The Republic of Peru (Peru) is the third largest country in South America and one of the 20 largest countries in the world by area, bordering Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country is divided into 24 provinces and a directly subordinate district, and Peru has a population of 31.49 million, ranking fifth in South America.
Map of Peru
Peru is rich in mineral resources and is one of the top 12 mineral countries in the world. The main minerals are copper, silver, zinc, tin, gold iron, molybdenum, tungsten, bismuth, lead, of which copper reserves rank second in the world, silver and zinc rank third, tin and gold rank third. According to statistics at the end of January 2011, Peru's silver, copper, zinc and gold reserves were 120,500 tons, 90.8 million tons, 23.41 million tons and 30 million tons, accounting for 30%, 16%, 10% and 8.3% of the world's total reserves, respectively. As of 2009, Peru's proven reserves of oil were 1.1 billion barrels, natural gas 196 billion cubic meters and liquid natural gas reserves of 935 million barrels.
Map of the distribution of minerals in Peru
1. The distribution of copper ore is large and concentrated
Peru has 90.8 million tons of copper reserves, accounting for 16% of the world's reserves. The reserves are second in the world after Chile. It is mainly distributed in the provinces of Ankash, Arequipa, Cusco, Junin, Mokgua, Tacna and other provinces. The main type of deposit is porphyry copper, to which 97% of copper reserves are dedicated. The Peruvian porphyry copper belt is part of the porphyry copper belt in North and South America, with a length of 2,000 km in the north-west direction and a width of 150 to 300 km.
2. Gold reserves are abundant, but the storage terrain is complex and the mining cost is high
Peru's gold reserves are 3,000 tons, accounting for 8.3% of the global total, ranking third in the world. Peruvian rock gold deposits are mainly distributed in the provinces of Cajamarca, Arequipa, La Libertad and Puno; In addition, there are famous gold placer mines in the inland Bari River and its tributaries in the southeastern Andes Mountains.
3. Iron ore resources are very rich, good ore quality, but inconvenient transportation
Iron ore reserves of 882 million tonnes at an average grade of more than 50%. Peruvian iron ore is part of the Pacific Rim Metallogenic Belt, mainly distributed in Marcona, Ica, Arequipa, Acary and the Andean Mountains. Most of the deposits are located in the foothills of the Andes, far from the harbour, making it more expensive to mine. The Apulimac iron ore mine in central Peru is the largest proven iron ore with an iron content of up to 64 per cent, but the mine is 600 miles from the seaport, has no transport railways, and is in poor condition on roads.
4. Lead, zinc and silver are mostly associated minerals
With 3.5 million tonnes of lead reserves, or 4.4% of the world's reserves, it ranks fifth in the world and first in Latin America after Australia, China, the United States and Kazakhstan. Zinc reserves of 23.41 million tons, accounting for 10% of the world's reserves, ranked third in the world after Australia and China, and first in Latin America. Lead and zinc deposits are mainly distributed in the eastern and Western Mountains in the provinces of Junin, Pasco, Ancash, Lima and Vanuco in north-central Peru. Silver reserves of 125,000 tons, accounting for 30% of the world's total silver reserves, after Poland and Mexico, ranked third in the world, Latin America second, mainly distributed in the Central and Southern Peruvian Andes Mountains. At present, there are more than 40 silver mines in Peru, most of which are silver, lead, zinc polymetallic mines and gold and silver mines.
5. Other metal minerals
Tin reserves of 710,000 tons, accounting for 12.7% of the world's total reserves, ranking third in the world and first in Latin America after China and Indonesia, mainly distributed in the San Rafael mine in the Mariatji region of Puno Province. Molybdenum reserves of 140,000 tons, accounting for 1.6% of the world's reserves, ranked seventh in the world and second in Latin America after China, the United States, Chile, Canada, Armenia and Russia. Molybdenum is a by-product of copper ore, mainly distributed in the copper ore belt, forming copper molybdenum ore. In the three copper belts of northern, central and southern Peru, the molybdenum content is higher in the southern copper belt. Bismuth reserves are 11,000 tons, accounting for 3.4% of the world's reserves. The reserves are second only to China, ranking second in the world and first in Latin America. Rhenium reserves are 45 tons, accounting for 1.8% of the world's reserves. After Chile, the United States, Russia, Kazakhstan and Armenia, the reserves are the sixth in the world and the second in Latin America.
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