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Lousal/Caveira

Plant in Setubal, Portugal with commodities Arsenic, Copper, Gold, Iron, 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. 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. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10303881
MAS/MILS ID 4710750002
Record type Site
Current site name Lousal/Caveira
Alternate or previous names Lousal

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -8.44821, 38.04934 (WGS84)
Location accuracy 10000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Setubal(province)

Portugal(country)

Europe(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Portugal Setubal

Comments on the location information

  • BAIXO ALENTEJO IS THE POLITICAL DISTRICT (STATE/PROVINCE) NOT THE MINING DISTRICT. THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED ABOUT 510 KM SE OF LISBON, AND 35 KM INLAND FROM THE ATLANTIC COAST.

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Arsenic Critical Tertiary
Copper Primary
Gold Tertiary
Iron Tertiary
Lead Primary
Silver Tertiary
Sulfur Primary
Zinc Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Pyrite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -8.44821, 38.04934
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 40M
    Length 650M
    Width 500M
    Depth to top 680M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 STRATABOUND
    Shape of Orebody #2 LENTICULAR
    Type of Orebody #3 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #3 UNKNOWN
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Secondary mode of Origin METAMORPHISM
    Primary Ore Control BEDDING
    Secondary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. UNKNOWN
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 UNKNOWN
    Minimum Depth to Top 460
    Date of Last Modification 910411

Comments on the geologic information

  • THE ASSEMBLAGE OF ORE AND ROCKS OF THE LOUSAL MINE IS KNOWN AS THE LOUSAL COMPLEX, (UNSPECIFIED AGE). THE COMPLEX IS MADE UP OF FOUR "UNITS"; A) THE MANGANESE/SILICEOUS SCHIST COMPLEX; B) THE QUARTZ-PORPHYRY SERIES; C) THE PYRITE HORIZON, WHICH IS THE ORE; AND D) THE QUARTZ KERATOPHYRE SERIES, THIS SERIES ALSO CONTAINS CONCENTRATIONS OF SULFIDE MINERALS. THE LOUSAL COMPLEX IS OVERLAIN BY THE CULM (GROUP OR SERIES ?), AND UNDERLAIN BY THE CORONA SERIES. SEE GEOMETRY AND MINERALS DATA TABLES FOR MORE INFORMATION. SEE RESOURCES (R) TABLE REFERENCES.
  • OTHER MINERALS MAY BE PRESENT, COMPLETE DATA WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Plant
Commodity type Both
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1882
Mining method Filled Stopes - Horiz Cut and Fill W/Waste Rock
Year of first production 1900
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant subcategory Crush
Milling method Sizing

Comments on exploration

  • NO EXPLORATION DATA IS AVAILABLE.

Mining district

District name Baixo Alentejo

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Minerals Only

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Societe Anonyme Produits Et Engrais Chimiques Du Portuga
    Interest 100
    Year 1985
    First year 1985
  • Type Operator
    Owner Mines Et Industries Sa
    Interest 100
    Home office Portugal
    Year 1985
    First year 1985

Comments on the ownership information

  • SOCIETE ANONYME PRODUITS ET ENGRAIS CHIMIQUES DU PORTUGAL ALSO KNOWN AS SAPEC IS THE OWNER OF MINES ET INDUSTRIES S.A. THE OPERATOR IS MINES ET INDUSTRIES S. A., A SUBSIDIARY OF SAPEC.

Production statistics

  • Year 1970
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 207000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 207000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1971
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 206000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 206000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1972
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 192000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 192000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1973
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 174000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 174000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1974
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 170000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 170000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1975
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 156000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 156000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 134000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 134000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1977
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 103000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 103000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 89000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 89000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 80000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 80000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 55000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 55000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 52000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 52000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Description Ore Production, 42% S 45000 Mtons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Sulfur Sulfur 45000mt 42wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Description Published Production; 1985 <100,000 Mt 100000 Mtpy

Comments on the production information

  • YIELDS DATA TABLE REFELECTS THE ASSAY OF THE PYRITE CONCENTRATE. THE COPPER IS NOT RECOVERED. THE SULFUR CONTENT IS RECOVERED AS SULFURIC ACID WHEN THE PYRITE CONCENTRATE IS ROASTED.
  • PUBLISHED PRODUCTION IS LISTED IN PRODUCTION RECORDS 016 AND 017.
  • PRODUCTS DATA TABLE; BASIC PRODUCT DESCRIPTION. PRODUCT DATA IN CAPACITY AND OUTPUT FIELDS IS BASED ON THE 1985-86 ETD UPDATE. ACTUAL CRUSHING PLANT CAPACITY IS 800MT/DAY.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1985
    Indicated 5000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 5000000mt ore
    Total resources 5000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Sulfur S 42 wt-pct Sulfur Major 1985
    Copper Cu 0.9 wt-pct Copper Major 1985
    Lead Pb 1.4 wt-pct Lead Major 1985
    Zinc Zn 1.2 wt-pct Zinc Major 1985
    Iron Fe 39 wt-pct Iron Trace 1985
    Silver Ag 50 g/mt Silver Trace 1985
    Gold Au 0.3 g/mt Gold Trace 1985
    Arsenic As 0.7 wt-pct Arsenic Trace 1985

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • THESE INSITU RESERVE/RESOURCE ESTIMATES ARE BASED ON DATA IN THE DEPOSIT REPORT. USING A MINE RECOVERY OF 70% AND NO ORE DILUTION. RECOVERABLE ORE IS ESTIMATED AT 4,155,000 MT, AT THE 75% LEVEL (DEMONSTRATED ORE) AND 6,255,000 AT THE 50% LEVEL (INFERRED ORE). THESE ORE TONNAGE ESTIMATES WERE USED IN THE PROPERTY EVALUATION. ORE GRADES ARE ALSO BASED ON DATA FROM THE DEPOSIT REPORT.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 460M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method HORIZ CUT & FILL W/WASTE ROCK 10-60
    Percent Recovery 70
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK WITH LITTLE WATER
    Rock Characteristics UNKNOWN
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. TIMBER
    Number of Shafts 1
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    2nd Condition of Workings OPEN
    3rd Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 180
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 1
    Year of Information 1983

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    BRITISH SULPHUR CORP. LTD., "WORLD SURVEY OF SULPHUR

  • Reserve-Resource

    RESOURCES", SECOND EDITION, 1974.

  • Reserve-Resource

    RESOURCES", THIRD EDITION, 1985.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, 1980 INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY

  • Deposit

    OF MINING, 1980, P339.

  • Deposit

    INDUSTRIAL MINERALS, "PORTUGUESE PYRITES", SEPT. 1980, P47.

  • Deposit

    BRITISH SULPHUR CORP. LTD., "SULPHUR #148", MAY/JUNE, 1980,

  • Deposit

    "EXPANSION PLANS AT ALJUSTREL"

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 1981, PAGE 345.

Comments on the references

  • NONPROPRITARY INFORMATION SOURCES NOT LISTED IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHY. INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY MINES ET INDUSTRIES S. A., DURING LOUSAL MINE VISIT (INVESTIGATOR - FRANK HICKS).

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 23-SEP-96 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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