1453
TIMA Mineralogy and Whole Rock Geochemistry for Resource
Characterization of the Copper World Complex (Arizona)
N.C. Campos Alvarez, C. Marion, M. Taylor, O. Tavchandjian, T. Grammatikopoulos
1Hudbay Minerals Inc.
T.Grammatikopoulos
SGS Canada Inc.
ABSTRACT: Hudbay Minerals Inc. is evaluating the Copper World deposits in Arizona, USA. Geological,
geochemical, mineralogical and metallurgical data are collected and evaluated to better understand the copper
deposits. Geological data indicate that the deposits consist of a suite of skarn related Cu-Mo-Ag-Au mineralized
systems hosted in sedimentary rocks and granites. Mineralogical data are used to determine the skarn
lithogeochemical types and speciate the Cu minerals. Cu minerals include both Cu sulphides, and secondary
minerals such as chrysocolla, malachite, and low copper bearing silicates and Fe-oxyhydroxides. Metallurgical
test work is guided by geological and mineralogical data to define the processes to recover Cu given the wide
mineral speciation. The data are compiled to build relationships linking the geological and geochemical units to
mineralogical data and the metallurgical response of the ore.
INTRODUCTION
Copper is a critical metal that is needed for various technol-
ogies and is the core of the energy transition and renewable
energy (e.g., solar panels, wind turbines, electronic compo-
nents). Thus, it is expected that the demand of copper will
grow as renewable energy technologies continue to advance
(FasterCapital, 2023).
Ore grades of existing operations are expected to
decline in the next decade. Cleaner and simple deposits are
depleted, thus new resources must be developed. However,
ores can be very complex. The understanding of the metal-
lurgical response of the copper ores has a great impact in
flowsheet development, economics of the project and envi-
ronmental impact.
Therefore, a geometallurgical model which can link
the rock types and their properties, mineral speciation,
geochemical characteristics, hardness, and ore grades are
needed to understand the metallurgical response of the
copper ores across the deposit. Proper collection, evalua-
tion and understanding of data is critical in such models
(Bhuiyan et al., 2019). The Copper World deposits appear
to be heterogenous in nature and exhibit an inherent vari-
ability which renders a geometallurgical model necessary.
Geological Setting and Mineralization
The Copper World deposits is located about 40 km SE of
Tucson (Figure 1) and consist of a suite of skarn related
copper-molybdenum-silver-gold mineralized systems,
including the Peach-Elgin, West, Broadtop Butte and
East deposits (Figure 2), which occur within the historic
Helvetia-Rosemont Mining District part of the Laramide
porphyry belt of Arizona. These deposits contain over 1205
million tons of measured and indicated resources at 0.42%
TIMA Mineralogy and Whole Rock Geochemistry for Resource
Characterization of the Copper World Complex (Arizona)
N.C. Campos Alvarez, C. Marion, M. Taylor, O. Tavchandjian, T. Grammatikopoulos
1Hudbay Minerals Inc.
T.Grammatikopoulos
SGS Canada Inc.
ABSTRACT: Hudbay Minerals Inc. is evaluating the Copper World deposits in Arizona, USA. Geological,
geochemical, mineralogical and metallurgical data are collected and evaluated to better understand the copper
deposits. Geological data indicate that the deposits consist of a suite of skarn related Cu-Mo-Ag-Au mineralized
systems hosted in sedimentary rocks and granites. Mineralogical data are used to determine the skarn
lithogeochemical types and speciate the Cu minerals. Cu minerals include both Cu sulphides, and secondary
minerals such as chrysocolla, malachite, and low copper bearing silicates and Fe-oxyhydroxides. Metallurgical
test work is guided by geological and mineralogical data to define the processes to recover Cu given the wide
mineral speciation. The data are compiled to build relationships linking the geological and geochemical units to
mineralogical data and the metallurgical response of the ore.
INTRODUCTION
Copper is a critical metal that is needed for various technol-
ogies and is the core of the energy transition and renewable
energy (e.g., solar panels, wind turbines, electronic compo-
nents). Thus, it is expected that the demand of copper will
grow as renewable energy technologies continue to advance
(FasterCapital, 2023).
Ore grades of existing operations are expected to
decline in the next decade. Cleaner and simple deposits are
depleted, thus new resources must be developed. However,
ores can be very complex. The understanding of the metal-
lurgical response of the copper ores has a great impact in
flowsheet development, economics of the project and envi-
ronmental impact.
Therefore, a geometallurgical model which can link
the rock types and their properties, mineral speciation,
geochemical characteristics, hardness, and ore grades are
needed to understand the metallurgical response of the
copper ores across the deposit. Proper collection, evalua-
tion and understanding of data is critical in such models
(Bhuiyan et al., 2019). The Copper World deposits appear
to be heterogenous in nature and exhibit an inherent vari-
ability which renders a geometallurgical model necessary.
Geological Setting and Mineralization
The Copper World deposits is located about 40 km SE of
Tucson (Figure 1) and consist of a suite of skarn related
copper-molybdenum-silver-gold mineralized systems,
including the Peach-Elgin, West, Broadtop Butte and
East deposits (Figure 2), which occur within the historic
Helvetia-Rosemont Mining District part of the Laramide
porphyry belt of Arizona. These deposits contain over 1205
million tons of measured and indicated resources at 0.42%