rock from Early Cretaceous is found to the West, formed by tonalite, monzodiorite, pyroxene diorite, hornblende, and biotite rock, as well as granodiorite. These units are associated to the fault area in Atacama and El Romeral, as well as to iron mineralisation (Kibg).
Basalt to rhyolite lava, breccias, domes, and volcanic agglomerate interspersed with deep- sea and continental sediment of Bandurrias Formation (Fm. Arqueros) (JK3) are found to the East, dating from Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. Here mineralization is found in major tabular vein-shaped bodies, whether massive or disseminated, embedded in andesite volcanic, sediment, and limestone rock from Early Cretaceous. It is formed mainly by iron oxides associated to iron and copper sulphates with gold ores. Mineralization in the area is related to gold mainly and also copper, embedded in granite rock. Copper is found in fault-filling vein type deposits (structure control) together with quartz, hematite, rock fragments, calcite and limonite. In addition, finding some mantiform deposits associated to andesite is also possible.
Figure
4.
REGIONAL
GEOLOGICAL
SETTING.
In
the
area
surrounding
La
Higera,
the
following
geologicalal
units
are
recognized,
according
to
the
nomenclature
of
the
Geological
Map
of
Chile,
scale
1:1.000.000
of
National
Service
of
Geology
SERNAGEOMIN
(2002)
Sedimentary sequence
Intrusives
Volcanic sequences
3
GEOLOGY
OF
THE
MINERAL
DEPOSIT
Wall
Rock:
In
the
property
of
Mina
Grande,
the
wall
rock
is
made
of
intrusive
rock
of
medium
grey
dioritic
to
monzonitic
composition
and
medium-grain
with
biotite,
plus
ferromagnesians
such
as
hornblende
and
pyroxene.
They
present
considerable
amounts
of
hematite,
magnetite
and
calcite
veinlets
and
p
fine
disseminations
of
pyrite
and
traces
of
chalcopyrite.
Minor
Intrusives.
Dikes
of
dioritic
composition
can
be
appreciated
throughout
all
the
levels
of
the
mine.
These
dikes
may
be
parallel
to
the
vein
or
crossing
it
and
the
thickness
varies
from
0,5
to
20,5
m.
Structures.
A
very
significant
group
of
structures
NW
(N45-60W)
can
be
seen,
as
the
ones
in
Figure
3.
This
occurs
in
the
III
and
IV
Regions,
where
copper
vein
deposits
are
embedded,
as
the
ones
described
in
this
mine,
varying
to
south
with
a
more
gold-bearing
composition.
Figure
5.
North
front
of
ANA
MARA
vein.
In
this
sector
a
slash
in
the
vein
was
performed,
due
to
the
advance
of
a
road
access
to
higher
levels.
At
this
point
the
structure
has
a
power
of
20.8
m,
mainly
formed
by
magnetite
with
slight
amounts
of
copper
oxide
3-
5
%
MT
and
hematite
5%MT.
Visual
iron
grade
estimated
in
50%.
In the aerial image a series of structures of NNW direction can be appreciated, which are associated to small quartz, hematite and sulfide veinlets. As seen in the aerial view (Fig.3),
the main vein of the mine has a direction N50W, and dips of 75 to 80 SW can be measured. The structure, as seen in figure 4, presents strike variations which give it a curly aspect in detailed-scale mapping. The faults of the recumbent and the dike gives the structure a quite good definition of the walls, which significantly benefit the vein developing and reconnaissance labors. In terms of vein power, it is fairly constant with an average value between 2.5 and 3.5 with some pockets of rich ore of 6.0 m where chalcopyrite lens of sulfur from 10 to 25 cm associated to power bulks or width of several meters (3 to 6 m) of hematite, magnetite, specularite with pyrite, bornite and chalcocite veinlets. It is seen as well, veintlets of silicate and carbonates of a few cm of thickness. Furthermore, there can be defined two mineralization cases marked with the presence of grey silica with black ferromagnesians and surfur veintlets as very abundant chalcopyrite and less pyrite and chalcocite. These are, at the same time, cut by light silica veintlets (quartz and feldspars clay and interstitial jarosite) with a finely disseminated mineralization with lower proportion in relation with the other veinlets. The mineralogical features of the vein, mey indicate a mesothermal origin, as the presence of abundant hematite resembling copper and gold veins embedded in Jurassic granitoides to inferior cretaceous of the III Region, as the ones of Las Animas and Ojancos districts. These consist on veins with primary mineralization formed by chalcopyrite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, magnetite, specularite (hematite) and gold. The wall rock presents a halo of alteration constituted by actinolite, potasic feldspars, biotite, epidote, sericite and quartz. Just as occurs in the north, the majority of these veins and their associated alteration are spatially and genetically related to the Lower Cretaceous Magmatism. The wall rock, presents a biotite alteration disseminated on the rock and fracture fillings, very fine calcite veinlets with pyrite halos and less chalcopyrite, fine magnetite which is finely disseminated and can be clearly appreciated in the main entry or access, where the last sampling produced low gold and copper grades .
Figure 6. North front of the vain Ana Mara in the southern sector. 4. Geological evaluation of Ana Mara Mine. The vein shape structure of Ana Mara Mine corresponds to a normal major fault with a strike of N07W and moreover, it presents some features which are sings of displacement along the sinestral strike which monzodioritic slashes where a vein formed mainly by siliceous and ferric material was embedded. This vein has a very good structural definition, for it can be deduced a similar behavior along the strike north, which would allow the projection of this structure beyond the limits of the mining property, approaching to the chain of mountains located NW. According to an estimation of resources performed on a topographic basis considering the average power from 10.8 to 20.5 m and according to the simple airspace, a preliminary value of 5.609.011 tons of iron ore was calculated, corresponding to magnetite in its
majority.
The
estimated
grade,
according
to
the
analysis
of
samples
taken
from
3
fronts
of
the
vein
represents
al
average
of
53,6%
of
iron
(see
annex).
As
indicated
by
the
foregoing,
a
rate
of
mining
extraction
from
50.000
to
70.000
ton/month,
which
would
mean
an
initial
useful
approximately
eight
to
ten
years.
In
the
following
table
the
is
a
summary
of
the
location
of
iron
deposits
in
Ana
Mara
Mine.
Category N/A
Figure 5. Access view and stockpiles of minerals and mucks. 5. Conclusion and discussion. The main structure of Ana Mara Mine corresponds to a vein with mesothermal characteristics of copper, iron and gold, controlled by faults of considerable sizes which belong to a group of important structures of the surrounding areas of the mine, which allows hoping for a great geological and mining associated resource potential. As it can be observed in the aerial image, there are superficial labors which correspond to other structures apart from the exploited vein in Mina Grande, whose limits are located northeast. Therefore, it is possible that the current vein is almost completely unexploited towards the surface and it could be considered as an additional resource. Way north and deep, the vein has very good probabilities of maintaining the same characteristics known in the current labors. With the total estimated resources in the property, an approximate of 5,605,000 tones of sulphide minerals of copper and iron can be reached. This could serve as a basis of operative projections to a rate of 30,000 to 50,000 tons/month of iron ore lumps and iron ore fines, for a project of approximately ten years. 6. Recommendations.
It is recommended to continue with the reconnaissance and developing labors. Due to its structural and mineralogical features, the existence of other structures in the surrounding areas is possible. Reason for which an appropriate and detailed exploration would have to be performed and that is why it is necessary to do a geological study around the complete area of the property, very detailed and to schedule a exploration drilling campaign and along with it to do an geological evaluation through a model based on sections and detailed plants.