Yacimiento de epsomitas Nicanor Sebastían exploración y desarrollo - Ocucaje - Ica

Abstract

Mining concessions Nicanor Sebastian IV & V, are non Mineral Deposits of Epsomite located in Ocucaje, Ica, an arid and desert place which weather was beneficial and profitable for the epsomite preservation and exploitation otherwise, an humid and windy weather would erode or cover the deposit and make it non-economic. The recognition of the epsomite was not a big deal; since epsomite and diatomite have a structural relation, being the diatomite easily to recognize in field. Which characteristics and the accessibility will be economically analyzed for exploration and exploitation. The deposit is evaporitic whose origin is related to deep and shallow marine environment with continental transitions, which formation takes million years, having the diatomite as the predominant rock and container of the epsomite. In order to locate and get a reasonable comprehension of the deposit, Sampling is a good method, which was applied a prior by artisanal and informal miners but in incorrectly way that led them to get bad results. For this reason, we decided to apply a systematic sampling on each economic area at first sight. In case we found a profitable zone, we proceed to carry out a systematic sampling in more detail to quantify the resources. Epsomite has a structural control related to fractures. Therefore, a geomechanical study must be applied in order to know the fracture distribution since epsomite is deposited within them. Besides, this study allows us to make a decision whether or not the width of the fractures contains economical amount of epsomite. After systematic sampling, some of them were sent to laboratory for chemical analysis. These results and the field data such as thickness, topography, lithology, etc were integrated to build maps, and to estimate the reserves using Minesight software for every area. Then, we choose the more profitable area to decide the exploitation method to be applied; the location of trenches, pits and tailings to be constructed; the charge and transportation route to be traced as well as the amount of workers to be required. A mining closure plan must be developed once useful life has been reached, this plan ought to fulfill with legal, technical and environmental requirements before authority, whose objective is to guarantee that our labors does not leave a big environmental impact. To conclude, the present thesis aims to understand the nature of this kind of evaporitic deposits as well as to give a new scope in the identification of new targets all over the country.