Prospección aluvial de las vertientes los copales, ubicadas en la comunidad Chumpias, provincia de Morona Santiago.

Abstract

The objective of this work was to develop the alluvial prospecting of the Los Copales slopes, located in Chumpias (community), Morona Santiago (Province), by means of manual and geochemical surveys to define the gold potential of the study area. A mixed research was applied with field, laboratory and cabinet work, and a quali-quantitative approach in obtaining and processing the information. A sampling network was established with 33 points at distances of 200, 300 and 500 meters between them and 7 sampling points of the Kem Kuim river terrace by means of manual drilling at an average depth of 80 centimeters. The soil samples were chemically analyzed at the mining-metallurgical laboratory Albexxus CIA. LTDA. to determine the gold concentration by fire assay technique, this analysis determined that soil samples DR_018 and DR_009, had higher gold concentrations with 18.70 and 0.86 g/T (grams per ton), respectively. A statistical and geostatistical analysis was performed by the simple Kriging interpolation method to identify the anomalous zones. In addition, the Modified Lepeltier method used in the analysis and delimitation of the zones and gold concentrations, determined the values of Background: 0.54 ppm, Threshold: 3.488 ppm, Subanomaly: 6.436 ppm, anomaly: 9.384 ppm and defined anomaly: 12.332 ppm (parts per million). An anomalous gold zone, DR_018 was identified in the high part of "Alto Yutui" with 18.70 g/T and presence of silty clays, micas, limonite and quartz in the West of this point, and, organic clays and sandstones with plagioclase in the East. It is recommended to develop more detailed prospecting in the zone of greater concentration, by means of a prospecting grid with continuous intervals to obtain more reliable data and to guarantee possible investments in the future.