Exploration works at the Huanzala Mine in the district of Huallanca, Province of. Huanuco, Peru was commenced in May, 1964 by Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. Then, detailed geological mappings, surface and underground diamond drillings and tunnel drivings have been carried out. The mine has come into operation since April, 1968.
Ore deposits are composed chiefly of sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite and pyrite, and accompanied by accessory minerals such as bornite, covellite, tennantite, etc., and gangue minerals such as calcite, quartz, fluorite, chlorite, micas, etc.
As a result of the above-mentioned exploration works, the following geological features have been clarified;
1) The country rock is an alternation of limestone and shale, that is, the so-called Huanzala Ore Formation of Mesozoic age. It must be noted that the most favorable bed for mineral deposition is a finely banded alternation of limestone and shale. Also a characteristic feature is the strati-bound development of ore bodies in the shape of lens, vein or irregular mass. Such mineralization is continuously found for kilometers in the Huanzala Ore Formation whose thickness is about 180 meters.
2) Several dykes of quartz porphyry intrude along the bedding planes of the Huanzala Ore Formation. Though they are weakly mineralized, it is not clear whether the igneous activity is directly related with the mineralization.
3) Highly pyritized zones are formed in parallel with the Pb-Zn-Cu ore zones. The zonal distribution of ore minerals can be often locally observed arround the highly pyritized zone. However, regional feature of the zonal distribution can not be recognized for the time being.
As there are still many geological problems to be solved, the afore-mentioned features may suggest an important key to promote more exploration works.
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