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Bou Craa

Producer in Western Sahara with commodity Phosphorus-Phosphates
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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. General comments
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10159143
MAS/MILS ID 7150000001
Record type Site
Current site name Bou Craa
Alternate or previous names Spanish Sahara, Western Sahara, Bu Craa

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -12.84846, 26.34989 (WGS84)
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Western Sahara(country)

Geographic areas

Country
Western Sahara

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Phosphorus-Phosphates Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Apatite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -12.84846, 26.34989
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N23E
    Dip 01W
    Thickness 5.5M
    Area 23100HA
    Depth to top 18M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control BEDDING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Strike And Dip N23E:01W
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 23100
    Date of Last Modification 830330

Comments on the geologic information

  • GANGUE IS CLAY MARL MATRIX WITH SILICEOUS MODULES.
  • APATITE MINERAL NAME IS FRANCOLITE (CARBONATE FLUORAPATITE).

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Non-metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1947
Mining method Strip-Level
Year of first production 1973
Milling method Washing

Mining district

District name Aaiun Basin

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Other

Land status

Ownership category Unknown

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Office Cherifien Des Phosphates (Ocp) - Government
    Interest 100
    Home office Morocco
    Year 1987
  • Type Operator
    Owner Phosboucraa
    Home office Western Sahara
    Year 1987

Comments on the ownership information

  • OPERATED BY THE OCP.
  • THE GOVERNMENT OF MAURITANIA IS TO RECEIVE A SHARE OF ANY INCOME FROM BOU CRAA. MINERAL HOLDINGS ARE CONTROLLED BY MOROCCAN GOVERNMENT.

Production statistics

  • Year 1970
    Description Crude Ore 30000 Mt Ore Treated Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 30000mt
  • Year 1971
    Description Crude Ore 50000 Mt Ore Treated Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 50000mt
  • Year 1972
    Description Crude Ore 38000 Mt Ore Treated Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 38000mt
  • Year 1973
    Description Crude Ore 1056000 Mt Ore Treated Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 1056000mt
  • Year 1974
    Description Crude Ore 3610000 Mt Ore Treated Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 3610000mt
  • Year 1975
    Description Crude Ore 4060000 Mt Ore Treated Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 4060000mt
  • Year 1976
    Description Crude Ore 260000 Mt Ore Treated Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 260000mt
  • Year 1977
    Description Crude Ore 350000 Mt Ore Treated Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 350000mt
  • Year 1979
    Description 450000 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 450000mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 1700000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 1700000000mt ore
    Total resources 1700000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 31 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1987
    Indicated 1600000000mt ore
    Inferred 1600000000mt ore
    Total resources 1600000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 31 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1987

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • Q9C4=Q1C1. MAJOR CONSTRAINT - POLITICAL, MINING OCCASIONALLY HAS BEEN DISRUPTED DUE TO CONFLICT WITH THE REBEL GROUP POLISARIO

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 23100HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Mining Method STRIP-LEVEL
    Percent Waste Rock 76.6
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 18
    Primary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Secondary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 26
    Capacity 10061
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 330
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1985
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 23100HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method STRIP-LEVEL
    Percent Waste Rock 76.6
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 18
    Primary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 26
    Capacity 15152
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 330
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1985
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 23100HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 3
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method STRIP-LEVEL
    Percent Waste Rock 76.6
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 18
    Primary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Secondary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 26
    Capacity 20091
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 330
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1985

Comments on other economic factors

  • THE FIRST CRUSH-SCREEN CIRCUIT IS ACTUALLY LOCATED AT THE MINE.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL. MOROCCO. V. 183, NO. 9,

  • Reserve-Resource

    SEPT. 1982, P. 236.

  • Reserve-Resource

    BRITISH SULPHUR CORPORATION, WORLD SURVEY OF PHOSPHATE

  • Reserve-Resource

    DEPOSITS, FIFTH ED., LONDON, 1987, PP. 106-107.

  • Deposit

    ANONYMOUS, EL AAIUN PORT, SHIPPING POINT FOR SPANISH SAHARA

  • Deposit

    PHOSPHATE, PHOSPHATE AND POTASSIUM (N.D.)

  • Deposit

    ANONYMOUS, THE BOU CRAA PHOSPHATE MINING COMPLEX: E & MJ,

  • Deposit

    JULY 1980, P. 160, NELSON HAROLD DED., FOREIGN AREA STUDIES:

  • Deposit

    MOROCCO, A COUNTRY STUDY, MARCH 1978.

  • Deposit

    ANONYMOUS, MOROCCO, WORLD MINING, OCT. 1980.

  • Deposit

    ANONYMOUS, PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTATION BY CONVEYOR IN THE

  • Deposit

    SPANISH SAHARA, PHOSPHATE AND POTASSIUM.

  • Deposit

    ANONYMOUS, SAHARA, MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1978-9.

  • Deposit

    ANONYMOUS, SPANISH SAHARA PHOSPHATE, PHOSPHATE AND

  • Deposit

    POTASSIUM, (N.D.).

  • Deposit

    ANONYMOUS, WESTERN SAHARA: IND. MINS., APRIL 1976.

  • Deposit

    ANONYMOUS, WESTERN SAHARA MINING ANNUAL RIVER 1980, P. 540.

  • Deposit

    BRITISH SULPHUR, WORLD SURVEY OF PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS,

  • Deposit

    3RD, 1973.

  • Deposit

    CALVO, JOAQUIN SAHARA'S PHOSPHATE ROCK AND DISCUSSION OF THE

  • Deposit

    SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO MINE BOU CRAA'S DEPOSIT: IXTH WORLD

  • Deposit

    MINING CONGR. FED REP. GERMANY, MAY 1976, P. 11.

  • Deposit

    EMPRESA NACIONAL DEL SAHARA, EXPLORATION OF THE BOU CRAA

  • Deposit

    PHOSPHATE DEPOSIT SPANISH SAHARA: C-XXXXII ECAFE (UNITED

  • Deposit

    NATIONS) I & NR/F1/49, PT. 2, P. 284-292, (N.D.).

  • Deposit

    FOSFATOS DE BOU CRAA, S/A. (FOSBUCRAA), THE PHOSPHATE

  • Deposit

    DEPOSIT OF BOU CRAA, INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE INDUSTRIA, MADRID

  • Deposit

    1972, P. 54.

  • Deposit

    GREMILLION L. R., CHARACTERIZATION OF PHOSPHATE ROCK FROM

  • Deposit

    SPANISH SAHARA, TVA, SEPT. 24, 1971.

  • Deposit

    IBRD, REPORT ON MOROCCO, 1978.

  • Deposit

    IBRD, REPORT ON WESTERNM SAHARA, 1978.

  • Deposit

    US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MOROCCO-FERTILIZERS ATTACHE

  • Deposit

    REPORT, M01019, MAY 27, 1981.

  • Deposit

    E/MJ, FEB. 1976.

  • Deposit

    E/MJ, MARCH 1974, P. 34.

  • Deposit

    E/MJ, APRIL 1976, P. 27.

  • Deposit

    E/MJ, AUGUST 1975, P. 44.

  • Deposit

    E/MJ, JAN. 1976, P. 147.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, MAY 1976.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, FEB. 1976, P. 33.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, MARCH 1976, P. 78.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, NOV. 1976, P. 79.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, SEPT. 1973, P. 55.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, NOV. 1975, P. 68.

  • Deposit

    MORSE, D.E., 1978, SPANISH SAHARA: U.S.BUREAU OF MINES

  • Deposit

    MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1975, VOL. III, PP. 1163-1164.

  • Deposit

    PHOSPHOROUS & POTASSIUM, NO 150, JULY/AUG, 1987, P. 15.

  • Deposit

    E & MJ, JULY 1980, P. 160.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, OCTOBER, 1980, P. 83.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN MINING, MARCH 1981, P. 16.

  • Deposit

    E & MJ, SEPTEMBER 1982, P. 236.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit PREVIOUS EVALUATIONS: SEPT. 1979, EFOC AUG. 1982 BOU CRAA WAS SHUT DOWN THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME FROM 1976 TO 1982 DUE TO POLISARIO GUERILLAS OF WETERN SAHARA. SINCE MOROCCO AND MAURITANIA TOOK CONTROL OF THE FORMER SPANISH SAHARA IN 1975, THE POLISARIOS HAVE SOUGHT INDEPENDENCE. DUE TO FREQUENT ATTACKS ON THE MOROCCAN OWNED 100 MILE CONVEYOR THAT CONNECTS BOU CRAA WITH THE PORT OF EL AAIUN, PRODUCTION AT BOU CRAA HAD BEEN FREQUENTLY INTERRUPTED BEFORE THE LONG SHUT-DOWN. FURTHER ATTTACKS BY THE POLISARIO COULD AGAIN HALT PHOSPHATE ROCK MINING IN THE FUTURE. OPERATIONS AT THE BOU CRAA RECOMMENDED AT THE END OF 1982. PLANS TO REACH A PRODUCTION OF 2.5 MIL MTPY. BY 1987/88.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 19-APR-95 Rmt 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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