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Los Frailes

Producer in Spain with commodities Copper, Lead, Silver, Sulfur, Zinc
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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. Mineral rights holdings
  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 10255047
MAS/MILS ID 4690770001
Record type Site
Current site name Los Frailes
Alternate or previous names Aznalcollar

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -6.26491, 37.51603 (WGS84)
Elevation 100

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Spain(country)

Europe(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
Spain

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Lead Primary
Silver Secondary
Sulfur Secondary
Zinc Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Arsenopyrite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Galena Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -6.26491, 37.51603
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Shape of Orebody #2 LENTICULAR
    Primary mode of Origin MAGMATIC DIFFER
    Primary Ore Control BEDDING
    Secondary Ore Control CONTACT ZONE
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 PYRITIZATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 CARBONATE SILIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PROPYLITIC
    Date of Last Modification 820624
  • Strike N01E
    Dip 50N
    Thickness 40M
    Length 1400M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 2
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 LENTICULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 BRECCIA FILL
    Shape of Orebody #2 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin MAGMATIC DIFFER
    Primary Ore Control FOLDING
    Secondary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 ADV ARGILLIC
    Strike And Dip N01E:50N
    Date of Last Modification 820624
  • Strike N01E
    Dip 50N
    Thickness 40M
    Length 1000M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 3
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 LENTICULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 BRECCIA FILL
    Shape of Orebody #2 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin MAGMATIC DIFFER
    Primary Ore Control FOLDING
    Secondary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 ADV ARGILLIC
    Strike And Dip N01E:50N
    Minimum Depth to Top 2
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 2
    Date of Last Modification 820624
  • Strike N90E
    Dip 40N
    Thickness 300M
    Length 1400M
    Width 700M
    Area 3511HA
    Depth to top 50M
    Field Value
    Strike And Dip N90E:40N
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 10
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 3511
    Date of Last Modification 820624

Comments on the geologic information

  • THE ORE BODY IS PROBABLY A VOLCANOGENIC MASSIVE SULFIDE DEPOSIT SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE CANADIAN SHIELD. IF THIS IS THE CASE, THEN THE METAL ZONING WOULD TEND TO INDICATE THAT THE DEPOSIT IS STRAIGRAPHICALLY OVERTURNED EXPLORATION: 72000 M OF DDH 200 TO 300 M GRID TO 300 M VERT- ICAL DISTANCE FROM SURFACE. OPEN GEOMETRY ALONG N DIPPING STRUCTURE. TWO MAIN MINERALIZED BEDDING STRUCTURES: A) PYROCLASTIC SUBVOLCANIC DEPOSIT. 30 M THICK ON SURFACE TO 100 M THICK BY DDH INTERSECTION TOWARD NORTH DIPPING EXTENTION. OPEN EXTRUCTURE BEYOND PROSPECTED AREA. RESERVES BLOCKED OUT BASE ON OPEN PIT METHOD. DIPPER RESERVES FOR UNDERGROUND MINING. PYROCLASTIC ESTRUCTURE OVERLAYING PYRITIC BED BEDDING. B) PYRITIC ESTRUCTURE UNDERLAYING PARALLEL TO PYROCLASTIC STRUCTURE. 45 DEGREES DIPPING NORTH. 30 M AVERAGE THICKNESS NARROW OUTCROPS ARE KNOWN 4500 CORE SAMPLES LAB TESTED FOR CU, PB, ZN, AG, S. HERCYNIAN GEOSYNCLINE FORMATION MIOCENE LIMESTONE AND CARBONACEOUS SLATE INTERBEDDED UNITS OTHER COMMON ROCKS: RHYOLITE, PYROCLASTIC RHYOLITE, PORPHYRY RHYOLITE, CHLORITE SCHIST, FELSITE

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Both
Significant Yes
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1979
Milling method Flotation

Comments on exploration

  • HISTORY OF EXPLORATION: REC=03; OTHER REPRESENTS A PILOT PLANT FOR SELECTIVE TESTS. HISTORY OF EXPLORATION:; REC=04; OTHER REPRESENTS AN EXTENSIVE METALLURGICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM AS WAS CONDUCTED FOR SOTIEL, THE PROGRAM IS ESTIMATED TO COST $1.3 MILLION.

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Unknown

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Andaluza De Piritas, S. A.
    Interest 100
    Home office Spain
    Year 1989

Comments on the ownership information

  • ANDALUZA DE PIRITAS IS OWNED BY BOLIDEN A.B.

Production statistics

  • Year 1979
    Description Ore In. And Conc Out. Gra. Same As 1980 2667000 Mt Ore Treated Per Year
  • Year 1990
    Description Zinc Conc. Produced 55000 Mt Zinc Conc.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Zinc Zinc 55000mt
  • Year 1990
    Description Ore Milled 2250000 Mtpy Ore
  • Year 1992
    Description Zinc. Conc. Produced 51000 Mt Zn Cinc.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Zinc Zinc 51000mt
  • Year 1992
    Description Contained Lead Produced 13000 Mt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Lead Lead 13000mt
  • Year 1993
    Description Est. Contained Lead Produced 8000 Mt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Lead Lead 8000mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1979
    Measured 43000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 43000000mt ore
    Total resources 43000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Zinc Zn 3.33 wt-pct Zinc Major 1979
    Lead Pb 1.77 wt-pct Lead Major 1979
    Copper Cu 0.44 wt-pct Copper Major 1979
    Silver Ag 67 g/mt Silver Minor 1979
    Gold Au 1 g/mt Gold 1979
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1979
    Measured 47000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 47000000mt ore
    Total resources 47000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.58 wt-pct Copper Major 1979
    Zinc Zn 0.4 wt-pct Zinc Major 1979
    Silver Ag 10 g/mt Silver Minor 1979
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 0
    Measured 45000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 45000000mt ore
    Total resources 45000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.58 wt-pct Copper Major 0
    Lead Pb 1.74 wt-pct Lead Major 0
    Zinc Zn 3.33 wt-pct Zinc Major 0
    Gold Au 1 g/mt Gold 0

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • OCT. 1991 - 5.5M MT OF NEW RESERVES WERE FOUND. DRILLING IS STILL IN PROGRESS. THERE MAY BE A COPPER ZONE AT DEEPER LEVELS OF THE NEW ORE BODY.
  • MIN. MAG., 1/90, P . (12/31/78) DATA FROM PA&H REPORT. (12/31/85)
  • JAN.1,1980RESERVES:PYRITE COMPLEX ORE: 43000000MT@0.44%CU, 1.77%PB , 3.33%ZN, 67GM AG, 1.0GM AG. PYROCLASTIC ORE: 47000000MT@0.58%CU, 0.40%ZN, 10GM AG. EQUAL PRODUCTION FROM PYRITE COMPLEX ORE AND PYROCLASTIC ORE.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Percent Waste Rock 75
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Secondary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Capacity 1465
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 16000
    Operating Days per Year 273
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1989

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Production

    *CRU METAL MONITOR, ZINC, OCT. 1991, P.7.

  • Production

    *CRU MONITOR, ZINC, JAN. 1994, P. 7.

  • Production

    *CRU QUARTERLY SERVICE, LEAD, JAN. 1994, P. 34.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WESTERN MINING JANUARY 1982, PAGE 18:

  • Reserve-Resource

    COLUMN 2: COPPER BEARING PYROCLASTIC ROCK 1969 WESTERN

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING JANUARY 1982, PAGE 18:

  • Deposit

    E/MJ, JUNE 1977, CONSTRUCTION IS WELL ALONG AT AZNALCOLLAR,

  • Deposit

    PP. 130-131.

  • Deposit

    ANDALUZA DE PIRITAS S.A. CIRCUITO DEL COBRE

  • Deposit

    ANDALUZA DE PIRITAS S.A. PLANTA NV.-80 ESCALA 1:1000

  • Deposit

    ANDALUZA DE PIRITAS S.A. CIRCUITO DEL PLOMO

  • Deposit

    ANDALUZA DE PIRITAS S.A. PERFIL GEOLOGICO E.3887 1:1000

  • Deposit

    PLANO GENERAL DE INSTALACIONES DE MINA. 1:5000 1976

  • Deposit

    LURGI-FRANKFURT:GENERAL ARRANGEMENT OF BENEFICIATION PLANT

  • Deposit

    CU,PB,ZN-FLOTATION,AZNACOLLAR 1973 1:500

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGZINE, JANUARY 1990, PP. 20-25

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit DEV--WORK UNDERWAY INCLUDES PRESTRIPPING OF 44 MM TONS OF OVERBURDEN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A 46M HIGH DAM AND 1,750M LONG X 4.2 M DIA DIVERSION TUNNEL TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF THE AGRIO RIVER WHICH FLOWS ACROSS THE PIT SITE. PRO--A 2 TPH PILOT PLANT HAS OPERATED AT AZNALCOLLAR SINCE NOV 1974. PLANS ARE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED FOR HEAP LEACHING AN ADDITIONAL 20MM TONS OF LOW GRADE(<0.3% CU) PYROCLASTIC CU ORE. APRISA WILL CONC THE ORES IN 2 SEPARATE FLOTATION CIRCUITS-1 FOR PYRITES AND 1 FOR PYROCLASTICS AND TAILINGS FROM THE 2 CIRCUITS WILL BE IMPOUNDED SEPARATELY. SUR--OPEN PIT EQUIPMENT-PLANS CALL FOR THE USE OF 2 12" DIA ROTARY DRILLS AND ADDITIONAL 7.5" DIA ROTARY DRILLS, 15 CU YD ELECTRIC SHOVELS, A 7 CU YD AND A 12 CU YD FRONT END LOADER AND 24 85TON MECHANICAL DRIVE TRUCKS AS THE MAJOR EQUIPMENT, 120 TON TRUCKS MAY BE ADDED IN THE FUTURE AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT WILL INCLUDE BULLDOZERS, WHEELED TRACTORS, GRADERS, WATER TRUCKS, REPAIR TRUCKS, ETC. RESER--PYRITE TAILINGS WILL REPRESENT A SUBSTANTIAL POTENTIAL RESOURCE, CONTAINING 600,000 TPY OF SULPHUR & 700,000TPY OF IRON. PRO--3 STAGES OF CRUSHING WILL REDUCE AZNALCOLLAR ORES TO 12MM, FOR MILLING PYRITE ORES, APIRSA WILL INSTALL A ROD MILL AND 4 BALL MILLS, EACH 4M DIA X 6M LONG; FOR THE PYROCLASTICS, A ROD MILL OF THE SAME DIMENSIONS AND A 4.5M DIA X 6.6M LONG BALL MILL WILL BE USED. BOTH FLOTATION CIRCUITS WILL INCLUDE REGRIND MILLS. THE PYRITES REQUIRE VERY FINE GRINDING TO LIBERATE CU, ZN, PB, AG AND AU MINERALS WITH AN ULTIMATE REDUCTION OF 98% -400 MESH (80% MINUS 18 MICRONS AND 32-35% -5 MICRONS). THE PYROCLASTS ARE REDUCED TO 80% MINUS 180-200 MESH FOR THE BULK ROUGHER FLOAT. PRO--AT THE PILOT PLANT, REAGENTS IN THE PYRITE CIRCUIT ARE SO2, LIME, AMYL XANTHATE, AND AEROFLOT 238 FOR CU; LIME, ZNSO4, NACN AND AMYL XANTHATE FOR LEAD; AND LIME, CUSO4 AND AMYL XANTHATE FOR ZINC. IN THE PYROCLASTIC CIRCUIT, NASO3 IS ADDED IN GRINDING AND A BULK ROUGHER FLOAT IS MADE WITH AMYL XANTHATE AND LIME. REAGENTS USED IN THE SUBSEQUENT CU AND ZN CIRCUITS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS IN THE PYRITE CIRCUIT. PRODUCTION IS ANTICIPATED AT 24,333 MTPY OF CU CONC, 42,086 MTPY OF PB CONC AND 92,981 MTPY OF ZN CONC FROM PYRITE ORES

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 07-MAR-1997 Difrancesco, Carl 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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