Venezuela Iron Ore, Bauxite, and Gold Sites

Maria Luisa Group

These sites are located 23 km west of the Guri Dam. It includes four reservoirs, which are: a) Silver Hills Vallese and b) Peak Cerro Paja; c) Cerro Viejo and Cerro Black; d) Cerro Mataje.

Represent a reserve of 258 million metric tons and a tenor of 47% mineral.

Quadrilateral El Pao

Here we find the following sites:

• Site of El Pao: located 40 km southeast of the confluence of the Orinoco and Caroni rivers. Extension of 8600 hectares and reserves are 25 million metric tons.
• The Imperial (El Castillo): is located 56 km northeast of El Pao. The Crane is highlighted; its proven reserves are 27 million metric tons of iron ore.

Imataca Ring

These deposits are located, basically, in Delta Amacuro. Piacoa and Manoa stand out, which have been little studied and whose economic potential, therefore, has not been determined.

Mineral Characteristics

Bauxite

Bauxite is an important ore of aluminum consisting of aluminum oxide with various degrees of hydration. It is usually mixed with impurities, especially iron. Among the aluminum-containing minerals of bauxite are gibbsite, Al(OH)₃, and diaspore, AlO(OH).

Bauxite is a soft mineral with a hardness that varies between 1 and 3, and a relative density between 2 and 2.55. Its color varies from white to brown and has a dull appearance. Bauxite is usually found in pea-sized clusters. The color and characteristic appearance of bauxite help distinguish it from other minerals.

Aluminum (Al) is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Its biggest advantage is its lightness; it weighs nearly three times less than ordinary steel.

Gold

Gold displays a characteristic yellow color. It is considered the most malleable and ductile metal known.¹ One ounce (31.10 grams) of gold can be hammered into a sheet covering 28 m². As a soft metal, alloys are common with other metals to provide strength. It is also a good conductor of heat and electricity, and is unaffected by air and most chemicals. It has a high resistance to chemical alteration by heat, humidity, and most corrosive agents, and so is well suited for use in coin minting and jewelry.

This is a very dense metal with a high melting point and high electron affinity.