Geoquímica de minerales pesados en depósitos cuaternarios, asociados al pórfido de cobre - molibdeno Haquira, Apurímac, Perú

Abstract

The growing global demand for copper has intensified porphyry exploration, although traditional methods face limitations in areas with extensive cover or small-scale mineralization. The Haquira mining project is located in Metallogenetic Belt XV, hosting Cu–Mo (Au, Zn) porphyry–skarn systems and Cu–Au–Fe deposits of Eocene–Oligocene age, associated with the Andahuaylas–Yauri Batholith. The area is structurally controlled by folds and faults formed during the Incaic orogeny. This study proposes the application of the Heavy Mineral Concentration (HMC) method as a complementary tool in copper porphyry exploration. Successfully used in countries such as Pakistan, Canada, and the United States, HMC enables the detection of mineralization signals in complex terrains, including deposits covered by sediments or glacial material. The research focuses on the Haquira project (Apurímac, Peru), assessing HMC in main streams associated with hydrothermal alteration, and identifying heavy minerals through visual and analytical techniques. The objective is to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of HMC compared to other methods, optimize its implementation, and generate new exploration targets, delivering benefits for First Quantum Minerals Ltd. and other mining projects. This thesis will include Mineral Spectroscopy, X-ray Fluorescence analysis, Geochemistry, and Heavy Mineral Concentration studies, detailed in Chapters III and IV.