Investigación sobre la minería del oro en Costa Rica: primeros resultados

Abstract

The preliminary results on the gold mining activity were obtained through visits to the mining sites arround the country. Twelve mines were examinated in the northern region. Two of these were in the advanced exploration stage, four were active mines and the remaining six were no productive (either stoped or being restructured). Five mechanized extraction sites were visited in the Osa Peninsula (south), in addition to other hand extraction activities. Most underground mines in Costa Rica are small, with productivity below 100 metrics tons of ore per day. Open pit mines, on the other hand, bane intermediate production, usually arround 1000 metric tones per day of ore. The activity employs nearly 750 people, including speciallized technitions and workers. The success of some of the proyects in the advanced exploration stage may increase the potential productivity in a short period of time, and might create new job opportunities in the mining sector. The current situation is characterized by: lack of exploration programs (therefore, the actual ore reserves are unknown); low gold recovery with the gravimetric methods utilized in the placers lack of planning during explotation of the gold vein and absence of specialized personnel of the various process levels.