The Maricunga Gold-Copper Belt, comprising a NNE trending chain of andesitic to dacitic volcanoes measures approximately 150 kilometres long (north-south) by 30 kilometres wide and hosts a series of epithermal high sulphidation and porphyry-style gold-silver-copper deposits such as La Coipa, Refugio, Aldebaran, La Pepa, Soledad, Pantanillo, Lobo, Escondido, and Marte.
Gold and copper mineralization contained within advanced argillic alteration zones occurs in association with porphyry stockwork systems. These stockwork sytems intrude Eocene-Oligocene andesitic and dacitic volcanic rocks that in turn overlie Permo-Triassic volcanic-plutonic-sedimentary basement rocks. These stockwork systems are localized at intersections of regional N-S and NW trending Andean-style fault structures, that which are common loci for volcanoes and major ore deposits in the region. The Maricunga Belt hosts at least 14 major prospects, including three operating mines and two substantial idle deposits. Combined gold resources in the belt are in the order of more than 43 million ounces of gold.
Map of Maricunga Gold Belt, Chile Click to view
Table of Gold Deposits of the Maricunga Belt, Region III, Chile Deposit Historic Production Contained Metal Tenor & Tonnage Owner or Operator Marte-Lobo Mine 6.12 million ("M") oz Au Teck Cominco & Anglo American La Copia Mine 1.7 M oz Au 100 M oz Ag Proven/Probable Reserves: 433,000 oz Au 27.8 M oz Ag 10.1 M tonnes @ 1.33 g/t Au 10.1 M tonnes @ 85.3 g/t Ag Kinross Gold Corp. Measured/Indicated Resources: 364,000 oz Au 10 M oz Ag 11.5 M tonnes @ 0.99 g/t Au 11.5 M tonnes @ 29.3 g/t Ag Maricunga Mine (formerly Refugio) 4.0 M oz Au Proven/Probable Reserves: 5.4 M oz Au 222.7 M tonnes @ 0.76 g/t Au Kinross Gold Corp. Measured/Indicated Resources: 1.9 M oz Au 42.5 M tonnes @ 0.69 g/t Au Cerro Casale Mine Proven/Probable Reserves: 11.2 M oz Au 2.8 billion lbs Cu 507 M tonnes @ 0.69 g/t Au 507 M tonnes @ 0.25% Cu Kinross Gold Corp. & Barrick Gold Corp. Measured /Indicated Resources: 2.4 M oz Au 0.98 billion lbs Cu 186 M tonnes @ 0.40 g/t Au 186 M tonnes @ 0.24% Cu El Hueso/ADLF Mine 666,000 oz Au 2.8 M oz Au 16.6 M tonnes @ 5.2 g/t Au Yamana Gold Inc. & Barrick Gold Corp. Volcan Gold Project Measured/Indicated Resource: 2.93 M oz Au 115 M tonnes @ 0.79 g/t Au Andina Minerals Inferred Resource: 4.2 M oz Au 170 M tonnes @ 0.77 g/t Au Caspiche Project Recent drill Intersections: 266m of 0.47 g/t Au & 0.22% Cu 298m of 0.54 g/t Au & 0.17% Cu Exeter Resources
LRC Price at posting:
2.5¢ Sentiment: ST Buy Disclosure: Held