Benavidesite

Lead Grey

Named in 1982 by Élisabeth Oudin, Paul Picot, François Pillard, Yves Moëlo, Ernest A. J. Burke, and Marek A. Zakrzewski in honor of Alberto Benavides de la Quintana [October 21, 1920 Lima, Peru - February 12, 2014 Lima, Peru], mining engineer, for his contributions to mining development in Peru. He received his training from the colegio La Inmaculada and later the School of Engineers [now the National University of Engineering (UNI)] in 1941 and was awarded a scholarship by Cerro de Pasco Corporation to continue his studies towards a master’s degree in geology at Harvard University. Returning to Perú in 1944 he continued as a geologist at Cerro de Pasco and Goyarisquisga, where, due to his hard work and dedication, he was promoted in 1950, at age 30 to be the first head of exploration of the corporation. Under his leadership, Minas Buenaventura acquired the Julcani mine in 1953. Between 1956 and 1975 the company added the El Brocal, Orcopampa and Uchucchacua mines to its direct operations. In recognition of his business acumen, he was invested as President of Cerro de Pasco, where he led the Peruvian branch of the corporation from 1964 through to 1971. In 2013, the company produced 15% of Peru’s 3.6 million kg of silver and 12% of Peru’s 151,000 kg of gold. Benavides was always promoting and marketing of Peru as a mining destination made the country attractive to mining companies all around the world, but for the benefit of his fellow countrymen as well as for his mining interests. Newmont, BRGM, Noranda, BHP, Southern Peru, Rio Tinto, Barrick, Cyprus Minerals, Phelps Dodge, Freeport, etc. were all convinced to do business in Peru in the office of Alberto Benavides.
He founded the mining faculty of the Universidad Católica del Peru in 1971. Also in the 1970s, he was leading mining at the Uchucchacua mine and fostered innovative research in treating the unusual ores present there. Alberto also founded Buenaventura Ingenieros SA (BISA) in 1977 to retain talented engineers in Perú and develop new mining projects. During this period he was ably supported by his brother, Jorge Benavides de la Quintana, in running Buenaventura. Alberto Benavides was always up to date with all the geological and exploration techniques and he kept a close relationship with Harvard and academia. He headed the privatization committee of Centromin Peru, and he died during his term as president of the Patronato UNI, an institution created to raise funds for research grants and scholarships for the best UNI students. Because of his many accomplishments, Benavides, received many awards and recognitions. In 1980 he was honored by the French Government as Oficial in the Orden Nacional al Merito for his contribution to the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minieres (BRGM) in its exploration and research work in Peru. He received the Society of Mining and Metallurgy of America's (SME) Gold Medal Award in 2000 and the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) honoured him with the prestigious Penrose Medal in 2001. Harvard University honored him as Chair alumni for his Life Time Achievement in 2011, the highest honour Harvard University gives to its alumni. The Sociedad Geologica, where he was twice its president, also honoured him with its highest award; Universidad de San Marcos named him Profesor Honoris Causa in 2001; the UNI, his Alma Mater, did it first in 1995, and he has been recognized by all the professional mining institutions in Perú. He was named Amauta, the highest recognition in education by the Peruvian government. Benevides was also a public servant. He was elected mayor of the city of Cerro de Pasco in 1945, deputy mayor of Lima from 1975 to 1977, Director of the board of the Central Bank of Peru in 1977 and again from 1992 to 2000, president of INCITEMI (Institute for scientific research and mining technology). He headed the privatisation committee of Centromin Peru, and he died during his term as president of the Patronato UNI, an institution created to raise funds for research grants and scholarships for the best UNI students. He is warmly remembered because of his famous quote: “Don’t worry about environmental care costs. Be sure to take good care of the environment, just for its own sake, because God will return the favor with a bountiful reward. ”

ⓘ Uchucchacua Mine, Oyón District, Oyón Province, Lima, Peru
ⓘ Sätra Mine, Doverstorp ore field, Finspång, Östergötland County, Sweden