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Mantos Blancos

Producer in Chile with commodities Copper, Silver
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Alteration
  8. Mineral occurrence model information
  9. Host and associated rocks
  10. Nearby scientific data
  11. Geologic structures
  12. Ore body information
  13. Controls for ore emplacement
  14. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  15. Mining district
  16. Ownership information
  17. Production statistics
  18. Reserves and resources
  19. Links to other databases
  20. Bibliographic references
  21. General comments
  22. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10068478
MRDS ID W001546
Record type Site
Current site name Mantos Blancos
Alternate or previous names Marina, Nora, Aida, Sopresa, Quinta
Related records 10230771

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -70.06121, -23.42753 (WGS84)
Elevation 1550
Relative position 48 KM NE. OF ANTOFOGASTA

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Chile(country)

South America(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
Chile

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Atacamite Ore
Bornite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Chrysocolla Ore
Covellite Ore
Digenite Ore
Galena Ore
Silver Ore
Calcite Gangue
Hematite Gangue
Jarosite Gangue
Natroalunite Gangue
Pyrite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Sulfides Rare, Deposit Probably Formed In Situ By Oxidation Of A Previously Formed Secondary Sulfide Enrichment Zone; Albitization, Silicification, Sericitization, Chloritization (Mg:Fe = 1:1)

Analytical data

Result 1.62 % CU
Result ATACAMITE:CHRYSOCOLLA = 3:1 SILVER OXIDES - 10-14 G/T AG
Result SILVER SULFIDES >25 G/T AG AND ARE IN A SOLID SOLUTION WITH COPPER SULFIDES

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 53
USGS model code 17
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu
Mark3 model number 4

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock > Andesite
    Rock unit name La Negra Formation
    Rock description La Negra Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Jurassic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Jurassic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Dacite

Nearby scientific data

(1) -70.06121, -23.42753
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description North-Trending Folds, Faults And Plutonic Masses
Type of structure Local
Structure description Bedding - N65w, 12sw Faults At N25-45e And N5e-N25w

Ore body information

  • General form LENTICULAR
    Length 3076M
    Width 750M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Dacite Porphyry Which Intrudes Andesite Lava

Comments on the geologic information

  • CHLORITIZATION INCREASES WITH DEPTH; INITIAL STRONTIUM RATIO = O.70531 IN HYDROTHERMALLY-ALTERED ROCK. SULFUR ISOTOPE, ORE (IN ANDESITE) = 0.1/MIL SULFUR ISOTOPE, DIORITE W/CP-PY = 1.5/MIL ; GEOL.DESC: MOST CU MINERALIZATION IS CONFINED TO DACITE PORPHYRY, BUT A SYSTEM OF ANDESITE DIKES ALSO CONTAINING CU ORE, SUBSEQUENTLY CUT THE DACITE. CU MINERALS OCCUR IN BOTH ROCK TYPES AS INCLUSIONS AND FINE VEINLETS

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant No
Discovery year 1912
Year of first production 1960

Mining district

District name Mantos Blancos

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Mauricio Hochschild And Cia.
  • Type Owner
    Owner Since July, 1971 Major Cu Companies Have Been Nationalized By Pres. Allende.
  • Type Owner
    Owner Co. Now Is Empressa De Minera Mantos Blancos S. A.
  • Type Owner
    Owner Anglo American
    First year 1993

Production statistics

  • Year 1969
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^1.75 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Material CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^70% Oxide At 1.39%, 30% Sulfide At 1.45% Soluble
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Sulfur Sulfur 30wt-pct
    Major Copper Copper 70wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • 2) EST. BY G. GODARZI 3/73 BASED ON 90% LEACH RECOVERY TO PRODUCE ABOUT 32,000 MET TONS COPPER ANNUALLY. GRADE DECREASES IN TIME; PRODUCTION OF SULFIDES BEGAN IN 1978. CUTOFFS; OXIDES = 0.88%, SULFIDES = 1.00%

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Total resources 2000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.75 wt-pct Copper Major 1975
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Total resources 26000000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.27 wt-pct Copper Major 1988

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 1977
  • MARINA CONTAINS 5 MT AT 1.65 CU AND 22 G/T AG

Comments on the workings information

  • OPEN PIT MINE, 12 M BENCHES. INITALLY EXPLOITED WITH FIVE OPEN PITS; UNDERGROUND OPERATIONS BEGAN IN 1974 AND CONSTITUTE 40% OF MINING; SUBLEVEL STOPING AND CUT-AND-FILL METHODS EMPLOYED TODAY.

Comments on development

  • HOCHCHILD & CO. DEFINED 11,000,000T AT 1.9% CU (OXIDES) IN 1952. ; ECON.COM: MAJOR DRAWBACK OF DEVELOPMENT WAS CHLORIDE CONTENT (0.4-1.5% CL) OF ORE. ALSO PRESENCE OF MINERALIZATION IN BOTH DACITE, PORPHYRY AND ANDESITE DIKES PRESENTED METALLURGICAL PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF DIFFERENTIAL BEHAVIOR OF ROCKS IN LEACHING. DACITE IS SLIGHTLY ATTACKED BY ACID, BUT ANDESITE DISINTEGRATES CAUSING EXCESSIVE ACID CONSUMPTION AND FORMATION OF SLIMES. PROBLEMS SOLVED BY USING MIXTURE OF 20% ANDESITE AND 80% DACITE. HIGH CHLORINE CONTENT NOT AMENABLE TO LEACH -ELECTROLYSIS METHODS IN 1912; COMMERCIAL EXTRACTION IN 1952.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    RUIZ, F., CARLOS, 1965, GEOLGIA Y YACIMIENTOS METALIFEROS DE CHILE: INST. INV. GEOL. CHILE, TABLE 1, (SPANISH)

  • Deposit

    KNOBLER, R. R. AND WERNER, JOSEPH, 1962, THE MANTOS BLANCOS OPERATION: MINING ENG. V. 14, NO. 1, P. 40-45

  • Deposit

    MINING JOUR. ANN. REV. JUNE, 1969, P. 257; 1970, P. 299

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 8/4/77, P. 18, V. 65, NO. 150

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, JANUARY, 1987, P. 58.

  • Deposit

    FRUTOS, J. AND PINCHEIRA, M., 1986, FICHAS METALOGENICAS DE YACIMIENTOS MINERALES METALICOS CHILENOS, IN FRUTOS, J., OYARZUN, J., AND PINCHEIRA, M., EDS., GEOLOGIA Y RECURSOS MINERALES CHILENOS: UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCION, CONCEPCION, P. 841-888.

  • Deposit

    CAMUS, F., 1986, LOS YACIMIENTOS ESTRAOLIGADOS DE CU, PB-ZN, Y AG DE CHILE, IN FROTOS, J., OYARZUN, J, AND PINCHEIRA, M., EDS., GEOLOGIA Y RECURSOS MINERALES CHILENOS: UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCION, CONCEPCION, P. 548-635.

  • Deposit

    RUIZ, C. AND PEEBLES, F., 1988, YACIMIENTOS METALIFEROS DE CHILE: SANTIAGO, 334 P.

  • Deposit

    CHAVEZ, W., 1983, THE GEOLOGIC SETTING OF DISSEMINATED COPPER SULFIDE MINERALIZATION OF THE MANTOS BLANCOS COPPER-SILVER DISTRICTS, ANTOFAGASTA PROVINCE, CHILE: 112TH ANNUAL MEETING OF AIME, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, PREPRINT 83-193, 20 P.

  • Deposit

    MUNIZAGA, F., HEUTE, C., AND HERVE, F., 1985, GEOCHRONOLOGIA Y RAZONES INICIALES 87SR/86SR DE LA "FAJA PACIFICA" DE "DESARROLLOS HIDROTERMALES": IV CONGRESO GEOLOGICO CHILENO, P. 4-357 - 4-379.

  • Deposit

    SASAKI, A., ULRIKDEN, C., SATO, K., AND ISHIHARA, D., 1984, SULFUR ISOTOPE RECONNAISSANCE OF PORPHYRY COPPER AND MANTO-TYPE DEPOSITS IN CHILE AND THE PHILLIPPINES: BULL. GEOL. SUR. JAPAN, V 35, P. 615-622.

  • Deposit

    BORIC, R., DIAZ, F., AND MAKSAEV, V., 1984, COMPLEMENTO MAPA METALOGENICO, II REGION: GERENCIA DE DESARROLLO, SANTIAGO (12 VOLS.)

  • Deposit

    KNOBLER, R.R., AND JOSEPH, W., 1962, THE MANTOS BLANCOS OPERATION: MINING ENGINEERING, P. 2-7.

  • Deposit

    MORTIMER, C., ET AL., 1978, EMPLAZAMIENTO DEL YACIMIENTO EXOTICA, CHILE: REV. GEOL. DE CHILE, 6, P. 41-51.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, 1981, P. 458-469.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, JANUARY 1990.

  • Deposit

    REICHARD, E., 1978, GEOLOGIA DE YACIMIENTO CUPRIFERO MANTOS BLANCOS, ANTOFAGASTA: TESIS, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE, SANTIAGO, 113 P.

  • Deposit

    MAKSAEV, V., BORIC, R., ZENTILLI, M., AND REYNOLDS, P., 1988, SIGNIFICADOS METALOGENICO DE DATACIONES K-AR, 40AR-39AR, Y TRAZAS DE FISION DE ZONAS MINERALIZADAS EN EL NORTE GRANDE DE CHILE: V CONGRESO GEOLOGICO CHOLENO, P. B65-B86.

  • Deposit

    MINERIA CHILENA, 1989, PROYECTOS MINEROS EN CHILE, REGIONES I & II, P. 73.

  • Deposit

    MINING, 1990, ANNUAL REVIEW, P. 44.

  • Deposit

    LITTLE, M. L., 1993, EXPLORATION REVIEW: SOUTH AMERICA: SEG NEWSLETTER, NO. 15, OCTOBER '93, P. 15.

  • Other Database

    CIMRI

  • Production

    MIN. JOUR. ANN. REV. 1969, 1970. REF.; CHAVEZ, 1983, MINERA CHILENA, 1989, MINING 1990, ANNUAL REVIEW, P. 44

  • Reserve-Resource

    MAKSAEV, ET AL., 1988.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit INDIVIDUAL LAVA FLOWS DIFFICULT TO CORRELATE DUE TO LENS-LIKE MORPHOLOGY. SOUTHWEST OF MINE, A GRANODIORITE WITH INCIPIENT TO COMPLETE CHLORITIZATION DATES AT 147 +/- 2.3MA (K/AR - BIOTITE); A HORNBLENDE-BEARING DIKE INTRUDES HOST ROCK AND DATES AT 147 +/- 2.3 MA. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT
Deposit DEPOSIT CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF OREBODIES. 5 EXPLORED, VARY FROM 210 TO 320 M LONG, AND 90 M TO 120 M WIDE. DEPOSIT IS FAULT-SEPARATED INTO FIVE BODIES: MARINA, NORA, AIDA, SORPRESA, AND QUINTA. THE FIRST TWO THE LARGEST AND THE FIRST THREE HAVING MAJOR SULFIDE CONCENTRATIONS; PARAGENETIC SEQUENCE OF PYRITE, CHALCOPYRITE, BORNITE, CHALCOCITE, DIGENITE, COVELLITE, HEMATITE WITH DISCRETE ZONING SYMPATHETIC TO HOST-ROCK LITHOLOGY; VERTICAL ZONATION OF FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, HEMATITE-PYRITE/CHALCOPYRITE - CHALCOCITE/BORNITE - BORNITE/CHALCOCITE - PYRITE/CHALCOPYRITE/GALENA OR BORNITE/CHALCOPYRITE IN SULFIDE ZONE; SILVER CONCENTRATED WHERE BORNITE/CHALCOPYRITE REPLACED BY DIGENITE/COVELLITE, GALENA IN VEINLETS ASSOCIATED WITH QUARTZ IN LOWER AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF DEPOSIT AND MAY BE LATE-STAGE PERIPHERAL MINERALIZATION. MINERALIZATION GENERALLY IN FRACTURE FILLINGS <5MM WIDE, IN VESICLES, AND DISSEMINATED.
Deposit Discovery Year: KNOWN SINCE 1912

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-JAN-1973 Davidson, Claire B. (Theune, C. T.) U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-SEP-1989 Williams, William C. University of Arizona

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

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