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Cerro Verde

Producer in Arequipa, Peru with commodities Copper, Gold, Molybdenum, 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. Mining district
  11. Land status
  12. Ownership information
  13. Production statistics
  14. Reserves and resources
  15. Workings at the site
  16. Links to other databases
  17. Bibliographic references
  18. General comments
  19. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10304110
MRDS ID W002000
MAS/MILS ID 3330070015
Record type Site
Current site name Cerro Verde
Alternate or previous names Cerro Verde I, Cerro Verde Ii, Santa Rosa, Cerro Verde/Santa Rosa
Related records 10068755

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -71.5663, -16.531 (WGS84)
Elevation 2700
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Arequipa(province)

Peru(country)

South America(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Peru Arequipa

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Molybdenum Secondary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Brochantite Unknown
Chalcocite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Molybdenite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -71.5663, -16.531
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 600M
    Length 1300M
    Width 800M
    Depth to top 130M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 2
    MAS Column # 2
    Type of Orebody #1 STOCKWORK
    Shape of Orebody #1 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #2 BRECCIA FILL
    Type of Orebody #3 REPLACEMENT
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin OXIDATION
    Primary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SERICITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 INTERM ARGILLIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PROPYLITIC
    Minimum Depth to Top 60
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 810108
  • Thickness 950M
    Length 1400M
    Width 650M
    Depth to top 80M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 3
    MAS Column # 3
    Type of Orebody #1 STOCKWORK
    Shape of Orebody #1 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #2 BRECCIA FILL
    Type of Orebody #3 REPLACEMENT
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SERICITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 INTERM ARGILLIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PROPYLITIC
    Minimum Depth to Top 60
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 810108
  • Area 250HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 250
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1869
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1977
Milling method Hydrometallurgy Unspecified

Mining district

District name Cerro Verde

Land status

Ownership category State

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde S. A.
    Home office Peru
    Year 1995
  • Type Owner
    Owner Cyprus Amax Minerals Co.
    Interest 91.5
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1995
  • Type Owner
    Owner Cerro Verde Employees
    Interest 8.5
    Home office Peru
    Year 1995

Production statistics

  • Year 1993
    Description Annual Cu Cathode Prod. From Leach Oper. 52500 Mt/Yr After Expansion.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 52500mt
  • Year 1993
    Description Annual Cu In Conc. Prod. From Mill 11000 Metric Tons Per Year.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 11000mt
  • Year 1993
    Description Annual Cu Cathode Prod. From Leach Oper. 20000 Metric Tons Per Year.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 20000mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1984
    Indicated 1074000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.65 wt-pct Copper Major 1984
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1984
    Indicated 516000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.79 wt-pct Copper Major 1984
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Demonstrated 635600000mt ore
    Total resources 635600000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.63 wt-pct Copper Major 1993
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Demonstrated 161500000mt ore
    Total resources 161500000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.89 wt-pct Copper Major 1993
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Demonstrated 536000000mt ore
    Total resources 536000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.68 wt-pct Copper Major 1991
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 592000000mt ore
    Total resources 592000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.66 wt-pct Copper Major 1995
    Molybdenum Mo 0.021 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Demonstrated 797000000mt ore
    Total resources 797000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.68 wt-pct Copper Major 1993

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • ENTRY IS FOR OVERALL SULFIDE ORE TONNAGE AT CERRO VERDE AND SANTA ROSA.
  • Q-MAT TONNAGE FOR OXIDE ORE REPRESENTS 8-YRS. PRODUCTION REMAINING AS OF JAN.1, 1980. HIGH GRADE AND LOW GRADE PORTIONS OF CERRO VERDE SULFIDE ORE (Q-MAT 2,COLS.4&3) HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED BY EVAL. BASED ON PRODUCTION PLANS OF MINEROPERU. OVERALL CERRO VERDE SULFIDE TONNAGE (Q-MAT 2, COL.2) IS AS OF 1974 AND REPRESENTS ORE TO A DEPTH OF 600 M. Q-MAT 3 TONNAGE IS FOR SANTA ROSA OREBODY- AS OF 1974 TO A DEPTH OF 950 M. FOR THIS MAS STUDY IT WAS ASSUMED THAT ENTIRE AMOUNT TO A DEPTH OF 950 M COULD NOT BE MINED BY OPEN PIT. FOR THAT REASON AND BECAUSE THE RESERVE ESTIMATE TO A REASONABLE MAX.PIT DEPTH OF 750 M(75% PROB. LEVEL) WOULD LAST THRU THE YEAR 2037 THIS ECONOMIC STUDY DOES NOT ADDRESS RECOVERY OF ORE FROM 750 TO 950 M DEPTH.
  • PA&H TRIP REPORT, 1986; PA&H COPPER STUDY, 3/86; E/MJ, 11/84, P83. UNIDAD PROD. CERRO VERDE, AREQUIPA, 1986.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 200HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 130
    Primary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 40
    Capacity 21900
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 15000
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 310
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1986
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 200HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Percent Waste Rock 54.5
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 130
    Primary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 40
    Capacity 5840
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 310
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1986
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 200HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 3
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Percent Waste Rock 54.5
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 130
    Primary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 40
    Capacity 16050
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 310
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1986
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 200HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 4
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Percent Waste Rock 54.5
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 60
    Primary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 40
    Capacity 11690
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 15000
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 310
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1980
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 200HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 5
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 130
    Primary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 40
    Capacity 27790
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 310
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1986
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 200HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 6
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 60
    Primary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 40
    Capacity 51430
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1986

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Production

    METALS WEEK, P. 6 (MAR. 28, 1994).

  • Reserve-Resource

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JJOURNAL, NOV., 1984, P. 83

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINERO PERU, UNIDAD DE PRODUCCION CERRO VERDE, AREQUIPA-

  • Reserve-Resource

    PERU, 1986.

  • Reserve-Resource

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING LETTER, 11/15/93, P.1.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING JOURNAL, SUPPLEMENT, V 320/N 8208, 1/22/93, P.14,15.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINERO PERU, INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, 1991, P.11.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, 2/93, P.WW29-WW31.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CYPRUS AMAX MINERALS CO., 1994 10-K, P.2-5.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING JOURNAL, P. 213 (MAR. 25, 1994).

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING JOURNAL, P. 194 (MAR. 18, 1994).

  • Reserve-Resource

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING LETTER, P. 1 (AUG. 25, 1993).

  • Deposit

    PURSER, W.F., METAL MINING IN PERU, PAST AND PRESENT,

  • Deposit

    PRAEGER, NEW YORK, PP. 148-149.

  • Deposit

    ASHESOV, N., ET AL, CERRO VERDE AND SANTA ROSA, ANDEAN-PERU

  • Deposit

    VIAN TIMES, VOL. 34, NO. 1764, P. 20."

  • Deposit

    U.S.B.M., INTERNAL MEMORANDUM, DEC. 16, 1974.

  • Deposit

    E/MJ, CERRO VERDE: RELYING ON SOLVENT EXTRACTION, NOV. 1979,

  • Deposit

    PP. 138-141.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, OCT. 1974, P. 273-275.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINER, SEPT. 1980, PP. 51-52

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINER, CERRO VERDE COPPER MINE AT AREQUIPA, PERU:

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING THE STAGE I PROCESS PLANT, JAN. 1979.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, MARCH 1978.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, JULY, 1977.

  • Deposit

    THE ANDEAN REPORT, APRIL, 1978.

  • Deposit

    THE ANDEAN REPORT, APRIL, 1977.

  • Deposit

    THE ANDEAN REPORT, JUNE, 1976.

  • Deposit

    CIM BULLETIN, CERRO VERDE PROJECT - STAGE 1, COPPER - OXIDES

  • Deposit

    TO CATHODES", OCT., 1978, P.96-108.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINER, CERRO VERDE I, SEPTEMBER 1982. P. 18,20.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, PERU STUDIES EXPANSION

  • Deposit

    ALTERNATIVE FOR CERRO VERDE, - SEPTEMBER 1985, P. 20

  • Deposit

    MINING ACTIVITY DIGEST, 9/13/85, P. 2,3

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, MINEROPERU DEVELOPS CERRO

  • Deposit

    VERDE, 12/88, P. 14,16

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, P. 13 (APRIL 11, 1994).

  • Deposit

    SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW, P. 10 (MAR. 26, 1994).

  • Deposit

    PAY DIRT, P. 6B (MAY 1994).

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, P. 2 (MAR. 23, 1994).

  • Deposit

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING LETTER, V 7/N 19, 10/17/88, P.1.

  • Deposit

    METALS WEEK, 10/1/90, P.2.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, 12/91, P.12.

  • Deposit

    METALS WEEK, 2/24/92, P.6.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, SUPPLEMENT, V 320/N 8208, 1/22/93, P.11.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 5/31/93, P.6.

  • Deposit

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING LETTER, V 12/N 11, 7/9/93, P.5,6.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 7/13/93, P.7.

  • Deposit

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING LETTER, V 12/N 12, 7/23/93, P.1,2.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, V 321/N 8239, 8/27/93, P.133,134.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 11/12/93, P.2,16.

  • Deposit

    METAL BULLETIN, 11/15/93, P.11.

  • Deposit

    SKILLINGS', 11/20/93, P.11.

  • Deposit

    METAL BULLETIN, 12/6/93, P.11.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 11/94, P.4A.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, NO. 668, 2/95, P.3B.

  • Deposit

    MINING RECORD, V 106/N 28, 7/12/95, P.7.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit CERRO VERDE OXIDE OPERATION IN PRODUCTION SINCE MAY 1977. CERRO VERDE SULFIDE OPER. PROPOSED FOR PROD. BEGINNING IN 1986. SANTA ROSA SULFIDE OPERATION PROPOSED FOR PROD. BEGINNING IN YEAR 2001. MOLY GRADE IN ORE IS UNKNOWN-GOLDER SAYS .002 WHICH APPEARS TOO LOW. MOLY GRADE WAS ESTIMATED ON BASIS THAT MOST PERU PORPHYRY CU ORE BODIES CONTAIN A MO% TO CU% RATIO OF .03. CERRO VERDE LOCATED 15 KM S OF CITY OF AREQUIPA, LOCATED IN AN ACTIVE EARTHQUAKE ZONE. MINING CONCESSION COVERS ABOUT 1,260 HA. PROPERTY ACQUIRED IN 1915 BY ANDES EXPL.CO. (SUBSID. OF ANACONDA). SPORADIC DRILLING AND STUDY UP TO DEC. 1970 WHEN PROPERTY REVERTED TO STATE CONTROL AND ASSIGNED TO MINEROPERU FOR DEVELOPMENT. AU&AG GRADES UNKNOWN FOR SULFIDE ORE-NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS ECONOMIC STUDY.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 10-MAR-1997 Porter, Kenneth E. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

Operator history (post-MRDS)

MRDS records operators as of each record's last update (≤ 2019). Some of the operators listed here have since changed hands or dissolved:

  • Cyprus Amax Minerals Co. — now part of Subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan (2007)
    Formed by merger of Cyprus Minerals and AMAX in 1993; acquired by Phelps Dodge in 1999; Phelps Dodge acquired by Freeport-McMoRan in 2007.

Curated by qvyshift.com from publicly-reported M&A activity (SEC filings, press releases, USGS Mineral Yearbooks). Not authoritative — verify against primary sources before relying on it. The MSHA panel above is the current authoritative source for actively-permitted mines.

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