Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Underground |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
- Cut & Fill
- Longhole open stoping
- Unconsolidated hydraulic fill
|
Production Start | ... |
Mine Life | 2030 |
An expansion of the La Colorada was completed in 2017, encompassing a new 618-metre deep mine shaft and new sulphide processing plant.
A preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") for the La Colorada Skarn project is expected to be released in the second half of 2023. |
Source:
p. 26
Pan American is the 100% owner of the Property through its wholly owned subsidiary, Plata Panamericana S. A. de C.V.
Contractors
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Deposit Type
- Hydrothermal
- Vein / narrow vein
- Skarn
- Manto
Summary:
La Colorada is located in a region with significant silver and base metal production from vein and skarn deposits, and is considered a typical hydrothermal polymetallic deposit, with a transition of silver rich mineralization to more base metal rich mineralization at depth. This is the geological model considered for exploration and mineral resource and reserve estimation.
The skarn deposit is a typical skarn system comprising altered diorite and quartz feldspar intrusive stocks on the contact with limestone and siltstone. Zoned endoskarn and exoskarn are present, with a prograde garnet and pyroxene zone, and a retrograde zone with zinc, lead, copper, and silver mineralization. Carbonate replacement deposits, breccia pipes, epithermal silver, lead, and zinc systems, and a deep copper molybdenum porphyry are present, related to multiphase hydrothermal and magmatic activity.
Economic mineralization at La Colorada is found in veins, replacement mantos within limestone, and skarn. The majority of the mineral resources and reserves are sourced from the NC vein series, the HW vein series, and Veta 3, all at the Candelaria mine; the Amolillo vein system at the Estrella mine; vein and manto mineralization at the Recompensa system at the Recompensa mine; and the new undeveloped skarn deposit, which is parallel to and below the NC vein series, east of the Candelaria mine.
Most mineralized veins on the Property strike east to northeast and dip moderately to steeply to the sout ........
Mining Methods
- Cut & Fill
- Longhole open stoping
- Unconsolidated hydraulic fill
Summary:
Underground mining currently takes place at the Candelaria and Estrella mines utilizing cut and fill and long hole open stoping methods. Ore is hoisted to the surface in a shaft, and when required, may also be hauled to the surface using the mine access ramps present in both mines.
The main access ramps and haulage drifts are designed at 3.5 metres wide by 3.5 metres high, with a maximum gradient of 15%. Main levels have a vertical interval of 30 metres. Minimum mining widths are either 1.8 metres with planned dilution of 0.3 metres either side, or 1.5 metres with planned dilution of 0.2 metres either side, depending on vein width, and cuts are 2.4 metres high.
Hand held drills or electric hydraulic jumbo drills are used for development mining to access the ore, depending on the size of excavation required. Scoops are used for tramming ore and backfill to and from stopes, and haul trucks are used for underground ore haulage. Ground support is provided by rock bolts, with screen and shotcrete as required, as well as by backfilling mining voids with development waste rock or mill tailings. Ore is hoisted to the surface in a shaft with a capacity in excess of 2,300 tpd, and hauled to the mill crusher stockpile. When required, ore can be hauled to the surface using the two mine access ramps present in both mines.
Source:
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Source:
Summary:
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Source:
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Reserves at June 30, 2022:
Mineral reserves and resources are estimated using a price of $19 per ounce of silver, $1,300 per ounce of gold, $2,600 per tonne of zinc and $2,000 per tonne of lead.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven & Probable
|
10 Mt
|
Silver
|
317 g/t
|
101.4 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
10 Mt
|
Lead
|
1.13 %
|
112 kt
|
Proven & Probable
|
10 Mt
|
Zinc
|
1.99 %
|
198 kt
|
Proven & Probable
|
10 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.2 g/t
|
63 koz
|
Measured & Indicated
|
5.3 Mt
|
Silver
|
200 g/t
|
33.9 M oz
|
Measured & Indicated
|
5.3 Mt
|
Lead
|
0.88 %
|
47 kt
|
Measured & Indicated
|
5.3 Mt
|
Zinc
|
1.53 %
|
80 kt
|
Measured & Indicated
|
5.3 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.15 g/t
|
26 koz
|
Inferred
|
14.9 Mt
|
Silver
|
195 g/t
|
93.9 M oz
|
Inferred
|
14.9 Mt
|
Lead
|
1.05 %
|
157 kt
|
Inferred
|
14.9 Mt
|
Zinc
|
1.89 %
|
282 kt
|
Inferred
|
14.9 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.2 g/t
|
98 koz
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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