TOMO 2 - Geología Económica
THE RIO GRANDE COPPER-GOLD PORPHYRY DEPOSIT, SALTA PROVINCE, ARGENTINA. Kevin B. Heather, Vice President Geology, Antares Minerals Inc., Casilla 730, La Serena Chile. [email protected] Javier Robeto, Geologist, Minera Antares Argentina S.A., Los Ciruelos 121-B° Tres Cerritos 4400-Salta, Argentina. [email protected] Christian Hub, Senior Geologist, Minera Antares Argentina S.A., Los Ciruelos 121-B° Tres Cerritos 4400-Salta, Argentina. [email protected] John E. Black, President and CEO, Antares Minerals Inc., 8723 Fairview Oaks Ln. Lone Tree, CO 80124. [email protected] Jorge Kesting, Vice President, Mansfield Minera S.A., Av. Belgrano 1499 (A4400AWM) Salta, Argentina. [email protected] Facundo Huidobro, Geologist, Mansfield Minera S.A., Av. Belgrano 1499 (A4400AWM) Salta, Argentina. [email protected] INTRODUCTION The Rio Grande copper-gold deposit is an emerging, potentially giant porphyry-style deposit located on the southern edge of Salar Arizaro, western Salta Province in northwest Argentina, ap- proximately 260 kilometres west of the city of Salta and 40 kilometres east of the Chilean border (Figure 1). The project is located only 12 km west of the Linderos Au-porphyry and Arizaro Cu porphyry prospects (Minera Mansfield S.A.).
The Rio Grande project is a grass-roots discovery made by Minera Mansfield S.A. (Mansfield) in 1999. In 2000-2001, Teck Corporation (“Teck”) optioned the property and completed 11 diamond drill holes totalling 3220.6 metres. Additional work on the property was recommended; however, Teck terminated its exploration efforts in Argentina in early 2002, and returned the property to Mansfield Minerals Inc. In 2004, Antares Minerals Inc. (“Antares”; ANM-TSX.V) entered into a joint venture whereby it can acquire a 60% interest in the Rio Grande project from Minera Mansfield S.A. by completing payments totalling US$600,000 and work commitments totalling US$4.5 million over a five and a half-year period; plus granting 900,000 shares.