1
24-048
Geoistical Evaluation of Polymetallic Veins
M. Portal
Independent Mining Engineer, Cajamarca
L. Goicochea
Independent Mining Engineer, Cajamarca
ABSTRACT
This study is carried out in the Zenit mining concession,
which is located in the city of San Pablo in the depart-
ment of Cajamarca in Peru. The Project has 33 mineralized
structures and according to laboratory analyzes we have the
presence of gold and silver. The geostatistical evaluation pro-
vides an analysis on the distribution of precious metals in
the vein. This information is used to improve the efficiency
of metal extraction and to reduce costs. The general objec-
tive is to evaluate the polymetallic veins (Au and Ag), for
which the classification of resources (measured, indicated,
and inferred) has been carried out, taking into account the
parameters of minimum distance from the composite, cor-
responding volume and tonnage calculation.
In addition, an inventory of estimated geological
resources was carried out with the block grades obtained to
generate the tonnage-grade curves.
INTRODUCTION
Investing in a greenfield project carries significant risks, so
it is crucial to have a deeper understanding of the uncer-
tainty associated with resources in mining concessions. In
the mining industry, mineral resource modeling focuses
especially on grade estimation. In this context, the vario-
gram becomes relevant, an essential tool used to analyze the
spatial variability of the data. It provides valuable informa-
tion on the distribution of grade values or mineral con-
centrations as a function of distance and direction, thus
contributing to more informed decision-making (Zaki, et
al. 2022). For the planning and operation stage, the ton-
nage- grade curve influences the extraction sequence, mine
design, and provides information on the profitability of the
mining operation and long-term economic viability, this
through visualization of the distribution of mineral ton-
nage and its average grade. The identification of the inflec-
tion point in this curve is known as the cut-off grade, which
marks the threshold from which the mineral is considered
economically exploitable. (De La Torre Palacios, 2019)
In the Zenit mining concession, located in the city of
San Pablo in the department of Cajamarca, an exhaustive
geostatistical evaluation of 33 mineralized structures was
carried out. This analysis focused on detailed data review
to define domains and perform parameter estimation, such
as grade interpolation, cubing, and statistical analysis. The
comprehensive process included a thorough variogram
analysis. The strategic decisions were based on the informa-
tion derived from the tonnage- grade curve for the polyme-
tallic veins.
METHODS
The objective of this chapter is to describe the geostatisti-
cal methods and procedures that were used to collect, ana-
lyze and interpret data from the mineralized structures (33
polymetallic veins of Au and Ag).
Structures
A total of 30 of the 33 structures previously proposed for
delimitation were modeled three structures were not con-
sidered in the analysis due to the small amount of data
obtained. The elaboration of the solids was carried out
using an economic approach, considering the width of the
structure. In this way, the drilling section that crossed the
24-048
Geoistical Evaluation of Polymetallic Veins
M. Portal
Independent Mining Engineer, Cajamarca
L. Goicochea
Independent Mining Engineer, Cajamarca
ABSTRACT
This study is carried out in the Zenit mining concession,
which is located in the city of San Pablo in the depart-
ment of Cajamarca in Peru. The Project has 33 mineralized
structures and according to laboratory analyzes we have the
presence of gold and silver. The geostatistical evaluation pro-
vides an analysis on the distribution of precious metals in
the vein. This information is used to improve the efficiency
of metal extraction and to reduce costs. The general objec-
tive is to evaluate the polymetallic veins (Au and Ag), for
which the classification of resources (measured, indicated,
and inferred) has been carried out, taking into account the
parameters of minimum distance from the composite, cor-
responding volume and tonnage calculation.
In addition, an inventory of estimated geological
resources was carried out with the block grades obtained to
generate the tonnage-grade curves.
INTRODUCTION
Investing in a greenfield project carries significant risks, so
it is crucial to have a deeper understanding of the uncer-
tainty associated with resources in mining concessions. In
the mining industry, mineral resource modeling focuses
especially on grade estimation. In this context, the vario-
gram becomes relevant, an essential tool used to analyze the
spatial variability of the data. It provides valuable informa-
tion on the distribution of grade values or mineral con-
centrations as a function of distance and direction, thus
contributing to more informed decision-making (Zaki, et
al. 2022). For the planning and operation stage, the ton-
nage- grade curve influences the extraction sequence, mine
design, and provides information on the profitability of the
mining operation and long-term economic viability, this
through visualization of the distribution of mineral ton-
nage and its average grade. The identification of the inflec-
tion point in this curve is known as the cut-off grade, which
marks the threshold from which the mineral is considered
economically exploitable. (De La Torre Palacios, 2019)
In the Zenit mining concession, located in the city of
San Pablo in the department of Cajamarca, an exhaustive
geostatistical evaluation of 33 mineralized structures was
carried out. This analysis focused on detailed data review
to define domains and perform parameter estimation, such
as grade interpolation, cubing, and statistical analysis. The
comprehensive process included a thorough variogram
analysis. The strategic decisions were based on the informa-
tion derived from the tonnage- grade curve for the polyme-
tallic veins.
METHODS
The objective of this chapter is to describe the geostatisti-
cal methods and procedures that were used to collect, ana-
lyze and interpret data from the mineralized structures (33
polymetallic veins of Au and Ag).
Structures
A total of 30 of the 33 structures previously proposed for
delimitation were modeled three structures were not con-
sidered in the analysis due to the small amount of data
obtained. The elaboration of the solids was carried out
using an economic approach, considering the width of the
structure. In this way, the drilling section that crossed the