Volcan Compañía Minera S.A.A. and its subsidiary companies engaged in the mining sector operate the mining unit of Yauli, which includes the Carahuacra underground mine.
In May 2024, Glencore disposed of its 23.3% interest in Volcan Companja Minera S.A.A. to Transition Metals AG, a subsidiary of Integra Capital.
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Summary:
The Yauli unit region shows mineralization related to polymetallic epithermal systems, replacement bodies and polymetallic vein systems, as well as porphyry mineralization and skarns, thus indicating the great potential of the area.
The Carahuacra deposit lies on the southwest flank of the Yauli anticline, formed by Tertiary folding. Manto ore, formed before the climax of the Andean orogeny, consists mainly of ferroan sphalerite and pyrite, with negligible chalcopyrite. These were later brecciated tectonically to form two zones of 'breccia ore'. The last phase of mineralization involved formation of epithermal cross veins with sphalerite, pyrite, galena, tetrahedrite, and jamesonite, and irregular cementation of fragments in the breccia ore by sphalerite-galena and pyrite-marcasite. Supergene alteration, particularly pronounced in the breccia zone, has formed ore much enriched in silver (native silver, argentite, pyrargyrite).
Drilling campaigns
The 2023 and 2024 drilling campaigns aimed to enhance the geological certainty of mineral resources. Additionally, exploratory drilling sought to identify new economic resources and assess areas with promising geological and economic potential, thereby extending the longevity of the assets in the medium to long term.
In Carahuacra, mineral resources with high grades of zinc, lead, silver, and copper are consolidated in the mantles of the Principal and Paula systems, as well as in the eastern extension and deepening of the Lourdes vein. Additionally, the continuity of economic mineralization in the Jovencita mantle over Level 720, with high grades of zinc and silver, is confirmed.
In 2024, the deepening and eastern extension of the Lourdes vein, as well as the Lourdes gap, also showed an increase in economic mineralization below level 1020, with high grades of zinc and silver. Additionally, new resources were identified in the Mary Piso, Diana, and Teresa veins, confirming the continuity of economic mineralization in these structures.