Jose A. Benzaquen Perea
Peru has maintained its own characteristic for centuries, such as having in its territory a vast mineral wealth, understood as “a natural origin chemical species”, coupled with a specific crystalline structure and a defined chemical composition which varies within of defined limits” (Carles Canet and Antonio Camprubi, 2006).
Currently, Peru is a global producer of silver, copper, zinc, gold, tin, lead, and molybdenum, among others; which is why mining has become a relevant economic activity that, by the way, comes from the former culture of our Inca Empire as they were already aware of the management and importance of minerals. The geological characteristics of Peru’s Soils which contain various minerals in three different regions (Coast, Sierra, and Amazon forest), made it an attractive destination for private and foreign investment.
The Andes Mountain Range, with its volcanic origin, which runs through the entire center of the Peruvian territory, stands out for being a deposit of the largest amount of minerals that are marketed globally; therefore, it maintains a moderately stable national economy, according to the price conditions of the products in the international market.
The United States, China, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, and the European Union are the main buyers of these minerals as they play a fundamental role in the development of various industries, such as transport, agriculture, construction (zinc), telecommunications (copper), and new technologies (lithium).
The Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute (INGEMMET), an agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru, is the specialized technical public agency in this sector, mainly dedicated to supporting potential investors to locate deposits and start the exploration and exploitation process of the identified mineral.
The world surveys also reflected Peru’s position in the mining production ranking in Latin America. There, Peru occupied the first position as the largest producer of zinc, lead, and tin. It was also ranked second as a producer of gold, copper, silver, and molybdenum.
The exploration stage often extends over time, which is why geology is the science that studies -mainly- the content and structure of the rocks, where the mineral is found; so its study is very complex. We believe that only 10% of all the mining potential of the Peruvian territory has been exploited.
One of the researchers who explored a large part of the Peruvian territory was the Italian professor Antonio Raimondi, who arrived to Peru in July 1850, and for more than 19 years he travelled throughout the Peruvian territory identifying the most representative places of the flora and fauna, while allocating the places and collecting what was found.
Thanks to his research work, there is layout a first scientific of the potential mining deposits and mineral samples that were the object of Raimondi’s study.
His legacy is reflected in his Book “El Peru” and in the National History Museum of the National University of San Marcos in Lima.
Raimondi was also (1865) in the Apurimac region, located to at the south and in the Andean zone, where he identified the presence of gold, silver and copper. As a result of the interest that promote the Raimondi’s investigation, the government decided to establish the National University of Engineering (UNI) in 1876, with a specific Faculty of Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, to give the new student generations this important aspect of the economy in our country.
Nowadays, Peru minerals greater demand exploited worldwide are located -by regions-: Gold: Cajamarca, La Libertad and Ancash; Copper and tin: Arequipa, Cusco, Moquegua, Puno and Tacna; and Silver, lead and zinc: Lima, Junín and Pasco.
Regarding the economic contribution of our mining production, it represents approximately 10% of the Gross Domestic Product, and 60% of exports.
To promote our development, accompanied by the commitment to protect the environment, sustainable mining and respect for our populations, Peru has signed two bilateral agreements: the Free Trade Agreement and the Investment Protection Agreement”.
Additionally, on the protection of investments, we have been negotiating a bilateral agreement with the State of Qatar, to have a legal framework that benefits the interests of both countries, and consequently our populations.
As we have mentioned in previous lines, Peru is the second largest producer of silver, copper and zinc worldwide; third in lead and fourth in tin and molybdenum, according to the latest world survey of Mineral Commodity and Summaries 2020 of the US Geological Survey (USGS); by the Andean News Agency.
Likewise, we are the first 6 gold producing countries globally, a valuable metal that is obtained from the ground or alluvial, which promotes the development of Peru.
We invite you to visit Peru to appreciate the samples of our minerals in all forms, which will remain as a pleasant memory of what Mother Nature of Peru has left, which the ancient Peruvians in the Quechua language called the “Pacha mama” (mother Land).
