Overview
Status | Temporary Suspension |
Mine Type | Underground |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
- Bench & Fill
- Overhand Cut & Fill
- Backfill
|
Processing |
|
October 15, 2021 - Compañia de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. (“Buenaventura” or “the Company”), Peru’s largest publicly-traded precious metals mining company, today announced that the Company has submitted a request to the Peruvian minister for mines and energy (MINEM) for the temporary suspension of mining and ore processing activities at its Uchucchacua mine. Operations were previously suspended due to a local community strike initiated on September 13, 2021, announced by the Company on September 21, 2021. Buenaventura has requested an extended suspension of operations as it has identified an important opportunity to meaningfully improve efficiency and profitability at its Uchucchacua operations. Mining and ore processing activities will therefore be suspended until the Company’s related goals and objectives have been fully achieved. |
Latest News | Buenaventura Announces Temporary Suspension of Production at Uchucchacua Mine October 15, 2021 |
Source:
p. 53
The Uchucchacua mine is wholly-owned and operated by Buenaventura.
Deposit Type
- Mesothermal
- Vein / narrow vein
Summary:
The Uchucchacua mineral structures are hosted by Mesozoic limestone of the Jumasha Formation and are classified as a mesothermal polymetallic deposit of silver-lead-zinc with important contents of manganese. The main mineralized structures are veins and ore bodies with high-grade silver content.
This is a silver-bearing deposit with base metals and a high content of manganese hosted in the carbonate rock of the Jumasha Formation from the Upper Cretaceous, related to intrusives from the Miocene. It consists of veins and replacement bodies associated with systems of NE-SW, E-W, and NW-SE structures. Of particular note are the Uchucchacua, Socorro-Cachipampa, Rosa, and Sandra faults, among others. Mineralogy is varied and complex, with the occurrence of silver in sulfides and sulfosalts, with abundant alabandite and manganese calcium silicates. Lead and zinc increase in proximity to the intrusives.
Mining Methods
- Bench & Fill
- Overhand Cut & Fill
- Backfill
Summary:
There are three mines in exploitation—Socorro, Carmen, and Huantajalla—whose production is extracted via the Luz and Master shafts. The exploitation methods used include overhand cut and fill and bench and fill, both mechanized, using low-profile equipment. The ore is transported by rail using locomotives and mining cars to the loading areas in the shaft, and to the concentration plant. The main access tithe mining areas is gained through a descending ramp. The barren material is recirculated as backfill to the pits, and the excess material is transported to the barren material deposit located on the surface. For the ventilation of the work, there are three main fans with a capacity of 300,000 cfm, and secondary fans for the explorations and developments. For mine drainage, there are two water pumping stations in series, with a capacity of 1,000 and 750 l/s, respectively, that evacuate water to level 4120, which exits to the surface through the Patón Tunnel, which measures 4.2 km long.
Source:
Summary:
The metallurgical process at Uchucchacua consists of two circuits: circuit 1 consisting of primary crushing, grinding, flotation of minerals where lead-silver, zinc-silver and pyrite concentrates are obtained, and the circuit 2 consisting of a primary crushing, secondary crushing, grinding, flotation of minerals where lead-silver, zinc-silver and pyrite concentrates are obtained. Concentrates with high manganese content produced by Uchucchacua are treated at the Río Seco leaching plant, for subsequent sale.
Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Silver
|
Recovery Rate, %
| ......  | ......  | 87.4 | 82.5 | 84 | 83.9 | 81.7 |
Silver
|
Head Grade, g/t
| ......  | ......  | 388.17 | 458.15 | 473.71 | 460.33 | 452.87 |
Zinc
|
Recovery Rate, %
| ......  | ......  | | | | | |
Zinc
|
Head Grade, %
| ......  | ......  | 2.23 | 1.8 | 1.17 | 1.05 | 1.04 |
Lead
|
Recovery Rate, %
| ......  | ......  | | | | | |
Lead
|
Head Grade, %
| ......  | ......  | 1.6 | 1.36 | 0.93 | 0.82 | 0.81 |
Production:
Commodity | Product | Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Silver
|
Metal in concentrate
|
oz
| ......  | ......  | 15,420,102 | 16,583,698 | 16,212,746 | 13,919,922 | 12,055,570 |
Zinc
|
Metal in concentrate
|
t
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
Lead
|
Metal in concentrate
|
t
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
Manganese
|
Sulphate
|
t
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | | |
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Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Ore tonnes mined
| ......  | 1,335,018 t | 1,387,775 t | 1,364,478 t | 1,267,752 t | 1,121,474 t |
Tonnes milled
| ......  | 1,335,018 t | 1,387,775 t | 1,364,478 t | 1,267,752 t | 1,121,474 t |
Daily processing capacity
| ......  | 4,000 t | 4,000 t | 4,000 t | 3,860 t | 3,800 t |
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Reserves at December 31, 2020:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven & Probable
|
7,617 kt
|
Silver
|
9.67 oz/t
|
73,662 koz
|
Proven & Probable
|
7,617 kt
|
Zinc
|
1.93 %
|
147 kt
|
Proven & Probable
|
7,617 kt
|
Lead
|
1.11 %
|
85 kt
|
Measured & Indicated
|
2,335 kt
|
Silver
|
9.79 oz/t
|
22,865 koz
|
Measured & Indicated
|
2,335 kt
|
Zinc
|
2.063 %
|
48 kt
|
Measured & Indicated
|
2,335 kt
|
Lead
|
1.201 %
|
28 kt
|
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