Cerro Petaquilla

Plant in Colon, Panama with commodities Copper, Gold, Molybdenum, Silver
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. Ownership information
  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 10304381
MAS/MILS ID 2250200001
Record type Site
Current site name Cerro Petaquilla
Alternate or previous names Cerro Petaquilla/Rio Botija, Petaquilla/Botija, Rio Botija, Southwest Gold Zone, Botija-Abajo Deposit

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -80.63314, 8.83444 (WGS84)
Elevation 150
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Colon(province)

Panama(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Panama Colon

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Molybdenum Secondary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Unknown
Chalcocite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Chrysocolla Unknown
Covellite Unknown
Malachite Unknown
Molybdenite Unknown
Pyrite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -80.63314, 8.83444

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #2 FISSURE VEIN
    Type of Orebody #3 REPLACEMENT
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 PROPYLITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 INTERM ARGILLIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 POTASSIC
    Minimum Depth to Top 10
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 25
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 10
    Date of Last Modification 830427
  • Area 100HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 100
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Plant
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1968
Mining method Open Pit
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant subcategory Flotation
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Azuero Area

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Other

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Opco
    Home office Panama
    Year 1994
  • Type Owner
    Owner Metall Mining Corp.
    Interest 48
    Home office Canada
    Year 1994
  • Type Owner
    Owner Adrian Resources Ltd.
    Interest 32
    Home office Panama
    Year 1994
  • Type Owner
    Owner Georecursos International, S. A.
    Interest 20
    Home office Panama
    Year 1994

Comments on the production information

  • DEPOSIT DISCOVERED AND DRILLED 1968-1969.EXPL. CONCESSION GRANTED TO COBRE PANAMA,S.A.(JOINT VENTURE OF JAPANESE COS.) IN 1974--4 YR. CONCESSION, 100.000 ACRES.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Total resources 1390000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.1 g/mt Gold Minor 1994
    Molybdenum Mo 0.013 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1994
    Silver Ag 1.22 g/mt Silver Minor 1994
    Copper Cu 0.47 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Demonstrated 875600000mt ore
    Total resources 875600000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.6 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Demonstrated 357500000mt ore
    Total resources 357500000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.81 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Demonstrated 1021000000mt ore
    Total resources 1021000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.17 g/mt Gold Minor 1994
    Copper Cu 0.6 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Demonstrated 417000000mt ore
    Total resources 417000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.34 g/mt Gold Minor 1994
    Copper Cu 0.8 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Demonstrated 50000000mt ore
    Total resources 50000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.29 g/mt Gold Minor 1994
    Copper Cu 0.53 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 579000000mt ore
    Total resources 579000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.12 g/mt Gold Minor 1995
    Molybdenum Mo 0.014 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1995
    Silver Ag 1.32 g/mt Silver Minor 1995
    Copper Cu 0.52 wt-pct Copper Major 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Demonstrated 1021000000mt ore
    Total resources 1021000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.17 g/mt Gold Minor 1994
    Copper Cu 0.6 wt-pct Copper Major 1994

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • ONLY GEOLOGICAL INFO. AVAILABLE TO MAS IN 1980 IS RESULTS O 1968-1969 EXPL. BY UNDP. IN 1975,COBRE PANAMA S.A. WAS IN THE MIDST OF AN EXPLORATION PROGRAM TO DETERMINE VIABILITY OF A 30,000 MTPY CU OPERATION BUT RESULTS ARE NOT AVAILABL IT IS BELIEVED BY THE EVALUATOR THAT THE PUBLISHED RESERVE ESTIMATES COULD BE OPTIMISTIC. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ECONOMIC EVALUATION IT IS ASSUMED THAT THERE IS AT LEAST A 30 YEAR SUPPLY OF ORE AVAILABLE AT THE 75% PROB. LEVEL AT A CAPACITY OF 5,714,000 MTPY ORE. IT IS ALSO ASSUMED THAT THER IS AT LEAST A 40 YEAR SUPPLY AT THE 50% PROB. LEVEL. THESE TONNAGES HAVE BEEN ENTERED INTO Q-MAT 1. THE AVG. IN-SITU GRADE (AND FEED GRADE) WAS ASSUMED TO BE AN AVG OF THE TWO PUBLISHED FIGURES (IE. 0.65% CU). THIS AVG CU GRADE COULD ALSO PROVE TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 80HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 20
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 40
    Capacity 18432
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 4000
    Unit Production Cost 2.16
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 310
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1980

Comments on other economic factors

  • PUBLISHED SOURCES SAY JV LOOKING FOR PRODUCTION BY 1987.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    METALS SOURCEBOOK, FEB.12,1973, ITEM A1391.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WORLD MINING, JUNE 1982, P 93,94

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA, INVESTING IN THE AMERICAS.

  • Reserve-Resource

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 4/25/94, P. 1,6.

  • Reserve-Resource

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING LETTER, 9/16/94, P.7.

  • Reserve-Resource

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 11/94, P.7B.

  • Reserve-Resource

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING LETTER, 3/11/95, P.6.

  • Reserve-Resource

    METALL MINING CORP., 1993 ANNUAL REPORT, P.21.

  • Deposit

    KESLER, S. E., J. F. SUTTER, M. J. ISSIGONIS, L. M. JONES,

  • Deposit

    AND R. L. WALKER, EVOLUTION OF PORPHYRY COPPER MINERALIZA-

  • Deposit

    TION IN AN OCEANIC ISLAND ARC: PANAMA, ECONOMIC GEOLOGY,

  • Deposit

    V. 72, 1977, PP. 1142-1153.

  • Deposit

    MILLER FREEMAN PUB., PANAMA, WORLD MINING CATALOG, SURVEY,

  • Deposit

    & DIRECTORY NUMBER, 1970, P. 149.

  • Deposit

    MCGRAW HILL PUB., COPPER, E/MJ, JAN., 1979, P. 97.

  • Deposit

    PORPHYRY COPPER MINERALIZATION AT CERRO PETAQUILLA, PROV. OF

  • Deposit

    COLON, PANAMA, JULY 1969, PREPARED BY UNDP FOR ADMINIST-

  • Deposit

    RATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA,

  • Deposit

    PUBL. NO.3, ADM. OF MINERAL RESOURCES OF PANAMA, 1969,87 P

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, MAY 1973.

  • Deposit

    METALS SOURCEBOOK, SEPT.10,1973, ITEM A4215.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, JAN.,1974.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, JAN.31,1975, P.87.

  • Deposit

    METALS SOURCEBOOK, JULY 30,1973, ITEM A 3661.

  • Deposit

    COLONY PACIFIC EXPLORATIONS LTD, NEWS RELEASE, 2/11/91.

  • Deposit

    WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/8/91, P. B1.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 5/4/92, P. 14.

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND

  • Deposit

    INDUSTRY, PANAMA, "THE MINING SECTOR OF PANAMA", 2/91.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 7/20/92, P. 14.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, 6/82, P. 93,94.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 11/13/92, P. 346.

  • Deposit

    NORTHERN MINER, 9/28/82, P. 11.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 10/2/92, P. 232.

  • Deposit

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING LETTER, 10/16/92, VOL 11, NO 17, P. 4.

  • Deposit

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING LETTER, 11/27/92, P. 3.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, 11/92, P. 359.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 11/30/92, P. E3.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 10/5/92, P. 12.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 2/1/93, P. 3.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 1/11/93, P. 18.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 6/21/93, P. 2.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 5/21/93, P. 368.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 3/22/93, P. 16.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 4/12/93, P. 6.

  • Deposit

    METALS BULLETIN, 5/20/93, P. 9.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 8/30/93, P. 16.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 9/27/93, P. 15.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 10/11/93, P. 1.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 2/28/94, P. 1, 2.

  • Deposit

    MINING GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA, INVESTING IN THE AMERICAS,

  • Deposit

    1994, 4/11/94-4/15/94.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 4/25/94, P. 1, 2.

  • Deposit

    THE NORHTERN MINER, 5/9/94, P. 1, 2.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 10/14/94, P.271.

  • Deposit

    SKILLINGS, 10/15/94, P.15.

  • Deposit

    NORTHERN MINER, 3/8/93, P.14.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 2/18/94, P.120.

  • Deposit

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING RECORD, APRIL/MAY, 1994, P.3.

  • Deposit

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING LETTER, 8/31/94, P.6.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit THE RIO BOTIJA DEPOSITS APPEARED MUCH MORE ECONOMICAL THAN CERRO PETAQUILLA DEPOSITS IN 1969 (LESS OVERBURDEN AND MUCH BETTER MINERALIZATION). DIMENSIONS OF OREBODY NOT CODED BECAUSE DETAIL OF DIMENSIONS NOT AVAILABLE FROM BACK-UP DATA ESPECIALLY REGARDING WHAT PORTION OF RESERVES ARE FROM RIO BOTIJA AND CERRO PETAQUILLA. THICKNESS OF MINERALIZATION AT RIO BOTIJA IN 1969 WAS ABOUT 100 M.
Deposit MOLYBDENUM IS PRESENT, BUT NO SOLID ESTIMATE OF GRADE IS AVAILABLE. FROM DRILLING DATA AVAILABLE IN 1969 EXPECTED GRADE COULD BE IN .01 TO .02 % RANGE OR COULD BE LESS. NOT ENOUGH INFO KNOWN TO MAKE REASONABLE ESTIMATE OF GRADE AND FOR THAT REASON, MO NOT CONSIDERED IN THIS ECONOMIC STUDY REFERENCE POINT IS 17 KM SE OF CARIBBEAN SEA AND VERY NEAR THE PETAQUILLA RIVER. PREVIOUS EVALUATION OCT. 29, 1980.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 28-AUG-96 Porter, Kenneth E. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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