Enriquecimiento teórico de los metales asociado en sulfuros de los distritos mineros Camilo Ponce Enríquez, Zaruma y Chinapintza

Abstract

Abstract: This research evaluated the theoretical enrichment of associated elements in sulfides from samples collected from Camilo Ponce Enríquez, Zaruma, and Chinapintza. Six polished sections were analyzed by reflected-light microscopy to identify mineral phases, associations, and microtextures, and their modal contents were visually estimated. Subsequently, selected grains of pyrite, sphalerite, galena, and arsenopyrite were characterized by SEM-EDS to determine their semiquantitative elemental composition and evaluate the occurrence of Ag, Cd, Bi, Ga, and Ge. The results revealed distinct mineralogical associations among the three localities and total sulfide contents of 70.0%, 65.0%, and 72.5%, respectively. Among the target elements, only Cd was detected in sphalerite from Zaruma, with a concentration of 0.9 wt.%. Integration of modal content and SEM-EDS composition indicated that this phase accounted for 100% of the Cd detected among the characterized minerals. Because of the point-based and semiquantitative nature of the analyses, the results are interpreted as an exploratory estimate rather than an effective metallurgical recovery.