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Tharsis

Plant in Spain with commodities Copper, Gold, Iron, Lead, Silver, Sulfur, Zinc
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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. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10231177
MAS/MILS ID 4690410011
Record type Site
Current site name Tharsis
Alternate or previous names Tharsis Group, Tharsis Mine, Tharsis Pyrite Operation, Filon Norte Open Pit

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Town
Geographic coordinates: -7.11491, 37.59934 (WGS84)
Elevation 185
Location accuracy 5000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Spain(country)

Europe(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
Spain

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Tertiary
Gold Tertiary
Iron Tertiary
Lead Tertiary
Silver Tertiary
Sulfur Primary
Zinc Critical Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Pyrite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Town (1) -7.11491, 37.59934
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N45E
    Dip 42N
    Thickness 400M
    Length 1200M
    Width 100M
    Depth to top 200M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 MASS SULFIDE
    Shape of Orebody #1 LENTICULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #2 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #3 STRATABOUND
    Shape of Orebody #3 IRREGULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Secondary mode of Origin OTHER
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. UNKNOWN
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 UNKNOWN
    Strike And Dip N45E:42N
    Date of Last Modification 910329

Comments on the geologic information

  • FOR MORE GEOLOGY INFORMATION SEE BIBLIGRAPHIC REFERENCES #011 - 015; #027 - 028; R#001 - R002:

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Plant
Commodity type Both
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1800
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1963
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant subcategory Crush
Milling method Sizing

Comments on exploration

  • SEE BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE #011 TO 015, FOR EXPLORATION INFORMATION.

Mining district

District name Huelva

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Minerals Only

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Compania Espanola De Minas De Tharsis S. A.
    Interest 100
    Home office Spain
    Year 1983
  • Type Owner
    Owner S. A. Cros
    Interest 18
    Home office Spain
    Year 1983
  • Type Owner
    Owner Banco De Bilbao
    Interest 13
    Home office Spain
    Year 1983
  • Type Owner
    Owner Banco De Santander
    Interest 12
    Home office Spain
    Year 1983
  • Type Owner
    Owner Minor Spanish Interests
    Interest 9
    Home office Spain
    Year 1983
  • Type Owner
    Owner Ste. Anonyme Produits Et Engrais Chimiques (Sapec)
    Interest 22.5
    Home office Belgium
    Year 1983
  • Type Owner
    Owner Tharsis Sulphur And Copper Co. Ltd.
    Year 1983
  • Type Owner
    Owner Tennants Rutherford
    Home office United Kingdom
    Year 1983

Comments on the ownership information

  • PERCENT OWNERSHIP BY THARSIS SULPHUR AND COPPER CO. LTD. (RECORD 07) IS NOT KNOWN. MINING AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES WERE TRANSFERRED TO COMPANIA ESPANOLA DE MINAS DE THARSIS (RECORD 01), IN 1976. 52 PERCENT OF THIS COMPANY IS OWNED BY SPANISH INTERESTS, (RECORDS 02 - 05). SAPEC A BELGIUM CONPANY OWNS 22.5%, THE REMAINDER IS HELD A UK CONCERN, BY THE NAME OF, TENNANTS RUTHERFORD.

Production statistics

  • Year 1967
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 415390 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 415390mt
  • Year 1968
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 380079 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 380079mt
  • Year 1969
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 502607 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 502607mt
  • Year 1970
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 558896 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 558896mt
  • Year 1971
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 379995 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 379995mt
  • Year 1972
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 398965 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 398965mt
  • Year 1973
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 604710 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 604710mt
  • Year 1974
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 775514 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 775514mt
  • Year 1975
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 689727 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 689727mt
  • Year 1976
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 613926 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 613926mt
  • Year 1977
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 689210 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 689210mt
  • Year 1978
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 682248 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 682248mt
  • Year 1979
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 731312 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 731312mt
  • Year 1980
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined 786710 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 786710mt
  • Year 1981
    Description Total Pyrite Ore Mined; 1981 To 1983 736862 Metric Tons For The Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Pyrite Pyrite 736862mt
  • Year 1984
    Description Mined Ore; 1986 Etd Update; 1984 To 2050 539550 Mtpy
  • Year 1985
    Description Published Ore Production 650000 Mtpy

Comments on the production information

  • FINAL PRODUCT FROM THIS MINE/MILL/OFF SITE MILL OPERATION. A 46.5% SULFUR PYRTIE CONCENTRATE, SENT TO LOCAL SULFURIC ACID PLANTS.
  • DATA IS FOR A PYRITE CONCENTRATE FROM THE CORRALES MILL. FROM HERE THE PYRITE CONCENTRATE IS SENT TO LOCAL SULFURIC ACID PLANTS.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Measured 42000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 42000000mt ore
    Total resources 42000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Sulfur S 50.3 wt-pct Sulfur Major 1986
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Measured 10500000mt ore
    Demonstrated 10500000mt ore
    Total resources 10500000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Sulfur S 50.3 wt-pct Sulfur Major 1986
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Measured 17500000mt ore
    Demonstrated 17500000mt ore
    Total resources 17500000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Lead Pb 0.6 wt-pct Lead Trace 1986
    Copper Cu 0.65 wt-pct Copper Trace 1986
    Sulfur S 39 wt-pct Sulfur Major 1986
    Zinc Zn 1.7 wt-pct Zinc Trace 1986

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • THESE ARE THE JAN 1984 RESERVE/RESOURCE ESTIMATES USED IN THE 1986 ETD UPDATE. DATA IS BASED ON THREE ORE BODIES OF THE THARSIS GROUP; FILON NORTE, SAN GUILLERMO AND SIERRA BULLONES. FIVE OTHER ORE BODIES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ESTIMATE. THIS ESTIMATE IS MADE UP OF THREE TYPES OF ORE 1) MASSIVE PYRITE- 60%; 2)COMPLEX PYRTIE- 14%; AND 3) CARBONATE ORE- 24%: ONLY THE MASSIVE AND COMPLEX PYRITE ORES ARE MINED FOR THE SULFUR CONTENT. THE CARBONATE ORE IS MINED AND STOCKPILED FOR FUTURE USE. SEE THE DEPOSIT REPORT AND PROPERTY EVALUATION FOR MORE DETAIL ON THE RESERVES/RESOURCES.
  • GRADES FOR THE RESERVE/RESOURCE ESTIMATE ARE THE ESTIMATED INSITU GRADES. CALCULATED FROM A ORE DILUTION OF 7.5% AND ORE RECOVERY OF 95%.
  • FOR MORE DETAIL ON THE PUBLISHED RESERVE/RESOURCES DATA SEE THE BIBLIOGRAPHY REFERENCE, R001-R002.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 3706HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Percent Waste Rock 80
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 200
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Secondary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Tertiary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 7.5
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 15
    Capacity 2296
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 235
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1986

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Geology

    SEE BIBLIOGRAPHY REFERENCES #011-015; #027-028; AND R #001-

  • Geology

    002.

  • Production

    SEE BIBLIOGRAPHY REFERENCE R #001-002 BELOW.

  • Geology

    SEE BIBLIOGRAPHY REFERENCES #011-015; #027-028: AND R #001-

  • Reserve-Resource

    WORLD SURVEY OF SULPHUR RESOURCES, THIRD EDITION, THE

  • Reserve-Resource

    BRITISH SULPHYR CORPORATION LTD., 1986.

  • Reserve-Resource

    BIBLIOGRAPHY REFERENCES #011-015, AND #027-028.

  • Deposit

    STATISTICS BULLETIN, PUBLISHED BY THE SPANISH NATIONAL

  • Deposit

    INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS, MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND COMMERCE,

  • Deposit

    NO. 437 SEPT-OCTOBER 1982.

  • Deposit

    ESTADISTICA MINERA DE ESPANA; PUBLISHED BY THE MINISTRY OF

  • Deposit

    INDUSTRY AND ENERGY FOR THE YEAR OF 1981.

  • Deposit

    PROGRAMA NACIONAL DE EXPLOTACION MINERA, PUBLISHED BY MI-

  • Deposit

    NESTRY OF INDUSTRY (DIRECCION GENERAL DE MINAS), 1970.

  • Deposit

    G. K. STRAUSS, J. MADEL AND F. FERNANDEZ ALOSNO; EXPLORATION

  • Deposit

    PRACTICE FOR STRATE-BOUND VOLCANOGENIC SULFIDE DEPOSITS IN

  • Deposit

    THE SPANISH-PORTUGUESE PYRITE BELT: GEOLOGY, GEOPHYSICS, AND

  • Deposit

    GEOCHEMISTRY; SPRING ER VERLAG, BERLIN HEIDELBERG, NEW YORK,

  • Deposit

    1977.

  • Deposit

    G. K. STRAUSS, K. G. GRAY; THE INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK FOR

  • Deposit

    SPANISH PYRITES; FIFTY IMI CONGRESS MADRID, SPAIN, APRIL

  • Deposit

    1982.

  • Deposit

    CAMARA OFICIAL MINERA DE HUELVA; PYRITE PRODUCERS YEARLY

  • Deposit

    REPORTS 1967-1982.

  • Deposit

    MEETING WITH THE EEC, BRUSSELS, 6/12/81 ADDRESSED BY DR.

  • Deposit

    G. K. STRAUSS.

  • Deposit

    WORLD SURVEY OF SULFUR RESOURCES; 2ND. ED., THE BRITISH

  • Deposit

    S OF MADRAS, MEMOIRS OF THE74.

  • Deposit

    COPPER FROM SPAIN'S PYRITE BELT; METAL BULLETIN MONTHLY,

  • Deposit

    JUNE 1982.

  • Deposit

    SPANISH PYRITES--A FUTURE SULFUR SOURCE FOR THE EEC; SULFUR

  • Deposit

    NO. 158, JAN/FEB 1982.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 24-SEP-96 Buckingham, David A. 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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