POLYMETALLIC DEPOSIT WITH PRECIOUS METALS
Many times, it’s common to hear about polymetallic deposits with certain contents of silver, but gold can be present too. Many times, the possibility of mining this type of deposit is a metallurgical challenge. One special case is the Peruvian deposit of Carhuanco.
The Carhuanco deposit has important veins with interesting contents of lead, silver, and gold. The deposit presents dykes and sills with acid composition, but it is possible observe some zones with limestone and quartzite.
The main minerals presents are pyrite, quartz, arsenopyrite, galena, sphalerite, and limonite. During microscopical studies were detected tetrahedrite, free gold, and electrum.
Reserves are approximately 19,750 tons of sulphides and oxidized material, width 0.40 m. The estimated metallic composition is 0.30% Cu, 5.1% Pb, 0.5 %Zn, 10.7 oz/t Ag, and 0.19 oz/t Au. The deposit has a potential of 39,380 tonnes.
The deposit is hydrothermal type and fractures are filled by minerals. This is the last event during the dikes formation.
Metallurgical tests were done on ores from oxidized and mixed zones. The tests consisted on direct cyanidation, flotation, and a combination of cyanidation and flotation. The results obtained on direct cyanidation indicate recoveries of 40% silver, and 70% gold. A bulk concentrate indicates recoveries of 50% lead, 60% silver, and 70% gold. The bulk concentrate had the following composition: 18% lead, 73 oz/t Ag, and 1.0 0z/t Au.
Initial work showed that the deposit could be mined in small scale; however other studies indicated the existence of a big volume of material which could be ideal for a bigger scale than the initial studies.
The deposit is located in the communities of Carhuanco and Pampalca, province of Churcampa, department of Huancavelica. It belongs to the west side of the oriental mountain range. The deposit is near to Cobriza mine and the distance from Lima is 508 Km. The site is in an altitude of 2,500 – 3,800 m.a.s.l.
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