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Berenguela, Peru
Location and History
Berenguela is located 5 kilometers (3 miles) northeast of Santa Lucia on the altiplano of southern Peru. Access is good, with a major paved highway adjacent to the property. A main-line railway passes within five kilometers of the property.
Exploration in the 1960s comprised channel sampling of 17,700 meters of underground workings, bulk sampling, and diamond drilling of 6,628 meters in 108 holes. In the 1990s, Kappes, Cassiday & Associates developed processes to optimize metal recovery. From June 2004 to October 2005, Silver Standard completed 222 reverse circulation drill holes totaling 19,029 meters of drilling. The deposit is composed of flat-lying manganese-rich beds in folded dolomitic limestone. The deposit is located at surface and forms a body 500 meters wide, at least 1,500 meters long and averages 60 meters thick.
Geology and Metallurgy
The deposit is composed of flat-lying beds in a folded dolomitic limestone. It was formed as a replacement of limestone where hydrothermal solutions deposited hydrated iron and manganese oxides with silver, copper and minor zinc. The deposit is located at surface and forms a body 500 meters wide, at least 1500 meters long and averages 60 meters thick. Bulk sampling by Asarco Incorporated in the 1960's averaged 27% manganese dioxide, 201 grams of silver per tonne and 1.61% copper.
Kappes, Cassiday & Associates has developed a process of conventional crushing followed by leaching with sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide. Manganese, copper and silver are then recovered in separate procedures. Testwork on a bulk sample of ore recovered greater than 90% of all three components.
Project Scope and Plans
We will undertake an economic evaluation to optimize development of the project.
For details on the reserves and resources of the Berenguela Project,view the current Resource Summary (312 kb pdf).