maps?q=8.510063,-81.79759&ll=8.51087,-81.797032&spn=0.019736,0.026093&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=16.71875,56.536561&num=1&t=h&vpsrc=0&z=15&iwloc=ACerro Colorado, Panama: A giant porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit

The discovery of this metal deposit was made by Canadian Javelin, an exploration company run by a Newfoundland businessman of a very acute mind. Reconnaissance work and drilling was carried out in the early 1970’s. The deposit has not been exploited.

A huge mountain rising to 1200 m above sea level is entirely mineralized with copper. However, no mineralization was noticeable on the surface. The mountain nevertheless is different from the surroundings due to lack of trees, a phenomenon later attributed to the acidity of the soil due to the abundant pyrite in the rock making up the mountain. Pyrite is associated with chalcopyrite, the main copper-bearing mineral. Due to the tropical climate of the area, abundant precipitation has leached the rocks down to several tens of meters below surface at the same time removing the copper from near the surface and depositing it at the bottom of this leached zone. (Due to the extensive weathering the identification of the lithology and alteration is not an easy task) The resultant supergene zone is rich in copper and sometimes molybdenum as well. Below the supergene zone, the rocks are not altered from surface weathering and the mineralization continues to at least sea level (that is as deep as the early drilling reached).

The deposit also contains gold and silver and is cut by later zinc-lead veins.

Mineralization is contemporaneous with two major intrusions: a granodiorite pluton and an earlier Quartz Feldspar Porphyry. Alteration zones normally associated with porphyry copper deposits have been outlined with both these intrusions. Anhydrite is ubiquitous with the metallic minerals. The giant size of the deposit is probably due to the fact that it is made up of two separate intrusive phases in the same general area, not just one. The granodiorite has an age of 6 million years.

Some smaller satellite deposits are also found in the surrounding areas and one is very rich in molybdenum. Exploration efforts were confined to 2-3 mountain ridges (cannibal populations were reported to live beyond). A sparse aboriginal population is scattered in the area. A huge house complex has been built near the continental divide, but there were no roads to the area! Access to the area during the 1970’s was entirely by plane.

The pictures that follow show a ground photo early in the exploration and a current Google Map shot with numerous roads and trails into the area.

The dressed up girls are attending a wedding in a neighbouring community.