Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
- Filter press plant
- ROM/dump leach
- Merrill–Crowe
- Cyanide (reagent)
|
Mine Life | 3.1 years (as of Jan 1, 2020) |
Source:
p. 5
Noche Buena is operated by Minera Penmont S. de R.L. de C.V (Minera Penmont) as a subsidiary of Fresnillo Plc (Fresnillo). Fresnillo is the 100 percent owner.
Deposit Type
- Vein / narrow vein
- Hydrothermal
Summary:
Noche Buena is located in the Herradura district, 23 kilometres from the Herradura mine.
Gold rich veins are restricted to the Proterozoic rocks which consist of biotite-feldspar-quartz and quartz-feldspar gneisses of sedimentary and plutonic origin. The hydrothermal system is structurally controlled and the higher grade mineralization occurs in quartz-sulfide veins filling tensional fractures. Quartz-sericite-albite alteration is widespread in the core of the deposit and grades to propylitic in the outer parts where the gneisses are more biotite rich.
Summary:
Noche Buena is an open pit gold mine which developed by conventional truck and shovel method with preliminary drilling and blasting operations. DM 45 Drilling machines are utilized for drilling blast holes, Cat 992 wheel loaders and Cat 390 Excavators for loading ore and waste to Cat 777 and Cat 775 haulage trucks.
Processing
- Filter press plant
- ROM/dump leach
- Merrill–Crowe
- Cyanide (reagent)
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
Processing facilities consist of a heap leach pad, process ponds, a Merrill-Crowe plant, and various support facilities. Run-of-mine ore is placed on the heap leach pad for leaching via drip emitters after adding lime to each truckload. There are four ponds: pregnant pond, intermediate pond, and two contingency ponds.
Noche Buena receives solid cyanide via isotankers with flobins stored in a warehouse as a backup supply. There is an offload facility for the isotankers as well as an adjacent flobin mixing facility. Five tanks are used for receiving, mixing, and distributing the reagent-grade cyanide: dissolution (for isotankers), dilution, preparation (for flobins), storage, and dosification.
The Merrill-Crowe plant consists of a clarification cone, clarifiers, deoxygenation towers, a zinc cone, filter presses, and a sedimentation pond (for clarifier wash water). A refinery is also located onsite.
Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Gold
|
Head Grade, g/t
| ......  | ......  | 0.52 | 0.52 | 0.51 | 0.5 | 0.51 |
Silver
|
Head Grade, g/t
| ......  | ......  | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
Production:
Commodity | Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Gold
|
oz
| ......  | ......  | 167,208 | 172,282 | 182,280 | 158,179 | 129,242 |
Silver
|
oz
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
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Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total tonnes mined
| ......  | 48,621 kt | 80,305 kt | 85,233 kt | 81,423 kt | 82,373 kt |
Ore tonnes mined
| ......  | 12,167 kt | 18,196 kt | 17,821 kt | 17,432 kt | 17,400 kt |
Tonnes processed
| ......  | 12,166,900 t | 18,195,744 t | 17,820,817 t | 17,431,718 t | 17,399,931 t |
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Reserves at December 31, 2020:
Mineral reserve cut-off grade is 0.25 g/t Au.
Mineral resource cut-off grade is 0.25 g/t Au.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Probable
|
20,054 kt
|
Gold
|
0.51 g/t
|
326 koz
|
Measured
|
20,454 kt
|
Gold
|
0.51 g/t
|
335 koz
|
Indicated
|
13,007 kt
|
Gold
|
0.49 g/t
|
207 koz
|
Measured & Indicated
|
33,461 kt
|
Gold
|
0.5 g/t
|
541 koz
|
Inferred
|
1,957 kt
|
Gold
|
0.47 g/t
|
29 koz
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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