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  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Otapan

Producer in Mexico with commodity Sulfur
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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. Nearby scientific data
  8. Ore body information
  9. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  10. Mining district
  11. Mineral rights holdings
  12. Land status
  13. Ownership information
  14. Production statistics
  15. Workings at the site
  16. Links to other databases
  17. Bibliographic references
  18. General comments
  19. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10206412
MAS/MILS ID 2010570005
Record type Site
Current site name Otapan

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Plant
Geographic coordinates: -94.6502, 17.884 (WGS84)
Location accuracy 5000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Pima(county)

Arizona(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

Federal lands

Federal(land status)

Geographic areas

Country
Mexico

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Sulfur Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Anhydrite Unknown
Halite Unknown
Sulfur Unknown
Anhydrite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Plant (1) -94.6502, 17.884
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 LENTICULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #2 OTHER
    Type of Orebody #3 OTHER
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Secondary mode of Origin OTHER
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control OTHER
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Date of Last Modification 910318

Comments on the geologic information

  • THIS FRASCH SULFUR MINING OPERATION IS LOCATED IN THE SALINE BASIN ON THE ISTHMUS OF TEHUANTEPEC IN SE MEXICO. THIS DEPOSIT IS NOT STRICKLY A SEDIMENTARY DEOPSIT. SULFUR IS FORMED BY THE DECOMPOSITION OF ANHYDRITE BY SULFATE- REDUCING ANAEROBIC BACTERIA. ELEMENTAL SULFUR FORMS IN CAVITIES IN THE DECOMPOSED/DECOMPOSING ANHDRITE. THIS LAYER IS BETWEEN TWO OTHER LAYERS OF BARREN OR UNDECOM- POSED ANHYDRITE.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Well
Development status Producer
Commodity type Non-metallic
Significant No
Discovery year 1940
Mining method Auger Mining - Frasch Process
Year of first production 1985

Mining district

District name Saline Basin

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Minerals Only

Land status

Ownership category Federal

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Cia Azufrera Panamericana Sa (Apsa)
    Interest 100
    Home office Mexico
    Year 1985

Production statistics

  • Year 1985
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Mid-1985 Start-Up Estimated Production 511000 Mt Elemental Sulfur/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Sulfur Sulfur 511000mt
  • Year 1990
    Description Ultimate Capacity By Late 1990'S 912500 Mt Elemental Sulfur/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Sulfur Sulfur 912500mt

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • NO RESERVE/RESOURCE DATA IS AVAILABLE FOR THE FRASCH SULFUR OPERATION.
  • RESERVE/RESOURCE ESTIMATES FOR THIS FRASCH OPERATION ARE NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME, (03/91).

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method FRASCH PROCESS 10-89
    Percent Recovery 75
    Hardness of Rock UNKNOWN
    Rock Characteristics UNKNOWN
    Rock Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    Mine Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    1st Condition of Workings UNKNOWN
    2nd Condition of Workings UNKNOWN
    3rd Condition of Workings UNKNOWN
    Capacity 2500
    Capacity Units MT COMMOD/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 365
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1985

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    BRITISH SULPHUR, WORLD SURVEY OF SULPHUR RESOURCES, THIRD

  • Deposit

    EDITION, 1986, PAGE 45.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit OPERATION HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR TECHNICAL PROBLEMS AND LOW RESERVE/RESOURCE ESTIMATES. AUGUST 1992. NO RESERVE/RESOURCE DATA IS KNOWN.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 04-JAN-95 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

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