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San Vicente Mine

Past Producer in Potosi, Bolivia with commodities Silver, Zinc, Lead, Copper, Gold, Tin, Bismuth, Cadmium
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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. Alteration
  8. Mineral occurrence model information
  9. Host and associated rocks
  10. Nearby scientific data
  11. Geologic structures
  12. Ore body information
  13. Controls for ore emplacement
  14. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  15. Mining district
  16. Land status
  17. Ownership information
  18. Production statistics
  19. Reserves and resources
  20. Workings at the site
  21. Links to other databases
  22. Bibliographic references
  23. General comments
  24. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10005875
MRDS ID BL10050
Record type Site
Current site name San Vicente Mine
Alternate or previous names Tajos, San Francisco, Jesus Maria, Confianza, Pelayo, Guernica

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -66.31751, -21.26895 (WGS84)
Elevation 4600
Relative position JUST SW OF TOWN OF SAN VICENTE, 120 KM W OF TUPIZA

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Potosi(province)

Bolivia(country)

South America(continent)

Land(continent)

Federal lands

Federal(land status)

Geographic areas

Country State
Bolivia Potosi

Comments on the location information

  • 950 KM BY ROAD FROM LA PAZ, 45 KM BY ROAD FROM RAILROAD STATION AT ATOCHA

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Silver Primary
Zinc Critical Primary
Lead Secondary
Copper Secondary
Gold Tertiary
Tin Critical Tertiary
Bismuth Critical Tertiary
Cadmium Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Ore
Cassiterite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Covellite Ore
Electrum Ore
Freibergite Ore
Galena Ore
Jamesonite Ore
Pyrargyrite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Stannite Ore
Stromeyerite Ore
Tetrahedrite Ore
Barite Gangue
Limonite Gangue
Marcasite Gangue
Pyrite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Siderite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Silicification Halos Around Veins Extend From 10 To 30 M For Larger Veins And 2 To 6 M For Smaller Veins. Silicification Consists Of Recrystallization Of Silica In Clasts And Cement Of Host Conglomerate. Serecitic Alteration Increases With Depth And Consists Of Pyrite-Sericite Zones Enveloping Silicic Alteration, Extending 4 To 12 M Beyond The Silicic Alteration.

Analytical data

Result ORE ANALYSES AND AGE DATES BY JICA (1978): 1.91 TO 41.61% ZN, 0.10 TO 1.72% PB, 0.11 TO 0.85% CU, 0.005 TO 0.558% AG, 0.01 TO 1.38% SN.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 77
USGS model code 20b
Deposit model name Sn-polymetallic vein

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Dacite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Miocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Miocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Conglomerate
    Rock unit name San Vicente
    Rock description San Vicente

Nearby scientific data

(1) -66.31751, -21.26895
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description E-W Oriented Dike Sets; Nnw Oriented Folds In Underlying Ordovician Sediments; Inverse Fault Separating Conglomerate From Ordovician
Type of structure Local
Structure description E-W Fracture Intruded By Dacite Dike

Ore body information

  • General form IRREGULAR
    Strike EW
    Dip S
    Length 4600M
    Width 2800M
    Depth to top 0M
    Depth to bottom 600M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • E-W, N80e And N60w Subvertical Fractures

Comments on the geologic information

  • SAN VICENTE FORMATION (HOST ROCK) IS A POLYMICT CONGLOMERATE CONTAINING ANGULAR TO SUBANGULAR CLASTS OF ORDOVICIAN QUARTZITE AND SLATE, CRETACEOUS RED SANDSTONE AND SHALE, AND MILKEY QUARTZ IN A MATRIX OF FINE GRAINED SAND CEMENTED BY FE OXIDES. THE DACITE DIKES ARE WHITISH GREY, PORPHYRITIC WITH PHENOCRYSTS OF QUARTZ, OLIGOCLASE, SANADINE AND BIOTITE IN A MATRIX OF ALKALINE FELDSPAR, GLASS, PLAGIOCLASE AND MAFICS DATED AT 13.4 MA K/AR (JICA, 1978). VEINS NORTH OF THE MAJOR E-W DIKE CUTTING THE DISTRICT ARE PB-AG RICH, THOSE SOUTH OF THE DIKE ZN RICH. VEINS ARE RICHER IN PB-AG IN THEIR UPPER PORTIONS, GIVING WAY TO ZN AT DEPTH. PARAGENESIS IS (STAGE I) QUARTZ CASSITERITE, (STAGE II) FRACTURED PYRITE-SPHALERITE, (STAGE III) PYRITE, (STAGE IV) SPHALERITE, (STAGE V) SPHALERITE-STANNITE-TETRAHEDRITE-STROMEYERITE-CHALCOPYRITE-GALENOBISMUTHENITE-GALENA, (STAGE VI) PYRITE-BARITE, (STAGE VII) MARCASITE-CHALCOSITE-COVELLITE. DISTRICT IS ZONED, SN-AG-PB ORE AT SAN FRANCISCO MINE TO SOUTH TO
  • ZN-PB-AG-AU IN TAJOS SECTION TO NORTH.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant No
Discovery year 1550
Discoverer Spanish Colonists
Year of first production 1550

Mining district

District name San Vicente District

Land status

Ownership category Federal

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Empresa Minera Quechisla (Comibol Subsidiary)
  • Type Owner
    Owner Corporacion Minera De Bolivia (Comibol)

Production statistics

  • Year 1989
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Silver Silver 354g/mt
    Major Ore Zinc Zinc 3wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • PRODUCED 29 MT CD IN 1989 FROM ZN CONCENTRATE

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1987
    Total resources 331519000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 567 g/mt Silver Major 1987
    Zinc Zn 7.4 wt-pct Zinc Major 1987
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1987
    Total resources 332642000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 724 g/mt Silver Major 1987
    Zinc Zn 8.8 wt-pct Zinc Major 1987
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1987
    Total resources 119434000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 190 g/mt Silver Major 1987
    Zinc Zn 3.7 wt-pct Zinc Major 1987
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1987
    Total resources 863000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 645 g/mt Silver Major 1987
    Zinc Zn 8.4 wt-pct Zinc Major 1987
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1987
    Total resources 119434000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 190 g/mt Silver Major 1987
    Zinc Zn 3.7 wt-pct Zinc Major 1987
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1989
    Total resources 995344000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 397 g/mt Silver Major 1989
    Zinc Zn 8.42 wt-pct Zinc Major 1989
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1989
    Total resources 867878000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 156 g/mt Silver Major 1989
    Zinc Zn 2.85 wt-pct Zinc Major 1989

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • ITEM 3 IS COMIBOL RESERVES FOR SAN VICENTE MINE PROPER; ITEM 4 IS LOW GRADE RESERVES
  • POTENTIAL TONNAGE FROM FUTURE EXPLORATION

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 150M

Comments on the workings information

  • COLONIAL WORKINGS DID NOT EXCEED 50 M DEPTH. 19TH CENTURY WORKINGS DID NOT EXCEED 60 M.

Comments on development

  • DEPOSIT WORKED BY CIA. MINERA SAN VICENTE (1880-1901), CIA. MINERA DE GUERNICA, CIA. BENEFICIADORA SAN VICENTE DE BOLIVIA, AND CIA. MINERA SAN VICENTE (1920-1929). NATIONALIZED 1952. EXPLORED BY PROSPECTION, LTD. FOR COMIBOL IN EARLY 1960'S, BY COMIBOL IN LATE 1960'S AND EARLY 1970'S, BY JICA 1976-1979, WITH DRILLING AND IP EXPLORATION. CURRENTLY UNDER PRODUCTION BY COMIBOL AT 450 MT/D SINCE 1972. ; MILL.CAP: 145 ; ECON.YEAR: 1989

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    BERNSTEIN, M., 1987, EVALUATION OF THE GEOLOGIC POTENTIAL OF SIETESUYOS-ANIMAS, TATASI AND SAN VICENTE, QUECHISLA GROUP, BOLIVIA: MINISTERIO DE MINERIA DE BOLIVIA, UNPUBLISHED REPORT

  • Deposit

    GUTIERREZ, G., 1975, INFORME DE EXPLORACION GEOLOGICA EN LOS ALREDEDORES DE SAN VICENTE: COMIBOL, DPTO. DE EXPLORACION, UNPUBLISHED REPORT

  • Deposit

    JAPANESE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, 1977, 1978, 1979, INFORME DE INVESTIGACION GEOLOGICA EN REGION SUR, REPUBLICA DE BOLIVIA: LA PAZ, JICA, 3 VOLS.

  • Deposit

    MALDONADO, J., 1969, INFORME GEOLOGICO PRELIMINAR DEL YACIMIENTO ARGENTIFERO SAN VICENTE-MONSERRAT: COMIBOL, UNPUBLISHED REPORT

  • Deposit

    MARSH, H.W., AND ROBINSON, W.J., 1966, REPORT ON GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SILVER-COPPER-TIN PROPERTIES, SAN VICENTE DISTRICT: PROSPECTION, LTD., UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO COMIBOL

  • Deposit

    URIBE, H., AND MATTHEWS, P., 1987, INFORME CC-41/87, COMIBOL

  • Deposit

    PREM, J.P., 1929, ESTUDIO DETALLADO DE LA MINA SAN VICENTE: CIA. MINERA SAN VICENTE, UNPUBLISHED REPORT

  • Deposit

    DOUGLAS, R.E., 1920, INFORME TECNICO 29, CIA. MINERAL DE GUERNICA

  • Deposit

    PINTO V., J., 1988, MODELO CONCEPTUAL Y EVALUACION DEL POTENCIAL MINERAL DEL YACIMIENTO DE METALES PRECIOSOS SAN VICENTE, POTOSI-BOLIVIA: LA PAZ, PROGRAMA DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS PARA EL DESAROLLO, PROYECTO BOL/87/012, INFORME NU-9, 29P.

  • Deposit

    AHLFELD, FEDERICO, 1954, LOS YACIMIENTOS MINERALES DE BOLIVIA: BILBAO, IMPRENTA INDUSTRIAL, P. 161-162.

  • Deposit

    RICO A., RODOLFO, 1978, APLICACION DEL METODO DE POLARIZACION INDUCIDA A LA BUSQUEDA DE YACIMIENTOS DE SULFUROS DISEMINADOS "DOMINIO DE FREQUENCIA" SAN VICENTE-MONSERRAT: LA PAZ, UMSA, TESIS DE GRADO

  • Deposit

    DETAILLED GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BY COMIBOL IN 1974, GUTIERREZ (1975)

  • Deposit

    GEOLOGICAL STUDY AND ECONOMIC EVALUATION BY UNDP, PINTO V. (1988)

  • Deposit

    EXPLORATION BY COMIBOL LATE 1980'S, URIBE AND MATTHEWS (1987)

  • Deposit

    TECHNICAL STUDY BY DOUGLAS (1920) FOR MINERAL DE GUERNICA

  • Deposit

    GEOLOGICAL STUDY, GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION, DRILLING BY JICA (1979)

  • Deposit

    DETAILLED MINE STUDY BY PREM (1929) FOR CIA. MINERA SAN VICENTE.

  • Deposit

    GEOLOGICAL STUDY BY MALDONADO (1969) FOR COMIBOL

  • Deposit

    GEOLOGICAL STUDIES FOR COMIBOL BY MARSH AND ROBINSON (1966)

  • Other Database

    CIMRI

  • Reserve-Resource

    BERNSTEIN (1987), PINTO (1988)

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit DIMENSIONS REFER TO SIZE OF DISTRICT. IN THE SAN VICENTE SECTION, SOME 2 KM BY 0.8KM IN AREAL EXTENT, VEINS OCCUR SOME 100 TO 200 M APART ORIENTED IN FOUR SETS: N 50 TO 60 W 60 TO 70NE OR 60 TO 65SW (INCA, ADELA, SAN JOSE, CANTERA, ARTURO), N 70 TO 80 W 65 TO 85NE OR 60 TO 80SW (GUERNICA I, GUERNICA II, JESUS MARIA, DISPUTADA, 6 DE AGOSTO, SAN LORENZO, DESEADA, EPSPERANZA), N 50 TO 60 E 75SE OR 60N W(INCA, FERELYS, SAN JUAN), AND N65 TO 75 E 70SE OR 60 TO 80N W(ARTOLA, RAMO 6 DE AGOSTO, LITORAL, PERITAS, PORVENIR, RAMO ARTURO). THESE VEINS RANGE FROM 150M TO 1300M IN LENGTH, 0.1 TO 1.75 M IN WIDTH, WITH ORE SHOOTS OCCURRING AT THE INTERSECTION OF VEINS UP TO 15 M IN WIDTH. THE TAJOS SECTION HAS SUBVERTICAL (60 TO 90 N OR S) N60 TO 80W, E-W, AND N 60 TO 80E VEINS THAT EXTEND UP TO 700 M IN LENGHT AND 0.9 M IN WIDTH. THE SAN FRANCISCO ZONE CONSISTS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO VEIN (N 75 W 80NE, 300 M LONG, 0.3 TO 1.5 M WIDE) AND SEVERAL SMALLER VEINS.
Deposit Discovery Year: 1500'S

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-JUN-1978 Urquidi-Barrau, Fernando U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-MAY-1990 Long, Keith R. U.S. Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

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

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