Peruvian Andes:

Geology & Mineral Potential

Ministry of Energy and Mines

of Peru
Miguel Cardozo
QUATERNARY
P LIO C E N E
0
Volcanics
Ph a ses

Limestones
M IO C E N E Q uech u a

O L IG O C E N E
TERTIARY

Coarse clastics
Inc aic Ph as es
EOC ENE
50
PA L E O C E N E

UP PE R
Pe ru vian P h ose
Fine clastics
CRETA CEDUS
100
M o c hic a P h o se
LO W E R

M A LM 150

JURASSIC DO GGER

L IA S
A thick, mainly
TRIASSIC
UP PE R
LO W E R
2 00
late Pz – Up.K,
PERMIAN
P EN N SY L -
2 50
L ate H ercyn ian
P h oss
marine sed.- volc.
Sequence.
300
CARBONI- VA N IA N
FEROUS M IS S IS S IP -
P IA N
E a rly H erc y nian
350
P h a se
DEVONIAN

SILURIAN
40 0
Followed by a
ORDOVICIAN
45 0
terrestrial clastic
5 00
sequence and
CAMBRIAN 550
intense sub-aereal
volcanic activity
60 0

PRE - CAMBRIAN 2000

0 300 km
1 00 20 0
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL L ERA CORDIL L ERA REGION
QUATERNARY
P LIO C E N E
0
Volcanics
Ph a ses

Limestones
M IO C E N E Q uech u a

O L IG O C E N E
TERTIARY

Coarse clastics
Inc aic Ph as es
EOC ENE
50
PA L E O C E N E

UP PE R
Pe ru vian P h ose
Fine clastics
CRETA CEDUS
100
M o c hic a P h o se
LO W E R

M A LM 150

JURASSIC DO GGER

L IA S
Intense, episodic
TRIASSIC
UP PE R
LO W E R
2 00
magmatism
PERMIAN
P EN N SY L -
2 50
L ate H ercyn ian
P h oss
occurred in the
Cordilleran region.
300
CARBONI- VA N IA N
FEROUS M IS S IS S IP -
P IA N
E a rly H erc y nian
350

Intrusives range
P h a se
DEVONIAN
40 0

from deep
SILURIAN

45 0

batholithic to
ORDOVICIAN

5 00

CAMBRIAN 550 subvolcanic

60 0 settings
PRE - CAMBRIAN 2000

0 300 km
1 00 20 0
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL L ERA CORDIL L ERA REGION
QUATERNARY
P L IO C E N E

M IO C E N E
0

Q u ech u a
Ph a ses Deposit
TERTIARY O L IG O C EN E

In caic P h as es
Types
EOCE NE
50
PA L E O C E N E
Cu Porphyry
Cu-Au Porphyry
Pe ru vian P hose
U P PE R

CRETA CEDUS
1 00

LO W E R
M o ch ic a Ph o se
Cu Skarn
M ALM 1 50

JURASSIC DO GGER

LIA S

200
U P PE R
TRIASSIC
LO W E R

PERMIA N 250
L ate H ercyn ian
P ENN S YL- Ph o ss
300
CARBONI- VA N IA N
FEROUS M ISS IS SIP -
P IA N
Ea rly H ercy nian
350
Ph a se
DEVONIAN
400
SILURIAN

450

ORDOVICIAN

500

CAMBRIAN 5 50

600

PRE - CAMBRIAN 2 00 0

0 300 km
100 2 00
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL LE RA CORDIL LERA REGION
Northern Peru Cu-Au Porphyry Belt

La Granja 800 Mt @ 0.61% Cu

Cañariaco 365 Mt @ 0.5% Cu
Cerro Corona 6Mt @1.4 g/t Au
40Mt @ 1.33 g/t Au, 0.7% Cu
Minas Conga 641 Mt @ 0.3% Cu, 0.8 g/t Au,
Galeno 430 Mt @ 0.6% Cu, 0.2 g/t Au
Michiquillay 630 Mt @ 0.69% Cu

La Arena 34Mt @ 0.8 g/t Au

La Virgen 2 Mt @ 2.3 g/t Au
Paleocene Southern Peru Cu-Porphyry Belt

Cerro Negro 64 Mt @ 0.56% Cu (óxidos)

Cerro Verde 175 Mt @ 0.6% Cu
420 Mt @ 0.6% Cu

Cuajone 61 Mt @ 0.49% Cu (oxides)

1,212 Mt @ 0.64% Cu

Quellaveco
213 Mt @ 0.94% Cu, 0.014% Mo, 1.74 g/t Ag
761 Mt @ 0.57% Cu, 0.023% Mo, 2.31 g/t Ag
Toquepala 770 Mt @ 0.74% Cu
Eocene-Oligocene
Apurimac Cu-Porphyry-Skarn Belt

Las Chancas 200 Mt @ 1% Cu

Las Bambas 40Mt @ +2% Cu

+ potential porphyry

Tintaya +200 Mt @ +1.5% Cu

Antapaccay 390 Mt @ 0.83% Cu

QUATERNARY
P L IO C E N E

M IO C E N E
0

Q u ech u a
Ph a ses Deposit
TERTIARY O L IG O C EN E

In caic P h as es
Types
EOCE NE
50
PA L E O C E N E

IOCG
Pe ru vian P hose
U P PE R

CRETA CEDUS
1 00
M o ch ic a Ph o se
LO W E R

M ALM 1 50

JURASSIC DO GGER

LIA S

200
U P PE R
TRIASSIC
LO W E R

PERMIA N 250
L ate H ercyn ian
P ENN S YL- Ph o ss
300
CARBONI- VA N IA N
FEROUS M ISS IS SIP -
P IA N
Ea rly H ercy nian
350
Ph a se
DEVONIAN
400
SILURIAN

450

ORDOVICIAN

500

CAMBRIAN 5 50

600

PRE - CAMBRIAN 2 00 0

0 300 km
100 2 00
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL LE RA CORDIL LERA REGION
QUATERNARY
P L IO C E N E

M IO C E N E
0

Q u ech u a
Ph a ses Deposit
TERTIARY O L IG O C EN E

In caic P h as es
Types
EOCE NE
50
PA L E O C E N E

IOCG
Pe ru vian P hose

Cu VMS
U P PE R

CRETA CEDUS
1 00
M o ch ic a Ph o se
LO W E R
Cu-Zn VMS
M ALM 1 50

JURASSIC DO GGER

LIA S

200
U P PE R
TRIASSIC
LO W E R

PERMIA N 250
L ate H ercyn ian
P ENN S YL- Ph o ss
300
CARBONI- VA N IA N
FEROUS M ISS IS SIP -
P IA N
Ea rly H ercy nian
350
Ph a se
DEVONIAN
400
SILURIAN

450

ORDOVICIAN

500

CAMBRIAN 5 50

600

PRE - CAMBRIAN 2 00 0

0 300 km
100 2 00
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL LE RA CORDIL LERA REGION
Iron Oxides Cu-Au Coastal Belt

Raul-Condestable +30 Mt @ 1- 2.5% Cu

Cerro Lindo 42 Mt @ 5.1% Zn, 0.8% Cu, 35 g/t Ag

Marcona 1,800 Mt @ 53.3% Fe

+ potential for Cu-Au mineralization
Lancones Basin VMS Cu-Zn-Au

Tambogrande
TG1 64 Mt 1.7% Cu, 1.4% Zn, 0.7 g/t Au, 31 g/t Ag
TG3 110 Mt 0.7% Cu, 1.0% Zn, 0.7 g/t Au, 17 g/t Ag
QUATERNARY
P L IO C E N E

M IO C E N E
0

Q u ech u a
Ph a ses Deposit
TERTIARY O L IG O C EN E

In caic P h as es
Types
EOCE NE
50
PA L E O C E N E

U P PE R
Pe ru vian P hose MVT
CRETA CEDUS
1 00
M o ch ic a Ph o se
LO W E R

M ALM 1 50

JURASSIC DO GGER

LIA S

200
U P PE R
TRIASSIC
LO W E R

PERMIA N 250
L ate H ercyn ian
P ENN S YL- Ph o ss
300
CARBONI- VA N IA N
FEROUS M ISS IS SIP -
P IA N
Ea rly H ercy nian
350
Ph a se
DEVONIAN
400
SILURIAN

450

ORDOVICIAN

500

CAMBRIAN 5 50

600

PRE - CAMBRIAN 2 00 0

0 300 km
100 2 00
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL LE RA CORDIL LERA REGION
Central & Northern Peru MVT Zn-Belts

Bongará +5 Mt @ +15% Zn

San Vicente +30 Mt @ 12 –14% Zn

QUATERNARY
P L IO C E N E

M IO C E N E
0

Q u ech u a
Ph a ses Deposit
TERTIARY O L IG O C EN E

In caic P h as es
Types
EOCE NE
50
PA L E O C E N E

Pe ru vian P hose
Cu Skarn
U P PE R

CRETA CEDUS
1 00
M o ch ic a Ph o se
Cu-Zn Skarn
LO W E R

M ALM 1 50

JURASSIC DO GGER

LIA S

200
U P PE R
TRIASSIC
LO W E R

PERMIA N 250
L ate H ercyn ian
P ENN S YL- Ph o ss
300
CARBONI- VA N IA N
FEROUS M ISS IS SIP -
P IA N
Ea rly H ercy nian
350
Ph a se
DEVONIAN
400
SILURIAN

450

ORDOVICIAN

500

CAMBRIAN 5 50

600

PRE - CAMBRIAN 2 00 0

0 300 km
100 2 00
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL LE RA CORDIL LERA REGION
QUATERNARY
P L IO C E N E

M IO C E N E
0

Q u ech u a
Ph a ses Deposit
TERTIARY O L IG O C EN E

In caic P h as es
Types
EOCE NE
50
PA L E O C E N E

Cu Skarn
Pe ru vian P hose
U P PE R

CRETA CEDUS
1 00
Cu-Zn Skarn
M o ch ic a Ph o se

Polymet Replac.
LO W E R

M ALM 1 50

JURASSIC DO GGER Polymet Veins

LIA S

200
U P PE R
TRIASSIC
LO W E R

PERMIA N 250
L ate H ercyn ian
P ENN S YL- Ph o ss
300
CARBONI- VA N IA N
FEROUS M ISS IS SIP -
P IA N
Ea rly H ercy nian
350
Ph a se
DEVONIAN
400
SILURIAN

450

ORDOVICIAN

500

CAMBRIAN 5 50

600

PRE - CAMBRIAN 2 00 0

0 300 km
100 2 00
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL LE RA CORDIL LERA REGION
 Central Peru MVT Zn-Belt
Magistral
Antamina 500Mt @ 1.2% Cu, 1% Zn

Cerro de Pasco +120Mt @ 7.2% Zn, 2.3%

Pb

Colquijirca ~25 Mt @ 7% Zn
San Gregorio +70Mt @ 7.4% Zn, 2.2% Pb

Morococha +30 Mt @ +7% Zn

+ Toromocho porphyry with
364 Mt @ 0.67% Cu

Iscaycruz +5Mt @ +18% Zn

QUATERNARY
P L IO C E N E

M IO C E N E
0

Q u ech u a
Ph a ses Deposit
TERTIARY O L IG O C EN E

In caic P h as es
Types
EOCE NE
50
PA L E O C E N E

Pe ru vian P hose
Epithermal
U P PE R

CRETA CEDUS
1 00
M o ch ic a Ph o se
LO W E R

M ALM 1 50

JURASSIC DO GGER

LIA S

200
U P PE R
TRIASSIC
LO W E R

PERMIA N 250
L ate H ercyn ian
P ENN S YL- Ph o ss
300
CARBONI- VA N IA N
FEROUS M ISS IS SIP -
P IA N
Ea rly H ercy nian
350
Ph a se
DEVONIAN
400
SILURIAN

450

ORDOVICIAN

500

CAMBRIAN 5 50

600

PRE - CAMBRIAN 2 00 0

0 300 km
100 2 00
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL LE RA CORDIL LERA REGION
 Yanacocha, Pierina & Southern Peru
Epithermal Gold-Silver Belts
Tantahuatay 350 Mt 0.85% Cu, 0.33 g/t Au, 9 g/t Ag, 0.18% As
+ 25 Mt @ 1.0 g/t Au (oxides)
La Zanja 24 Mt @ 0.8 g/t Au
Sipán 16Mt @ 2.0 g/t Au
Yanacocha 650 Mt @ 1.0 g/t Au
Quiruvilca +6 Mt @ 7 oz/t Ag, 5% Zn, 0.9% Cu
Pierina 90 Mt @ 2,1 g/t Au
Quicay 6 Mt @ 1,1 g/t Au
Antapite
Santa Rosa
Ares +1 Mt @ 20 g/t Au
Orcopampa
+2 Mt @ 18 g/t Au
QUATERNARY
P L IO C E N E

M IO C E N E
0

Q u ech u a
Ph a ses Deposit
TERTIARY O L IG O C EN E

In caic P h as es
Types
EOCE NE
50
PA L E O C E N E

Pe ru vian P hose
Mesothermal Au
U P PE R

CRETA CEDUS
1 00
M o ch ic a Ph o se
LO W E R

M ALM 1 50

JURASSIC DO GGER

LIA S

200
U P PE R
TRIASSIC
LO W E R

PERMIA N 250
L ate H ercyn ian
P ENN S YL- Ph o ss
300
CARBONI- VA N IA N
FEROUS M ISS IS SIP -
P IA N
Ea rly H ercy nian
350
Ph a se
DEVONIAN
400
SILURIAN

450

ORDOVICIAN

500

CAMBRIAN 5 50

600

PRE - CAMBRIAN 2 00 0

0 300 km
100 2 00
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL LE RA CORDIL LERA REGION
Pataz Batholith & Coastal Batholith
Mesothermal Gold Belts
Quartz-gold
vein-systems,
Poderosa typical grades
Horizonte between 14 g/t and
20 g/t Au
Retamas

Arirahua

San Juan de Chorunga

Ishihuinca
Gold and Polymetallic Mineralization
in Southeastern Peru

San Rafael +15 Mt @ 5.3% Sn, 0.2% Cu

Ana María
very high grade, narrow veins
QUATERNARY
P L IO C E N E

M IO C E N E
0

Q u ech u a
Ph a ses Deposit
TERTIARY O L IG O C EN E

In caic P h as es
Types
EOCE NE
50
PA L E O C E N E
Cu Porphyry
Cu-Au Porphyry
Pe ru vian P hose
U P PE R

CRETA CEDUS
1 00

LO W E R
M o ch ic a Ph o se
IOCG
M ALM 1 50 MVT
JURASSIC DO GGER

LIA S Cu VMS
200
U P PE R
TRIASSIC
LO W E R
Cu-Zn VMS
PERMIA N 250

CARBONI-
P ENN S YL-
VA N IA N 300
L ate H ercyn ian
Ph o ss Cu Skarn
FEROUS M ISS IS SIP -

DEVONIAN
P IA N
350
Ea rly H ercy nian
Ph a se Cu-Zn Skarn
Polymet Replac.
400
SILURIAN

450

ORDOVICIAN
Polymet Veins
500

CAMBRIAN 5 50
Epithermal

600 Mesothermal Au
PRE - CAMBRIAN 2 00 0

0 300 km
100 2 00
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL LE RA CORDIL LERA REGION
QUATERNARY 0

Main
P L IO C E N E
Ph a ses
M IO C E N E Q u ech u a

Commodities
O L IG O C EN E
TERTIARY
In caic P h as es
EOCE NE
50
PA L E O C E N E

U P PE R
Pe ru vian P hose Iron.
CRETA CEDUS
1 00
M o ch ic a Ph o se Copper
LO W E R

M ALM
Copper-Gold
1 50

JURASSIC DO GGER

LIA S
Copper-Zinc
Zinc
200
U P PE R
TRIASSIC
LO W E R

PERMIA N
Polymetallic
250
L ate H ercyn ian
P ENN S YL- Ph o ss
300
CARBONI- VA N IA N
FEROUS M ISS IS SIP -
P IA N
350
Ea rly H ercy nian
Ph a se
Gold-Silver
DEVONIAN
400 Tin + Other
SILURIAN

450 Tungsten + Other

ORDOVICIAN

500

CAMBRIAN 5 50

600

PRE - CAMBRIAN 2 00 0

0 300 km
100 2 00
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL LE RA CORDIL LERA REGION
QUATERNARY 0

Mineralization
P L IO C E N E
Ph a ses
M IO C E N E Q u ech u a

Age
O L IG O C EN E
TERTIARY
In caic P h as es
EOCE NE
50
PA L E O C E N E

U.Tertiary
Pe ru vian P hose
U P PE R

CRETA CEDUS

Eocene-Olig.
1 00
M o ch ic a Ph o se
LO W E R

M ALM 1 50 Paleocene
JURASSIC
Cretaceous
DO GGER

LIA S

200

Jurassic
U P PE R
TRIASSIC
LO W E R

PERMIA N 250

CARBONI-
P ENN S YL-
VA N IA N 300
L ate H ercyn ian
Ph o ss Paleozoic
FEROUS M ISS IS SIP -
P IA N
Ea rly H ercy nian
350
Ph a se
DEVONIAN
400
SILURIAN

450

ORDOVICIAN

500

CAMBRIAN 5 50

600

PRE - CAMBRIAN 2 00 0

0 300 km
100 2 00
WESTERN EA STERN SUB ANDEA N
COSTA A LTIPL ANO
CORDIL LE RA CORDIL LERA REGION
 Northern Peru
MINERALIZED BELTS Cu-Au Porphyry Belt

Lancones Basin
VMS Cu-Zn-Au Northern Peru
MVT Zn Belt

Yanacocha Epithermal
Gold Belt Pataz Batholith
Mesothermal Gold Belt

Pierina Epithermal Central Peru MVT

Gold Belt Zn-Belt

Central Peru Eocene-Oligocene

Polymetallic Skarn & Apurimac
Replacement Belt Cu-Porphyry-Skarn Belt

Iron Oxides
Cu-Au Coastal Ananea
Belt Mesothermal
Gold Belt

Coastal Batholith
Mesothermal Paleocene Southern
Peru Southern Peru
Gold Belt Epithermal Au-Ag Belt
Cu-Porphyry Belt
World-class ore deposits in Peru
• High-Sulphidation Epithermal Gold
– Yanacocha: + 40 million oz of gold
– Pierina: +7 million oz of gold

• Cu-Zn Skarn Deposits

– Antamina: 500Mt @ 1.3% Cu, 1% Zn

• Polymetallic Replacement Deposits

– Cerro de Pasco: +120Mt @ 7.2% Zn, 2.3% Pb
– San Gregorio: +70Mt @ 7.4% Zn, 2.2% Pb
World-class ore deposits in Peru
• Copper Porphyries
– Cuajone: 1,200Mt@ 0.64% Cu
– Toquepala: 770Mt @ 0.74% Cu

• Massive Sulphide Deposits

– Tambogrande
TG1: 64Mt @ 1.7% Cu, 1.4% Zn, 0.7g/t Au
TG3:110Mt @ 0.7% Cu, 1.4% Zn, 0.7g/t Au

• Iron Ore Deposits

– Marcona: 1,800Mt @ 53.3% Fe
 Peru:
Current Production & Resources
(as a Percentage of Global Figures)

Commodity Production Known resources

Gold 5.7% 0.8%
Copper 4.1% 6.1%
Zinc 11.2% 2.8%
Silver 11.2% 8.8%
Tin 16.0% 3.3%

Calculated from USGS figures for year 2000

PERU: A MINING COUNTRY