Claver, Surigao del Norte (Philippines)

Claver, Surigao del Norte, Philippines

The town of Claver is largely a mining reservation due to its mineral deposits. Mining tenement control map of April 2021 shows nine existing mineral production sharing agreements, three exploration permits. Iron, nickel, copper and silver deposits are primarily mined in this coastal town. The town has a nickel ore loading port as well as a hydrometallurgical processing plant that uses high pressure and temperature, and sulfuric acid (HPAL technology) to extract nickel and cobalt from low-grade ore nickel, and recovering scandium from the wastewater from the HPAL technology.
 
The oldest rocks in the area (mostly within the Taganito Mining Company) are the pre-Tertiary amphibolite schist and other meta-volcanics overthrust by ultramafic rocks consists of Harzburgite. This is interpreted as the basal layer of an ophiolite. Overlain is the upper Eocene conglomerates and limestone, and above is a thick succession of Miocene volcanic rocks and clastic sedimentary rocks. Taganito mine is composed of serpentenized ultramafic rocks, containing olivine, pyroxene, and small amounts of clastic plagioclase. The serpentinized ultramafic rocks were peridotite and dunite with minor accessory minerals of chromite, picotiter and magnetite[1].
 
The ridges in the area are dominated by several major faults and descends towards the rolling coastal area facing the Hinatuan Passage. Drainages include the high volume Taganito and Kinalablaban rivers and minor drainages of Hubasan and Hayanggabon creeks. The area is dominated by a common shrub and coconut trees. Mangroves, nipa and swamp areas thrive on the coasts.
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[1]Taganito Mining Corporation – MPSA No 266-2008-XIII (Surigao Mineral Reservation), 2008.

Outcrop 1, please click the photo. To the right is Claver (NNW) and to the left is Carrascal (SSE).

Outcrop 2, please click the photo. To the right is Claver (NW) and to the left is Carrascal (SE).

Outcrop 3, please click the photo. To the right is Gigaquit (NW) and to the left is Claver (SE).

Outcrop 4, please click the photo. To the right is Placer (NW) and to the left is Gigaquit (SE).