Cerro Rico

Producer in Potosi, Bolivia with commodity Tin
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. Ownership information
  11. Workings at the site
  12. Links to other databases
  13. Bibliographic references
  14. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10231067
MAS/MILS ID 3350350057
Record type Site
Current site name Cerro Rico

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -65.73274, -19.5976 (WGS84)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Potosi(province)

Bolivia(country)

South America(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Bolivia Potosi

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Tin Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Cassiterite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -65.73274, -19.5976

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 1150M
    Length 1700M
    Width 650M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 STOCKWORK
    Shape of Orebody #1 OTHER
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. SLIGHT
    Date of Last Modification 860829

Comments on the geologic information

  • IN THE UPPER PARTS OF THE STOCK WITHIN THE STOCKWORK, A ZONE OF SHEETING 300 M WIDE PARALLELS THE MAIN VEIN STRUCTURES AND CONTAINS MINERALIZATION, MAINLY IN VEINLETS 1 TO 5 CM WIDE.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Mining method Open Stope
Milling method Flotation

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Banco Minero De Bolivia
    Interest 100
    Year 1983
  • Type Operator
    Owner Cooperativas Mineras
    Year 1983

Comments on the ownership information

  • THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 4,000 INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS OF MINERS WHO OPERATE ON CERRO RICO MOUNTAIN. THESE OPERATIONS ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS REPORT. CORPORACION MINERA DE BOLIVIA (COMIBOL) MINES THE LOWER, DEEPER PARTS OF THE CERRO RICO STOCK. THE COMIBOL PORTION HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE POTOSI REPORT.

Comments on the production information

  • A $805.00 SMELTING COST AND A $8.41 MILLING COST PER TONNE ARE INCURRED IN THE PRODUCTION OF PRODUCT A. THERE ARE NO BY-PRODUCTS NOR SECONDARY MINERALS OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL ECONOMIC INTEREST OR VALUE PRODUCED.

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • BANCO MINERO ASSISTS IN FINANCING SMALL MINING ORG. INCLUDING SN MINES, AND PROVIDES LOANS AND ADVICE TO AURIFEROUS CO-OPERATIVES AND INDEPENDENT MINES. UNDER A NEW DECREE, BANCO MINERO IS BEING RECAPITALIZED AND REORGANIZED TO BECOME A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MINING SECTORS, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF CREDIT LINES FOR THE PURCHASE OF MINERALS.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OVERHAND 10-38
    Percent Recovery 95
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK WITH LITTLE WATER
    Rock Characteristics MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 765
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 19.88
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 340
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1983

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    TAYLOR, R.G., GEOLOGY OF TIN DEPOSITS, ELSEVIER PUBLISHING

  • Deposit

    CO., 1979.

  • Deposit

    FOX, D.J., TIN MINING IN BOLIVIA, MINING MAGAZINE, JANUARY

  • Deposit

    1972.

  • Deposit

    SILLITOE, R., HALLS, C. AND GRANT, J.N., PORPHYRY TIN

  • Deposit

    DEPOSITS IN BOLIVIA, ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, VOL. 70, 1975.

  • Deposit

    VERBAL AND PRIVATE SOURCES OF DATA PROVIDED BY MANAGEMENT

  • Deposit

    AND OTHERS IN BOLIVIA.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 21-SEP-1992 Sabin, A. E. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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