Morococha-Casapalca Group.(mining district in Peru)

MOROCOCHA DISTRICT

Yauli Province Junin Department

LOCATION

The Morococha district is at about 4400 meters elevation and is located roughly 17 km east-northeast of Casapalca and about 25 km west-southwest of La Oroya.

The Morococha district is a spectacular region of high glacier-clad peaks and lakes close to the crest of the western Andean range. It lies in a nearly east-west trending valley with its outlet to the east. Three lakes occupy the valley, at elevations ranging from 4,350 to 4,600 meters. The Quechua name Morococha means "painted lake," because of the brilliant coloring of the altered rocks surrounding the area (McLaughlin, 1945).

HISTORY

Deposits around Morococha were worked for a time by the Portuguese prior to 1634. Mining was again active in 1760, since in that year applications were submitted to the viceroy for the right to construct metallurgical plants. In 1915 the Cerro de Pasco Corporation bought most of the mining concessions from C. R. Pflucker, who had been the owner for a number of years. As of 1970 the district had seven major mines, three of which were active, and had some 560 km of tunnels, of which about 80 km were being used (Purser, 1971). In 1984 the new Huacracocha mine was placed in operation. In 1989 the Morococha complex suffered a devastating attack by "Shining Path" guerrillas, who destroyed the compressed air plant and other surface installations. In 1990 the mines were again operating, at 63% of capacity (Cavanagh, 1993?).