A geophysical case history of the Yanacocha gold district, northern Peru

Abstract

The Yanacocha gold district is located in the northern Andes of Peru (Figure 1). The district lies at an elevation of 3400 to 4200 masl, approximately 600 km north of Lima. Newmont Mining Corporation (51%) is the operator of the Minera Yanacocha S.R.L. joint venture with Minas Buenaventura S.R.L. (44%), and the International Finance Corporation (5%). Modern exploration was initiated in 1969, while discovery of the gold deposit occurred in the mid-1980’s through systematic rock geochemistry. Several strong gold anomalies were subsequently drilled with success. Initial mine operations and production began in 1993.