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La Caridad

Producer in Sonora, Mexico with commodities Copper, Molybdenum, Silver, Zinc, Lead
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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. Ownership information
  17. Production statistics
  18. Reserves and resources
  19. Workings at the site
  20. Links to other databases
  21. Bibliographic references
  22. General comments
  23. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10049231
MRDS ID MX00496
Record type Site
Current site name La Caridad
Alternate or previous names La Caridad Vieja
Related records 10255335, 10303443

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -109.52424, 30.34324 (WGS84)
Relative position A170 KM NE OF HERMOSILLO, 20 KM SE OF NACOZARI.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Pima(county)

Arizona(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Mexico Sonora

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Molybdenum Primary
Silver Secondary
Zinc Critical Tertiary
Lead Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • OVERALL PY:CPY RATIO = 3:1.

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Covellite Ore
Cubanite Ore
Digenite Ore
Galena Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Tennantite Ore
Barite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Sericite Gangue
Pyrite Unknown

Alteration

  • (Local) Pervasive Phyllic Alteration Grades Outward Into Poorly Defined Argillic Zone, Enveloped By Thin Band Of Propylitic Alteration. Leached Cap Indicates That Main Economic Copper Mineralization Was Secondary. Local Tourmalinization. No Significant Potassic Alteration.

Analytical data

Result HYPOGENE ORE: 0.3% CU, 0.01-0.04% MO, SUPERGENE ORE: 0.75% CU, (SAEGART, ET.AL., 1974)
Result HEAD GRADES (RUN-OF-MINE): 0.6-0.8% CU, 0.02-0.04% MO, (MINING MAGAZINE, 1987).

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 79
USGS model code 21a
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu-Mo
Mark3 model number 2

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Latite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Cretaceous
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Latite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Pegmatite

Nearby scientific data

(1) -109.52424, 30.34324
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Reg.Struct: Nw Structural Trend.
Type of structure Local
Structure description 1> Ns, W-Dipping Fault System Cuts Center Of Deposit; 2> Ew, S-Dipping En Echelon Fault System Across S End.

Ore body information

  • General form ELONGATE
    Thickness 90M
    Length 1700M
    Depth to top 50M
    Depth to bottom 250M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Fault Controlled Breccia

Comments on the geologic information

  • GEOL.COM: PREMINERAL HOST ROCKS: ANDESITE, DIORITE, GRANODIORITE, QUARTZ MONZONITE PORPHYRY, AND MINOR PEGMATITE. AT LEAST THREE SUCCESSIVE INTRUSIONS: 1> DIORITE (QUARTZ DIORITE), 2> GRANODIORITE, AND 3> QUARTZ MONZONITE PORPHYRY, PLUS TEXTURAL VARIATIONS. THREE TYPES OF BRECCIAS PRESENT: 1> INTRUSIVE BRECCIAS CONSISTING OF QUARTZ DIORITE, GRANODIORITE, AND QUARTZ MONZONITE FRAGMENTS. 2> HYDROTHERMAL BRECCIAS IN ANDESITE CONSISTING OF STOCKWORKS FILLED WITH PYRITE-QUARTZ-TOURMALINE. HOSTS PYRITE-QUARTZ-CHALCOPYRITE-CHALCOCITE MINERALIZATION. 3> COLLAPSE BRECCIAS FORMED BY SYSTEM OF EN ECHELON FRACTURES ALONG CONTACT ZONE OF F.GR. QUARTZ PORPHYRY INTRUDED BETWEEN QUARTZ DIORITE AND GRANODIORITE BODIES. QUARTZ MONZONITE INTIMATELY ASSOCIATED WITH ALTERATION AND MINERALIZATION AND ALSO APPEARS TO HAVE CREATED PRINCIPAL STRUCTURES CONTROLLING THE MINERALIZATION. THE DEPOSIT IS CAPPED BY LIMONITE WITH HEMATITE, GOETHITE, AND JAROSITE TO 50 M DEPTH. BELOW THIS ONE FINDS LESS OXIDATION.
  • EO (53.0 +/- 0.4 M.Y., SERICITE IN QUARTZ MONZONITE; 52.5 +/- 1.3 M.Y., LATITE PORPHYRY; 54.3 +/- 1.2 M.Y., BIOTITE AGE FOR QUARTZ MONZONITE; 50.0 +/- 1.2 M.Y., QUARTZ DIORITE)

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Discovery year 1967
Discoverer Consejo De Recursos Naturales
Year of first production 1979

Mining district

District name /Nacozari

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Mexicana De Cobre, S. A.
    First year 1987

Production statistics

  • Year 1983
    Material CONC MO
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^58.42% Mo, 0.32% Fe, 0.25% Cu, 87 G/Mt Ag
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Silver Silver 87g/mt
    Conc. Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Iron Iron 0wt-pct
    Molybdenum Molybdenum 58wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Material CONC CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^33.47% Cu, 23.7% Fe, 0.19% Mo, 139 G/Mt Ag, 0.4 G/Mt Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Conc. Silver Silver 139g/mt
    Molybdenum Molybdenum 0wt-pct
    Iron Iron 33wt-pct
    Conc. Copper Copper 33wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Material ORE CU MO
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.7% Cu, 0.02% Mo
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 0wt-pct
    Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1985
    Total resources 800000000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.7 wt-pct Copper Major 1985
    Molybdenum Mo 0.012 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1985
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1987
    Total resources 1274000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.42 wt-pct Copper Major 1987
    Molybdenum Mo 0.038 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1987

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • ORE RESERVES BLOCKED OUT USING COMPUTERIZED SYSTEMS ANALYSIS. ITEM 1> OPEN-PIT RESERVES INCLUDING MO CONTRIBUTION USING CU-EQUIVALENT VALUES. ITEM 2> CU-ONLY PIT USING 0.30% CU CUT-OFF.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Overall depth 180M

Comments on the workings information

  • OPEN PIT, 180 M DEEP. WORKING SLOPE: 21 DEGREES. 77 MT REMOVED TO REACH OREBODY. MINING ON SEVERAL BENCHES, LOWEST AT 1470-METER LEVEL. EIGHT SHOVELS IN USE, 11.5-13 SQ. M CAP., PRODUCTIVITY OF 1500 T/H. 332 DD-HOLES TOTALING 73,393 M.

Comments on development

  • EL TAJO COPPER SMELTER COMMISSIONED, JUNE, 1986. CAPACITY: 180,000 ST/Y. PRODUCES BLISTER COPPER (99.6% CU) CAST INTO ANODES.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    COX, DENNIS P., SINGER, DONALD, A., 1986, MINERAL DEPOSIT MODELS: U.S. GEOLICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1693, 397 P.

  • Deposit

    GUILD, PHILIP W., 1981, PRELIMINARY METALLOGENIC MAP OF NORTH AMERICA: LISTING OF DEPOSITS: GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 858-A, 93 P.

  • Deposit

    PANCZNER, WILLIAM D., 1987, MINERALS OF MEXICO: VAN NOSTRAND REINHOLD COMPANY, NEW YORK, 459 P.

  • Deposit

    PEREZ SEGURA, EFREN, 1985, CARTA METALOGENETICA DE SONORA 1:250000 UNA INTERPRETACION DE LA METALOGENIA DE SONORA: UNIV. OF SONORA, DEPT. OF GEOL., HERMOSILLO, MEXICO, 66 P.

  • Deposit

    SALAS, G.P., 1975, CARTA Y PROVINCIAS METALOGENETICAS DE LA REPUBLICA MEXICANA: CONSEJO DE RECURSOS MINERALES PUBLICACION 21 E, P. 188.

  • Deposit

    MARAVILLA S., S., 1978, MINAS EN PRODUCCION, MINAS EN PREPARACION Y DEPOSITOS CON RESERVAS MAS O MENOS CONOCIDAS EN EL ESTADO DE SONORA IN NAJERA-GARZA, J., AND ORTLIEB, L., (EDS.), 1978, PRIMERO SYMPOSIO SOBRE LA GEOLOGIA Y POTENCIAL MINERO DEL ESTADO DE SONORA; RESUMENES: HERMOSILLO, MEXICO, U.N.A.M., P. 85-87.

  • Deposit

    CONTLA J., J., AND MARTINEZ M., R., 1981, GEOLOGY, ALTERATION AND MINERALIZATION OF LA CARIDAD PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT, NACOZARI, SONORA, MEXICO: GSA ABSTRACTS WITH PROGRAMS, V. 13, NO. 2, P. 50.

  • Deposit

    HERNANDEZ P., J., 1978, PETROLOGIA Y GEOLOGIA DEL DEPOSITO "LA CARIDAD", NACOZARI, SONORA: PRIMERO SIMPOSIO SOBRE LA GEOLOGIA Y POTENCIAL MINERO DEL ESTADO DE SONORA, RESUMENES 1, HERMOSILLO, MEXICO, P. 73-75.

  • Deposit

    SAEGART, W.E., SELL, J.D., AND KILPATRICK, B.E., 1974, GEOLOGY AND MINERALIZATION OF LA CARIDAD PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSIT, SONORA, MEXICO: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 69, NO. 7, P. 1060-1077.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, (1987), V. 156, NO. 5, P. 370-381.

  • Deposit

    ECHAVARRI, A.P., 1973, PETROGRAPHY AND ALTERATION OF THE LA CARIDAD DEPOSIT, NACOZARI, SONORA, MEXICO (ABS): MINING ENGINEERING, V. 25, NO. 12, P. 57.

  • Deposit

    LIVINGSTON, D.E., 1974, K-AR AGES AND SR ISOTOPY OF LA CARIDAD, SONORA, COMPARED TP OTHER PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS OF THE SOUTHERN BASIN AND RANGE PROVINCE [ABS]: GSA ABSTRACTYS WITH PROGRAMS, V. 6, NO. 3, P. 208.

  • Production

    PEREZ SEGURA, 1985; MINING JOURNAL, V. 303, P. 115; INTERMET MOLYBDENUM YEARBOOK, 1983.

  • Reserve-Resource

    PEREZ SEGURA, 1985; MARAVILLA, 1978.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit TWO MAJOR PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS, CANANEA AND BISBEE, LOCATED 110 KM AND 130 KM N, RESPECTIVELY, OF LA CARIDAD.
Deposit DOMINANT ECONOMIC COPPER MINERAL IS CHALCOCITE (+ COVELLITE) IN BLANKET-LIKE ENRICHMENT ZONE WITH AVE. DIAMETER OF 1700 M AND AVE. THICKNESS OF 90 M (MAX: 250 M). CHALCOCITE LAYER OCCURS BENEATH AN OXIDIZED LEACHED CAP, AVE. 50 M THICK, COMPOSED MAINLY OF HEMATITE + GOETHITE + JAROSITE. PRIMARY SULFIDES (2-3% BY VOLUME) OCCUR AS FRACTURE-FILLINGS, DISSEMINATIONS AND BRECCIA MATRIX REPLACEMENTS. DOMINANTLY PYRITE AND CHALCOPYRITE, WITH LESSER AMOUNTS OF MOLYBDENITE, BORNITE, SPHALERITE, AND GALENA. PRIMARY MINERALIZATION CONTEMPORANEOUS WITH ALTERATION. IN THE CENTER OF THE DEPOSIT THE RATIO OF PYRITE TO CHALCOPYRITE IS 2:1 WHILE AT THE DISTAL EDGES IT IS 10:1. CHALCOPYRITE, BORNITE, CUBANITE AND MOLYBDENITE ARE SOLELY HYPOGENE IN ORIGIN, AND CHALCOCITE, COVELLITE AND DIGENITE ARE SUPERGENE. LA CARIDAD VIEJA: PYRITE-TENNANTITE-BORNITE-CHALCOCITE-QUARTZ-BARITE VEIN IN LARAMIDE-AGE QUARTZ PORPHYRY AND VOLCANIC ROCKS.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-JUN-1987 Staude, John-Mark G. (Page, Norman J.) U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-JUN-1988 Leonard, Kenneth 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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