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Cerro Colorado

Past Producer in Spain with commodities Copper, Gold, Silver
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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. Ownership information
  11. Production statistics
  12. Reserves and resources
  13. Workings at the site
  14. Links to other databases
  15. Bibliographic references
  16. General comments
  17. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10254962
MAS/MILS ID 4690410001
Record type Site
Current site name Cerro Colorado

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -6.65651, 37.68263 (WGS84)
Elevation 400
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Spain(country)

Europe(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
Spain

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcocite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Chlorite Unknown
Digenite Unknown
Galena Unknown
Gold Unknown
Kaolinite Unknown
Limonite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Silver Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -6.65651, 37.68263
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N90E
    Dip 90
    Thickness 300M
    Length 1000M
    Width 600M
    Area 111HA
    Depth to top 30M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 STOCKWORK
    Shape of Orebody #1 MASSIVE
    Primary mode of Origin OTHER
    Primary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. UNKNOWN
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 UNKNOWN
    Strike And Dip N90E:90
    Minimum Depth to Top 10
    Total Surface Area (HA) 111
    Date of Last Modification 830421

Comments on the geologic information

  • ISOCLINAL FOLDING ALONG EAST-WEST AXIS DURING HERCYNIAN OROGENY. SYNCLINAL STRUCTURE. GEOLOGIC AGE OF DEPOSIT IS CARBONIFEROUS. VOLCANOGENIC MASSIVE SULFIDE STOCKWORK.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface-Underground
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant No
Discovery year 1556
Year of first production 1967
Milling method Flotation

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Rio Tinto Minera S. A.
    Home office Spain
    Year 1990
  • Type Owner
    Owner Explosivos Rio Tinto S. A.
    Interest 51
    Home office Spain
    Year 1990
  • Type Owner
    Owner Rtz Corp.
    Interest 49
    Home office United Kingdom
    Year 1990

Comments on the ownership information

  • RIO TINTO MINERO S.A. IS A COMPANY COMPOSED OF UNION EXPLOSIVOS RIO TINTO S.A. AND RIO TINTO ZINC. PROPERTY PREVIOUSLY CONTROLLED BY RIO TINTO PATINO (UNION EXPLOSIVOS RIO TINTO) (55%), PATINO MINING CORP. (40%), AND RIO TINTO ZINC (5%).

Production statistics

  • Year 1965
    Description Producing 42 Grams Ag/Metric Ton 2000000 Metric Tons Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Silver Silver 2000000mt 42g/mt
  • Year 1965
    Description Producing 2.4 Grams Au/Metric Ton 2000000 Metric Tons Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 2000000mt 2g/mt
  • Year 1965
    Description Producing 0.79% Cu 2000000 Metric Tons Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2000000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1970
    Description Ore Mined/Year 3300000 Metric Tons
  • Year 1971
    Description Ore Mined/Year 3300000 Metric Tons
  • Year 1972
    Description Ore Mined/Year 3300000 Metric Tons
  • Year 1973
    Description Ore Mined/Year 3300000 Metric Tons
  • Year 1974
    Description Ore Mined/Year 3300000 Metric Tons
  • Year 1975
    Description Ore Mined/Year 3300000 Metric Tons
  • Year 1976
    Description Ore Mined/Year 3300000 Metric Tons
  • Year 1977
    Description Ore Mined/Year 2732000 Metric Tons
  • Year 1978
    Description Ore Mined/Year 2732000 Metric Tons
  • Year 1979
    Description Ore Mined/Year 2732000 Metric Tons
  • Year 1980
    Description Ore Mined/Year 2732000 Metric Tons
  • Year 1981
    Description 2940 Mt Cathode Copper From Leach 126276 Mt Conc At 21% Copper
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 126276mt 21wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Description 3894 Mt Cathode Copper From Leach 150982 Mt Conc At 21% Copper
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 150982mt 21wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Description 3897 Mt Cathode Copper From Leach 151955 Mt Conc At 21% Copper
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 151955mt 21wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Description 3194 Mt Cathode Copper From Leach 184915 Mt Conc At 21% Copper
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 184915mt 21wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Description 3010 Mt Cathode Copper From Leach 158656 Mt Conc At 21% Copper
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 158656mt 21wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Description 2064 Mt Cathode Copper From Leach 117126 Mt Conc At 21% Copper
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 117126mt 21wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • COPPER CONCENTRATE 17-21% CU, CEMENT COPPER 75% CU, DORE BULLION 30,000KG 12% AU, 88% AG. MILL RECOVERY IS 75-80% CU, 90% AU, 40% AG.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1971
    Measured 40000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 40000000mt ore
    Total resources 40000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.77 wt-pct Copper Major 1971
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Indicated 35000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 35000000mt ore
    Total resources 35000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.55 wt-pct Copper Major 1988
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Measured 185000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 185000000mt ore
    Total resources 185000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.55 wt-pct Copper Major 1988
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Indicated 122766000mt ore
    Demonstrated 122766000mt ore
    Total resources 122766000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.6 wt-pct Copper Major 1986
    Silver Ag 3.4 g/mt Silver Minor 1986
    Gold Au 0.05 g/mt Gold Minor 1986
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Measured 185000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 185000000mt ore
    Total resources 185000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.55 wt-pct Copper Major 1988

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • INCLUDES THE CERRO COLORADO OPEN PIT MINE AND THE ALFREDO UG MINE. DOES NOT INCLUDE THE GOLD-SILVER GOSSAN DEPOSIT OR THE PYRITE MINE. THE PYRITE MINE IS COVERED UNDER SEQ NO. 4690410009 (CORTA ATA- LAYA). THE GOLD-SILVER GOSSAN CONTAINS 18,000,000 MT @ 2.4 GM AU & 42.0 GM AG AND IS TREATED SEPATATELY FROM THE COPPER.
  • ETD GIVES 101,270,000 MT ORE. OF THIS AMOUNT, 15,000,000 MT CONTAINS 2.4G AU/MT AND 42G AG/MT. THE GRADE OF GOLD AND SILVER WAS CALCULATED AS 0.355G AU/MT AND 6.22G AG/MT. ETD GIVES 0.79% CU IN THE 101,270,000 MT. TOTAL RESERVES AS OF 12/31/86; USED IN 1987 EVALUATION.
  • E&MJ INT. DIR. 1989-1990, P. 291; (12/31/88)

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 111HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Percent Waste Rock 68
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 30
    Primary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 10
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 16552
    Unit Production Cost 5.85
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 290
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1981
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 111HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Percent Waste Rock 68
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 30
    Primary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 10
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 18103
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 7.13
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 290
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1981
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 111HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 3
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Percent Waste Rock 71
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 30
    Primary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 10
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 20830
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 290
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1986

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING MAGAZINE. VOL. 125, NO. 6, DEC. 1971, PP. 528-539.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WORLD MINING. CERRO COLORADO: BIG NEW COPPER PIT AT FAMED

  • Reserve-Resource

    RIO TINTO SPAIN. SEPT. 1971, PP. 42-46.

  • Reserve-Resource

    SKILLING'S MINING REVIEW, NOV. 18, 1989, P. 4-7.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, 1989-90, E&MJ.

  • Reserve-Resource

    INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF MINING, 1989, P. 291.

  • Deposit

    1976-77 WORLD MINES REGISTER

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, SEPT 1971-CERRO COLORADO: BIG NEW COPPER PIT A

  • Deposit

    RIO TINTO SPAIN P 42

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING. RIO TINTO - TREASURE OF THE AGES: MINING FROM

  • Deposit

    1100 B.C. TO PRESENT. SEPT. 1978, PP. 137-139.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE. APRIL 1979, P. 295.

  • Deposit

    JONES, M.J. GEOLOGICAL MINING AND METALLURGICAL SAMPLING.

  • Deposit

    INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY, 1974, PP. 156-173.

  • Deposit

    MCQUISTAN, F.W., JR., AND R.S. SHOEMAKER. GOLD AND SILVER

  • Deposit

    CYANIDATION PLANT PRACTICE MONOGRAPH. AIME, 1975,

  • Deposit

    PP. 155-158.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINER, RIO TINTO MINERA SA CERRO COLORADO PROJECT,

  • Deposit

    MAR. 1983, P. 12.

  • Deposit

    SKILLING'S MINING REVIEW, MAR. 25, 1989, P. 6.

  • Deposit

    MORRAL, F.R., A MINI-HISTORY OF THE RIO TINTO (SPAIN)

  • Deposit

    REGION, CIM BULL., MAR. 1990, P. 150-154.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit 765 EMPLOYEES, CU ORE 9,000TPD, AU ORE, AG ORE 4,500TPD, CU 50TPD, AU 290 OZ/DAY, AG 2,250 OZ/DAY, OPEN PIT MINES - 25,000TPD. WASTE STRIPPED, 15,000TPD. ORE MINED, OPEN PIT EQUIPMENT- BLAST HOLE DRILLS, FRONT END LOADERS, CONTINUOUS EXCAVATORS, SHOVELS, ROAD GRADERS, BULLDOZERS, TRUCKS, FLOTATION- 9,000TPD, CYANIDATION- 4,500TPD. CERRO COLORADO IS CAPPED BY A LEACHED GOSSAN 70 TO 115 FEET THICK. AU VERY FINELY DISSEMINATED, AG CONCENTRATED IN THIN BLANKET NEAR THE BASE OF THE GOSSAN. PB OCCURS AS ANGLESITE, LEACHED ZONE 65FT THICK, UNDERLAIN BY 65FT OF SECONDARILY ENRICHED SULFIDE ZONE. SECONDARY SULFIDES ARE CHALCOCITE AND DIGENITE. HIGH GRADE POCKETS WILL ASSAY UP TO 15.0%. ORE IS SELECTIVELY MINED AND BLENDED WITH LOWER GRADE. THE PRIMARY ORE IS FOUND IN A RELATIVELY UNALTERED SERIES OF WELDED TUFFS. CHALCOPYRITE (CUFES2) IS THE CU MINERAL. THE PIT WAS DESIGNED TO MINE 40,000,000 TONS OF CU WITH A CUTOFF GRADE OF 0.4%. AVERAGE GRADE IS 0.77% WITH A DILUTION FACTOR OF 19%. PLAN TO MINE 25MM TONS OF MARGINAL GRADE ORE OF 0.28% CU WHICH IS BEING PLACED ON LEACHING DUMPS AND 87MM TONS OF WASTE IS UNDERWAY. PIT PLANNING AND DESIGN- THE PIT WILL BE 4,800FT LONG, 2,500FT WIDE AND 700FT DEEP AFTER MINING 16MM TONS, BENCHES- 10M, FINAL WALL SLOPE 1:1. A WORKING SLOPE OF 3:1. TAILINGS PONDS ARE LOCATED IN THE REJONDILLO RIVER NORTH AND NORTHWEST OF THE PIT- 2 DAMS. HEAD ASSAYS AU- 1.225 OZ/TON. AU- 0.070 OZ/TON; PRODUCTS - DORE BULLION- 78% AG, ANNUAL PRODUCTION- 27,000 KG AG AND 3,000 KG AU. PIT DESIGN- FACE ANGLE- 70, RAMP WIDTH- 20M,

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 05-JAN-1995 Porter, Kenneth E. 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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