La Esperanza: a new mineralization with Ni–Co in Sonora, Mexico

  • Efrén Pérez-Segura Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Sonora, Rosales y Blvd. Luis Encinas, 83000 Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
  • Rafael Gallardo-Romero Minera Cascabel, S.A. de C.V. – Golden Bear Resources, S.A. de C.V. Avenida 13 No. 100, Col. Bugambilias, Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
  • Victor A. Valencia-Gómez Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 85721 Tucson, Arizona, USA.
  • Mark Padberg Golden Bear Resorces, S.A. de C.V., Avenida del Paraíso No. 20, Col. Rincón de Palma, 83317 Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
Keywords: La Esperanza, Ni–Co, mineralization, siegenite, skarn, Sonora.

Abstract

A mineralized locality with Ni–Co values that could be economic is reported for the first time in Sonora. The La Esperanza ore deposit, located at 12 km NW from Bacanora, is a skarn type deposit developed at the contact between a laramidic granitoid and Paleozoic limestones. The elements Ni and Co are present as siegenite with the composition (Ni2.05 Fe0.19Co0.75)2.99S3.97. Copper, zinc and iron sulphides are also present. The economic preliminary potential at La Esperanza is about some millions of tons with 1 gr Au/ton, 1–2 % Cu, 1–2 % Zn, 0.1–0.2 % Ni y 0.1–0.2 % Co. The Co–Ni anomalies recently found in stream sediments of the region indicate new potential targets for the regional exploration.

 

Published
2018-05-14
Section
Regular Papers