Colquijirca (Marcapunta)

Marcapunta is an underground operation that exploits arsenical copper minerals in the Colquijirca district, Pasco province, Pasco region. The mine is part of the Colquijirca Production Unit of Sociedad Minera El Brocal (61.43% BVN), a subsidiary of Buenaventura.

Project 13K: The mine's production will be increased from 7,500 to 13,000 tons per day. This project will have the following components: construction of a 1.3 km tunnel, extension of ventilation systems with 6 additional 3 m diameter chimneys, installation of a mobile crusher and a tertiary crusher in copper plant 1. In this way, it is expected to reach a production of 55,000 tons of fine copper by 2017.

Geology: At Marcapunta Norte, the mineralization is stratiform, both in the mineralized layers, which are located in the limestones of the Calera Medio formation, and in the mineralized breccias that are located in the lower unit of the same formation. The ore consists of a massive replacement of sulfides and filling of open spaces, which is why it is considered a mountain deposit linked to the Marcapunta volcanic complex. The mineralization consists of an arsenical copper ore (enargite) with Ag-Au values ​​and gangue with pyrite, quartz and alunite.

Mining: Chambers and pillars with long drill holes.

Metallurgy: The mineral from Marcapunta is treated at Plant 1, which uses the selective flotation process to achieve the concentration of economic Cu mineralization. Its concentration plant is located in the community of Huaraucaca and includes the processes of crushing, classification, grinding, conditioning, flotation and filtering, as well as the respective tailings storage yards. Given the characteristics of its equipment and layout, it is capable of processing copper minerals from the Marcapunta Norte mine. It has direct access by rail, so this means is used to transport concentrates to the port of Callao.

Treatment capacity: The El Brocal processing plant, located in Huaraucaca, has a capacity of 20,000 TMD, which is shared by the Marcapunta and Tajo Norte mines.