Western Malargüe Copper Projects

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Project

Western Malargüe Copper Projects

Location

matancillas-o-el-perdido-cobre-porfidico-tipico

Geology

The Projects lie within the Neogene Porphyry Belt, a metallogenic belt that straddles the border between central Chile and Argentina. The Late Miocene to Early Pliocene porphyry copper belt includes some of the largest copper deposits in the world, including Rio Blanco – Los Bronces (134.8 Mt Cu) and El Teniente (128.5 Mt Cu) which represent the world’s 2^nd and 3^rd largest copper deposits in terms of contained copper. ¹ To date, 12 copper ± gold porphyry prospects have been outlined on the Project. These are typified by multi-kilometre in diameter hydrothermal alteration footprints associated with phyllic and/or argillic alteration assemblages, some of which exhibit localized potassic alteration on surface. Quartz stockwork veining and hydrothermal breccias, where present, are spatially associated with porphyritic dacitic to dioritic stocks of Miocene age. Host rocks are variable over the 733 km² project though can be simplified as Jurassic to Miocene aged volcano-sedimentary formations.

Mineralization

Copper mineralization encountered on the Project to date includes high-grade hydrothermal breccias of varying compositions, skarn-type or replacement type, quartz stockwork and disseminated mineralization (porphyry-type). Significant gold values have been reported along with copper values in historical sampling of at least 3 of the known porphyry prospects.

Work History

The most extensive historical exploration programs on the Project were completed by VALE Exploration Argentina between 2010 and 2013. This included rock chip sampling, talus sampling, alteration mapping, geological mapping and ground-based magnetometer surveys. Two Cu-Au porphyry systems were mapped by VALE over the course of the programs (El Perdido and El Destino).

The Western Malargüe Mining District

The Western Malargüe Mining District (WMMD) is a tool developed by the Government of the Province of Mendoza through Impulsa Mendoza SA to respond to the challenge that the energy transition represents for the world.

Impulsa Mendoza SA, a vehicle adopted by the province of Mendoza to develop a modern and sustainable mining sector, has developed a detailed environmental impact study in the entire WMMD area. It has also carried out studies of geological and infrastructure potential to shorten the times required for exploration of mining projects. The studies have made it possible to determine that the region is very suitable for mining development, as it has enormous geological potential and there is no competition for the use of land or water with any other productive activity.

Note:

Singer, D.A.; Berger, V.I.; Moring, B.C. Porphyry Copper Deposits of the World—Database, Map, and Grade and Tonnage Models, 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1155, p. 45 Available online: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1155/

Our Project