Mining Intelligence and News
Argentina

COSE (Cap-Oeste Sur Este) Mine

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusClosing / Closed
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Mechanized Cut & Fill
  • Shrinkage stoping
Backfill type ... Lock
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SnapshotCOSE mine is a part of Manantial Espejo Operation.

The Manantial Espejo, Joaquin and COSE mines in Argentina are in the reclamation phase and mining activity has ceased.

Mining and processing activities at Manantial Espejo largely concluded at the end of 2022 and the operation was placed on care and maintenance in January 2023.
Related AssetManantial Espejo Operation

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Pan American Silver Corp. 100 % Indirect

Deposit type

  • Epithermal
  • Vein / narrow vein
  • Breccia pipe / Stockwork
  • Replacement

Summary:

Exploration is focused principally on discovery and delineation of low sulfidation, Au-Ag epithermal mineralization of the type well documented throughout the Deseado Massif [e.g. White and Hedenquist (1990 &1994), Corbett, G.J. (2001) and Sillitoe, R.H. (1993)]. Mineralization typically comprises banded fissure veins and local vein/breccias characterized by high Au and Ag contents and ratios of Au:Ag generally greater than 1:10. Mineralized veins and breccias consist of quartz (coliform, banded, and chalcedonic morphologies), adularia, bladed carbonate (often replaced by quartz), and dark sulphidic material termed ginguro (fine grained electrum or Ag sulphosalts banded with quartz). Discrete vein deposits, such as at COSE, develop where mineralizing hydrothermal fluids are focused into dilatant structures, producing ore shoots which host the highest precious metal grades. Low sulfidation mineralization can also develop where mineralizing fluids flood permeable lithologies to generate large tonnage, low grade disseminated deposits (e.g. Round Mountain, Nevada; McDonald Meadows, Montana)

Mineralization at COSE is also assigned to the low sulfidation type, based on the presence of fine-grained replacement quartz and adularia, widespread illite alteration, bladed textures indicative of hydrothermal boiling, and a mineral assemblage dominated by marcasite, arsenopyrite and silver-bearing sulphosalts. The presence of anomalous copper and molybdenum associated with higher grade Au-Ag mineralization suggests a component of magmatic-derived fluid.

The COSE deposit occurs predominantly as hydrothermal breccia, in combination with replacement, veinlet and disseminated styles of mineralization, rather than as one or more discrete quartz veins. This is somewhat atypical for the Deseado Massif deposits, perhaps reflecting a lack of open space during hydrothermal fluid flow.

The deposit at COSE is a sub vertical, gold and silver bearing breccia that averages 0.5 m to 4 m in width and dips approximately 75° to the southwest. The interpreted ore shoot has a strike length of about 35 m, with a down dip extension of approximately 170 m. The preliminary estimate of undiluted resources is 34,000 tonnes.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

Combined production numbers are reported under Manantial Espejo Operation

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Aerial view:

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