Overview
| Stage | Residual leach |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Production Start | ...  |
Mining operations at La Zanja were halted in October 2022 when Phase 4 mining was completed. However, leaching will continue to the extent that this remains profitable while Buenaventura continues exploration related to the underground Cu/Au sulfide project.
Buenaventura has opted not to continue with Phase 5 exploitation for the time being despite Pampa Verde pit Phase 4 stripping completion. Phase 5 mining has been postponed due to OpEx inflationary pressure. Mining activities at the Pampa Verde pit will be paused during 2023 to focus on sulfide deposit exploration beneath the pit. However, leaching will continue at La Zanja’s San Pedro pad to the extent that this remains profitable. |
Source:
p. 56,99,194
Compañía de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. held a 53.06% interest in Minera La Zanja, S.R.L., which operates La Zanja mining unit. The remaining 46.94% interest is held by Newmont.
Contractors
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Deposit Type
- Vein / narrow vein
- Epithermal
- Porphyry
Summary:
La Zanja is located within a large area of hydrothermal alteration, mainly related to epithermal gold deposits in high sulphidation environments, in addition to some bonanza Au vein epithermal systems, Cu-Au transitional epithermal-porphyry, and breccias pipe Cu-Au-Mo. There are two-ore deposits in production in oxide material: San Pedro Sur and Pampa Verde.
Epithermal gold mineralization in oxides associated with dome edges in San Pedro and Pampa Verde deposits. Additionally, several low and intermediate-sulfidation vein systems have been recognized on the periphery, as well as copper/molybdenum/gold mineralization related to porphyry-type systems.
Summary:
Mining is performed via open pit, for which there are currently two pits in exploitation: San Pedro Sur and Pampa Verde. The height of the operating benches is 6 m and 12 m for th final slope, with an angle ranging from 36° to 54°. Ore is transported directly to the San Pedro Sur leach pad, 3 km from the San Pedro Sur pit and 10 km from the Pampa Verde pit. The barren material is transported to deposits located near each open pit. The material is loaded using 3 m3 excavators, and hauled using trucks with a capacity of 20 m3.
During 2021, the operation focused on the San Pedro Sur and Pampa Verde open pits. Reinterpretation geological exploration was also carried out in projects with resources and reserves. The operation is carried out with outsourced equipment, which includes loading equipment of 2.4–4.7 m3 and hauling equipment of 20-22 m3. The average material moved is 11.7 kilo tons per day.
Source:
Summary:
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Reserves at December 31, 2021:
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven
|
4,385,030 t
|
Gold
|
0.35 g/t
|
49,617 oz
|
|
Proven
|
4,385,030 t
|
Silver
|
3.33 g/t
|
470,071 oz
|
|
Probable
|
3,978,700 t
|
Gold
|
0.32 g/t
|
41,348 oz
|
|
Probable
|
3,978,700 t
|
Silver
|
3.47 g/t
|
444,491 oz
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
8,363,730 t
|
Gold
|
0.34 g/t
|
90,964 oz
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
8,363,730 t
|
Silver
|
3.4 g/t
|
914,562 oz
|
|
Measured
|
5,060,000 t
|
Gold
|
0.4 g/t
|
64,375 oz
|
|
Measured
|
5,060,000 t
|
Silver
|
11.1 g/t
|
1,805,917 oz
|
|
Indicated
|
2,179,000 t
|
Gold
|
0.42 g/t
|
29,317 oz
|
|
Indicated
|
2,179,000 t
|
Silver
|
9.05 g/t
|
634,221 oz
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
7,239,000 t
|
Gold
|
0.4 g/t
|
93,692 oz
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
7,239,000 t
|
Silver
|
10.48 g/t
|
2,440,138 oz
|
|
Inferred
|
1,271,000 t
|
Gold
|
0.32 g/t
|
12,890 oz
|
|
Inferred
|
1,271,000 t
|
Silver
|
5.64 g/t
|
230,475 oz
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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