The Raura-Huanzala Group.(mining districts in Peru)

THE RAURA DISTRICT

Cajatambo Province Lima Department

LOCATION

The Raura district is a polymetallic deposit of veins and replacement orebodies located northeast of Lima and northwest of Cerro de Pasco. It is about 15 km due north of the town of Oyon, along the Maranon River. Raura is situated in a spectacular setting: it is at the source of the Amazon River and is surrounded by rugged peaks, with glaciers perched above the mines.

HISTORY

Raura is one of the more important copper-lead-zinc-silver mining districts in Peru. It was certainly worked in the last century and probably in the 17th and 18th centuries as well. Old workings are situated at over 5,000 meters, and are accessed by dizzying llama paths along the cliff faces. One wonders how the Spaniards discovered these rugged, remote ore deposits. The modern development of the mines began on a small scale in 1890. The high-grade ore was transported on llamas to a smelter at Quinchas, some 20 km away. Production was intermittent until the mines were acquired in 1945 by the Cerro de Pasco Corporation. The current company, Compania Minera Raura S.A., was founded about 1960, when all of the Raura mines were consolidated under one company. As of 1991, about 25% of the annual production was coming from two open pit mines operating in the Nino Perdido and Tajo Grande orebodies.

GEOLOGY