Preliminary Economic Assessment Curipamba

SALAZAR RESOURCES LTD.
CURIPAMBA PROJECT - EL DOMO DEPOSIT

PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT
CENTRAL ECUADOR
NI 43-101 Report
Qualified Persons:
Gustavo Calvo, M.Sc. (A), P. Geo
Adam Johnston, FAusIMM, CP (Metallurgy)
MARCH 21, 2014

BUENAVENTURA INGENIEROS S.A.
www.bisa.com.pe
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
1. SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 1
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................ 1
Technical Summary......................................................................................................... 8
2. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 16
Sources of Information .................................................................................................. 16
Units and Currency ....................................................................................................... 19
3. RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS.................................................................................... 19
4. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION .................................................................. 21
Mineral Tenure .............................................................................................................. 22
5. ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, PHYSIOGRAPHY AND
INFRASTRUCTURE .......................................................................................................... 31
Accessibility .................................................................................................................. 31
Climate .......................................................................................................................... 33
Local Resources ........................................................................................................... 33
Infrastructure ................................................................................................................. 33
Physiography ................................................................................................................ 33
6. HISTORY........................................................................................................................... 35
7. GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION ............................................................ 39
Regional Geology.......................................................................................................... 40
Local Geology ............................................................................................................... 45
Property Geology .......................................................................................................... 46
Hydrothermal Alteration................................................................................................. 65
Cu-Au-Zn-Ag-Pb Mineralization ..................................................................................... 68
Ore Mineralogy.............................................................................................................. 73
8. DEPOSIT TYPES .............................................................................................................. 81
9. EXPLORATION ................................................................................................................. 96
Exploration Guides ...................................................................................................... 102
Other deposit types ..................................................................................................... 104
10. DRILLING....................................................................................................................... 106
11. SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSIS AND SECURITY ................................................ 117
12. DATA VERIFICATION .................................................................................................... 120
Database Verification .................................................................................................. 121
Salazar Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) ............................................ 123
Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

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Project Code: 1122MI0001A
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BISA Verification Sampling.......................................................................................... 132

13. MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING ........................................ 162
Metallurgical Samples ................................................................................................. 162
Representativity of the 2013 Block Model.................................................................... 163
Metallurgical Testing ................................................................................................... 166
Results ........................................................................................................................ 179
14. MINERAL RESOURCES ESTIMATE ............................................................................. 180
General Statement ...................................................................................................... 180
Compositing ................................................................................................................ 197
Treatment Of High GradeS.......................................................................................... 197
Variography ................................................................................................................. 203
Block Model ................................................................................................................ 204
Estimation Parameters ................................................................................................ 206
Block Model Validation ................................................................................................ 214
Asumptions Used In Resource Modelling .................................................................... 223
Mineral Resource Estimate and Classification ............................................................. 223
15. MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE ................................................................................... 232
16. MINING METHODS........................................................................................................ 233
Open Pit ...................................................................................................................... 233
Underground Mine ...................................................................................................... 251
17. RECOVERY METHODS ................................................................................................ 267
18. PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE ..................................................................................... 269
General Characterization of Alternatives ..................................................................... 269
Hydrological Evaluation ............................................................................................... 272
Locations of Tailings Dam Alternatives ........................................................................ 272
Alternative Locations for Waste Rock Dumps .............................................................. 274
Alternatives for Topsoil Deposits ................................................................................. 275
Alternatives for the Location of Facilities ..................................................................... 276
Alternative Locations for Tailings Dams....................................................................... 277
Electrical Power Supply ............................................................................................... 278
Water Supply............................................................................................................... 278
Road Access ............................................................................................................... 279
Assumptions ............................................................................................................... 281
19. MARKET STUDIES AND CONTRACTS......................................................................... 282
20. ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND SOCIAL OR COMMUNITY IMPACT ....
.................................................................................................................................... 283
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21. CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS ............................................................................. 284

Estimate of Operating and Capital Expenditures ......................................................... 284
Contingencies ............................................................................................................. 284
Open Pit Operation ..................................................................................................... 284
Underground Operation............................................................................................... 286
22. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ................................................................................................. 288
Revenue Assumptions ................................................................................................ 288
Depreciation ................................................................................................................ 291
Taxes and Other Expenses ......................................................................................... 292
Discount Rate.............................................................................................................. 292
Financing Scheme ...................................................................................................... 293
Parameters of Financial Analysis ................................................................................ 293
Profit and Losses Statement ....................................................................................... 293
Cash Flow and Financial Indicators ............................................................................. 294
Sensitivity Analysis ...................................................................................................... 297
23. ADJACENT PROPERTIES............................................................................................. 299
24. OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION .......................................................... 300
25. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................... 301
26. RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................. 304
27. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 307
28. DATE AND SIGNATURE PAGE ..................................................................................... 312
29. CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSON ...................................................................... 313
30. APPENDIX 1 .................................................................................................................. 315
Photographs ................................................................................................................ 315

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LIST OF TABLES
PAGE
Table 1.1 Proposed Program and Budget .............................................................................. 7
Table 1.2 Metallurgical Balance Sheet — Recoveries and Grades....................................... 10
Table 1.3 El Domo Mineral Resource Estimate - December 15, 2013 .................................. 11
Table 1.4 Infraestructure Alternatives ................................................................................... 13
Table 1.5 Initial Capital Cost and Sustaining Cost (CAPEX) with 25% Contingency ............. 14
Table 1.6 Operating Costs (OPEX) with 20% Contingency .................................................. 14
Table 2.1 Previous Studies .................................................................................................. 17
Table 4.1 Property Status, Salazar Resources Ltd — Curipamba Project ............................ 22
Table 4.2 Ecuador Mining Law 2013 – Summary ................................................................. 25
Table 4.3 Permit status, Salazar Resources Ltd — Curipamba Project ................................ 28
Table 7.1 Correlation of Lithostratigraphic Units in the Curipamba Project ........................... 45
Table 7.2 Correlation of Lithological Units — El Domo ......................................................... 49
Table 7.3 Summary of the Hydrothermal Alteration In The El Domo Deposit........................ 65
Table 7.4 Location of Petrographic Samples ........................................................................ 74
Table 7.5 Ore Assemblages in The El Domo Deposit ........................................................... 75
Table 8.1 Geological and Economic Data of the VMS Deposits of the Ecuadorian Andes .... 93
Table 9.1 Summary of Exploration Work, Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project ...... 97
Table 9.2 Curipamba Prospects, Others than the El Domo .................................................. 98
Table 9.3 Prospects other than VMS near the Curipamba Area ......................................... 105
Table 10.1 Drilling Summary, Salazar Resources Ltd — Curipamba Project ...................... 106
Table 10.2 Phase I Drill Holes, Salazar Resources Ltd — Curipamba Project.................... 108
Table 10.3 Phase II Drill Holes, Salazar Resources Ltd — Curipamba Project................... 109
Table 10.4 Phase III Drill Holes, Salazar Resources Ltd — Curipamba Project.................. 110
Table 10.5 Phase IV Drill Holes, Salazar Resources Ltd — Curipamba Project ................. 112
Table 10.6 Drill Holes Used on the Resource Estimate — BISA 2013 ................................ 114
Table 10.7 Mineralized Intercepts from the Main Ore Zone in El Domo — BISA 2013 ....... 114
Table 12.1 Sampling and Analytical Labs ........................................................................... 121
Table 12.2 Drill Holes with <75% Core Recovery in the Mineralized Zone ......................... 122
Table 12.3 Reference Materials Expected Values and Ranges .......................................... 124
Table 12.4 Reference Materials CU-152 and CU-16 .......................................................... 125
Table 12.5 Reference Materials PB-130 and PB-140 ......................................................... 126
Table 12.6 Blanks BL-115 and BK Summary ..................................................................... 129
Table 12.7 Cu and Zn Assays for Blanks BL115 and BK — Inspectorate ........................... 129

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Table 12.8 Verification Sampling 1 — BISA 2013 .............................................................. 132

Table 12.10 Verification Sampling 1 by Types — BISA 2013 ............................................. 133
Table 12.11 Preparation Methods — ALS Global ............................................................... 133
Table 12.12 Analytical Methods — ALS Global .................................................................. 133
Table 12.13 External Control Sampling — Acme Labs ....................................................... 134
Table 12.14 Analytical Methods — Acme Labs .................................................................. 134
Table 12.15 Analytical Results for Reference Material CU 152 — ALS Global ................... 135
Table 12.16 Analytical Results for Reference Material CU 152 — Acme Labs ................... 135
Table 12.17 Reference Material CU 152 — Results Summary ........................................... 135
Table 12.18 Analytical Results for Reference Material PB 140 — ALS Global ................... 136
Table 12.19 Analytical Results for Reference Material PB 140 — Acme Labs.................... 136
Table 12.20 Reference Material PB 140 — Results Summary ........................................... 137
Table 12.21 Twin Samples Summary ................................................................................. 138
Table 12.22 Duplicate Samples — BISA 2013 ................................................................... 139
Table 12.23 Coarse Reject Duplicate Results .................................................................... 140
Table 12.24 Pulp Duplicate Results ................................................................................... 142
Table 12.25 Summary of Failed Pulp Duplicate Samples ................................................... 144
Table 12.26 Blank Sample Results — ALS Global ............................................................. 144
Table 12.27 Blank Sample Results — Acme Global ........................................................... 144
Table 12.28 Summary of Verification Sampling 2 — BISA 2013......................................... 147
Table 12.29 Summary of Samples by Analytical Laboratory............................................... 147
Table 12.30 QA/QC Sample Verification Sampling 2.......................................................... 147
Table 12.31 Samples Discarded with Errors....................................................................... 148
Table 12.32 Analytical Results for Reference Material CU 145 .......................................... 149
Table 12.33 Analytical Results for Reference Material CU 163 .......................................... 149
Table 12.34 Reference Material Copper 163 Results Summary ......................................... 150
Table 12.35 Coarse Reject Duplicate Results of Verification Sampling 2 ........................... 151
Table 12.36 Summary of Failed Samples in Coarse Reject Duplicates .............................. 153
Table 12.37 Summary of Failed Samples - Pulp Duplicates ............................................... 155
Table 12.38 Summary of Failed Samples by Laboratory - Pulp Duplicates ........................ 155
Table 12.39 Summary of Failed Samples as a Function of the Thresholds Used for the
Deterministic Model..................................................................................................... 155
Table 12.41 Results for Internal Duplicates of Pulp Samples ............................................. 156
Table 12.42 Analytical Results for Blank BK....................................................................... 159
Table 13.1 Flotation Test Results – Inspectorate 2008 ....................................................... 166
Table 13.2 Head Assays — G&T 2010............................................................................... 166
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Table 13.3 Chemical Analysis of Head Composites ........................................................... 167

Table 13.4 CPO-001 – Reagents and Dosages ................................................................. 169
Table 13.5 CPO-001 – Results of Flotation Test ................................................................ 171
Table 13.10 Chemical Analyses of Copper and Zinc Concentrates .................................... 178
Table 13.11 Metallurgical Balance Projection – Recoveries and Grades ............................ 179
Table 14.1 El Domo Mineral Resource Estimate - December 15, 2013 .............................. 180
Table 14.2 Metal Unit Values for NSR Calculation ............................................................. 181
Table 14.3 Summary of Drilling Campaigns at El Domo ..................................................... 181
Table 14.4 Drill Holes Used in the Resource Declarations for El Domo .............................. 182
Table 14.5 Mineral Resource Estimate by RPA in 2010 and 2011 ..................................... 183
Table 14.6 Parameters Used in the Lithological Modelling ................................................. 184
Table 14.7 Correspondence between Modelled and Logged Lithological Units .................. 188
Table 14.8 Estimation Domains Defined for Copper (%) .................................................... 193
Table 14.9 Estimation Domains Defined for Zinc (%) ......................................................... 194
Table 14.10 Estimation Domains Defined for Lead (%) ...................................................... 194
Table 14.11 Estimation Domains Defined for Gold (g/t) ...................................................... 195
Table 14.12 Estimation Domains Defined for Silver (g/t) .................................................... 195
Table 14.13 Estimation Domains Defined for Specific Gravity ............................................ 196
Table 14.14 Parameters for Calculation of Experimental Correlograms ............................. 203
Table 14.15 Limits of Block Models .................................................................................... 205
Table 14.16 Interpolation Plan for Copper (%) ................................................................... 208
Table 14.17 Interpolation Plan for Zinc (%) ........................................................................ 209
Table 14.18 Interpolation Plan for Lead (%) ....................................................................... 210
Table 14.19 Interpolation Plan for Gold (g/t) ....................................................................... 211
Table 14.20 Interpolation Plan for Silver (g/t) ..................................................................... 212
Table 14.21 Interpolation Plan for Specific gravity .............................................................. 213
Table 14.22 El Domo Mineral Resource Estimate - December 15, 2013 ............................ 224
Table 16.1 Mining Block Parameters .................................................................................. 234
Table 16.2 Mining Block Cost Parameters ......................................................................... 235
Table 16.3 Mining Block Design Parameters ...................................................................... 235
Table 16.4 Optimization Results......................................................................................... 235
Table 16.5 Metal Prices for Sensitivity Analysis ................................................................. 236
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Table 16.6 Sensitivity Analysis ........................................................................................... 237

Table 16.7 Open Pit Design Parameters ............................................................................ 238
Table 16.8 Base Case — Resources with Mining Potential ................................................ 241
Table 16.9 Diluted Mining Plan .......................................................................................... 242
Table 16.10 Mineral Production Plan for Processing .......................................................... 243
Table 16.11 Mining Equipment Fleet .................................................................................. 245
Table 16.12 Waste Rock Dump Design Parameters .......................................................... 246
Table 16.13 Uptime Per Day .............................................................................................. 248
Table 16.14 Resources By Mineral Type ............................................................................ 252
Table 16.15 Underground Development — Advance Rates ............................................... 253
Table 16.16 Underground Resources With Mining Potential .............................................. 255
Table 16.17 Underground Development Program .............................................................. 257
Table 16.18 Underground Production Program by Mineral Type ........................................ 258
Table 16.19 Underground Production Program .................................................................. 259
Table 16.20 Underground Mine Equipment Fleet ............................................................... 261
Table 16.21 Underground Infrastructure............................................................................. 265
Table 18.1 Size and Volume of Tailings Dams Alternatives ................................................ 273
Table 18.2 Volume and Geometry of Waste Rock Dumps Alternatives .............................. 274
Table 18.3 Volume and Geometry of Topsoil Deposit Alternatives ..................................... 275
Table 18.4 Parameters for the Assessment of Location of Facilities ................................... 276
Table 18.5 Parameters for Assessing Location of the Processing Plant ............................. 277
Table 18.6 Estimated Electrical Power Peak Demand ........................................................ 278
Table 18.7 Parameters for Evaluating Access Alternatives ................................................ 279
Table 21.1 Pre-Production Investment and Sustaining Capital Expenditures ..................... 284
Table 21.2 Open Pit Operating Costs (2,000 tpd) ............................................................... 285
Table 21.3 Underground Pre-Production Investment and Sustaining Capital Costs ........... 286
Table 21.4 Underground Operating Costs (1,000 tpd) ........................................................ 287
Table 22.1 Metal Unit Values Used for NSR Calculation .................................................... 288
Table 22.2 Smelting Treatment and Charges for Refining Copper ..................................... 289
Table 22.3 Smelting Treatment and Charges for Refining Zinc .......................................... 290
Table 22.4 Smelting Treatment and Charges for Refining Lead ......................................... 291
Table 22.5 Profit and Losses Statement............................................................................. 296
Table 22.6 Range of Sensitivity of Economic Parameters .................................................. 298
Table 26.1 Proposed Program and Budget ........................................................................ 306

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LIST OF FIGURES
PAGE
Figure 1.1 NPV Sensitivity.................................................................................................... 15
Figure 4.1 Location Map ...................................................................................................... 21
Figure 4.2 Exploration Claims Map ...................................................................................... 27
Figure 5.1 Project Accessibility Map ..................................................................................... 32
Figure 5.2 Electrical Grid Map of Ecuador ............................................................................ 34
Figure 7.1 Regional Geology — The Macuchi Terrane and Location of VMS Deposits ........ 43
Figure 7.2 Curipamba Project — Location of The El Domo Deposit and Nearby Prospects . 47
Figure 7.3 Geology of the El Domo Deposit and Exploration Drilling .................................... 48
Figure 7.4 Stratigraphic Column of the El Domo Deposit...................................................... 52
Figure 7.5 Central E-W Cross-Section of the El Domo Deposit Based on the 3D Model ...... 54
Figure 7.6 Structural Setting of the El Domo Deposit ........................................................... 63
Figure 8.1 Genetic Model for Massive Sulphide at Curipamba. The Sketch Shows the Zone
Before Intrusion of the Late Andesite and Rhyolite. ....................................................... 89
Figure 9.1 Areas where Geophysical Exploration has been Performed — IP Anomalies are
Shown ......................................................................................................................... 101
Figure 10.1 El Domo Drilling Map — Las Naves Area ........................................................ 107
Figure 11.1 Photographic Procedure for Core Boxes ......................................................... 118
Figure 11.2 Sample Cutting with a Diamond Saw .............................................................. 119
Figure 12.1 Statistical Control Chart for CU-152 For Gold, Silver, And Copper .................. 125
Figure 12.2 Statistical Control Chart for CU-163 For Gold, Silver, And Copper .................. 126
Figure 12.3 Statistical Control Chart for PB-130 for Silver, Copper, Lead and Zinc ............ 127
Figure 12.4 Statistical Control Chart for PB-140 for Silver, Copper, Lead And Zinc ............ 127
Figure 12.5 Statistical Control Chart for Blank BL115 ......................................................... 130
Figure 12.6 Statistical Control Chart for Blank BK .............................................................. 131
Figure 12.7 Statistical Control Charts for Reference Material CU 152 ................................ 136
Figure 12.8 Statistical Control Charts for Reference Material PB 140 ................................ 137
Figure 12.9 Twin Samples Max-Min Charts for Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, and Zinc......... 139
Figure 12.10 Coarse Reject Duplicate Max-Min Charts for Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, and
Zinc ............................................................................................................... 141
Figure 12.11 Pulp Duplicates Max-Min Charts for Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, and Zinc .... 143
Figure 12.12 Statistical Charts for Blank BK ....................................................................... 146
Figure 12.13 Statistical Control Charts for Reference Material CU 145 .............................. 149
Figure 12.14 Statistical Control Charts for Reference Material CU 163 .............................. 150

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Figure 12.15 Coarse Reject Duplicate Max-Min Charts for Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, And
Zinc ............................................................................................................................. 152
Figure 12.16 Pulp Duplicate Max-Min Charts for Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, And Zinc ...... 154
Figure 12.17 Internal Duplicates of Coarse Rejects Max-Min Chart for Gold, Silver, Copper,
Lead, And Zinc ............................................................................................................ 157
Figure 12.18 Internal Duplicates of Pulp Samples Max-Min Chart for Gold, Silver, Copper,
Lead, And Zinc ............................................................................................................ 158
Figure 12.19 Statistical Control Charts for Blank BK .......................................................... 160
Figure 13.1 Distribution of Tonnes and Metal Contents ...................................................... 163
Figure 13.2 Comparison of 2011 and 2013 Block Models .................................................. 164
Figure 13.3 Tests Diagram for Composites CPO-001 and CPO-002 .................................. 170
Figure 13.4 Tests Diagram for Composite CPO-003 .......................................................... 176
Figure 14.1 Lithological Model in Section 9588300N and Section 69505E ......................... 185
Figure 14.2 Lithological Model in Plan View at the 830 m Level ......................................... 186
Figure 14.3 3D View of the VMS Solid with the Mineralized Intersects ............................... 187
Figure 14.4 Normal Probability Plot for Cu (%) in the VMS Unit ......................................... 189
Figure 14.5 Generation of the Deterministic Model for Cu (%) with a 0.3% Cu Threshold .. 190
Figure 14.6 Deterministic Model for Cu in Section 9855300N ............................................ 190
Figure 14.7 Deterministic Models and Normal Probability Plots for Zn, Au, and Pb ............ 191
Figure 14.8 Cross-Section of El Domo showing Two Structural Domains ........................... 192
Figure 14.9 Probabilistic Diagram Of Specific Gravity By Estimation Domains ................... 197
Figure 14.10 Analysis of Run-Length Composites for Cu GU01 ......................................... 198
Figure 14.11 Analysis of Run-Length Composites for Zn GU01 ......................................... 199
Figure 14.12 Analysis of Run-Length Composites for Pb GU01 ......................................... 200
Figure 14.13 Analysis of Run-Length Composites for Au GU01 ......................................... 201
Figure 14.14 Analysis of Run-Length Composites for Ag GU01 ......................................... 202
Figure 14.15 Correlogram of Cu GU02 in the Azimuth 90° and Dip 0° ............................... 204
Figure 14.16 Estimates of Copper (%) in Section 9588300N, Highlighting the VMS Unit ... 214
Figure 14.17 Estimates for Copper (%) in Section 830 m, Highlighting the VMS Unit ......... 215
Figure 14.18 Estimates for Zinc (%) in Section 9588300N, Highlighting the VMS Unit ....... 215
Figure 14.19 Estimates for Zinc (%) at Level 830 m, Highlighting the VMS Unit ................. 216
Figure 14.20 Estimates of Gold (g/t) in Section 9588300N, Highlighting the VMS Unit ....... 216
Figure 14.21 Estimates of Gold (g/t) at Level 830 m, Highlighting the VMS Unit ................ 217
Figure 14.22 Validation Outline for GU01CU ...................................................................... 218
Figure 14.23 Validation Outline for GU01ZN ...................................................................... 219
Figure 14.24 Validation Outline for GU01PB ...................................................................... 220
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Figure 14.25 Validation Outline for GUAU01 ...................................................................... 221

Figure 14.26 Validation Outline for GUAG01 ...................................................................... 222
Figure 14.27 Resource Classification Matrix for the VMS and Grainstone .......................... 226
Figure 14.28 Resource Classification Matrix for the Breccia and Gypsum .......................... 228
Figure 14.29 Resource Classification in Plan View............................................................. 229
Figure 14.30 Mineral Resources Estimates from 2010 to 2013 .......................................... 230
Figure 14.31 Grade-Tonnage Curves for the Mineralized Units - El Domo Deposit ............ 231
Figure 16.1 Open PIT Optimal Cone .................................................................................. 236
Figure 16.2 Sensitivity of Open Pit Optimization ................................................................. 237
Figure 16.3 3D Open Pit View ............................................................................................ 239
Figure 16.4 Pit Design in Plan View ................................................................................... 239
Figure 16.5 Annual Mining Plan ......................................................................................... 244
Figure 16.6 Waste Rock Dump Final Boundary.................................................................. 247
Figure 16.7 Underground Mineralized lenses ..................................................................... 251
Figure 16.8 Chambers and Pillars — Cross Section........................................................... 253
Figure 16.9 Underground Mine Design............................................................................... 255
Figure 16.10 Underground Production Program by Mineral Type ....................................... 259
Figure 16.11 Underground Production Program by Type of Work ...................................... 260
Figure 16.12 Chamber-and-Pillar Mining Method Layout.................................................... 263
Figure 16.13 Underground Mining Areas ............................................................................ 264
Figure 16.14 Central and Southern Underground Mining Zones......................................... 264
Figure 17.1 Process Flow Diagram .................................................................................... 268
Figure 18.1 Alternative Locations of Main Structures ......................................................... 271
Figure 18.2 Project Access Roads ..................................................................................... 280
Figure 21.1 Open Pit — Distribution of Operating Costs .................................................... 285
Figure 21.2 Underground — Distribution of Operating Costs.............................................. 287
Figure 22.1 Life of the Project EBITDA, OPEX, and Operating Margin ............................... 294
Figure 22.2 Life of the Project OPEX, Depreciation, and Pre-Tax Profits ........................... 294
Figure 22.3 Cash Flow After Taxes .................................................................................... 295
Figure 22.4 Project Sensitivity to Metal Prices.................................................................... 297
Figure 22.5 Sensitivity of NPV to Revenue, OPEX and CAPEX ......................................... 298

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1. SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Buenaventura Ingenieros S.A. (BISA) was retained by Mr. Fredy Salazar, President and
CEO of Salazar Resources Limited. (Salazar), to prepare an independent Preliminary
Economic Assessment (PEA) on the El Domo Deposit, the most advanced deposit in the
Curipamba project located near Ventanas, Ecuador. The purpose of this report is to provide
sufficient information for shareholders, investors, and stakeholders about the geology,
mineral resource, evaluation of mining methods, conduct preliminary metalurgical testing,
evaluation of infrastructure alternatives, preliminary capital expenditures and operation costs,
and economic analysis. This Technical Report conforms to National Instrument 43-101
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101).
Salazar is a TSXVenture Exchange listed (TSX.V:SRL | FSE:CCG) mineral resource

company engaged in mineral exploration and development in Ecuador. Deposit types being
explored by Salazar in Ecuador include Epithermal Au-Ag and Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au. The
target on the Curipamba Property is gold-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS)
deposits.

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CONCLUSIONS
BISA offers the following conclusions and recommendations:
 The El Domo deposit is the largest known Au-rich, Cu-Zn-Ag-Pb volcanogenic
massive sulphide (VMS) deposit emplaced within the Macuchi Terrane, a juvenile
island magmatic arc of Paleocene–Eocene age. It formed in an intra-magmatic arc
third-order basin in a setting similar to that of other Andean deposits. Somewhat
similar global equivalents are the bimodal-felsic deposits of the Hokuroko basin
(Japan) and the VMS deposits of Tasmania.
 The massive sulphide mineralization occurs in the Macuchi Formation as stratabound
orebodies, mainly in the contact between a rhyodacitic dome and the overlying mafic,
glass-rich, mass flows. The overlying rocks host semi-massive to disseminated
mineralization. The mineralization is replacive on both the glassy carapace of the
rhyodacite and the volcaniclastic rocks. This replacement took place only a few
metres below the seafloor.
 The massive polymetallic sulphides consist primarily of pyrite, sphalerite,
chalcopyrite, and less abundant galena, bornite, and tennantite; silver is concentrated
in discrete phases such as stromeyerite and proustite.
 The orebody has marked lateral and vertical zoning with a lower Cu-rich zone and an
external Zn-Pb-barite zone. The copper-rich zone replaced the external zone, with
most of the gold and silver concentrated along this replacement zone.
 The area has good exploration potential for VMS deposits. The optimal target should
be the contact of the rhyodacite domes with mafic, glass-rich rocks, or the outer
carapace of domes capped by massive andesite-basalt.
 BISA believes that the procedures and protocols used by Salazar for its drilling,
logging, sampling, preparation, and sample analysis program comply with
international practices in the mining industry.
 The independent QA/QC verification carried out by BISA concludes that the
duplicates of coarse rejects from preparation demonstrate acceptable precision and
reproducibility of the original results. In contrast, the pulp duplicate precision is
relatively low, with failures of over 10% for all the elements analysed (especially Au,
Pb, and Cu) in both the ALS Global and Inspectorate laboratories.
 The blank samples used are adequate for Au, Ag, and Pb, but in the case of Cu and
Zn, the values are much higher than the lower analytical limits of detection
established in the laboratories used by Salazar.
 The metallurgical tests indicate that the recovery of pay metals to concentrates by
froth flotation of feed from the El Domo deposit is technically feasible.
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 It may be possible to improve Cu-Zn separation. Mineralogical results indicate that

significant amounts of free sphalerite are present in the copper concentrate. This
means that the selectivity of copper and zinc separation may be improved, compared
to the results of the first phase of testing reported in the PEA.
 Mineral Resources were estimated based on a 3D geological interpretation for a VMS
deposit; four mineralized units have been considered for mineral resource estimation
(VMS, Grainstone, Breccia, and Gypsum). The cuttoff value applied is US$30 NSR
per tonne.
 Indicated Mineral Resources have been estimated at 6.080 million tonnes at an
average grade of 2.33% Cu, 3.06% Zn, 0.28% Pb, 2.99 g/t Au, and 55.81 g/t Ag,
containing 312.95 million pounds Cu, 409.56 million pounds Zn, 37.76 million pounds
Pb, 584,457 ounces Au, and 10.91 million ounces Ag. The current Indicated Mineral
Resource estimate shows the following increases relative to the 2011 Indicated
Resource estimate: a 7% increase in contained copper, a 34.4% increase in
contained zinc, a 17.4% increase in contained gold, and a 26.8% increase in
contained silver.
 The Inferred Mineral Resource is 3.882 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.56%
Cu, 2.19% Zn, 0.16% Pb, 2.03 g/t Au, and 42.92 g/t Ag, containing 133.46 million
pounds Cu, 187.39 million pounds Zn, 13.96 million pounds Pb, 253,607 ounces Au,
and 5.36 million ounces Ag. The current Inferred Mineral Resource estimate shows
the following increases compared to the 2011 Indicated Resource estimate: a 118.1%
increase in contained copper, a 108.0% increase in contained zinc, a 125.2%
increase in contained gold, and a 118.7% increase in contained silver.
 Two structural domains have been established in the El Domo deposit: the Eastern
Sector (El Domo hill) and the Western Sector, where most of the deposit is located.
In the Eastern Sector, the VMS lenses lies at a greater depth underneath the
andesitic dome. The eastern continuity of the lenses needs to be confirmed by a
drilling program.
 The mining methods study considers two scenarios: open pit mining for the western
domain of the deposit and underground mining for the eastern domain.
 The economic and financial assessment considers a total 14-year life of mine: nine
years of surface mining, with production of 2,000 tpd, followed by five years of
underground mining with a production of 1,000 tpd.
 The mining production, considering the mine plans for both scenarios (open pit and
underground) and the reported metallurgical ore types, are: zinc mineral type 1.74 Mt;

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mixed mineral Cu/Zn type 3.00 Mt; and copper mineral type 2.18 Mt. The mining
scenario also includes 46 Mt of waste rock and 0.98 Mt of low-grade material.
 A preliminary evaluation of infrastructure alternatives have been carried out: seven
alternatives for tailings dams, five areas for the waste rock dumps, two deposits for
topsoil, three alternative locations for the processing plant, four alternatives for
facilities, three alternatives for the water adduction line, two alternatives for the water
pipeline, five alternatives for the tailings transport system, three alternatives for the
power supply system, and three alternatives for access to the mine. No major
drawbacks are noted, and some work will have to be done to ensure the services
required for the project.
 The preliminary estimates of pre-production capital investment total US$110.3 million,
an amount consistent with the current costs of mining and construction equipment.
Operating through a mining contractor has been considered; this option reduces
CAPEX but increases the operating cost. The mode of operation will be analysed in
more detail in the pre-feasibility stage.
 The after-taxes financial evaluation of the project gives the following results:
o Net Present Value (10% discount rate): US$86.72 million
o Internal Rate of Return: 30%
o Payback Period: 2 years

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RECOMMENDATIONS
BISA proposes the following recommendations:
 A systematic directional survey location program should be implemented for all future
drilling.
 To provide consistency in the methods, one laboratory of the two currently used
should be used as the primary laboratory for all analyses, and that the second
laboratory should be used for external checking of the assays.
 The QA/QC program should be modified to include: establishment of a protocol for
non-compliant results and a formal reporting system for QA/QC results; insertion of
twin samples, coarse and fine duplicates, certified standards, and blanks in future
programs; use of certified reference materials representative of the deposit; and
preparation of adequate blanks.
 In future, the original stored pulp samples should not be used due to the low precision
reported in the QA/QC programs of RPA and BISA. Any verification or validation must
be done with existing samples of coarse rejects.
 Improving storage conditions of the reject samples in Quito, Ecuador. The samples
should be stored in an orderly fashion, in a suitable environment.
 A detailed petrographic and mineragraphic study is strongly recommended to support
metallurgical testing and aid in defining geometallurgical domains.
 Future exploration should focus on zones of mafic volcaniclastic flows with evidence
of underlying felsic volcanics. Stream sediment geochemistry is crucial for finding new
anomalies. Geophysical surveys are also key techniques. However, the
mineralization is poorly magnetic and the sphalerite is generally poor in iron. Negative
magnetometric anomalies may be useful for defining hydrothermal systems and
feeder zones. Helicopter-borne Versatile Time-Domain Electromagnetic (VTEM) and
similar EM techniques can be useful to find Cu-pyrite-rich ores; targeting the
sphalerite-rich zones can be trickier, but again VTEM has given good results in pyrite-
poor orebodies. Ground EM and further drilling should be carried out in areas with the
best combination of geology and airborne anomalies.
 Additional metallurgical testing should be carried out to optimize the process
performance for the selective recovery of Cu, Zn, and Pb and to reduce reagent
consumption.
 Geo-metallurgical mapping should be performed to identify areas with high clay
contents that may interfere with the recovery processes.
 Study the use of specific reagents for Au and Ag to increase their recovery to the
copper concentrate.
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 Study the use of a Cu/Pb separation train to clean the copper concentrate and
produce a lead concentrate as another commercial product.
 Closed-cycle flotation tests are needed in order to confirm the recoveries and grades
obtained.
 Conduct flotation tests with water drawn from the project's area of influence to assess
its effect on the recovery of Cu and Zn.
 Salazar should acquire systematic SG measurements of full sample lengths from all
lithology units, thus providing direct information relating density to grade.
 Salazar should continue the investigation and interpretation of grade directional
trends and futher variography evaluation.
 An infill drilling program should be completed to upgrade the start-pit resources to the
measured category as a requirement for thepre-feasibility.
A drilling program to define the nature and continuity of the VMS mineralization under
the El Domo andesite is also recommended.
 It is advisable to promptly undertake a topographic survey of the project area, with
greater accuracy in areas required for the facilities.
 Hydrological and geotechnical studies should be undertaken in areas slated for the
pits, waste dumps, processing plant, and in general in all areas requiring heavy
structures. The geotechnical investigation is a priority in order to define the pit profiles
and volumes of mineral and waste material that must be removed.
 In the next project stage, the technical options identified in this conceptual study
should be analysed in greater detail. Trade-off studies should be developed in the
prefeasibility stage to set the basis for a subsequent feasibility study.
 Although the financial projection results are positive, the high cost of pre-stripping
presents a significant outlay and risk. Therefore, the underground alternative could
be reconsidered. The pit profiles are provisional and may change, as there are no
geotechnical studies available. The pre-stripping volumes could vary, changing the
economic and financial parameters presented in this report.
 A pre-feasibility stage work program should consists of several studies that include:
infill drilling, additional metallurgical testing, resource model update and reserve
estimates, processing plant engineering, infrastructure and project engineering. The
work program and estimated budget for a prefeasibility study are summarized in
Table 1.1.

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TABLE 1.1 PROPOSED PROGRAM AND BUDGET
Proposed
Pre-Feasibility Program Cost
US$
Project Management 200,000
Staff relocation 20,000
Communications- telephone/fax/radio/hardware/software 15,000
Community Engagement 170,000
Environmental compliance 160,000
Land Acquisition 800,000
Mining Concessions 500,000
Road Maintenance 20,000
Transportation - Vehicles 50,000
Shipping - Couriers, Freight 20,000
Field Costs 500,000
Underground Development (300m) 600,000
GEOLOGY
Geological Model Update 20,000
Structural Study 30,000
Ore mineralogy 35,000
QA/QC Program 10,000
Resource Model Update 95,000
Infill Diamond Drilling
Drilling 6,055m@150US$/m 908,250
Logging and Sampling 185,000
Supplies and Core Boxes 55,000
Preparation and Assaying 4,000 Samples 280,000
MINING
Geotechnical / Geomechanical Evaluation 300,000
Open Pit Studies 120,000
METALLURGICAL TESTING AND PROCESS
Metallurgical and process studies 500,000
INFRAESTRUCTURE
Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Studies 420,000
ECONOMIC EVALUATION
Financial Study 40,000
Sub-total 6,053,250
Contingencies - 10% 605,325
Total 6,658,575

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TECHNICAL SUMMARY
GEOLOGY
The Curipamba Property is located in western central Ecuador, within the Macuchi Terrane,
a predominantly juvenile island magmatic arc of Paleocene–Eocene age. In the area, the
geology includes a basal rhyodacite unit overlain by two interfingered volcaniclastic
sequences, one mafic and the other felsic, and two coherent younger lithofacies, one
andesitic and another rhyolitic, which intruded the sequence in both the north and south of
the property.
The VMS deposit of El Domo is located in the contact between a rhyodacitic dome and
overlying glass-rich volcaniclastic flows deposited in a third-order, likely pull apart, basin. The
main mineralization forms a large massive sulphide lens with clear mineralogical zonation,
with an internal chalcopyrite-rich zone and an external sphalerite-galena-barite one
separated by a polymetallic ore of intermediate characteristics. Most of the gold and silver
are located in the polymetallic ore. The gold occurs dominantly as invisible grains whereas
the silver appears as discrete phases such as stromeyerite and proustite. The deposit is
interpreted as having formed via the replacement of glassy permeable felsic and mafic rocks
along the contact due to the mixing of deep magmatic-hydrothermal fluids and seawater.
The immediate area has great potential for VMS exploration, which should focus on the
contact between felsic domes and overlying mafic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks.
MINERAL PROCESSING
BISA commissioned Transmin MC E.I.R.L. (Transmin) of Lima, Peru to design and supervise
the metallurgical testing. Transmin was also responsible for reviewing the previous
metallurgical studies conducted at the El Domo project. Three metallurgical testing programs
have been completed on composite samples from the El Domo deposit. The first program
was performed by Inspectorate Services Peru S.A.C (Inspectorate) in 2008. The second test
program was carried out by G&T Metallurgical Services Ltd (G&T) in 2010. Finally, the third
metallurgical test program was conducted by the SGS del Peru S.A.C. (SGS) laboratory in
2013 under the supervision of Transmin. All the programs were conducted at a laboratory
scale on composite samples from El Domo drill cores.
The samples and composites used in the 2013 test program were selected from the block
model produced by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA) in 2011. In early November of

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2013, BISA generated a new block model, making it necessary to check the representivity of
the samples used in the study.
The new zones in the 2013 Block Model are not substantially different to what was tested
with respect to oxidation and rock competence, and no differences were found in the
contents of the metals of interest. Therefore, for a preliminary economic assessment (PEA),
it would be justifiable to assume that the 2013 mineral resource will have a similar recovery
and concentrate grade as the samples collected for the 2011 resource base.
The first program yielded poor recovery results for metals such as Cu, Zn, Au, and Ag. The
second program by G&T achieved satisfactory zinc and copper concentrate grades, but
recoveries were low. In the third program, the tests were carried out on three composite
samples representative of the existing types of mineralization (zinc mineral, mixed mineral
Cu/Zn, and copper mineral). The tests focused on the flotation of the copper and zinc
concentrates separately. The flotation tests used industry-standard methods and reagents for
the production of copper and zinc concentrates by differential flotation techniques.
Based on the results from the 2013 flotation testing program, an estimate was made of the
recoveries and grades of the Cu and Zn concentrates that would be produced in an efficiently
operated industrial plant with ore similar to the composites studied. The estimate results are
presented in Table 1.2.

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TABLE 1.2 METALLURGICAL BALANCE SHEET — RECOVERIES AND GRADES
Com posite Weight, Assays Distribution

ID Products % Cu, Zn, Pb, Au, Ag, Cu, Zn, Pb, Au, Ag,
% % % g/t g/t % % % % %
CPO-001 Concentrate Cu 2.46 19.7 17 1.31 8.18 748 58.2 8.24 7.67 6.16 22.6
Zinc Mineral Concentrate Pb 0.61 17.7 17 47.3 21.8 1,995 6.47 0.92 69 4.11 15.1
Concentrate Zn 9.49 1.73 45.5 0.31 14 286 19.7 85.4 6.9 40.8 33.4
Final Tail 87.4 0.15 0.31 0.08 1.83 26.9 15.5 5.39 16.4 49 28.9
Head Calculated 100 0.89 5.11 0.42 3.26 81.2 100 100 100 100 100
CPO-002 Concentrate Cu 7.62 21 8.51 0.94 8.77 230 75 29.8 49.6 29.3 40.8
Mixed Mineral Concentrate Zn 2.59 6.28 42 0.86 19.4 371 7.62 50 15.4 22 22.4
Cu / Zn Final Tail 89.8 0.41 0.49 0.06 1.24 17.6 17.4 20.2 35 48.7 36.8
Head Calculated 100 2.13 2.17 0.14 2.28 42.9 100 100 100 100 100
CPO-003 Concentrate Cu 13.9 24.2 2.34 0.09 3.69 53.1 89.7 80.9 43.4 24.4 39.7
Copper Mineral Final Tail 86.1 0.45 0.09 0.02 1.84 13 10.3 19.1 56.6 75.6 60.3
Head Calculated 100 3.75 0.4 0.03 2.1 18.6 100 100 100 100 100
Based on the results of these metallurgical tests, a possible scenario for processing the ore
from the El Domo deposit has been outlined. This process is preliminary and could be
subject to changes based on the results of more detailed metallurgical studies during the
next project phase.
MINERAL RESOURCES
The Mineral Resource update considers a total of 31,770 m of core corresponding to four
drilling campaigns carried out from 2007 to 2012 in a drill-hole grid of about 50 m x 50 m.
The Mineral Resource update for the El Domo deposit includes: the database review,
geological modelling, exploratory data analysis, mineral resource estimation, and resource
classification. The mineral resource estimate is based on a Net Smelter Return (NSR) cutoff
value of US$30 per tonne. The NSR was calculated using the following assumptions: metal
prices, metallurgical recovery factors, and common industry values for smelter terms. Four
mineralized units with estimates above the cutoff value have been considered as mineral
resources: volcanogenic massive sulphides (VMS), polymictic volcaniclastic breccia with
massive sulphide clasts (Grainstone), stockwork quartz-pyrite (Breccia), and stockwork
anhydrite-gypsum (Gypsum).

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The resource estimate completed by BISA is given in Table 1.3.
TABLE 1.3 EL DOMO MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE - DECEMBER 15, 2013
Tonne s Coppe r Zinc Le a d G old S ilve r

Unit Ca te gory
(Mt) (% ) (% ) (% ) (g/ t) (g/ t)
V MS Indic a te d 5.468 2.52 3.27 0.30 3.23 59.19

G ra instone Indic a te d 0.216 0.92 1.01 0.12 1.09 27.91
Bre c c ia Indic a te d 0.345 0.49 1.33 0.13 0.76 26.91
G ypsum Indic a te d 0.051 0.94 0.39 0.03 0.34 7.40
Tota l Indic a te d 6.080 2.33 3.06 0.28 2.99 55.81
V MS Infe rre d 3.093 1.75 2.59 0.19 2.38 49.45
G ra instone Infe rre d 0.170 0.96 0.69 0.10 1.00 19.24

Bre c c ia Infe rre d 0.370 0.53 0.83 0.07 0.78 24.89
G ypsum Infe rre d 0.249 1.13 0.26 0.01 0.27 4.80
Tota l Infe rre d 3.882 1. 5 6 2 . 19 0 . 16 2.03 42.92
Notes:
 CIM definitions were followed for mineral resources
 The Mineral Resource Estimate is based on 3D geological modelling of the volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit
(VMS). Four mineralized units with an NSR cutoff of US$30 per tonne were considered as mineral resource
 Metal prices used are US$2.95/lb Cu, US$0.91/lb Zn, US$0.91/lb Pb, US$1,200/oz Au, and US$20.00/oz Ag
 Metallurgical recovery factors assumed were based on three mineral types defined by the metal ratio Cu/(Zn+Pb):
o Zinc Mineral (Cu/(Pb+Zn)<0.3): 15% Cu, 90% Zn, 40% Pb, 50% Au and 65% Ag
o Mixed Cu/Zn Mineral (0.3≤Cu/(Pb+Zn)≤3.0): 75% Cu, 50% Zn, 0% Pb, 55% Au and 65% Ag
o Copper Mineral (Cu/(Pb+Zn)>3.0): 90% Cu, 0% Zn, 0% Pb, 30% Au and 40% Ag
 Common industry values for smelter terms were assumed
 Bulk density was estimated based on specific gravity determinations for each lithological unit
Currently, there are neither Measured Mineral Resources nor Mineral Reserves estimated for
the El Domo Deposit.
MINING METHODS
The El Domo VMS deposit has been divided into two structural domains: Western Sector and
the Eastern Sector where the potentially minable resources are located. The mineralization
of the Western Sector has been evaluated for mining by open pit methods as the mineral
lenses are close to the surface. In the case of the Eastern Sector, the mineralization occurs
deeper, underneath the andesite dome, and it has been assessed for mining by underground
methods (chamber-and-pillar) because of the depth and a good rock competence.
The open pit design was based on a 2,000 tpd case. At this production rate, the life of mine
is nine years with one year of pre-stripping. This mining plan fulfills Ecuadorian standards for
medium-scale mining.
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Production from the diluted open pit mining plan amounts to a total of 6,213,029 tonnes at an
operative cutoff of 1% Cu (equivalent) which is approximately US$ 30 NSR, distributed as
follow: 1,279,094 tonnes of copper mineral, 2,447,666 tonnes of mixed Cu/Zn mineral,
1,508,021 tonnes of zinc mineral, and 978,248 tonnes of the low grade stockpile.
Additionally, 46,220,572 tonnes of waste rock have been considered for a stripping ratio of
7.44.
The underground potentially minable mineral resources were calculated considering the
mineral accessibility and applying a NSR cutoff value of US$40 per tonne. The underground
operation was designed for a medium-scale production of 1,000 tpd with an expected life of
mine of five years. Based on production requirements, it was estimated that approximately
9,000 metres of underground development would be necessary, including both horizontal
and vertical workings. A total production of 1,751,024 tonnes has been estimated: 903,023
tonnes of copper mineral, 619,703 tonnes of mixed Cu/Zn mineral, and 228,478 tonnes of
zinc mineral.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The objective of the infrastructure conceptual study is to evaluate different alternatives for
laying out the surface structures in order to minimize operational costs. The structures
evaluated are: tailings dams, waste rock dumps, a topsoil bank, processing plant platform,
facilities platform, water supply, electrical supply, and alternative accesses to the mine.
The local hydrological analysis is based on rainfall information from the INAMHI (National
Institute of Meteorology and Hydrography) provided by Salazar.
BISA observed various alternatives for the El Domo PEA. The optimal alternative to be
developed in the next project phase should consider the best options in engineering,
economic, social, and environmental terms.
A reconnaissance of the area took into account the geomorphology, basin shape, stream
gradients, topography, availability of borrow materials, surface water runoff, and
geological/geotechnical risks, as well as proximity to the mineral deposit.

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The surface structures evaluated are:

 Seven alternatives for the location of the tailings dams
 Five alternatives for the waste rock dumps
 Two top soil deposits alternatives
 Three alternatives for the processing plant
 Four facilities alternatives
 Three alternatives for the electrical power supply
 Water supply
 Component systems (uptake, desander, storage pond, drive line, repumping stations,
and storage tank for untreated and drinking water)
 Solid waste landfill
 Domestic wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)
 Road access (Las Naves – mine, mine – El Congreso, El Congreso – main road, and
Echeandía – main road).
The investment costs for the recommended structural alternatives mentioned have been
evaluated and presented in a balance sheet. Table 1.4 summarizes the recommended
alternatives as well as the initial investment costs, sustaining costs and total investment for
each alternative.
TABLE 1.4 INFRAESTRUCTURE ALTERNATIVES
I ni t i al I nvest ment I nvest ment D ur i ng T o t al I nvest ment

R eco mmend ed A l t er nat i ves
( U S$M ) O p er at i o ns ( U S$M )
Tailings Impoundment - Alternative 1 12.1 87.85 99.95
Waste Rock Dump – Alternative 1A 0.59 0.59
Top Soil Dump – Alternative 1 0.66 0.66
Access: Las Naves-Naves Chico-Mine 8.72 11.38 20.1
Mine Facilities - Alternative 3 7.66 7.66

Processing Plant – Alternative 2 (*) 9.89 9.89
Water supply and tailings transport –
Discharge Line and Water Pipe – 3.17 3.17
Alternative 1
Tailings transport 0.49 0.49
PTAP, PTARD, PTARI, Landfill, S.C.I 1.96 1.96
Electrical supply 2.79 2.79
Total Investm ent Cost 48.03 99.23 147.26
(*)For Capital Cost Estimate purposes, the "Processing Plant — Alternative 2" is included in the
Processing Plant cost instead of infrastructure capital costs..

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CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS

The capital cost (CAPEX) and operating cost (OPEX) were estimated using cost data from
similar projects and staff experience as a reference. A 25% contingency rate was considered
for capital costs and 20% for operating costs. Table 1.5 and Table 1.6 show the results with
the contingency used.
TABLE 1.5 INITIAL CAPITAL COST AND SUSTAINING COST (CAPEX) WITH 25%
CONTINGENCY
Open Pit Underground Mine

CAPEX Initial Sustaining Total Initial Sustaining Total
Mine 19,513,886 554,115 20,068,001 11,832,708 3,001,850 14,834,558
Processing plant 43,890,000 0 43,890,000
Infrastructure 38,130,792 88,269,650 126,400,442
Others 8,750,000 17,000,000 25,750,000 4,000,000 562,500 4,562,500
Total 110,284,678 105,823,765 216,108,443 15,832,708 3,564,350 19,397,058
TABLE 1.6 OPERATING COSTS (OPEX) WITH 20% CONTINGENCY
Open Pit Underground Mine

Operating costs US$ US$
Mine 182,104,016 67,083,461
Processing 93,195,428 26,268,065
Administration 15,532,571 4,378,011
Others 13,024,067
Total 303,856,082 97,729,537

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ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
The after-taxes financial evaluation of the El Domo project yields good economic indicators:
a positive cash flow of US$ 202.6 million, and the net present value (10% discounted rate) of
US$ 86.72 million with an internal rate of return of 30%; and a capital repayment period
(payback) after start of production of two years.
Figure 1.1 shows the sensitivity of the NPV to changes in revenue, OPEX, and CAPEX.
Change in revenue (price of metals and production rate) is the most critical factor.
FIGURE 1.1 NPV SENSITIVITY

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2. INTRODUCTION
Buenaventura Ingenieros, S.A. (BISA) was retained by Fredy Salazar, President and CEO of
Salazar Resources Ltd (Salazar), to prepare an independent Preliminary Economic
Assessment (PEA) on the Curipamba Project (the Project) located in the cantons of Las
Naves, Echeandía, and Ventanas (provinces of Bolívar and Los Ríos, Central Ecuador. The
purpose is to provide an updated Mineral Resource estimate of the El Domo deposit, conduct
metallurgical testing, evaluate underground and open pit mining alternatives, conceptual
infrastructure, cost estimates, and preliminary financial modelling. This Technical Report
conforms to National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-
101).
Salazar is a Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) listed (TSX-V: SRL) mineral resource company
engaged in mineral exploration and development in Ecuador. This report deals with the gold-
rich Cu-Zn-Pb-Ag volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits being explored on the
Curipamba Project, east of Ventanas (Central Ecuador). The El Domo deposit is at the most
advanced stage in the Curipamba project and is the subject of the current PEA study.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Gustavo Calvo (P. Geo., Director of Geology, BISA), Ricardo Arrarte (Project Manager,
BISA), Erick Contreras (Geologist, BISA), Luis Miguel La Torre (Principal Metallurgist,
Transmin), and Fernando Tornos (Consulting Geologist, BISA) first visited the Curipamba
site and the Salazar office in Ventanas on April 22–27 of 2013 accompanied by Francisco
Soria (Chief Geologist, Salazar), Carlos Aguila (Senior Geologist, Salazar), and Diego
Bastida (Geologist, Salazar), with whom technical discussions were held. During this visit,
BISA viewed the sampling facility, inspected the core boxes and logging records, checked
the logging and sampling procedures and the bulk density determination methodology, and
reviewed plans and sections as well as the available geological reports. Drilling platforms
and a number of mineral showings were also visited at the El Domo site. QA/QC verification
sampling of twin core samples, coarse rejects, and pulp samples were also undertaken
during the visit. BISA has not conducted detailed land status evaluations, and has relied
upon previous qualified reports, public documents and statements by Salazar regarding
property status and legal title to the Project.

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The documentation reviewed, and other sources of information, is listed in Table 2.1 and at
the end of this report in Section 27 References.
TABLE 2.1 PREVIOUS STUDIES
Author Work
BGS-CODIGEM 1/100000 mapping
1/25000 mapping. Preliminary petrographic

Beate (2007)
study.
First NI 43-101 report with preliminary

Deep Search Exploration information. Systematic rock sampling and
Technologies Inc. (2006) analysis. Definition of an exploration model
similar to Eskay Creek.
Detailed 1/3000 mapping and cross-sections

of Las Naves area. Vulcanological
interpretation. He was the first to document
Pratt (2008)
and describe the deposit as a volcano-
sedimentary massive sulphide, establishing
the area's lithostratigraphy.
Petrographic study of 17 samples, including

Schandl (2009)
characterization by ETEC microprobe.
Geological interpretation, selective logging,

petrochemical study, and interpretation of
regional geochemical data. Identified a
Franklin (2009) presumed marker unit in hanging wall of the
mineralization and predicted the location of the
presumed feeder systems to other VMS
deposits.
NI 43-101 Report synthesizing previous

Buckle (2009)
information.
Logging of new core, reinterpretation of the

Franklin (2010) drillcore geochemistry, and new ideas for
exploration.
1/7500 structural study and study of the

Mayor (2010)
tectonic setting of the mineralization.
Technical Report on the Curipamba Project,

Valliant W, Peltz P, Cook B (2010) Central Ecuador NI 43-101 Report, Scott
Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates INBc
NI 43-101 report synthesizing all the previous

Lavigne and McMonnies (2011)
work.
1/2000 mapping – logging of new drillcore.
Vallejo (2013) Geochemistry of igneous rocks. Whole rock
analyses of 20 samples and 1 Ar-Ar dating.

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GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATION OF TERMS
°C degree Celsius km kilometre

°F degree Fahrenheit km/h kilometre per hour
μm micron (micrometre) kPa kilopascal
μg microgram kv kilovolt
A ampere kw kilowatt
a annum kwh kilowatt-hour
bbl barrels L litre
Btu British thermal units lb pound
C$ Canadian dollars L/s litres per second
cal calorie m metre
cfm cubic feet per minute M mega (million)
2
cm centimetre m square metre
2 3
cm square centimetre m cubic metre
d day masl metres above sea level
dia. diameter mph miles per hour
3
dmt dry metric tonne m /h cubic metres per hour
3
dwt dead-weight ton m /t cubic metres per tonne
3
ft foot m /h cubic metres per hour
ft/s foot per second oz/t ounce per short ton
ft2 square foot oz Troy ounce (31.1035g)
ft3 cubic foot ppm part per million
g gram psia pound per square inch absolute
G giga (billion) psig pound per square inch gauge
Gal Imperial gallon RL relative elevation
g/L gram per litre s second
g/t gram per tonne st short ton
gpm Imperial gallons per minute stpa short ton per year
3
g/ft grain per cubic foot stpd short ton per day
3
g/m grain per cubic metre t metric tonne
hr hour tpy metric tonne per year
ha hectare tpd metric tonne per day
hp horsepower US$ United States dollar
in inch US$/lb United States dollar per pound
2
in square inch US$/oz United States dollar per troy ounce
J joule USg United States gallon
k kilo (thousand) USgpm United States gallon per minute
kcal kilocalorie V volt
kg kilogram W watt
3
kg/t kilogram per tonne yd cubic yard

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UNITS AND CURRENCY

Unless otherwise stated all units used in this report are metric. Copper, lead and zinc values
are reported in percent unless some other unit is specifically stated. Gold and silver values
are reported in grams per metric tonne (g/t) unless some other unit is specifically stated. The
US$ is used throughout the report.
3. RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS

This report has been prepared by Buenaventura Ingenieros S.A. (BISA) for Salazar
Resources Ltd (Salazar). The information, conclusions, opinions, and estimates contained
herein are based on:
 Information available to BISA at the time of preparation of this report

 Assumptions, conditions, and qualifications as set forth in this report
 Data, reports, and other information supplied by Salazar and other third-party sources
For the purpose of this report, BISA has relied on land tenure, permitting, and ownership
information provided by Salazar. BISA has not researched property title or mineral rights for
the Curipamba Project and expresses no opinion as to the ownership status of the property.
BISA has relied on Salazar for guidance on applicable taxes, royalties, and other government
levies or interests applicable to revenue or income from the Project. Except for the purposes
legislated under provincial securities laws, any use of this report by any third party are at that
party‘s sole risk.
The authors have relied upon geological information and opinions provided by Dr Fernando
Tornos, a well-known expert in volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits. Dr Tornos is
not a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr Tornos received his PhD in January 1990
from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) in Spain, and is currently a Senior
Researcher at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC, Spain), fellow of
the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG), and former President of the Society for Geology
Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA). Dr Tornos' contribution to this report includes chapters 7,
8, 9, and 23. Work done by Dr Tornos comprises the following:

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 Re-logging the cores of drill holes 07-15, 10-64, 10-68, 11-98, 11-106, 11-123, 11-
163, 11-187, and 12-196 with special attention to the lithofacies of the volcanic rocks,
the mineralization, and the hydrothermal alteration
 Construction of a lithostratigraphic column of the Curipamba district
 Lithofacies characterization of the volcanic and subvolcanic rocks
 Modelling of the massive sulphide mineralization, its controls and genesis
 Petrographic study of 20 selected samples from the massive sulphides, including
XRD analyses and SEM characterization
 Critical review and synthesis of previous reports

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4. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

The Curipamba Project is located in the foothills of the Cordillera Occidental of the
Ecuadorian Andes and covers the provinces of Bolívar and Los Ríos. The Project is a
contiguous area comprising seven concessions that cover 30,327.18 ha, located immediately
east of Ventanas and 350 km southwest of Quito (Figure 4.1).
FIGURE 4.1 LOCATION MAP

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MINERAL TENURE
The concessions block measures 26 km north-south and 14 km east-west and comprises,
from north to south: Las Naves 1, Las Naves 2, Las Naves 5, Las Naves, Las Naves 3,
Jordan 1, and Jordan 2 (Table 4.1 and Figure 4.1). The property is located on UTM PDSA 56
zone 17 South Coordinates at 681,000E, 9,842,000N and 702,000E and 9,869,000N.
TABLE 4.1 PROPERTY STATUS, SALAZAR RESOURCES LTD — CURIPAMBA PROJECT
Fees required
Concession Area (ha) Recording Date Expiry date Status
US$/Year(2013)
Good
JORDAN 1 4,900 26/10/2006 26/10/2036 77,910
standing
Good
JORDAN 2 4,627.18 11/04/2006 11/04/2036 73,572
standing
Good
LAS NAVES 1,460 18/02/2003 18/02/2033 23,214
standing
Good
LAS NAVES 1 4,900 19/08/2005 19/08/2035 38,955
standing
Good
LAS NAVES 2 4,900 19/08/2005 19/08/2035 77,910
standing
Good
LAS NAVES 3 4,840 19/08/2005 19/08/2035 76,956
standing
Good
LAS NAVES 5 4,700 03/02/2006 03/02/2036 37,365
standing
TOTAL 30,327.18 405,882
Third-party properties surrounding the Curipamba Project are shown in Figure 4.2. The
location of a kaolin mine on a separate block not owned by Salazar is also shown in Figure
4.2; the kaolin deposit is surrounded by the Jordan 2 concession.

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In Ecuador, exploration and mining activities are broken down into four phases:
 Initial exploration, 4 years maximum

 Advanced exploration, 4 years maximum
 Economic evaluation, 2 years maximum
 Exploitation, 25 years, renewable
According to Ecuadorian Mining Law published on January 29 of 2009, exploitation

concessions have a term of 25 years and may be approved for renewal for successive 25-
year periods provided that the registered concession holder gives notice and files a work and
investment plan before the expiry date. A number of permits, as outlined in the Mining Law,
are required prior to initiation of exploration activities, including an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA), an archaeological/cultural heritage permit, and a water use permit. The
permit status of the Salazar concessions is summarized in Table 4.3.
The Mining Law requires that the company pay per annual property maintance 2.5% of the
minimum salary per hectare. The minimum salary in Ecuador for 2013 was US$318 and for
2014 it is US$340, and it is updated every year. As an alternative to this payment, the
company can pay US$7.95 per hectare per year for the initial four-year exploration phase. In
the second four-year period (i.e. advanced exploration), the rate increases to 5%, or
US$15.9 per hectare per year. In the exploitation phase, the fee is 10% of the minimum
salary or US$31.8 per hectare yearly, on a maximum of 5,000 ha (US$159,000). Salazar
concessions Jordan 1, Jordan 2, Las Naves, Las Naves 2, and Las Naves 3 are advanced
explorations, and Las Naves 1 and Las Naves 5 are initial explorations.
There is no maximum number of concessions for each concessionaire, but there is a limit of
5,000 ha per concessionaire in the exploitation phase. Mining royalties have been set at a
minimum of 5% and a maximum of 8% mineral sales. No back-in rights are applicable. The
base sales price for minerals is open to ―negotiation‖ where mining is conducted pursuant to
an exploitation contract. The following taxes are applicable to mining activities:
 22% income tax

 15% profit sharing (3% workers and 12% social projects)
 70% of windfall revenue (basis for application not yet determined)
 12% VAT. VAT on exportation activities is not subject to refund in case of export
 Accelerated depreciation subject to special approval
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On July 16 of 2013, the Fundamental Bill of Amendment to the Mining Act, to the Amended
Tax Fairness Act and to the Fundamental Internal Taxation Act (the Bill) takes effect. The Bill
includes major amendments (Table 4.2), in particular the following:
 The creation and promotion of medium-scale mining, a non-existent category in the

previous Mining Act (MA)
 New norms for regulating and sanctioning illegal mining, aiming to eradicate it
 The rationalization of permits and authorizations for mining, making these processes
swifter and more straightforward
 The modification of the windfall profits tax in an attempt to overcome a current
obstacle in the negotiation of exploitation contracts with private companies
Together with the creation of the category of medium-scale mining, one of the most important
changes is the increase in production volumes permitted for what is called small-scale
mining.
 The production ranges for medium-scale mining for metal minerals are 301–1,000
tonnes per day in underground mining, 1,001–2,000 tonnes per day in open pit
mining, and 1,501–3,000 m3 per day in alluvial mining.
 The production ranges for small-scale mining for metal minerals are up to 300 tonnes
in underground mining, up to 1,000 tonnes in open pit mining, and up to 1,500 m3 in
alluvial mining.

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TABLE 4.2 ECUADOR MINING LAW 2013 – SUMMARY
MID-SIZE MINING LARGE PROJECTS
Underground Mining between 300 – 1,000 t/day > 1,000 t/day for Underground mining
Open Pit Mining between 1,000 – 2,000 t/day > 2,000 t/day for Open Pit mining
Mining concessions granted up to 10 years: 4 years Mining concessions granted up to 10 years: 4 years
early exploration (US$ 8.5/Ha) + 4 years advanced early exploration (US$ 8.5/Ha) + 4 years advanced
exploration (US$17.0/Ha) + 2 years feasibility study exploration (US$17.0/Ha) + 2 years feasibility study
(US$17.0/Ha) (US$17.0/Ha)
Ruled by mining law, no negotiation with Negotiation with the government to obtain
government. Once the mine starts operations, the operational permit. Once the mine becomes
annual payment jumps to US$17.0/Ha up to 25 operations, the annual payment jumps to
years (renewable) US$21.9/Ha up to 25 years (renewable)
Fixed Royalty of 3% on NSR for Small Mining

Royalty between 5-8% on NSR
Fixed Royalty of 4% on NSR for Mid-Size Mining
Windfall tax applicable once original investment has

No windfall taxes
been repaid
1% taxes on the sale or indirect transfer of shares of 1% taxes on the sale or indirect transfer of shares of
a mining company a mining company
Total tax burden ~ 50% (includes Royalty, VAT, Profit Total tax burden ~ 50% (includes Royalty, VAT, Profit
Sharing and Corporate Taxes). No windfall taxes Sharing and Corporate Taxes)
Capping Royalties: For Mid-Sized Mining a Fixed Royalty of 4% on NSR have been
established. In the case of large projects, concessionaires will have to pay a minimum royalty
of 5% on the sale of the principal mineral or secondary minerals and , for gold, copper or
silver, no higher than 8%. In other words, a range is set for royalties, thus creating more
investor certainty.
Permits: One of the main obstacles faced by the mining industry in Ecuador has been
obtaining an Environmental Licence to operate. The current process of approving
Environmental Impact Studies and granting an Environmental Licence can take from 12 to 18
months, which not only has a negative impact on business planning but also encroaches on
the limited exploration period granted to mining concessionaires.

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As for the amendments to environmental permits made by the Bill, the main changes — and
our comments — are as follows:
a) For artisanal mining, environmental fact sheets will need to be approved, while, for
small-scale mining, the Environmental Licence will allow concessionaires to perform
exploration and exploitation activities at the same time (Art. 13 of the Bill).
b) With regard to medium-scale and large-scale mining, environmental fact sheets will
need to be approved for the initial exploration stage. This is a different and much
simpler category than the environmental impact studies currently required for each
stage of the mining concession (initial exploration, advanced exploration, exploitation,
etc.). Said amendment is very reasonable as the environmental impact is minimal in
the initial exploration stage (Art. 13 of the Bill).
c) In medium-scale and large-scale mining, an environmental declaration, instead of the
current Bill needed; as mentioned above, this is a different and much simpler concept
(Art. 13 of the Bill).
d) When a concessionair has completed all the requirements for the approval of the
environmental licence, it must be granted within six months of the presentation of the
required documentation. Should the competent authority fail to respond within said
timeframe, this shall be taken as tacit agreement to the commencement of mining
activities. In other words, the Bill establishes positive administrative silence for the
approval of environmental licences (Art. 13 of the Bill).
e) The amendments proposed in the Bill will clearly entail modifications to the
Environmental Regulations for Mining Activities, which will have to incorporate a
transitional regime for activities currently in the process of obtaining a licence (Art. 13
of the Bill). They are positive for the industry as they eliminate of useless red tape
that used to hamper the start of mining activities. It also circumvents undue
interference by local governments in the management and control of non-renewable
natural resources, which, by order of the Constitution, is the exclusive jurisdiction of
the Central State.

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Las Naves
Village
Zapotal
FIGURE 4.2 EXPLORATION CLAIMS MAP

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TABLE 4.3 PERMIT STATUS, SALAZAR RESOURCES LTD — CURIPAMBA PROJECT
No. Date Document Type Document Authorized Company Status
Approval of EIA for exploration

for the following concessions: Subsecretary of Environmental
1 16/11/2007 Survey Las Naves; Las Naves 1, 2, 3, Protection; Ministry of Mines APPROVED
4, and 5; Jordan; Jordan 1, 2, 3, and Petroleum
and 4.
Certificate of Intersection of the OK, no conflict
2 07/06/2009 Certificate National System Protected Ministry of the Environment with protected
Areas areas
Update of EIA, for Exploration,

3 02/10/2009 Survey on 15/12/2009, Official registry Ministry of the Environment APPROVED
date
Water permit for use of water

4 14/01/2010 Permits National Secretary of Water APPROVED
for exploration, Request No. 1
Water permit for use of water

5 28/10/2010 Permit National Secretary of Water APPROVED
for exploration, Request No. 2
Ministry of Natural and Non-

6 30/03/2010 Patent payments COMPLETED
Renewable Resources
Substitution of
Substitution of mining titles for Ministry of Natural and Non-
7 Mining Titles and GRANTED
25 years for concessions Renewable Resources
patent payments

07-ene 27/04/2010 Jordan 1, Code 700918 GRANTED
Renewable Resources
Ministry of Natural and Non
07-feb 15/03/2010 Jordan 2, Code 200652 GRANTED
Renewable Resources
07-mar 15/03/2010 Las Naves, Code 200508 GRANTED
Renewable Resources
07-abr 15/03/2010 Las Naves 1, Code 200627 GRANTED
Renewable Resources
07-may 15/03/2010 Las Naves 2, Code 200628 GRANTED
Renewable Resources
07-jun 15/03/2010 Las Naves 3, Code 200629 GRANTED
Renewable Resources
07-jul 27/04/2010 Las Naves 5, Code 700885 GRANTED
Renewable Resources
Socialization and presentation

of Curipamba Sur by Ministry of Natural and Non-
Ecuadorian State Authorities. Renewable Resources,
Socialization
(1) Echeandía 26/04/2010; (2) National Secretary of Water,
8 April - May 2010 Interministry COMPLETED
El Congreso 27/04/2010; (3) Ministry of the Environment,
Commission
San Luis de Pambil 28/04/2010; Subsecretary of the
(4) Las Naves 29/04/2010; and Communities
(5) Jerusalem 12/05/2010
Final Authorization for restart of

9 03/06/2010 Permit activities Advanced Exploration GRANTED
Renewable Resources
Phase
Fulfillment of Art. 26 of the New

10 Certificates
Mining Law*

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10-ene 09/04/2010 Certificate National Office of Civil Aviation GRANTED
10-feb 07/05/2010 Certificate Ministry of Defense GRANTED
Superintendence of
10-mar 02/06/2010 Certificate GRANTED
Telecommunications
National Office of
10-abr 10/06/2010 Certificate GRANTED
Hydrocarbons
Ministry of Transportation and

10-may 28/05/2010 Certificate GRANTED
Public Works
National Institute of Cultural
10-jun 21/06/2010 Certificate GRANTED
Heritage
Ministry of Electricity and Non-

10-jul 16/06/2010 Certificate GRANTED
Renewable Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL LICENCE:
Environmental Auditing of EIA
11 13/05/2011 License 2010 for Curipamba Sur 3 Ministry of the Environment GRANTED
(Concessions Las Naves 1 and
Las Naves 2).
Jordan 1)
(Concessions Las Naves, Las
Naves 3 and Jordan 2).
Annual Exploration Reports of

the Curipamba Concessions:
Las Naves, Las Naves 1, Las ARCOM (Regulatory and
14 30/03/2011 Reports APPROVED
Naves 2, Las Naves 3, Las Mining Control Agency)
Naves 5, Jordan 1, and Jordan
2
15 30/03/2011 PATENT PAYMENTS COMPLETED
Renewable Resources
Mining Occupational Safety and

16 15/11/2011 Regulation Ministry of Labour Relations APPROVED
Security Internal Regulation
17 28/11/2011 Regulation Internal Work Rules Ministry of Labour Relations APPROVED

2

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Renewable Resources

2011 for Curipamba Sur 1
20 03/07/2013 Ministry of the Environment APPROVED
Naves 3, and Jordan 2)

Jordan 1)

Las Naves 2)

2
Renewable Resources
25 10/10/2013 Presented Ministry of the Environment IN PROCESS
Naves 3, and Jordan 2)
Jordan 1)
Las Naves 2)
*According to the new Mining Law, EIA, and the Environmental Auditing, the total project area must not exceed 15,000 hectares. Therefore,
Curipamba Sur has been divided into 3 projects for the auditing: Curipamba Sur 1, Curipamba Sur 2, and Curipamba Sur 3 (30,327.18
hectares in 7 concessions).
Reports of the Surface Water Quality Monitoring are presented to both The Ministry of the Environment and SENAGUA (National Water
Secretariat) on a biannual basis. This provision came into force after receiving the environmental licence for the Curipamba project.
Progress reports on the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan have been submitted to the Ministry of the Environment on a
quarterly basis. This provision came into force after receiving the environmental licence for the Curipamba project.

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5. ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL

RESOURCES, PHYSIOGRAPHY AND
INFRASTRUCTURE
ACCESSIBILITY
The Curipamba Project is located in the Western Mountain Range (Cordillera Occidental)
adjacent to the western coastal flatlands. Access to the area is excellent along paved roads,
which branch off at Ventanas and Zapotal from the main coastal highway that connects Quito
and Guayaquil (Figure 5.1). The international airport in Guayaquil can be reached in 2.5
hours by road. Salazar maintains a drill core logging, sampling, and secure storage
warehouse in the town of Ventanas, on the main highway between the cities of Quevedo and
Guayaquil. Ventanas is about a 30-minute drive from the town of Las Naves. Access inside
the property is along year-round gravel roads (former logging roads) that connect the Salazar
exploration office in Las Naves with the field camp at El Congreso. Secondary roads and
trails cross much of the central portion of the Project area (Figure 5.1). Most of the zones of
mineral exploration interest are accessible by secondary dirt roads and a short hike on foot.
In the northern part of the property, a few areas require mule access.

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FIGURE 5.1 PROJECT ACCESSIBILITY MAP

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CLIMATE
The climate at Curipamba is tropical, humid, and hot most of the year, with lush forest in the
Curipamba Concession. The wet season is from December to May, with an average annual
rainfall between 2,200 and 2,500 mm, and the dry season is from June to November. The
climate has little effect on the operating season and exploration activities can be carried out
year-round.
LOCAL RESOURCES
The Curipamba area is near the towns of Ventanas, Quevedo, and Babahoyo and the city of
Guayaquil, where supplies and labour can be easily obtained. The Property is well forested,
with thick grass covering areas that have been cleared for raising livestock. In areas with
cattle, there are numerous ticks in the vegetation. Crops include banana, coffee, cacao, and
oranges. The population is dedicated to agriculture and trade. There are no large gold or
base metal mines operating in this part of Ecuador. Therefore contractors, skilled labour,
heavy mining equipment, and so on, would have to be acquired elsewhere.
INFRASTRUCTURE
There is no infrastructure in the Project area apart from good road access. The national
power grid is within 20 km of the Naves Central (El Domo) area in the Echeandía Canton
(Figure 5.2).
PHYSIOGRAPHY
The Project area is located where the Andes meet the coastal flatlands. The physiography is
characterized by floodplains to the west and moderate to steep-sloped hills to the east, with
elevations ranging from 100 masl to 1,000 masl in less than seven kilometres of horizontal
distance.
Drainage is dominated by the strong, west-flowing Suquibí and Runayacu (also called
Oncebí) rivers. All streams and rivers drain into the Pacific Ocean and have deeply incised
the mountain-sides to form the east-west elongated Las Naves hill. Towards the south, a
parallel-elongated hill separates the Runayacu River from the Chazo Juan and Echeandía
river system.

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Curipamba
Project
FIGURE 5.2 ELECTRICAL GRID MAP OF ECUADOR

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6. HISTORY
This description of the property history was taken, for the most part, from Lahti (2006),
Valliant et al (2010) and Lavigne and McMonnies (2011).
- In 1991, RTZ Mining PLC Inc. (RTZ) conducted a semi-detailed stream sediment
reconnaissance survey in the Ecuadorian Western Andes near the Curipamba
Project, collecting 548 samples. This information was in the public domain in 2004
when Amlatminas (now Curimining) purchased the information from the Ecuadorian
government. Although more than thirty elements were analysed, only the two most
important elements from an economic standpoint (gold, copper, and the pathfinder
element arsenic) were plotted on a map that also included the drainage and an
outline of the Curipamba Property. All results were plotted, including those outside of
the Curipamba Property. A number of anomalous areas were indicated, but none
corresponded to what are now the best-known mineralized occurrences on the
Curipamba Property. The best copper anomalies are found on the claims north of the
Suquibí River in the northern part of the property. In the southern two-thirds of the
Curipamba Property, there is no significant copper enrichment, including the ground
with gold-bearing outcrops. Only scattered samples with gold concentrations ranging
from 21 ppb to 200 ppb were indicated in the bottom two-thirds of the Curipamba
Project.
- The concession for Las Naves was obtained from the Ecuadorian state in February of
2003 by Mr Leiva Iván Santillán. He transferred the properties to Amlatminas (owned
by Fredy Salazar) in 2005.
- In 2004, Fredy Salazar and Acosta Geovani staked the 16 claims comprising the
original Curipamba Property. In September of 2006, the Curipamba claims were
transferred to Curimining S.A. (owned by Fredy Salazar and Pablo Acosta). Mr
Salazar and Mr Acosta subsequently agreed to sell their shares in Curimining to
Consolidated Kookaburra. Prior to being transferred to Curimining , the claims were
held by Mr. Salazar and Mr. Acosta as Amlatminas, a private Ecuadorian companied
owned by Mr. Salazar through which exploration activities on the Curipampa property
were conducted.

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- On March 13 of 2006, Newmont Mining Corporation (Newmont) was granted a three-

month exclusive access to the Curipamba Property and agreed to possible Joint
Venture (JV) terms in a Letter of Intent. Newmont conducted a semi-detailed Bulk
Leachable Extractable Gold (BLEG) stream sediment survey on the property,
collecting 225 samples. The Newmont BLEG stream sediment survey identified
significant gold concentrations in streams draining mineralized areas; however,
Newmont did not reach a final agreement and does not retain any interest in the
property. According to Lahti (2006), the BLEG method provided a good indication of
epithermal gold mineralization, as suggested by the distribution of stream sediment
arsenic, silver, and mercury. The method identifies the claims above the Umbe River
as having potential for gold and copper mineralization. Similarly, the BLEG survey
identifies the southern two-thirds of the Curipamba Property as being enriched in
gold, silver, arsenic and, to a much lesser degree, copper. The enrichment in BLEG
arsenic, silver, mercury, and molybdenum gives a strong epithermal signature over
and adjacent to the gold-silver mineralization at Sesmo Sur, Las Naves Central,
Roble, Caracol, and Piedras Blancas (Lahti, 2006).
- In April of 2007, Salazar hired the company Geofísica Consultores of Peru to carry
out induced polarization and magnetometer studies in the principal stream's
sediments, rocks, and soil anomalies. As a result of this work, 13 IP geophysical
anomalies (chargeability and resistivity) were identified in the El Domo deposit and in
the surrounding area.
- From late 2007 to April of 2008, Phase I drilling with 51 diamond drill holes (DDH)
totaling 10,003 m was completed to test 11 target areas (Buckle, 2009). Drill hole
CURI-39 intersected the El Domo mineralization in February of 2008, cutting 12.22 m
of massive sulphides (12.22 m at 1.20% Cu, 4.54% Zn, 3.62 g/t Au, and 51.89 g/t
Ag).
- On April 18 of 2008, Ecuador‘s Constitutional Assembly passed a Constituent

Mandate Resolution (the ―Mining Mandate‖) that provided, among other provisions,
for the suspension of mineral exploration activities for 180 days or until a new Mining
Law was approved. In January of 2009, the new Mining Law was passed into law.
The new Mining Law states that each company must negotiate an exploitation
contract with the government.

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- In April and May of 2008, Salazar hired Dr Warren Pratt of Specialized Geological
Mapping Ltd to map the El Domo prospect (Las Naves), log drill cores, and determine
the volcanic lithostratigraphy (Pratt, 2008).
- In March of 2009, Dr Pratt returned to conduct geological mapping and core logging
at the Sesmo Sur prospect, about seven kilometres south of El Domo (Las Naves).
The main goal of the visit was to map Sesmo Sur and make geological sections
based on the mapping and core logging. The plan was also to create a
lithostratigraphic column that would allow correlation with the massive sulphide
horizon at El Domo (Pratt, 2009).
- In July of 2009, Salazar hired Dr Jim Franklin of Franklin Geosciences Ltd to review
the geological attributes of the newly discovered VMS deposit and occurrences on
the Curipamba Project. The objectives of the visit were to examine the overall setting
of the occurrences, review selected drill holes to provide comments on the lithologies
and principal controls on the occurrences, and to provide suggestions for further work
to constrain the controls on mineralization (Franklin, 2009).
- Subsequent to January 29 of 2009, the new mining regulations were implemented.
- From March to May of 2010, Salazar was re-issued title (replacing titles according to
the new mining law) to its mining properties of the Curipamba Project by the Ministry
of Non-Renewable Natural Resources, and Salazar has complied with all legal
requirements and regulations and with the corresponding legal process.
- On June 3 of 2010, Salazar received official notice from the Minister of Mines and
Petroleum of Ecuador authorizing the restart of field operations. The notice granted
Salazar the right to continue its exploration program in five properties within the
Curipamba Project (Las Naves, Las Naves 2, Las Naves 3, Jordan 1, and Jordan2) in
Central West Ecuador, subject to receipt of certain permits. On January 14 of 2010,
Salazar received its water permit and filed an updated environmental impact
assessment.
- From June 4 to September 23 of 2010, the Phase II drilling program was carried out
at El Domo, with 20 drill holes completed for a total of 3,241.38 metres.

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- In August of 2010, Salazar commissioned Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates

(Scott Wilson RPA), the predecessor to RPA, to undertake a resource estimate of the
El Domo deposit. Scott Wilson RPA submitted the NI 43-101 Technical Report on the
Curipamba Project to Salazar on October 8 of 2010 (Valliant et al. 2010).
- From September 2010 to August of 2011, the Phase III drilling program was carried
out on the El Domo target, with 84 drill holes (DDH) completed for a total of 15,582.85
metres.
- In November of 2010, Dr Franklin made his second visit to the project to review the
geology, drill cores, and provide new directions for geological exploration.
- In 2011, Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA) completed a new resource modelling
of El Domo, adding the Phase III drilling results. RPA submitted the NI 43-101
Technical Report on the Curipamba Project to Salazar on November 7 of 2011
(Lavigne and McMonnies, 2011).
- From August of 2011 to April of 2012, the Phase IV drilling program was carried out
on the El Domo target, with 51 drill holes (DDH) completed for a total of 10,248.77
metres.
- In April of 2013, Salazar commissioned Buenaventura Ingenieros S.A. (BISA) to

complete a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) of the El Domo deposit. A new
resource estimation that includes Phase IV drilling results, preliminary mining and
engineering designs, and preliminary metallurgical testing are contained in the
respective sections of this report.

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7. GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND

MINERALIZATION
The Curipamba Project is located in western central Ecuador, in the province of Bolívar near
the town of Ventanas; it is part of the western and lowermost foothills of the northern
Cordillera Occidental of the Andes, near the boundary with the western coastal plain (Figure
4.1). Geologically, it is located in the central equatorial Andes, within the Macuchi Terrane, a
predominantly juvenile island magmatic arc of Paleocene–Eocene age adjacent to the
Amazonian Craton (Figure 7.1).
The El Domo deposit is part of the Las Naves Central area of the Curipamba Project and up
to now it is the best-developed and best-known part of the project. The property comprises
newly recognized volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization rich in copper, zinc,
silver, and gold in an area of circa 2 x 3 km2. The project also includes several other
prospects and geochemical anomalies such as Sesmo, El Gallo, Roble, Cade, Caracol, and
Roble Este (Figure 7.2), which are described briefly in Chapter 9 of this report.
The first drill hole intersection of the massive sulphides was obtained in February of 2008
(CURI-39) when drilling a geophysical (but not geochemical) anomaly in the El Domo area,
with a strong chargeability response. The drilled target is one of a group of thirteen
geophysical anomalies striking NW-SE and curving to a NNE strike (Pratt 2008) identified in
an area approximately 2 km x 1 km. Drill hole CURI-39 reported grades of 4.54% Zn, 1.20 %
Cu, 3.62 g/t Au, and 51.75 g/t Ag over 12.4 metres. The early exploration models of Salazar
Resources were of VMS deposits, first similar to Eskay Creek and afterwards of the Kuroko
type. However, Newmont interpreted this deposit as being epithermal.
The geology of the area is dominated by a submarine mafic volcanic sequence (Macuchi
Group, Paleogene–Eocene) with potential for volcanic-hosted massive sulphide deposits
(VMS) that is intruded by likely younger subvolcanic calc-alkaline plutonism also having
potential for the formation of porphyry and epithermal styles of mineralization. The Macuchi
Group hosts several massive sulphide deposits mined in recent years (Table 8.1 and Figure
7.1).
The dominant mineralization consists of a large sub-horizontal lens of massive sulphides at

least 800 m long (N-S) and 350–500 m wide that is part of a larger zone of mineralization

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that has been partially dismembered by later intrusions. Estimated tonnages and grades are
6.080 Mt at 2.33% Cu, 3.06% Zn, 2.99 g/t Au, 55.81 g/t Ag, and 0.28% Pb for indicated
resources; inferred resources are 3.882 Mt with 1.56% Cu, 2.19% Zn, 2.03 g/t Au, 42.92 g/t
Ag, and 0.16% Pb (Table 14.1). These mineral grades are similar to those reported at the
nearby La Plata and Macuchi deposits, which are hosted by the same sequence (Table 8.1).
However, the tonnage at El Domo is significantly larger, making this the largest VMS deposit
in the Central Andes of Ecuador.
The only operating mine in the study area is a small kaolin deposit. There are no other mines
nearby, but within the property there are some minor prospects with small workings.
REGIONAL GEOLOGY
The Andes of Ecuador comprise two mountain chains, the Cordillera Central and the
Cordillera Oriental, separated by a central inter-Andean depression basin. To the west, the
Cordillera Occidental predominantly consists of fault-bounded Cretaceous–Tertiary volcanic
oceanic and island arc terranes (Litherland and Aspden 1992; Kerr et al. 2002; Spikings et al.
2005). Here, strike-slip fault displacement along approximately north-south trending faults
has resulted in a complicated assemblage of tectono-stratigraphic units that juxtaposes
volcanosedimentary successions of similar lithologies but different ages. These terranes, of
dominant oceanic affinity, have traditionally been interpreted as being successively accreted
without obduction west of the Amazon craton to a long-lived continental margin from the Late
Jurassic to the Eocene. Superimposed on them are four magmatic arcs also related to the
subduction of the Farallon/Nazca plate beneath the continent.
The largest and youngest units are the Pallatanga and the Macuchi terranes (Figure 7.1),
thought to be accreted during the Eocene. The Macuchi Terrane, which hosts the Curipamba
Project, is several hundred kilometres long and tens of kilometres wide. It has been
classically interpreted as an allochthonous terrane accreted to the Pallatanga continental
margin during the Late Eocene in response to the closure of a back-arc basin (Spikings et al.
2001; Hughes and Pilatasig 2002; Kerr et al. 2002). However, recent work suggests that the
Pallatanga Terrane represents the oceanic basement of the Western Cordillera, being a
dismembered terrane from the Caribbean plateau (Luzieux et al. 2006; Vallejo et al. 2006;
Spikings et al. 2005; Vallejo et al. 2009). In addition, there are doubts about the exact nature
of the Macuchi Terrane. The presence of detrital zircon of Cambrian age inherited from the

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nearby basement suggests that the Macuchi Terrane is perhaps a forearc basin that formed
near its present position and close to an eroding basement like that in the Eastern Cordillera.
The Pallatanga Group, of likely Coniacian age (Late Cretaceous), comprises discontinuous
tectonic slices striking NNE-SSW along the eastern border of the Western Cordillera
(Reynaud et al. 1999). It consists of an oceanic plateau sequence comprising submarine
basalt, locally as pillow lavas and hyaloclastite breccia as well as underlying microgabbro.
This volcanic sequence is overlain by marine turbidites derived from an unknown basaltic to
andesitic volcanic source, and a tectonic mélange with slivers of ophiolite (Hughes and
Pilatasig 2002), all of them interpreted as related to a mantle plume (Vallejo et al. 2006); no
subaerial rocks are reported here. Vallejo et al. (2013) have obtained a U-Pb zircon age of
88±2 Ma for igneous rocks of this group.
The Macuchi Terrane, cropping out on the western flank of the Cordillera Occidental
(between 0° and 2°30'S), contains an intra-oceanic island arc volcanic sequence included in
the Macuchi Group. As a whole, it is interpreted as an oceanic plateau sequence. The
Macuchi Group comprises predominantly submarine volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks with
subordinate sedimentary rocks (BGS-CODIGEM 1993; McCourt et al. 1997). More than 80%
of the sequence is dominated by volcaniclastic and epiclastic rocks, including lithic-rich
sandstone and breccia with more accessory siltstone and chemical sediments, mostly chert
grouped in a turbidite-like sequence. The sequence also includes domes and flows of basalt
to basaltic andesite, with abundant pillow lavas/breccias and hyaloclastic textures as well as
their sub-volcanic equivalents (dykes) of micro-porphyritic basalt and diabase. Most of these
rocks show pervasive hydrothermal-submarine alteration with chlorite-epidote (Aguirre and
Atherton 1987). The non-volcanic sedimentary fraction is dominated by scarce calcarenite
and recrystallized limestone fringing a presumed reef system (Hughes and Pilatasig 2002).
This sequence has an estimated minimum thickness of 2.0 to 2.5 km (Aguirre and Atherton
1987). It seems that the Macuchi Terrane is more abundant in basalt than the Pallatanga
Terrane, which is interpreted as due to a more primitive nature of the Macuchi magmatic arc
in comparison to the Pallatanga Terrane.
In detail, Chiaradia and Fontboté (2001) have distinguished two major units within the
Macuchi Group. The Basal Macuchi includes primitive basalt, mostly as submarine lava
flows, interbedded with mudstone. The Main Macuchi is predominantly volcaniclastic, less
primitive, basaltic andesite to andesite, and formed in a younger arc. Although most works
emphasize the almost exclusive predominance of mafic rocks, the Macuchi Group also
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includes several felsic, dacitic to rhyolitic, domes that seem to be directly related to the
already known massive sulphide orebodies (Chiaradia and Fontboté 2001; Vallejo 2013),
suggesting that the magmatism is bimodal. The orebodies always occur in the footwall of the
known VMS, suggesting a direct relationship between the scarce rhyodacite and the
mineralization (Pratt 2008; Chiaradia et al. 2008).

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QUITO
La Plata
Cu-AuZn-Ag-Pb
Calacali-Pallatanga Fault Zone

Macuchi
Cu-Au-Zn
CURIPAMBA
Cu-Au-Zn-Ag-Pb
Post-Eocene sediments
& volcanic rocks
GUAYAQUIL
PACIFIC OCEAN
CUENCA
FIGURE 7.1 REGIONAL GEOLOGY — THE MACUCHI TERRANE AND LOCATION OF VMS
DEPOSITS

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Whole-rock and trace-element geochemical studies show that the basalt to basaltic andesite
have MORB-like tholeiitic affinities and primitive arc lavas with locally depleted LREE (Kerr et
al. 2002), whereas the felsic rocks are calc-alkaline (Hughes and Pilatasig 2002; Chiaradia
and Fontboté 2001; Chiaradia et al. 2008; Vallejo 2013). Although most of the sequence can
be accounted for by fractional crystallization of a primitive melt, the most likely derivation of
the felsic rocks is the partial melting of a continental crust, as determined by Chiaradia and
Fontboté (2001) on the basis of lead isotope geochemistry. This suggests that crustal
contamination was likely during the magmatic evolution, which is consistent with the sub-
autochthonous nature of the Macuchi Terrane.
Radiometric and biostratigraphic dating (Vallejo 2013; Egüez 1986) indicate a Paleocene to
Late Eocene age for the Macuchi Group. The age of the sedimentary rocks was determined
from Middle Eocene foraminifera and Late Eocene radiolaria from a typical terrane section
(Egüez 1986). Additionally, andesite sills have been dated by K/Ar to circa 42 and 36 Ma.
Finally, an Ar-Ar age of 41.5±0.4 Ma has been obtained from the volcaniclastic mafic rocks in
the El Domo deposit (Vallejo 2013).
The southern Macuchi Group hosts abundant discordant intrusive rocks of intermediate to
felsic composition, mostly large medium- to coarse-grained tonalite and granodiorite plutons
rich in hornblende and biotite. There are also abundant porphyritic to micro-tonalite dykes
and stocks along the major faults. Franklin (2009) has highlighted the importance of these
intrusive rocks in generating magmatic-hydrothermal systems, but up to now there are no
accurate geochronology nor geochemical studies supporting such a hypothesis. Contact
metamorphic aureoles are well developed and range in age from 35 to 14 Ma; in other
words, it seems as though these intrusive rocks are younger than the volcanic rocks of the
Macuchi Group and belong to a Middle to Late Tertiary magmatic arc unrelated to the
predominantly primitive mafic volcanism of the Macuchi Group.
The Macuchi Group is in tectonic contact to the east through the Toachi Fault and its
southern extension the Chimbo Lineament (Vallejo et al., 2009) with the siliciclastic
Angamarca Group (Paleocene–Eocene) and the Pallatanga terrane (Hughes and Bermudez
1997; McCourt et al. 1997). Their eastern limit is another major and complex suture zone, the
Calacali–Pallatanga Fault Zone. This fault zone and its northern and southern extensions are
likely the eastern boundary of the North Andean Block (Ramos 2009). To the west, the
Macuchi Group hides below the alluvial fan deposits of the coastal zone.

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LOCAL GEOLOGY
Regionally, the Macuchi Group rocks consist mainly of basalt, andesite, and rhyodacite, both
coherent and volcaniclastic. Very likely, they belong to the Main Macuchi unit. The volcanic
rocks include a wide variety of well-preserved lithofacies interpreted in very different ways by
geologists studying the property (Table 7.1).
TABLE 7.1 CORRELATION OF LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC UNITS IN THE CURIPAMBA PROJECT
This study Pratt (2008) Franklin (2009) Vallejo (2013)
Quaternary
Topsoil/cover
deposits
Rhyolite Dome II ------------------- Not described -------------------------------
Porphyritic
Andesite Dome Andesite Andesite
andesite
Basalt Basalt Mafic Unit
Crystal-Rich
Upper Tuffaceous
Volcaniclastic Epiclastic Unit Volcaniclastic Unit
Unit (UTU)
Breccia
Polymictic
Volcaniclastic Debris flow or Breccia
Breccia Massive Sulphide Unit including Polymictic Breccia
Semi-Massive Unit (MSU), Grainstone
Sulphides including
Grainstone
Massive
Massive Sulphides Massive Sulphides
Sulphides
Hydroclastic breccia
units and
Lower Acid Unit
Rhyodacite massive flows Felsic Unit
(LAU)
or a flow-dome
complex
Stockwork Q-py Stockwork Stockwork
Stockwork
Anhydrite
anhydrite/gypsum

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The rocks of the Macuchi Group show only subtle diagenesis, no metamorphism, and are
virtually undisturbed, with almost no tectonic fabrics. Most of the primary features in both the
volcanic rocks and massive sulphides are well preserved. Schandl (2009) describes sub-
greenschist facies metamorphism, but no assemblages have been found other than
submarine hydrothermal alteration with no growth of metamorphic minerals. Furthermore, the
rocks have no cleavage and the fabric is likely primary.
The youngest sequence in the study area includes undifferentiated Plio–Pleistocene andesite
and dacite volcanic flows, included in the Lourdes, Sagoatoa, Puñalica, and Quilotoa
volcanics reported in the 1:100,000 geological maps of Ecuador. The first group includes
felsic quartz- and feldspar-phyric volcanic rocks with widespread hydrothermal alteration and
intense weathering. The second and third groups of volcanic rocks include pyroxene-bearing
coherent and clastic andesite considered remnants of partially eroded pre-Quaternary
volcanics.
PROPERTY GEOLOGY
As mentioned above, the Curipamba Project includes predominantly volcanic and
volcaniclastic rocks assigned to the Macuchi Group of Middle Paleocene–Eocene age
(Hughes and Pilatasig 2002; Vallejo 2007; McCourt et al. 1997) on a regional scale and at
the project site (Pratt 2008). They are overlain by Late Tertiary–Holocene volcanic rocks and
Holocene alluvial deposits that are the dominant outcropping rocks; most of the Curipamba
Project is covered by five to six metres of volcanic ash from eruptions of the Quilotoa
Volcano.
The area geology is relatively simple since there is a uniform and well-defined stratigraphy
(Figure 7.2 to Figure 7.4). In brief, it includes a basal rhyodacite unit overlain by two
interfingered volcaniclastic sequences, one mafic and another felsic, and two coherent
younger lithofacies, one andesitic and the other rhyolitic, which intruded the sequence in both
the north and south of the property. The massive sulphides are located in the contact
between the rhyodacite and the volcaniclastic rocks but also within the mafic volcaniclastics.
These latter rocks, termed ―Grainstone‖ or ―Grainstone Breccia‖, are interpreted as a marker
unit in the immediate hanging wall of the massive sulphides (Franklin 2009) that may be
used to guide exploration for additional camp-wide resources. Figure 7.2 is a geological map
of the Las Naves/El Domo area (Pratt 2008).

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FIGURE 7.2 CURIPAMBA PROJECT — LOCATION OF THE EL DOMO DEPOSIT AND NEARBY
PROSPECTS

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FIGURE 7.3 GEOLOGY OF THE EL DOMO DEPOSIT AND EXPLORATION DRILLING

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TABLE 7.2 CORRELATION OF LITHOLOGICAL UNITS — EL DOMO
Rhyolit e dome complex dominat ed by in-sit u and t ransport ed hyaloclast it e (including non-welded
Rhyolit e II RHY
pumice) and a small proport ion of coherent rocks. Virt ually unalt ered and likely post -mineralizat ion.
Andesit ic dome dominat ed by coherent f acies wit h lit t le hyaloclast it e. It is not af f ect ed by ore-
Andesit e AND Andesit e AND
f orming-relat ed alt erat ion and is assumed t o be post -mineralizat ion.
M af ic dykes B Basalt B Dykes of basalt / andesit e
Felsic dykes RHY Dykes of rhyolit e
Cryst al-rich M ass f low dominat ed by f ragment s of plagioclase-rich dacit e t hat could be derived f rom non-
volcaniclast ic BVX Tuf f T welded pumice. Includes several unit s wit h graded bedding, erosional bases and t ops dominat ed by
breccia cryst al-rich sandst one and green and red mudst one. Lack of hydrot hermal alt erat ion.
Basalt B Basalt B Subvolcanic sills of basalt int ruded in wet sediment s.
Polymict ic
Complex volcaniclast ic unit wit h alt ernat ing polymict ic breccias wit h het eromet ric f ragment s of
volcaniclast ic BVP Tuf f T
variegat ed origin wit h maf ic glass-rich breccia and sandst one. M inor layers of black mudst one.
breccia
Grainst one GR
Semi-massive
SM S Semi-massive t o disseminat ed mineralizat ion replacing t he polymict ic volcaniclast ic breccia.
sulphides Volcanogenic
VM S
massive sulphides
Volcanogenic M assive sulphides showing pronounced lat eral and vert ical zonat ion (Cu->Zn + Pb) replacing t he
M assive sulphides VM S VM S
massive sulphides uppermost rhyodacit e and t he f oot wall of t he polymict ic volcaniclast ic breccia.
Dome complex of rhyodacit e wit h coherent and brecciat ed f acies, including dominant in-sit u
Rhyodacit e RD Rhyolit e RHY
hyaloclast it e. Coherent f acies wit h local f low banding t hat dominat es in t he deep zones.
St ockwork quart z-
SS Breccia BXH Ore-relat ed st ockwork host ed by a zone of quart z-sericit e-alt erat ion of t he rhyodacit e.
pyrit e
St ockwork anhydrit e-
SY Gypsum GY Out er shell of st ockwork and st rat abound masses wit hin t he rhyodacit e.
gypsum
RD Rhyolit e Rhyolit e f lows/ rhyolit ic breccia
RD Rhyolit e Aut obrecciat ed dacit e
Ot her lit hologic RD Rhyolit e Rhyolit ic t uf f

t erms used in
Hydrot hermal
previous report s ??? Hydrot hermal breccias of dif f erent set t ing and signif icance
breccia
MF Tuf f Andesit ic t uf f / cryst al t uf f / f ine-grained t uf f
MF Tuf f Volcanic breccia/ polymict ic breccia
The massive sulphides are related to a major zone of hydrothermal alteration, which includes
extensive sericitization-silicification in the rhyodacitic footwall and widespread silicification-
chloritization-argillitization in the overlying mafic volcaniclastic rocks. The rhyodacite shows a
rather well-developed sulphide-rich stockwork zone and abundant vein-like gypsum replacing
earlier anhydrite.
In the mineralized area, the strata are almost flat-lying. They seem to occupy a gentle
syncline with a vertical axis and a relatively flat, or gently dipping, core but with steep limbs
adjacent to the intrusions. Figure 7.4 shows a lithostratigraphic column of the studied
sequence highlighting the key features of the main lithologies.

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LOWER FELSIC UNIT (LFU)

This unit, defined by Pratt (2008) as the Lower Acid Unit (Table 7.2), includes a suite of felsic
volcanic rocks (rhyolite and overlying dacite) with variegated textures and hydrothermal
alteration. It forms the footwall of the orebody and is likely the oldest exposed rock in the
area; however, Franklin (2010) has proposed that the Lower Felsic Unit is most likely
underlain by mafic flows and volcaniclastic rocks. Its lateral extension is also unknown since
it is covered by the younger lithologies. As estimated from drill core logging, the minimum
thickness of this unit is between 150–200 metres.
The Lower Felsic Unit is mainly composed of two distinct lithologies with transitional
boundaries, the coherent (Photos 1–3) and the fragmental rhyodacite (Photos 4, 5, and 7);
the former is more abundant in the footwall. The coherent rhyodacite is whitish to light cream,
massive or showing rather continuous, sometimes convoluted, flow banding. It is almost
aphyric, but locally there is randomly distributed free quartz (1–5%) in (usually) reabsorbed,
1–5 mm phenocrysts and sub-euhedral to euhedral oligoclase-albite 1–3 mm phenocrysts in
a cryptocrystalline groundmass of plagioclase and glass microlites. This groundmass shows
widespread devitrification with abundant perlitic textures.
The fragmental rhyodacite has a non-coherent texture and is typically overlies the massive
facies, but there are abundant zones of coherent facies within the fragmental one and vice
versa. The rocks include pseudo-brecciated zones with only poorly defined fragments
highlighted by the devitrification and the subsequent hydrothermal alteration (autobreccia).
More common is the hyaloclastite, which has angular to sub-angular fragments, sometimes
curvilinear and chilled, with a generalized jigsaw pattern in a darker and originally glassy
groundmass of similar composition and ranging in size from a few centimetres to several
metres in diameter. The hyaloclastite sometimes grades into a transported hyaloclastite that
includes more rounded and heterogeneous fragments, mostly of the same composition but a
different texture. It includes fragments with flow banding, massive or even minor fine-grained
basalt or basaltic andesite that could represent magmatically eroded dykes or even
fragments incorporated into the transported breccia. These rocks are usually poorer in quartz
than the coherent facies, probably related to quenching. Pratt (2008) has described the
presence of peperitic textures; however, they are unlikely since there are no fine-grained
siliciclastic sediments within the unit.
This unit has been interpreted in different ways, mostly as a rhyolitic dome or flow-dome
submarine complex overlain by dacitic flows or hyaloclastite (Pratt 2008; Franklin 2009) with
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a significant proportion of hydroclastic breccia and even tuffs; the stratiform character and
the absence of cross-cutting dykes have been noted as arguments for a lava flow.
There are few geochemical data available for this unit. Vallejo (2013) reports that the Lower
Felsic Unit consists of high silica (65–78%) calc-alkaline to transitional dacite to rhyolite with
a chemistry compatible with that of magmatic arcs as based on the immobile element
geochemistry. The high Zr (100–155 µg/g) and Y (13–23 µg/g) contents are compatible with
high-temperature magmas derived from the partial melting of hydrated crust (Barrie et al.
1993). As Vallejo (2013) states, all the felsic rocks of the Lower Unit can be ascribed to the
same magmatic unit. It is a chemically homogeneous rock but texturally very heterogeneous
— which is sometimes difficult to interpret due to major hydrothermal alteration.
On the whole, this unit is interpreted as a large submarine felsic (crypto-)dome complex that
includes most of the intrusive and extrusive lithofacies commonly present in these
complexes: massive coherent rocks (including dykes), autobreccias, and both in-situ and
transported hyaloclastite, reflecting the growth of these domes in pulses; no clear flows have
been observed. These rocks irregularly alternate within the drill core, reflecting the complex
dynamic growth of these systems. The presence of transported hyaloclastite (characterized
by rounded non-jigsaw breccia textures with texturally different fragments, and sometimes
exotic ones) confirms that at least some of the dome erupted into the seafloor, and mass
flows formed during dome growth. As Pratt (2008) has noted, felsic flows are uncommon in
the seafloor due to the high viscosity of the high-silica melts — when present, they are highly
brecciated rocks very different to hyaloclastite. In agreement with (Pratt 2008), BISA believes
that most of the brecciation is hydro-magmatic and not hydrothermal. In addition, no
evidence has been found of the diatreme reported by Beate (2007). Thus, there is no clear
evidence of hydrothermal breccia formation and most of the fragmental rocks can be
interpreted as hyaloclastite.
There is no unambiguous evidence of the depth of formation of the dome, but at least some
of it emerged onto the seafloor. In fact, these domes can form at any depth, from some tens
to thousands of metres. In a regional context, these rocks reflect an event of major
submarine felsic volcanism that slightly pre-dated the formation of the overlying massive
sulphides. However, not all the felsic rocks are located within the Lower Felsic Unit, and
there is some dacite within the Hanging Wall Unit and likely late rhyolite domes.

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FIGURE 7.4 STRATIGRAPHIC COLUMN OF THE EL DOMO DEPOSIT

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MASSIVE SULPHIDE UNIT (MSU)

This unit hosts the bulk of the volcano-sedimentary massive sulphides (>70% of Cu, Au, Zn,
and Ag) although some of the mineralization is also hosted in the overlying Hanging Wall
Unit as disseminated to semi-massive sulphides and as a stockwork and hydrothermal
breccias in the Lower Felsic Unit. Since this unit is exclusively formed of ore, it is described
in more detail below. Its thickness ranges between 20 cm and 25 m and strictly follows the
contact between the Lower Felsic Unit and the Hanging Wall Unit. The upper contact of the
massive sulphides is marked by a rather continuous layer, several metres thick, of white to
grey fine-grained silica. Despite being rather massive, the chert sometimes shows crude
banding. No clear replacement textures have been found, but it is worth noting that this
horizon is usually bounded by abundant clay.
HANGING WALL UNIT (HWU)

This unit occupies the immediate hanging wall of the Massive Sulphide Unit, and also hosts
discontinuous lenses of massive, semi-massive, and disseminated mineralization described
below. The pre-mineralization/alteration features are described here since BISA considers
that the mineralization replaced the volcaniclastic rocks (see Chapter 8.2.1).
The Hanging Wall Unit includes volcaniclastic and epiclastic rocks with fragmental texture.
Two major subunits can be clearly differentiated: the Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia
usually occurs in the sequence footwall and has irregular hydrothermal alteration and
mineralization; therefore, it was included in the Massive Sulphide Unit (MSU) by Pratt (2008).
The Crystal-Rich Volcaniclastic Breccia shows no hydrothermal alteration or mineralization
and is usually located above the Polymictic Breccia; however, it is sometimes interfingered
with it. Despite being broadly coeval, the sources and emplacement mechanisms of these
two volcaniclastic units are very different.

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Figure 7.5 Central E-W Cross-Section of the El Domo Deposit Based on the 3D Model
POLYMICTIC VOLCANICLASTIC BRECCIA

This unit is dominated by clast-supported, chaotic, and unsorted coarse breccia with more
accessory fine-grained breccia, sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Total unit thickness is circa
50 metres. These rocks are brown to green and show conspicuous meteoric degradation in
the drill core.
In the coarse breccia, the fragments are usually angular to sub-angular and range from a few
millimetres to some five centimetres in size; they are dominated by irregularly devitrified dark
glass with abundant perlitic structures and curvilinear edges suggesting minor reworking.
However, the breccia includes abundant non-glassy fragments with: (1) rounded fine-grained
porphyritic andesite with variable proportions of plagioclase phenocrysts, typical of the
Macuchi Group, likely rocks similar to the Andesitic Dome; (2) volcaniclastic sandstone,
quartz, and feldspar-rich phyric rhyodacite with flow banding similar to that of the Lower
Felsic Unit; (3) almost aphyric rhyolite with flow banding; (4) dark-grey, vesicular magnetic
glassy aphyric basalt with some pyrite; (5) red jasper; (6) silicified organic-matter-rich black
sediments; (7) siliciclastic sediments; (8) rare diorite; and (9) pink quartz-feldspar porphyry
(Pratt 2008; Vallejo 2013). The groundmass is primarily composed of glass.
The breccias occur as large units some 6–10 m thick and show no obvious sorting or
lamination except for some crude grain sorting locally (Photos 36–38). At the unit scale, the
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proportion of felsic fragments and glass seems to decrease upwards, with the hanging wall of
the sequence being more monomictic and enriched in andesite (Pratt 2008). In the lower part
of the unit, the proportion of lithic clasts is less than 5%. Glass is especially abundant in the
first 1–5 m above the massive sulphides; here, Buckle (2009) reports clasts with different
styles of alteration alternating with fresh glass-rich clasts, suggesting that the hydrothermal
alteration pre-dated their erosion and deposition. They include clasts with epidote + pyrite,
silicified clasts, interpreted massive sulphide clasts, and very rare amethyst clasts. In the
lower part, this breccia alternates with characteristic layers of fine-grained breccia made up
of clasts of mafic glass, some 2 mm–1 cm in size, supported by a major portion of
groundmass of the same composition.
The breccias are interbedded with 5–20 cm-thick layers of volcaniclastic sandstone, dark
siltstone, and shale resembling a turbidite in some places. The sandstone has abundant
sedimentary structures including graded, parallel, and cross-bedding, erosional structures,
load casts, and syn-sedimentary micro-faulting. These rocks are very immature and are
dominated by angular, fine-grained but inequigranular quartz clasts and sometimes abundant
plagioclase with interstitial sericite. There are also sporadic intervals of 20–40 cm of mafic
glass with features indicating a primary origin and minor reworking (i.e. pyroclastic). These
are the only likely true pyroclastic rocks found in the area.
The siltstone occurs as centimetre-to-metre layers capping the sandstone units and grading
into fine-grained and darker mudstone. In the contact between sandstone-siltstone or
sandstone-mudstone, there are abundant dewatering textures such as sand dykes that are
likely related to sedimentation in a tectonically unstable environment. However, lateral facies
changes seem to be common and it has not been possible to define a homogeneous section
for this unit.
All the previous studies note lenses and fragments of massive sulphides in this breccia. In
fact, Vallejo (2013) describes three different breccia units, those within the massive
sulphides, those being replaced by the sulphides with the formation of pseudoclasts, and
breccia with reworked massive sulphides in the hanging wall. However, all the presumed
massive sulphides observed in the drill core seem to be replacment, and the true fragmental
massive sulphides are only noted in outcrop at the El Gallo prospect (Pratt, 2008; Vallejo,
pers. comm.) in a sedimentary (fault scarp?) breccia with unclear relationships with this unit.
These rocks show typical submarine alteration with widespread devitrification to chlorite,
magnetite, and epidote. As discussed below, this alteration is independent and predates the
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ore-related alteration with quartz (chalcedony), illite, carbonate, and pyrite, which seems to
be synchronous with the formation of the 'pseudo-clasts' of massive sulphides by
replacement.
The mafic component of this unit was geochemically studied by Vallejo (2013). These rocks
have 45–48% SiO2, are sub-alkaline to tholeiitic, and have flat normalized REE patterns
typical of primitive mafic rocks. Ar-Ar dating of hornblende from this unit has yielded a
plateau age of 41.5±0.4 that is indistinguishable from the total fusion and inverse isochron
ages and consistent with other radiometric and biostratigraphic ages of the Macuchi Group
(Chiaradia et al. 2008; Vallejo et al. 2009).
Franklin (2009) has noted a distinctive hard, emerald-green breccia marker level (grainstone)
that has been found in most drill holes and several outcrops, which should mark the hanging
wall of the orebody and serve as a marker horizon. This breccia is locally bedded, fragment-
supported (0.5–1.5 mm), smectite-rich, and commonly mineralized. According to Franklin
(2009), it is continuous throughout the mineralized area. However, the term ―grainstone‖ is
restricted to carbonate rocks (Dunham 1962) and should therefore be avoided here, so
perhaps a term such as "green volcaniclastic breccia" should be used.
Previous works have interpreted these rocks as graded lapilli tuff and mudstone debris
avalanches produced by explosive submarine eruptions (Pratt 2008) or related to the
hydrothermal brecciation of early mafic volcanism and further slumping near a fault scarp
(Franklin 2009). Possible ore fragments in one of the breccias led Vallejo (2007) to conclude
that this unit formed after the mineralization and was deposited in a depression. In his model,
the breccia is related to the collapse of andesitic domes and its volcaniclastic cover, possibly
contemporaneous with pyroclastic volcanism that includes the intercalated and overlying tuffs
and lapilli.
As discussed in more detail below, our interpretation is that the Polymictic Volcaniclastic
Breccia is not a primary pyroclastic unit but a volcaniclastic one broadly synchronous with the
mineralization. The fragmental rocks derive from the erosion and re-sedimentation of earlier
poorly consolidated juvenile pyroclastic volcanic rocks in the flanks of a submarine volcano.
During the avalanche, the mass flow incorporated many clasts of varied origin that
predominate in the upper part of the sequence. The lack of volcanic ash suggests that the
eruptions took place at rather considerable depths.

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Within the Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia and the Massive Sulphide Unit, there is a
massive basalt-andesite rock (25–150 m thick) previously interpreted as a lava flow (Pratt
2008; Buckle 2009). This presumed lava flow has irregular tops and includes hyaloclastic
margins and local peperites; Pratt (2008) describes chilled margin pillows, but Vallejo (2013)
believes these structures could be interpreted as a hyaloclastite. The few observed examples
suggest that this rock is a high-level sill intruded into wet mud, which is consistent with the
crosscutting relationships with the stratigraphy. The hanging wall is made up of 20–30 cm of
peperite with droplets of basalt in shale and is underlain by a vesicle-rich zone (Photo 42).
The footwall includes a breccia with 0.5–1 cm basalt fragments in a shale groundmass. The
contact with the massive sulphides has not been observed.
This rock is dark, predominantly aphyric, and contains only some plagioclase, pyroxene, and
olivine phenocrysts in a cryptocrystalline groundmass of euhedral plagioclase, clinopyroxene,
and magnetite. The rock is affected by submarine metasomatism with widespread
replacement by chlorite, iron oxides, calcite, pumpellyite, pyrite, and quartz. It has abundant
vesicles infilled with zeolites, quartz, epidote, or calcite.
Pratt (2008) is of the opinion that this basalt was the original source of the mafic clasts in the
underlying Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia. He notes that the lava flow is overlain by
breccia with basalt fragments and that there is a noticeable upward decline in basalt clasts
within the breccia; furthermore, other drill holes in which basalt is absent show far fewer
basalt clasts. The basaltic unit seems to thicken towards the north, but locally it pinches out
in the breccia.
CRYSTAL-RICH VOLCANICLASTIC BRECCIA

As mentioned above, this unit is usually located above the Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia
although they sometimes interfinger close to their contact. The minimum total thickness is
near 75 m. These rocks are responsible for most of the gentle undulating topography in the
project site. This unit comprises several sub-units (up to 15 m thick) that include three
different rocks, not always present.
The base is formed by the chaotic accumulation of coarse-grained, highly heterometric (1–10
cm) fragments of feldspar-rich dacite, 2–5 m in thickness (Photo 45). The rock shows
abundant (50–95%) 2–5 mm phenocrysts of feldspar and only seldom quartz supported by a
highly foliated groundmass of glass, altered to sericite and chlorite; there are minor amounts
of pyroxene and clinoamphibole. These fragments are sometimes poorly defined due to re-
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equilibration between them or with a groundmass of similar composition. These rocks are
highly monolithic and only some fragments of medium-grained dacite and jasper with
disseminated pyrite have been found. The abnormal abundance of plagioclase suggests
these rocks are the product of the compaction of vesicle-rich rocks even though there is no
evidence of welding; however, some putative pumice tubes have been found.
These rocks grade into 5–7 m of volcaniclastic sandstone with abundant millimetric-sized
broken plagioclase crystals, 1–3 mm flattened glass defining a lamination and perhaps some
minor intercalations of chemical sediments; there is widespread normal and graded bedding,
syn-sedimentary slumping, and faulting. Capping the sequence or interbedded with the
sandstone there is 2–3 m of green and red siltstone with local millimetric sedimentary
layering and locally graded bedding. These sediments incorporate 5–10 cm fragments of
flattened clasts here interpreted as pumice fragments that floated after the eruption and later
sank into the fine-grained sediments. These sediments are ripped off and incorporated as
rafts in the base of the next unit (Photos 43 and 44). Here, the erosion of the underlying
sediments produced major disruption and folding, sometimes incorporating soft clasts with
convoluted layering.
Overall, the Crystal-Rich Volcaniclastic Breccia is interpreted as a succession of large, high-

energy mass flows composed of three classic units with normal grading and an erosional
base, which episodically flowed into the basin with a turbidite-like mechanism. The
relationships between individual subunits suggest that there was significant erosion and
ripening of the already settled sediments when the next one flooded into the basin. Some
studies (Pratt 2008) report widespread bioturbation that BISA has not observed. Pumice
fragments within the siltstone indicate that these mass flows were synchronous with
submarine explosive volcanism. No texturally equivalent rocks have been found in the area
and likely these rocks are exotic flows that came from several kilometres away into the basin.
Despite being originally porous and reactive rocks, they do not show noticeable hydrothermal
alteration other than the diagenetic transformation of glass into chlorite, suggesting that they
postdated the ore-forming process and related hydrothermal alteration
The Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia and the Crystal-Rich Volcaniclastic Breccia represent
two almost synchronous types of volcanism coeval with basin formation and massive
sulphide precipitation. Both rocks seem to be exotic to the basin, but more geochemistry is
definitely needed to understand the precise relationships with the local sequence and the
ore-forming process.
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BASALTIC ROCKS
Within the Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia and the Massive Sulphide Unit, there is a
massive basalt-andesite coherent rock (some 15 m thick) that has been previously
interpreted as a lava flow (Pratt 2008; Buckle 2009). This presumed lava flow has irregular
tops and includes brecciated margins and local peperites. Pratt (2008) describes chilled
margin pillows, but Vallejo (2013) believes these structures could be interpreted as a
hyaloclastite. The few observed examples suggest that this rock is a high-level sill intruded
into wet mud, which is consistent with the crosscutting relationships with the stratigraphy.
The hanging wall is made up of 20–30 cm of peperite with droplets of basalt in shale and is
underlain by a vesicle-rich zone (Photo 42). The footwall includes a breccia with 0.5–1 cm
basalt fragments in a shale groundmass. The contact with the massive sulphides has not
been observed.
This rock is dark, mainly aphyric, and with only some plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine
phenocrysts in a cryptocrystalline groundmass made up of euhedral plagioclase,
clinopyroxene, and magnetite; the rock is affected by submarine metasomatism with
widespread replacement by chlorite, iron oxides, calcite, pumpellyite, pyrite, and quartz. It
has abundant vesicles infilled with zeolites, quartz, epidote, or calcite.
Pratt (2008) considers that this basalt was the original source of the mafic clasts in the
underlying Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia. He observes that the lava flow is overlain by
breccia with basalt fragments and there is a noticeable upward decline in basalt clasts within
the breccia. Furthermore, other drill holes in which basalt is absent show far fewer basalt
clasts. The basaltic unit seems to thicken towards the north, but locally it pinches out in the
breccia.
ANDESITE DOME
The project area is named due to the presence of an andesitic dome-like structure east of the
orebody. It is dominated by highly homogeneous massive or coherent facies showing only
local magmatic foliation. The rock has widespread brecciation, including autobreccias,
hyaloclastite, and transported hyaloclastite (Photo 50) all around the dome that are not
concentrated in the external zones. These features indicate that it is an extrusive dome and
grew from different pulses of upflowing magma. In fact, Pratt (2008) describes the presence
of at least two intrusive events. The edge is marked by fine-grained and phenocryst-poor

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facies with local bleaching. Pratt (2008) also described peperite textures not observed by our
geologists.
This rock is made up of an irregularly devitrified green glassy groundmass with isolated small
feldspar and pyroxene (?) phenocrysts (1–3 mm). There are rare quartz phenocrysts (or
xenocrysts) and small mafic clots and xenoliths. This rock has rather abundant amygdales,
locally streaked out in a weak flow foliation infilled with stilbite and calcite. It shows minor
seafloor hydrothermal alteration, with replacement of the glassy groundmass by chlorite,
epidote, minor illite, and magnetite. The andesite is generally non-magnetic, and has 56–
68% SiO2. Geochemically, it corresponds to tholeiitic basalt-andesite to andesite with a
typical island arc signature (Vallejo 2013).
The El Domo intrusion has steep contacts marked by chilled margins and breccia bodies.
When crosscutting the massive sulphides, they show evidence of cataclasis and local
recrystallization to coarse-grained sulphides. However, most of the observed contacts of the
andesite with the host rocks are faulted and locally sheared, with the formation of metre-thick
shear zones that can include fragments of massive sulphide. This is somewhat similar, but at
a significantly smaller scale, to what is observed in the La Plata deposit (see Chapter 8).
Pratt (2008) stresses that the andesite does not form well-defined stocks, but seems to be
sheet-like stocks that pinch out upwards and towards the north. Vallejo (2013) interprets it as
several coalescent sub-volcanic andesite bodies that perhaps extruded onto the seafloor, as
evidenced by the local presence of transported hyaloclastite.
RHYOLITE DOMES
The geological mapping (Figure 7.3) shows that the El Domo sector includes some dome-like
bodies of rhyolite that seem to crosscut previous lithologies. In the drill core, this rhyolite is
mainly aphyric with only 1–2 mm quartz crystals in an irregularly devitrified, spherulite-rich,
glassy groundmass. It has extremely variegated, well-preserved structures, including
coherent facies with flow banding, hyaloclastite, and transported hyaloclastite with abundant
pumice fragments, with the fragmental rocks close to the edge of the body (Photos 47–49).
The lithofacies are very irregularly distributed, suggesting an evolving polyphase extrusive
felsic dome, but the fragmental ones clearly dominate over the coherent facies. The rock
shows only minor, irregular chloritization, indicating that it postdates the mineralization.
This rock is perhaps equivalent to the submarine volcanic crypto-dome of glassy dacite that
crosscuts the Crystal-Rich Volcaniclastic Breccia described by Pratt (2008).
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MAFIC AND FELSIC DYKES

All the described rocks are crosscut by abundant high-level mafic and felsic dykes that are
interpreted as the feeder dykes of the basaltic sill and the late andesite and rhyolite domes.
However, the basaltic dykes are massive and sometimes crosscut the whole sequence, even
the basaltic sill. The basalt comprises a black, dominantly aphyric rock with scattered olivine,
Ti-augite, and plagioclase phenocrysts, and up to 5% magnetite in the groundmass (Pratt
2008). It is sometimes rich in vesicles and has abundant amygdales of chalcedony, chlorite,
and/or calcite. Porphyritic andesite dykes are widespread in the area along sub-vertical NE-
SW and mostly dominant NNW-SSE structures; they are best seen in the Lower Felsic Unit.
The felsic dykes are mainly glassy rhyolite with widespread devitrification and likely peperitic
margins suggesting subvolcanic intrusion into wet sediments (Mayor 2010); they probably
correspond to the feeder zones of the rhyolite domes. These dykes are only up to a few
metres thick and do not have major hydrothermal alteration except for minor chloritization (+
pyrite), so they also postdated the ore-forming event.
GRANODIORITE-DIORITE
Pratt (2008) has described a major granodiorite batholith west of the El Domo area that
appears to have caused significant contact metamorphism of the host rocks. Major bodies of
coarse-grained diorite also occur within the project area. Franklin (2009) interprets these
rocks as being the possible subvolcanic roots of the mafic rocks and the sources of heat,
metals, or fluids leading to the mineralization. However, and as noted in the chapter on
Regional Geology, they likely postdate the volcanic rocks.
QUATERNARY DEPOSITS
The project area is located on the westernmost slopes of the Andes, with very active
sedimentation. Most of the volcanic rocks are covered by colluviums (up to 10 m thick)
dissected by alluvial deposits. The colluvial deposits are thicker and more abundant at the
break of slope. They include multi-event, gravity-driven, matrix-supported deposits from local
as well as distal sources. Boulders of all sizes (up to 10–20 cm in diameter) are embedded in
a clay-rich matrix. The boulder lithology is polymictic, although those from the Macuchi
Group, with typical regional propylitic alteration, tend to dominate.

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TECTONIC SETTING
The tectonic setting in which this magmatic-hydrothermal event took place is probably related
to the oblique Eocene deformation. Here, the oblique subduction of the Farallon/Nazca plate
beneath the continent produced major NNE dextral strike-slip deformation and related
extensional structures that channelized the ascent of mafic magmas through an
overthickened basement, with local partial melting of the continental crust and contamination.
In detail, the area geology is consistent with the mineralization and the host rocks being
located in a NNE-SSW trending graben at least 6 km2 in extent. The structural framework
and orientation of the faults is consistent with a fracture pattern associated with right lateral
strike-slip faults and synchronous opening of pull-apart or transtensional basins. Major
deformation was accommodated by the NNE-SSW faults (which have a significant offset),
with the NNW-SSE structures being extensional faults with only minor displacement (Figure
7.6). As interpreted by Mayor (2010), the graben is bounded by the steeply dipping Roble 1
and El Domo faults. It is truncated at the southwestern boundary, against footwall rocks, by
the NW-SE trending Naves Chico Fault Zone and at the northeastern boundary by an
unnamed fault. The western edge is defined by the Cade and Cade Sur anomalies and a
string of unnamed and untested prospects hosted in breccia. Detailed geophysics show the
importance of these lineaments, with the magnetic anomalies located along these NNE-SSW
structures, while the IP anomalies seem to correlate mostly with the NNW-SSE steeply
dipping faults. The structure itself is crosscut by NNE-SSW extensional faults with little
displacement that predominate in the area and control drainage.

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FIGURE 7.6 STRUCTURAL SETTING OF THE EL DOMO DEPOSIT
The massive sulphides are located in a syncline-like structure with a relatively flat or gently
dipping (up to 12°SE) core but steeper limbs. The rocks have a general NNE-SSW trend
similar to that of the whole Macuchi Group at a regional scale (N30°E) and coinciding with
the regional structural lineaments. The eastern margin of this syncline is marked by the El
Domo andesite intrusion, the west side by another major andesite intrusion, and the northern
part of the camp by another rhyolitic (crypto-) dome (Figure 7.4).
Faulting is widespread in the drill core and ranges from zones of intensely broken core
indicating brittle faulting and cracking to distinct fault breccia and gouge with features of
brittle-ductile shearing in the rocks with strong argillic alteration. Locally, these latter
structures define major shear zones with up to 10 m of hydrothermally altered rocks
(including brecciated and sheared fragments of massive sulphides) showing tectonic
cleavage and, therefore, indicative of brittle-ductile behaviour. Furthermore, Pratt (2008)

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describes the injection of ductile sericite/illite and gypsum into the fault zones and forming
significant amounts of the fault gouge. However, this deformation is much more subtle than
in other nearby massive sulphides. These rocks appear less deformed than La Plata, where
there are several large mineralized shear zones with abundant massive sulphide fragments
carrying a significant part of the Au-rich ore (Chiaradia et al. 2008).
The extensional NNW-SSE faults have had a complex history and are probably the
channelways of the magmatic and hydrothermal activity. They have channelized the major
basaltic-andesitic and rhyolitic dykes as well as likely hydrothermal breccias; they also seem
to control the pathways for the feeder systems for the massive sulphide mineralization. The
El Domo intrusion has also been channelized by one of the structures (El Domo Fault)
limiting the graben. In fact, it is associated with zones of mineralized breccias, something that
Pratt (2008) has interpreted as indicative of the El Domo being a zone of major upflow of
hydrothermal fluids, that is, the structure that channelized most of the fluids forming the
massive sulphides.
As described in Chapter 7, the combined effect of faulting and intrusion has somewhat
disturbed the area's geology. Near the faults bounding the structure at the southeastern and
northwestern zones, the sequence is tilted and faulted. Close to the contacts with both
andesite units, the massive sulphides become sub-vertical, faulted, and broken-up. All these
features are interpreted as related to the andesite intrusion and its rheological differences
with the host rocks. The history of these faults is therefore likely to be very long and complex
with several reactivation events (Pratt 2008).
This graben probably formed by Eocene transpressional deformation and controlled the
deposition of the volcanosedimentary rocks of the Hanging Wall Unit. The geological data
suggest that the El Domo deposit formed in a third-order basin within a larger intra-magmatic
arc basin. There are no geophysical or geological data supporting the presence of a caldera.
However, the structure and composition of the volcaniclastic rocks (as well as the intrusion of
late bimodal domes) are typical of caldera settings. Furthermore, most magmatic-
hydrothermal-related VMS deposits are associated with calderas, which strongly suggests
that there was one at El Domo, probably dismantled due to further erosion.
The extensional faults that postdate the ore-forming event remobilized some of the ore (see
Chapter 8), and form N-S trending grabens likely related to post-collisional transform faults of

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post-Eocene to Quaternary age. Late dextral reactivation has also been observed in many of
the faults, likely related with the modern reactivation of the Chimbo-Toachi Shear Zone.
HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION
The formation of the El Domo VMS deposit is accompanied by major stratabound
hydrothermal alteration mainly controlled by the fluid-rock ratio and the composition of the
protolith. Overall, the area is affected by a large hydrothermal halo related to the ore-forming
process. The Footwall Felsic Unit has been affected by quartz-sericite alteration, whereas
the Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia is irregularly altered to an assemblage including
chlorite, phyllosilicates, and quartz. The other rocks in the area are virtually unaltered and
only the igneous rocks show subtle seafloor hydrothermal alteration.
TABLE 7.3 SUMMARY OF THE HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION IN THE EL DOMO DEPOSIT
Dominated by replacement of the mafic glass by

clay and phyllosilicates, primarily nontronite,
smectite, illite, carbonate, and chlorite,with variable
Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccias amounts of quartz and pyrite and lesser amounts
Argillic
of magnetite; the fragments of felsic volcanic
rocks are replaced by K feldspar. Lenses and
veinlets of gypsum.
Pronounced Mn anomaly.
Disseminated mineralization in the most altered
Semi-massive sulphides zones and preferentially replacing mafic fragments
and groundmass.
Continuous chert layer bounded by a zone of
Chert
argillic alteration
Zone of coarse-grained massive barite with
Barite cap
disseminated sulphides.
Massive sulfides
Showing pronounced lateral and vertical zonation
(Cu->Zn + Pb) replacing the uppermost rhyodacite
Massive sulphides
and the footwall of the Polymictic Volcaniclastic
Breccia.
Irregular zone of hematite staining external to the
Hematization
hydrothermal zone.
External and irregular, poorly defined aureole of
Propylitic
chlorite – smectite – quartz – pyrite assemblage.
Pervasive replacement of feldspar and irregular of
Sericite
groundmass by sericite (illite).
Lower Felsic Unit Quartz-sericite Pervasive replacement by silica and sericite (illite).
Quartz-pyrite-sericite Internal alteration zone, texturally destructive.
Stockwork of quartz - pyrite Stockwork zone in the quartz-pyrite-sericite zone.
Stockwork anhydrite- Semi-continuous stratabound zone of massive

gypsum anhydrite-gypsum veins.

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The Footwall Felsic Unit shows widespread and pervasive (but only locally texturally
destructive) hydrothermal alteration with intensity in direct relationship with the thickness of
the massive sulphides. Vallejo (2013) reports that the alteration is circa 2 x 2 km2 in extent;
the most intense hydrothermal alteration and veining seems to be located beneath the
central part of the orebody regardless of the rhyodacite structure. The alteration consists of
an irregularly distributed association of sericite-illite, quartz, pyrite, and sometimes carbonate
with loss of the mafic minerals; accessory chlorite replaces these minerals or is disseminated
in the altered rocks. The pink to greenish volcanic rocks are bleached into a white rock with
the glassy groundmass almost completely replaced by quartz, sericite, and pyrite, and the
feldspar phenocrysts replaced by sericite. The rock is demagnetized likely due to
sulphidization of the magnetite. There is an irregular and likely more external zone made up
of chlorite + smectite + quartz.
The deep parts and the zones with higher fluid flux (that is, the orebody footwall, the feeder
zones, and the most permeable breccia zones) are silica-enriched. Pratt (2008) defines a
zoned halo with the internal quartz-sericite zone grading into an outer zone of light-grey illite,
and finally into a light-green smectite (montmorillonite?) alteration. Both zones lack
significant amounts of quartz and pyrite. However, in the internal zone, the hydrothermal
alteration is accompanied by the growth of variable but significant amounts of pyrite that is
never higher than 10%; locally, it mimics the flow banding or is disseminated in the
groundmass. However, most of it is found in the stockwork veins with other sulphides and
quartz, as described below.
Eight kilometres south of El Domo there is a kaolin mine, suggesting that the phyllic
alteration is widespread and perhaps not always related to the VMS deposits.
A characteristic feature of El Domo is large amounts of gypsum — and probably its high-
temperature precursor, anhydrite. The calcium sulphates ± pyrite form thick veins and
stratabound bodies that are up to 5 m thick, mostly in a semi-continuous stratabound zone
beneath the massive sulphides (Schandl 2009) (Photos 10 & 11). These sulphates likely
reflect the fluid-mixing zone of the deep Ca-rich fluids with seawater. The gypsum shows
frequent evidence of ductile disturbance and likely injection along faults.
Pratt (2008) has described local hematization within the Lower Acid Unit that could be an
early hydrothermal alteration. In fact, widespread hematite alteration is described in the

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hanging wall of the La Plata massive sulphides (Chiaradia et al. 2008), but here it is much
less significant.
Geochemically, the silica-sericite alteration is marked by the removal of Na and Ca during

the destruction of plagioclase and the input of silica, iron, minor magnesium, and perhaps
potassium. This alteration is broadly similar to that found in many stockwork or feeder zones
of VMS deposits; however, it seems as if the fluids were low in Fe-Mg, inhibiting the
formation of widespread chlorite, the most typical mineral in the internal zones of the feeder
zones. Geophysically, these alteration zones correspond to magnetic lows and variable
resistivities that mark the silica- and phyllosilicate-rich zones, respectively.
The massive sulphides are overlain by a zone of somewhat different hydrothermal alteration,
which suggests a strong control of the protolith composition on the hydrothermal
assemblage. The immediate hanging wall, in the Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia, is
dominated by major, white to grey, fine-grained stratabound silicification. This is especially
prominent just above the massive sulphides, where there is a rather continuous layer of chert
bounded by clay, forming a metre-thick pervasive and texturally destructive argillic alteration.
The polymictic breccia overlying the massive sulphide horizon hosts an irregular and
pervasive but texturally non-destructive stratabound hydrothermal alteration that is more
subtle than in the footwall rocks; it can be traced up to 100 m above the deposit. It is
especially intense in the footwall and above the massive sulphides and seems to be mainly
controlled by the glassy, fine- to medium-grained volcaniclastic mafic rocks. This
circumstance indicates a major control of the lithology, which very likely reflects the most
permeable or reactive zones as in many VMS deposits (see Tornos et al. in press). The other
rocks in the Polymictic Breccia Unit show less intense alteration.
This alteration is dominated by the replacement of the glass by clay and phyllosilicates,
primarily nontronite, smectite, illite, carbonate, and chlorite with variable amounts of quartz
and pyrite and lesser amounts of magnetite; the fragments of felsic volcanic rocks are
replaced by K-feldspar (Photos 38–41). All these hydrothermally altered rocks also host
lenses and veinlets of gypsum.
This alteration has produced major Mn enrichment (typical in hydrothermal alteration distal to
VMS deposits) accompanied by an increase in Mg and depletion in Na (Franklin 2010).
Similarly, Vallejo (2013) reports that there is a large geochemical halo around the orebody
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with a noticeable modification of the original Ba/Sr values up to 30 m above and 40 m below
the orebody.
This alteration hosts abundant mineralization, both as disseminations and selective

replacement of clasts and as massive sulphides. Pratt (2008) has predicted that these
hydrothermally altered rocks are unlikely to produce any significant IP/resistivity response.
The hydrothermal alteration is synchronous with the massive sulphide formation, as

evidenced by the lack of sericitization and silicification of the crosscutting felsic and mafic
dykes. However, the igneous rocks that crosscut the ore-related alteration show widespread
seafloor hydrothermal alteration, including chlorite-epidote assemblages. Locally, the basalt
and the andesite have vesicles and fractures with zeolites.
The altered rocks of the Footwall and the Hanging Wall Units both show an external zone of
propylitic hydrothermal alteration, which is classically interpreted as due to the circulation of
hot fluids equilibrated with seawater. Alteration minerals include smectite, chlorite, pyrite,
calcite, and locally quartz-epidote.
Previous studies have highlighted the presence of breccia rocks in the El Domo deposit.
Beate (2007) has reported diatreme breccias, whereas Pratt (2008) described hydrothermal
breccias and pebble dykes up to several metres wide crosscutting the Lower Felsic Unit.
However, most of the breccias we have found in the footwall rocks seem to be stratabound
in-situ and transported hyaloclastite. Pratt (2008) describes different types of hydrothermal
breccias emplaced in different episodes. The most significant ones are synchronous with the
hydrothermal alteration and seem to be restricted to zones of major fluid flow within the
Lower Felsic Unit; these breccias are rich in sericite and fine-grained pyrite. However,
hydrothermal breccias are also common along the NNE-SSW faults, where breccias of
equivalent composition with quartz, sericite, and pyrite and likely remobilizing the previous
mineralization sometimes occur in the tectonic contact with the post-ore andesite.
CU-AU-ZN-AG-PB MINERALIZATION
The main orebody at El Domo (Main Ore Zone) forms a single, large, sub-horizontal
stratabound 550 x 200 m, N-S crescent-shaped massive sulphide sheet some 10–35 m in
thickness in the contact between the Lower Felsic Unit and the Polymictic Volcaniclastic
Breccia (see Figure 7.5). The northern part dips shallowly to the east, and the southern part

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dips shallowly to the west. Above this stratabound body there are some smaller lenses of
massive sulphides and disseminated mineralization hosted by the Polymictic Volcaniclastic
Breccia described below. The Main Ore Zone occurs at depths between 40–100 m, but in the
eastern area (near the Andesite Dome) the ore zone is deeper. The massive, semi-massive,
and disseminated sulphides (Types 2 and 3) are included by Pratt (2008) in the Massive
Sulphide Unit; however, the mineralization seems to be dominantly replacment and it
crosscuts lithologic boundaries so it does not have a true sedimentary significance.
The massive sulphide lens appears to be entirely absent in some places; in fact, Pratt (2008)
reports the local fine-grained volcaniclastic sediments directly overlying the Lower Felsic Unit
with no mineralization or hydrothermal alteration. In other places, the massive sulphides are
only 20 cm thick, which can have profound implications on the resource evaluation (Pratt
2008).
MAIN ORE ZONE

The Main Ore Zone is a large, massive sulphide lens with the classic zonation of VMS
deposits. It includes a large, stratabound core zone of pyrite + chalcopyrite, an intermediate
zone of polymetallic (Zn-Cu) ore, and a sphalerite-galena-(-barite) zone in the hanging wall
and edge of the deposit (Upper Polymetallic Zone). The latter sometimes grades upwards
into massive barite. The contact between zones is very irregular and gradation between the
assemblages takes place within only a few metres.
The silica-rich rock forms a discontinuous layer (0.2–3 m thick) of fine-grained whitish to grey
silica with local inherited banding and colloform textures (Photos 34 & 35). Pratt (2008)
describes botryoidal texture with convex-upwards surfaces that he interprets as the only
convincing exhalative textures in the deposit. This rock could be a chemical exhalite similar
to that found elsewhere capping exhalative ore deposits (Spry et al. 2000; Peter and
Goodfellow 1996). However, in detail it shows replacment textures on the Volcaniclastic
Polymictic Breccia, suggesting that it forms an external metasomatic aureole to the massive
sulphides. Similar cherts have been reported from La Plata (Chiaradia et al. 2008).
The barite zone forms a discontinuous layer between the silica-rich rocks and the Upper
Polymetallic Zone of the massive sulphides. It is dominated by massive to bladed coarse-
grained barite with some interstitial sulphides, quartz, clay, and carbonates. The massive
sulphides prograde on the barite, replacing it but leaving abundant interstitial barite as well
as variable amounts of carbonates (sometimes very abundant), quartz, and clays. This
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Upper Polymetallic Zone is characterized by an abundance of coarse-grained sphalerite with

irregularly distributed chalcopyrite and minor amounts of pyrite, bornite, galena, and
tennantite. Both gold and silver seem to be preferentially concentrated in this zone. The
lower part of the massive sulphide lens is characterized by abundant pyrite and chalcopyrite
(Cu-rich ore).
The contact between the lowermost massive sulphides and the stockwork is gradational, with
a gradual increase in fragments of pervasively altered rhyodacite that are first supported and
replaced by sulphides and later occur as the groundmass of breccias or as thin veinlets
along with quartz. These latter rocks are interpreted as being the stockwork or feeder zone
and are described below.
SEMI-MASSIVE SULPHIDES AND DISSEMINATED MINERALIZATION

Overlying the massive sulphides of the Main Ore Zone and within the Polymictic
Volcaniclastic Breccia there are at least three, up to 10 m-thick, lenses of massive sulphides
and abundant disseminated to semi-massive mineralization separated from the Main Ore
Zone by hydrothermally altered breccia and mudstone (Franklin 2009). This mineralization is
enclosed in an aureole of hydrothermal alteration and seems to be restricted to the lower
Volcaniclastic Polymictic Breccia, where stratabound zones of mineralized/altered rocks
alternate with others showing minor mineralization and lacking hydrothermal alteration. The
drill core shows that the hydrothermal alteration is limited and controlled by layers of
mudstone. It likely formed impervious levels that channelized fluid flow below them and
focused the stratabound mineralization and related alteration. In detail, most of the ore here
occurs in the glass-rich units, and the coarse polymictic breccia and the siltstone are seldom
mineralized. Franklin (2009) has described two mineralized units capped by a breccia that is
a marker horizon useful for exploration. In previous reports and in the BISA´s resource
estimate, this mineralization has been termed ―Grainstone‖.
The massive sulphides here show a zonation similar to that described above, with an upper
Zn-Cu-Ag-Au enrichment and a Cu-enriched footwall. They also include a silica-rich aureole
that sometimes hosts bands of fine-grained sulphides. Franklin (2009) has described quartz-
pyrite-chalcopyrite stringer mineralization underlying these lenses.
A significant part of the ore here occurs disseminated or as isolated patches (fragmental
ore). It forms aggregates of massive sulphides a few millimetres to 1 metre in diameter that
several previous reports describe as clasts (Photos 33–35 and 38–40). However, there is
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considerable evidence that these 'pseudo-fragments' are a product of the selective

replacement of the host rock synchronously with the hydrothermal alteration. These 'pseudo-
fragments' are more abundant in the base of the mass flow units and are sometimes
preferentially enriched along certain layers (the mafic glass-rich ones). In detail, some of the
clasts of the breccia (jasper, porphyritic dacite, and especially the glassy andesite) show a
rim of sulphides.
These sulphide aggregates can have a margin of chalcopyrite or pyrite and a core of
sphalerite, but most of the major ones are made up of massive sphalerite. In detail, the
sulphide aggregates are larger than the accompanying clasts, have irregular morphologies
with abundant embayments, and replacment contacts with the silicate groundmass. The
groundmass and the fine-grained sediments, when composed of volcanic glass, show
abundant, fine-grained disseminated sulphides, predominantly framboidal pyrite and
sphalerite accompanied by barite and gypsum. There is some evidence of open-space filling
by laminated sulphides (Lavigne J. & McMonnies E., 2011).
However, Vallejo (2013) describes that, in some outcrops (El Gallo, see Chapter 8), there are
breccias with up to 80-cm-long, angular to sub-angular massive sulphide fragments in an
unaltered groundmass that could well correspond to fragmented and eroded massive
sulphides that were exposed at the surface, eroded, and resedimented into the mass flows.
Although most of the mineralization occurs in the rhyodacite and the Polymictic Breccia, the
basalt is also mineralized. Sulphides (mainly pyrite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite) fill some of
vesicles, indicating again that the mineralization was early and before diagenesis. Locally,
the basalt groundmass is replaced by disseminated sulphides (Pratt 2008).
STOCKWORK MINERALIZATION
Beneath the Main Ore Zone, there is a stringer or stockwork low-grade mineralization hosted
by a large zone of hydrothermal alteration within the rhyodacite (see Section 7.5). The
contact with the overlying massive sulphides is a zone several metres thick of quartz and
pyrite. This stockwork zone is large in volume but generally low grade.
The dominant stockwork is formed by irregular veinlets, several millimetres to 5 cm thick

(Photos 6–9). The distribution and morphology of the veins (as well as of the enclosing
alteration zone) does not show any obvious structural control, suggesting that it developed
by hydrothermal overpressure.

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The uppermost part of the stockwork zone is formed by sulphide-supported breccias. Inside
the stockwork, there are large breccia zones, both hydrothermal and hyaloclastic. These
zones have preferential veining, with the quartz-sulphide veins being channelized through
the clast rims, highlighting the fragmental nature of the rocks. The veins are thicker and more
irregular than in the coherent rocks. The groundmass is preferentially altered and replaced
by disseminated sulphides.
Hydrothermal breccias are fairly common (Pratt 2008), with heterometric, sometimes jigsaw
fragments, supported by quartz and pyrite. However, not all the breccia rocks are mineralized
and the stockwork also crosscuts massive rhyodacite. A significant part of the sulphides are
disseminated in the most altered zones. Locally, the sulphides have replaced some flow
bands in the coherent rocks, giving the mineralization a stratiform appearance, suggesting
that fluid pressure controlled the formation of the stockwork zone.
The veins are usually massive and sometimes have a narrow dark rim of very fine-grained
pyrite, with the core infilled by coarse-grained quartz and sulphides, mainly pyrite with some
chalcopyrite, minor sphalerite and accessory galena; however, there are some early veins of
massive sphalerite. Barite, anhydrite, and sericite are locally present. Pratt (2008) interprets
the sinuous and irregular morphology of the stockwork as due to its high level of
emplacement, probably close to the seafloor. Only locally are there voids indicative of open-
space filling with geopetal structures infilled with barite and chalcedony.
BISA‘s geologists found no evidence of chimneys or venting of hydrothermal fluids on the

seafloor except some hydrothermal conduits within the massive sulphides. The contact of the
stockwork with the massive sulphides is gradual, suggesting that the system was controlled
by diffuse flow.
These quartz-sulphide veins are crosscut by massive veins of medium- to coarse-grained

gypsum with disseminated pyrite several millimetres to 1 metre thick. The gypsum likely
replaced former anhydrite. Some of the sulfates also occur as massive replacements. The
anhydrite/gypsum preferentially replaced the hyaloclastite and the most altered rocks,
sometimes mimicking the original texture. These veins are mainly located near the
stockwork-massive sulphide interface or form an external aureole to the quartz-sericite-pyrite
alteration, which is consistent with the anhydrite being the product of fluid mixing between a
hot (>300°C), reduced hydrothermal fluid and seawater.

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Pratt (2008) describes mineralization in breccia in early high-angle NNE-SSW structures, 1 to

2 m wide, which acted as partially brecciated "pebble dykes" that could correspond to deep
feeder zones beneath the stockwork zone. These hydrothermal breccias can be easily
distinguished from the host rock and contain angular and rounded silicified clasts.
ORE MINERALOGY
A brief preliminary mineralogical study has been carried on 17 samples from the Main Ore
Zone and the disseminated ore in the Volcaniclastic Polymictic Breccia (Table 7.4). These
rocks are not representative of the whole of the orebody and were collected for a preliminary
mineralogical characterization. The data obtained are somewhat different from previous
studies, suggesting that there is an urgent need for a more systematic and definitive
mineralogical study. A more detailed mineralogical characterization is needed to orient the
metallurgical tests.
The observed massive sulphides can be grouped into six different ore assemblages (Table
7.5): (1) Assemblage A: a pyrite-chalcopyrite assemblage that corresponds to the lower
copper-rich zone (6 samples); (2) Assemblage B: dominated by iron-poor sphalerite with
minor galena and barite (1 sample); (3) Assemblage C: a complex, fine-grained assemblage
dominated by iron-rich sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and tennantite that contains most of the
silver-bearing minerals (4 samples); (4) Assemblage D: a late Cu-rich assemblage formed
either by massive chalcopyrite or by a bornite ± tennantite ± sphalerite assemblage (3
samples); (5) Assemblage E: a barite-sphalerite assemblage (1 sample). The latter four
assemblages correspond to the Polymetallic Upper Ore Zone and seem to be heavily
intermixed. There is also an assemblage product of the supergene alteration (Assemblage
F) with covellite and chalcocite replacing the pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization. Finally, there
are two samples from the disseminated ore. Selected photographs are included in Appendix
I. This classification broadly coincides with that defined in this report for the metallurgical
tests, a high-grade copper mineral (Cu/(Zn+Pb)>3; Assemblage A), a mixed Cu/Zn mineral
(3>Cu/(Zn+Pb)>0.33; Assemblages C and D), and a Zn-Pb mineral (Cu/(Zn+Pb)<0.33;
Assemblages B and E).

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TABLE 7.4 LOCATION OF PETROGRAPHIC SAMPLES
Sample Location Classification

Massive sulphide. Assemblage B replaced by
DOM-04 Drill hole 11-106 (49.94 m). Mineralization sphalerite
Assemblages C and D
DOM-06a Massive sulphide Assemblage A
Drill hole 10-64 (54.70 m) Mineralization replacing mass
DOM-11 Massive sulphide Assemblage A
flow
Massive sulphide Assemblage B replaced by
DOM-21 Drill hole 10-68 (88.40 m). Sphalerite near contact
Assemblage C
Drill hole 10-68 (92.00 m). Sphalerite near contact with Massive sulphide Assemblage B replaced by
DOM-22
chert Assemblage C
Drill hole 10-68 (92.36 m). Sphalerite near host rock Massive sulphide Assemblage B replaced by
DOM-23
contact Assemblage C
DOM-24 Drill hole 10-68 (96.15 m). Massive sulphide Massive sulphide Assemblage A
DOM-25 Drill hole 10-68 (98.00 m). Massive sulphide Massive sulphide Assemblage A
Drill hole 11-123 (69.30 m). Mineralization sphalerite- Massive sulphide Assemblage B with incipient
DOM-27
chalcopyrite replacement by C
Drill hole 11-123 (77.10 m). Mineralization sphalerite-
DOM-28 Massive sulphide Assemblage A replaced by B
chalcopyrite-barite
Drill hole 11-123 (72.40 m). Mineralization sphalerite + Massive sulphide Assemblage B replaced by
DOM-29
chalcopyrite Assemblage C
DOM-67 Drill hole 161 (262.10 m). Massive sulphide Massive sulphide Assemblage D
DOM-68 Drill hole 56 (70.90 m). Massive sulphide Massive sulphide Assemblage A
DOM-69 Drill hole 60 (131.20 m). Massive sulphide Massive sulphide Assemblage A
DOM-70 Drill hole 73 (58.00 m). Massive sulphide Massive sulphide Assemblage D
DOM-72 Outcrop of massive sulphides Massive sulphide Assemblage A

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TABLE 7.5 ORE ASSEMBLAGES IN THE EL DOMO DEPOSIT
Assemblage Denomination Zone Paragenesis Comments

Copper Lower Cu- Coarse-grained porous pyrite and
A py I + cp I + (sph + gn)
mineralization I rich Zone massive chalcopyrite
Zinc
B sph I + ba + (gn) Coarse-grained low-Fe sphalerite
mineralization
Upper Polymetallic Zone

Polymetallic Fine-grained and mineralogically
sph II + tenn + cp II +
C mineralization complex assemblage dominated
(str + proust + gn)
(Zn-Cu-Ag-Au) by Fe-rich sphalerite
cp III + (gn) (1) Coarse-grained late Cu-rich
Copper bn + sph III + tenn + assemblage dominated by
D
mineralization II (py II + gn + cp IV + chalcopyrite and bornite +
str) (2) tennantite
Barite Coarse-grained barite with
E Barite cap ba + sph (+gn)
mineralization accessory sulphides
Supergene Only present at very shallow
F cv + cc + goe
alteration depths
ba: barite; cp: chalcopyrite; cc: chalcocite; cv: covellite; gn: galena; proust: proustite; py: pyrite; sph: sphalerite;
str: stromeyerite; tenn: tennantite
The pyrite + chalcopyrite Assemblage A is rather heterogeneous and characterized by early,

coarse-grained pyrite (Photos 12 & 13). The earliest one (30–60 µm) shows abundant
primary textures, including zoned crystals, colloform, botryoidal, and radiating growths and
framboidal grains. It evolves into coarse-grained (< 2 mm) structureless highly porous pyrite
with few inclusions interpreted as related to the diagenetic maturation of the early pyrite; in
fact, there are common inherited textures in these grains, including botryoidal and euhedral
growth zones. The pyrite is brecciated and later cemented, supported and replaced by fine-
to coarse-grained massive chalcopyrite (<200 µm) almost inclusion-free that locally forms the
bulk of the sample with only some inherited and corroded grains of pyrite inside. Locally, the
assemblage is dominated by pyrite chalcopyrite with only residual grains of anhedral pyrite.
Only some Fe-poor sphalerite and galena in small grains (10–20 µm) at the edge of the
pyrite crystals and tennantite (<30 µm) are found here. In one sample, the proportion and
size (2 mm) of the sphalerite grains is high, suggesting that it may have been adjacent to the
boundary zone. This sphalerite coexists with abundant chalcopyrite (8–10 µm) and tennantite
(2–10 µm). Pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite are minor phases in this assemblage.
Intergrown minerals within the sulphides include undeformed barite (up to 20%), carbonates
(<30%), and quartz (<10%), the latter in zoned crystals, with minor amount of clays.
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The other three primary sulphide-rich assemblages grouped in the Upper Polymetallic Zone
are distinguished by the abundance and type of copper sulphide present, with only small
amounts in the sphalerite-rich assemblage (Assemblage B), the abundance of fine-grained
tennantite (Assemblage C), and the presence of coarse-grained chalcopyrite and bornite
(Assemblage D).
In Assemblage B, iron-poor sphalerite dominates (Photos 15 & 16). This early sphalerite (sph
I) forms colloform to massive coarse-grained aggregates with few inclusions of framboidal
and colloform (10–100 µm) to euhedral porous pyrite, which seems to be the first mineral to
precipitate in a similar fashion to that described in the pyrite + chalcopyrite ore. There is
evidence of replacement of Assemblage A by sphalerite (Photo 14). There are large crystals
of honey-coloured sphalerite replaced by a later fine-grained but also Fe-poor one. This
abundant sphalerite I is intergrown with barite, quartz, carbonates, and clays and is
associated with medium-sized sometimes skeletal galena; locally, there is some ilmenite
replaced by rutile that is likely inherited from the volcanic protolith.
Both Assemblages A and B are clearly replaced by the later Assemblage C, which is the
most complex, fine grained-assemblage of the mineralization (Photos 17–31). This
assemblage defines the onset of the late, likely high-temperature, Cu-rich replacement. It is
dominated by Fe-rich sphalerite characteristically associated with Cu, As, and Ag-bearing
sulphides, including chalcopyrite as well tennantite with minor amounts of inherited (?)
galena, pyrite, stromeyerite, and proustite (all in grains of 20–100 µm). Textures of this
assemblage are mainly interlocked with complex intergrowths of these fine-grained minerals.
There are local bands of intergrown fine-grained (2–5 µm) chalcopyrite, sphalerite,
tennantite, and stromeyerite. They sometimes define conduits or flow paths with
concentrically arranged crystals of Cu-Fe-bearing sulphides within the sphalerite. Franklin
(2009) reports boulangerite, probably associated to this event. The proportion of pyrite in this
assemblage is strikingly low and is only abundant in the interphase with the footwall pyrite +
chalcopyrite assemblage.
The proportion of chalcopyrite increases gradually to the almost complete replacement of the
sphalerite and later of the other sulphides, forming Assemblage D, a second Cu-rich
assemblage product of the final replacement of the Zn-rich Assemblage B, and the
intermediate polymetallic Assemblage C. This copper-rich ore includes two associations, a
chalcopyrite-rich one and a bornite-rich one with unknown relationships between them — but
they seem to be coetaneous. The first assemblage is made up of almost massive
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chalcopyrite (30 µm–1 mm) with only minor inclusions (<10 µm) of tennantite, sphalerite,
galena, and stromeyerite. Despite this profuse replacement, there is little chalcopyrite
disease in the sphalerite.
Pyrite is not abundant in this assemblage and occurs as an early accessory, likely inherited,
phase. The galena (20–60 µm) has a rather erratic location. It is associated with the
sphalerite I as inclusions in the chalcopyrite or as a late phase crosscutting everything with
fine-grained pyrite. It contains inclusions of, and can be partly replaced by, tennantite.
The bornite-rich assemblage has not been described in previous reports and its distribution is
unknown. However, it is included in more than 15% of the studied samples. The assemblage
includes Fe-rich sphalerite II and bornite (40 µm–3mm) with tennantite (10–100 µm),
stromeyerite, proustite (30–150 µm), pyrite, chalcopyrite (20–40 µm), and galena (50–300
µm). Locally, there are complex concentric growths of sphalerite-tennantite-bornite-
chalcopyrite that are interpreted as hydrothermal conduits formed synchronously with the
replacement. Interestingly, the sphalerite has minute inclusions of possible chalcocite (2–4
µm). As discussed below, the presence of both hypogene chalcocite and bornite could
represent a high sulphidation assemblage similar to that described in La Plata (Chiaradia and
Fontboté 2000).
The disseminated ore has a mineralogy similar to that of the sphalerite + chalcopyrite ore,
with the sulphides and barite replacing the hydrothermally altered host rock. Here, there is an
early framboidal pyrite replaced by sphalerite I, galena, and pyrite and later Fe-rich
sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and tennantite in a sequence similar to that of Assemblage C. Most
of the ‗fragments‘ are made up of almost massive chalcopyrite with tennantite.
Chalcopyrite stained to an unusual purplish-blue colour has been reported — EPMA analysis
suggests that this unusual chalcopyrite contains 2.2 wt% - 3.7 wt% Br. Our study has found
no chalcopyrite with these features.
The barite forms blade-like aggregates or massive euhedral aggregates with interstitial
sulphides (Assemblage E) that are gradually replaced by them, mostly sphalerite and galena
(Assemblage B). Hydrothermal quartz and carbonates are uncommon within the massive
sulphides, but sometimes form almost monomineral aggregates. Sericite, clays, and
anhydrite are rare.

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Whole-rock analyses of the intervals where the samples were taken show that Assemblages
C and D carry most of the gold and silver. The content in precious metals is small in the
pyrite + chalcopyrite ore (Assemblage A) and the Zn-rich ore (Assemblage B).
Some of the studied samples of Assemblage C are enriched in Ag, with up to 769 g/t.
Preliminary reports suggest that the tennantite, bornite, and galena are relatively Ag-poor
(<0.5% Ag), but these contents could account for the observed ore grades. The SIMS data of
Lavigne and McMonnies (2011) reveal that, of the studied minerals, bornite and tennantite
have the highest Ag contents (3,000–3,500 g/t). This means that only samples containing
more than 20% of these minerals could have the recorded high Ag grades (>700 g/t), which
seldom occurs. Therefore, the most likely interpretation is that there are other major but
undetected silver carriers. Our results indicate that this could be the stromeyerite (CuAgS)
and proustite (Ag3AsS3) (which are rather abundant in Assemblage C) or any other
undetected silver sulphosalts. Again, more analyses are needed to clarify this critical issue.
Despite the high gold grades in these rocks, no free gold is noted in our study. This may be
due to non-representative sampling, a high nugget effect, or that the gold is invisible and
occurs as minute inclusions (<1 µm) or solid solution in some phases. Schandl (2009) has
found free gold within the sphalerite + chalcopyrite mineralization (Assemblage C?), where it
occurs as minute (5 μm–50 μm) inclusions in sphalerite and in fractures generated
synchronously with the replacement by chalcopyrite. Small gold grains also occur in the rim
of some galena crystals or intergrown with chalcopyrite. Two small grains of gold were also
identified in a late carbonate veinlet that crosscuts the sphalerite.
The SIMS data (Lavigne and McMonnies 2011) suggest that around 61% of the gold occurs
as free grains, as electrum (Au88Ag12 - Au98Ag2). The remaining gold is interpreted as being
invisible, in 0.1–0.2 µm sized grains mainly hosted by the pyrite. However, there is a strong
relationship of the gold contents with the pyrite-poor sphalerite-chalcopyrite ore rich in
tennantite, whereas there is almost no gold in the pyrite-rich samples. Again, the good
correlation with the As suggests that it could be related with the tennantite, but more specific
analyses are needed.
On the whole, the mineralization shows pristine evidence of a large ore-refining process as
defined by Large (1992), with the gradual replacement of the assemblages formed at low
temperature, or due to fluid mixing (barite + sphalerite) in the external zone of the ore-
forming system, by others that precipitate at higher temperatures or higher deep/shallow fluid
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ratios, like the copper sulphides. This forms well-defined ore zoning that is described
elsewhere in volcanogenic massive sulphides (Large 1992; Lydon 1988a; Lydon 1988b). It is
worth noting that these refining processes can occur in any style of VMS mineralization
regardless of their exhalative or replacive origin (Tornos et al. in press).
These ore minerals show rather primitive and immature textures, with large variations in
grain size and abundant early/diagenetic textures, which is consistent with the low degree of
deformation/metamorphism. However, and probably related to the specific environment of
formation (by replacement), the ores are relatively coarse-grained. The grain size is very
irregular and the sulphides show complex and intricate intergrowths, especially in
Assemblage C. It is possible to distinguish abundant primary textures. The sulphides include
in-situ brecciated zones that could have formed by hydrothermal overpressure, by
inheritance from the replaced rocks or, as noted by Franklin (2009), by some form of collapse
related to anhydrite dissolution. The three types of formation probably coexist, in fact. There
are also some conduits with rings of chalcopyrite or tennantite with inward-growing crystals
and a sphalerite-filled internal cavity. These structures are similar to the conduit zones
reported by Tesalina et al. (1998) and Herrington et al. (1998) in the fossil VMS deposits of
the Urals. Some have been attributed to tubeworms, but our study has found no evidence of
biogenic activity.
The relatively low Sb, Hg, and Bi contents when compared to As are rather uncommon in
these systems. Tennantite is widespread in the deposit, especially in the replacement zone
of the Zn-rich Assemblage B by the Cu-rich Assemblage D. The As-Ag-Au association is
mainly located in the transition zones between Assemblages B and D, where copper
mineralization gradually replaced Zn-Pb mineralization. Despite the replacement of sphalerite
by chalcopyrite, this replacement is fairly common in massive sulphides elsewhere, there is
little evidence of its association with the input of As-Ag-Au in the system.
The Fe-poor sphalerite is highly enriched in Cd, which could affect the concentrate either
positively or negatively. Previous analyses suggest that the ore is poor in Ga and In.
Covellite is fairly abundant in the surface exposures, where it occurs as veins or rimming
sphalerite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. It has not been observed in the drillcore samples,
indicating that it is a late and supergene phase, not primary as described in La Plata by
Chiaradia et al. (2008). Marcasite, goethite, chalcocite, and chalcocyanite have also been
observed as supergene phases.
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METALLURGICAL IMPLICATIONS
The petrographic study suggests some general guidelines on the geometallurgy of the El
Domo deposit.
The lower Cu-rich zone should shows textures and grain sizes that would allow for
significantly better liberation than in many other massive sulphides that yield economic
recoveries. The Upper Polymetallic Ore may be more difficult to liberate.. Although the iron-
poor, sphalerite-rich Assemblage B and the copper-rich Assemblage D are coarse-grained
and have textures that suggest easy liberation, Assemblage C is more complex. In this
assemblage, the different sulphides are fine-grained (up to 20 µm) and intergrown. However,
the proportion of this assemblage in the whole deposit is likely rather low.
Most of the silver and gold seem to be related to the early stages of these latter copper-rich
assemblages near the contact with the earlier sphalerite. Both precious metals seem to be
spatially related with the tennantite-rich rocks, suggesting that the concentrate carrying the
precious metals will contain arsenic.
The studied samples do not show any mineralogical modifications of the sulphides that could
be due to long-term storage. Furthermore, the supergene alteration is restricted to the
mineralization cropping out at the surface.

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8. DEPOSIT TYPES
Most of the economic metallic mineralization at El Domo occurs as stratabound massive
sulphides. However, other mineralization styles have been identified in the project area,
including:
1. A stockwork zone hosted by the Lower Felsic Unit and beneath the massive
sulphides, with veins and disseminations of pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite.
Except in minor places (e.g. close to the immediate footwall of the massive
sulphides), this mineralization is of low grade and tonnage.
2. Stratabound massive sulphides in the contact between the Lower Felsic Unit and the
Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia (Main Ore Zone). It includes more than 90% of the
indicated and inferred sources and more than 90% of the total metal content.
3. Semi-massive to disseminated ore as stratabound lenses within the Polymictic
Volcaniclastic Breccia. Despite its relatively high grade (0.92% Cu, 1% Zn, 1.1 g/t Au,
0.12% Pb, and 28 g/t Ag), this type of mineralization is only a small part (<4%) of the
total tonnage.
4. Possible fossil fault scarp collapse breccias with transported massive sulphide blocks,
perhaps located near the hanging wall of the Volcaniclastic Polymictic Breccia (El
Gallo).
5. Local remobilization along faults — with local high grades in Zn-Cu and precious
metals. These orebodies are small and of no interest for bulk mining. They include
dismembered massive sulphide boulders, commonly located at the contacts of the
andesite stocks and dykes (Sesmo).
6. Hydrothermal quartz-rich breccias with gold, silver sulphosalts, chalcopyrite, galena,
sphalerite, barite, and elevated concentrations of antimony, arsenic, bismuth, and
mercury (Caracol).
7. Disseminated chalcopyrite (porphyry-like mineralization?) in granodiorite intrusive
stocks.
The main mineralization at El Domo shares most of the features of classic volcanic-hosted
massive sulphide deposits (Franklin et al. 2005; Franklin et al. 1981; Large 1992; Large et al.
2001; Lydon 1996; Lydon 1988a; Lydon 1988b). Key diagnostic features of this style of
mineralization include the spatial and chronologic relationship with submarine felsic/mafic
volcanism, an underlying stockwork or feeder zone related to major hydrothermal alteration
(usually more prominent in the footwall than in the hanging wall), and massive or semi-
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massive ore formed on or near the seafloor, usually rich in pyrite and economic grades of
Cu, Zn and Pb, as well as Au and Ag. VMS deposits are major sources of Zn, Cu, Pb, Ag,
and Au, and significant sources for Co, Sn, Se, In, Bi, Te, Tl, Ga, and Ge. There are over 800
VMS deposits known worldwide, up to 56 of which are considered world class (>32 Mt). Most
are grouped into a few provinces of Archean to Present age: the Abitibi Belt, Bathurst
District, Urals, Skellefte, Iberian Pyrite Belt, and Tasmania (Large and Blundell 2000). As
discussed below, the Mesozoic–Cenozoic Andean Belt is now considered a major province.
Most of these deposits formed in extensional-transpressional tectonic settings, including both
oceanic seafloor spreading and arc environments. Most ancient VMS deposits still preserved
in the geological record formed mainly in oceanic and continental nascent-arc, rifted-arc, and
back-arc settings. The crustal composition exerts a major control on the ore contents of VMS
deposits, with Cu-Au-(Zn) deposits forming mainly on the primitive crust and Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag
deposits on continental crust (Barrie and Hannington 1999). The immediate host rock and
the depositional environment play a critical role in the style of mineralization (Tornos et al. in
press). Most VMS provinces form in extensional settings such as volcanic calderas or pull-
apart basins, which favour the focused upflow of melts and fluids, the formation of domes
and glass-rich mass flows, and establish anoxic bottoms.
At El Domo, the mineral assemblage and the ore grades indicate that it is a classic
polymetallic, Au-rich deposit. However, its classification based on the host-rock composition
is not straightforward. This is mainly due to the unusual volcanic setting, with felsic domes in
an overall mafic sequence and few siliciclastic rocks. The Zn:Cu:Pb ratios, high Au-Ag
contents, immediate geological setting, and Pb-isotope ratios (Chiaradia and Fontboté 2001)
suggest it belongs to the bimodal felsic style of mineralization of Barrie and Hannington
(1999), with the best-known examples found in the Hokuroko basin and the Cambrian
deposits in Tasmania. These sequences are characterized by bimodal sequences with a
scant proportion of fine-grained siliciclastic rocks. They are typical of island intra-arc settings
with a paucity of sediments. Although the sequence is largely mafic with only a few felsic
volcanic rocks, the clear relationship of the orebodies with felsic volcanic rocks suggests that
they belong to the bimodal felsic group. Pratt (2008) was the first to document and describe
the Kuroko-type VMS environment in the Curipamba concessions.
However, the general geological environment (formed in an immature intra-island arc setting)
and the dominance of mafic juvenile rocks suggest it could belong to the bimodal-mafic-type.
Nevertheless, in detail, the mineralization includes different pre-zones and mineral
assemblages as described below.
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An important feature at El Domo is that it is a virtually undisturbed ore system with little
recrystallization, metamorphism, and deformation. This is rather uncommon in VMS deposits
and only certain deposits in Turkey, Japan, Peru and, obviously, present-day systems are so
pristine.
STYLE OF MINERALIZATION
The volcanogenic massive sulphides occur in specific geological environments where they
can accumulate and be preserved. Recent studies have shown that the largest VMS deposits
formed as replacements of volcanic or volcaniclastic rocks below the seafloor, with
exhalative ones less common in the geological record (Tornos et al. in press). The
Curipamba massive sulphides have been interpreted by Franklin (2009) as having formed at
least partially in submarine mounds, similar to those found currently in the oceanic floor,
including a massive mound and a brecciated apron. However, other studies emphasize that
most, if not all, of the Curipamba massive sulphides formed by replacement of volcaniclastic
rocks, mainly the highly permeable and reactive Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia at the
contact with the underlying Footwall Rhyodacite (Pratt 2008; Vallejo 2013). As Pratt (2008)
states, there is little evidence of the formation of chimneys, sedimentary mound breccias, or
sulphide-rich sediments.
The main arguments for the exhalative genesis include the location on seafloor depressions
(Pratt 2008), a possible exhalite zone, breccia zones related with anhydrite dissolution, and
centimetre-sized tubes interpreted as tubeworm relicts within the massive sulphides (Pratt
2008). However, our interpretation is that they are hydrothermal conduits similar to those
described by Herrington et al. (1998) in the VMS deposits of the Urals.
No structures evidencing exhalation on the seafloor have been found. Most of the massive
sulphides seem to have formed by the stratabound replacement of the Polymictic
Volcaniclastic Breccia, especially of the fine-grained mafic glass-rich units. The sulphides
preferentially replaced the glass-rich groundmass of the breccia and, later, the larger clasts
gave rise to semi-massive to massive sulphides sometimes having gradual but narrow
contacts with the altered breccia. Most of the transported clasts described by Pratt (2008) are
here interpreted as small aggregates of replacment massive sulphides. They are larger than
adjacent clasts and some are zoned, with an internal zone of pyrite and an external one of
chalcopyrite. They always have irregular and sometimes amoeboidal contacts incompatible
with erosion and transport in an aqueous setting. Some of these pseudoclasts are also a

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product of the selective replacement of breccia fragments — some inheriting a core of highly
altered volcanic rock surrounded by the sulphides.
Several pieces of evidence indicate that the replacement took place during early diagenesis,
before compaction and synchronously with the devitrification of the glass. They include the
selective replacement of perlite and the mimic replacement of glass fragments by sulphides.
However, the massive sulphides show only subtle structures, mostly remnants of breccias
and banding interpreted here as inherited from the protolith. No sedimentary banding or
brecciation has been found, which is probably related with the hydrothermal refining.
A rather continuous chert layer above the main lens of massive sulphides probably marks a
zone of steep thermal gradients and major fluid mixing of the hydrothermal fluid and
seawater. This zone, prograding with the hydrothermal system, could prevent oxidation
during the late influx of cold and oxidizing seawater in the waning states of hydrothermal
activity. This horizon has been interpreted as an exhalite deposited on the seafloor; however,
the contacts are also replacive and likely correspond to a level of extensive silicification.
The massive sulphides are enclosed in an aureole of hydrothermal alteration. These rocks
include disseminated as well as semi-massive sulphides, always including an aureole of
hydrothermal alteration. Despite being a rock that is usually host to replacment massive
sulphides elsewhere, the Crystal-Rich Volcaniclastic Breccia is barren and lacks ore-related
hydrothermal alteration, indicating it was deposited after the ore-forming event. Furthermore,
fragments of massive sulphides in rocks attributed to the uppermost Polymictic Volcaniclastic
Breccia suggest that the deposit formed at shallow depths and was partially eroded before
the deposition of the Crystal-Rich Volcaniclastic Breccia, probably in relationship with a fault
scarp. These true massive sulphide boulders can be distinguished from the replacment
pseudo-fragments by their irregular size and composition, irregularly oriented internal
layering, neat and rounded edges, and lack of hydrothermal alteration of the host rocks.
However, they are small in proportion and their stratigraphic location is dubious.
To our knowledge, there are few, if any, similar VMS deposits to those of the Macuchi Group.
Although the location above felsic domes is a rather common feature in most major districts
(e.g. the Hokuroko province, the Iberian Pyrite Belt, the Bergslagen district, and the Noranda
camp), at none of these sites did the mineralization replace mafic glass-rich sequences. The
mineralization is hosted either by shale, by pumice-rich rocks capping the domes, or as
stratabound bodies between individual flows or volcaniclastic rocks. In this respect, the
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Curipamba Group is rather unique, only sharing certain similarities with the broadly coeval
deposits of Peru.
ORE-FORMING PROCESS
Most, if not all, massive sulphide deposits form when the deep, acidic, and reduced
hydrothermal fluids carrying the metals mix with cold, alkaline, and oxidized, perhaps slightly
modified, seawater. This process quickly destabilizes the metal-carrying chloride complexes
and, if there is enough reduced sulphur available, precipitates the massive sulphides. The
ore-forming process at Curipamba was probably equivalent to the hydrothermal fluids
upflowing along the stockwork zone and mixing with seawater in the aquifer defined by the
Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia. This induced the hydrothermal alteration and the irregular
but stratabound replacement of selected breccia layers by the massive sulphides. An
external aureole of barite suggests that the water within the aquifer was only slightly modified
and oxidized seawater. The origin of the sulfur is unknown, but the evolution of the system
suggests it did not derive from the biogenic reduction of seawater but was transported by
hydrothermal fluids. Again, the presence of barite suggests that the sea bottom was oxic and
not euxinic, which is where sulphate-reducing bacteria live.
ZONE REFINING
One of the most significant features of the El Domo deposit is well-marked lateral and vertical
ore zoning in the massive sulphide lens, with a pyrite-Cu-rich stockwork, a lower pyrite-
chalcopyrite zone, an upper Cu-Zn-Au-Ag zone, and a cap of barite ± sphalerite. This zoning
is similar to that found elsewhere (Large 1977), and is interpreted as related with the
maturation of the hydrothermal systems and the metal solubility. The early precipitation of
sphalerite, galena, and barite takes place in the early stages of mineralization by rapid
cooling in the fluid-mixing zone. Further input of hot hydrothermal fluids displaces the Zn-Pb-
barite zone outwards by dissolution and still more distal reprecipitation of the Zn and Pb,
which are replaced by chalcopyrite and pyrite, yielding a Cu core with a Zn-Pb external zone.
INVOLVEMENT OF MAGMATIC FLUIDS

Most volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits in spreading centres form by the circulation of
heated seawater (Nehlig 1991). However, in intra- and back-arc basins, seawater can be
accompanied by significant amounts of fluids exsolved from underlying crystallizing
subvolcanic intrusions. These late fluids are abnormally enriched in Cu and Au as well as in
other trace metals such As, Te, Hg, and Sb (de Ronde 1995; Hannington et al. 1986; Sillitoe
1996), along with magmatic gas. Therefore, VMS deposits related with magmatic-
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hydrothermal systems can be of greater economic interest than those related to seawater
convection.
Along with the isotope geochemistry and the fluid inclusion data, the presence of high-
sulphidization assemblages, including enargite, bornite, or hypogene covellite, and of argillic
or advanced argillic assemblages, are criteria for defining these magmatic hydrothermal
systems.
At La Plata, Chiaradia and Fontboté (2000) and Chiaradia et al. (2008) have described
assemblages with bornite, digenite, and covellite that they interpret (along with the high Au
contents) as indicative of formation in a magmatic-hydrothermal system. At El Domo,
however, the criteria are not so straightforward. The assemblage includes iron-poor
sphalerite, abundant bornite, and perhaps some enargite (uncommon minerals in seawater-
recharged VMS systems), but a lack of covellite and chalcocite of hypogene origin.
Furthermore, the hydrothermally altered rocks lack hypogene kaolinite, alunite, and jarosite.
More detailed studies are needed to determine whether Curipamba is a high-sulphidation
system.
A BOILING SYSTEM?
The reports of Franklin (2009) and Lavigne and McMonnies (2011) note that the El Domo
system was boiling, at or near the seafloor, during ore deposition. Boiling would favour the
separation of gold into the gaseous phase and its precipitation, as well as that of antimony,
arsenic, and mercury, and could explain the high bromine contents observed in some of the
chalcopyrite. However, our study has found no clear evidence of fluid boiling. The
mechanism invoked by these reports is usually associated with advanced argillic alteration —
not described at El Domo — and would imply the separation of this suite of metals from that
of the base metals and barite.
GENETIC MODEL
Available geological data suggest that the El Domo deposit formed in somewhat similar
conditions to those of many VMS deposits developing in active island-arc systems. As
mentioned above, what is new and different at El Domo is the combination of a magmatic-
hydrothermal system and the replacement of juvenile volcaniclastic rocks.
The Curipamba area includes volcanic and volcaniclastic mafic rocks of Paleocene–Eocene
age (Macuchi Group) that both limit and fill a third-order basin. Thick units of volcaniclastic
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rocks above the Lower Felsic Unit suggest that the mineralization formed synchronously with
a topographic depression. The mineralized zone comprises areas of flat-lying strata bounded
by steep NNE-SSW to NE-SW striking faults that define extensional structures within a major
N-S trending kilometre-sized pull-apart structure (Figure 7.6). The ore-forming event was
synchronous with widespread extension, which favoured bimodal magmatism, high heat flow,
and basin compartmentalization synchronous with major erosion of the adjacent blocks.
Some of the Polymictic Breccia fragments reflect a distal origin and probably come from
those uplifted and eroded blocks.
The formation of these large basins could be related to the NE to E subduction of the
Farallon-Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate; here, the Macuchi arc sequence
experienced clockwise rotation, which probably induced pulsatile dextral strike-slip
movements along NNE-SSW faults (Buckle 2009). Although some of the volcanic and
volcaniclastic rocks might well have been deposited in a subsiding caldera, there are no
definitive arguments for its existence.
An increase in the heat flow and interaction in the middle to upper crust of the deep juvenile
melts with a continental crust formed small batches of calc-alkaline melts that ascended
through the strike-slip tensional structures along with larger amounts of more primitive, basalt
to andesite, magmas. The number and volume of these dacite and rhyolite rocks is relatively
small throughout the entire Macuchi arc, but they are invariably associated with the
volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, showing a direct link between the two.
Crystallization of the rhyodacite domes at sub-volcanic depths promoted fluid saturation and
exsolution of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids that ascended overpressured along the tensional
structures and promoted the formation of irregularly distributed hydrothermal breccias due to
hydrofracturing. Cooling of these hot fluids promoted acidification and reaction with the host
rocks at high fluid/rock ratios and induced the precipitation of quartz and sulphides in the
veins and the widespread sericitic alteration in the Lower Felsic Unit. The formation of the
breccia zones is not exclusive of submarine mounds; they can grow by the input of
overpressured upflowing fluids that crack and seal the hydrothermally altered rocks.
Synchronously, the already crystallized upper part of the dome was covered by different
mass flows, suggesting vigorous volcanic activity in the area synchronous with active
faulting. The deposits covering the rhyodacite dome include mafic-dominated mass flow
deposits as a result of the erosion of loose pyroclastic rocks (Polymictic Volcaniclastic Unit)
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overlain by more acid, crystal-rich ones (Crystal-Rich Volcaniclastic Unit). While the former
seems to represent a mass flow deposit related with a fault scarp, the latter seems to be
several submarine (reworked?) pyroclastic flows with interbedded fine-grained sediments
deposited between these flows. The emplacement of these mass flows was accompanied by
the intrusion of shallow basaltic sills. In such an active system, it is very unlikely that
exhalative massive sulphides could form and be preserved.
Upon reaching the contact of the rhyodacite with the overlying Polymictic Volcaniclastic
Breccia, the hydraulic regime changed, and the hot and acid deep fluids carrying the metals
and sulphur mixed with the alkaline, cool, oxidized seawater saturating the permeable,
reactive glass-rich rocks of the Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia. This led to quick
alkalinization and cooling, which produced the hydrothermal alteration and precipitation of
the sulphides (Figure 8.1).
The main aquifer, that is, the contact between the two lithologies, was replaced by the major
massive sulphide lens, whereas the less permeable rocks were irregularly replaced by the
hydrothermal assemblages and ore. The system was controlled by an abundance of mafic
glass and the more permeable rocks, which were probably the fine-grained volcaniclastic
breccias despite the entire sequence being affected by the alteration. Upflowing
hydrothermal fluids in the stratabound aquifer(s) gradually displaced seawater, promoting the
growth of the orebody by fluid mixing and the replacement of the early low-temperature
assemblages (marking the contact between the two fluids, barite, sphalerite and galena) by
the high-temperature assemblage and precipitation at higher fluid/rock ratios, dominated by
pyrite and chalcopyrite (hydrothermal refining).
The contact zone between these two ore assemblages is an area of major geochemical
changes where most of the gold, arsenic, and silver precipitated. The massive sulphides are
irregularly capped by a silica layer that likely reflects mixing of the exhausted deep fluids with
cool seawater. The lateral zones of the orebody and stockwork zone, where heated seawater
entered the system, were favoured sites for the precipitation of sulphide-poor anhydrite. The
waning stages of the system also enhanced seawater intrusion into the hot rhyodacite,
promoting widespread anhydrite precipitation, later replaced by gypsum. As Franklin (2009)
has suggested, mapping the calcium sulphates should easily reflect the size and morphology
of the hydrothermal system. The distribution of the Cu- and Zn-rich ores also reflects the
location of the feeder zone. The fact that the eastern part of the orebody (below the andesite
dome) has the higher Cu grades suggests that this was at least one of the feeder zones.
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Both the hydrothermal fluids and the melts that produced the later andesite dome were
probably channelized along the same NNE-SSW structures.
FIGURE 8.1 GENETIC MODEL FOR MASSIVE SULPHIDE AT CURIPAMBA. THE SKETCH
SHOWS THE ZONE BEFORE INTRUSION OF THE LATE ANDESITE AND RHYOLITE.
The fact that the rhyodacite dome was covered by the volcaniclastic sediments before the
ore deposition suggests that all these processes took place within a short time span,
probably less than several thousand years. Although vigorous, the hydrothermal system also
formed and finished rather quickly since the uppermost units of the Polymictic Breccia and
the overlying Crystal-Rich Breccia Unit lack hydrothermal alteration. Fragments of massive
sulphides (Vallejo 2013) that likely represent uplift and quick erosion on the seafloor near a
fault scarp are also consistent with very rapid processes in the basin.
Overall, the system reflects high sulphidation-oxidation conditions, as defined by the

presence of bornite and low-iron sphalerite and the absence of pyrrhotite accompanied by
sulphates. However, these conditions are not as sulphur-rich as those found in high
sulphidation systems, in which hypogene chalcocite and covellite are stable. The origin of the
deep fluids is unknown, but the ore assemblage (with bornite and rich in As, Au, and Ag)
suggests that they were deep magmatic-hydrothermal fluids separated from a crystallizing,
deep subvolcanic intrusion that could well be an internal zone of this rhyodacitic dome that
achieved fluid saturation and secondary boiling due to crystallization or (less likely) an
independent deep intrusion.

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The fact that the upper Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia and the Crystal-Rich Volcaniclastic
Breccia show no or only subtle hydrothermal alteration suggests that the replaced rocks were
very close to the seafloor and that the mineralization took place soon after its deposition. As
mentioned above, no clear evidence of boiling has been found in this study. This, along with
the deposition of the volcaniclastic rocks below seawater level, suggests that the
mineralization took place at relatively deep water depths but only under some tens of metres
of unconsolidated sediments. The sedimentary structures indicate deposition below storm
wave base level and there is no evidence of pyroclastic ash flows that would suggest
shallow-marine or subaerial volcanism. Furthermore, the lack of clear evidence of boiling of
the hydrothermal fluids suggests that the fluids did not unmix — for the average salinities of
magmatic-hydrothermal systems (ca. 10–15 wt% NaCl eq.) at temperatures of circa 300–
350°C, this implies depths above 3 km. These figures are meant only as a guideline, and a
fluid-inclusion study is needed to confirm these assumptions.
Later cooling of the system or (more likely) cessation of the magmatic-hydrothermal activity
promoted the invasion of the system by heated seawater and precipitated large amounts of
anhydrite within the most brittle rock, the Lower Felsic Unit. The distribution zones of the
calcium sulphates mark the footwall contact of the VMS and the feeder zones.
Late tectonic activity has somewhat disturbed the orebody. The NNE-SSW and NE-SW fault
systems that controlled the hydrothermal activity were partially reactivated and acted as
channelways for late volcanic activity that led to the formation of late andesitic and rhyolitic
(crypto-)domes. These intrusions recrystallized only small amounts of the massive sulphides,
but apparently mechanically eroded a significant part of the orebody (Figure 7.5). Due to the
contrasting brittle-ductile behaviour, the contact of these domes with the host rocks is the loci
of late faulting.
The late intrusions of widespread epizonal granodiorite and tonalite probably formed
synchronously with reactivation of these strike-slip faults during a second event that
facilitated the emplacement of the intrusions. Late shearing along the NNE-SSW faults
partially remobilized the mineralization and focused along the most hydrothermally altered
rocks, including those with sericitic alteration or rich in anhydrite/gypsum; there are some
detachment faults along sub-horizontal zones rich in calcium sulphates here. In fact, many of
these structures are mineralized and host many of the Curipamba area prospects. Similar
rocks have been described in the La Plata deposit, where a significant part of the ore occurs
as fragments in the NNE-SSW Chimbo-Toachi shear zone (Chiaradia et al. 2008). However,
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the rocks at Curipamba appear to be less deformed than at La Plata, where footwall rocks
are foliated and the orebody is crosscut by several shear zones (Chiaradia et al. 2008).
MINERAL POTENTIAL
The potential for VMS deposits in Ecuador and specifically in the Curipamba area is high. It
is an underexplored region hosting promising environments for the formation of Cu-Zn-Au
volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, including favourable rocks for the formation of large
replacive mineralization.
The VMS deposits of Ecuador form part of a large, high-potential (and only recently
recognized) belt that extends from Colombia to southern Peru (Sherlock and Logan 2000).
Along these 2,000 km, there are abundant intra- and back-arc basins related with oblique
tectonics of Cretaceous–Tertiary age that are the loci of several important VMS deposits.
The best-known deposits include La Plata, Macuchi, Tambo Grande, Cerro Lindo, Perubar,
María Teresa, and several small deposits in Colombia. Although there are not many
deposits, they are large, and two of them, Tambo Grande (Winter et al. 2004) and Cerro
Lindo, are world-class deposits. The location of these deposits is similar all along the belt.
Except for Tambo Grande (interpreted as a mound with underlying replacement), they are
found in the contact between rhyodacite domes and mafic volcanic rocks despite variations
in the specific location and the style of mineralization from site to site. All these deposits
seem to be located in a dominantly tholeiitic sequence in which there are pulses of a few
calc-alkaline felsic rocks, with the change from felsic to mafic volcanism being the loci of the
ore deposits. These deposits seem to be highly diachronous and range from middle
Cretaceous to early Eocene in age. In the deposits of the Casma Group in Peru, the
mineralization replaced glassy rhyodacite below impervious mafic rocks.
The Curipamba district shares all the features of the major camps, including the relationship
with felsic domes, the abundance of (former) anhydrite in the system, and clear zonation.
Furthermore, it appears to be hosted in the largest basin in the area. What makes the area
different and interesting is the relationship with clastic and glassy, permeable and reactive,
volcanic rocks. In addition, the location in a pull-apart structure in an overall compressive
setting favoured channelization of the hydrothermal fluids through well-defined domains and
prevented multiple small-scale venting. In fact, these settings are the most favourable for
magmatic-hydrothermal activity and are the loci where the largest VMS deposits form (e.g.,
Iberian Pyrite Belt; Tornos 2006).

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The relationship with a magmatic-hydrothermal system provides further interest as VMS

deposits forming in relation with the exsolution of magmatic fluids are usually enriched in Cu
and Au and can be among the largest and richest massive sulphide deposits (e.g. Eskay
Creek and Green Creek).
The ore formation environment is also among the most productive ones, with the
mineralization replacing volcaniclastic rocks, which can concentrate the mineralization (if
enough sulphur was available) and inhibit further erosion, dispersion, and oxidation.
Therefore, BISA agrees with Pratt (2008), Franklin (2009), and Buckle (2009) that there is
potential for a giant or world-class deposit of the size of Tambo Grande.
Franklin (2009) has suggested an additional argument for the importance of the Curipamba
district. He advocates that the 50–60 km separation between the Curipamba, La Plata, and
Macuchi districts is the ideal range for the formation of large convective cells and the
formation of large volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, as has been recorded in the
Abitibi Belt. However, this is not always true and the distance between giant deposits is much
smaller in the Iberian Pyrite Belt and the Urals; in fact, they are usually clustered. However,
comparing the geology of the Macuchi Formation with that of other well-explored camps, it
appears that there is excellent potential for large VMS deposits in Ecuador. The presence, at
least in the Macuchi Group, of suitable geochemical traps and clear evidence for the
formation of magmatic hydrothermal systems in many exposed felsic domes are the best
arguments for supporting such a hypothesis.
OTHER VMS DEPOSITS IN ECUADOR

The Macuchi Group hosts several VMS deposits. Apart from El Domo and others nearby, the
most significant and best-studied mines are those of La Plata, Macuchi, and Patiño (Figure
7.1 and Figure 8.1). None of them is active, but significant exploration has been carried in
recent years, especially in La Plata; although there are several other prospects nearby, no
information is available. They have been interpreted as occurring at different levels of the
Macuchi sequence (Chiaradia et al. 2008), but no specific studies on the deposit chronology
have been performed. Although these deposits are not adjacent to the Curipamba Project,
they can provide relevant information on the geological setting, mineralogy, and genesis of
the El Domo deposit.

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TABLE 8.1 GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC DATA OF THE VMS DEPOSITS OF THE
ECUADORIAN ANDES
Name Geological setting Size History References

Pilas, Cu-Zn-(Pb) stratabound Small prospects Gonzalez
Cruzacta, mineralization in highly (2001);
Garumales deformed mafic volcanic Gonzalez et al.
rocks and shale of Jurassic (2006)
age.
La Plata Stratabound massive 0.9 Mt @ 5% Cu, Historical mine. Chiaradia and
sulphides in the contact 6.7% Zn, 0.8% Pb, Mined in the 1970s Fontboté (2000,
between felsic and mafic 8 g/t Au, 88 g/t Ag 2008)
volcanics. Sheared contact
between rhyodacite dome
and andesite.
Macuchi Volcaniclastic glass-rich 3.9 Mt @ 0.59% Worked in the
andesitic hyaloclastite. Cu, 1.9 g/t Au, and 1940s. Historic
7.5 g/t Ag production from
1940–1946 of
435,000 tons at 11.7
g/t Au and 4.7% Cu
Patiño Most reports include it in Macuchi
El Domo Contact between rhyodacite No previous mining This report
dome and volcaniclastic
mafic rocks.
The La Plata deposit is located in the Western Cordillera Occidental, near Palo Quemado. It
has been studied in detail by Tripodi et al. (2003), Chiaradia et al. (2008). The deposit lies 80
km north of El Domo. The orebody crops out and was known in historical times.
Rediscovered in 1946 by Cotopaxi Exploration, the northern orebody was mined by Minera
Toachi in the 1970s. The project has been owned by several companies undertaking major
exploration that is currently continued by Sultana del Cóndor; this includes abundant drill
holes, geophysics, and geochemistry. There are two major orebodies, the already mined
northern Henry deposit and the La Plata deposit, where most recent exploration focuses.
The area is covered by thick soil and ash from recent volcanic activity. The La Plata deposit
is located in the hinge and eastern limb of a vertical anticline plunging 30°E limited to the
east by volcaniclastic rocks and to the west by dark shale. The footwall includes andesite
likely overlain by a dacite dome including both coherent and hyaloclastic facies; devitrified
facies are common. The orebody occurs as a stratabound lens of semi-massive and massive
sulphides up to 10 m thick and less than 150 m in lateral extension. The assemblage
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includes pyrite, chalcopyrite, low-iron sphalerite, bornite, and galena. There are trace
amounts of tennantite and what Chiaradia et al. (2008) interpret as hypogene covellite and
digenite. The gold occurs as free 5–50 µm grains (80–97% Au). The ore minerals are
associated to quartz and barite. The deposit shows zonation with a Cu-enriched base
overlain by a Zn-rich one, and Chiaradia et al. (2008) describe zonation opposite to that
observed at El Domo, with early pyrite-chalcopyrite followed by the Zn-Pb assemblage and
late barite. The orebody is enclosed in a hydrothermal aureole (tracked up to 100 m in the
hanging wall) with an internal zone of quartz, sericite, and pyrite and an external one of
propylitic alteration.
The mineralization is overlain by mudstone and a characteristic layer of red to purple, usually
brecciated, hematitic jasper less than 10 m thick interpreted as an exhalite or as a silicified
hyaloclastite. Regardless of its origin, the jasper level can be tracked laterally for more than
10 km and used as a guide level. It is overlain by coherent pillow lava basalt and underlain
by in-situ and transported hyaloclastite of the same composition.
A key feature of La Plata is large N-S trending sub-vertical shear zones that crosscut the
mineralization. These shear zones include fragments of massive sulphides enclosed in a
mylonitic groundmass of chlorite and sericite, likely deformed hydrothermally altered dacite.
These rocks show a significant increase in Au and local tectonic injection of the massive
sulphides.
The system has been dismembered due to late sub-vertical faults. The regional
metamorphism is low grade, and there is no noticeable modification of the primary
assemblages.
The deposit's geochemistry (Chiaradia et al. 2008) shows that the reduced sulphur could be
magmatic in origin or derived from the thermochemical reduction of seawater, whereas the
Sr and the sulphur of the barite come from seawater, suggesting that fluid mixing was the
ore-forming mechanism. The deposit shares many similarities with El Domo, including the
ore assemblage, hydrothermal alteration and, especially, the location above a glassy felsic
dome beneath mafic rocks. However, the main difference with El Domo is that at La Plata the
mafic rocks and the underlying shale acted as a physical barrier to the hydrothermal fluids.
Consequently, the mineralization is confined to the carapace of the dome whereas in El
Domo it spread throughout the volcaniclastic sediments. Here, the dominant sulphate is

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barite and anhydrite/gypsum has not been reported, suggesting a lower formation
temperature.
The Macuchi mine lies 40 km N of Curipamba (in El Tingo, province of Cotopaxi). It includes
eight different mineralized areas, two at Macuchi, La Esperanza, Mercedes, and Patiño
prospects, and three ore outcrops (Minchoa 1–3). The mine (in the La Esperanza area) was
in production between 1940 and 1946, extracting 0.57 Mt at 4.7% Cu, 11.5 g/t Au, and 68 g/t
Ag. Largo Resources has quantified 3.9 Mt at 0.59% Cu, 1.9 g/t Au, and 7.5 g/t Ag. Nearby is
the Patiño prospect (found by drilling), which shares many of the general area features.
Several companies have worked in the area, but little information is available.
Despite being poorly known, the data of DGGM and Chiaradia et al. (2008) show that it is
located within volcaniclastic glass-rich andesitic hyaloclastite trending north-south — there
are no references to a felsic dome. The orebody includes a lens of semi-massive sulphides
(up to 60% sulphides) 125 m long and 8 m thick with pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite, tennantite
and chalcocite, covellite, and digenite. It is not clear whether the latter are hypogene or
supergene. The sulphide assemblage is accompanied by significant proportions of barite and
quartz; the ore lens is enclosed in an aureole of quartz, sericite, pyrite, chlorite, and barite.
The lens is underlain by a Cu-Au-bearing stockwork. There are also N-S trending late faults
associated with chloritization.
No other VMS deposits (apart from the Macuchi Group) have been found in Ecuador except
in the Cordillera Real (Gonzalez 2001; Gonzalez et al. 2006), where three mines (Pilas,
Cruzacta, and Garumales) worked Zn-Cu-(Pb) massive sulphide deposits related to a
Jurassic oceanic island arc associated to the earliest events of Andean accretion. The
mineralization occurs as stratabound lenses within coherent basalt and volcaniclastic rocks
of equivalent composition affected by pervasive quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration. These
deposits are interpreted as being of the Besshi or Kuroko type but are located within the
major Baños Shear Zone; sulphides and host-altered rocks show widespread evidence of
ductile deformation.

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9. EXPLORATION
All the information below on exploration in the Curipamba district and nearby areas is based
on previous reports cited in Table 9.1. No exploration work has been done by BISA in the
preparation of this report.
Modern exploration in the district began in 1991 when Rio Tinto completed a regional stream
sediment survey. Since 2007, Salazar exploration has concentrated on the Curipamba South
concessions. This block of concessions is further subdivided into the Naves Central and
Sesmo Sur areas. The Naves Central area includes the anomalies of Sesmo, Caracol, most
of El Domo area, and El Gallo. The Sesmo Sur area covers the Sesmo Sur and La Vaquera
anomalies. Geological mapping, prospecting, and soil and stream sediment sampling were
followed by geophysical surveys and diamond drilling (Table 9.1).

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TABLE 9.1 SUMMARY OF EXPLORATION WORK, SALAZAR RESOURCES LTD. – CURIPAMBA

PROJECT
Company Year Exploration Work Description

598 stream sediment samples. Cu anomalies
found on northern part of property; scattered
RTZ Mining PLC Inc. 1991 Regional stream sediment survey
Au anomalies (21–200 ppb) in southern part
of property
225 BLEG samples. Identification of Cu-Au
Newmont Mining
2006 BLEG stream sediment survey anomalies in northern area and Au-Ag-As-
Corporation
Hg-Mo in southern part of property
Geological reconnaissance,
Naves Central: 17 line-km IP and Mag
geochemical prospecting, geophysical
Salazar Resources Ltd 2007-2008 Sesmo Sur: 43 line-km IP and Mag
surveys, and Phase I drilling
Drilling: 51 DDH @ 10,003 m
Geological modelling of the El Domo and

Dr W. Pratt 2008-2009 Geological mapping and modelling
Sesmo Sur deposits
Geological reconnaissance and

Dr J. M. Franklin 2009
interpretation
Phase II diamond drilling program

Salazar Resources Ltd 2009-2010 Drilling: 20 DDH @ 3,241.38 m
Resources: Indicated 623,000 t @ 3.7% Cu,

Technical Report on the Curipamba 0.41% Pb, 4.16% Zn, 3.9 g/t Au and 79.5 g/t
Scott Wilson RPA 2010
Project (NI 43-101) Ag. Inferred: 2,499,000 t @ 3.24% Cu, 0.37%
Pb, 4.28% Zn, 4.3 g/t Au, and 79.6 g/t Ag
Phase III diamond drilling program

Salazar Resources Ltd 2010 Drilling: 84 DDH @ 15,582.85 m
Resources: Indicated: 5,530,000 t @ 2.4%

Cu, 0.3% Pb, 2.5% Zn, 2.8 g/t Au, and 48.4
Roscoe Postle Associates Technical Report on the Curipamba
2011 g/t Ag. Inferred: 1,460,000 t @ 1.9% Cu,
Inc. (RPA) Project (NI 43-101)
0.3% Pb, 2.8% Zn, 2.4 g/t Au, and 52.2 g/t
Ag
Phase IV diamond drilling program

Salazar Resources Ltd 2011-2012 Drilling: 51 DDH @ 10,248.77 m
Salazar commissioned BISA for an

updated estimate of mineral resources
Buenaventura Ingenieros
2013 in a NI 43-101 Technical Report, and
S.A. (BISA)
for a lithological and mineralization 3D
model
The El Domo deposit is the largest but not the only deposit in the Curipamba area — many of
the old prospects and anomalies described are currently included in El Domo (e.g. Gallo,
Roble, Guayabillo, Roble Este, Roble 1, Cade, Cade Sur, Cade 1, and Caracol 1). Nearby,

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there are other prospects of variable interest and abundant geophysical/geochemical

anomalies studied in detail by Pratt (2009) (Sesmo Sur) and Buckle (2009). These prospects
are grouped in Table 9.2 and their location shown in Figure 7.2 and Figure 9.1.
TABLE 9.2 CURIPAMBA PROSPECTS, OTHERS THAN THE EL DOMO
Geochem istr
Target Mineralization Style Drill holes Geophysics
y
Whole area Rock and stream geochemical surveys
Volcanogenic massive
El Domo Cu-Au-Ag-(Zn-Pb) 167 drill holes
sulphide
Naves Central Area
21 km IP &
magnetometry
21 soil
Disseminated sulphides in a w ith significant
Sesmo High Au and Ag. Minor Zn-Pb 1 drill hole? geochemistry
N55°E fault zone chargeability
profiles
and resistivity
anomalies
Caracol Zn-Cu-Pb-Au-Ag Hydrothermal breccias
Stockw ork zone

Sesmo Sur Au-Ag underlying(?) a former VMS 18 drill holes
system 76.15 km of
Sesmo Sur Area
magnetometry
& 34.7 km of IP
Silica cap + argillic alteration.
La Vaquera Au-Ag-Cu
Possible porphyry
Small replacement of
Polymictic Volcaniclastic
El Zinc Zn
Breccia in a stockw ork
zone?
Some of these prospects and anomalies (El Gallo) are located along the NNE-SSW faults
controlling the location of the basin hosting the El Domo deposit and likely acted as feeder
zones (Figure 7.3 and Figure 7.6). These faults have a complex history and include dykes,
hydrothermal breccias, and clay-rich fault gauges with fragments of massive sulphide. Pratt
(2008) proposed that these fragments and the clay/gypsum within the breccia are
remobilized from the massive sulphides and the footwall.
The Sesmo Sur target, 6 km SSW of El Domo, is the largest zone with extensive
hydrothermal alteration, within an area of 3x3 km; it was studied in detail by Pratt (2008). The
Estrella prospect is the largest and best-studied outcrop. The main lithologic units recognized
here also belong to the Macuchi island-arc sequence. From bottom to top, a volcanic
sequence similar to El Domo has been recognized (Pratt 2008; Franklin 2010):
a. A (crypto-)dome of autoclastic breccia intruded into andesite along a NE-SW structure. It
is interpreted by Pratt (2008) as coeval with the Lower Felsic Unit at El Domo.
Hydrothermal brecciation and alteration are widespread.
b. Stratabound bodies of andesite with widespread brecciation and peperites indicating
shallow intrusive to extrusive sub-aqueous emplacement. Hypothetically, it could be the
lateral equivalent of the Polymictic Volcaniclastic Unit. Probably related to this unit are

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some mafic volcaniclastic rocks described by (Franklin 2010). Likely related to this unit as
well are some jasper boulders with sulphides found in the creeks.
c. Dykes of vacuolar magnetite-rich basalt.
d. Porphyry dykes of rhyodacite to dacite composition that crosscut the basalt and the
andesite and could be equivalent to the late rhyolite at El Domo.
e. Abundant dykes and epizonal stocks of quartz-diorite striking N50°E; these rocks are late
in the sequence and interpreted as being apophysis of the Early to Mid-Miocene
Echeandía Batholith.
The dome shows pervasive, widespread hydrothermal alteration that also seems to be
controlled by the NNE-SSW structures. There are areas of strong silicification (± sericite) with
disseminated sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite crosscut by irregular jigsaw and crackle
hydrothermal breccia bodies, with fragments of the host volcanics and reworked fragments of
altered rock in a quartz + sericite groundmass. These hydrothermal bodies have
disseminated sulphides, clots, and veins of barite and the highest Au grades; the presence of
banded textures typical of the epithermal environment indicates that mineralization took
place close to the surface. The breccias are restricted to the zone of major hydrothermal
alteration and include both jigsaw and crackle breccias. Low-temperature silica with
disseminated sulphides occurs either as veins or cement of the hydrothermal breccias or
replacing the groundmass of the volcanic breccias. The sulphides seem to be restricted to
the upper part of the dome and the overlying volcaniclastic rocks. Pratt (2008) suggests there
is vertical zonation where the deep veins are arranged in linear stockworks and have an illite-
rich selvage, whereas the shallow ones are sinuous and banded, with barite and high
sulphide contents.
Overall, Pratt (2008) and Franklin (2010) interpreted this system as the roots of a feeder or
stockwork zone beneath a presumable massive sulphide. In fact, the Sesmo Sur zone lies at
a significantly lower elevation than El Domo. While downward displacement would be
theoretically possible, the model of these authors suggests that any likely VMS system
capping these rocks would have been eroded away.
The zone seems to include other breccia bodies such as those described by Pratt (2008), a
sub-horizontal breccia at least 10 m thick with dacite/rhyolite and massive sulphide clasts
with pyrite + chalcocite. This breccia is of unknown origin but likely represents a tectonic-
hydrothermal breccia similar to that at El Gallo.

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Away from the mineralized zone, the rock shows only pervasive chloritization. The basalt
sequence is particularly rich in epidote + magnetite + chlorite, likely a product of regional
and/or burial metamorphism. These rocks also include some magnetite/hematite stockworks
and rare magnetite-matrix breccias. The outcrops show systematic weathering, with only
chalcocite and covellite remaining.
Soil, rock, and chip geochemistry has yielded interesting values of up to 58 g/t Au and up to
2,800 g/t Ag, suggesting that the zone is highly prospective. Systematic Induced Polarization
(42 km) and magnetometric (55 km) geophysics (Figure 9.1) have mapped large zones of
quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration and hydrothermal brecciation, which are clearly
distinguishable from the nearby mafic volcanic rocks. However, the 18 drill cores have not
shown any significant mineralization. Consequently, it seems that this interpreted stockwork
zone is of little interest and efforts should focus on finding possible VMS deposits in
depressed blocks or at higher elevations. In any case, the geophysics has delineated some
interesting targets. At Sesmo Sur, 3,746 m of drilling in 18 holes has produced up to 12 m @
2.25 g/t Au and 31 g/t Ag in DDH 1 and 15m @ 2.54 g/t Au and 50 g/t Ag in DDH 05.
Likely related to the quartz-diorite are some small veinlets with molybdenite in the deeper
parts of some drill holes. They could be related to an independent and probably younger Cu-
Au-Mo porphyry system.

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FIGURE 9.1 AREAS WHERE GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION HAS BEEN PERFORMED — IP

ANOMALIES ARE SHOWN
These prospects are different from conventional VMS deposits, but they have economic
potential as high grade–low tonnage deposits. However, and as has been discussed before,
the area has potential for the discovery of large VMS deposits — the Curipamba area could
host one or more deposits even larger than El Domo. More exploration is needed; in fact,
only 17% of the Naves Central Zone has been explored in some detail. Currently, there are

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eight untested geophysical anomalies around El Domo, five in the Sesmo Sur-La Vaquera
Zone, and four in Barranco Colorado, Agua Santa, La Vaquera, and Coral.
EXPLORATION GUIDES
There are two main types of mineralization on the Curipamba Project. The volcanogenic
massive sulphides enriched in Cu-Zn-Au and Ag form the most significant deposit, and a
likely polymetallic epithermal mineralization. As described in Chapter 8, there is huge
potential in the area and the whole Macuchi terrane for large orebodies of massive sulphides
likely exceeding the size of El Domo. Hypothetically, there could also be mineralization
related to porphyry copper-like prospects (Franklin 2009), but this seems to be an
unattractive target since there appears to be an antithetic relationship between porphyry
copper and VMS deposits (Sillitoe 1980); however, this situation could change if the porphyry
deposits are interpreted as being genetically unrelated to the VMS systems. Mineralized fault
zones at the contacts of the late andesite intrusions are also unattractive targets and it is
unlikely they could form a sizeable orebody.
However, the discordant mineralization can include several different types of interesting
mineralization that could carry significant amounts of gold (see Chapter 9.1). They comprise
the feeder zones of the volcanogenic massive sulphides, the late remobilization of the
massive sulphides, and (younger?) epithermal low sulphidation systems. The feeder zones
of submarine magmatic-hydrothermal systems could form deposits as important as Pueblo
Viejo (Russell et al. 1981) or Madneuli (Migineishvili 2000), both large deposits with high
tonnage and economic Cu-Au grades. Discordant precious metal-bearing structure-controlled
deposits that could be either the roots of the hydrothermal systems or a product of
hydrothermal remobilization can also be economically important. There are reasonable
possibilities of finding a small (1–3 Mt) high-grade gold orebody. Hypothetically, it could be
similar to the Au-rich structures in the Henty mine in Tasmania (Halley and Roberts 1997;
Callaghan 2001). Furthermore, there could be some interesting targets in the stockwork;
similar rocks are sometimes enriched in gold despite low sulphide contents. Finally, the
epithermal mineralization is typical of subaerial systems and has not been reported in
submarine settings. Again, if they prove to be younger, they could be an attractive target for
Au-Ag.
Existing information indicates that VMS exploration in Ecuador is in its early stages and most
of the area is underexplored. Due to the lack of good, frequent exposures, most of the

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deposits are assumed to be buried with only a minimal part exposed. There is plenty of room
to hide lenses with volumes greater than 100 x 150 x 10 m near and far from the El Domo
deposit. Therefore, the geological definition of targets must be a priority for later geophysical
and geochemical studies.
As mentioned above, the main mineralization controls are the location in intra-arc N-S
trending basins infilled with Macuchi Group rocks and with NNE-SSW and NE-SW structures.
The mineralization always seems to be related to rhyodacitic domes. Consequently, the
intersection of these structures with felsic domes should be a preferential target. Although
the mineralization at El Domo occurs in the contact with polymictic mafic-rich glassy
volcaniclastic units, this is not the only setting where it could form. Hypothetically,
volcanogenic massive sulphides could also occur within the rhyodacitic domes, mostly in the
glassy carapace or glass-rich flows below a sealing cap or as exhalative deposits in small
basins with anoxic fine-grained sediments.
The size of the hydrothermal alteration zones as well as their characteristic mineralogy can
be useful for exploration, as reported by Franklin (2009). The replacement of the rhyodacite
by a quartz-sericite assemblage implies a drop in the Na2O content and local Mg
enrichment. The presence of anhydrite (an excellent marker of magmatic-hydrothermal
systems) can by obscured by its high solubility and can only be useful in drill cores when
associated with quartz-sericite assemblages.
Since most of the area is covered by rain forest or thick soil, it is unlikely that all the sub-
superficial mineralization and related hydrothermal alteration can be localized by
conventional field work. The general targets could well be tested via stream sediments (gold
panning can be a very good way of finding deposits), but systematic stream sediment
geochemistry is crucial for finding new deposits. Geophysical tests are also key techniques.
However, the mineralization is poorly magnetic and the sphalerite is generally poor in iron.
Negative magnetometric anomalies can be useful for defining hydrothermal systems and
feeder zones. Helicopter-borne Versatile Time-Domain Electromagnetic (VTEM) and similar
EM techniques can be useful to find Cu-pyrite-rich ores; targeting the sphalerite-rich zones
can be trickier, but again VTEM has given good results in pyrite-poor orebodies. Ground EM
and further drilling should be carried out in those areas with the best combination of geology
and airborne anomalies.

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OTHER DEPOSIT TYPES

Along with the VMS deposit of El Domo and the nearby prospects, the region adjacent to the
Curipamba Project includes two other styles of mineralization ( Table 9.3) that share
features with the porphyry and epithermal styles of mineralization. However, these
occurrences are poorly explored and therefore have an unknown but interesting potential.
Pratt (2008) described a major granodiorite batholith southwest of the El Domo area that
appears to have caused significant contact metamorphism of the host rocks. Sizeable bodies
of coarse-grained diorite also occur within the project area, which Franklin (2009) interpreted
as the possible subvolcanic roots of the mafic rocks and the sources of heat, metals, or fluids
leading to the mineralization. However, and as discussed in the chapter on Regional
Geology, they likely postdate the volcanic rocks. Therefore, the porphyry and epithermal
deposits could be associated with an independent and younger subaerial magmatic-
hydrothermal event unrelated to the VMS formation. The former would include the prospects
of Chazo Juan, Telimbela, San Miguel, Torneado, and Yatubi-La Industrial, whereas
Alluriquin, Norcay, and Salinas are more epithermal-like prospects. Both styles of
mineralization need further studies for their characterization and exploration.

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TABLE 9.3 PROSPECTS OTHER THAN VMS NEAR THE CURIPAMBA AREA
Project Company Comments

Discovered in 1977 by stream sediment geochemistry and geophysics. 8
Telimbela drill holes crosscut Cu-rich quartz stockwork and hydrothermal breccia in
ENAMI
(Cu-Mo Porphyry) subvolcanic (quartz)-diorite. Explored by Japanese Exploration Group,
Ecuagold, and ENAMI. Large potential.
El Torneado Cu and Mo anomalies discovered by DGGM and the Japanese Mission in
(Balzapamba or the 1970s. Semi-massive orebody 500 m long and 30 m thick that could be
ENAMI
Santa Lucia) a VMS deposit.
Cu-Mo Porphyry
Chazo Juan Cu and Mo anomalies discovered by DGGM and the Japanese Mission in
ENAMI
(Cu-Mo Porphyry) the 1970s.
Mineralization and alteration related to copper-molybdenum porphyry with
San Miguel
ENAMI the potential of 500 Mt @ 0.6% Cu. Six large anomalies.
(Cu-Mo Porphyry)
Yatubi-La Tourmaline-rich hydrothermal breccias and quartz stockwork in an area of

Industria ENAMI 10 x 5 km resembling a porphyry-like system. Sediment samples up to 0.5
(Au-Cu Porphyry) g/t Au (British Mission and Newmont).
Gold-rich epithermal veins 0.2–1.5 m thick in a system of at least 5 veins.
Alluriquin Junefield
(Epithermal Gold Resources
Veins) Ecuador SA
Epithermal breccias related to major silicification and acid leaching in an

Salinas
area of 1,000 x 600 metres. Rock sampling averages 0.42 g/t Au and 2.1
(Epithermal Ag- ENAMI
oz/t Ag and has high As-Sb-Hg-Ba tenors. Drilling has provided interesting
Au)
Au-Ag values.
Epithermal breccias and veins rooted in a small porphyry copper with

Parcatos
potassic and quartz-sericite alteration. Systematic drilling by RTZ (1990s).
High-level low-dipping calcite- and Mn-rich epithermal gold swarm veins up

Norcay IAMGOLD
to 6 m thick.
Alluvial gold deposit worked in the 1990s and now with informal mining.
Estero Hondo
Exploited 60,000 ounces of Au.

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10. DRILLING
Salazar completed four drilling campaigns at the Curipamba Project from 2007 to 2012, with
206 diamond drill holes totalling 39,192.64 m (Figure 10.1 and Table 12.1).
TABLE 10.1 DRILLING SUMMARY, SALAZAR RESOURCES LTD — CURIPAMBA PROJECT
Program ID Drill Hole No. Holes Date Drilled Targets Metres
Sesmo Sur, El Gallo,

Roble 1, El Roble, Roble
I CURI-07-01 / CURI-08-51 51 2007–2008 Este, Cade Sur, Cade 1, 10,003.00
Cade, Caracol 1, El
Domo
II CURI-52 / CURI-71 20 2010 El Domo 3,241.38
III CURI-72 / CURI-155 84 2010–2011 El Domo 15,699.51
IV CURI-156 / CURI-206 51 2011–2012 El Domo 10,248.75
TOTAL 206 39,192.64

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FIGURE 10.1 EL DOMO DRILLING MAP — LAS NAVES AREA
The Phase I drilling program at Curipamba began in late 2007 and was contracted to Kluane
International Drilling and Perforadores Andesdrill S.A. Both companies used portable

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hydraulic diamond drills (namely the Hydracore 2000 and 2004 model) with a depth capacity
of 270 m for HQ core (63.5 mm diameter) and 450 m for NQ core (47.6 mm diameter). This
initial drill program was completed in 2008 with 51 diamond drill holes (DDH) totalling 10,003
m (see Table 10.1 and Table 10.2). The drilling program tested 11 target areas: Sesmo Sur,
El Gallo, El Roble, Roble 1, Roble Este, Cade, Cade 1, Cade Sur, Caracol 1, and El Domo
(13 DDH).
TABLE 10.2 PHASE I DRILL HOLES, SALAZAR RESOURCES LTD — CURIPAMBA PROJECT
Prospect Drill Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth

(m) (°) (°) (m)
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-01 692775.45 9849299 412.316 270 -45 217.93
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-02 692778.99 9849299 412.258 90 -45 141.73
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-03 692762.03 9849397 405.549 270 -45 167.64
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-04 692713.46 9849501 433.704 272.7 -46.9 214.88
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-05 692665.20 9849501 450.273 273 -45 104.85
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-06 692823.32 9849403 383.256 271.1 -47 208.48
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-07 692908.36 9849300 436.781 270 -45 254.50
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-08 692700.59 9849600 462.959 270 -45 185.62
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-09 692764.51 9849395 406.111 180 -80 131.00
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-10 692301.51 9849497 508.729 90 -50 295.96
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-11 692303.97 9849393 485.911 90 -70 159.10
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-12 692650.94 9849298 411.672 270 -50 272.79
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-13 692683.79 9849700 506.446 270 -50 298.70
El Gallo CURI-07-14 695001.35 9854459 928.911 50 -50 185.92
El Gallo CURI-07-15 695013.28 9854496 930.657 140 -45 94.48
El Gallo CURI-07-16 695024.03 9854489 924.089 230 -50 102.71
El Gallo CURI-07-17 695034.13 9854469 922.348 320 -60 107.59
El Gallo CURI-07-18 695009.76 9854527 939.623 230 -50 107.28
Roble 1 CURI-07-19 695047.96 9855708 908.12 290 -45 126.49
Roble 1 CURI-07-20 695047.65 9855708 908.12 290 -75 123.44
Roble 1 CURI-07-21 695059.81 9855765 902.70 110 -50 239.26
El Roble CURI-08-22 695283.99 9855668 942.50 130 -50 330.70
El Roble CURI-08-23 695398.18 9855670 956.75 60 -50 216.40
Roble Est CURI-08-24 695623.19 9855554 992.75 50 -45 184.40
Roble 1 CURI-08-25 694992.74 9855717 937.23 110 -50 311.20
Sesmo Sur CURI-07-26 692662.42 9849998 355.46 90 -50 140.50
Sesmo Sur CURI-08-27 692895.20 9849501 371.78 90 -60 300.50
Sesmo Sur CURI-08-28 692480.03 9849395 470.43 90 -70 326.70
Roble 1 CURI-08-29 695059.34 9855765 902.70 110 -75 214.27
Cade Sur CURI-08-30 694654.14 9855120 814.07 120 -50 142.34
Sesmo Sur CURI-08-31 692575.81 9849699 477.68 270 -50 181.65
Cade Sur CURI-08-32 694683.24 9855078 819.65 130 -50 195.07
Sesmo Sur CURI-08-33 692776.7 9849438 399.14 270 -50 143.55

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Cade 1 CURI-08-34 694593.28 9855312 773.557 290 -50 110.94

Cade CURI-08-35 694540.00 9855765 724.30 310 -55 201.16
El Domo CURI-08-36 695120.08 9855271 948.41 115 -50 103.00
El Domo CURI-08-37 695119.72 9855271 948.41 115 -75 114.30
Sesmo CURI-08-38 694426.01 9856069 725.00 305 -50 205.74
El Domo CURI-08-39 695116.24 9855272 949.06 295 -50 260.60
Caracol 1 CURI-08-40 695160.72 9855970 875.70 290 -50 245.36
El Roble CURI-08-41 695263.24 9855685 950.70 130 -60 119.65
El Domo CURI-08-42 695189.32 9855401 970.32 90 -55 308.00
El Domo CURI-08-43 694959.67 9855400 915.29 90 -50 364.00
El Domo CURI-08-44 694957.17 9855208 875.24 90 -50 45.20
El Domo CURI-08-45 695246.95 9855276 975.94 280 -45 285.00
El Domo CURI-08-46 695003.70 9855100 878.08 90 -60 209.70
El Domo CURI-08-47 694999.98 9855100 877.19 270 -65 206.70
El Domo CURI-08-48 694997.13 9855200 880.65 90 -75 188.70
El Domo CURI-08-49 695000.74 9855300 904.11 90 -80 200.00
El Domo CURI-08-50 695189.32 9855401 970.32 0 -90 200.00
El Domo CURI-08-51 695203.60 9855500 974.63 90 -70 207.50
TOTAL PHASE 10,003
I
The Phase II drilling program was carried out from June 4 to September 23 of 2010, with 20
drill holes completed in El Domo area for a total of 3,241.38 m (Table 10.1 and Table 10.3).
This drilling aimed to investigate three areas: El Domo, Sesmo Sur, and La Vaquera.
The drill hole data up to hole CURI-71 was the basis of the resource estimate completed by
Scott Wilson RPA (Valliant et al. 2010).
TABLE 10.3 PHASE II DRILL HOLES, SALAZAR RESOURCES LTD — CURIPAMBA PROJECT
Drill Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth

(m) (°) (°) (m)
CURI-52 695052.55 9855099.98 895.24 90 -60 171.00
CURI-53 695049.95 9855050.14 896.02 0 -90 173.85
CURI-54 695031.87 9855000.30 887.92 90 -70 206.70
CURI-55 695100.12 9855099.99 910.41 90 -60 89.80
CURI-56 695049.22 9855207.48 905.13 90 -75 134.70
CURI-57 694949.90 9855202.47 871.65 90 -75 121.35
CURI-58 695151.21 9855600.08 941.4 90 -75 140.80
CURI-59 694752.66 9855895.37 958.93 90 -75 140.80
CURI-60 695160.06 9855449.92 960.82 90 -75 203.80
CURI-61 695150.00 9855350.00 903.19 90 -75 254.80
CURI-62 695099.95 9855179.96 910.65 90 -75 122.95
CURI-63 695100.03 9855045.03 904.99 0 -90 161.85
CURI-64 695084.97 9854999.99 891.08 90 -75 203.75

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CURI-65 695069.91 9854953.98 906.81 90 -70 149.80

CURI-66 695099.59 9854900.04 925.09 270 -85 121.10
CURI-67 695135.25 9854999.94 936.4 90 -70 161.78
CURI-68 695149.99 9855049.80 910.44 0 -90 134.25
CURI-69 695100.22 9855102.60 937.79 90 -60 143.75
CURI-70 695200.00 9854900.00 910.37 270 -85 221.80
CURI-71 695137.50 9854950.00 895.24 90 -70 182.75
TOTAL PHASE 3,241.38
II
The Phase III drilling was carried out from September 2010 to August 2011, with 84 drill
holes totalling 15,699.51 m (Table 10.4). All of this drilling has been conducted exclusively in
the El Domo area. This data was incorporated into the previous drilling database for the
resource update completed by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA) in their NI 43-101
Technical Report (Lavigne and McMonnies, 2011).
TABLE 10.4 PHASE III DRILL HOLES, SALAZAR RESOURCES LTD — CURIPAMBA PROJECT
Drill Hole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth

ID (m) (°) (°) (m)
CURI-72 695180.38 9855002.85 928.61 90 -70 158.75
CURI-73 695110.28 9855451.53 952.64 90 -70 161.90
CURI-74 695106.96 9855451.45 952.64 270 -85 150.00
CURI-75 695106.74 9855451.45 952.64 270 -60 164.75
CURI-76 695150.02 9855499.98 955.27 90 -70 195.60
CURI-77 695146.65 9855499.85 955.27 270 -85 128.80
CURI-78 695146.24 9855499.82 955.27 270 -55 135.90
CURI-79 695270.67 9855406.01 963.79 90 -65 200.75
CURI-80 695140.03 9855400.52 946.3 0 -90 171.00
CURI-81 695138.06 9855549.71 950.92 270 -90 182.85
CURI-82 695137.92 9855549.67 950.92 270 -65 143.70
CURI-83 695103.72 9855599.97 942.83 90 -80 124.05
CURI-84 695178.21 9854950.14 928.93 90 -70 144.25
CURI-85 695243.96 9854900.04 945.68 270 -85 132.00
CURI-86 695008.99 9854700.17 950.19 90 -80 224.70
CURI-87 695052.66 9855150.04 892.90 90 -75 107.95
CURI-88 695497.33 9854697.45 951.09 270 -75 191.90
CURI-89 694895.57 9855200.01 858.29 90 -75 128.95
CURI-90 694994.81 9855046.93 878.06 90 -75 99.00
CURI-91 694980.65 9854999.77 876.45 90 -70 134.95
CURI-92 695267.25 9855405.89 963.49 270 -80 248.85
CURI-93 695209.46 9855449.95 977.43 90 -70 260.80
CURI-94 695163.27 9855550.46 949.67 90 -75 134.95
CURI-95 695073.49 9855270.9 933.71 90 -75 197.80

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CURI-96 695100.56 9855349.95 939.99 90 -75 179.95

CURI-97 695456.66 9854622.6 938.78 270 -75 170.95
CURI-98 695199.61 9855219.95 959.59 0 -90 251.80
CURI-99 695000.52 9855138.15 881.92 90 -75 125.95
CURI-100 695100.47 9855150.08 903.29 90 -75 113.95
CURI-101 694285.49 9854893.02 994.08 0 -90 227.80
CURI-102 695114.57 9855254.91 942.47 90 -75 188.80
CURI-103 695179.4 9855200.01 951.88 270 -80 293.80
CURI-104 695030.68 9855249.92 910.27 90 -75 140.80
CURI-105 695235.97 9855549.95 974.22 0 -90 224.90
CURI-106 695000.43 9855249.9 903.71 90 -85 134.95
CURI-107 695050.9 9855350.05 929.18 90 -75 149.95
CURI-108 695195.73 9855599.99 945.06 90 -75 216.05
CURI-109 695092.45 9855400.15 950.11 90 -90 155.80
CURI-110 695250.53 9855600.33 960.55 90 -75 200.95
CURI-111 695000.47 9855350.05 908.49 90 -75 137.95
CURI-112 695298.72 9855900.03 901.69 270 -78 155.35
CURI-113 694946.79 9855249.95 875.97 90 -75 143.95
CURI-114 695195.91 9855350.06 956.9 90 -75 110.75
CURI-115 694950.73 9855150.73 854.81 90 -75 122.95
CURI-116 694900.5 9855150.06 844.31 90 -75 94.25
CURI-117 695196.47 9855650.55 939.3 90 -75 120.00
CURI-118 694919.26 9855100.09 858.84 270 -65 125.95
CURI-119 695250.75 9855649.89 952.61 90 -75 121.75
CURI-120 695150.51 9855649.96 932.7 90 -75 140.90
CURI-121 695100.58 9855650.04 932.54 90 -75 149.90
CURI-122 694922.79 9855100.22 859.16 90 -75 140.95
CURI-123 695096.38 9855649.93 932.62 270 -50 239.40
CURI-124 694940.63 9855050.02 873.25 90 -70 95.95
CURI-125 695096.82 9855649.94 932.59 270 -70 119.95
CURI-126 694930.77 9855000.2 868.3 90 -70 128.95
CURI-127 695100.08 9855600.04 942.55 270 -60 84.80
CURI-128 695030.91 9854950.07 884.74 90 -70 119.95
CURI-129 695120.05 9855303.05 950.89 90 -75 185.95
CURI-130 695100.39 9854944.94 901.7 90 -75 137.95
CURI-131 695137.31 9855149.72 927.52 90 -75 269.80
CURI-132 695240.23 9855350.97 945.7 233 -87 191.95
CURI-133 695187.37 9855049.96 955.52 90 -85 270.00
CURI-134 695242.55 9855353.43 945.71 53 -72 198.00
CURI-135 695222.69 9855000.01 950.93 90 -80 185.95
CURI-136 695251.03 9855300.03 974.08 270 -75 236.80
CURI-137 695247.29 9854950.01 950.84 90 -85 180.00
CURI-138 695247.51 9854950.01 950.43 90 -60 215.80
CURI-139 695254.51 9855299.99 975.17 90 -85 257.80
CURI-140 695200.98 9855150.18 967.01 90 -82 243.80

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CURI-141 695226.81 9855249.71 975.63 90 -90 309.00

CURI-142 695254.61 9855300.14 975.17 90 -65 274.30
CURI-143 695226.92 9855249.77 975.63 90 -75 332.80
CURI-144 695200.58 9855101.87 961.52 90 -90 303.00
CURI-145 695306.77 9855349.98 995.94 90 -90 251.80
CURI-146 695299.30 9854900.38 951.64 270 -80 218.95
CURI-147 695303.04 9854900.49 953.41 90 -60 200.80
CURI-148 695306.83 9855350.03 995.94 90 -70 235.95
CURI-149 695235.71 9854700.00 938.76 90 -75 248.90
CURI-150 695458.98 9854699.98 948.49 270 -75 215.90
CURI-151 695227.00 9855250.00 975.11 90 -55 257.00
CURI-152 695500.00 9854750.00 979.00 270 -75 398.50
CURI-153 695550.00 9854900.00 998.88 90 -90 257.95
CURI-154 695217.00 9855008.00 951.61 90 -60 257.85
CURI-155 695750.00 9855150.00 1070.07 90 -90 307.85
III
The Phase IV drilling program was carried out from August 2011 to April 2012, with 51 new
holes completed for a total of 10,248.77 m (Table 10.5). All of this drilling has been
conducted in the El Domo area using one Hydracore 2000 and one 4000 portable hydraulic
diamond drills. This new data has been incorporated into the existing drilling database.
TABLE 10.5 PHASE IV DRILL HOLES, SALAZAR RESOURCES LTD — CURIPAMBA PROJECT
Drill Hole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth

ID (m) (°) (°) (m)
CURI-156 695187.60 9855049.98 955.52 90 -65 255.40
CURI-157 695200.75 9855101.83 961.45 90 -70 266.90
CURI-158 695183.03 9855200.20 952.33 90 -65 299.85
CURI-159 695700.64 9855399.94 1052.54 90 -90 280.20
CURI-160 695451.00 9855349.96 1012.24 270 -90 270.00
CURI-161 695454.39 9855350.09 1012.24 90 -70 269.90
CURI-162 695427.31 9854949.86 1001.35 270 -80 230.00
CURI-163 695401.32 9855300.37 1016.13 90 -78.8 282.95
CURI-164 695368.92 9855049.96 1062.32 270 -85 311.80
CURI-165 695400.76 9855250.03 1043.56 90 -85 284.80
CURI-166 695375.67 9855399.88 997.74 90 -85 231.00
CURI-167 695319.50 9855450.38 990.91 90 -81.8 264.00
CURI-168 695149.43 9854899.93 924.06 270 -85 125.95
CURI-169 694987.61 9854950.17 872.45 90 -80 152.95
CURI-170 695301.14 9855500.13 1005.57 90 -80 288.00
CURI-171 694984.25 9854950.06 873.23 270 -71.3 137.95
CURI-172 694869.35 9855002.47 839.04 90 -70 134.80

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CURI-173 695297.71 9855550.06 1000.51 90 -90 234.00

CURI-174 694899.79 9855049.78 863.6 90 -90 131.35
CURI-175 695400.93 9855250.03 1043.56 90 -60 308.75
CURI-176 695333.60 9855199.90 1057.43 90 -85 395.80
CURI-177 694903.16 9855049.69 864.87 270 -60 124.15
CURI-178 694896.95 9855149.99 843.95 270 -60 95.95
CURI-179 695501.00 9855300.02 1020.96 90 -75 292.35
CURI-180 694836.01 9855199.88 854.9 90 -75 149.95
CURI-181 694832.61 9855199.91 854.9 270 -55 94.55
CURI-182 694884.02 9855246.27 856.51 90 -75 91.45
CURI-183 695446.36 9855399.91 1026.93 90 -80 243.00
CURI-184 694960.90 9855299.92 884.42 90 -75 128.95
CURI-185 695349.42 9855650.11 972.19 270 -70 123.00
CURI-186 694935.64 9855399.94 911.56 90 -70 167.95
CURI-187 695352.86 9855650.19 971.43 90 -65 173.80
CURI-188 694932.08 9855399.91 911.6 270 -60 95.95
CURI-189 694976.85 9855349.92 902.25 270 -60 137.80
CURI-190 695040.51 9855549.92 938.46 270 -75 171.00
CURI-191 695051.21 9855649.85 923.23 270 -45 82.65
CURI-192 695477.58 9855650.18 963.3 270 -75 128.95
CURI-193 695074.99 9855700.02 915.28 270 -80 81.65
CURI-194 695481.26 9855650.24 964.64 90 -60 128.80
CURI-195 695139.11 9855699.88 925.64 270 -80 95.95
CURI-196 695505.39 9855599.84 991.05 90 -80 224.95
CURI-197 695368.92 9855049.96 1061.4 90 -75 299.80
CURI-198 695364.88 9855600.20 993.86 90 -70 218.95
CURI-199 695427.31 9854949.86 1001.37 90 -70 257.80
CURI-200 695000.00 9854900.00 881.41 270 -85 143.95
CURI-201 695358.00 9855100.00 1086.5 90 -90 343.15
CURI-202 695000.00 9854900.00 882.13 270 -45 182.75
CURI-203 694934.00 9854950.00 863.7 270 -70 164.95
CURI-204 695440.00 9855150.00 1104.16 90 -70 398.80
CURI-205 694833.00 9855103.00 845.36 270 -80 135.65
CURI-206 694881.50 9855064.00 862.45 270 -45 113.80
IV
BISA updated the existing database with the 51 drill holes from Phase IV. The geological
model and resource estimate performed by BISA include all the drill holes from the four
drilling phases of the El Domo deposit (Table 10.6 and Table 10.7).

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TABLE 10.6 DRILL HOLES USED ON THE RESOURCE ESTIMATE — BISA 2013
Phase ID Drilling Holes Cumulative

Metres
I CURI-07-19 to CURI-08-51 22 4,556.41
II CURI-52 to CURI-71 19 3,100.50
III CURI-72 to CURI-155 76 13,865.50
IV CURI-156 to CURI-206 51 10,248.75
TOTAL 168 31,771.16
TABLE 10.7 MINERALIZED INTERCEPTS FROM THE MAIN ORE ZONE IN EL DOMO — BISA
2013
Drill From (m) To (m) Copper Zinc Gold Silver Lead

Hole (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%)
CURI-08-22 19.73 22.86 3.70 1.62 4.77 53.37 0.10
CURI-08-39 118.00 129.37 1.24 4.62 3.64 52.76 0.15
CURI-08-42 186.35 192.63 1.05 9.76 2.18 58.11 0.69
CURI-08-45 202.86 208.61 3.46 6.31 4.90 89.62 0.22
CURI-08-46 49.33 73.47 2.95 4.61 3.03 95.30 0.69
CURI-08-48 40.05 83.70 2.30 2.54 2.78 49.32 0.35
CURI-08-49 62.24 69.10 1.25 2.65 1.84 25.26 0.26
CURI-08-50 122.35 139.75 2.42 1.45 2.09 57.09 0.12
CURI-52 47.60 64.48 1.88 0.68 1.74 25.82 0.05
CURI-53 65.41 111.43 2.73 2.18 2.08 139.98 0.14
CURI-54 57.00 59.95 2.78 14.22 3.81 118.80 1.60
CURI-55 84.36 85.40 0.32 1.49 1.14 43.70 0.14
CURI-56 55.30 103.40 3.27 6.91 9.61 164.94 0.78
CURI-57 55.92 78.06 1.41 5.44 2.81 61.04 0.30
CURI-60 120.82 158.36 3.21 1.40 3.29 35.08 0.10
CURI-61 146.77 156.77 3.31 0.25 1.33 12.09 0.02
CURI-62 68.42 118.75 0.81 4.76 3.26 83.80 0.58
CURI-63 70.45 78.73 1.76 3.87 0.90 20.35 0.02
CURI-64 68.15 79.00 6.61 5.17 4.82 146.94 0.70
CURI-67 82.07 93.90 2.03 7.35 2.14 73.67 0.89
CURI-68 88.40 102.38 2.80 3.82 5.97 65.13 1.01
CURI-69 81.82 84.92 1.49 14.74 53.30 482.17 7.63
CURI-71 61.57 63.48 2.29 26.28 23.87 1252.71 5.69
CURI-72 111.00 116.16 1.69 3.88 1.43 58.43 0.22
CURI-73 100.00 115.36 2.24 0.37 0.90 13.17 0.04
CURI-74 91.20 96.56 0.68 4.23 3.98 31.44 0.33
CURI-75 105.17 107.29 0.10 0.32 0.37 4.90 0.04
CURI-76 124.38 145.67 0.64 0.45 0.36 12.12 0.03

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CURI-77 85.54 96.07 9.16 8.75 11.04 141.42 0.55

CURI-78 103.00 104.75 0.32 0.73 0.72 12.69 0.11
CURI-79 159.77 161.07 0.06 0.17 0.49 11.38 0.08
CURI-80 97.10 122.10 1.33 0.27 1.08 11.04 0.07
CURI-81 84.25 89.55 2.58 2.88 2.42 51.47 0.21
CURI-82 104.00 109.18 1.77 16.93 4.06 114.40 0.68
CURI-83 96.60 98.80 0.02 0.27 3.00 79.14 0.12
CURI-84 81.35 85.75 1.21 3.55 0.99 47.02 0.13
CURI-85 83.30 85.41 0.89 0.63 0.40 23.14 0.26
CURI-87 45.40 67.56 6.09 1.25 2.54 29.48 0.08
CURI-89 40.58 43.06 0.03 0.41 0.75 24.38 0.05
CURI-90 46.53 47.90 0.50 5.64 4.40 355.59 1.45
CURI-91 58.27 60.22 1.74 4.49 3.81 60.59 1.85
CURI-92 152.06 155.78 0.47 0.50 1.23 14.27 0.04
CURI-93 187.67 189.12 0.43 2.56 5.30 134.10 0.41
CURI-94 82.60 100.77 0.94 3.42 3.12 70.91 0.41
CURI-95 109.85 117.62 1.44 0.10 0.90 9.65 0.01
CURI-96 105.27 117.72 0.72 0.44 1.16 18.25 0.07
CURI-99 54.74 76.25 4.90 1.56 6.91 46.20 0.14
CURI-100 43.35 82.30 0.78 0.66 1.11 18.19 0.05
CURI-102 144.93 146.95 0.46 1.51 2.44 26.59 0.03
CURI-104 62.42 74.95 4.62 1.96 5.18 39.73 0.08
CURI-105 147.60 148.48 10.30 3.76 2.05 157.00 0.86
CURI-106 64.18 93.33 6.43 1.80 4.86 40.29 0.12
CURI-107 86.82 94.43 0.21 0.42 1.33 12.01 0.10
CURI-109 107.63 124.26 1.06 2.54 1.33 23.20 0.03
CURI-111 47.50 50.76 2.19 3.54 0.76 17.81 0.01
CURI-113 36.75 76.96 1.27 10.61 15.43 352.49 4.37
CURI-115 34.50 45.00 3.94 4.30 4.86 162.71 0.68
CURI-122 54.54 56.48 1.48 27.41 12.92 348.41 3.34
CURI-123 65.10 77.10 3.88 28.48 12.36 426.49 1.77
CURI-127 68.03 69.00 0.04 0.25 0.30 20.20 0.05
CURI-128 57.00 58.67 1.14 8.52 12.00 868.00 2.39
CURI-129 150.40 152.35 1.14 2.29 0.99 26.41 0.22
CURI-131 165.66 166.45 2.59 32.50 7.53 250.00 3.06
CURI-132 125.20 145.10 1.54 0.54 0.89 12.48 0.03
CURI-133 156.63 163.84 0.41 0.87 0.90 16.20 0.05
CURI-134 137.00 145.00 0.36 0.55 1.08 10.51 0.05
CURI-135 133.07 143.37 1.29 6.55 5.86 173.24 1.07
CURI-136 193.25 194.50 2.02 0.93 1.20 29.80 0.02
CURI-137 103.87 110.90 5.89 19.16 4.68 119.83 0.65
CURI-139 176.78 183.40 1.26 0.11 0.92 12.04 0.02
CURI-141 221.68 222.90 1.49 2.88 1.04 38.67 0.73
CURI-142 180.85 237.43 1.18 0.05 0.54 6.83 0.01
CURI-143 201.08 204.80 1.48 9.00 4.49 102.13 0.53

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CURI-145 182.35 187.41 1.45 1.07 0.96 16.54 0.32

CURI-146 80.60 82.22 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.14 0.00
CURI-148 164.14 180.46 2.42 0.41 1.31 6.79 0.01
CURI-151 201.52 219.00 2.77 3.00 0.94 25.15 0.01
CURI-154 160.55 162.60 0.26 1.61 0.42 10.20 0.47
CURI-155 72.82 194.60 0.04 0.30 0.80 16.25 0.09
CURI-156 180.56 185.27 4.79 0.54 1.38 108.51 0.04
CURI-157 187.70 188.45 1.20 6.90 5.01 126.40 0.86
CURI-160 161.90 173.37 5.42 0.39 0.80 16.05 0.03
CURI-163 175.22 191.73 4.17 1.91 1.16 10.79 0.02
CURI-164 261.82 270.80 6.09 1.36 0.49 20.03 0.01
CURI-165 207.40 218.18 1.53 0.16 0.72 7.53 0.01
CURI-166 165.98 168.87 1.73 1.46 0.85 9.45 0.01
CURI-169 56.95 61.36 4.56 13.89 7.16 246.41 2.00
CURI-171 61.65 62.74 4.09 11.76 4.86 135.80 1.03
CURI-175 287.40 290.75 0.14 2.99 0.21 4.35 0.01
CURI-176 260.80 265.45 0.74 1.17 0.60 3.92 0.01
CURI-184 54.00 75.62 0.63 6.26 2.92 64.60 0.69
CURI-185 92.85 95.95 2.21 4.33 3.09 57.82 0.31
CURI-187 89.35 95.70 0.75 4.54 4.53 58.05 0.46
CURI-198 138.60 142.10 6.50 9.19 4.62 137.15 0.34
CURI-200 56.00 59.95 1.58 11.29 6.45 159.49 1.06
CURI-201 289.60 291.10 1.52 3.64 0.98 80.82 0.37

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11. SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSIS AND

SECURITY
In 2010 and 2011, RPA reviewed Salazar's procedures in the first three drilling phases.
These procedures included handling core boxes and photographing them, logging cores,
sample selection and marking, cutting cores with a power saw, sample bagging and sealing,
and the chain of custody for transporting the samples to the laboratories of Inspectorate or
ALS Global in Quito for preparation and subsequent analysis in Lima. RPA considered all the
procedures to be acceptable and in accordance with international practices.
In April and July of 2013, BISA independently reviewed Salazar's operational procedures
with the aid of Salazar geologists Francisco Soria (Exploration Manager) and Carlos Aguila
(Senior Geologist). BISA verified that the cores from the diamond drilling are placed in duly
tagged wooden boxes 1.20 x 0.34 m with four inside divisions. Wooden tags are also
inscribed with the depth, start, and end of each interval. Each drill core is Quick Logged in
the field, noting the lithological units, alteration, mineralization, and significant structures. The
boxes are then sealed with wooden lids and transported by pick-up to the Salazar logging
facility in Ventanas.
In the logging room, the boxes are opened and the cores prepared. The core length and
position of the tags are checked, and they are photographed in groups of two boxes (Figure
11.1). The geotechnical logging is then performed, which records the percentage of RQD
recovery, number of fractures per metre, and rock quality. A detailed core log is then filled in
on the appropriate form, detailing the geological units, mineralization, type of alterations and
intensity, and main structures.
The geologist decides which sections need to be sampled and marks them on the core and
on the boxes; he also marks the centre cutting line on the drill core. Sampling intervals range
from 0.5 m to 2 m, and samples are normally taken up to 10 m above the mineralization and
20 m below this zone. The core sample is then cut in half lengthwise with a diamond saw
(Figure 11.2). One half is double-bagged in plastic and duly tagged, and the other half
remains in the core box. The samples are weighed and sealed then grouped into batches of
7 to 10 units that are bagged and tagged with the project name, drill hole number, and
sample codes.

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A Salazar geologist accompanies the samples by pick-up from Ventanas to Quito for their
analysis. The samples are received at the preparation laboratories of BSI Inspectorate or
ALS Global. After preparation, sample pulps are sent by TNT Express courier to Inspectorate
or ALS Global in Lima for analysis. BSI Inspectorate Services Peru S.A.C. is certified ISO
17025 and ISO 9001:2000. ALS Global is certified ISO/IEC 17025-2005 and ISO 9001:2008.
FIGURE 11.1 PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCEDURE FOR CORE BOXES

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FIGURE 11.2 SAMPLE CUTTING WITH A DIAMOND SAW
At both laboratories, gold was analysed using fire assay (FA) with atomic absorption
spectroscopy (AAS) after aqua regia digestion. The only difference lies in the weight of the
sample analysed: 50 g for ALS Global and 30 g for Inspectorate. Silver and base metals (Cu,
Pb, Zn) were determined at both laboratories with aqua regia digestion and ICP-AES
(Inductively Coupled Plasma). Base metals greater than 1% and Ag >100 ppm were
reanalyzed with AAS after aqua digestion. Some differences in sample preparation and
analitycal procedures used in both laboratories: sample weight, chemical reactives, digestion
procedures, etc. have been reported by Lavigne and McMonnies (2011).
After the Phase III diamond drilling (September 2010 – August 2011), Salazar instituted a
water-immersion procedure for in-situ determination of bulk density of lithological units and
the various types of mineralization.
BISA has confirmed that Salazar has applied good practices in their handling and storage of
core boxes, logging, sampling, and sample transport to the laboratories. The preparation and
analysis procedures were also satisfactory. BISA did find some flaws in the organization and
storage of coarse rejects and pulps at the Salazar facility in Quito. Salazar was informed of
the flaws, and they were immediately corrected.

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12. DATA VERIFICATION

Gustavo Calvo, P.Geo. (QP for the purposes of this report) and Fernando Tornos, PhD
visited the Curipamba Project in April of 2013. During the site visit, they reviewed geological
and geotechnical logging procedures, sampling, and bulk density measurements in the core
samples. Sampling was conducted where Salazar personnel had succeeded in identifying
evidence of mineralization, primarily related to the VMS unit. Several representative
exploration drill holes in the mineral deposit were examined and compared with the logging
records provided by Salazar in order to verify the lithology types, alterations, and mineralized
sections. During a field inspection, several representative outcrops of the mineralization were
visited and the coordinates, orientation, and inclination of some of the drill holes were
verified.
The core sample storage area was inspected, and the core boxes were found to be in good
condition, properly labelled and arranged in a suitable, dry and locked environment. BISA
also inspected the storage facility in Quito, where the pulps and coarse rejects of samples
from the four drilling campaigns are located; some minor observations were made regarding
their order and arrangement, and Salazar immediately took corrective action.
The inspections by BISA did not reveal any important discrepancies and confirmed that
Salazar's procedures are appropriate and comply with international standards.
BISA verified approximately 10% of the geochemical database for the 168 exploration drill
holes (7,736 samples) completed in four consecutive drilling phases in the El Domo deposit
and used in the geological modelling and resource estimation (Table 12.1). The input values
were compared with the values reported in the assay certificates issued by the analytical
laboratories ALS Global and Inspectorate. No significant differences were found, and errors
were minimal and immediately corrected by Salazar. In summary, Salazar's methods
conform with good practices used in the mining industry. BISA considers the database
provided by Salazar to be sufficiently validated and supported to conduct a resource estimate
of the El Domo deposit.

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TABLE 12.1 SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL LABS
Drilling Program Analytical Lab Samples Core Length (m)
ALS Global 310 442.48

I
Inspectorate 1,400 2,263.13
II Inspectorate 761 1,008.34
ALS Global 1,040 1,310.33
III
Inspectorate 2,325 2,824.03
IV Inspectorate 1,900 2,639.78
Total 7,736 10,488.09
DATABASE VERIFICATION
The validation of the Salazar database included the files listed below:
Collar: The coordinates of the collars were checked, and it was found that, in many cases,
they did not coincide with the topographic elevation from the photogrammetric map provided
by Salazar. The elevation errors ranged from 0.32 m to 20.63 m above the topography and
from 0.18 m to 40.76 m below it. Based on this, Salazar requested a new topographic survey
of the El Domo drilling area using total station. This new survey (carried out by Aeromapa in
July of 2013) covered 119 drill collars. With the new topographic base map thereby obtained,
the coordinates of these 119 exploration drill holes were updated out of a total of 168 used in
the geological modelling and resource calculation.
Survey: The data review confirmed that drill hole directional surveys were performed in only
49 of the 168 drill holes using a Reflex Maxibor II downhole tool. In general terms, the
surveys reported variations in inclination of about 0° to 5°. Exploration drill hole CURI-93
showed a deviation of ~7°.
Assays: The review was conducted by a random extraction of 10% of the geochemical
database (773 samples), which was then compared with the certificates from the ALS Global
and Inspectorate laboratories. The seven elements considered to be of interest were used in
this study: Cu (%), Zn (%), Au (g/t), Ag (g/t), Pb (%), Fe (%), and S (%).
The errors reported generally concerned the transcription of the data to Salazar's format and
unit conversion (ppm and %). These errors were corrected by Salazar prior to using the
database for modelling and estimating resources.

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Lithology: BISA reviewed the lithological units used by Salazar in the 40 exploration drill
holes, finding 16 different lithologic types and numerous discrepancies in the units mapped.
In order to generate a simplified model of the deposit, BISA re-logged the 168 drill holes
using the lithological logs, photographs of the drill core boxes, and the grades of the
sampling intervals provided by Salazar. This work resulted in the definition of nine simplified
units, which were verified and accepted by Salazar's geologists.
Recovery: BISA reviewed the core recovery´s percentage from the 168 drill holes and found
an average recovery of 93.9%; in the mineralized zone recovery reached 94.3%. However,
18 drill holes reported recoveries lower than 75% in some intervals when intersecting the
mineralized zones (Table 12.2)
TABLE 12.2 DRILL HOLES WITH <75% CORE RECOVERY IN THE MINERALIZED ZONE
Interval Total Mineralized

Drill Hole ID From (m) To (m) Recovery (%)
Length (m) Length in Drill Hole (m)
CURI-08-22 21.33 22.86 1.53 0 3.13

CURI-08-39 112.60 121.00 8.40 62 16.27
CURI-08-42 186.35 188.55 2.20 70 6.28
CURI-08-44 29.75 44.60 14.85 51 15.45
CURI-08-47 62.00 62.70 0.70 74 1.65
CURI-08-48 53.90 56.90 3.00 55 26.67
CURI-08-49 59.85 62.85 3.00 66 10
CURI-08-50 122.85 137.85 15.00 65 14.7
CURI-128 57.00 58.67 1.67 61 1.67
CURI-198 140.95 142.10 1.15 60 3.5
CURI-53 95.85 96.85 1.00 73 22.75
CURI-69 81.82 83.85 2.03 67 18.03
CURI-72 113.90 116.16 2.26 62 5.16
CURI-76 84.10 86.95 2.85 72 24.64
CURI-77 92.95 95.95 3.00 74 18.07
CURI-80 95.76 99.00 3.24 69 22.87
CURI-91 58.27 59.95 1.68 63 1.95
CURI-99 65.95 71.95 6.00 67 25.4

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SALAZAR QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY

CONTROL (QA/QC)
Quality Assurance (QA) involves certain tests to confirm that the analysis results have the
expected precision and accuracy within the limits generally accepted for the type of sampling
and analytical methods used. This ensures the reliability of the data used in the resource
estimate.
Quality Control (QC) comprises the procedures used to ensure that an appropriate level of
quality is maintained while collecting, preparing, and analysing the exploration samples. In
general, QA/QC programs are designed to prevent or detect contamination and to enable
quantification of reproducibility, precision, and analytical accuracy.
During the first two drilling phases, Salazar implemented a QA/QC program that included the
use of standard samples, blanks, duplicates, and the re-analysis of samples with high levels
of Au, Cu, and Zn. Beginning with Phase III, Salazar began inserting only standard and blank
samples for QA/QC. The insertion rate for standard samples was one for every 10 or 15
samples and one blank for every 30 samples. The pulps from samples containing levels
higher than 5 g/t Au, 5% Cu, or 5% Zn were re-analysed, and one sample out of every 10
was sent to an external laboratory for verification (the re-analyses were performed up to
exploratory drill hole CURI-132).
RPA reviewed the results of Salazar‘s QA/QC program in its 2011 report and collected 10
independent samples for geochemical analysis. RPA recommended that Salazar‘s QA/QC
program be modified to include the insertion of twin core samples and duplicates of the
coarse rejects. RPA also recommended establishing a protocol for failed results and a formal
system of reporting QA/QC results.
BISA reviewed Salazar‘s QA/QC program for Phase IV diamond drilling conducted in 2011
and 2012, which included 51 exploration drill holes (CURI-156 to CURI-206).
The QA/QC program conducted by Salazar for Phase IV includes only the insertion of
standard samples and blanks, and does not include the use of twin core samples or
duplicates of pulps and coarse rejects. Control re-analysis was not performed, and duplicate
samples were not sent to an external laboratory as was done during the previous drilling

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campaigns. BISA reviewed approximately 50% of the standards and 100% of the blanks
used by Salazar during the Phase IV drilling.
CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIALS

The standard materials used by Salazar were prepared by WCM Minerals of Canada and do
not meet the requirements for a Certified Reference Material (CRM) because they only report
the values obtained through the round robin and the average value or best value, without
consideration of the standard deviation of the population. The insertion rate was one
standard for every nine samples, or a total of 142 standard samples (7.47% of 1,900 total
samples). Table 12.3 indicates the standards utilized by Salazar and the samples inserted of
each during the Phase IV drilling.
TABLE 12.3 REFERENCE MATERIALS EXPECTED VALUES AND RANGES
Au Ag Cu Pb Zn
Samples
Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD
Submitted
Standard (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) % % % % % %
CU 121 33 1.131 0.97 0.02 8
CU 145 93 3.366 3.1 0.08 21
CU 152 1.62 0.069 27 0.622 1.16 0.028 21
CU 155 0.61 0.015 7 0.591 0.47 0.016 19
CU 163 4.35 0.129 99 2.366 1.06 0.017 19
CU 175 0.88 0.038 4 0.603 0.53 0.012 16
PB 130 82 2.194 0.25 0.003 0.73 0.077 1.44 0.138 20
PB 140 84 2.194 0.33 0.003 4.35 0.075 3.85 0.138 18
BISA selected CU-152, CU-163, PB-130, and PB-140 as reference materials, taking into
account the number of analysed samples for each of them and the elements considered. In
order to estimate the analytical accuracy of the Inspectorate laboratory, control diagrams
were constructed using two statistical limits of ± 2SD (warning limit) and ± 3SD (failure limit)
(see Table 12.4 and Table 12.5 for summaries of the results).

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TABLE 12.4 REFERENCE MATERIALS CU-152 AND CU-16
Outside
Standard Element Unit Samples Failures Bias (%)
± 3SD
Au g/t 21 0 0
CU 152 Ag g/t 21 0 0
Cu % 21 0 0
Au g/t 18 0 0
CU 163 Ag g/t 18 0 0
Cu % 18 0 0
Table 12.4 shows that, of the 39 samples used (21 CU-152 samples and 18 CU-163
samples), none are outside of the ±3SD line, and only a few of these are above the ±2SD
line because of the variable geochemical populations observed within WCM Minerals'
certificates (Figure 12.1 and Figure 12.2).
FIGURE 12.1 STATISTICAL CONTROL CHART FOR CU-152 FOR GOLD, SILVER, AND COPPER

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FIGURE 12.2 STATISTICAL CONTROL CHART FOR CU-163 FOR GOLD, SILVER, AND COPPER
TABLE 12.5 REFERENCE MATERIALS PB-130 AND PB-140
Outside Bias
Standard Element Unit Samples Failures
± 3SD (%)
Ag g/t 20 0 0
Cu % 20 0 0
PB 130
Pb % 20 0 0
Zn % 20 0 0
Ag g/t 18 0 0
Cu % 18 8 8 44
PB 140
Pb % 18 2 2 11
Zn % 18 0 0
Table 12.5 shows more failures for reference materials PB-130 and PB-140. This is
particularly true for PB-140 and for Cu and Pb, with many samples even outside the ±3SD
line (Figure 12.3 and Figure 12.4).

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FIGURE 12.3 STATISTICAL CONTROL CHART FOR PB-130 FOR SILVER, COPPER, LEAD AND
ZINC
FIGURE 12.4 STATISTICAL CONTROL CHART FOR PB-140 FOR SILVER, COPPER, LEAD AND
ZINC

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BISA believes that the QA/QC analysis results for the standard samples contain a moderate
number of failures. BISA recommends using duly certified reference materials prepared with
mineral from the site itself for future geological sampling and/or drilling campaigns.
BLANK SAMPLES
Blank samples were submitted from two types of blanks: (1) Reference blank material BL115
purchased from WCM Minerals and (2) a BK blank standard prepared by Inspectorate
Services (Peru). A BL115 assay was considered a failure if it returned a value greater than
three times the detection limit of the assay method. A BK assay was considered a failure if
the results were significantly higher than the certified means.
Salazar inserted 8 BL115 blank samples and 16 BK blank samples, not reporting any failure
for the elements Au, Ag, and Pb. For Cu and Zn, all the samples had values over three times
the lower detection limit (Table 12.6).

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TABLE 12.6 BLANKS BL-115 AND BK SUMMARY
Blanks %
Element Failures
(BL115 + BK) Failures
Au 24 0 0
Ag 24 0 0
Cu 24 24 100
Pb 24 0 0
Zn 24 24 100
TOTAL 120 48
The high number of failed samples reported for Cu and Zn in both blanks (Figure 12.5 and
Figure 12.6) is not a direct result of contamination during the sample preparation process,
but is instead related to the high original Cu and Zn contents in the blanks used: 27 ppm Cu
and 26 ppm Zn for BL 115, 97±8 ppm Cu and 46±8 ppm Zn for BK. Both values are well
above Inspectorate's detection limits of 2 ppm for Cu and 5 ppm for Zn (Table 12.7).
TABLE 12.7 CU AND ZN ASSAYS FOR BLANKS BL115 AND BK — INSPECTORATE
BL 115 BK BK
ID Sample Cu_ppm Zn_ppm ID Sample Cu_ppm Zn_ppm ID Sample Cu_ppm Zn_ppm
169110 28 25 168420 101 47 169120 100 47

169250 29 25 168500 99 47 169260 102 45
169390 28 27 168660 99 44 169400 98 48
169530 30 25 168580 102 47 169540 100 50
169670 31 28 168740 98 47 169680 104 51
169810 29 30 168820 102 44 169820 105 51
169950 31 30 168900 99 41 169960 105 50
170090 31 33 168980 101 46 170100 109 53

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FIGURE 12.5 STATISTICAL CONTROL CHART FOR BLANK BL115

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FIGURE 12.6 STATISTICAL CONTROL CHART FOR BLANK BK
BISA is of the opinion that the results from the statistical analysis of the blank samples are
acceptable and do not evidence contamination. It is recommended that, in future, BK blanks
not be used due to the elevated metal values reported. The blank materials to be used
should have geochemical values close to the detection limits, particularly for Cu, Au, Zn, Ag,
and Pb.

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BISA VERIFICATION SAMPLING

During the visit to the project site in April of 2013, BISA undertook an initial re-sampling for
verification (Verification Sampling 1), including 143 representative samples from the four
Salazar drilling phases. This sampling included core twin samples, coarse rejects, and pulps.
Also inserted were standard and blank samples provided by Salazar and pulp duplicates for
internal and external controls (Table 12.9). The samples were prepared at the facilities of
ALS Global in Quito and later analysed at ALS Global in Lima; Acme Labs was used as an
external laboratory.
The results identified poor precision in the pulp duplicates used. To try to clarify this problem
(previously detected by Lavigne and McMonnies, 2011), BISA carried out a second
verification sampling round in July of 2013 (Verification Sampling 2), for which the pulps and
coarse rejects of 50 samples representative of the four Salazar drilling campaigns were
selected (Table 12.8), and 18 QA/QC samples (Internal duplicates, standars, and blanks)
were inserted (Table 12.9).
TABLE 12.8 VERIFICATION SAMPLING 1 — BISA 2013
Drilling Program Samples

(Year)
I (2007–2008) 25
II (2010) 24
III (2010–2011) 63
IV (2011–2012) 31
TOTAL 143
TABLE 12.9 SAMPLE TYPE AND QUANTITY FOR VERIFICATION SAMPLINGS 1 AND 2
VERIFICATION VERIFICATION
SAMPLE TYPE
1 2
Core Twin Sample 49
Coarse Reject 52 50
Pulp 41 50
Internal Duplicate 10 10
Standard 12 4
Blanks 11 4
External Duplicate 10
TOTAL 185 118

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43 samples were collected (approximately 2.3% of the total samples), representative of the
four Salazar drilling campaigns over the period of 2007–2012 (see for details).
The selected samples include core twin samples, coarse reject samples, and pulp samples.
Duplicate samples, certified standards (CU 152 and PB 140), and certified fine blanks (BK)
were submitted, provided by Salazar (Table 12.10).
TABLE 12.10 VERIFICATION SAMPLING 1 BY TYPES — BISA 2013
Sample Type Quantity
Twin (1/4 core) 49

Coarse Reject 52
Pulp 41
Duplicate 10
Standard 10
Blank 10
TOTAL 172
The samples were prepared at the facilities of ALS Global in Quito and later analysed at the
ALS Global laboratory in Lima. The preparation and analysis methods are detailed in Table
12.11 and Table 12.12.
TABLE 12.11 PREPARATION METHODS — ALS GLOBAL
ALS Code Description
Receipt of samples with no bar codes and selection of 1 in every 50

LOG 24
samples for QC testing.
Grinding of 1.5 kg of sample so that 85% passes through a 75
PULP 32
micron mesh (mesh #200)
TABLE 12.12 ANALYTICAL METHODS — ALS GLOBAL
AA-Au 26 Fire Assay (FA) and AAS* analysis

ME-ICP 41 Aqua regia digestion and analysis of 35 elements using ICP-AES**
Aqua regia digestion and use of the gravimetric method and AAS for
AA – 43 Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn
materials with elevated metal contents
*AAS: Atomic absorption spectroscopy
**ICP-AES Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy
As an external laboratory, the ACME Labs in Chile was used. Ten twin pulp and coarse
reject samples were sent to this laboratory, accompanied by two standards (CU 152 and PB
140) and a fine blank (BK) (Table 12.13). The analytical methods are detailed in Table 12.14.
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TABLE 12.13 EXTERNAL CONTROL SAMPLING — ACME LABS
Pulp duplicate 10
Standard 2
Blank 1
TOTAL 13
TABLE 12.14 ANALYTICAL METHODS — ACME LABS
G601+G610 Fire assay of 50 g of sample and AAS* analysis

0.5 g of sample digested in aqua regia and analysed for 34 elements
ICP-ES Group 1D
using ICP-AES**
*AAS: Atomic absorption spectroscopy

**ICP-AES Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy
REFERENCE MATERIALS
Salazar provided BISA with two reference materials prepared by WCM Minerals of Canada:
1) Reference Material CU 152: 1.62±0.068 g/t Au, 27±0.622 g/t Ag, 1.16±0.028 % Cu.
2) Reference Material PB 140: 84±2.194 g/t Ag, 0.33±0.004 % Cu, 4.35±0.075 % Pb,
3.85±0.138 % Zn.
These were inserted by BISA in order to estimate the analytical accuracy of the primary and
secondary laboratories.
BISA prepared statistical control charts using standard deviation (SD) limits of ±2SD and
±3SD (confidence intervals) for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn.
REFERENCE MATERIAL CU 152

Five CU 152 samples were inserted in the batches sent to the primary laboratory (ALS
Global), representing approximately one standard for every 18 samples; and one standard
sample was sent in the shipment to the secondary laboratory (Acme Labs). The results are
shown in Table 12.15 and Table 12.16.

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TABLE 12.15 ANALYTICAL RESULTS FOR REFERENCE MATERIAL CU 152 — ALS GLOBAL
BISA Sample Au-AA26 ME-ICP41 Cu-AA46

Standard Batch
ID Au (ppm) Ag (ppm) Cu (%)
170425 CU 152 QU13096102 1.66 28.9 1.19
170475 CU 152 QU13096103 1.61 27.4 1.189
170532 CU 152 QU13096999 1.62 27.5 1.169
170579 CU 152 QU13097230 1.32 27.4 1.18
170596 CU 152 QU13096107 1.73 28.3 1.185
TABLE 12.16 ANALYTICAL RESULTS FOR REFERENCE MATERIAL CU 152 — ACME LABS
BISA Sample G6-50 1D 8AR

Standard Batch
ID Au (ppm) Ag (ppm) Cu (%)
170606 CU 152 LAA13000067 1,695 29,4 1,162
In the diagrams of Table 12.18, it can be seen that the Cu values are within the acceptable
confidence intervals. However, Au and Ag show one and two failed values respectively,
above the ±3SD limit of the standard (Table 12.17), although the bias is magnified due to the
small number of standard samples used.
TABLE 12.17 REFERENCE MATERIAL CU 152 — RESULTS SUMMARY
Au ppm 5 1 20
CU 152 Ag ppm 5 1 20
Cu % 5 0 0

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FIGURE 12.7 STATISTICAL CONTROL CHARTS FOR REFERENCE MATERIAL CU 152
REFERENCE MATERIAL PB 140

Five PB 140 samples were inserted in the batches sent to the primary laboratory (ALS
Global), equivalent to approximately one reference for each 18 samples, and one PB 140
sample was sent in the batch to the secondary laboratory (Acme Labs). The results are
TABLE 12.18 ANALYTICAL RESULTS FOR REFERENCE MATERIAL PB 140 — ALS GLOBAL
BISA ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 Pb-AA46 Zn-AA46

Standard Batch
Sample ID Ag (ppm) Cu (ppm) Cu (%) Zn (%)
170451 PB 140 QU13096998 80,8 3190 4,27 3,86
170508 PB 140 QU13096104 84,3 3300 4,15 3,77
170560 PB 140 QU13096992 85,8 3320 4,21 3,89
170594 PB 140 QU13096106 83,7 3330 4,37 3,93
170600 PB 140 QU13096997 83,4 3100 4,17 3,84
TABLE 12.19 ANALYTICAL RESULTS FOR REFERENCE MATERIAL PB 140 — ACME LABS
BISA Sample 1D 1D 1D 8AR

Standard Batch
ID Ag (ppm) Cu (ppm) Pb (ppm) Zn (%)
170607 PB 140 LAA13000067 83 28,19 9737 3,81

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In the diagrams in Figure 12.8, it can be seen that Ag, Zn, and Pb are within the acceptable
confidence intervals, and for Cu two samples fall outside the ±3SD limits (Table 12.20). As in
the case of the standard CU 152, the small quantity of samples used (5) could magnify any
bias.
TABLE 12.20 REFERENCE MATERIAL PB 140 — RESULTS SUMMARY
Ag ppm 5 0 0
Cu % 5 2 40
PB 140
Pb % 5 0 0
Zn % 5 0 0
FIGURE 12.8 STATISTICAL CONTROL CHARTS FOR REFERENCE MATERIAL PB 140
TWIN SAMPLES
BISA collected 49 representative quarter-core twin samples of the four Salazar drilling
campaigns in the El Domo deposit. The samples were obtained by cutting half of the drilling
core kept by Salazar into two symmetrical parts using a power saw. These samples were
used to estimate the geological variability (anisotropy) of the mineralization and also to
identify possible errors introduced during sampling.

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BISA prepared Max-Min scatter plots (hyperbolic method) for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn using
a relative error limit of ±30% in accordance with international practice (Figure 12.9). The
pairs located above the red line are considered failures. A generally acceptable result is
achieved when the number of rejects does not exceed 10% of the pairs used. In our case,
the percentage of failed samples ranges from 8.3% for Zn to 28.6% for Pb (Table 12.21).
TABLE 12.21 TWIN SAMPLES SUMMARY
Sample Type Element Samples Failures Failures (%)
Au 49 10 20.4
Ag 49 9 18.4
Twin Cu 49 14 28.6
Pb 49 14 28.6
Zn 49 10 20.4
The results, significantly higher than generally accepted limits, indicate a moderate natural
variability/heterogeneity in the mineralization.

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FIGURE 12.9 TWIN SAMPLES MAX-MIN CHARTS FOR GOLD, SILVER, COPPER, LEAD, AND
ZINC
DUPLICATE SAMPLES
BISA selected 93 duplicate samples of coarse rejects and pulps, representative of the four
drilling campaigns conducted by Salazar in El Domo (Table 12.22).
TABLE 12.22 DUPLICATE SAMPLES — BISA 2013
Coarse Rejects 52
Pulp 41
TOTAL 93

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COARSE REJECT DUPLICATES

These samples correspond to the rejects obtained at the crushing and splitting stage
(material under 2 mm that passes through the No. #10 mesh) of the drilling cores in the ALS
Global and Inspectorate laboratories. The coarse duplicates are used to identify any possible
errors and contamination during sample splitting and grinding. Fifty-two stored samples were
selected from the Salazar warehouses in the city of Quito. The samples were rebagged,
tagged, and sent to the facilities of ALS Global in Quito for preparation.
BISA prepared Max-Min scatter plots for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn using a relative error limit of
±20% (Figure 12.10). As in the previous case, the result is considered acceptable when the
number of failed samples does not exceed 10% of the pairs used. The results indicate values
below 10% for all the elements considered (Table 12.23) and therefore corroborate
acceptable preparation, splitting, and sub-sampling practices, and adequate precision in the
laboratories.
TABLE 12.23 COARSE REJECT DUPLICATE RESULTS
Au 52 4 7.7
Ag 52 2 3.8
Coarse
Cu 52 2 3.8
duplicate
Pb 52 4 7.7
Zn 52 3 5.8

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FIGURE 12.10 COARSE REJECT DUPLICATE MAX-MIN CHARTS FOR GOLD, SILVER, COPPER,
LEAD, AND ZINC
PULP DUPLICATES
Pulp duplicates are generally used to evaluate a laboratory's analytical precision. In total,
BISA analysed 41 representative pulp duplicate samples from the four diamond drilling
campaigns undertaken by Salazar. Of these, 31 (75%) correspond to samples originally
prepared and analysed by Inspectorate, and 10 (25%) to samples prepared and analysed by
ALS Global.

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The pulp samples were collected from the Salazar warehouses in Quito. These samples
were obtained from the splitting of the original preserved pulps, which were prepared by
grinding 1.5 kg of sample down to a grain size of less than 85% <75 microns (mesh No.
#200) for the ALS Global laboratory, and grinding 300 g to 95% <106 microns (mesh No.
#140) for the Inspectorate laboratory.
BISA has prepared hyperbolic Max-Min scatter plots for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn using a
relative error limit of ±10% (Figure 12.11). The statistical reports indicate, in all cases, that
the number of failed samples is above the 10% tolerance limit (Table 12.24). This is
particularly significant for Au (36.6%) and Pb (31.7%).
TABLE 12.24 PULP DUPLICATE RESULTS
Sample Failures
Element Samples Failures
Type (%)
Au 41 15 36.6
Ag 41 5 12.2
Pulp
Cu 41 7 17.1
duplicate
Pb 41 13 31.7
Zn 41 6 14.6
It should be noted that most of the failures reported reflect samples with low metal values,
near the lower analytical detection limit. In the case of Au, differences in mass for the
samples analysed (30 g for Inspectorate and 50 g for ALS Global) could be the cause of
failures. The segregation of sulphide particles in the stored pulp could also generate failures
if they were not properly homogenized prior to extraction of the increase.

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FIGURE 12.11 PULP DUPLICATES MAX-MIN CHARTS FOR GOLD, SILVER, COPPER, LEAD,
AND ZINC
Table 12.25 shows the total duplicates analysed. The samples originally analysed at the
Inspectorate laboratory showed a greater number of failures for Au and Pb, and to lesser
extent Zn and Ag, all of which could indicate precision problems. The failures could also be
due to differences in the analytical procedures and techniques at the two laboratories
(particle size, digestion, weight of the increment analysed, instrumental, etc.). BISA
recommend that a standard protocol should be implemented when using different labs on the
same project.

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TABLE 12.25 SUMMARY OF FAILED PULP DUPLICATE SAMPLES
Failures Failures Failures Failures Failures

Laboratory Samples % % % % % %
Au Ag Cu Pb Zn
ALS Global 10 24 2 13 0 0 2 29 0 0 0 0
Inspectorate 31 76 13 87 5 100 5 71 13 100 6 100
Total 41 100 15 100 5 100 7 100 13 100 6 100
BLANK SAMPLES
Salazar provided BISA with 11 fine blank samples (code BK) prepared by Inspectorate
Services for use in the QA/QC program. Ten of these samples were inserted for controls for
the ALS Global laboratory and one for a control for Acme Labs.
The blank pulps were usually inserted after heavily mineralized samples to verify whether
contamination occurred during laboratory analyses. The analytical results of these blanks are
TABLE 12.26 BLANK SAMPLE RESULTS — ALS GLOBAL
Au-AA26 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41

Sample ID Batch
Au (ppm) Ag (ppm) Cu (ppm) Pb (ppm) Zn (ppm)
170419 QU13096102 0,01 0,2 119 5 97
170456 QU13096102 0,01 0,2 148 5 67
170484 QU13096103 0,01 <0.2 100 2 51
170514 QU13096991 0,01 0,3 117 4 93
170526 QU13096105 0,01 0,2 100 2 52
170563 QU13097230 0,01 0,2 102 <2 52
170590 QU13097231 0,01 0,6 107 2 55
170591 QU13096106 0,01 <0.2 101 <2 53
170595 QU13096107 0,02 <0.2 101 2 52
170602 QU13097232 <0.01 0,2 101 2 51
TABLE 12.27 BLANK SAMPLE RESULTS — ACME GLOBAL
BISA Sample G6-50 1D 1D 1D 1D

Batch
ID Au (ppm) Ag (ppm) Cu (ppm) pb (ppm) Zn (ppm)
170605 LAA13000067 0,007 <0.3 114 <3 59
The blank samples were evaluated in graphs with the blank values plotted on the Y axis and
values for the previous samples plotted on the X axis (Figure 12.12). This type of graph
clearly identifies and determines contamination patterns.
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A blank sample is considered to have failed if the reported values are significantly higher at
the corresponding lower limit of detection and lie above the safe line. In the case of elements
with values above the respective detection limit, the sample is considered failed when the
analysis reports results significantly higher than those of the certified blank. For Au, Ag, and
Pb, the results were below the safe line, which is adequate, whereas for Cu and Zn some
samples had values slightly above the certified blank values (97 ±12 ppm Cu and 46 ±8 ppm
Zn). Nevertheless, the low values in both cases indicate there has been no significant
contamination during the analytical process at ALS Global and Acme Labs.
In any case, though, the values for copper (97 ±12 ppm Cu) and zinc (46 ±8 ppm Zn) in the
certified blanks are too high for a material of this type. In future, it is advisable that Salazar
obtain materials with geochemical values for Cu and Zn close to the lower limits of detection.

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FIGURE 12.12 STATISTICAL CHARTS FOR BLANK BK
VERIFICATION SAMPLING 2
BISA conducted a second verification sampling in July of 2013 to determine possible causes
for the failures reported in pulp duplicates analysed in the first sampling. To this end, BISA
selected 50 representative samples, for which existing rejects and pulps were used. They
were prepared and analysed in the ALS Global laboratory (100 analyses) using the same
methods as in the previous sampling. To ensure sample representativeness, the analyses
considered the four drilling campaigns conducted, the three mineral domains defined, and

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the two analytical laboratories used (ALS Global and Inspectorate) (Table 12.28 and Table
12.29).
TABLE 12.28 SUMMARY OF VERIFICATION SAMPLING 2 — BISA 2013
Drilling
Samples %
program
I 13 28
II 5 11
III 20 43
IV 12 26
TOTAL 50 100
TABLE 12.29 SUMMARY OF SAMPLES BY ANALYTICAL LABORATORY
Laboratory Samples %
ALS Global 11 23
Inspectorate 36 77
Total 47 100
A total of 18 control samples (duplicates, blanks, and standards) were inserted (Table 12.30).
TABLE 12.30 QA/QC SAMPLE VERIFICATION SAMPLING 2
Type Rejects Pulps

Duplicate 5 5
Blank 2 2
Standard 2 2
Total 9 9
Three samples were discarded from this study due to the wide variations observed in the
analytical results for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn. These failures were attributed to improper
labelling of samples 153933, 153877, and 153878 for drill CURI-08-22 from the first drilling
campaign (Table 12.31). Therefore, only 47 samples were considered in this study.

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TABLE 12.31 SAMPLES DISCARDED WITH ERRORS
REJECTS PULPS
Au-AA26 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 Ag-AA46 Cu-AA46 Zn-AA46 Au-AA26 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 Cu-AA46
HOLE ID Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm Pb_ppm Zn_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_% Zn_% Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm Pb_ppm Zn_ppm Cu_%
CURI-08-22 1.5 >100 669 3920 6720 160 0.07 1 22 30 53
CURI-08-22 5.43 76.9 >10000 2690 >10000 3.571 2.66 0.37 94.6 >10000 96 90 3.002
CURI-08-22 2.71 49 >10000 2280 >10000 1.792 1.925 0.09 1.7 778 59 119
HOLE ID Salazar Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (ppm) Pb (ppm) Zn (ppm) BISA

CURI-08-22 153933 1.616 142.1 601 3496 5569 2162
CURI-08-22 153877 5.5 75.8 35100 1371 24800 2163
SAMPLE PREPARATION AND ASSAY

Samples of rejects and pulps were selected by BISA and collected by Salazar personnel.
The samples were prepared and analysed at ALS Global using the same parameters and
protocols as in the first verification sampling. In this case, the pulps were mechanically
homogenized using the HOM-01m method (mechanical homogenization of pulp or crushed
materials) before extraction of the increase to prevent possible problems with sulphide
segregation.
CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIALS

Salazar provided BISA with two reference materials (standards) prepared by WCM Minerals
of Canada:
1) Reference material CU 145 for copper and silver, with the values: 3.01 ± 0.038% Cu
and 93 ± 1.45 g/t Ag
2) Reference Material CU 163 for gold, silver, and copper with the values: 4.35 ±0.069
g/t Au, 99 ±1.48 g/t Ag, and 1.06 ±0.014% Cu
Both reference materials were inserted in batches of pulps and rejects to estimate the
laboratory's analytical accuracy.
BISA prepared statistical control charts for the elements Au, Ag, and Cu for CU 145 and CU
163 using confidence intervals of ±2SD and ±3SD (Figure 12.13 and Figure 12.14).

One sample of standard CU 145 was inserted in the batch of coarse rejects and another in
the batch of pulps sent to ALS Global. The analytical results for sample 1393 (corresponding
to standard CU 145) did not match the certified values for Cu and Ag, evidently due to an
insertion error (see Table 12.32 for results).

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TABLE 12.32 ANALYTICAL RESULTS FOR REFERENCE MATERIAL CU 145
ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41
STANDARD BISA Batch Ag_ppm Cu_ppm
CU 145 1393 LI13156075 156 640
CU 145 1743 LI13156075 93,5 30810
The values for Cu and Ag from the other standard sample (1743) are within the ±2SD limits
(Figure 12.13).

One sample of standard CU 163 was inserted in the batch of coarse rejects and another in
the batch of pulps. The analytical results for Au, Ag, and Cu are reported in Table 12.33.
TABLE 12.33 ANALYTICAL RESULTS FOR REFERENCE MATERIAL CU 163
Au-AA26 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41

STANDARD BISA Batch Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm
CU 163 1593 LI13156075 4,82 98,1 10650
CU 163 1443 LI13156075 3,97 104 10680
BISA prepared statistical control charts for the elements Au, Ag, and Cu using the ±2SD and
± 3SD as confidence intervals for the best value (Figure 12.14). The charts show that the Ag
and Cu values are within acceptable limits, but Au gives one failure outside the ±3SD limits
(Table 12.34).

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TABLE 12.34 REFERENCE MATERIAL COPPER 163 RESULTS SUMMARY
Bias
Standard Element Unit Samples Failures
(%)
Au ppm 2 1 50
CU 163 Ag ppm 2 0 0
Cu % 2 0 0
Overall, the results are acceptable, but the small number of standard samples used does not
allow us to provide any statistical validity to the failures reported.
COARSE REJECT DUPLICATES

BISA has selected a total of 47 samples of coarse rejects to compare the results with the
originals reported by Salazar and with their corresponding pulps re-analysed by BISA to
verify the precision of the primary laboratory and to evaluate possible errors or contamination
arising during the mechanical preparation (splitting, sub-sampling, and pulverization).
The samples were prepared at the ALS laboratory in Quito using rejects for material with a
particle size of <2 mm (85%) passing through a No. #10 mesh, generated in the crushing
stage. These coarse rejects were stored in Salazar's warehouses in Quito.
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BISA has prepared Max-Min scatter plots for the elements Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn using the
relative error limit of ±20% (Figure 12.5). A result is considered acceptable when the number
of failed samples does not exceed 10% of the pairs used.
All elements considered reported failures below the limit (10%) except zinc (12.8%). Based
on these results, the test is deemed acceptable and largely validates Salazar's original
results (Table 12.35).
TABLE 12.35 COARSE REJECT DUPLICATE RESULTS OF VERIFICATION SAMPLING 2
Failures
Sample Type Element Samples Failures
(%)
Au 47 4 8.5
Ag 47 3 6.4
Coarse
Cu 47 1 2.1
duplicate
Pb 47 4 8.5
Zn 47 6 12.8

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FIGURE 12.15 COARSE REJECT DUPLICATE MAX-MIN CHARTS FOR GOLD, SILVER, COPPER,
LEAD, AND ZINC
It should be noted that most of the failures reported originate from samples with the lowest
values, at times very near the lower detection limit. In the case of Zn, Pb, and Ag, a higher
proportion of failures is noted in the samples originally analysed at the Inspectorate
laboratory (Table 12.36).

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TABLE 12.36 SUMMARY OF FAILED SAMPLES IN COARSE REJECT DUPLICATES
Laboratory Samples % Au % Ag % Cu % Pb % Zn %
ALS Global 11 23 1 25 1 33 0 0 0 0 1 17
Inspectorate 36 77 3 75 2 67 1 100 4 100 5 83
Total 47 100 4 100 3 100 1 100 4 100 6 100
PULP DUPLICATES
Pulp duplicates are generally used to evaluate a laboratory's analytical precision. In our case,
differences in the amount of pulverized material and the particle size of the pulps prepared in
the two laboratories introduces a certain degree of variability that could reasonably affect the
precision of the analytical results reported.
A total of 47 representative samples of pulp duplicates from the four Salazar diamond drilling
campaigns were analysed.
The pulps are pulverized material with 85% particle size at <75 microns (ASTM No. 200
mesh) in the case of ALS Global, and 95% at <106 microns (ASTM No. 140 mesh) in the
case of Inspectorate. The amount originally pulverized varied according to the standard
procedures at each laboratory: 1.5 kg at ALS Global and 0.3 kg at Inspectorate.
BISA has prepared Max-Min scatter plots for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn using the relative error
limit of ±10%. As in the previous case, a result is considered acceptable when the number of
failed samples does not exceed 10% of the total pairs used (Figure 12.16).

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FIGURE 12.16 PULP DUPLICATE MAX-MIN CHARTS FOR GOLD, SILVER, COPPER, LEAD, AND
ZINC
In all cases, the results show failed samples above the 10% level of tolerance (Table 12.37),
particularly noteworthy for Au and Pb (both 34%), Ag (30%), and to a lesser extent for Cu
(15%) and Zn (19%).

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TABLE 12.37 SUMMARY OF FAILED SAMPLES - PULP DUPLICATES
Au 47 16 34.0
Ag 47 14 29.8
Pulp duplicate Cu 47 7 14.9
Pb 47 16 34.0
Zn 47 9 19.1
As can be seen, a relatively higher proportion of failed samples are from Inspectorate,
especially for Ag, Cu, and Zn (Table 12.38).
TABLE 12.38 SUMMARY OF FAILED SAMPLES BY LABORATORY - PULP DUPLICATES
Laboratory Samples % Au % Ag % Cu % Pb % Zn %
ALS Global 11 23 3 19 2 14 1 14 4 25 1 11
Inspectorate 36 77 13 81 12 86 6 86 12 75 8 89
Total 47 100 16 100 14 100 7 100 16 100 9 100
It should be pointed out that many of the failures correspond to samples with low metal
contents close to the lower limits for analytical detection (especially for Cu, Pb, and Zn). In
the deterministic models for Au, Cu, Pb, and Zn, BISA used the following threshold values for
the envelopes: 0.2 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu, 0.8% Zn, and 0.05% Pb. Applying these values to the
Max-Min plots, it can be seen that (with the exception of Au) many of the failures fall below
the indicated thresholds for all the elements under consideration (i.e. Cu, Pb, and Zn) (Table
12.39).
TABLE 12.39 SUMMARY OF FAILED SAMPLES AS A FUNCTION OF THE THRESHOLDS USED

FOR THE DETERMINISTIC MODEL
Cutoff ALS Global Inspectorate Subtotal Total

Au >= 0.2ppm 2 9 11
16
Au < 0.2ppm 1 4 5
Cu >= 0.3% 1 2 3
7
Cu < 0.3% 0 4 4
Pb >= 0.05% 3 4 7
16
Pb < 0.05% 1 8 9
Zn >= 0.8% 1 2 3
9
Zn < 0.8% 0 6 6

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INTERNAL DUPLICATES
A total of 10 duplicate samples were inserted (5 for the coarse rejects and 5 for the pulps) to
verify the precision of the ALS Global laboratory. Table 12.40 and Table 12.41 summarize
the analytical results for the elements of interest.
TABLE 12.40 RESULTS FOR INTERNAL DUPLICATES OF COARSE REJECTS
PRIMARY SAMPLE DUPLICATE SAMPLE

Au-AA26 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 Au-AA26 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41
BISA Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm Pb_ppm Zn_ppm BISA Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm Pb_ppm Zn_ppm
2158 0.9 17.5 6710 449 6360 2159 0.91 18.2 7080 493 6050
2196 1.65 109 30740 1880 408000 2164 1.64 108 31160 1930 393000
2169 0.29 8.3 331 1110 20100 2170 0.29 8.5 328 1030 19250
2179 0.99 5.8 18560 108 343 2180 0.97 5.7 18360 107 363
2190 1.33 154 69010 2020 96800 2191 1.39 156 72900 2150 102500
TABLE 12.41 RESULTS FOR INTERNAL DUPLICATES OF PULP SAMPLES
PRIMARY SAMPLE DUPLICATE SAMPLE

Au-AA26 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 Au-AA26 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41
BISA Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm Pb_ppm Zn_ppm BISA Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm Pb_ppm Zn_ppm
2094 2.13 107 51900 635 43400 2103 2.29 106 50540 624 43000
2102 0.91 16.8 6440 418 5380 2108 0.88 17.2 6530 444 5410
2123 1 5.6 18500 107 355 2114 0.93 5.5 18080 105 346
2134 1.34 154 72440 2120 95500 2124 1.34 154 71210 2150 98100
2095 0.15 2 7760 45 505 2135 0.15 2 7980 51 501
BISA prepared Max-Min scatter plots for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn using a relative error limit of
±10% (Figure 12.17 and Figure 12.18). For the duplicate pulps, none of the elements had
failed samples except one for Pb. This test shows good analytical precision, confirming that
the pulps were properly homogenized prior to extraction of the increment.

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FIGURE 12.17 INTERNAL DUPLICATES OF COARSE REJECTS MAX-MIN CHART FOR GOLD,
SILVER, COPPER, LEAD, AND ZINC

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FIGURE 12.18 INTERNAL DUPLICATES OF PULP SAMPLES MAX-MIN CHART FOR GOLD,
SILVER, COPPER, LEAD, AND ZINC
BLANK SAMPLES
As part of BISA's QA/QC system, BK standard fine blanks prepared by Inspectorate and
provided by Salazar were inserted. These blanks are generally inserted just after heavily
mineralized samples to detect possible contamination during the analytical procedure. A total
of four blank samples were utilized, two inserted in the batch of coarse rejects and two in the
batch of pulps. The results reported by ALS Global Lima are shown in Table 12.42.

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TABLE 12.42 ANALYTICAL RESULTS FOR BLANK BK
REJECTS Au-AA26 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41

Code Batch Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm Pb_ppm Zn_ppm
1543 LI13156075 0.01 <0.2 100 4 52
1793 LI13156075 <0.01 <0.2 100 3 51
PULPS Au-AA26 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41 ME-ICP41
Code Batch Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm Pb_ppm Zn_ppm
1360 LI13156075 0.01 <0.2 99 3 51
1493 LI13156075 0.01 <0.2 107 3 53
The blank samples were evaluated by plotting the blanks (Y axis) against the previous
sample (X axis) (see Figure 12.19). This type of graph enables a clear identification of
potential contamination by a highly mineralized sample.

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FIGURE 12.19 STATISTICAL CONTROL CHARTS FOR BLANK BK
A blank sample is considered to have failed if the analysed values are significantly higher
than those reported on the corresponding certificate. These failed samples plot above the
safe limit with a value three times the detection limit. Au, Ag, and Pb fall below the safe limit,
which is ideal. In contrast, Cu and Zn lie above the safe limit because this blank's original
contents in these elements are much higher than the lower detection limits of the analytical
method used.

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The low values reported for Au, Ag, and Pb indicate a lack of contamination in the analytical
process of ALS Global laboratories. It was also concluded that this certified blank is not
suitable because of its high Cu and Zn levels. Therefore, BISA recommends using blanks
with metal levels near the detection limits used in the analytical laboratories.

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13. MINERAL PROCESSING AND

METALLURGICAL TESTING
BISA commissioned Transmin Metallurgical Consultants. (Lima, Peru) to design and
supervise the metallurgical testwork. Transmin was also responsible for reviewing the
metallurgical studies for the El Domo project in 2008 and 2010.
METALLURGICAL SAMPLES
The samples and composites were selected from the block model reported by Lavigne and
McMonies in 2011.
Three metallurgical mineral types were initially defined by mutual accord between Salazar
and BISA. These mineral types are based on the Cu/(Zn+Pb) ratio distribution as follows:
- Type 1: Zinc mineral: Cu/(Zn+Pb) <0.33
- Type 2: Mixed Cu/Zn mineral: 0.33 ≤Cu/(Zn+Pb)≤3
- Type 3: Copper mineral: Cu/(Zn+Pb) >3
A total of 134 samples were selected by Transmin and extracted by Salazar from their drill-
core warehouse in the city of Ventanas.
The criteria applied in the sample extraction for generating the three composites were:
- Cu/(Zn+Pb) metal ratio
- Spatial distribution
- Lithologies
- Geological zones
- Distribution of grades
Finally, the samples were grouped according to the Cu/(Zn + Pb) metal ratio and labelled as:
- Composite CPO-001: Zinc mineral: Cu/(Zn+Pb) <0.33.
- Composite CPO-002: Mixed Cu/Zn mineral: 0.33 ≤Cu/(Zn+Pb)≤3
- Composite CPO-003: Copper mineral: Cu/(Zn+Pb) >3

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REPRESENTATIVITY OF THE 2013 BLOCK MODEL

At the beginning of November 2013, BISA generated a new block model (2013 Block Model),
making it necessary to check the representativity of the samples used. Figure 13.1 shows the
distribution of tonnes and metal contents in Cu, Zn, and Pb for both block models (note slight
differences between the two models).
Global Deposit - Block Model 2011 Global Deposit - Block Model 2013
70% 70%
Mixed Mineral Cu/Zn
60% Zinc Mineral 60% Zinc Mineral Mixed Mineral Cu/Zn
50% 50%
Distribution, %
Distribution, %
40% 40% Copper Mineral
Copper Mineral
30% 30%
20% 20%
10% 10%
0% 0%
Cu/(Zn+Pb): [0 - 0.33] Cu/(Zn+Pb): [0.33 - 3] Cu/(Zn+Pb): [>3] Cu/(Zn+Pb): [0 - 0.33] Cu/(Zn+Pb): [0.33 - 3] Cu/(Zn+Pb): [>3]
Metalic Content Ratio Metalic Content Ratio
Tonnes Content Cu Content Zn Content Pb Tonnes Content Cu Content Zn Content Pb
FIGURE 13.1 DISTRIBUTION OF TONNES AND METAL CONTENTS
 For copper, an increase in copper feed type tonnage and copper metal content was
observed in the 2013 model compared to the 2011 model.
 For the mixed feed type, a decrease in tonnage and slight decreases in the metal
contents for Cu and Zn were noted.
 For zinc feed type, slight differences in the tonnage and metal contents for Cu, Zn,
and Pb were seen between the 2011 and the 2013 models.
Figure 13.2 shows a plan view of the 2011 and 2013 block models and the distribution of
selected samples within the two models

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Composite CPO-001
Composite CPO-002
Composite CPO-003
PLAN VIEW —– 2011 BLOCK MODEL
PLAN VIEW — 2013 BLOCK MODEL
FIGURE 13.2 COMPARISON OF 2011 AND 2013 BLOCK MODELS

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Comments:
 There are zones in the 2013 Block Model that were not included in the sample
selection.
 BISA's geological analysis of these new zones in the 2013 Block Model indicates that
they are not substantially different with respect to oxidation or rock competence, and
no differences were found with respect to contents in metals of interest.
 Consequently, for a PEA study, it would appear justifiable to assume that a similar
recovery and concentrate grade will be obtained for the 2013 mineral resource
samples as for those collected for the 2011 resource base.
 It is recommended that future studies include sample testing from the new zones to
confirm their metallurgical performance.

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METALLURGICAL TESTING
INSPECTORATE SAMPLES IN 2008
Three flotation tests were carried out on a master composite by Inspectorate Services Peru
S.A.C. The master composite consisted of 21 samples from the core sample remains from
three diamond drill holes in a mineralized zone of El Domo.
The results of the head assays reported 3.37% Cu, 1.32% Pb, 9.67% Zn, 190 g/t Ag, and
6.50 g/t Au (see the summary in Table 13.1).
TABLE 13.1 FLOTATION TEST RESULTS – INSPECTORATE 2008
Grinding Mass Pull Distribution (%)

Test Products
P80 (µm) (%) Cu Pb Zn Ag Au
Test I 125 Conc. Ro + Scv Cu/Pb 22.5 32.7 53.8 31.8 33.0 28.6
Test II 125 Conc. Ro + Scv Cu/Pb 21.8 32.3 55.7 33.4 33.5 28.5
Test III 73 Conc. Ro + Scv Cu/Pb 30.8 63.0 80.3 57.6 50.2 44.7
 Reductions in grind size increased Cu, Ag, and Au recovery.

 Poor flotation selectivity is observed for copper and zinc.
G&T TESTS 2010

Flotation tests were performed by G&T Metallurgical Services Ltd (G&T) in 2010. Table 13.2
shows the head assays for the El Domo composites developed for the study.
TABLE 13.2 HEAD ASSAYS — G&T 2010
Head Assays
Sample
Cu Pb Zn Fe S Au Ag CuOx CuCN
ID
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%)
Master Composite 1 3.45 0.37 4.65 20.9 0.15 4.58 59.0 0.060 0.44
Master Composite 2 13.6 0.11 1.17 32.3 35.6 7.86 66.0 0.090 0.36
Master Composite 3 2.38 2.65 12.5 12.3 23.4 3.57 174 0.001 0.24

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Flotation tests focused on Master Composite 1, and the following parameters were
examined:
 Primary grind sizes
 Regrind sizes
 Types of reagents and dosages
 Flotation schemes
The best results for the copper circuit came from the KM2738-17 cleaner test, which yielded
a recovery of 72% Cu and a grade of 27% Cu for the final concentrate.
Two locked cycle tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the zinc circuit. The
best results for zinc were obtained in locked cycle test KM2738-20, which yielded a recovery
of 57% Zn and a grade of 49% Zn for the zinc concentrate.
While the tests achieved satisfactory grades of zinc and copper concentrates, recoveries
were low. The mineralogy shows that the copper concentrate contains high amounts of
sphalerite, which was caused by associations between zinc and copper minerals.
SGS LABORATORY TESTS 2013

The tests were performed on three composites with the aim of developing a robust, efficient
flotation scheme for all mineral types in El Domo (see Table 13.3 for head assays of the
composites formed).
TABLE 13.3 CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF HEAD COMPOSITES
Head Assays
Composite Classification
Cu Zn Pb Au Ag Fe PbOx ZnOx Cu_SS Cu_CN Cu_R SSulfato SSulfuro SNativo
ID Study 2013
(%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
CPO-001 Zinc Mineral 0.84 5.11 0.40 3.26 89.4 4.80 0.21 0.12 0.03 0.17 0.59 1.34 7.30 -
CPO-002 Mixed Mineral Cu / Zn 2.15 2.18 0.13 2.17 44.4 12.6 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.14 1.84 1.30 15.1 -
CPO-003 Copper Mineral 3.78 0.41 0.03 2.02 19.6 22.4 0.02 0.02 0.14 0.32 3.26 1.60 30.4 -
The following parameters were examined during the testing program:
• Grind sizes
• Effect of the solids concentration in the flotation on reducing interference from
clays

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• Types of reagents for pyrite depression and reduction of insoluble

entrainment to concentrate
• Regrind effect
• Flotation schemes
In preliminary tests, it was noted that the flotation froths were overloaded with gangue. Tests
were conducted to evaluate alternatives to resolve this phenomenon. The use of lime to
adjust the flotation pH was noted to cause the activation of gangue minerals, impairing the
selective flotation of valuable minerals.
Consequently, a bulk sulphide flotation stage at low pH and coarse grinding was successfully
implemented. Thus, the gangue minerals were rejected, enabling the use of fine milling and
lime to achieve selective flotation of a bulk concentrate. This same method was necessary
for the three composites studied.
COMPOSITE CPO-001 (ZINC FEED TYPE)

After implementing the bulk flotation system for the rougher stage, the use of the following
schemes was evaluated for the separation of copper and zinc:
- Float the zinc and depress the copper

- Float the copper and depress the zinc
It was found that it was better to float the copper and depress the zinc. Two additional tests
were carried out to confirm the results, one with metabisulphite to depress iron and another
without metabisulphite (Table 12.5). Better results were obtained in the flotation test without
metabisulphite (Table 12.6).

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TABLE 13.4 CPO-001 – REAGENTS AND DOSAGES
Reagents Added (g/t) Time (minutes)

Cal
Stage Activated MT ZnSO4/ pH
3894 404 Z-11 CuSO4 MIBC (Kg/t) Grind Cond. Flotation
Carbon 4130 Na2S5O2
Grind - - - - - - - - - - 6.21 - -
Cond-1 12.4 5.20 80.0 300 3.00 - 5.60 - - 4.75 - 8.00 -
Sulphide Flot. - - - - - - - - - 4.76 - - 10.0
Cond-2 - - - - - - - - - 4.70 - 25.0 -
Cond-3 6.20 - 19.0 190 9.00 - 5.60 - - 4.75 - 5.00 -
Rougher Flot. - - - - - - - - 2.80 11.5 - - 7.00
Regrind - - - - - - - - - - 5.00 - -
Scavenger Flot. 6.20 - - - 3.00 - - - 0.80 11.5 - - 3.00
Regrind - - - - - - - - - - 15.0 - -
Cond-4 12.4 - 10.0 100 6.00 - - - 0.80 - - - -
Bulk Cleaner 1 - - - - - - - - 0.40 11.5 - - 8.00
Bulk Cleaner 2 - - - - 3.00 - - - - 11.5 - - 6.00
Cond-5 - - - - - 500 - - - 9.50 - 5.00 -
Cond-6 6.20 - - - 6.00 - - 1,000 - 9.50 - 3.00 -
Cleaner 1 Flot. - - - - - - - - - 8.50 - - 4.00
Cleaner 2 Flot. - - - - - - - 1,000 - 8.50 - - 3.50
Total 43.4 5.20 109 590 30.0 500 11.2 2,000 4.80 26.2 46.0 41.5

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Figure 13.3 shows the scheme for the treatment of composite CPO-001.
CPO-001 y
CPO-002
Grind
P80 = 116 µm
Cond-1
Sulphide Flotation Sulphide Tail
Sulphide Conc.
Cond-2
pH=11.5
Cond-3
Rougher
Rougher Flotation Tail Regrind Scavenger Flot.
Scavenger Tail
35% Solids P80= 85 µm pH=11.5
Scavenger Conc.
Regrind
Bulk Rougher Conc.
Bulk Cleaner 1
Cond-4 Bulk Cleaner 1 Tail
pH=11.5
Bulk Cleaner 2
Bulk Cleaner 2 Tail
pH=11.5
Bulk Concentrate
Cleaner 1 Flot.
Cond-5 Concentrate Zn
pH=8.5
Cleaner 2 Flot.
Cond-6 Cleaner 2 Tail
pH=8.5
Concentrate Cu
FIGURE 13.3 TESTS DIAGRAM FOR COMPOSITES CPO-001 AND CPO-002

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Table 13.5 shows the better results obtained for composite CPO-001.
TABLE 13.5 CPO-001 – RESULTS OF FLOTATION TEST
Assays Distribution
Weight
Products Au Ag Cu Fe Zn Pb Au Ag Cu Fe Zn Pb
(%)
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
(g/t) (g/t) (%)
Concentrate Cu 1.93 12.0 558 16.3 16.0 28.7 10.5 7.11 13.3 38.0 5.72 11.0 48.4
Cleaner 2 Tail 1.34 11.3 490 8.40 4.48 52.3 2.40 4.63 8.09 13.5 1.11 13.9 7.65
Cleaner 1 Tail (Conc. Zn) 7.01 17.0 484 3.40 10.5 49.6 1.44 36.6 41.8 28.7 13.6 68.9 24.0
Bulk Concentrate 10.3 15.3 499 6.48 10.7 46.0 3.27 48.3 63.1 80.2 20.5 93.7 80.0
Bulk Cleaner 2 Tail 1.32 21.2 414 2.06 37.7 2.26 0.94 8.58 6.73 3.28 9.22 0.59 2.95
Bulk Cleaner 1 Tail 7.43 11.6 183 0.76 29.9 1.17 0.28 26.3 16.7 6.80 41.1 1.72 4.95
Bulk Rougher Conc. 19.0 14.3 369 3.94 20.1 25.5 1.94 83.2 86.6 90.3 70.8 96.0 87.9
Scavenger Tail 4.79 0.90 21.9 0.49 2.07 0.56 0.09 1.32 1.29 2.83 1.84 0.53 1.04
Sulphide Concentrate 23.8 11.6 300 3.25 16.5 20.5 1.57 84.5 87.9 93.1 72.6 96.6 89.0
Sulphide Tail 76.2 0.66 12.9 0.08 1.94 0.23 0.06 15.5 12.1 6.90 27.4 3.44 11.0
Final Tail 81.0 0.68 13.5 0.10 1.95 0.25 0.06 16.8 13.4 9.72 29.2 3.97 12.1
Head Calculated 100 3.26 81.2 0.83 5.40 5.05 0.42 100 100 100 100 100 100
Head Assay 3.26 89.4 0.84 4.83 5.11 0.40
- All test results show low Cu recoveries and low grades in the final copper
concentrates.
- The Cu/Zn separation conducted during the cleaner stages show a recovery of 69%
Zn, and an average grade of 49% Zn in the final Zn concentrate.
- Results show that the addition of a regrind stage and an increase to pH 11.5 in the
flotation in the bulk cleaner stage significantly diminished recovery from 71% Fe in
the bulk rougher concentrate to 21% Fe recovery in the bulk concentrate.
Composite CPO-002 (Mixed Cu/Zn Feed Type)

After implementing the bulk flotation system for the rougher stage, the following schemes for
the separation of copper and zinc were evaluated:
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 Float the zinc and depress the copper

 Float the copper and depress the zinc
Based on the results, it was determined that it was better to float the copper and depress the
zinc. Two additional tests were carried out to confirm the results, one with the use of
metabisulphite to depress iron and another without metabisulphite (Table 13.6). Better
results were obtained in the flotation test without metabisulphite (see Table 13.7).
Reagents Added (g/t) Time (minutes)

Cal
Stage Activated ZnSO4 / pH
3894 404 Z-11 CuSO4 MIBC (Kg/t) Grind Cond. Flotation
Carbon Na2S5O2
Grind - - - - - - - - - 7.21 - -
Cond-1 6.20 5.20 50.0 100 3.00 - - - 4.75 - 8.00 -
Sulphide Flot. - - - - - - - - 4.76 - - 10.0
Cond-2 - - - - - - - - 4.70 - 25.0 -
Cond-3 12.4 - 8.00 - 3.00 - - - 4.75 - 5.00 -
Rougher Flot. - - - - - - - 2.60 11.5 - - 8.00
Regrind - - - - - - - - - 10.0 10.0 -
Scavenger Flot. 6.20 - - - 3.00 - - 0.70 11.5 - - 3.00
Regrind - - - - - - - - - 10.0 10.0 -
Bulk Cleaner 1 12.4 - - 100 3.00 - - 0.40 11.5 - - 6.00
Bulk Cleaner 2 6.20 - - - - - - - 11.5 - - 5.00
Cond-4 - - - - - 500 - - 9.50 - 15.0 -
Cond-5 6.20 - - - - - 1,000 - 9.50 - 3.00 -
Cleaner 1 Flot. - - - - - - 1,000 - 8.50 - - 7.00
Cleaner 2 Flot. 6.20 - - - - - - - 8.50 - - 6.00
Total 55.8 5.20 58.0 200 12.0 500 2,000 3.70 - 27.2 76.0 45.0

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Figure 13.3 shows the scheme developed for the treatment of composite CPO-002. Table
13.7 shows the better results obtained for composite CPO-002.
Assays Distribution
Products Weight (%)

Au Ag Cu Fe Zn Pb Au Ag Cu Fe Zn Pb
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
(g/t) (g/t) (%)
Concentrate Cu 7.50 9.99 219 21.2 25.1 11.9 0.86 32.9 38.3 74.5 15.2 41.2 44.6
Cleaner 2 Tail 0.42 8.56 119 1.95 31.3 9.74 0.31 1.57 1.16 0.38 1.05 1.87 0.90
Concentrate Zn 7.14 6.81 170 5.07 31.5 14.6 0.46 21.3 28.3 17.0 18.1 47.8 22.6
Bulk Concentrate 15.1 8.45 193 13.0 28.3 13.1 0.65 55.8 67.8 91.9 34.3 90.9 68.1
Bulk Cleaner 2 Tail 1.68 2.58 55.2 0.87 40.6 0.32 0.12 1.91 2.17 0.69 5.50 0.25 1.38
Bulk Cleaner 1 Tail 12.5 3.50 35.5 0.40 35.6 0.20 0.08 19.1 10.3 2.34 35.7 1.15 6.91
Bulk Rougher Conc. 29.2 6.00 118 6.93 32.1 6.87 0.38 76.8 80.2 94.9 75.5 92.3 76.4
Scavenger Tail 21.7 0.90 23.9 0.27 10.0 0.48 0.08 8.57 12.1 2.73 17.5 4.80 12.0
Sulphide Concentrate 50.9 3.82 77.8 4.09 22.7 4.14 0.25 85.4 92.4 97.6 93.0 97.1 88.5
Sulphide Tail 49.1 0.68 6.67 0.10 1.77 0.13 0.03 14.6 7.64 2.40 6.99 2.94 11.5
Final Tail 70.8 0.75 12.0 0.15 4.31 0.24 0.05 23.2 19.8 5.12 24.5 7.73 23.6
Head Calculated 100 2.28 42.9 2.13 12.4 2.17 0.14 100 100 100 100 100 100
Head Assay 2.17 44.9 2.15 12.6 2.18 0.13
 Significant Zn recovery is observed in the Cu concentrate. These results could be

caused by one or both of the following phenomena:
o A mineralogical association at a submicroscopic level that inhibits Cu-Zn
separation.
o The use of copper sulphate during the bulk sulphide flotation stage, leading to
overactivation of the zinc minerals, which would not be efficiently depressed
during the cleaner flotation stage.
 A zinc cleaning stage was added to improve the quality of the zinc concentrate.

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 Results show that the addition of a regrind stage and an increase to pH 11.5 in the
flotation in the bulk cleaner stage significantly diminishes recovery from 76% Fe in the
bulk rougher concentrate to 34% Fe recovery in the bulk concentrate.
Composite CPO-003 (Copper Feed Zone)

After using a range of flotation methods to maximize the production of Cu concentrate from
the minerals in composite CPO-003, the system for the treatment of the copper feed type
consists of:
 A bulk flotation stage to remove clays and silicates

 A pyrite elimination stage
 Three cleaning stages to obtain the final copper concentrate
Table 13.8 shows the conditions and reagents employed for the flotation test.

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Reagents Added (g/t) Time, minutes

Cal
Stage pH
(Kg/t)
3894 404 Z-11 Metabisulphite MIBC Grind Cond. Flotation
- - - - - - 5.19 7.21 - -
Grind
Cond-1 6.20 5.20 50.0 - 3.00 - 5.09 - 8.00 -
Sulphide Flot. - - - - - - 5.00 - - 7.00
Cond-2 - - - - - 2.10 11.1 - 25.0 -
Cond-3 6.20 5.20 8.00 500 3.00 - 11.0 - 5.00 -
Rougher Flot. - - - - - - 11.5 - - 8.00
Regrind - - - - - - - 5.00 - -
Scavenger Flot. 3.10 - 1.00 500 - 0.60 11.2 - - 3.00
Regrind - - - - - - - 7.00 - -
Cleaner 1 Flot. 3.10 - - 200 - 0.40 11.5 - - 6.00
Cleaner 2 Flot. - - - 100 - 0.20 11.5 - - 5.00
Cleaner 3 Flot. - - - - - - 11.5 - - 4.00
Total 18.6 10.4 59.0 1,300 6.00 3.30 - 19.2 38.0 33.0

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Figure 13.4 shows the system for the treatment of composite CPO-003.
CPO-003
Grind
P80 = 116 µm
Cond-1
Sulphide Flotation Sulphide Tail
Sulphide Conc.
Cond-2
pH=11.1
Cond-3
Rougher
Rougher Flotation Tail Regrind Scavenger Flot.
Scavenger Tail
35% Solids P80= 38 µm pH=11.2
Scavenger Conc.
Regrind
Rougher Conc.
Cleaner 1 Flot.
Cond-4 Cleaner 1 Tail
pH=11.5
Cleaner 2 Flot.
Cleaner 2 Tail
pH=11.5
Cleaner 3 Flot.
Cleaner 2 Tail
pH=11.5
Concentrate Cu
FIGURE 13.4 TESTS DIAGRAM FOR COMPOSITE CPO-003

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Table 13.9 shows the better results obtained for composite CPO-003.
Assays Distribution
Products Weight (%) Au Ag Cu Fe Zn Pb Au Ag Cu Fe Zn Pb
(g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Concentrate Cu 13.9 3.69 53.1 24.2 33.4 2.34 0.094 24.4 39.7 89.7 17.9 80.9 43.4
Cleaner 3 Tail 1.56 4.33 36.2 2.60 35.0 0.16 0.034 3.22 3.03 1.08 2.11 0.62 1.76
Cleaner 2 Tail 3.25 3.79 30.3 1.90 41.3 0.11 0.031 5.87 5.29 1.65 5.18 0.89 3.35
Cleaner 1 Tail 6.94 3.09 22.5 0.75 42.7 0.10 0.033 10.2 8.39 1.39 11.4 1.73 7.62
Rougher Concentrate 25.6 3.58 40.9 13.7 37.0 1.32 0.066 43.7 56.4 93.8 36.6 84.1 56.2
Scavenger Tail 38.7 2.28 13.3 0.28 39.8 0.10 0.019 42.1 27.7 2.87 59.5 9.63 24.6
Sulphide Concentrate 64.3 2.80 24.3 5.63 38.7 0.59 0.038 85.8 84.1 96.7 96.1 93.8 80.7
Sulphide Tail 35.7 0.83 8.29 0.35 2.80 0.07 0.016 14.2 15.9 3.34 3.87 6.23 19.3
Final Tail 74.4 1.59 10.9 0.31 22.0 0.09 0.018 56.3 43.6 6.21 63.4 15.9 43.8
Head Calculated 100 2.10 18.6 3.75 25.9 0.40 0.030 100 100 100 100 100 100
Head Assay 2.22 19.6 3.78 26.2 0.41 0.030
• The flotation system and the conditions applied were sufficient to produce a
copper concentrate with satisfactory grades and recoveries.
• Recovery of 89.7% Cu and 24% Cu grade were obtained.
• Despite the high zinc recovery in the copper concentrate, the zinc grade was
below typical penalizable thresholds due to the low head assay of zinc.
• Adding a regrind stage and increasing the pH to 11.5 during the rougher
stage reduced recovery from 96% Fe in the sulphide concentrate to 37% Fe
recovery in the rougher concentrate.
Table 13.10 shows the results of the chemical analyses of the main elements and
contaminants of the copper and zinc concentrates.

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TABLE 13.10 CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF COPPER AND ZINC CONCENTRATES
CPO - 001 CPO - 002 CPO - 003

Element Unit
Conc. Cu Conc. Zn Conc. Cu Conc. Zn Conc. Cu
Au g/t 12.6 17.0 9.49 6.71 3.40
Cu % 16.0 3.38 21.2 5.07 24.0
Fe % 16.0 10.2 25.1 31.5 32.2
Pb % 10.2 1.45 0.86 0.46 0.09
Zn % 29.2 48.7 11.9 14.6 2.30
Ag g/t 560 482 217 166 53.1
As ppm 2,328 4,386 2,710 4,009 1,717
Bi ppm 108 96.0 75.0 217 288
Cd ppm 1,577 2,440 565 712 106
Sb ppm 791 2,763 799 933 230
The assays found the presence of potentially penalizable elements such as arsenic,
antimony, bismuth, and cadmium.

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RESULTS
Based on the results from the 2013 flotation testing program, an estimate was made of the
recoveries and grades of the Cu and Zn concentrates that would be produced in an efficiently
operated industrial plant, with ore similar to the composites studied.
TABLE 13.11 METALLURGICAL BALANCE PROJECTION – RECOVERIES AND GRADES
Assays Distribution
Composite Weight
Products Cu Zn Pb Au Ag Cu Zn Pb Au Ag
ID (%)
(%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Concentrate Cu 2.46 19.7 17.0 1.31 8.18 748 58.2 8.24 7.67 6.16 22.6
Concentrate Pb 0.61 17.7 17.0 47.3 21.8 1,995 6.47 0.92 69.0 4.11 15.1
CPO-001
Concentrate Zn 9.49 1.73 45.5 0.31 14.0 286 19.7 85.4 6.90 40.8 33.4
Zinc Mineral
Final Tail 87.4 0.15 0.31 0.08 1.83 26.9 15.5 5.39 16.4 49.0 28.9
Head Calculated 100 0.89 5.11 0.42 3.26 81.2 100 100 100 100 100
Concentrate Cu 7.62 21.0 8.51 0.94 8.77 230 75.0 29.8 49.6 29.3 40.8
CPO-002
Concentrate Zn 2.59 6.28 42.0 0.86 19.4 371 7.62 50.0 15.4 22.0 22.4
Mixed Mineral
Final Tail 89.8 0.41 0.49 0.06 1.24 17.6 17.4 20.2 35.0 48.7 36.8
Cu / Zn
Head Calculated 100 2.13 2.17 0.14 2.28 42.9 100 100 100 100 100
Concentrate Cu 13.9 24.2 2.34 0.09 3.69 53.1 89.7 80.9 43.4 24.4 39.7
CPO-003
Final Tail 86.1 0.45 0.09 0.02 1.84 13.0 10.3 19.1 56.6 75.6 60.3
Copper Mineral
Head Calculated 100 3.75 0.40 0.03 2.10 18.6 100 100 100 100 100
Results of the 2013 tests were used as a basis for the simulation models. The performance
of different flotation systems was simulated where there was insufficient test data available.
For CPO-001, the system in Figure 13.3 was modified. A Zn-cleaning stage and a Cu-Pb
separation stage were added. The aim of the changes was to estimate recoveries for
acceptable grades for the Cu and Zn concentrates and to evaluate the potential of producing
a lead concentrate.
For composite CPO-002, a Cu-cleaning stage and two Zn-cleaning stages were added. The
aim was to project the copper recovery in the Cu concentrate and project a Zn concentrate
with a grade of over 42% Zn.
The results shown in Table 13.9 were used directly for the metallurgical projection of
composite CPO-003.

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14. MINERAL RESOURCES ESTIMATE

GENERAL STATEMENT
The current Mineral Resource estimate for the El Domo deposit was prepared by BISA and
supervised by Gustavo Calvo, P. Geo. (Table 14.1). The Mineral Resource estimate is based
on 168 diamond drill holes from four drilling campaigns undertaken by Salazar from 2007 to
2012. The geological interpretation of the deposit was based on the geological sections
delivered by Salazar. A Net Smelter Return (NSR) cutoff value of US$30 per tonne has been
used.
Four geological units have been considered for mineral resource reporting: volcanogenic
massive sulphides (VMS); polymictic volcaniclastic breccia with massive sulphide clasts
(GRAINSTONE); quartz-pyrite stockwork and breccias (BRECCIA); and anhydrite-gypsum
stockwork (GYPSUM). More details on the geological features of these units are found in
Chapter 7.
Tonne s Coppe r Zinc Le a d G old S ilve r

Unit Ca te gory
(Mt) (% ) (% ) (% ) (g/ t) (g/ t)
V MS Indic a te d 5.468 2.52 3.27 0.30 3.23 59.19
Tota l Indic a te d 6.080 2.33 3.06 0.28 2.99 55.81
V MS Infe rre d 3.093 1.75 2.59 0.19 2.38 49.45
G ypsum Infe rre d 0.249 1.13 0.26 0.01 0.27 4.80
Tota l Infe rre d 3.882 1. 5 6 2 . 19 0 . 16 2.03 42.92

NOTE:
 The Mineral Resource Estimate is based on 3D geological modelling of the volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit
(VMS). Four mineralized units with an NSR cutoff of US$30 per tonne were considered as mineral resource
 Metallurgical recovery factors assumed were based on three mineral types defined by the metal ratio Cu/(Zn+Pb):
o Zinc Mineral (Cu/(Pb+Zn)<0.3): 15% Cu, 90% Zn, 40% Pb, 50% Au, and 65% Ag
o Mixed Cu/Zn Mineral (0.3≤Cu/(Pb+Zn)≤3.0): 75% Cu, 50% Zn, 0% Pb, 55% Au, and 65% Ag
o Copper Mineral (Cu/(Pb+Zn)>3.0): 90% Cu, 0% Zn, 0% Pb, 30% Au, and 40% Ag

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Values of one percent grade for copper, zinc, and lead, of one gram grade for gold, and of
one ounce for silver were calculated based on assumed metal prices, metallurgical recovery
factors, and common smelter terms. These values support the NSR calculation and are
summarized in Table 14.2.
TABLE 14.2 METAL UNIT VALUES FOR NSR CALCULATION
Mixed Cu/Zn
Zinc Mineral Copper Mineral
Mineral
Cu/(Zn+Pb) < 0.33 Cu/(Zn+Pb): 0.33-3.0 Cu/(Zn+Pb): > 3.0
Metal Unit Value Value Value

Cu US$/ 1% 4.7 31.5 44.6
Zn US$/ 1% 8.8 3.9 0.0
Pb US$/ 1% 3.7 0.0 0.0
Au US$/ 1g 13.7 15.6 7.1
Ag US$/ 1oz 9.0 9.0 3.2
DATABASE
The El Domo database consists of 5 csv (comma-separated value) files that contain the
following information: drill hole header locations (collar.csv), drill hole directional surveys
(survey.csv), geochemical assays of core samples (assay.csv), lithology logs (litología.csv),
and core recovery logs (recuperacion.csv). This database includes a total of 168 diamond
drill holes, but only 163 of these holes have been used in the resource estimation. These drill
holes are the result of four drilling campaigns undertaken by Salazar from 2007 to 2012
(Table 14.3).
Table 14.4 shows the number of drill holes and drilled metres used in resource estimation
updates from 2010 to 2013.
TABLE 14.3 SUMMARY OF DRILLING CAMPAIGNS AT EL DOMO
Cumulative
Phase ID Drilling Holes
Metres
I CURI-07-19 to CURI-08-51 22 4,556.41
II CURI-52 to CURI-71 19 3,100.50
III CURI-72 to CURI-155 76 13,865.50
IV CURI-156 to CURI-206 51 10,248.75
TOTAL 168 31,771.16

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TABLE 14.4 DRILL HOLES USED IN THE RESOURCE DECLARATIONS FOR EL DOMO
Resource Resource Drilled

Drill Holes Reference
Declaration Estimation Metres
October, 2010 September, 2010 3,336.80 18 --
November, 2011 September, 2011 13,924.10 78 Includes up to drill ho le Curi-155.
Includes drill ho les fro m the year 2007

December, 2013 November, 2013 31,771.16 168 to drill ho le Curi-206
Collar: This file contains 168 drill hole collar locations, and includes the 119 drill hole collars
staked out by Aeromapa in July of 2013. The locations are in the coordinate system PSAD
1956 - UTM, Zone 17 S.
Survey: Contains directional surveys for 168 drill holes: 42 drill holes with surveys taken
every 3 m with a Reflex Maxibor II; 7 drill holes from the first drilling campaign with surveys
taken every 50 m by the Kluane company; and 119 drill holes with a single inclination
measurement taken at the drill hole collar.
Assay: Contains 7,736 geochemical samples from the 163 drill holes sampled by Salazar.
The data include the assays for: Cu, Zn and Pb in percentage (%), and Au and Ag in grams
per tonne (g/t). The values of the analytical results with "less" or "less than" signs ("-" or "<"),
which correspond to values below the lower detection limits, have been replaced by one half
of that value.
Lithology: Contains the nine lithological codes established by BISA.
Recovery: Contains the core recovery percentage from the 168 drill holes. Drill holes: CURI-
08-22, CURI-08-39, CURI-08-44, CURI-08-49 and CURI-08-50 reported low core recovery
(<70%) when intersecting the massive sulphides.
DENSITY
Salazar has generated 1,140 specific gravity (SG) determinations in sub-samples from the
diamond drilling cores. The specific gravity tests were conducted using a paraffin method
with immersion in water for samples of approximately 10 cm in size.
BISA has verified in situ the method and procedures used by Salazar and concludes that SG
data are locally representative for units where the tests were performed, but not for the full
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sample intervals where these subsamples are located. BISA recommends that Salazar make
the effort to obtain SG measurements of the complete geochemical sampling intervals for
refining the deposit density model.
HISTORICAL MODELS
Modelling work and resource estimation have been conducted in El Domo since 2010. The
first resource estimate was carried out based on the interpretation of 18 drill holes that
intersected the mineralized zone (VMS); these resources were classified under the
categories of indicated and inferred. This work was performed in September of 2010 by Scott
Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (Scott Wilson RPA). The resource was estimated
using a cutoff value of US$50 NSR (Table 14.5).
In 2011, Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (Lavigne and McMonies) conducted a resource
update on El Domo supported by 78 drill holes and using the same cutoff value (US$50
NSR), but assuming, in this case, different economic parameters to those employed in 2010
(Table 14.5).
TABLE 14.5 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE BY RPA IN 2010 AND 2011
NSR
Tonnes
Year Cutoff Category Cu (%) Zn (%) Au g/t Ag g/t Pb (%)
(millions)
(US$)
Indicated 0.623 3.70 4.16 3.00 98.00 0.41
2010 50
Inferred 2.499 3.24 4.28 4.30 79.50 0.37
Indicated 5.530 2.40 2.50 2.80 48.40 0.30
2011 50
Inferred 1.460 1.90 2.80 2.40 52.20 0.30
GEOLOGICAL MODEL
The geological model for El Domo was generated from a regular 50x50 metre drill hole grid.
The geological interpretation was carried out using Leapfrog Mining 3D (v2.5) application.
Leapfrog Mining 3D (Leapfrog) is an application for implicit, quick, dynamic and accurate 3D
modelling of geological units. It utilizes radial-basis interpolation for logged intervals and
performs Boolean operations to generate mutually exclusive solids. It should be noted that, in
addition to constructing 3D solids, Leapfrog enables the visualization of sections in any
direction.
BISA verified the lithological coding used to ensure its consistency (Chapter 12). Generally,
the BISA 3D lithological model is consistent with the sections delivered by Salazar.

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LITHOLOGICAL MODEL
The lithological model constructed by BISA confirms the main properties identified by the
Salazar drill holes. Nine lithological units have been defined (see Table 7.2). For modelling,
mutually exclusive solids were generated for all the lithological units identified in drill holes,
considering the temporal relationship with the mineralization. Therefore, the modelling
parameters defined for each of these units consider the length of the lithology intervals used
for point compositing in Leapfrog as well as the minimum allowable interval in the modelled
units and the precision required to define its contacts (Table 14.6).
TABLE 14.6 PARAMETERS USED IN THE LITHOLOGICAL MODELLING
Minimum Length of
Compositing Accuracy of
Lithological Unit Abbreviation Accepted Range (%
Length (m) Contacts (+/- m)
Compositing Length)
Cover COB NA NA NA
Andesite AND 8 50 0
Basalt B 6 50 0
Tuffs T 2 50 0
Grainstone GR 2 50 0
Volcanogenic
Massive VMS 2 50 0
Sulphides
Breccia BXH 2 50 0
Gypsum GY 2 50 0
Rhyolite RHY 2 50 0
Figure 14.1 and Figure 14.2 show various N-S and E-W and plan view sections of the El
Domo lithological model.

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FIGURE 14.1 LITHOLOGICAL MODEL IN SECTION 9588300N AND SECTION 69505E

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FIGURE 14.2 LITHOLOGICAL MODEL IN PLAN VIEW AT THE 830 M LEVEL
VALIDATION OF THE LITHOLOGICAL MODEL

The lithological model was validated by visually inspecting the correspondence between the
coded lithological intervals in the drill holes compared with the solid of the modelled unit. This
visual inspection was carried out in various directions: north-south, east-west, and by levels.
Figure 14.3 illustrates the 3D model generated for the VMS unit, where the mineralized
intercepts are highlighted.

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FIGURE 14.3 3D VIEW OF THE VMS SOLID WITH THE MINERALIZED INTERSECTS
In addition to the visual inspection, the lithological model was also validated by reviewing the
correspondence of the coded lithological intervals with the flagged intervals within the solids.
The flagging process was performed with the Vulcan software using the Flag Samples tool.
The comparison was carried out between the codes stored in the LITON and LITO variables,
which contain the codes for the lithological units of the original coding and the codes stored
based on the flagging. The flagging process was performed using a straight composite
database (compositing method in Vulcan software). Table 14.7 shows the results of the
analysis of the correspondence between the lithologies recorded in the drill holes and the
interpretation (Lithological Model).

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TABLE 14.7 CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MODELLED AND LOGGED LITHOLOGICAL UNITS
Lithological Modelled Logged Correspondence Correspondence

Code
Unit (m) (%)
Total (m) Total (m)
Cover -1 159.70 189.21 150.79 79.69%
Andesite 70 297.20 291.28 287.78 98.80%
Basalt 30 100.27 111.38 97.67 87.69%
Tuffs 60 659.68 630.08 622.48 98.79%
Grainstone 40 327.79 342.63 321.87 93.94%
VMS 20 797.83 788.42 770.07 97.67%
Breccia 21 3,070.84 3,038.96 3,025.31 99.55%
Gypsum 22 1,599.97 1,614.30 1,583.69 98.10%
Rhyolite 10 3,295.03 3,302.05 3,281.49 99.38%
Total 10,308.31 10,308.31 10,141.15 98.38%
DETERMINISTIC MODEL
BISA conducted deterministic modelling of Cu, Zn, Au, and Pb (the remaining metals were
not modelled at this time). BISA recommends evaluating the suitability of also modelling
deterministic solids for Ag.
Geological criteria were used for the construction of deterministic solids, and the Cu, Zn, Au,
and Pb grades were visually inspected in the drill holes to identify the mineralized zones.
The mineralization was studied in the VMS unit and the related mineralized units
(Grainstone, Breccia, and Gypsum).
In addition, the grade distributions of metals in normal probability plots were reviewed to
verify the thresholds identified during the visual inspection of the elements considered. The
selected values are considered appropriate to differentiate high- and low-grade zones.
DETERMINISTIC MODEL FOR CU

The deterministic model for Cu is based on a visual review and interpretation of the Cu
grades in the drill holes and a review of its distribution in a normal probability plot.
The Cu distribution was reviewed with available samples from the VMS unit. The VMS unit
was chosen for review because its drill cores have been fully sampled and analysed. Figure
14.4 shows the normal probability plot used to verify the threshold defining the mineralized
zone. The deterministic model for Cu grades was generated with Leapfrog. The solids were
constructed using Boolean operations between solids generated for the lithological model
and solids generated from selections of grades over the threshold of 0.3% Cu. Figure 14.5
illustrates the methodology used to construct the deterministic model for Cu via an inspection

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of grades in the drill holes, where 0.3% Cu defines the threshold of the mineralized envelope.
Figure 14.6 shows section 9855350N, where the deterministic model for copper and related
mineralized units can be seen. Finally, the deterministic domain for Cu has been termed
DOMCU.
FIGURE 14.4 NORMAL PROBABILITY PLOT FOR CU (%) IN THE VMS UNIT

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FIGURE 14.5 GENERATION OF THE DETERMINISTIC MODEL FOR CU (%) WITH A 0.3% CU
THRESHOLD
FIGURE 14.6 DETERMINISTIC MODEL FOR CU IN SECTION 9855300N

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DETERMINISTIC MODELS FOR ZN, AU, AND PB

The deterministic models for Zn, Au, and Pb were constructed using the same methodology
as for Cu. Figure 14.7 shows the deterministic models for Zn, Au, and Pb in section
9855300N as well as the normal probability plots used to verify the selected thresholds. In
these cases, the thresholds used were 0.3 % Zn, 0.2 g/t Au, and 0.05% Pb. The codes for
the deterministic models are DOMZN for Zn, DOMAU for Au, and DOMPB for Pb.
FIGURE 14.7 DETERMINISTIC MODELS AND NORMAL PROBABILITY PLOTS FOR ZN, AU, AND
PB

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STRUCTURAL DOMAINS
Two domains have been established to account for the Eastern Sector (site of El Domo hill)
and the Western Sector, where most of the deposit is located (Figure 14.8). The faulted
contact between the andesitic dome and the upper volcaniclastic unit is the limit of the two
domains. In the Eastern Sector, the VMS unit lies at a greater depth and below the andesitic
dome, and the Grainstone unit is absent. The difference in the competence of the wall rock in
both domains is also notable. In the Eastern Sector, the predominant rock is andesite, a very
competent rock, whereas the Western Sector is dominated by volcaniclastic sequences
generally overprinted by argillic and, to a lesser extent, sericitic alteration. The term for the
structural domains is DOM.
FIGURE 14.8 CROSS-SECTION OF EL DOMO SHOWING TWO STRUCTURAL DOMAINS
EXPLORATORY DATA ANALYSIS

BISA completed the Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) for Cu, Zn, Pb, Au, and Ag using the
available samples and taking into account the geological variables in the deposit. The EDA
includes univariate statistics to assess all the lithological units modelled, the deterministic
domains for each element, and the structural domains. This allows the definition of groups
from these domains for estimation purposes.
With the aim of defining common characteristics associated with the individual
mineralizations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Au, and Ag, groupings were generated based on domains

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taking into consideration geological and statistical criteria (termed Geological Units – GU). An
EDA was also conducted for the specific gravity samples reviewed based only on the
lithological units and the structural domains.
Prior to completing the EDA, a general procedure was conducted to prepare the drill hole
data. It includes straight compositing into Vulcan software. Then the resulting composites
were flagged with the solids from the geological domains with the Flag Samples procedure.
Table 14.8, Table 14.9, Table 14.10, Table 14.11, and Table 14.12 show the GUs defined for
the Cu, Zn, Pb, Au, and Ag. The most important GUs are related to the VMS and Grainstone
units.
TABLE 14.8 ESTIMATION DOMAINS DEFINED FOR COPPER (%)
GUCU LITHOLOGY DOMCU DOM # Samples Average Std. Dev. Minimum Maximum
1 VMS High Cu East/West 616 3.52 3.93 0.0119 20.90
2 VMS Low Cu East/West 201 0.26 0.82 0.0005 7.65
3 GRAINSTONE High Cu East/West 76 1.17 1.54 0.0138 8.01
GRAINSTONE Low Cu East/West
4 271 0.13 0.51 0.0005 6.37
BASALT High/Low Cu East/West
BRECCIA High Cu East/West
5 179 0.68 0.92 0.0028 8.10
GYPSUM High Cu East/West
BRECCIA Low Cu East
6 2,078 0.03 0.13 0.0001 2.12
GYPSUM Low Cu East/West
7 BRECCIA Low Cu West 1,356 0.06 0.19 0.0001 2.84
8 RHYOLITE High/Low Cu East 866 0.01 0.04 0.0001 0.49
9 RHYOLITE High/Low Cu West 1,351 0.02 0.08 0.0001 1.42
10 TUFFS High/Low Cu East/West 449 0.01 0.06 0.0001 0.86
11 ANDESITE High/Low Cu East/West 208 0.03 0.25 0.0001 3.04
12 COVER High/Low Cu East/West 85 0.01 0.01 0.0002 0.03

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TABLE 14.9 ESTIMATION DOMAINS DEFINED FOR ZINC (%)
GUZN LITHOLOGY DOMZN DOM # Samples Average Std. Dev. Minimum Maximum
1 VMS High Zn East 118 4.62 7.49 0.0200 40.50
2 VMS High Zn West 375 6.81 10.51 0.0271 52.75
3 VMS Low Zn East 121 0.16 0.42 0.0022 3.50
VMS Low Zn West
4 275 0.28 1.56 0.0018 24.87
BASALT High/Low Zn East/West
GRAINSTONE High Zn East/West
5 639 1.24 2.20 0.0222 33.55
BRECCIA High Zn West
6 GRAINSTONE Low Zn East/West 170 0.15 0.58 0.0036 6.85
BRECCIA High Zn East
7 259 0.75 0.80 0.0030 8.25
GYPSUM High Zn East/West
8 BRECCIA Low Zn East 778 0.04 0.09 0.0003 0.70
9 BRECCIA Low Zn West 963 0.10 0.83 0.0002 20.30
GYPSUM Low Zn East/West
10 1,945 0.04 0.15 0.0001 2.65
RHYOLITE High/Low Zn East
11 RHYOLITE High/Low Zn West 1,351 0.08 0.23 0.0001 2.62
12 TUFFS High/Low Zn East 39 0.04 0.07 0.0027 0.36
TUFFS High/Low Zn West
13 618 0.04 0.17 0.0031 3.45
ANDESITE High/Low Zn East/West
14 COVER High/Low Zn East/West 85 0.02 0.02 0.0039 0.16
TABLE 14.10 ESTIMATION DOMAINS DEFINED FOR LEAD (%)
GUPB LITHOLOGY DOMPB DOMZN # Samples Average Std. Dev. Minimum Maximum
1 VMS High Pb High/Low Zn 416 0.75 1.64 0.0013 17.20
2 VMS Low Pb High/Low Zn 401 0.01 0.01 0.0003 0.12
3 GRAINSTONE High Pb High/Low Zn 88 0.21 0.40 0.0037 3.43
4 GRAINSTONE Low Pb High/Low Zn 187 0.03 0.07 0.0001 0.76
5 BRECCIA High Pb High/Low Zn 600 0.16 0.38 0.0003 5.17
6 BRECCIA Low Pb Low Zn 311 0.03 0.06 0.0003 0.88
7 BRECCIA Low Pb Low Zn 1,531 0.01 0.02 0.0002 0.53
8 BASALT High/Low Pb High/Low Zn 72 0.02 0.04 0.0001 0.19
GYPSUM High/Low Pb High/Low Zn
9 3,388 0.01 0.03 0.0001 0.61
RHYOLITE High/Low Pb High/Low Zn
TUFFS High/Low Pb High/Low Zn
10 657 0.00 0.02 0.0001 0.32
ANDESITE High/Low Pb High/Low Zn
11 COVER High/Low Pb High/Low Zn 85 0.00 0.01 0.0003 0.05

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TABLE 14.11 ESTIMATION DOMAINS DEFINED FOR GOLD (G/T)
GUAU LITHOLOGY DOMAU DOM # Samples Average Std. Dev. Minimum Maximum
1 VMS High/Low Au East 239 1.54 2.36 0.0025 19.70
2 VMS High/Low Au West 578 4.08 7.68 0.0025 94.00
3 GRAINSTONE High Au East/West 207 1.04 1.40 0.0100 9.22
4 GRAINSTONE Low Au East/West 68 0.04 0.04 0.0025 0.18
5 BRECCIA Alto Au East/West 717 0.62 1.82 0.0100 43.00
6 BRECCIA Low Au East/West 1,725 0.08 0.21 0.0025 7.66
7 BASALT High/Low Au East/West 72 0.20 0.40 0.0025 2.39
8 GYPSUM High Au East/West 88 0.33 0.29 0.0025 1.76
GYPSUM Low Au East/West
9 RHYOLITE High/Low Au East/West 3,339 0.05 0.14 0.0025 5.60
TUFFS High/Low Au East
10 TUFFS High/Low Au West 410 0.04 0.09 0.0025 1.09
11 ANDESITE High/Low Au East/West 208 0.04 0.21 0.0025 2.71
12 COVER High/Low Au East/West 85 0.01 0.03 0.0025 0.21
TABLE 14.12 ESTIMATION DOMAINS DEFINED FOR SILVER (G/T)
GUAG LITHOLOGY DOMCU DOMZN DOMAU # Samples Average Std. Dev. Minimum Maximum
1 VMS High Cu High Zn High/Low Au 406 118.91 197.20 1.30 1836.00
2 VMS High Cu Low Zn High/Low Au 210 15.00 57.77 0.10 834.00
3 VMS Low Cu High Zn High/Low Au 87 63.15 238.75 0.90 2160.00
VMS Low Cu Low Zn High/Low Au
4 520 12.41 25.57 0.10 244.40
BRECCIA High/Low Cu Low Zn High Au
5 GRAINSTONE High/Low Cu High Zn High/Low Au 105 30.97 42.66 0.50 272.50
GRAINSTONE High/Low Cu Low Zn High/Low Au
6 242 4.37 7.96 0.10 51.10
BASALT High/Low Cu High/Low Zn High/Low Au
7 BRECCIA High/Low Cu High Zn High Au 311 26.25 59.57 0.40 736.00
8 BRECCIA High/Low Cu High Zn Low Au 390 4.62 10.15 0.10 126.90
9 BRECCIA High/Low Cu Low Zn Low Au 1,335 2.03 14.54 0.10 510.00
10 TUFFS High/Low Cu High/Low Zn High/Low Au 449 1.11 6.62 0.10 114.90
11 ANDESITE High/Low Cu High/Low Zn High/Low Au 208 1.02 5.51 0.10 66.50
RHYOLITE High/Low Cu High/Low Zn High/Low Au
12 3,388 1.26 3.91 0.10 118.30
GYPSUM High/Low Cu High/Low Zn High/Low Au
13 COVER High/Low Cu High/Low Zn High/Low Au 85 1.28 4.06 0.10 32.70
SPECIFIC GRAVITY REVIEW

The specific gravity (SG), assumed as representative in-situ bulk density, was reviewed
using the same methodology as for the metallic elements (i.e. geological and statistical
criteria). Unlike the metals, these geological units (GU) were generated based on lithological
units and structural domains.
The methodology to estimate the bulk density is based on their distribution analysis for each
of the lithologies. Ten GUs were defined with this aim. The preliminary stage included

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assessing the selection of representative samples in order to discard outliers. Threshold

values were two or three standard deviations depending on the GU.
Table 14.13 shows the specific gravity GUs based on available samples and applied
thresholds. Note that GUs 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 have an adequate number of specific gravity
samples. In these GUs, the specific gravity values are the estimates, whereas in the other
cases, the values are averaged.
TABLE 14.13 ESTIMATION DOMAINS DEFINED FOR SPECIFIC GRAVITY
Lower Upper
GUD LITHOLOGY DOM # Samples Average Std. Dev. Minimum Maximum
Threshold Threshold
1 VMS East 101 3.45 0.57 2.07 4.55 -2σ +2σ
2 VMS West 212 3.72 0.50 2.41 4.65 -2σ +2σ
3 GRAINSTONE East/West 67 2.82 0.36 2.40 3.92 NA NA
4 BASALT East/West 4 2.70 0.28 2.45 3.08 NA NA
5 ANDESITE East/West 4 2.89 0.76 2.39 4.03 NA NA
6 COVER East/West 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 NA NA
RHYOLITE East/West
7 277 2.61 0.29 1.72 3.94 -3σ +3σ
GYPSUM East/West
8 BRECCIA East 190 2.78 0.35 2.00 4.45 -2σ +2σ
9 BRECCIA West 238 2.75 0.38 1.84 4.21 -2σ +2σ
10 TUFFS East/West 47 2.48 0.21 2.10 3.48 NA NA
σ: Standard Deviation
Figure 14.9 shows the probabilistic diagram of specific gravity for the various GUs
considered.

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FIGURE 14.9 PROBABILISTIC DIAGRAM OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY BY ESTIMATION DOMAINS
COMPOSITING
Compositing was done using the available samples, which have been standardized to 1.25 m
in length, which represents half the assumed block height of 2.5 metres. Composites with a
length of less than 0.5 m have been discarded for the interpolation. This exercise was carried
out in Vulcan software with the run-length compositing procedure honouring the Geological
Units for each metal and bulk density.
TREATMENT OF HIGH GRADES

The methodology applied for the treatment of outliers in the El Domo deposit includes two
different techniques depending on the type of situation: (1) capping extreme values and (2)
limiting extreme values in a given region (―High Yield Limit Field‖ in Vulcan Software).
Probabilistic diagrams have been used for this purpose as they are a very effective graphic
tool for the study of data distribution and the detection of outliers. Tonnage/grade curves are
another way to estimate whether it is appropriate to use a capped distribution.
Figure 14.10, Figure 14.11, and Figure 14.13 summarize the analyses performed on GU01
for Cu, Zn, Pb, Au, and Ag run-length composites.

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FIGURE 14.10 ANALYSIS OF RUN-LENGTH COMPOSITES FOR CU GU01

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FIGURE 14.11 ANALYSIS OF RUN-LENGTH COMPOSITES FOR ZN GU01

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FIGURE 14.12 ANALYSIS OF RUN-LENGTH COMPOSITES FOR PB GU01

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FIGURE 14.13 ANALYSIS OF RUN-LENGTH COMPOSITES FOR AU GU01

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FIGURE 14.14 ANALYSIS OF RUN-LENGTH COMPOSITES FOR AG GU01

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VARIOGRAPHY
The spatial continuity of the grades for Cu, Zn, Au, Ag, and Pb in the deposit was reviewed
using a reverse correlogram standardized to the unit, termed the ―correlograma‖ for the
purposes of this study. SAGE2001 was used to calculate the correlograms. Although a
correlogram is generally a function that decreases with distance, it tends to zero as the
distance increases. SAGE2001 uses the following corrections worth mentioning:
( )
( )
( ) ∑
( )
Vectoral separation or distance
Value of a sample in position i
Value of a sample in position I, at a distance h
Standard deviation at a distance h
Measurement of the tails between walls of samples separated by a vector distance h
The correlograms were calculated with the parameters shown in Table 14.14. The
correlogram was modelled using 13 experimental directions adjusted to a three-dimensional
ellipsoidal model defined for the experimental points in all directions, using two spherical
structures.
Correlograms were calculated for all the GU metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Au, and Ag) that have an
adequate number of run-length composites. It should be noted that, in general, the ranges
obtained with the correlograms are short in the vertical direction, and with a variable nugget
effect. Figure 14.15 shows an example of the correlogram for the Cu GU02 in the direction
Azimuth 90° and Dip 0°. The resulting variographic parameters are summarized in the
interpolation plans.
BISA recommends further study of the trends and anisotropies identified to verify the ranges
and variability of metals in the deposit as the investigation progresses.
TABLE 14.14 PARAMETERS FOR CALCULATION OF EXPERIMENTAL CORRELOGRAMS
Direction of Increase Band Width Tolerance

Max. No. Of Horizontal % of Angular
Lag (m) Azimuth (°) Dip (°) Vertical (m)
Lags (m) Lag (°)
50 10 90 30 25 40 50 30

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FIGURE 14.15 CORRELOGRAM OF CU GU02 IN THE AZIMUTH 90° AND DIP 0°
BLOCK MODEL
The block model was constructed in Vulcan (version 8.0.2) as a sub-cell type block model
that includes the lithological units, deterministic domains for metals, and the structural
domains based on geological interpretations made in the 3D modelling. It also contains the
variables needed to estimate the metals considered in this study. The dimensions of the sub-
cell type model vary from 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 m to 5 x 5 x 2.5 m. The regular block model where
the estimates were re-blocked has a block size of 5 m (east) x 5 m (north) x 2.5 m
(elevation).
Estimates were calculated in the sub-cell type block model for each GU of the metals
considered, which were then re-blocked into the regular block model as a volume-weighted
average for metals. Furthermore, the categorical variables, such as lithological units,
deterministic domains, structural domains, geological units, and resource category, were re-
blocked into the regular block model considering the majority percentage within each regular
block. Table 14.15 shows the geometry and orientation of the two models defined in the UTM
PSAD 56 coordinate system.

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TABLE 14.15 LIMITS OF BLOCK MODELS
Sub-Cell
Regular Block
Type Block
Model
Model
Minimum Coordinate East (m) 694,750 694,750
Maximum Coordinate East (m) 695,800 695,800
Minimum Coordinate North (m) 9,854,850 9,854,850
Maximum Coordinate North (m) 9,855,800 9,855,800
Minimum Elevation (m) 550 550
Maximum Elevation (m) 1150 1150
Bearing (°) 90 90
Dip (°) 0 0
Plunge (°) 0 0
INTERNAL DILUTION
The block model considers the internal dilution of the geological contacts, using the sub-cell
type block model, which is standardized to a regular-sized block model using a volume-
weighted average for metals. Similarly, the codes associated with the lithological units,
deterministic domains, structural domains, and so on, were standardized. This was done
taking into account the majority percentage of each domain and/or unit within a regular block.
The height of the blocks used in El Domo is 2.5 metres based on the criteria of geological
continuity established mainly in the VMS unit, while taking into account the dimensions of
equipment that might be used in a mining operation.

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ESTIMATION PARAMETERS
The interpolation methodology for estimating Cu, Zn, Pb, Au, Ag, and bulk density were
Ordinary Kriging (OK) and Inverse Distance weighted (IDW) to the power of 2 and/or 3. The
estimation was carried out separately for each GU, considering the aforementioned metals
and specific gravity, using their respective correlogram models as appropriate.
Search distances and anisotropies are derived from the spatial correlation in each GU.
Generally, the estimation in each GU has been made in three passes, so called due to the
strategy of increasing searches used in each one. Therefore, the estimation is sequential,
with an appropriate adjustment for the first passes, as well as a good correlation between
adjacent composites and the block to be estimated. The blocks not estimated during the
three passes were assigned an average metal value for the corresponding GU, setting this
as the fourth pass. It should be noted that, in the GU for the coverage of the different metals,
they have been assigned a default value. In addition, The GU12 for Zn was assigned an
averaged value.
Regarding the interpolation parameters, it should be noted that the search radii are flattened
ellipsoids with the shortest distance in the Z axis. The search radii have been adjusted for
each GU. Concerning the search by octants, the minimum and maximum number of
composites per octant, the minimum number of octants with composites required to estimate
a block to ensure good spatial coherence, and the influence of all the directions have all
been defined for each pass as appropriate. In addition, the use of the maximum number of
composites per drill hole, the minimum number of composites, and the maximum number of
composites for the interpolation for each pass are summarized in interpolation planes for
each metal, where the parameters are set for the three passes for each GU. Table 14.16,
Table 14.17, Table 14.18, Table 14.19, Table 14.20, and Table 14.21 summarize the
interpolation planes for Cu, Zn, Pb, Au, Ag, and SG.
In addition, hard contacts have been assumed in estimating each GU due to the strong
contrast in the high grades for the VMS relative to the other units. BISA recommends that a
contact analysis be conducted in future for all units, particularly for the GUs for the Breccia
and Gypsum units.

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To limit the extreme values, the High Yield Limit Field was used in the various GUs on each
pass as applicable. Capping of extreme values has also been applied in the interpolation
planes depending on the estimated GU.
Finally, a discretization has been used on blocks of 3x3x2 nodes, which is considered
reasonable for the size of the blocks and the composites used. Specific gravity was
estimated using interpolation only in GUs 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9; for the remaining GUs, an
average specific gravity was assigned.

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TABLE 14.16 INTERPOLATION PLAN FOR COPPER (%)

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TABLE 14.17 INTERPOLATION PLAN FOR ZINC (%)

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TABLE 14.18 INTERPOLATION PLAN FOR LEAD (%)

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TABLE 14.19 INTERPOLATION PLAN FOR GOLD (G/T)

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TABLE 14.20 INTERPOLATION PLAN FOR SILVER (G/T)

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TABLE 14.21 INTERPOLATION PLAN FOR SPECIFIC GRAVITY

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BLOCK MODEL VALIDATION

A wide range of validation tools has been used on an ongoing basis during the
interpolation of the different metals in each GU.
GRAPHIC VALIDATION OF THE BLOCK MODEL

A visual inspection of the final block model was carried out to verify the following:
 Consistency of the estimated block model based on the interpolation plan and
the neighbouring composites available.
 The blocks that were not estimated until the third interpolation pass are those
that do not meet the criteria for the estimation plan and for composite
availability.
 Appropriate spatial allocation of the GUs for the metals and bulk density in
composites and blocks.
Figure 14.16 through Figure 14.21 show section 9588300N at the 830 m level with
estimates of Cu, Zn, and Au.
FIGURE 14.16 ESTIMATES OF COPPER (%) IN SECTION 9588300N, HIGHLIGHTING THE

VMS UNIT

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FIGURE 14.17 ESTIMATES FOR COPPER (%) IN SECTION 830 M, HIGHLIGHTING THE
VMS UNIT
FIGURE 14.18 ESTIMATES FOR ZINC (%) IN SECTION 9588300N, HIGHLIGHTING THE
VMS UNIT
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FIGURE 14.19 ESTIMATES FOR ZINC (%) AT LEVEL 830 M, HIGHLIGHTING THE VMS
UNIT
FIGURE 14.20 ESTIMATES OF GOLD (G/T) IN SECTION 9588300N, HIGHLIGHTING THE

VMS UNIT
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FIGURE 14.21 ESTIMATES OF GOLD (G/T) AT LEVEL 830 M, HIGHLIGHTING THE VMS
UNIT
COMPARISON OF COMPOSITES AND POPULATION ESTIMATE

During the validation of the interpolation, basic statistics were performed between the
estimates and the composites for each GU for the metals. It should be noted that some
GUs have only a small number of composites.
DRIFT ANALYSIS
A drift analysis was developed for the estimated models to detect any possible local
bias. Drift plots have been generated to identify local bias in the south-north and west-
east directions and in elevation. The distance used for the drift analysis was 5 m for the
south-north and west-east directions and 2.5 m for elevation. This revision was
implemented for each GU in the three passes.

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Figure 14.22 to Figure 14.26 show the validation schemes used for the Cu, Zn, and Au
of GU01.
FIGURE 14.22 VALIDATION OUTLINE FOR GU01CU

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FIGURE 14.23 VALIDATION OUTLINE FOR GU01ZN

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FIGURE 14.24 VALIDATION OUTLINE FOR GU01PB

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FIGURE 14.25 VALIDATION OUTLINE FOR GUAU01

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FIGURE 14.26 VALIDATION OUTLINE FOR GUAG01

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ASUMPTIONS USED IN RESOURCE MODELLING

The assumptions used for the resource model are listed below:
 BISA has conducted analyses to define the criteria for calculation of the NSR
value (Table 14.2).
 The regular block size assumed in the estimation is 5 x 5 x 2.5 m taking into
account the geometry and dimensions of the mineralization and considering the
characteristics of the mining equipment and the scale of future mining
production.
 The geological (lithological) model is consistent with the drilling information and
representative of the nature and characteristics of a volcanogenic massive
sulphide deposit (VMS).
MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AND

CLASSIFICATION
MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATION
The resource estimate is based on an NSR cutoff value of US$30 per tonne. The NSR
was calculated based on the following assumptions: metal prices, metallurgical
recovery factors, and common industry values for smelter terms. Four mineralized units
have been considered for mineral resource reporting.: Volcanogenic massive sulphides
(VMS), polymictic volcaniclastic breccia with massive sulphide clasts (Grainstone),
stockwork quartz-pyrite (Breccia), and stockwork anhydrite-gypsum (Gypsum). In
accordance with the mineral resource classification methodology, they have been
classified into two categories: indicated and inferred. No measured resources have
been established for any of the four reported units.

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Lithology Tonne s Coppe r Zinc Le a d G old S ilve r

Ca te gory
Unit (Mt) (% ) (% ) (% ) (g/ t) (g/ t)
V MS Indic a te d 5.468 2.52 3.27 0.30 3.23 59.19

Tota l Indic a te d 6.080 2.33 3.06 0.28 2.99 55.81

V MS Infe rre d 3.093 1.75 2.59 0.19 2.38 49.45

G ypsum Infe rre d 0.249 1.13 0.26 0.01 0.27 4.80
Tota l Infe rre d 3.882 1. 5 6 2 . 19 0 . 16 2.03 42.92
NOTE:
 The Mineral Resource Estimate is based on 3D geological modelling of the volcanogenic massive sulphide
deposit (VMS). Four mineralized units with an NSR cutoff of US$30 per tonne were considered as mineral
resource
 Metallurgical recovery factors assumed were based on three mineral types defined by the metal ratio
Cu/(Zn+Pb):
o Zinc Mineral (Cu/(Pb+Zn)<0.3): 15% Cu, 90% Zn, 40% Pb, 50% Au, and 65% Ag
o Mixed Cu/Zn Mineral (0.3≤Cu/(Pb+Zn)≤3.0): 75% Cu, 50% Zn, 0% Pb, 55% Au, and 65% Ag
o Copper Mineral (Cu/(Pb+Zn)>3.0): 90% Cu, 0% Zn, 0% Pb, 30% Au, and 40% Ag
RESOURCE CLASSIFICATION METHODOLOGY

The method for resource classification is based on the geological knowledge of the
deposit and the assumption of the spatial continuity of Cu and Zn. The geological
controls and geostatistics used in the interpolation of the metal grades in the sub-cell
type block model, produced various confidence levels as a function of the spatial
configuration of the composites used for estimating a block. For each individual block, a
number of parameters were recorded:
(1) The interpolation pass in which the block was estimated

(2) The number of drill holes with composites that contributed to the block interpolation
(3) The total number of composites used in the block interpolation
(4) The average weighted distance (by interpolation weights) for the composites used

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The resource classification has been undertaken considering the four mineralized units
(VMS, Grainstone, Breccia, and Gypsum) and three copper and three zinc domains
defined by interpolation parameters for Cu and Zn. The resources have been classified
into the two categories of: indicated and inferred; no measured resources have been
established for any of the four reported units.
For the VMS and Grainstone, the Cu and Zn domains have been established as given
below.
Cu Domains
-Cu Domain 1
 Blocks estimated during the first Cu interpolation pass, using at least three
different drill holes and an average weighted distance from the block
centroid to the composites of less than 7.5 metres.
-Cu Domain 2
centroid to the composites of more than 7.5 metres.
 Blocks estimated during the first Cu interpolation pass, using at least two
drill holes were also included in the Cu Domain 2.
 Finally, blocks estimated during the second Cu interpolation pass, using at
least two different drill holes and an average weighted distance from the
block centroid to the composites of less than 60 metres.
-Cu Domain 3
 Blocks not previously included within Cu Domain 1 or Domain 2 have been
classified as Cu Domain 3.

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Zn Domains
-Zn Domain 1
 Blocks estimated during the first interpolation pass for Zn, using at least
three different drill holes and an average weighted distance from the block
centroid to the composites of less than 20 metres.
-Zn Domain 2
 Blocks estimated during the first Zn interpolation pass, using at least three
centroid to the composites of more than 20 metres.
 Blocks estimated during the first Zn interpolation pass using at least two drill
holes have also been included in Zn Domain 2.
 Finally, blocks estimated during the second Zn interpolation pass, using at
-Zn Domain 3
 Blocks not previously included within Zn Domain 1 or Domain 2 have been
classified as Zn Domain 3.
Finally, the Cu and Zn domains were incorporated into a matrix used to categorize the
resources in the VMS and Grainstone units. (Figure 14.27)
Cu Domains
Domain 1 Domain 2 Domain 3
Domains
Domain 1
Zn
Domain 2
Domain 3
Measured Resources
Indicated Resources
Inferred Resources
FIGURE 14.27 RESOURCE CLASSIFICATION MATRIX FOR THE VMS AND GRAINSTONE

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In the Breccia and Gypsum units, the criteria for defining the Cu and Zn domains are
as given below.
Cu Domains
-Cu Domain 1
-Cu Domain 2
 Blocks estimated during the first Cu interpolation pass, using at least two
drill holes, were also included in the Cu Domain 2.
 Finally, blocks estimated during the second Cu interpolation pass, using at
-Cu Domain 3
 Blocks not previously included within Cu Domain 1 or Domain 2 have been
classified as Cu Domain 3.
Zn Domains
-Zn Domain 1
Blocks estimated during the first interpolation pass for Zn, using at least
three different drill holes and an average weighted distance from the block
-Zn Domain 2
 Blocks estimated during the first Zn interpolation pass, using at least three

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 Blocks estimated during the first Zn interpolation pass using at least two
different drill holes have also been included in Zn Domain 2.
 Finally, blocks estimated during the second Zn interpolation pass, using at
-Zn Domain 3
 Blocks not previously included within Zn Domain 1 or Domain 2 have been
classified as Zn Domain 3.
In the Breccia and Gypsum units, the spatial continuity of the mineralization is more
constrained, and therefore the resource categorization has been more restrictive
(Figure 14.28).
Cu Domains
Domain 1 Domain 2 Domain 3
Domains
Domain 1
Zn
Domain 2
Domain 3
Measured Resources
Indicated Resources
Inferred Resources
FIGURE 14.28 RESOURCE CLASSIFICATION MATRIX FOR THE BRECCIA AND GYPSUM
Once the categories of mineral resource estimates in the sub-cell type block model had
been established, the category codes were standardized in a regular block model
taking into account the majority percentage. The blocks at the edges and at the
contacts between the four mineralized units were not classified in this process. These
blocks were removed and their category determined by the predominant category in
their adjacent blocks. Figure 14.29 shows the resource classification of the four
mineralized units with an NSR cutoff value of US$30 per tonne in plan view.

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FIGURE 14.29 RESOURCE CLASSIFICATION IN PLAN VIEW
Figure 14.30 shows a comparative graph of the resource estimates in the declarations
from 2010 to date.

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FIGURE 14.30 MINERAL RESOURCES ESTIMATES FROM 2010 TO 2013

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GRADE–TONNAGE CURVES
The Grade-Tonnage curves for the indicated and inferred resources of the mineralized
units: VMS, Grainstone, Breccia, and Gypsum are shown in Figure 14.31.
FIGURE 14.31 GRADE-TONNAGE CURVES FOR THE MINERALIZED UNITS - EL DOMO

DEPOSIT

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15. MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE

This section is not applicable

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16. MINING METHODS

Because two geological structural domains have been established at the El Domo
deposit, the mine development has been divided into two sectors and extraction by
various mining methods was analysed for each. Extraction will begin with the open pit
method and continue later with underground mining. The economic and financial
assessment takes into account a nine-year lifespan for the surface mining with a
production of 2,000 tpd, followed by a five-year lifespan underground mining with a
production of 1,000 tpd, for a total of 14 years of mining.
OPEN PIT
The El Domo VMS deposit has two structural domains: the Eastern sector, which
contains the deepest mineralized zone, below the Andesite unit, and the Western
sector, which encompasses the mineralized zone underneath the tuff unit. The latter
unit is mostly composed of incompetent rocks, and will be mined by open pit methods.
First the topsoil will be removed, and then the overburden, and finally the ore will be
extracted. Drilling and blasting first, and then shovels and trucks will be used for loading
and hauling the ore and overburden.
OPEN PIT OPTIMIZATION

The optimized pit was generated from a theoretical cone with no access ramps or
benches. The objective is to find a cone with the optimal utility value (benefit-cost) that
complies with the mining, geotechnical, metallurgical, legal, and environmental
restrictions. This pit shell was generated using the Lerchs Grossmann algorithm in the
MineSight Economic Planner software, which, for each block of ore, weighs the ore
value and the cost of extracting the block to obtain saleable products. In other words,
this algorithm determines whether or not each block is economical. The optimization
process was performed using the block model developed by BISA.
The block model was developed with 5 m x 5 m x 2.5 m blocks and exported to the
MineSight Economic Planner, where such parameters as slopes of the pit walls,
process recovery (provided by Salazar Resources), mining costs, and processing costs
(calculated by BISA) were assigned to resources and to blocks for optimization
purposes.

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OPTIMIZATION PARAMETERS
The MineSight Economic Planner requires parameters such as the price of the metal,
recovery, mining costs, and processing costs to determine the optimal economic cone.
The relevant factors and costs for the optimization are presented in Table 16.1, Table
16.2, and Table 16.3.
The mineralization is classified into three different types of concentrate according to the
metallurgical characteristics defined by the Cu/(Pb + Zn) ratio: Zinc Mineral, Mixed
Cu/Zn Mineral, and Copper Mineral. The values of one percent grade for copper, zinc,
and lead, of one gram grade for gold, and of one ounce for silver (Metal Unit Values)
were determined by BISA based on assumed metal prices, metallurgical recovery
factors and common smelter terms, and are summarized in Table 16.1.
TABLE 16.1 MINING BLOCK PARAMETERS
Block Value Parameters
Metal Price
Unit Value
Lead $/t 2000
Zinc $/t 2000
Copper $/t 6500
Silver $/oz 20
Gold $/oz 1200
Process recovery by Mineral Types

Mixed Cu/Zn Mineral:
Zinc Mineral: Cu/(Zn+Pb)<0.33 0.33≤Cu/(Zn+Pb)≤3.0 Copper Mineral: Cu/(Zn+Pb)>3.0
Pb conc Pb Recov 40% Pb conc Pb Recov 0% Pb conc Pb Recov 0%
Pb grade 40% Pb grade 0% Pb grade 0%
Zn conc Zn recov 90% Zn conc Zn recov 50% Zn conc Zn recov 0%
Zn grade 50% Zn grade 42% Zn grade 0%
Cu conc Cu recov 15% Cu conc Cu recov 75% Cu conc Cu recov 90%
Cu grade 18% Cu grade 21% Cu grade 21%
Ag Recov In Pb 10% Ag Recov In Pb 0% Ag Recov In Pb 0%
In Cu 15% In Cu 40% In Cu 40%
In Zn 40% In Zn 25% In Zn 0%
Au Recov In Pb 5% Au Recov In Pb 0% Au Recov In Pb 0%
In Cu 10% In Cu 30% In Cu 30%
In Zn 35% In Zn 25% In Zn 0%
Metal Unit Values

Mixed Cu/Zn Mineral:
Zinc Mineral: Cu/(Zn+Pb)<0.33 0.33≤Cu/(Zb+Pb)≤3.0 Copper Mineral: Cu/(zn+pb)>3.0
Pb US$/1% 3.7 Pb US$/1% - Pb US$/1% -
Zn US$/1% 8.8 Zn US$/1% 3.9 Zn US$/1% -
Cu US$/1% 4.7 Cu US$/1% 31.5 Cu US$/1% 44.6
Ag US$/1 Oz 9.0 Ag US$/1 Oz 9.0 Ag US$/1 Oz 3.2
Au US$/1 g 13.7 Au US$/1 g 15.6 Au US$/1 g 7.1

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TABLE 16.2 MINING BLOCK COST PARAMETERS
Mining Cost Parameters

Unit Value
Mine Cost Overburden $/t material 2.75
Mine Cost Ore $/t material 2.75
Ore and Overburden Haulage per Bench $/bench 0.02
Ore Processing Cost $/t ore 20
GG & AA $/t 5
TABLE 16.3 MINING BLOCK DESIGN PARAMETERS
Mining Design Parameters

Slope Angle
Unit Value
COVER (°) 43
RHYOLITE (°) 46
VMS (°) 43
BRECCIA (°) 43
GYPSUM (°) 43
BASALT (°) 43
GRAINSTONE (°) 43
TUFFS (°) 46
ANDESITE (°) 55
OPTIMIZATION RESULTS
The results of the optimization give the optimal cone (Table 16.4 and Figure 16.1). It
results in 6,391,916 tonnes of mineral and 48,450,723 tonnes of waste rock with a
stripping ratio (SR) of 7.58.
TABLE 16.4 OPTIMIZATION RESULTS
Waste Rock Stripping

Mineral Type Mineral (t) Cu (%) Zn (%) Au (g/t) Pb (g/t) Ag (g/t)
(t) Ratio
Cu/(Zn+Pb)<0.33 1,917,744 0.77 4.96 3.54 0.46 74.67 14,536,500
0.33≤Cu/(Zb+Pb)≤3.0 2,914,408 2.82 3.47 3.55 0.28 73.89 22,091,213
Cu/(zn+pb)>3.0 1,559,764 2.48 0.20 1.93 0.03 11.13 11,823,011
Total 6,391,916 2.13 3.12 3.15 0.27 58.81 48,450,723 7.58

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FIGURE 16.1 OPEN PIT OPTIMAL CONE
Based on this initial result, BISA performed a set of iterations to optimize the mine plan
and maximize profitability. Sensitivity analysis was undertaken by varying the metal
prices in order to compare the economic performance (NPV) of each of these
alternatives and thus obtain an optimal cone that would be the base case on which to
anchor the conceptual study. The metal prices used for the sensitivity analysis are
shown in Table 16.5, and their results are given in Table 16.6.
TABLE 16.5 METAL PRICES FOR SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Price Pb Zn Cu Ag Au
$/t $/t $/t $/oz $/oz
1 1,000 1,000 1,800 9 400
2 1,100 1,100 2,270 10 480
3 1,200 1,200 2,740 11 560
4 1,300 1,300 3,210 12 640
5 1,400 1,400 3,680 13 720
6 1,500 1,500 4,150 14 800
7 1,600 1,600 4,620 15 880
8 1,700 1,700 5,090 16 960
9 1,800 1,800 5,560 17 1,040
10 1,900 1,900 6,030 18 1,120
11 - Final Pit 2,000 2,000 6,500 20 1,200

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TABLE 16.6 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Waste Rock Stripping

Pit Mineral (t) Cu (%) Zn (%) Au (g/t) Pb (%) Ag (g/t)
(t) Ratio (SR)
1 823,160 3.33 4.71 6.01 0.50 110.78 5,054,202 6.14
2 1,888,219 3.28 3.98 4.69 0.41 99.82 10,177,500 5.39
3 2,870,204 2.99 3.95 4.20 0.44 94.67 17,163,820 5.98
4 3,175,068 2.87 3.83 4.07 0.42 89.24 18,923,405 5.96
5 3,326,053 2.80 3.76 3.99 0.41 86.82 19,823,276 5.96
6 5,615,688 2.27 3.21 3.37 0.29 63.48 40,545,267 7.22
7 5,741,796 2.25 3.18 3.34 0.29 62.54 41,455,767 7.22
8 5,842,280 2.23 3.15 3.31 0.29 61.87 42,122,839 7.21
9 5,988,109 2.20 3.13 3.26 0.28 61.16 43,413,790 7.25
10 6,262,886 2.15 3.13 3.19 0.28 59.49 47,222,160 7.54
11 - Final Pit 6,391,916 2.13 3.12 3.15 0.27 58.81 48,450,723 7.58
As shown in Table 16.6, a higher production rate of mineral diminishes the copper
grade and increases the stripping ratio, consequently increasing the amount of waste
rock. Figure 16.2 gives a graphic depiction of the results.
FIGURE 16.2 SENSITIVITY OF OPEN PIT OPTIMIZATION
Following the optimization, Cone 11 was selected as the base case for this study.

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OPEN PIT DESIGN

The final pit design was founded on the base case cone. The geometric, operational,
and geotechnical variables as well as the inclusion of a ramp, the bench height, and the
presence of berms were taken into account.
The design parameters are listed in Table 16.7. The width of the ramp is 12 m,
including the safety berms, which enables safe operation for 40-tonne trucks. The final
3D open pit design is shown in Figure 16.3, and the plan view is given in Figure 16.4.
TABLE 16.7 OPEN PIT DESIGN PARAMETERS
Design Parameters
Unit Value
Bench height m 6
Benches before berms n 1
Maximum ramp gradient % 10
Ramp width m 12
Total final slope
COVER (°) 43
RHYOLITE (°) 46
VMS (°) 43
BRECCIA (°) 43
GYPSUM (°) 43
BASALT (°) 43
GRAINSTONE (°) 43
TUFFS (°) 46
ANDESITE (°) 55
Bench Slope
COVER (°) 60
RHYOLITE (°) 60
VMS (°) 50
BRECCIA (°) 50
GYPSUM (°) 50
BASALT (°) 60
GRAINSTONE (°) 50
TUFFS (°) 60
ANDESITE (°) 60

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FIGURE 16.3 3D OPEN PIT VIEW
FIGURE 16.4 PIT DESIGN IN PLAN VIEW

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OPERATIVE CUTOFF GRADES

An operative cutoff of 1% Cu (equivalent) has been used for open pit mining purposes
which is approximately US$ 30 NSR.
RESOURCES WITH MINING POTENTIAL

BISA calculated the resources with mining potential that serve as a basis for the
production plan. In this plan, the resources (indicated + inferred) can be classifiedas
copper mineral 1,483,593 tonnes; zinc mineral 1,880,788 tonnes and mixed Cu/Zn
mineral 2,864,219 tonnes, for a total of 6,228,600 tonnes of mineral and 46,205,000
tonnes of waste rock (see ).
DILUTION AND LOSSES

For this preliminary stage, BISA considered 5% mining losses and 5% ore dilution,
which is permitted for this stage.
MINE PLAN
The production plan was designed to extract 2,000 tpd, approximately 700,000 tpy. At
this rate of production, the mine life is nine (9) years, and one (1) year of pre-production
(stripping). This plan complies with the new Ecuadorian mining regulations.
Table 16.9 shows the mine plan with the total
production from the three metallurgical mineral types as well as the waste rock
generated during the 10 years of open pit operation. shows the
production plan for ore sent to the processing plant. Figure 16.5 is a graphic
presentation of ore production by type.
STOCKPILE
For the first four years, the low-grade ore will be mined and stored in a stockpile close
to the processing plant, which will be further processed during the last five years of
mining operation. This stockpile will be made of materials other than the VMS.
.

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TABLE 16.8 BASE CASE — RESOURCES WITH MINING POTENTIAL
ORE CU ZN AU PB AG FE S NSR WASTE ROCK

MINERAL TYPE LITHOLOGY
(t) (%) (%) (g/t) (%) g/t (%) (%) ($/t) (t)
RHYOLITE 12,410 0.128 2.120 1.697 0.140 28.912 6.477 8.320 51.385
VMS 1,555,150 0.872 5.554 3.933 0.519 80.283 10.818 15.567 132.009
BRECCIA 71,841 0.380 2.427 0.601 0.141 30.806 3.446 5.317 40.808
GYPSUM 3,382 0.254 1.788 1.109 0.072 17.277 4.543 13.680 37.400
Zinc Mineral BASALT 6,416 0.184 1.576 1.034 0.120 19.255 7.039 5.393 34.922
GRAINSTONE 219,854 0.130 1.333 1.352 0.147 30.580 5.992 5.436 40.236
TUFFS 8,665 0.325 2.274 1.349 0.172 49.261 5.189 4.562 54.882
ANDESITE 3,070 0.130 1.516 1.088 0.221 9.182 4.883 4.323 32.360
TOTAL 1,880,788 0.753 4.878 3.456 0.454 71.764 9.859 13.805 116.259
RHYOLITE 9,387 1.165 1.539 1.679 0.017 37.173 8.287 11.079 79.696
VMS 2,418,124 3.194 3.914 4.023 0.321 80.871 14.630 21.526 202.160
BRECCIA 88,524 0.740 1.055 0.461 0.084 21.107 4.720 6.344 40.774
GYPSUM 8,963 1.005 1.150 0.648 0.031 12.033 4.854 13.310 49.793
Mixed Cu/Zn
BASALT 19,021 0.555 0.685 0.919 0.052 18.788 7.521 5.186 39.933
Mineral
GRAINSTONE 315,151 0.836 0.932 1.056 0.111 26.791 5.869 4.831 54.225
TUFFS 2,833 0.653 1.399 1.420 0.128 63.051 6.217 6.065 66.483
ANDESITE 2,216 0.725 1.203 0.618 0.036 15.904 5.586 5.171 41.817
TOTAL 2,864,219 2.828 3.466 3.545 0.287 73.083 13.237 19.022 179.150
RHYOLITE 920 1.366 0.079 1.812 0.150 8.351 8.455 11.575 74.643
VMS 1,219,882 2.841 0.226 2.171 0.027 12.225 21.857 32.382 143.377
BRECCIA 113,112 0.951 0.075 0.373 0.013 7.848 7.267 8.117 45.862
GYPSUM 21,357 0.930 0.074 0.374 0.008 2.465 4.374 16.651 44.399
Copper Mineral BASALT 6,966 0.658 0.083 0.728 0.019 4.406 8.002 6.589 34.979
GRAINSTONE 121,002 0.848 0.090 0.781 0.036 3.629 4.511 1.811 43.718
TUFFS 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
ANDESITE 354 0.560 0.093 1.014 0.033 4.519 7.073 7.764 32.667
TOTAL 1,483,593 2.496 0.201 1.898 0.027 11.035 18.975 27.621 125.946
Grand Total 6,228,600 2.1222 3.1143 3.1257 0.2754 57.9051 13.5839 19.4949 147.4870 46,205,000

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TABLE 16.9 DILUTED MINING PLAN
Diluted production plan Yea r -A 1 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Preprod Producción Grand

Mine to plant ore Months 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL
Total mine production
Copper Mineral t 179,550 179,550 179,550 179,550 139,650 139,650 139,650 129,675 12,269 1,279,094 1,279,094
Cu % 4.00 3.72 3.08 2.07 2.06 2.06 1.90 1.82 1.43 2.66 2.66
Zn % 0.31 0.20 0.25 0.16 0.19 0.19 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.21 0.21
Pb % 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03
Au g/t 3.30 2.57 1.83 1.68 1.79 1.79 1.78 1.75 1.43 2.09 2.09
Ag g/t 16.59 10.74 11.58 8.90 11.06 11.06 11.45 11.48 11.38 11.65 11.65
Fe % 23.14 23.16 21.50 19.98 19.72 19.72 19.12 18.88 17.07 20.79 20.79
S % 37.35 37.13 32.89 31.01 26.28 26.28 25.50 24.46 22.56 30.64 30.64
Mixed Mineral Cu/Zn t 319,200 319,200 319,200 319,200 269,325 269,325 269,325 219,450 143,441 2,447,666 2,447,666
Cu % 4.14 3.91 3.60 3.51 2.49 2.31 2.31 1.93 1.74 3.04 3.04
Zn % 4.84 4.55 4.15 4.44 3.23 2.92 2.92 2.73 2.42 3.73 3.73
Pb % 0.50 0.44 0.35 0.47 0.22 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.30 0.30
Au g/t 6.65 5.59 4.13 3.11 2.84 2.91 2.91 2.42 1.93 3.82 3.82
Ag g/t 118.79 118.66 118.48 83.88 54.48 45.14 45.14 38.60 35.45 78.82 78.82
Fe % 13.74 13.73 13.71 13.91 14.81 14.03 14.03 14.11 13.25 13.94 13.94
S % 23.09 21.92 20.31 20.50 20.87 19.40 19.40 19.48 17.86 20.55 20.55
Zinc Mineral t 199,500 199,500 199,500 199,500 159,600 159,600 159,600 169,575 61,646 1,508,021 1,508,021
Cu % 1.46 1.63 1.21 0.50 0.41 0.41 0.43 0.71 0.54 0.87 0.87
Zn % 8.02 7.98 6.88 4.12 3.72 3.72 3.71 4.63 4.16 5.44 5.44
Pb % 0.88 1.10 0.98 0.27 0.16 0.16 0.17 0.28 0.24 0.52 0.52
Au g/t 6.19 5.66 5.47 3.06 2.73 2.73 2.59 2.37 2.36 3.91 3.91
Ag g/t 168.15 185.92 135.73 34.44 25.93 25.93 25.11 33.20 28.72 82.41 82.41
Fe % 9.55 7.98 8.66 11.17 11.38 11.38 11.45 11.39 11.01 10.29 10.29
S % 17.77 14.24 14.59 14.87 14.80 14.80 14.78 14.16 13.97 14.99 14.99
Total ore t - 698,250 698,250 698,250 698,250 568,575 568,575 568,575 518,700 217,355 - 5,234,780 5,234,780
StockPile t 129,675 129,675 129,675 179,550 409,673 978,248 978,248
Cu % 0.87 0.58 0.63 0.60 0.62 0.64 0.64
Zn % 0.87 0.67 0.70 1.09 1.04 0.93 0.93
Pb % 0.88 0.92 0.82 0.59 1.08 0.91 0.91
Au g/t 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.11 0.09 0.09
Ag g/t 25.61 16.08 15.86 19.59 27.27 22.65 22.65
Fe % 6.05 5.85 5.75 4.78 5.44 5.50 5.50
S % 6.43 5.40 5.76 5.76 4.79 5.40 5.40
Total StockPile t - - - - - 129,675 129,675 129,675 179,550 409,673 - 978,248 978,248
Production plan mine to plant t 698,250 698,250 698,250 698,250 698,250 698,250 698,250 698,250 627,029 - 6,213,029 6,213,029
Cu % 3.34 3.21 2.78 2.28 1.63 1.51 1.49 1.27 0.88 2.06 2.06
Zn % 4.58 4.41 3.93 3.25 2.30 2.14 2.14 2.29 1.65 2.98 2.98
Pb % 0.49 0.52 0.44 0.30 0.29 0.27 0.25 0.27 0.76 0.39 0.39
Au g/t 5.66 4.83 3.92 2.73 2.09 2.12 2.09 1.68 0.77 2.90 2.90
Ag g/t 106.61 110.13 95.92 50.47 33.91 28.53 28.38 27.36 28.98 57.02 57.02
Fe % 14.96 14.51 14.27 14.69 13.38 13.04 12.92 11.94 8.00 13.14 13.14
S % 25.23 23.64 21.91 21.59 17.88 17.12 17.03 15.58 9.03 18.89 18.89
Overburden t 5,000,000 5,702,000 5,702,000 5,702,000 5,702,000 5,701,750 4,301,750 4,301,750 3,001,750 1,105,572 5,000,000 41,220,572 46,220,572
Stripping ratio t/t 8.17 8.17 8.17 8.17 8.17 6.16 6.16 4.30 1.76 6.63 7.44

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TABLE 16.10 MINERAL PRODUCTION PLAN FOR PROCESSING
Diluted mining plan Year -Y1 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Pre-prod Production Grand

Months 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL
Diluted Cooper Mineral production t 179,550 179,550 179,550 179,550 139,650 139,650 139,650 129,675 12,269 1,279,094 1,279,094
Cu % 4.00 3.72 3.08 2.07 2.06 2.06 1.90 1.82 1.43 2.66 2.66
Zn % 0.31 0.20 0.25 0.16 0.19 0.19 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.21 0.21
Pb % 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03
Au g/t 3.30 2.57 1.83 1.68 1.79 1.79 1.78 1.75 1.43 2.09 2.09
Ag g/t 16.59 10.74 11.58 8.90 11.06 11.06 11.45 11.48 11.38 11.65 11.65
Fe % 23.14 23.16 21.50 19.98 19.72 19.72 19.12 18.88 17.07 20.79 20.79
S % 37.35 37.13 32.89 31.01 26.28 26.28 25.50 24.46 22.56 30.64 30.64
Diluted Mixed Cu/Zn Mineral production t 319,200 319,200 319,200 319,200 269,325 269,325 269,325 219,450 143,441 2,447,666 2,447,666
Cu % 4.14 3.91 3.60 3.51 2.49 2.31 2.31 1.93 1.74 3.04 3.04
Zn % 4.84 4.55 4.15 4.44 3.23 2.92 2.92 2.73 2.42 3.73 3.73
Pb % 0.50 0.44 0.35 0.47 0.22 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.30 0.30
Au g/t 6.65 5.59 4.13 3.11 2.84 2.91 2.91 2.42 1.93 3.82 3.82
Ag g/t 118.79 118.66 118.48 83.88 54.48 45.14 45.14 38.60 35.45 78.82 78.82
Fe % 13.74 13.73 13.71 13.91 14.81 14.03 14.03 14.11 13.25 13.94 13.94
S % 23.09 21.92 20.31 20.50 20.87 19.40 19.40 19.48 17.86 20.55 20.55
Diluted Zinc Mineral production t 199,500.0 199,500.0 199,500.0 199,500.0 159,600.0 159,600.0 159,600.0 169,575.0 61,645.5 1,508,021 1,508,021
Cu % 1.46 1.63 1.21 0.50 0.41 0.41 0.43 0.71 0.54 0.87 0.87
Zn % 8.02 7.98 6.88 4.12 3.72 3.72 3.71 4.63 4.16 5.44 5.44
Pb % 0.88 1.10 0.98 0.27 0.16 0.16 0.17 0.28 0.24 0.52 0.52
Au g/t 6.19 5.66 5.47 3.06 2.73 2.73 2.59 2.37 2.36 3.91 3.91
Ag g/t 168.15 185.92 135.73 34.44 25.93 25.93 25.11 33.20 28.72 82.41 82.41
Fe % 9.55 7.98 8.66 11.17 11.38 11.38 11.45 11.39 11.01 10.29 10.29
S % 17.77 14.24 14.59 14.87 14.80 14.80 14.78 14.16 13.97 14.99 14.99
Diluted stockpile material t 99,750 99,750 99,750 99,750 129,675 129,675 129,675 179,550 10,673 978,248 978,248
Cu % 0.52 0.66 0.65 0.65 0.87 0.58 0.63 0.60 0.58 0.64 0.64
Zn % 0.95 1.20 1.10 0.92 0.87 0.67 0.70 1.09 1.08 0.93 0.93
Pb % 1.14 1.15 1.09 1.00 0.88 0.92 0.82 0.59 0.49 0.91 0.91
Au g/t 0.14 0.12 0.11 0.09 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.09 0.09
Ag g/t 24.84 31.82 29.02 24.31 25.61 16.08 15.86 19.59 18.93 22.65 22.65
Fe % 5.00 5.54 5.60 5.72 6.05 5.85 5.75 4.78 4.50 5.50 5.50
S % 4.89 4.89 4.61 4.67 6.43 5.40 5.76 5.76 5.86 5.40 5.40
Total ore production t 798,000 798,000 798,000 798,000 698,250 698,250 698,250 698,250 228,029 6,213,029 6,213,029
Diluted waste rock production t 5,000,000 5,702,000 5,702,000 5,702,000 5,702,000 5,701,750 4,301,750 4,301,750 3,001,750 1,105,572 5,000,000 41,220,572 46,220,572
Stripping ratio t/t 7.15 7.15 7.15 7.15 8.17 6.16 6.16 4.30 4.85 6.63 7.44

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FIGURE 16.5 ANNUAL MINING PLAN
EQUIPMENT LIST
The requirements for mining equipment were based on annual mining production,
estimated effective operating time (uptime), and the productivity of the equipment. The
size and type of equipment are consistent with the project scope:
- Initial work and construction of access roads to the mine and crusher, stockpile,
and waste rock dump
- First year of stripping (pre-production)
- Transport of ore or waste rock to the plant, stockpile, and waste rock dump
- Maintenance of open pit working areas, internal and external access roads, etc
- Waste rock dumps and stockpile
- Construction of infrastructure
A summary of the proposed equipment is detailed in Table 16.11.

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TABLE 16.11 MINING EQUIPMENT FLEET
YEAR -Y1 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9
Main Equipment
Ore trucks - Volvo FMX84R - 20 m3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
Ore excavators - CAT 365 - 3.8 m3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Overburden trucks - Volvo FMX84R -20 m3 7 8 8 8 8 8 9 7 6 3
Overburden excavator - CAT 365- 3.8 m3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1
Drills - ROC L8 - 4 1/2" 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
Front end loader - 966 CAT - 3.6 m3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
Bulldozer - D8R - 11.8 m3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1
Grader - CAT 140H - 3.7m3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Water tanker - 15900 - 15 m3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Auxilliary Equipment
Service truck 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Production truck - anfo+emulsion - 13.5 t 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Bobcat - 1.7 m3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Pick-up 4x4 Domo 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2
Pick-up 4x4 Contractor 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Pick-up 4x4 Sampling 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Personnel bus 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
Pump 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Lighting 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 4
Total 34 45 45 45 45 45 46 44 39 29
DRILLING AND BLASTING

The drilling equipment considered is the ROC L8 (sized in accordance with the
properties of the ore and the waste rock), which is capable of drilling holes of up to 4½"
in diameter. 20% of overdrilling will be applied to the final height of each bench
extracted.
LOADING AND TRANSPORT

Blasted material will be loaded with CAT365 excavators and hauled with Volvo
FMX84R trucks with a 20 m3 capacity.
DESIGN OF WASTE ROCK DUMP

The waste rock dump lies south of the open pit (see Table 16.12 for the design
parameters).

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TABLE 16.12 WASTE ROCK DUMP DESIGN PARAMETERS
Design Parameters Unit Amount

3
Dry waste rock density t/m 1.8
Overall slope 1.5H:1V
Maximum waste dump elevation masl 920
Waste dump removal area of influence ha 75.44
Volume of waste dump Mm3 33.01
3
Volume of containment dyke m 18,800
Waste rock weight Mt 59.42

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FIGURE 16.6 WASTE ROCK DUMP FINAL BOUNDARY
The cost estimate considers a sub-drainage system that discharges seepage water to a
seepage collection pond. Surface drainage includes the installation of collection
channels on the perimeter of the waste rock dumps, and crest channels to capture
rainwater, thus minimizing water entry into the waste rock dumps. The construction of a
containment dyke is also considered in the design.

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MINING EQUIPMENT UPTIME

Mine operation system consists of 2 shifts per day and 350 effective operating days per
year. A shift is assumed to be 12 hours and includes:
- 1 hour non-operational delays (shift change, lunch hours)
- 3 hours operational delays (equipment maintenance, shutdowns, and other
unplanned delays)
The net productive operating time is 952 min/day or 5,556 hours/year. Table 16.13
shows the distribution of planned hours and uptime hours used in calculating
productivity and equipment requirements.
TABLE 16.13 UPTIME PER DAY
Description Unit Quantity

Scheduled time per shift min 720
Travel time/shift change/blasting min 20
Equipment inspection min 10
Lunch/breaks min 40
Fuelling, lubrication, and servicing min 15
Net uptime scheduled min 635
Work efficiency (45 min of productive time per hour measured) 0.75
Net uptime per shift min 476
Work days per year day 350
Shifts per day 2
Hours/shift h 12
Net uptime per day min 952.5
Net uptime per year h 5,556
The mechanical availability and use of loading and hauling equipment are estimated at
85% and 88%, respectively. Therefore, net usage will be on the order of 75%.

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ANCILLARY MINE FACILITIES

Mine services include the following activities and equipment for:
- Maintenance of roads and dumps

- Power
- Lighting
The mine will be in operation 24 hours per day except during blasting. Adequate lighting
will be required during the night shifts for drilling, loading, and hauling activities as well
as for the access and haul roads.
The proposed ancillary equipment consists of:
- Front end loader

- Bulldozer
- Grader
- Water tanker
- Service truck
- Production truck
- Bobcat
- 4x4 Pick-up
- Personnel bus
- Floodlights
The ancillary equipment, such as front end loaders, should serve as support equipment
for the excavators. The bulldozers are necessary for dump maintenance and road
development. Graders and water tankers will be used for road construction and
maintenance. Fuel tanks must be available for the mining equipment in each sector.

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MINING CONTRACTOR
Salazar has indicated that the future mining operation will be run by a contractor, which
they will supervise. This is a standard procedure worldwide. The contract will be fully
inclusive, with the contractor providing the appropriate personnel, mining equipment,
support facilities, and infrastructure to achieve the mining objectives.
The contractor's field of operation shall include the following items:
- Mobilization/Demobilization
- Drilling and blasting
- Loading and hauling
- Mine services
Loading and hauling includes the cost of facilities, among which are the gas stations,
fuel tanks, truck maintenance, and other items related to loading and hauling
processes. These costs should also include road construction and maintenance. The
mining equipment investment and operating costs are included in the contractor's
operating costs.

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UNDERGROUND MINE
The eastern mineral deposit (Eastern Sector) is about 250 metres below the surface,
extending from 910 masl to 750 masl. This deposit has two main lenses and several
secondary lenses, which have been grouped into four main orebodies (see Figure
16.7).
North Orebody
West
East Orebody
South Orebody
FIGURE 16.7 UNDERGROUND MINERALIZED LENSES

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The chamber-and-pillar method is suggested for mining this deposit below the andesite
unit. The method involves opening a gallery the length of the ore lens, off which multiple
production areas or chambers will be opened, leaving intact areas to serve as pillars to
bear the vertical load and thus prevent collapse of the crown. For this project, pillar
sizes were estimated at 4.0 x 4.0 metres. Since the use of pillars involves more ore loss
than other methods, the pillars should be located in lower-grade areas as much as
possible.
MINERAL RESOURCES ANALYSIS

The mineral resource analysis for underground mining used an NSR (Net Smelter
Return) cutoff of US$40 per tonne, considering the solid resulting from using this
restriction in the block model. To calculate the NSR value, BISA has taken into account
the same Metal Unit Values of one percent grade for copper, zinc, and lead, of one
gram grade for gold, and of one ounce for silver assumed for the open pit analysis
(Tabla 16.1)
The total mineral resources (indicated + inferred) were divided into three mineral types
according to the Cu/(Zn+Pb) ratio: zinc mineral (Cu/(Zn+Pb):[0-0.3>), mixed Cu/Zn
mineral (Cu/(Zn+Pb): [0.3-3]), and copper mineral (Cu/(Zn+Pb):>3). These types
reported totals of 2,064,787 tonnes of mineral with an average NSR of 127.37 US$/t.
Table 16.14 shows resource details for each mineral type.
TABLE 16.14 RESOURCES BY MINERAL TYPE
Tonnage NSR Cu Zn Au Pb Ag Fe S
Mineral Type
(t) ($/t) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%)
Cooper Mineral 1,042,241 140.03 2.96 0.16 0.97 0.03 9.68 16.67 23
Mixed Cu/Zn Mineral 744,739 122.62 2.32 2.65 1.4 0.12 59.5 14.17 20.06
Zinc Mineral 277,807 92.59 0.77 4.39 2.04 0.34 72.98 11.05 16.9
Overall Total 2,064,787 127.37 2.44 1.63 1.27 0.1 36.17 15.01 21.12
All resources were sorted by accessibility, and resources in isolated zones between the
main orebodies (primarily north and west) were considered inaccessible.

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DESIGN PARAMETERS AND CRITERIA

The underground mineral resource comprises several orebodies of variable dip (mainly
0°–20°). The mineralized lenses lie beneath the andesite dome, which has good
geomechanical properties, therefore favouring optimal use of the chamber-and-pillar
method. In addition, since this method is highly versatile, it can be adapted to the areas
where the orebody dips more steeply.
The mine design plans for a main ramp (cross-section of 4.8 m x 5.3 m), with a gradient of -
12% on straight sections and -10% on curves (with a curve radius of 20 m).
For secondary ramps, the gradient is +15% with a cross-section of 3.0 x 3.0 m,
dimensions suitable only for scoops and jumbos.
The gallery design plans for a cross-section of 3.0 x 3.0 m. Subsequently, these works
will be scaled by 1 m on each drift wall to reach a final cross-section of 5.0 x 3.0
metres. This will create a pillar width of 4 m, as shown in Figure 14.8**.
3m PILLAR 3m
FIGURE 16.8 CHAMBERS AND PILLARS — CROSS SECTION
Table 16.15 shows the advance rates per heading according to the mining schedule.
TABLE 16.15 UNDERGROUND DEVELOPMENT — ADVANCE RATES
Activity Rate
Main ramp (4.5x4.8) 120 m/month
Secondary ramp (3x3) 90 m/month
Exploratory cross-cut (4.5X4.8) 120 m/month
Cross-cut (3x3) 120 m/month
Gallery (3x3) 100 m/month
Shaft RB (Ø 3m) 160 m/month
Ore cleaning 2,970 t/month
3
Backfill 350 m /day

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MINE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

The following conditions were taken as requirements for the mine design: design outside the
lower-grade lithologies, such as gypsum and breccia, and preferred development in andesite.
BISA has proposed three topographic points for the mine entrance and also requested
design of an exploratory level above the central orebodies. Consequently, the point at
950 m was chosen for the main mine entrance. From this entrance, BISA designed a
main ramp over 2 km long that forks at the 879-m elevation, which allows deepening for
mining and opening the exploratory cross-cut, which will extend to the farthest orebody
to facilitate its mining.
The main ramp is 4.5 x 4.8 m in cross-section and descends at a gradient of -12%. It is
located on the central axis relative to the orebodies and has a favourable lithology for
mining. Cross-cuts will be dug out from the ramp to access the orebodies. From the
cross-cuts, drifts with a gradient of -15% will be opened, from which mining the
orebody, level by level, with the chamber-and-pillar method will follow. This will
basically consist of a main gallery central to the orebody, from which chambers will be
opened and pillars left to serve as weight-bearing columns for the host rock.
Access to the first orebody begins 500 m from the start of the ramp, at elevation 890 m,
via a cross-cut, from which the orebody will be mined by drifts and galleries.
At a depth of 790 m from the main ramp, a cross-cut will be opened to mine the south
orebody through another ramp. This secondary ramp will have a cross-section of 3.0 x
3.0 m, therefore only allowing entry to scoops and jumbos.
Six shafts have been designed for ventilation, services, and auxiliary or secondary
personnel exits. The design includes details such as draw points (also serving as safety
bays) and sumps.

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FIGURE 16.9 UNDERGROUND MINE DESIGN
RESOURCES WITH MINING POTENTIAL

BISA calculated the resources with underground mining potential that serve as a basis
for the production plan. First, the inaccessible mineral resources were substracted
since the solid produced with an NSR of over US$40 per tonne gave isolated
structures. This represents 2.6% of the total resource volume.
Then the available resources were recalculated using a recovery rate of 80% with the
applied method, which involves leaving natural pillars for support. A total of 1,608,100
tonnes of resources was obtained with grades of 2.41% Cu and 1.59% Zn.
TABLE 16.16 UNDERGROUND RESOURCES WITH MINING POTENTIAL
Mineral Type Tonnes (t) Cu (%) Zn (%) Pb (%) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Fe (%)
Copper Mineral 828,972 2.87 0.16 0.02 9.51 0.95 16.42

Mixed Cu/Zn Mineral 569,180 2.32 2.65 0.11 58.27 1.39 14.24
Zinc Mineral 209,947 0.79 4.40 0.33 73.11 2.03 11.13
Total 1,608,100 2.41 1.59 0.09 35.07 1.25 14.96

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UNDERGROUND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

A detailed underground development program was prepared based on the production
requirements, resulting in 8,971 metres, which includes horizontal and vertical
development. A summary of the total length by work type is shown in Table 16.17.

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TABLE 16.17 UNDERGROUND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Material Type of Development Type of Work Y9 Y10 Y11 Y12 Y13 Y14 Total
Crosscut 880 867 106 64 69 70 2,056
Horizontal Ramp (-) 1,475 1,068 2,543
development Ramp(+) 206 114 320
Waste rock Crosscut Pivot 30 203 90 60 90 60 533
Shaft 226 7 233
Vertical development
Raise Bore 576 565 1,141
Subtotal 2,355 2,141 220 64 69 70 6,826
Horizontal Gallery 60 482 485 501 271 346 2,145
Ore
Subtotal 60 482 485 501 271 346 2,145
Total 2,445 2,826 795 625 430 476 8,971

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UNDERGROUND PRODUCTION PROGRAM

The production program was designed to mine 1,000 tpd, within the range of medium-
scale underground mining legislation in Ecuador. The program was designed considering
the mineral types and production advances and stoping.
TABLE 16.18 UNDERGROUND PRODUCTION PROGRAM BY MINERAL TYPE
Mineral Type Variables Units Y9 Y10 Y11 Y12 Y13 Y14 Total
Ton t 1,902 39,640 34,154 31,026 96,724 25,031 228,477

Cu % 0.32 0.49 0.87 0.6 0.74 0.75 0.69
Zn % 3.38 3.28 3.34 3.54 4.13 4.73 3.84
Zinc Mineral Pb % 0.48 0.33 0.13 0.13 0.36 0.32 0.29
Ag g/t 35.07 48.08 62.32 44.51 82.18 46.53 63.88
Au g/t 1.37 1.31 1.34 1.27 2.34 1.57 1.77
Fe % 11.3 11 9.98 10.78 8.56 10.41 9.72
Ton t 1,652 107,231 141,077 164,010 130,749 74,984 619,703
Cu % 1.91 2.07 2.37 1.96 1.84 1.79 2.03
Zn % 2.18 2.63 2.38 1.97 2.47 2.19 2.31
Mixed Cu/Zn
Pb % 0.41 0.22 0.07 0.04 0.08 0.1 0.09
Mineral
Ag g/t 58.83 59.85 57.56 45.74 46.44 44.39 50.89
Au g/t 1.3 1.14 1.22 1.17 1.28 1.26 1.21
Fe % 11.79 11.29 13.79 12.36 12.25 12.03 12.44
Ton t 357 120,619 216,804 196,939 165,270 203,034 903,023
Cu % 1.75 2.55 2.37 2.09 2.01 3.42 2.50
Zn % 0.14 0.1 0.11 0.15 0.13 0.17 0.13
Cooper
Pb % 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.02
Mineral
Ag g/t 13.66 8.24 8.39 8.11 7.95 8.7 8.30
Au g/t 1.29 0.87 0.82 0.76 0.78 0.91 0.83
Fe % 18.55 15.78 14.62 12.88 13.79 14.97 14.32

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FIGURE 16.10 UNDERGROUND PRODUCTION PROGRAM BY MINERAL TYPE
TABLE 16.19 UNDERGROUND PRODUCTION PROGRAM
Type of Work Variables Units Y9 Y10 Y11 Y12 Y13 Y14
Ton t 2,294 255,045 378,530 376,547 384,854 293,552

Cu % 1.07 2.1 2.28 1.94 1.63 2.87
Zn % 2.46 1.57 1.21 1.16 1.88 1.05
Stoping Pb % 0.39 0.14 0.04 0.03 0.12 0.08
Ag g/t 41.17 34.44 31.1 26.58 38.11 20.98
Au g/t 1.27 1.05 1.03 0.97 1.31 1.07
Fe % 11.6 13.5 14.1 12.6 11.9 14.1
Ton t 1,619 12,445 13,505 15,429 7,888 9,497
Cu % 1.19 1.21 1.16 1.53 2.15 0.63
Zn % 2.74 1.84 1.25 1.67 2.8 1.1
Development Work Pb % 0.44 0.2 0.01 0.07 0.21 0.08
Ag g/t 45.96 42.88 21.77 30.57 84.73 10.64
Au g/t 1.42 0.86 0.56 1.02 2.33 0.49
Fe % 13 7.7 7.7 11.1 16.5 5.2
Ton t 3,912 267,490 392,035 391,976 392,742 303,049
Cu % 1.12 2.06 2.24 1.92 1.64 2.8
Zn % 2.58 1.59 1.21 1.18 1.9 1.05
Total Underground
Pb % 0.41 0.15 0.04 0.04 0.12 0.08
Production
Ag g/t 43.15 34.83 30.78 26.73 39.04 20.65
Au g/t 1.33 1.04 1.01 0.97 1.33 1.05
Fe % 12.2 13.3 13.9 12.5 12 13.9

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FIGURE 16.11 UNDERGROUND PRODUCTION PROGRAM BY TYPE OF WORK
LIST OF EQUIPMENT
The requirements and replacement of mine equipment are based on annual mine
production, development and preparation programs, and on the productivity and
availability of the equipment required. The size and type of equipment are in accordance
with the working dimensions (see Table 16.20). The mining equipment will be used for the
following activities:
- Preparation work: Building mine access points and a portal to the mine area, a
crusher, a stockpile, and a waste rock dump.
- Pre-production for the first year and then operation and development.
- Development and production work: Drilling, ventilation, support, haulage, and
personnel transport.
- Ore transport to the plant or stockpile and waste rock transport to the dump.
- Maintenance of internal and external access roads.

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TABLE 16.20 UNDERGROUND MINE EQUIPMENT FLEET
Responsibility Equipment Y8 Y9 Y10 Y11 Y12 Y13 Y14

Pick-up 4 x 4 2 4 4 4 4 4 4
Fans 0 1 2 2 2 2
Stationary pumps 0 2 2 2 2 2
Submersible pumps 1 2 2 2 2 2
Jumbo Boomer 281 2 3 3 3 3 3
Main Scooptram 4 yd³ 2 4 4 4 4 4
Truck Volvo FMX 84r 15 m³ 1 2 4 4 4 4 3
Jackleg drill 4 6 6 6 6 6
Aliva 246 1 1 1 1 1 1
Contractor Boltec 235 1 1 1 1 1 1
Personnel transport bus 1 1 1 1 1 1
Auxiliary
Service truck 1 1 1 1 1 1
Compressor 1 1 1 1 1 1
Water tanker 1 1 1 1 1 1
Pick-up 4x4 2 2 2 2 2 2
UNDERGROUND MINING OPERATIONS

DRILLING AND BLASTING
The development and production drilling equipment consists of a Boomer 281 that will drill
at a diameter of 51 mm and 14 feet in length for 4.8 x 5.3 m sections and 12 feet in length
for 3.0 x 3.0 m sections. This equipment has been selected based on characteristics such
as the ore type, waste rock, and working dimensions. In addition, the ventilation shafts will
be raised with Raise Borer equipment with a diameter of 3 m, and the service shafts will be
drilled conventionally.
Emulsion will be used as the blasting agent and carmex as a blasting accessory. Pre-split
blasting will be used for greater control over the roof crown in order to reduce damage to
the rock mass blasted out. This will decrease the exposure time of staff and equipment
during preparation and reinforcement work.
REINFORCEMENT
A Boltec bolter will be used for reinforcement with rock bolts and mesh, shotcrete
reinforcement will use an Aliva wet-mix shotcreting machine, and poor-quality rock will be

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shored with formwork. Additional geotechnical studies will be needed to expand on the
reinforcement requirements.
LOADING AND HAULING

Blasted material will be hauled in 4 yd3 Scooptrams from the production works to the
stacking chambers and then loaded into 15 m3 dump trucks. The dump trucks will be
loaded in the stacking chambers, which will be located along the ramp and at the exit to
production works. From these points, the material will be hauled to the processing plant or
the waste rock dump.
BACKFILL
The project considers the construction of a surface plant for paste backfill to supply the
mine. The paste backfill will be pumped from the surface to the production workings by
pipes.
The paste plant will have a capacity of 350 m3/d, which will be used to backfill the empty
spaces produced by the operation, thus preventing the collapse of adjacent workings and,
in turn, allowing the orebody to be mined upwards in steeply dipping zones.
MINING
Mining of the orebodies will be carried out by the chamber-and-pillar method with
ascending backfill. As can be seen in Figure 16.9, the production zone is divided into four
orebodies: North, West, South, and East. This method is suitable due to the layout of the
orebodies in a nearly horizontal plane as a result of their geomechanical properties.
To mine the North, West, and East orebodies, crosscuts will be made from the base of the
main ramp towards the orebodies, from which drifts will be opened to reach the base of the
mineralized zones (see Figure 16.9).
When the drifts reach the base of the orebodies, main galleries will be opened around
them for lateral workings opposite the direction of dip. These will in turn be connected with
each other by workings parallel to the main gallery. Due to the slight dip of the structure,
the ore does not flow by gravity. Consequently, it will have to be hauled to the stacking
chambers so it can be loaded onto dump trucks and hauled to the processing plant.
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Figure 16.14 shows each crosscut with its respective drift assigned to each mining area,
represented in distinctive colours.
Once each zone has been mined, paste backfill will be used to stabilize the surrounding
rock and continue mining higher levels. The pillars created in the lower levels will continue
up through successive levels, thereby increasing the stability of the host rock.
FIGURE 16.12 CHAMBER-AND-PILLAR MINING METHOD LAYOUT
In the South orebody, the main ramp will reach to 750 m and be used solely for extraction.
A secondary ramp will start from this level (cross-section of 3.0 x 3.0 m), designed to
access the South orebody by scoops, jumbos, and personnel. The orebody will be mined
by the chamber-and-pillar method with ascending backfill, the same as for the North, East,
and West orebodies. The scoops will haul muck to the orepasses remuck bays on the
ramp, which reach down to the extraction level. The ore is then hauled by dump trucks.

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FIGURE 16.13 UNDERGROUND MINING AREAS
FIGURE 16.14 CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN UNDERGROUND MINING ZONES

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UNDERGROUND MINE INFRASTRUCTURE

The project facilities will be built in several stages in accordance with the mine's
development plan. The installations to build at the start of the project will optimize the
mining works as well as the proper course of environmental activities.
TABLE 16.21 UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure
Preliminary activities building the entrance platform and mine entrance
Access to raise on the surface
Concrete slab for Raise Bore
Electrical substations inside mine
Paste backfill plant
Equipment Maintenance and Heavy Equipment Workshop inside mine
Lamp room
Mine dining rooms
Magazine
Explosives accessory magazine
Electrical installations inside mine
Mine services installations
EPCM (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Management)
WASTE ROCK DUMP

The waste rock dump is described in the open pit chapter. The same waste dump will be
used for a waste rock production of 270,904 tonnes for the life of the underground mine.
MINE SERVICES
VENTILATION
BISA's experience dictates that a production of 1,000 tpd would need 270,000 cfm of
fresh air pumped into it. Air simulations with the Ventsim application showed that the
mine's resistance is approximately 0.04217 Ns2/m8. Consequently, nearly 150 kW of power
is needed for the mine's main ventilation.
MAINTENANCE
For maintenance a workshop has been considered inside the mine with the necessary
facilities for this type of work. This would provide good equipment availability for the
operation.

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ANCILLARY SERVICES
Mine ancillary services consider a piping network for the appropriate distribution of drilling
water and compressed air. A piping network is also envisaged for pumping water out of the
mine.

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17. RECOVERY METHODS

Based on the results of the metallurgical tests reported in Chapter 13, a possible scenario for
processing the ore from the El Domo deposit has been outlined. This process selection is
preliminary and may be subject to change based on the results of future metallurgical studies as
the project progresses.The results of metallurgical tests indicate that conventional flotation
technology can be used to treat the ore from El Domo. The flowsheet includes a coarse primary
grind, bulk sulphide flotation, flotation of a rougher bulk Cu/Zn concentrate, concentrate
regrinding, and selective Cu/Zn flotation.
The preliminary process selection considers the following stages:

 A circuit of crushing, grinding, and classification that would include an intermediate stockpile
to feed the grinding and classification circuit. Due to clay in the ores, only a primary crusher
would be used to avoid problems entailed in the transport of fine, wet material. The grinding
circuit would be made up of a SAG or rod mill, a ball mill, and a nest of cyclones.
 The product from grinding and classification would be sent to the Cu/Zn flotation plant, which
would consist of a sulphide flotation circuit, a rougher bulk Cu/Zn flotation circuit, a
regrinding circuit, a Cu/Zn bulk cleaner circuit, and a Cu/Zn separation circuit.
 The tailings from the sulphide flotation and the rougher bulk tailings would each be sent to a
different thickener and then to their final locations. The copper and zinc concentrates would
be sent to different thickeners and filter presses, stored, and then transported to third-party
smelters as final concentrates.
The inclusion of a copper-lead separation circuit for ores containing a high lead head grade
should be studied in the next phase of testwork.
A simplified process flow diagram is shown in Figure 17.1.

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Mineral ROM
Crushing
Raw Water
Grinding
Tailings 1 – No Sulphide
Sulphide Flotation Thickening Tailings 1 Tailings Management 1
Bulk Rougher Flotation 1 Regrinding_1 Bulk Rougher Flotation 2 Thickening Tailings 2
Regrinding_2 Tailings 2 - Sulphide

Tailings Management 2
Bulk Cleaner Flotation
Separation Cu - Zn Filtration Zn Concentrate Zn
Filtration Cu
Concentrate Cu
FIGURE 17.1 PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM

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18. PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE

As part of the PEA (Preliminary Economic Assessment), BISA designed alternative layouts
for the surface structures of the El Domo deposit, which included: tailings dams, waste
rock dumps, a topsoil deposit, a processing plant platform, a facilities platform, a water
supply system, a tailings driving system, an electrical supply system, and alternative road
access to the mine.
To evaluate the surface structures at this stage, a production of 2,000 tpd has been
considered. BISA conducted a reconnaissance evaluation of the area, taking into account
the terrain morphology, the basin and/or stream structure and its topographical features,
the existence of borrow materials, surface water runoff, and geological-geotechnical
hazards.
GENERAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ALTERNATIVES

DESIGN CRITERIA
Design criteria refers to the preliminary operational data taken into account for the
geometry and layout of the tailings dams, waste rock dumps, topsoil deposit, facilities
platform, processing plant platform, and accessibility to the mining area.
The most important parameters considered are:
Average tailings production 2,000 tpd

Estimated tailings production 10 Mt
Estimated waste rock 30 Mt
Specific gravity of ore 3.7
Type of tailings Pulp
Type of dam Granular and rip rap
Upstream and downstream slope 1.5H:1V – 2.0H:1V
Potentially acidic tailings Yes
Impermeabilization of tailings dam Simple textured
geomembrane
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Overall slope of waste rock dump 2.5H:1V

Drainage and sub-drainage system Yes
Infiltration-collection pond Yes
Overall slope of topsoil dump 5.0H:1V
Monitoring pond Yes
Access roads — driving surface width 6m
Access roads — maximum gradient 12%
Access roads — turning radius 30 m
Land area for facilities 1.95 ha
Land area for processing plant (includes expansion) 4.0 ha
LOCATION OF ALTERNATIVE SURFACE STRUCTURES

The design comprises seven (7) tailings dams alternatives, five (5) alternative waste rock
dumps, two (2) topsoil deposit alternatives, three (3) alternatives for the processing plant,
and four (4) facility alternatives (Figure 18.1).
The mineral deposit and the surface structures are mostly in the Las Naves Canton, with
the exception of tailings dam alternatives 2A, 2B, and 2C, which are located in the
Echeandía Canton.
The locations of the assessed alternatives close to the project site are between 900 and
1,000 masl, whereas alternatives 2A, 2B, and 2C are 350 to 400 masl.

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FIGURE 18.1 ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS OF MAIN STRUCTURES

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HYDROLOGICAL EVALUATION
The hydrological study has examined the physiography of the watershed and its hydro-
meteorological regime. The analyses were based on pluviometric information provided by
the client and distributed by INAMHI-Ecuador (National Institute for Meteorology and
Hydrology). This study can be found in the technical report by BISA, Hydrological Study IT-
1122MI0001A-000-00-001.
LOCATIONS OF TAILINGS DAM ALTERNATIVES

Seven (7) alternative locations for tailings dams have been considered. For the purposes
of this exercise, an operation of 360 days a year and an average tailings production of
2,000 tpd have been considered.
Table 18.1 shows the geometric data and estimated volumes for the alternative tailings
dams.

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TABLE 18.1 SIZE AND VOLUME OF TAILINGS DAMS ALTERNATIVES
TAILINGS DAMS ALTERNATIVES
DESCRIPTION 1 2C 3B
2A 2B 3A 4
Initial Final Initial Final Initial Final
stage stage stage stage stage stage
Maximum height of dam (m) 30 76 49 68 19 52 60 40 62 100
Tailings discharge slope 1%
Length of dam 01 (m) 171 608 290 642 447 279 208 635
Length of dam 02 (m) 308 500
Highest point of dam (masl) 925 970 395 403 370 370 700 685 708 925
Dam slope 1.50H:1.0V and 2.0H:1.0V
Crest width (m) 8.00 m
Basin excavation in the tailings dam

for extracting dam-filling material 0.32 0.28 0.09 0.55 0.03 0.14 0.06 1.23
(Mm³)
Volume of dam 01 (Mm ³) 0.32 3.02 0.47 2.75 0.15 0.71 0.29 6.13
Volume of dam 02 (Mm³) 0.27 0.99
Tailings dam 01 area of influence (ha) 6.34 19.12 10.34 28.05 10.00 22.71 8.16 4.44 9.41 24.84
Tailings dam 02 area of influence (ha) 0.79 8.18
Volume of tailings dam 01 (Mm³) 0.98 6.46 1.74 6.56 0.34 6.83 1.59 0.59 3.02 8.08
Volume of tailings dam 02 (Mm³) 0.28 2.03
Weight of tailings (Mt) 2.03 13.58 2.79 10.50 0.55 10.93 2.55 0.94 4.83 12.93
Lifetime (years) 281 18.66 3.88 14.58 0.76 15.18 3,54 1.30 6.71 17.96
Efficiency ratio (vol. tailings/dam ) 2.15 2.12 3.75 2.39 2.24 1.32
Mm³: Million cubic metres, Mt: Million metric tons, ha: hectares, masl: metres above sea level

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ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR WASTE ROCK DUMPS

Five (5) alternative locations for waste rock dumps have been planned, considering a
production of 16.67 Mm³. BISA recommends alternative 1A from a technical point of view.
Table 18.2 shows the geometric characteristics and the estimated volumes for the
alternative waste rock dumps.
TABLE 18.2 VOLUME AND GEOMETRY OF WASTE ROCK DUMPS ALTERNATIVES
WASTE ROCK DUMPS ALTERNATIVES

DESCRIPTION
1A 1B 1C 2 3
Highest point of waste rock dump (masl) 920 920 920 850 895
Overall slope 2.5H:1.0V
Waste rock dump area of influence (ha) 75.44 20.91 36.97 55.73 58.70
Volume of waste rock dump (Mm³) 33.01 5.35 11.27 24.98 25.29
Containment dyke volume (m³) 18,800 21,385 35,250 12,925 16,450
Waste rock weight (Mt) 59.42 9.63 20.29 44.96 45.52
Mm³: Million cubic metres, Mt: Million metric tons, ha: hectares, masl: metres above sea level

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ALTERNATIVES FOR TOPSOIL DEPOSITS

Two (2) alternative locations have been planned for accumulation of the topsoil generated
from the stripping for tailings dams, waste rock dumps, plant platforms, and facilities
platforms. Table 18.3 shows the geometric data and estimated volumes for the alternative
topsoil deposits.
TABLE 18.3 VOLUME AND GEOMETRY OF TOPSOIL DEPOSIT ALTERNATIVES
TOPSOIL DEPOSIT
DESCRIPTION ALTERNATIVES
1 2
Maximum height of deposit (masl) 780 940
Overall slope 1.5H:1.0V
Volume of dam or containment dyke (Mm³) 0.022 0.003
Area of influence of topsoil (ha) 0.970 2.800
Volume of topsoil (Mm³) 0.765 2.036
Weight of topsoil (Mt) 0.918 2.443

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ALTERNATIVES FOR THE LOCATION OF FACILITIES

BISA has assessed four (4) alternatives for the location of facilities. In each alternative,
considerations incude a training room, a general storage area, changing rooms, offices,
dining room, kitchen, automotive workshop, electrical workshop, vehicle parking and
internal vehicle circulation, as well as additional space to expand the facilities. BISA
recommends Alternative 3. Table 18.4 shows the reference areas used to assess each
alternative.
TABLE 18.4 PARAMETERS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF LOCATION OF FACILITIES
Proposed Areas
Proposed Built-Up Area
Name of Module Proposed Land Area (m2)
(m2)
Training Room Module 340.00 340.00
General Storage Module 1600.00 1,020.00
Changing Room Module 500.00 500.00
Office Module 920.00 920.00
Kitchen-Dining Module 1,000.00 1,000.00
Automotive Workshop Module 3,400.00 1,280.00
Electrical Workshop Module 900.00 265..00
Vehicle Parking and Internal Circulation 7,150.00 ------
Area for Expanding Facilities 3,690.00 ------
Total Areas 19,500.00 5,325.00

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ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR TAILINGS DAMS

BISA has considered three (3) alternative processing plant locations. Table 18.5 shows the
reference areas used to assess each alternative.
TABLE 18.5 PARAMETERS FOR ASSESSING LOCATION OF THE PROCESSING PLANT
Proposed Areas
Proposed Land Area Proposed Built-Up
Name of Module 2
(m ) Area (m2)
Coarse Hopper and Primary Crusher 20.00 20.00
Secondary Crusher 260.00 260.00
Fines Hoppers 225.00 225.00
Grinding 460.00 460.00
Flotation 370.00 370.00
Filters 65.00 65.00
Thickeners 320.00 320.00
Sample Preparation and Metallurgical Laboratory 480.00 480.00
Chemical Analysis Laboratory 120.00 120.00
Reagent Store 80.00 80.00
Fuel Station 330.00 330.00
Mechanical workshop 120.00 120.00
Electrical Workshop 80.00 80.00
Plant Warehouse 80.00 80.00
Plant Offices 80.00 80.00
Truck Scales 1 120.00 120.00
Truck Scales 2 120.00 120.00
Substation and Main Electrical Room 750.00 750.00
Mine Ore Area 1,800.00 --------
Concentrate Yard 2,400.00 --------
Vehicle Parking and Internal Circulation 4,350.00 --------
Processing Plant Expansion Area to 2000 TPD 17,370.00 --------
Total Areas 30,000.00 4,080.00

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ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY

A 33 kV overhead power line has been considered for supplying power to the new
processing plant and its respective facilities, with a starting point at the Echeandía
Electrical Substation (Table 18.6 shows the estimated power demand.)
TABLE 18.6 ESTIMATED ELECTRICAL POWER PEAK DEMAND
Estimated Load
Description
(kW)
Processing Plant at 2,000 tpd and its facilities 3000
Pumping stations 500
Pithead 2000
Total 5500
This power demand has been estimated on the basis of rates recorded in similar projects
and historical data from similar processing plants.
WATER SUPPLY
The capacity of the water supply is based on the daily production of the processing plant,
which will be 2,000 tpd. Thus, the estimated unit consumption taking into account water
recycling is 1.2 m3/t, which is equivalent to a water consumption of 2,400 m3/day (100
m3/h). The alternative solutions were developed taking into account this consumption
figure.
The proposed system uses the Runayacu River as a water source. From the uptake point,
the water is stored and then re-pumped to the water tank platform at 1,030 masl, from
whence it supplies the processing plant and facilities with water.
COMPONENTS SYSTEM
The planned system comprises the following components and structures: uptake, sand
trap, storage reservoir, HDPE pressure pipes, re-pumping stations, and a tank area
(comprising a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP), drinking water storage tank, and a
freshwater storage tank).

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SOLID WASTE LANDFILL

Two location alternatives are planned for the domestic solid waste landfill. The final site
will depend on the definitive location of the processing plant and facilities as well as on the
results of pertinent studies required for the landfill engineering works.
Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)

The domestic wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) has three alternative locations, with the
final sitting depending on the site of the facilities building and the processing plant.
ROAD ACCESS
Sections evaluated for road access to the mine are shown in Table 18.7 and Figure 18.2.
TABLE 18.7 PARAMETERS FOR EVALUATING ACCESS ALTERNATIVES
Length Width of Roadway

Alternative Road Type
(km) (m)
Las Naves - Naves Chico 11.00 Paved 6.0
Naves Chico - Mine 2.76 Gravel 6.0
Mine - El Congreso 13.80 Gravel 6.0
El Congreso - Echeandía 12.00 Gravel 6.0
El Congreso - Main Roadway 13.60 Gravel 6.0
Echeandía - Main Roadway 12.21 Gravel 6.0
* The roads are planned with an extra 1.0 m for the drainage ditch.
Sections evaluated for roadway access to the mine (mineralized zone) are shown in Figure
18.2, indicating the length, width, and road type.

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FIGURE 18.2 PROJECT ACCESS ROADS

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ASSUMPTIONS
BISA has worked with the topography generated from Salazar's photographic mosaic,
which is assumed to have a good approximation for this level of conceptual study. The
topography is superimposed with the map used for the mineral resource estimate. BISA
recommends a topographic survey of the entire project area, particularly of spots slated for
infrastructure.

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19. MARKET STUDIES AND CONTRACTS

This section is not applicable.

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20. ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES,

PERMITTING, AND SOCIAL OR
COMMUNITY IMPACT

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21. CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS

ESTIMATE OF OPERATING AND CAPITAL
EXPENDITURES
BISA has developed a conceptual estimate of the costs associated with the project
development and operation. First, the costs for the open pit are analysed and then the
same items are presented for the underground mining.
CONTINGENCIES
BISA has considered a 25% contingency for capital costs and a 20% contingency for
operating costs, in accordance with industry standards.
OPEN PIT OPERATION

OPEN PIT PRE-PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINING CAPITAL COSTS (CAPEX)
The pre-production capital investment and sustaining capital costs (CAPEX) are
differentiated by the start time of mining operations, and the beginning of ore delivery to
the processing plant (Table 21.1).
TABLE 21.1 PRE-PRODUCTION INVESTMENT AND SUSTAINING CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
No Contingency 25% Contingency

CAPEX Pre- Pre-
Sustaining Total Sustaining Total
production production
Mine 15,611,109 443,292 16,054,401 19,513,886 554,115 20,068,001
Processing
35,112,000 0 35,112,000 43,890,000 0 43,890,000
plant
Infrastructure 30,504,633 70,615,720 101,120,353 38,130,792 88,269,650 126,400,442
Others 7,000,000 13,600,000 20,600,000 8,750,000 17,000,000 25,750,000
Total (US$) 88,227,742 84,659,012 172,886,754 110,284,678 105,823,765 216,108,443

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OPEN PIT OPERATING COSTS

Operating costs (OPEX) during the first nine years of the life of mine amount to about
US$303.8 million for an estimated production rate of 2,000 tpd.
Operating costs include the mining costs for contractors, supervision, maintenance,
consumables, general expenses, and processing costs. The mine operating costs were
estimated based on cost rating on similar projects. The cost summary can be seen in
Table 21.2 and in Figure 21.1.
TABLE 21.2 OPEN PIT OPERATING COSTS (2,000 TPD)
Operating Costs No Contingency 25% Contingency

Mine 151,753,347 182,104,016
Processing 77,662,856 93,195,428
Administration 12,943,809 15,532,571
Others 10,853,389 13,024,067
Total (US$) 253,213,401 303,856,082
OPEX Others,
13,024,067, 4%
Administrative
costs,
15,532,571, 5%
Mine,
182,104,016,
60%
Processing,
93,195,428,
31%
FIGURE 21.1 OPEN PIT — DISTRIBUTION OF OPERATING COSTS

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UNDERGROUND OPERATION
UNDERGROUND PRE-PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINING CAPITAL COSTS
The estimated capital costs (CAPEX) take into account the likely scenario of underground
production (1,000 tpd) in which the mineral will be processed at the existing plant used for
the surface mining production. Therefore, a plant investment has not been considered for
the capital cost estimate for underground mining.
The pre-production capital investment and sustaining capital costs are differentiated by the
start time of mining operations, and the beginning of ore delivery to the processing plant
(Table 21.3).
TABLE 21.3 UNDERGROUND PRE-PRODUCTION INVESTMENT AND SUSTAINING CAPITAL

COSTS
No Contingency 25% Contingency

CAPEX Pre- Pre-
Sustaining Total Sustaining Total
production production
Mine 9,466,167 2,401,480 11,867,647 11,832,708 3,001,850 14,834,558
Others 3,200,000 450,000 3,650,000 4,000,000 562,500 4,562,500
Total
12,666,167 2,851,480 15,517,647 15,832,708 3,564,350 19,397,058
(US$)
UNDERGROUND OPERATING COSTS

Operating costs (OPEX) during the first five years of the life of the underground mine
amount to about US$49.7 million for an estimated production rate of 1,000 tpd.
Operating costs include the mining costs for contractors, supervision, maintenance,
consumables, general expenses, and processing costs. The mine operating costs were
estimated based on cost rating on similar projects. The cost summary can be seen in
Table 21.4 and in Figure 21.2.

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TABLE 21.4 UNDERGROUND OPERATING COSTS (1,000 TPD)
Operating Costs No Contingency 25% Contingency

Mine 55,902,884 67,083,461
Processing 21,890,054 26,268,065
Administration 3,648,342 4,378,011
Total (US$) 81,441,280 97,729,537
OPEX
Administrative
costs,
4,378,011, 4%
Mine,
67,083,461,
69%
Processes,
26,268,065,
27%
FIGURE 21.2 UNDERGROUND — DISTRIBUTION OF OPERATING COSTS

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22. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

BISA has developed a financial assessment for the El Domo deposit within the Curipamba
Project. In this assessment, values of one percent grade for copper, zinc, and lead, of one
gram grade for gold, and of one ounce for silver used for NSR calculation were obtained
from the final calculated metallurgical recovery factors (Table 22.1).
TABLE 22.1 METAL UNIT VALUES USED FOR NSR CALCULATION
Mineral Type
Cu/(Zn+Pb)<0.33 0.33<Cu/(Zb+Pb)<3.0 Cu/(zn+pb)>3.0
Pb US$/1% 8.0 Pb US$/1% - Pb US$/1% -
Zn US$/1% 7.5 Zn US$/1% 4.0 Zn US$/1% -
Cu US$/1% 21.1 Cu US$/1% 33.7 Cu US$/1% 48.9
Ag US$/1 oz 9.9 Ag US$/1 oz 9.3 Ag US$/1 oz 3.6
Au US$/1 g 13.4 Au US$/1 g 14.8 Au US$/1 g 5.9
REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS
The revenue assumptions are based on the following metal prices provided by Salazar:
- Copper – 3.06 US$/lb

- Zinc – 0.86 US$/lb
- Lead – 0.95 US$/lb
- Gold – 1,200 US$/oz
- Silver – 20 US$/oz
Estimated charges for smelting treatment and charges for refining of the copper, zinc, and
lead concentrate are shown in Table 22.2, Table 22.3, and Table 22.4.

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TABLE 22.2 SMELTING TREATMENT AND CHARGES FOR REFINING COPPER
Cu Concentrate
Payables
Minimum Cu deduction 1%
Payable Cu 96.5%
Minimum Ag deduction g/t 30
Payable Ag 95%
Minimum Au deduction oz/t 1.5
Payable Au 95%
Treatment cost (CIF Korea/Japan) US$/t 90

Base US$/t 4750
Price scaler 0%
Refining cost
Cu US$/t 9.00
Ag US$/t 1.00
Au US$/t 10.00
Penalties
Limit of free As + Sb 0.5%
AS+Sb penalty (for each % exceeding the limit) US$/t 25
Limit of free Bi 0.10%
Bi penalty (for each % exceeding the limit) US$/t 150
Pb+Zn limit 4%
PB+Zn penalty (for each % exceeding the limit) US$/t 2
Losses 0.20%
Fleet
Inside mine - Port US$/t 30
Terminal handling tariff US$/t 15
Shipping fleet US$/t 53

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TABLE 22.3 SMELTING TREATMENT AND CHARGES FOR REFINING ZINC
Zn Concentrate
Payables
Minimum deduction Zn 8%
Payable Zn 85%
Minimum deduction Ag oz/t 3
Payable Ag 70%
Minimum deduction Au oz/t 1.25
Payable Au 70%
Treatment cost (CIF Korea/Japan) US$/t 200

Base US$/t 1950
Price scaler 15%
Penalties
Limit of free Fe 9%
Fe penalty (for each % it exceeds the limit) US$/t 1.5
Limit of free Cd 0.40%
Cd penalty (for each % it exceeds the limit) US$/t 15
Losses 0.20%
Fleet
Interior mine - Port US$/t 30
Terminal handling tariff US$/t 15

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TABLE 22.4 SMELTING TREATMENT AND CHARGES FOR REFINING LEAD
Pb Concentrate
Payables
Minimum Pb deduction 3%
Payable Pb 95.0%
Minimum Ag deduction gr/t 1
Payable Ag 95%
Minimum Au deduction oz/t 1.5
Payable Au 95%
Treatment costs (CIF Korea/Japan) US$/t 250

Base US$/t 2000
Price scaler 15%
Refining costs
Ag US$/t 1.00
Au US$/t 10.00
Penalties
Free As limit 0.8%
As penalty (for each % exceeding the limit) US$/t 12.5
Free Sb limit 0.80%
Sb penalty (for each % exceeding the limit) US$/t 13
Losses 0.20%
Flete
Inside mine - Port US$/t 30
Terminal loading tariff US$/t 15
DEPRECIATION
The depreciation rates for CAPEX items have been considered in the following ranges
according to the Ecuadorian regulations:
 Any mobile equipment will be depreciated at a rate of 20% per year
 All fixed equipment, including conveyor belts, electrical and automated equipment,
as well as capitalized costs for the prior extraction of waste rock, and for owner's
costs (additional studies) during the pre-production phase are depreciated at a rate
of 10% per year.

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All equipment installation, including civil and structural architecture and installation of the
work, including piping, will depreciate at a rate of 5% per year.
In cases of obsolescence, intensive utilization, accelerated deterioration, or other duly

justified reasons, the Director General of Revenue (Ecuadorian authority) may authorize
depreciations using annual percentages higher than those specified, which shall be set in
the resolution enacted for that purpose.
Clearly, with the given regime, several individual CAPEX items have not been
appropriately handled in terms of their exact depreciation rate. However, the overall
estimate of depreciation amounts over the long term has a narrow margin for the purposes
of this study. A more detailed account of appropriate depreciation rates for the different
CAPEX items shall require consultation with the Ecuadorian authorities (in this case the
Director General of Revenue).
TAXES AND OTHER EXPENSES

Ecuadorian law provides for the application of royalties to net revenue, which will be 4% in
this case, which is in the range for medium-scale mining production. In addition, value
added tax (VAT/IVA: Impuesto al valor agregado in Spanish) must also be applied, which
is on the order of 12% of gross revenue less royalties. These earnings are subject to
income tax, which is 22%. Additionally, there is a profit-sharing scheme involving workers
and the state, which in the case of medium-scale mining is 5% and 10% respectively.
DISCOUNT RATE
The discount factor assumed by BISA was 10%, which was considered with a fair value
basis to reflect current interest rates and discount rates used in other mining projects in
Latin America.

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FINANCING SCHEME
BISA has not assumed any financing scheme or financing costs at this evaluation stage.
PARAMETERS OF FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

Operating costs will reach US$401 million over 14 years of production. All expenses prior
to the start of production will be capitalized. These expenses will generate an accumulated
depreciation of US$235 million.
The project will be subject to payment of taxes from the first year of production forward. It
is also assumed that the company royalties must be paid from the first year of production
forward.
The utilities participation scheme of workers and the Ecuadorian state is considered an
extraordinary expense element, which is paid only when the Earnings Before Interests and
Taxes (EBIT) is positive. This participation scheme will reach a maximum of US$13.7
million during the second year of operation. Therefore, this issue has an important impact
on the project‘s financial performance.
PROFIT AND LOSSES STATEMENT

The profit and losses statement for the project includes one year of pre-production for the
open pit and 14 years of production, of which nine years will be open pit production,
following by five years of underground mine production.
Annual revenues range from US$31M in year 10 to US$ 179 M in year 1 (Figure 22.1 and
Figure 22.2).

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EBITDA, OPEX, AND OPERATING MARGIN

200 100%
180 90%
160 80%
140 70%
US$ M
120 60%
100 50%
80 40%
60 30%
40 20%
20 10%
0 0%
Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Y10 Y11 Y12 Y13 Y14
EBITDA TOTAL OPEX Operating Margin
FIGURE 22.1 LIFE OF THE PROJECT EBITDA, OPEX, AND OPERATING MARGIN
EBIT, OPEX, DEPRECIATION, AND OPERATING MARGIN

200 100%
180 90%
160 80%
140 70%
120 60%
US$ M
100 50%
80 40%
60 30%
40 20%
20 10%
0 0%
Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Y10 Y11 Y12 Y13 Y14
EBT TOTAL OPEX DEPRECIATION Operating Margin
FIGURE 22.2 LIFE OF THE PROJECT OPEX, DEPRECIATION, AND PRE-TAX PROFITS
CASH FLOW AND FINANCIAL INDICATORS

The cash flow analysis considers scenarios before and after taxation (including the
calculation of taxes on dividends). The financial indicators used in the analysis include Net
Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and the Payback Period (PP) (Figure
22.3).

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FIGURE 22.3 CASH FLOW AFTER TAXES
- Total Cash Flow: US$202.6 million

- Net Present Value (10% Discount Rate): US$86.72 million
- Internal Rate of Return: 30%
- Payback Period: 2 years

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TABLE 22.5 PROFIT AND LOSSES STATEMENT
Calculation of Costs of Conceptual Study – Economic Assessment

0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
AÑO -Y2 -Y1 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Y10 Y11 Y12 Y13 Y14 Inicial Producción Total
CASH FLOW
SUPERFICIAL NSR
Copper Ore US$ 38,947,991 35,571,812 29,192,293 20,113,398 15,733,329 15,733,329 14,636,786 13,022,452 980,025 183,931,414 183,931,414
Complex Ore US$ 93,421,747 85,558,674 74,736,013 66,097,503 41,782,280 39,350,446 39,350,446 27,018,901 15,385,983 482,701,992 482,701,992
Zinc Ore US$ 46,875,071 47,577,431 40,281,821 19,101,471 13,245,095 13,245,095 12,955,393 16,027,800 5,274,086 214,583,263 214,583,263
Stock Ore US$ 0 0 0 0 5,412,880 3,759,374 3,933,913 5,624,474 15,577,275 34,307,916 34,307,916
UNDERGROUND NSR
Stoping Production US$ 30,192,997 45,997,691 39,262,573 39,992,929 44,702,961 200,149,151 200,149,151
Production of Progress US$ 1,084,153 819,881 1,392,503 1,230,818 377,300 4,904,654 4,904,654
TOTAL NSR US$ 179,244,810 168,707,917 144,210,127 105,312,371 76,173,584 72,088,244 70,876,538 61,693,627 37,217,369 31,277,149 46,817,572 40,655,076 41,223,746 45,080,261 1,120,578,390 1,120,578,390
SUPERFICIAL OPEX
Open Pit Mining US$ 24,030,680 24,073,200 24,194,295 24,470,601 22,347,848 19,188,572 18,624,544 15,345,958 9,828,318 182,104,016 182,104,016
Open Pit Processing US$ 10,473,750 10,473,750 10,473,750 10,473,750 10,473,750 10,473,750 10,473,750 10,473,750 9,405,428 93,195,428 93,195,428
GG&AA Open Pit US$ 1,745,625 1,745,625 1,745,625 1,745,625 1,745,625 1,745,625 1,745,625 1,745,625 1,567,571 15,532,571 15,532,571
Other Costs US$ 1,612,247 1,614,019 1,619,064 1,630,577 1,542,129 1,410,493 1,386,991 1,250,384 958,163 13,024,067 13,024,067
UNDERGROUND OPEX 52.59 36.09 35.87 35.86 34.70
Underground Mining US$ 14,273,823 14,149,997 14,061,421 14,082,917 10,515,303 67,083,461 67,083,461
Underground Processing US$ 4,071,037 5,880,521 5,879,637 5,891,134 4,545,736 26,268,065 26,268,065
GG&AA Underground US$ 678,506 980,087 979,939 981,856 757,623 4,378,011 4,378,011
TOTAL OPEX US$ 37,862,302 37,906,594 38,032,734 38,320,553 36,109,352 32,818,439 32,230,911 28,815,716 21,759,480 19,023,419 21,010,641 20,921,033 20,955,942 15,818,696 401,585,619 401,585,619
Operating Margin 76% 74% 70% 58% 46% 48% 48% 46% 29% 32% 51% 43% 44% 61%
IVA
Value Added Tax (VAT) Surface US$ 5,910,246 7,323,916 5,428,772 5,442,564 5,464,070 5,472,764 4,740,411 4,433,880 4,358,540 4,040,222 2,711,483 13,234,161 42,092,705 55,326,866
Value Added Tax (VAT) Underground US$ 504,313 2,035,209 2,233,994 2,142,127 2,126,804 2,120,793 1,664,519 12,827,758 12,827,758
Value Added Tax (VAT) US$ 5,910,246 7,323,916 5,428,772 5,442,564 5,464,070 5,472,764 4,740,411 4,433,880 4,358,540 4,544,535 4,746,693 2,233,994 2,142,127 2,126,804 2,120,793 1,664,519 54,920,463 68,154,624
EBITDA
EBITDA US$ -5,910,246 -7,323,916 135,953,736 125,358,759 100,713,323 61,519,054 35,323,821 34,835,924 34,287,087 28,333,376 10,711,196 10,019,737 23,664,803 17,607,240 18,147,012 27,597,046 -13,234,161 664,072,114 650,837,952
PROFIT BEFORE DEPRECIATION

DEPRECIATION SURFACE US$ 38,139,851 26,913,482 26,929,382 26,960,944 22,531,561 18,719,559 18,772,162 18,756,262 18,385,238 - - - - - 216,108,442 216,108,442
DEPRECIATION UNDERGROUND US$ 4,007,064 3,829,223 3,888,848 3,951,785 3,720,139 19,397,058 19,397,058
DEPRECIATION US$ - - 38,139,851 26,913,482 26,929,382 26,960,944 22,531,561 18,719,559 18,772,162 18,756,262 18,385,238 4,007,064 3,829,223 3,888,848 3,951,785 3,720,139 235,505,501 235,505,501
EBIT
EBIT US$ -5,910,246 -7,323,916 97,813,885 98,445,276 73,783,940 34,558,110 12,792,260 16,116,365 15,514,925 9,577,114 -7,674,042 6,012,673 19,835,581 13,718,392 14,195,227 23,876,907 -13,234,161 428,566,613 415,332,451
OTHER COSTS
Royalties Surface US$ 0 0 7,169,792 6,748,317 5,768,405 4,212,495 3,046,943 2,883,530 2,835,062 2,467,745 1,488,695 36,620,983 36,620,983
Royalties Underground US$ 1,251,086 1,872,703 1,626,203 1,648,950 1,803,210 8,202,152 8,202,152
Royalties US$ 0 0 7,169,792 6,748,317 5,768,405 4,212,495 3,046,943 2,883,530 2,835,062 2,467,745 1,488,695 1,251,086 1,872,703 1,626,203 1,648,950 1,803,210 44,823,136 44,823,136
EBT
EBT US$ -5,910,246 -7,323,916 90,644,093 91,696,959 68,015,535 30,345,616 9,745,316 13,232,835 12,679,864 7,109,369 -9,162,737 4,761,587 17,962,878 12,092,189 12,546,277 22,073,697 -13,234,161 314,306,850 301,072,689
PROFIT SHARING
State US$ 0 0 9,289,192 11,003,635 8,161,864 3,641,474 1,169,438 1,587,940 1,521,584 853,124 0 476,159 1,796,288 1,209,219 1,254,628 2,207,370 44,171,914 44,171,914
Employees US$ 0 0 2,322,298 2,750,909 2,040,466 910,368 292,359 396,985 380,396 213,281 0 238,079 898,144 604,609 627,314 1,103,685 12,778,894 12,778,894
TOTAL PROFITS US$ 11,611,490 13,754,544 10,202,330 4,551,842 1,461,797 1,984,925 1,901,980 1,066,405 0 714,238 2,694,432 1,813,828 1,881,942 3,311,055 56,950,808 56,950,808
TAXES
Revenue Tax US$ 0 0 17,387,173 17,147,331 12,718,905 5,674,630 1,822,374 2,474,540 2,371,135 1,329,452 0 890,417 3,359,058 2,261,239 2,346,154 4,127,781 73,910,189 73,910,189
PROFIT AFTER TAXES US$ 0 0 17,387,173 17,147,331 12,718,905 5,674,630 1,822,374 2,474,540 2,371,135 1,329,452 0 890,417 3,359,058 2,261,239 2,346,154 4,127,781 73,910,189 73,910,189
NET EARNINGS AFTER TAXES

Net Earnings After Sharing and Taxes US$ -5,910,246 -7,323,916 61,645,430 60,795,084 45,094,300 20,119,143 6,461,145 8,773,370 8,406,750 4,713,511 -9,162,737 3,156,932 11,909,388 8,017,121 8,318,181 14,634,861 -13,234,161 252,882,480 239,648,318
SOVEREIGN TAX
Sovereign Tax US$ 12,194,455 11,237,988 7,262,603 950,095 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,580,402 549,234 630,716 2,660,368 37,065,860 37,065,860
Net Earnings After Total Taxes US$ -5,910,246 -7,323,916 49,450,976 49,557,096 37,831,697 19,169,048 6,461,145 8,773,370 8,406,750 4,713,511 -9,162,737 3,156,932 10,328,986 7,467,887 7,687,466 11,974,493 -13,234,161 215,816,620 202,582,458
OPERATING CASH FLOW

Operating Cash Flow US$ -5,910,246 -7,323,916 87,590,827 76,470,579 64,761,079 46,129,992 28,992,706 27,492,929 27,178,912 23,469,773 9,222,501 7,163,996 14,158,209 11,356,735 11,639,251 15,694,632 -13,234,161 451,322,120 438,087,959
CAPEX SURFACE
Mining US$ 354,500 19,159,386 - 79,500 157,808 - 79,500 157,808 - 79,500 - 19,513,886 554,115 20,068,001
Processing US$ 21,945,000 21,945,000 43,890,000 0 43,890,000
Infrastructure US$ 18,202,547 19,928,245 13,240,447 13,240,447 13,240,447 13,240,447 8,826,965 8,826,965 8,826,965 8,826,965 - 38,130,792 88,269,650 126,400,442
Others US$ 8,750,000 - 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 5,000,000 8,750,000 17,000,000 25,750,000
CAPEX UNDERGROUND
Mining US$ 202,609 11,630,099 2,650,725 178,875 125,875 46,375 - 14,834,558 14,834,558
Processing US$ 0 0
Infrastructure US$ 0 0
Others US$ 4,000,000 562,500 4,562,500 4,562,500
TOTAL OPEX US$ 49,252,047 61,032,631 14,740,447 14,819,947 14,898,255 14,740,447 10,406,465 10,484,772 10,326,965 14,609,074 16,630,099 2,650,725 178,875 125,875 46,375 562,500 110,284,677 125,220,823 235,505,501
Cash Flow after CAPEX

Cash Flow US$ -55,162,292 -68,356,546 72,850,379 61,650,631 49,862,824 31,389,544 18,586,241 17,008,157 16,851,947 8,860,699 -7,407,598 4,513,271 13,979,334 11,230,860 11,592,876 15,132,132
Cumulative Cash Flow

Cumulative Cash Flow US$ -55,162,292 -123,518,839 -50,668,459 10,982,172 60,844,996 92,234,540 110,820,781 127,828,938 144,680,885 153,541,583 146,133,986 150,647,256 164,626,591 175,857,451 187,450,327 202,582,458

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SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
The sensitivity analysis was performed to estimate the variability of the project economics by
changing certain key parameters.
Figure 22.4 shows the sensitivity of NPV to changes in revenue (metal prices). It is clear in
the figure that fluctuations in metal prices are the most critical factor in NPV and IRR.
FIGURE 22.4 PROJECT SENSITIVITY TO METAL PRICES
Figure 22.5 shows the sensitivity of the project economics to three important parameters:
revenue, operating costs (OPEX), and pre-tax capital costs (CAPEX). These figures show
again that the project is most sensitive to metal prices.

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FIGURE 22.5 SENSITIVITY OF NPV TO REVENUE, OPEX AND CAPEX
Table 22.6 details project sensitivity of NPV, CF, and IRR to variations in OPEX and CAPEX
TABLE 22.6 RANGE OF SENSITIVITY OF ECONOMIC PARAMETERS
Sensitivity of NPV Sensitivity of CF Sensitivity of IRR

(US$) (US$) (%)
OPEX CAPEX OPEX CAPEX OPEX CAPEX
65% 127 149 280 285 36% 54%
70% 121 140 270 273 35% 50%
75% 116 131 259 261 35% 46%
80% 110 122 248 250 34% 42%
85% 104 113 237 238 33% 39%
90% 99 104 226 226 32% 36%
95% 93 96 214 214 31% 33%
100% 87 87 203 203 30% 30%
105% 81 78 191 191 29% 27%
110% 75 69 180 179 28% 25%
115% 69 60 168 167 27% 23%
120% 63 51 156 155 26% 21%
125% 56 42 143 144 25% 19%
130% 50 34 130 132 23% 17%

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23. ADJACENT PROPERTIES


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24. OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND

INFORMATION

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25. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

BISA offers the following conclusions and recommendations:
 The El Domo deposit is the largest known Au-rich, Cu-Zn-Ag-Pb volcanogenic
massive sulphide (VMS) deposit emplaced within the Macuchi Terrane, a juvenile
island magmatic arc of Paleocene–Eocene age. It formed in an intra-magmatic arc
third-order basin in a setting similar to that of other Andean deposits. Somewhat
similar global equivalents are the bimodal-felsic deposits of the Hokuroko basin
(Japan) and the VMS deposits of Tasmania.
 The massive sulphide mineralization occurs in the Macuchi Formation as stratabound
orebodies, mainly in the contact between a rhyodacitic dome and the overlying mafic,
glass-rich, mass flows. The overlying rocks host semi-massive to disseminated
mineralization. The mineralization is replacive on both the glassy carapace of the
rhyodacite and the volcaniclastic rocks. This replacement took place only a few
metres below the seafloor.
 The massive polymetallic sulphides consist primarily of pyrite, sphalerite,
chalcopyrite, and less abundant galena, bornite, and tennantite; silver is concentrated
in discrete phases such as stromeyerite and proustite.
 The orebody has marked lateral and vertical zoning with a lower Cu-rich zone and an
external Zn-Pb-barite zone. The copper-rich zone replaced the external zone, with
most of the gold and silver concentrated along this replacement zone.
 The area has good exploration potential for VMS deposits. The optimal target should
be the contact of the rhyodacite domes with mafic, glass-rich rocks, or the outer
carapace of domes capped by massive andesite-basalt.
 BISA believes that the procedures and protocols used by Salazar for its drilling,
logging, sampling, preparation, and sample analysis program comply with
international practices in the mining industry.
 The independent QA/QC verification carried out by BISA concludes that the
duplicates of coarse rejects from preparation demonstrate acceptable precision and
reproducibility of the original results. In contrast, the pulp duplicate precision is
relatively low, with failures of over 10% for all the elements analysed (especially Au,
Pb, and Cu) in both the ALS Global and Inspectorate laboratories.
 The blank samples used are adequate for Au, Ag, and Pb, but in the case of Cu and
Zn, the values are much higher than the lower analytical limits of detection
established in the laboratories used by Salazar.

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 The metallurgical tests indicate that the recovery of pay metals to concentrates by
froth flotation of feed from the El Domo deposit is technically feasible.
 It may be possible to improve Cu-Zn separation. Mineralogical results indicate that
significant amounts of free sphalerite are present in the copper concentrate. This
means that the selectivity of copper and zinc separation may be improved, compared
to the results of the first phase of testing reported in the PEA.
 Mineral Resources were estimated based on a 3D geological interpretation for a VMS
deposit; four mineralized units have been considered for mineral resource estimation
(VMS, Grainstone, Breccia, and Gypsum). The cuttoff value applied is US$30 NSR
per tonne.
 Indicated Mineral Resources have been estimated at 6.080 million tonnes at an
average grade of 2.33% Cu, 3.06% Zn, 0.28% Pb, 2.99 g/t Au, and 55.81 g/t Ag,
containing 312.95 million pounds Cu, 409.56 million pounds Zn, 37.76 million pounds
Pb, 584,457 ounces Au, and 10.91 million ounces Ag. The current Indicated Mineral
Resource estimate shows the following increases relative to the 2011 Indicated
Resource estimate: a 7% increase in contained copper, a 34.4% increase in
contained zinc, a 17.4% increase in contained gold, and a 26.8% increase in
contained silver.
 The Inferred Mineral Resource is 3.882 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.56%
Cu, 2.19% Zn, 0.16% Pb, 2.03 g/t Au, and 42.92 g/t Ag, containing 133.46 million
pounds Cu, 187.39 million pounds Zn, 13.96 million pounds Pb, 253,607 ounces Au,
and 5.36 million ounces Ag. The current Inferred Mineral Resource estimate shows
the following increases compared to the 2011 Indicated Resource estimate: a 118.1%
increase in contained copper, a 108.0% increase in contained zinc, a 125.2%
increase in contained gold, and a 118.7% increase in contained silver.
 Two structural domains have been established in the El Domo deposit: the Eastern
Sector (El Domo hill) and the Western Sector, where most of the deposit is located.
In the Eastern Sector, the VMS lenses lies at a greater depth underneath the
andesitic dome. The eastern continuity of the lenses needs to be confirmed by a
drilling program.
 The mining methods study considers two scenarios: open pit mining for the western
domain of the deposit and underground mining for the eastern domain.
 The economic and financial assessment considers a total 14-year life of mine: nine
years of surface mining, with production of 2,000 tpd, followed by five years of
underground mining with a production of 1,000 tpd.

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 The mining production, considering the mine plans for both scenarios (open pit and
underground) and the reported metallurgical ore types, are: zinc mineral type 1.74 Mt;
mixed mineral Cu/Zn type 3.00 Mt; and copper mineral type 2.18 Mt. The mining
scenario also includes 46 Mt of waste rock and 0.98 Mt of low-grade material.
 A preliminary evaluation of infrastructure alternatives have been carried out: seven
alternatives for tailings dams, five areas for the waste rock dumps, two deposits for
topsoil, three alternative locations for the processing plant, four alternatives for
facilities, three alternatives for the water adduction line, two alternatives for the water
pipeline, five alternatives for the tailings transport system, three alternatives for the
power supply system, and three alternatives for access to the mine. No major
drawbacks are noted, and some work will have to be done to ensure the services
required for the project.
 The preliminary estimates of pre-production capital investment total US$110.3 million,
an amount consistent with the current costs of mining and construction equipment.
Operating through a mining contractor has been considered; this option reduces
CAPEX but increases the operating cost. The mode of operation will be analysed in
more detail in the pre-feasibility stage.
 The after-taxes financial evaluation of the project gives the following results:
o Net Present Value (10% discount rate): US$86.72 million
o Internal Rate of Return: 30%
o Payback Period: 2 years

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26. RECOMMENDATIONS
BISA proposes the following recommendations:
 A systematic directional survey location program should be implemented for all future
drilling.
 To provide consistency in the methods, one laboratory of the two currently used
should be used as the primary laboratory for all analyses, and that the second
laboratory should be used for external checking of the assays.
 The QA/QC program should be modified to include: establishment of a protocol for
non-compliant results and a formal reporting system for QA/QC results; insertion of
twin samples, coarse and fine duplicates, certified standards, and blanks in future
programs; use of certified reference materials representative of the deposit; and
preparation of adequate blanks.
 In future, the original stored pulp samples should not be used due to the low precision
reported in the QA/QC programs of RPA and BISA. Any verification or validation must
be done with existing samples of coarse rejects.
 Improving storage conditions of the reject samples in Quito, Ecuador. The samples
should be stored in an orderly fashion, in a suitable environment.
 A detailed petrographic and mineragraphic study is strongly recommended to support
metallurgical testing and aid in defining geometallurgical domains.
 Future exploration should focus on zones of mafic volcaniclastic flows with evidence
of underlying felsic volcanics. Stream sediment geochemistry is crucial for finding new
anomalies. Geophysical surveys are also key techniques. However, the
mineralization is poorly magnetic and the sphalerite is generally poor in iron. Negative
magnetometric anomalies may be useful for defining hydrothermal systems and
feeder zones. Helicopter-borne Versatile Time-Domain Electromagnetic (VTEM) and
similar EM techniques can be useful to find Cu-pyrite-rich ores; targeting the
sphalerite-rich zones can be trickier, but again VTEM has given good results in pyrite-
poor orebodies. Ground EM and further drilling should be carried out in areas with the
best combination of geology and airborne anomalies.
 Additional metallurgical testing should be carried out to optimize the process
performance for the selective recovery of Cu, Zn, and Pb and to reduce reagent
consumption.
 Geo-metallurgical mapping should be performed to identify areas with high clay
contents that may interfere with the recovery processes.

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 Study the use of specific reagents for Au and Ag to increase their recovery to the
copper concentrate.
 Study the use of a Cu/Pb separation train to clean the copper concentrate and
produce a lead concentrate as another commercial product.
 Closed-cycle flotation tests are needed in order to confirm the recoveries and grades
obtained.
 Conduct flotation tests with water drawn from the project's area of influence to assess
its effect on the recovery of Cu and Zn.
 Salazar should acquire systematic SG measurements of full sample lengths from all
lithology units, thus providing direct information relating density to grade.
 Salazar should continue the investigation and interpretation of grade directional
trends and futher variography evaluation.
 An infill drilling program should be completed to upgrade the start-pit resources to the
measured category as a requirement for thepre-feasibility.
A drilling program to define the nature and continuity of the VMS mineralization under
the El Domo andesite is also recommended.
 It is advisable to promptly undertake a topographic survey of the project area, with
greater accuracy in areas required for the facilities.
 Hydrological and geotechnical studies should be undertaken in areas slated for the
pits, waste dumps, processing plant, and in general in all areas requiring heavy
structures. The geotechnical investigation is a priority in order to define the pit profiles
and volumes of mineral and waste material that must be removed.
 In the next project stage, the technical options identified in this conceptual study
should be analysed in greater detail. Trade-off studies should be developed in the
prefeasibility stage to set the basis for a subsequent feasibility study.
 Although the financial projection results are positive, the high cost of pre-stripping
presents a significant outlay and risk. Therefore, the underground alternative could
be reconsidered. The pit profiles are provisional and may change, as there are no
geotechnical studies available. The pre-stripping volumes could vary, changing the
economic and financial parameters presented in this report.
 A pre-feasibility stage work program should consists of several studies that include:
infill drilling, additional metallurgical testing, resource model update and reserve
estimates, processing plant engineering, infrastructure and project engineering. The
work program and estimated budget for a prefeasibility study are summarized in
Table 26.1.

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TABLE 26.1 PROPOSED PROGRAM AND BUDGET
Proposed
Pre-Feasibility Program Cost
US$
Project Management 200,000
Staff relocation 20,000
Communications- telephone/fax/radio/hardware/software 15,000
Community Engagement 170,000
Environmental compliance 160,000
Land Acquisition 800,000
Mining Concessions 500,000
Road Maintenance 20,000
Transportation - Vehicles 50,000
Shipping - Couriers, Freight 20,000
Field Costs 500,000
Underground Development (300m) 600,000
GEOLOGY
Geological Model Update 20,000
Structural Study 30,000
Ore mineralogy 35,000
QA/QC Program 10,000
Resource Model Update 95,000
Infill Diamond Drilling
Drilling 6,055m@150US$/m 908,250
Logging and Sampling 185,000
Supplies and Core Boxes 55,000
Preparation and Assaying 4,000 Samples 280,000
MINING
Geotechnical / Geomechanical Evaluation 300,000
Open Pit Studies 120,000
METALLURGICAL TESTING AND PROCESS
Metallurgical and process studies 500,000
INFRAESTRUCTURE
Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Studies 420,000
ECONOMIC EVALUATION
Financial Study 40,000
Sub-total 6,053,250
Contingencies - 10% 605,325
Total 6,658,575

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28. DATE AND SIGNATURE PAGE

This report titled ―Curipamba Project – El Domo Deposit Preliminary Economic Assessment,
Central Ecuador‖ and dated March 21, 2014, was prepared and signed by following authors;
Dated at Lima, Peru Gustavo Calvo Martin, M.Sc.A., P.Geo

March 21, 2014
Dated at Lima, Peru Adam Johnston, B. Eng, FAusIMM

March 21, 2014

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29. CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSON

GUSTAVO CALVO MARTIN
I, Gustavo Calvo Martin, M.Sc.A., P.Geo., as an author of this report entitled ―Curipamba Project – El
Domo Deposit Preliminary Economic Assessment, Central Ecuador‖ prepared for Salazar Resources
Ltd. and dated March 21, 2014, do hereby certify that:I am the Director of Geology with Buenaventura
Ingenieros, S.A. of Larrabure y Unanue 146, Lima 1, Peru.
1. I graduated from the Universidad Complutense of Madrid in 1988 with a B.Sc. degree in Geology
and from McGill University in 1991 with a M.Sc.A. in Mineral Exploration.
2. I am registered as a Professional Geoscientist in the Province of British Columbia (Reg. #
173072). I have worked as an exploration geologist for a total of 25 years since my graduation. My
relevant experience for the purpose of this Technical Report is:
• Design and implementation of base metals and precious metals exploration programs in the
Andean Cordillera, including management of advanced exploration and resource delineation
drilling programs.
• Project evaluation/valuation and Mineral Resource Estimates for copper and gold projects in
Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Central America, China, Kazakhstan, PNG, Spain.
3. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101)
and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in
NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person"
for the purposes of NI 43-101.
4. I visited the Project on April 22 to 27, 2013.
5. I am responsible for the preparation of Sections 2 to 12, 14 to 16 and 18 to 26 of the Technical
Report and contributed to Sections 1, 25, and 26.
6. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.
7. I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.
8. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101
and Form 43-101F1.
9. To the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific
and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the technical report not
misleading.
st
Dated this 21 day of March, 2014
Gustavo Calvo Martin, M.Sc.A., P.Geo.

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ADAM JOHNSTON
I, Adam Johnston, B. Eng (Minerals Engineering), FAusIMM (CP Metallurgy), as an author of this
report entitled ―Curipamba Project – El Domo Deposit Preliminary Economic Assessment, Central
Ecuador‖ prepared for Salazar Resources Ltd. and dated March 21, 2014, do hereby certify that:
1. I am the Chief Metallurgist with Transmin MC E.I.R.L. of La Perricholi 110, San Isidro, Lima 27,
Peru.
2. I am a graduate of Curtin University, Australia in 1995 with a B.Eng. degree in Minerals (Extractive
Metallurgy).
3. I am registered as a Chartered Professional with the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
I have worked as a metallurgist for a total of 18 years since my graduation. My experience for the
purpose of the Technical Report is in the metallurgical testing of base metal and precious metal
ores.
4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101)
and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in
NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person"
for the purposes of NI 43-101.
5. I have not visited the Project.
6. I am responsible for preparation of Section 13 and 17 of the Technical Report.
7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.
8. I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.
9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101
and Form 43-101F1.
10. To the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific
and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the technical report not
misleading.
st
Dated this 21 day of March, 2014

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30. APPENDIX 1
PHOTOGRAPHS

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1. Coherent almost aphyric rhyodacite of the Lower Felsic Unit showing flow banding. DH
12‐196 m.
2. Coherent aphyric rhyodacite with widespread devitrification, showing local spherulitic

textures. DDH 11-106 m.

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3. Irregularly devitrified rhyodacite with sparse phenocrysts of quartz and feldspar. DDH
11-187 m.
4. In situ hyaloclastic rhyodacite showing remnants of flow banding. DDH 11-106 m.

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5. Hyaloclastic rhyodacite, with the devitrification highlighting the curvilinear fragments.

DDH 11-123 m.
6. Anhydrite-rich stockwork crosscutting the hyaloclastic rhyodacite of the Lower Felsic

Unit. DDH 10-64 m.

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7. Lower Felsic Unit: hyaloclastite of rhyodacitic composition with sometimes banded in

situ fragments highlighted by hydrothermal quartz‐sericite alteration. DDH 11-106 m.
8. Hyaloclastite with the ground mass replaced by sericite, quartz and pyrite, something
that highlights the fragments. DDH 11-106 m.

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9. Rhyodacite replaced by a texturally destructive assemblage of quartz, sericite and

pyrite in the stockwork zone. DDH 106-18 m.
10. Hyaloclastite in rhyodacite with an early quartz‐sericite‐pyrite alteration and later

anhydrite‐rich veins. DDH 106-21 m.

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11. Rhyodacite pervasively replaced by a quartz‐sericite‐pyrite‐(chlorite) alteration and

crosscut by anhydrite‐rich veins. DDH 10-64 m.
12. DOM‐25 (DDH 68 98 m). Mineralization of the Assemblage A. Early pyrite (py I) in
rounded and porous subeuhedral crystals cemented by chalcopyrite (cp I) and scarce
sphalerite (sph). Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6 mm. Reflected light.

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13. DOM‐68 (DDH 56 71 m). Assemblage A. Remnants of anhedral pyrite I corroded and
replaced by chalcopyrite I. Dimensions photograph: 1.5x1.13 mm. Reflected light.
14. DOM‐28 (DDH 123 77.2 m). Assemblage A replaced by Assemblage B. Chalcopyrite I
with remnants of anhedral pyrite I replaced by Fe‐poor sphalerite (sphalerite I).
Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6 mm. Reflected light.

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15. DOM‐28 (DDH 123 77.1 m). Assemblage B. Coarse grained Fe‐poor sphalerite
associated with barite replaced by also Fe‐poor but fine grained sphalerite with
galena, pyrite I and chalcopyrite I. Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6 mm. Transmitted
light.
16. DOM‐28. Idem, reflected light.

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17. DOM‐6a. Pyrite I in coarse grained aggregates replaced by chalcopyrite II‐sphalerite

II‐tennantite (Assemblage C) and massive chalcopyrite III (Assemblage D1).
Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6 mm. Reflected light
18. DOM‐4 (DDH 106 49.9 m). Fe‐rich sphalerite II with later replacement of
chalcopyrite II, galena and tennantite (Assemblage C). Dimensions photograph:
0.8x0.6 mm. Reflected light.

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19. DOM‐4. Idem, transmitted light.
19. DOM‐21 (DDH 68 88.4 m). Sphalerite I replaced along fractures by chalcopyrite II and
tennantite (Assemblage C). Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6 mm. Reflected light.

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20. DOM‐6a. Pyrite I in coarse grained aggregates replaced by chalcopyrite I

(Assemblage A) and sphalerite II‐tennantite‐stromeyerite (Assemblage C).
21. DOM‐22 (DDH 68 92 m). Sphalerite I (Assemblage B) replaced by sphalerite II,

chalcopyrite II, pyrite and tennantite (Assemblage C). Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6
mm. Reflected light.

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22. DOM‐27 (DDH 123 69.3 m). Sphalerite II coexisting con tennantite (Assemblage C)
replaced by chalcopyrite III massive of the Assemblage D1. Dimensions photograph:
23. DOM‐27. Idem, reflected light.

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24. DOM‐27 (DDH 123 69.3 m). Sphalerite II associated with tennantite (Asocciation C)
and replaced by chalcopyrite III (Association D1). Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6
25. DOM‐4 (DDH 106 49.9 m). Sphalerite I (Association B) replaced by sphalerite II and
proustite (Association C) and later by bornite‐chalcopyrite III‐sphalerite III‐
tennantite (Association D). Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6 mm. Reflected light.

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26. DOM‐4. Idem, transmitted light.
27. DOM‐67 (DDH 161 262.1 m). Typical assemblage of the Assemblage D. Bornite
intergrown with tennantite, stromeyerite and pyrite II. Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6

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28. DOM‐70 (DDH 73 58 m). Bornite‐tennantite of the Assemblage D replaced by late

pyrite II. Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6 mm. Reflected light.
29. DOM‐70 (DDH 73 58 m). Sphalerite I (Association B) replaced by sphalerite II with

stromeyerite (Association C) and later bornite‐tennantite‐pyrite II (Association D).

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30. DOM‐23 (DDH 68 92.4 m). Sphalerite I replaced by sphalerite II, chalcopyrite and
tennantiten adjacent to barite. Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6 mm. Reflected light.
31. DOM‐70 (DDH 73 58 m). Possible hydrothermal conduit in the Assemblage D with
infilling of bornite and tennantite and an edge of pyrite. Dimensions photograph:

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32. DOM‐72. Pyrite‐chalcopyrite of the Assemblage A with supergene alteration to

covellite (Assemblage E). Outcrop sample. Dimensions photograph: 0.8x0.6 mm.
Reflected light.

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33. DOM‐4. Early Fe‐poor sphalerite and galena replaced by chalcopyrite and
stromeyerite.

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34. Upper contact of the massive sulphides with the Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia via a
40 cm thick band of fine grained grey silica. DDH 11-106, 78 m.
35. Detail of the zone of silica‐rich rocks capping the massive sulfide lens. The silica‐rich
rock shows a delicate banging and partially replaced fragments inherited from the host
rock. DDH 10-64m.

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36. Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia with fragments of andesite and dacite in an

heterogeneous groundmass showing only crude banding. DDH 10-64m.
37. Fine‐grained polymictic volcaniclastic breccia with local grading and crude banding.
DDH 10-64m.

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38. Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia directly overlying the massive sulfides with
heterometric fragments of volcanic rock and an irregular replacement by sulfides. DDH
10-64m.
39. Mineralization replacing the Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia with presumable fluid
conditions infilled with sphalerite and lined with chalcopyrite. DDH 11-122, 69.3m.

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40. Coarse‐grained layer of Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia irregularly replaced by

sulfides and capped by massive pyrite below a fine grained layer that likely acted as a
barrier to the hydrothermal fluids. DDH 10-64-.
41. Polymictic Volcaniclastic Breccia with major hydrothermal alteration of the glass to
smectite, illite and quartz. DDH 11-106, 15m.

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42. Vesicular basalt that delineates the upper part of the subvolcanic sill. DDH 10-68m.
43. Crystal‐rich fragments of likely pumice intermixed with versicolor mudstone, likely
representing ripped‐out soft clasts in the base of a mass flow. Crystal‐rich
Volcaniclastic Breccia. DDH 10-64m.

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44. Contact between two mass flow units of the Crystal‐rich Volcaniclastic Breccia
separated by red mudstone. DDH 10-64m. Note the irregular contacts due to ripening
and the presence of water‐ saturated sediments.
45. Crystal‐rich Volcaniclastic Breccia showing the abundance of broken plagioclase

phenocrysts in what is interpreted as a compacted vesicular (pumice) non welded
rock. DDH 10-64m.

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46. Breccia interbedded in the Crystal‐rich Polymictic Breccia with cm‐sized fragments
of aphyric rhyolite and likely related to the late rhyolite domes. This rock is similar to
that described as the “grainstone” in the deposit. DDH 11-106m.
47. Transported hyaloclastite of aphyric rhyolite of the possible late domes lateral to the
deposit.DDH 7-15m.

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48. In situ hyaloclastite of rhyolite from the late post‐ore domes. DDH 11-187m.
49. Transported hyaloclastite related to the late rhyolite dome with texturally different clasts
including one of pumice – but of similar composition. DDH 7-15m.

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50. Porphyrytic coherent andesite of the “El Domo”. DDH 11-106m.


Preliminary Economic Assessment Curipamba

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SALAZAR RESOURCES LTD.

CURIPAMBA PROJECT - EL DOMO DEPOSIT

MARCH 21, 2014

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

BISA Verification Sampling.......................................................................................... 132

21. CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS ............................................................................. 284

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

Table 12.8 Verification Sampling 1 — BISA 2013 .............................................................. 132

Table 13.3 Chemical Analysis of Head Composites ........................................................... 167

Table 16.6 Sensitivity Analysis ........................................................................................... 237

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

Figure 14.25 Validation Outline for GUAU01 ...................................................................... 221

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

Salazar is a TSXVenture Exchange listed (TSX.V:SRL | FSE:CCG) mineral resource

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

 It may be possible to improve Cu-Zn separation. Mineralogical results indicate that

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

TABLE 1.1 PROPOSED PROGRAM AND BUDGET

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

TABLE 1.2 METALLURGICAL BALANCE SHEET — RECOVERIES AND GRADES

Com posite Weight, Assays Distribution

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

The resource estimate completed by BISA is given in Table 1.3.

TABLE 1.3 EL DOMO MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE - DECEMBER 15, 2013

Tonne s Coppe r Zinc Le a d G old S ilve r

V MS Indic a te d 5.468 2.52 3.27 0.30 3.23 59.19

Bre c c ia Indic a te d 0.345 0.49 1.33 0.13 0.76 26.91

G ypsum Indic a te d 0.051 0.94 0.39 0.03 0.34 7.40

Tota l Indic a te d 6.080 2.33 3.06 0.28 2.99 55.81

V MS Infe rre d 3.093 1.75 2.59 0.19 2.38 49.45

G ra instone Infe rre d 0.170 0.96 0.69 0.10 1.00 19.24

G ypsum Infe rre d 0.249 1.13 0.26 0.01 0.27 4.80

Tota l Infe rre d 3.882 1. 5 6 2 . 19 0 . 16 2.03 42.92

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

The surface structures evaluated are:

TABLE 1.4 INFRAESTRUCTURE ALTERNATIVES

I ni t i al I nvest ment I nvest ment D ur i ng T o t al I nvest ment

Access: Las Naves-Naves Chico-Mine 8.72 11.38 20.1

Mine Facilities - Alternative 3 7.66 7.66

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS

Open Pit Underground Mine

TABLE 1.6 OPERATING COSTS (OPEX) WITH 20% CONTINGENCY

Open Pit Underground Mine

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

FIGURE 1.1 NPV SENSITIVITY

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

Salazar Resources Ltd. – Curipamba Project - El Domo Deposit

TABLE 2.1 PREVIOUS STUDIES

BGS-CODIGEM 1/100000 mapping

1/25000 mapping. Preliminary petrographic

First NI 43-101 report with preliminary

Detailed 1/3000 mapping and cross-sections