UNESCO-SEG Latin American Metallogeny Course
(August, 22 – September, 2, 2005; Lima, Peru)
For the second time completely devoted to mine waste management

The XXIV edition of the Latin American Metallogeny Course was held at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Facultad de Ciencias e Ingeniería, Departamento de Ingeniería, Sección Ingeniería de Minas, from August 22 to September 2, 2005, in Lima, Peru. The course, traditionally sponsored by the Society of Economic Geologists and UNESCO, had this year also the generous support of the KFPE agency of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Society for Geology Applied to Ore Deposits (SGA), as well as additional logistic support from the Peruvian Geological Survey (INGEMMET) and the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mining. The 6 days field trip was partly sponsored by Southern Peru Copper Corporation (SPCC), Volcan S.A.A., and Centromin, Peru. Altogether, the financial support has allowed to fund 22 travel grants included among the 43 Latin American and 2 Spanish geologists, mining engineers, chemists, metallurgists, biotechnologists, and ecologists coming from universities (15), research institutes and Geologic Surveys (7), mining companies (10), consultants (5) and postgraduates students (8) from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, EL Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela who have attended the course.

The 2005 edition, was for the second time (after the 2002 edition) completely devoted to the geochemical and geomicrobiological aspects of mine waste management. During the six days of lectures, a broad overview about the environmental problems of mining activities with special focus on the formation, control and prevention of acid mine drainage was given. The aspects covered in the course included a general introduction to the metallogeny of Peru (Dr. Miguel Cardozo, Exploandes), “Risk, rewards and returns of copper exploration in the 20th Century and beyond” (SEG-Distinguished Lecturer, Dr. Richard Leiveille, Phelps Dodge), Peruvian Legislation in relation to the environmental impact of mining (Ing. Julio Bonelli, General Director of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Mining), a general introduction to the aquatic geochemistry, geochemistry of mine waste management, and remediation, prevention, and treatment strategies of mine waters, including sampling and analytical approaches (Dr. Bernhard Dold, University of Lausanne, Switzerland), geomicrobiology and bioremediation (Prof. Dr. Ricardo Amils), as well a introduction into geochemical modeling with practical experiences in the Computer Laboratory (Prof. Dr. Carlos Ayora).

In the 6 days long field trip, practical aspects aspect of environmental contamination by mine waste, remediation projects in central Peru from CENTROMIN, Peru, the polymetallic Zn-Pb-(Ag-Bi-Cu) Cerro de Pasco deposit (Volcan S.A.A.), and the Toquepala porphyry copper deposit and the remediation approach at the Bahía de Ite tailings deposit (Southern Peru Copper Corporation) were visited to show the complete mining process from the mineral extraction in the open pit, through crushing, milling, flotation, to the tailings disposal, and mine waste remediation in these world class deposits. The difference in the behavior of mine waste in high sulfide and low sulfide system and also the influence of the climate could be illustrated in the field. The theoretical aspects from the course could be visualized in the field and some sampling techniques could be illustrated.

The course was in opinion of participants and instructors a great success. Further information on this and past editions of the course can be obtained from the web page http://www.unige.ch/sciences/terre/mineral/seminars/latinometal.html

Contact

Bernhard Dold, CAM,
Earth Sciences Department,
Bâtiment Humense,
University of Lausanne,
Switzerland,
Bernhard.Dold@unil.ch

Fig. 1: Group photo in the Toquepala mine, Southern Peru Copper Corporation, Peru.

Fig. 2: Participants studying the water flow path along the cross-bedding of the Excelsior waste-rock dump, Cerro de Pasco, Peru.

Fig. 3: Participants discussing the remediation approach of at the Tablachaca tailings deposit, Central Peru.