Blanquette-Combecave

Past Producer in France with commodity Aluminum
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. Reserves and resources
  16. Workings at the site
  17. Links to other databases
  18. Bibliographic references
  19. General comments
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10255163
MAS/MILS ID 4270850007
Record type Site
Current site name Blanquette-Combecave
Alternate or previous names Blanquette/Combecave

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: 6.08527, 43.33226 (WGS84)
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

France(country)

Europe(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
France

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Aluminum Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Boehmite Unknown
Diaspore Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) 6.08527, 43.33226

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N90W
    Dip 10S
    Thickness 11.5M
    Length 5000M
    Width 1000M
    Depth to top 150M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 3
    Type of Orebody #1 LATERITE
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #2 LENTICULAR
    Type of Orebody #3 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #3 IRREGULAR
    Primary mode of Origin RESIDUAL CONCENT
    Secondary mode of Origin OXIDATION
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 UNKNOWN
    Strike And Dip N90W:10S
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Date of Last Modification 900719
  • Area 1000HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 1000
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Comments on the geologic information

  • GANGUE MINERALS INCLUDE SILICA, KAOLINITE, IRON OXIDES, TITANIUM OXIDES, CALCITE AND LIMESTONE FROM THE KARST FLOOR. ORE BODY IS IN A SYNCLINAL STRUCTURE THAT STRIKES EAST-WEST. EAST PORTION OF THE ORE BODY WAS MINED BY OPEN PIT BUT ALL MINING IS NOW UNDERGROUND; DIP IS 10S.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1914
Year of first production 1927
Milling method Sizing

Mining district

District name Var

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Minerals Only

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Societe Anonyme Des Bauxites Et Alumines De Prov.(Sabap)
    Interest 100
    Home office France
    Year 1987

Production statistics

  • Year 1970
    Description Beginning Produciton-1970 450000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Aluminum Aluminum 450000mt
  • Year 1971
    Description Bauxite Ore- 1971 450000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 450000mt
  • Year 1972
    Description Bauxite Ore- 1972 441000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 441000mt
  • Year 1973
    Description Bauxite Ore- 1973 453000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 453000mt
  • Year 1974
    Description Bauxite Ore- 1974 493000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 493000mt
  • Year 1975
    Description Bauxite Ore- 1975 452000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 452000mt
  • Year 1976
    Description Bauxite Ore- 1976 445000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 445000mt
  • Year 1977
    Description Bauxite Ore- 1977 350000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 350000mt
  • Year 1978
    Description Bauxite Ore- 1978 290000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 290000mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1980
    Measured 4450000mt ore
    Indicated 4300000mt ore
    Demonstrated 8750000mt ore
    Total resources 8750000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Aluminum Al2O3 54 wt-pct Aluminum Major 1980
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1980
    Inferred 1500000mt ore
    Total resources 1500000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Aluminum Al2O3 52 wt-pct Aluminum Major 1980
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1987
    Measured 2285000mt ore
    Indicated 2185000mt ore
    Demonstrated 4470000mt ore
    Total resources 4470000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Aluminum Al2O3 54 wt-pct Aluminum Major 1987
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1987
    Inferred 1565000mt ore
    Total resources 1565000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Aluminum Al2O3 52 wt-pct Aluminum Major 1987

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • CONTAINS COMBECAVE-FORMERLY#4270850006A. SOCIETE ANONYME DES BAUXITES ET ALUMINES (SABAP)
  • THESE ARE THE RESERVE/RESOURCES ESTIMATES USED IN THE 1987 ALUMINUM UPDATE STUDY.

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
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 100
    Primary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore SAND, SILT
    Capacity 600
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1987
  • Type of workings Underground
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method ROOM AND PILLAR 10-34
    Percent Recovery 60
    Hardness of Rock SOFT NONPLASTIC FISSURED EXCESSIVE WATER
    Rock Characteristics NO PLANES OF WEAKNESS
    Rock Support Chars. UNSUPPORTING MAY SLOUGH
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 600
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1987

Comments on other economic factors

  • ALL BAUXITE ORE BENEFICATION TAKES PLACE AND THE ALUMINA PLANT (REFINERY).
  • BAUXITE ORE IS SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO THE REFINERY.
  • WATER PROBLEMS REQUIRE PUMPING 1000 CUBIC METERS/HR. MINING CUTOFF GRADE IS 36% AL2O3. MINE RECOVERY IS 60 PCT

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING, 1979, P284 AND P292.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, JUNE 1978, "MINING BAUXITE IN FRANCE" PP.

  • Deposit

    546 TO 553.

  • Deposit

    "HOW FRENCH BAUXITE IS MINED" DECEMBER 1956,PP 51 TO 53.

  • Deposit

    H. R. HOSE, 1965, "CONCENTRATION OF NICKEL AND COBALT

  • Deposit

    MINERALS IN THE BAUXITE MINES OF LES CODOULS AND

  • Deposit

    BLANQUETTE, FRANCE", PP. 253 TO260.

  • Deposit

    BRUCY, J., ENVIRONMENT ET MINES, LE PROBLEMS DES BAUX:

  • Deposit

    ANNALES DES MINES, MAR. 1973, P. 9-14.

  • Deposit

    CASTOR, E, H. MENNESSIER, AND G. MENNESSIER, LES ESCAILLES

  • Deposit

    DE COMBECAVE, PRES DES CABASSE (VAR); SOCIETY GEOLOGIE

  • Deposit

    FRANCE BULLETIN. SEP. 7, VOL. 3, NO. 5, 1961, P.525-528

  • Deposit

    4TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS FOR THE STUDY OF BAUXITE, AULUMIA

  • Deposit

    AND ALUMINIUM. (ICSOBA), VOL.1 ATHENS 1978.

  • Deposit

    MM 10/69, P351, "NEW FRENCH BAUXITE MINE".

  • Deposit

    DOMISSY, L., BAUXITE ET ENVIRONMENT; INDUSTRIE MINERALE,

  • Deposit

    VOL. 62, NO. 2, FEB. 1980, P. 187-196.

  • Deposit

    GENGE, UTILIZATION DU WAGNER ST SA DANS TROIS MINES DE

  • Deposit

    BAUXITE D'ALUMINUM PECHINEY; INDUSTRIE MINERALE,

  • Deposit

    DOCUMENT S.I.M.D., MAR. 1975, P. 129-140.

  • Deposit

    HAUTE, H., INFLUENCE DE LA NATURE DU TERRAIN SUR LA CHOIX

  • Deposit

    D'UNE METHODE D'EXPLOITATION, THIRD CONGRESS OF ICSOBA,

  • Deposit

    NICE, FRANCE, 1973, P. 429-436.

  • Deposit

    HUARD, M., BAUXITE - L'ACTIVITE D'ALUMINUM PECHINEY EN

  • Deposit

    FRANCE INDUSTRIE MINERALE, VOL. 61, NO. 5, MAY 1979,

  • Deposit

    P. 271-275.

  • Deposit

    LA JOINE, J.D., AND P. LAVILLE, LES FORMATIONS BAUXITIQUES

  • Deposit

    DE LA PREVENCE ET DU LANGUEDOC; MEMOIRES DU B.R.G.M.,

  • Deposit

    NO. 100, 1979, P. 146.

  • Deposit

    REVUE DE L'ALUMINUM, LES TECHNOLOGIES D'ALUMINUM PECHENEY

  • Deposit

    SONT PARMI LES MEILLEIRES DU MONDE, DEC. 1979, P. 483.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit FILE REVIEWED 8/92. NO CHANGES MADE.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 23-SEP-96 Wilburn, David R. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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