printer-friendly version

Profile

The Agua Rica deposit, 100% owned by Northern Orion Resources Inc. (Northern Orion), is located approximately 34 km from Northern Orion’s Alumbrera mine in northwest Argentina, and 20 km from the town of Andalgala. Agua Rica's estimated rock value makes it one of the world's most significant undeveloped copper/gold/moly deposits known today. Agua Rica is expected to produce 70,000 tonnes-per-day, and 150,000 tonnes of annually, with associated gold and molybdenum by-products.

Overview

The Agua Rica deposit is located in northwest Argentina. The currently proposed mine plan extends over both sides of the mountain range. The open pit will be on the southerly (wet) side; plant operations, tailings and waste rock to the north on the dry plateau (called Campo del Arenal). The forecasted development costs are expected to be low compared to other deposits due to the close proximity of existing infrastructure of the Alumbrera mine, as well as the surface location of the Agua Rica ore body. The estimated mine life is 30 years.

Experience

Rescan’s environmental scientists, engineers, and social and economic scientists are directing environmental and socio-economic baseline monitoring for the Agua Rica Copper/Gold Project and producing the Environmental Impact Assessments. Rescan was retained by Northern Orion to organize the collection of all baseline environmental and socio-economic data that were still required to produce a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Project.

Rescan conducted a gap analysis of the available data for each physical, biological and socio-economic component of the Project environment. Rescan is conducting investigations into climate, air quality and noise, but will retain and supervise Argentine scientists for the soil science, vegetation, terrestrial wildlife, aquatic life, land use, archaeological, social and economic components of new baseline studies. Northern Orion, the owner of the project, and Hatch will continue to compile information on the geology and geomorphology of the project area. Water Management Consultants Inc. has been retained by Northern Orion to complete investigations on hydrology, hydrogeology, water quality, and modelling of water balances and water chemistry.

There are new, expanded boundaries of the EIA area, and the baseline environmental data that must be collected for each component from the Campo del Arenal in 2005/2006. The scientists and engineers from Rescan will, in conjunction with the Fundacion Miguel Lillo (and the University of Tucoman), conduct and report the baseline environmental surveys.