From a Mining Mindset to Regional Discovery: A Case Study for Hematite Iron Ore Exploration in Mauritania
There has been extensive mining for hematite mineralisation in Mauritania since the 1950s, focused on the Kediat Ijil and Mhaoudat regions in northern Mauritania. These discoveries were largely made during the colonial period, with the main operations at Kediat Ijil starting in 1955, Mhaoudat in 1980 and TO14, the only recently discovered ore body, in 1991.
The projects are operated by the Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM), who produce about 8 Mtpa of hematite iron ore. SNIM also operate the Guelb El Rhein magnetite project which accounts for an additional 4 Mtpa of production (partly shipped as high grade magnetite, partly as a hematite-magnetite blend).
With Reserves of Direct Shipping Ore (DSO>58% Fe) standing at around 300 Mt, SNIM is ramping up efforts to allow the discovery of additional hematite mineralisation in the district. To do this, SNIM has relied on remapping and sampling outcropping mineralised patches and tested some ground-based geophysical methods on and near existing mineralisation. This has led to the confirmation of mineralisation and the development of a series of shallower mines, but has failed to identify the larger deposits they hoped to find.
SRK was called in to provide a re-interpretation of all available datasets and conduct structural mapping on the ground together with SNIM personnel in an effort to identify new targets. Given that most outcropping mineralisation had been identified by earlier mapping, SRK focused on a combination of pit mapping and regional structural mapping and developed a series of conceptual models based on the structural context and the mineralisation styles identified. This formed the basis of an exploration strategy for SNIM to implement, with an annual review of results by SRK to guide the exploration work going forward.
The talk will present a geological overview of Mauritania’s “Iron Quadrangle” and discuss the structural controls and mineralisation styles in the district, as well as throw in a new regional tectonic model for Kediat Ijil and Mhaoudat.
