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  2. Online Spatial Data
  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

El Bleida

Producer in Morocco 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. Nearby scientific data
  8. Ore body information
  9. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  10. Mining district
  11. Ownership information
  12. Production statistics
  13. Reserves and resources
  14. Workings at the site
  15. Links to other databases
  16. Bibliographic references
  17. General comments
  18. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10207781
MAS/MILS ID 7140250001
Record type Site
Current site name El Bleida

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -6.44006, 30.37962 (WGS84)
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Morocco(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
Morocco

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Feldspar Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Bornite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Feldspar Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Quartz Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -6.44006, 30.37962
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N45W
    Dip 60N
    Thickness 10M
    Length 150M
    Width 200M
    Depth to top 100M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 3
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control BEDDING
    Secondary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SERICITIC
    Strike And Dip N45W:60N
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Date of Last Modification 791011
  • Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 2
    MAS Column # 3
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control BEDDING
    Secondary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SERICITIC
    Date of Last Modification 791011

Comments on the geologic information

  • MINERALIZATION LOCATED IN PHYLLITES OVERLYING A MARKER BED OF JASPER.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant No
Discovery year 1963
Mining method Filled Stopes - Horiz Cut and Fill W/Waste Rock
Year of first production 1980
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Bou Azzer

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Soc. Miniere Du Bou-Gaffer(Soynifer)
    Home office Morocco
    Year 1980
  • Type Owner
    Owner Bureau De Recherches Et De Participations Minieres (BRPM)
    Interest 43
    Home office Morocco
    Year 1980
  • Type Owner
    Owner Omnium Nord Africain
    Interest 43
    Home office France
    Year 1980
  • Type Owner
    Owner Soc. De Financement International
    Interest 10
    Home office Morocco
    Year 1980
  • Type Owner
    Owner Mitsui Mining And Smelting Co.
    Interest 4
    Home office Japan
    Year 1980

Production statistics

  • Year 1982
    Description 34.56% Cu 47630 Mt Cu Conc.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 47630mt 35wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Description 7.71% Cu 217241 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 217241mt 8wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Description 7.71% Cu 256531 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 256531mt 8wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Description 36.23% Cu 53822 Mt Cu Conc.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 53822mt 36wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Description 32.72% Cu 49062 Mt Cu Conc.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 49062mt 33wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Description 6.57% Cu 265948 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 265948mt 7wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Description 32.45% Cu 45993 Mt Cu Conc.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 45993mt 32wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Description 5.61% Cu 276299 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 276299mt 6wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Description 34.07% Cu 43230 Mt Cu Conc.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 43230mt 34wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Description 5.30% Cu 288670 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 288670mt 5wt-pct
  • Year 1987
    Description 34.9% Cu 35107 Mt Cu Conc.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 35107mt 35wt-pct
  • Year 1987
    Description 252106 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 252106mt

Comments on the production information

  • FEB.1970-AGREEMENT SIGNED BY BRPM WITH OMNIUM NORD-AFRICAIN AND MITSUI MINING AND SMELTING CO.LTD.FOR EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION OF BLEIDA CONCESSION. FEB.1974-JOINT VENTURE INVOLVING BRPM,OMNIUM NORD AFRICAIN, MITSUI, & NITTETSU MINING PLANNED. INITIAL PLANS TO MINE 380,000 MTPY ORE TO PRODUCE 10,000 MTPY CU CONTAINED IN CONCENTRATES. THIS PROJECT COST ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 70,000,000 DICHAMS (ABOUT$15,450,000). APRIL 1976-FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR 272 TO 363 MTPD ORE CAPACITY BEGUN WITH HALF OF OUTPUT EXPORTED TO JAPAN.SAID AT THE TIME THAT FREIGHT COSTS WOULD PROHIBIT PROFITABILITY-MITSUI, BRPM & SOMIFER ARE THE COMPANIES INVOLVED. SEPT.1978-DESIGN CAPACITY OF MINE TO BE 200,000 MTPY ORE, MILL CAPACITY TO BE 800 MTPD ORE TO PRODUCE 16,000 MTPY CU CONCENTRATES.BRPM CURRENTLY CONDUCTING FEASIBILITY STUDY ON CONSTRUCTION OF SMELTER AT PORT OF AGADIR.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Measured 826000mt ore
    Indicated 333000mt ore
    Demonstrated 1159000mt ore
    Inferred 572000mt ore
    Total resources 1731000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 4.9 wt-pct Copper Major 1988
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Measured 826000mt ore
    Indicated 333000mt ore
    Demonstrated 1159000mt ore
    Inferred 572000mt ore
    Total resources 1731000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 4.9 wt-pct Copper Major 1988

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • METALS SOURCEBOOK APRIL 22,1974 STATES THAT"AS OF JUNE 1971, THE ORE RESERVES AT EL BLEIDA WERE ESTIMATED AT 3-MILLION MT AVERAGING 3% COPPER.
  • THIS IS A SOUTH AND NORTH SECTOR COMBINED. ASSUME THAT THIS VALUE IS IN-SITU. GOLDER MENTIONS EXPECTED 90% RECOVERY AND 10% DILUTION DURING MINING. SULFIDE.
  • MINERALS BULLETIN OF MOROCCO, 1987. (12/31/87) MCF (12/31/79)

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method HORIZ CUT & FILL W/WASTE ROCK 10-60
    Percent Waste Rock 0
    Percent Recovery 100
    Hardness of Rock UNKNOWN
    Rock Characteristics UNKNOWN
    Rock Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    Mine Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 1000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1986

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINERALS BULLETIN OF MOROCCO, MINING SECTOR ACTIVITY, 1987.

  • Deposit

    USBM MINERAL TRADE NOTES. JAN.1971.

  • Deposit

    E/MJ. APRIL 1976.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE. SEPT. 1978, P. 299.

  • Deposit

    LEBLANC, M. AND BILLAUD,P. A VOLCANO-SEDIMENTARY COPPER

  • Deposit

    DEPOSIT ON A CONTINENTAL MARGIN OF UPPER PROTEROZOIC AGE:

  • Deposit

    BLEIDA(ANTI-ATLAS, MORROCCO). ECON. GEOL.,V.73, 1978,

  • Deposit

    PP.1101-1111.

  • Deposit

    PALLIX,G. FAMOUS MINERAL LOCALITIES: BOU AZZER, MOROCCO.

  • Deposit

    THE MINERALOGIC RECORD. MARCH-APRIL,1978, PP.69-73.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, FEB.15,1974.

  • Deposit

    METALS SOURCEBOOK. FEB.25,1974, ITEM B1636.

  • Deposit

    METALS SOURCEBOOK. APR.22,1974, ITEM B2435.

  • Deposit

    DMA SERIES P502, SHEET NH 29-8, SCALE 1:250,000.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, "MOROCCO'S BLEIDA MINE WILL

  • Deposit

    EXPAND COPPER OUTPUT BY 1981." APR. 1980, P.9.

  • Deposit

    MINERALS BULLETIN OF MOROCCO, MINING SECTOR ACTIVITY, 1986.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit DEPOSIT WORKED IN THE 9TH&12TH CENTURIES. RE-DISCOVERED IN 1963 BY WESTFIELD MINERALS LTD. LOCATED 47 KM SE OF BOU AZZER.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 09-JAN-1995 Porter, Kenneth E. 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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