EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
The mining complex “Santa Barbara” (hereinafter SB) is the sum of five (5) mining rights,
all valid, in an area of about 6,000 hectares, located in the Department of Santa Barbara,
Province of Jujuy, Argentina. Only one of them has been studied: Martin Bronce
(hereinafter MB), and only in the area of superficial manifestations of copper (Cu);
5,000,000 tons of high degree (3.0%), and 15,000,000 ounces of silver (Ag) were
estimated.
But, for the entire MB mine, an independent geologist estimated a potentiality of
40,000,000 tons of copper. The other mines of the SB complex have been much less
than MB, but the geologist estimated a global potentiality of about 200 million tons, at a
lesser degree the one stated above (as illustration, the larger copper mine in Argentina,
Bajo Alumbrera, has an average degree of 0.5%).
SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
The potentiality of SB is significant, but an advanced exploration program is needed to
confirm it. However, one area of MB can be exploited immediately, while the rest of MB
and the other four areas in SB can be explored simultaneously. Thus:
Phase 1 – immediate production of pure copper or sulphate in part of MB;
Phase 2 – the exploration of the rest of MB;
Phase 3 – the exploration of the rest of SB.
Any investor could participate only in phase 1, if wanted, and such scenario is welcome,
as well. However, participating in phases 2 and 3 could be more attractive, because of
larger copper reserves, and other metals that have been found, such as Ba, As, Mn, Ni,
P, Pb, Sr y Zn.
PHASE 1: EXPLOITATION OF PART OF MARTIN BRONCE
OBJECTIVE
To extract pure copper by electrolysis, or copper sulphate by lixiviation, or both, from the
ready-to-exploit 5,000,000 tons reserve in MB. The competitive advantage of phase 1 is
that costs are lower, because copper is practically at surface. Also, from the same
lixiviation process pure copper can be obtained by electrolysis. Besides, silver (Ag) can
be obtained as sub-product, by simple crushing and oxidation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
The project is to install an operation for the production of copper by electrolysis and/or
copper sulphate in MB. Copper is widely used in industry. Copper sulphate, alone or
mixed, is used to control fungus in grapes, melons and other berries; in horticulture, to
prevent damping off in seedlings; herbicide (non agriculture) to prevent invasive exotic
aquatic plants and the roots of other invasive plants near pipes that contain water; to
treat fish aquarium and swimming pools; to inhibit growth of bacteria, such as E-coli; as
agent in several chemical analysis; organic synthesis; chemical education; others: hair
dyes, coloring glass, processing of leather and textiles, pyrotechnics, organic Cattleship.
PROJECT ECONOMICS
Copper sulphate is sold at a 25% concentration of copper. The 5,000,000 tons reserve,
at 3.0% degree, would roughly produce 1,500,000 tons of copper or 6,000,000 tons of
copper sulphate, multiplied by US$ 1,000/ton (not considering any price increase in the
future), the project income would be large.
The initial investment to extract and daily process 600 tons of mineralized rock is
estimated at $3,325,000 in fixed assets, and US$ 210,000 in monthly working capital, all
at actual prices. The investment would be recovered in eight (8) months.
Without touching more reserves to be identified from the exploration phase of additional
areas in MB (and SB), the said working capacity has inventory of mineralized rock for 23
years of production.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: Low extraction costs of the mineralized rock.
ALTERNATIVES
1) To produce 50% of copper sulphate and 50% of pure copper by electrolysis;
2) To produce 100% copper sulphate; and,
3) To produce 100% of pure copper by electrolysis.
DOCUMENTATION
All documentation is available, including mining rights, permits to exploit MB, geological
report, environmental report, and related.
CONTACT
Co-owner MINOA, S.A.
Attention Mr. Marco Colindres
President
Tels. (54911) 3698-9860 in Argentina
(812) 961-1354 in USA
Email: marcocolindres@yahoo.com