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Chile
Centinela (Esperanza, El Tesoro) Mine

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 Location:
64 km S from Calama, Chile

  Regional Office:
Av. Apoquindo 4001 P. 18
Las Condes
Santiago
Chile
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  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
  • Processing
  • Production
  • Reserves
  • Costs & Financials
  • Fleet
  • Personnel
  • Filings & News

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Overview

StageProduction
Mine TypeOpen Pit
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Gold
  • Molybdenum
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Processing
  • Crush & Screen plant
  • Sulfuric acid (reagent)
  • Flotation
  • Heap leach
  • ROM/dump leach
  • Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
Mine Life2068
Centinela consists of Centinela Concentrates (Esperanza + Esperanza Sur and Encuentro Sulphide mostly sulphide porphyry deposits) and Centinela Cathodes (Tesoro Central and Tesoro Sur oxide deposits, including the oxide portion of the Mirador, Encuentro and Llano deposits).

Five-year production to potentially reach approximately 900,000 tonnes of copper by 2026 if the Second Concentrator project at Centinela is approved by the end of 2022.


Owners

Source: p. 234, 235
CompanyInterestOwnership
Marubeni Corp. 30 % Indirect
Antofagasta plc. 70 % Indirect
Minera Centinela S.A. (operator) 100 % Direct
Minera Centinela S.A., is a 70%-owned subsidiary of Antofagasta, and holds the Centinela operations. Marubeni Corporation, the Antofagasta’s 30% minority partner in Centinela and Antucoya.

Deposit Type

  • Porphyry


Summary:

The Mirador deposit is a multiphase porphyry Cu Au-Mo system, within which four intrusive pulses dated by the U-Pb zircon method at 41.3 + 0.4 to 38.4 + 0.7 Ma are currently recognized. These are: feldspar- and biotite-bearing granodioritic Mirador porphyry; dacite porphyry with biotite and quartz eyes; porphyritic granodiorite stock; and late dacite porphyry. The deposit occurs within the Domeyko fault system but is localized by a N65-80°W-trending fault, suggesting the possibility of a new structural system with potential to host porphyry copper deposits in the Centinela district. The porphyry system is emplaced into Jurassic calcareous shale and gypsum, giving rise to peripheral, locally mineralized skarn.

Four mineralization types are recognized: early porphyry Cu-Au with potassic alteration, EB, A and B veinlets, and hypogene chalcopyrite bornite-Au mineralization; Granodiorite stock with Cu-Mo mineralization, sericite-chlorite alteration, fine-grained disseminated sulfides and abundant molybdenite; Cu-Au-bearing garnet skarn with chalcopyrite-pyrite-magnetite; and hornfels and skarn displaying in situ oxidation, which is affected by gravitational collapse due to basal gypsum dissolution. Piedmont gravel and tectonic and solution-collapse breccias then channeled supergene copper-bearing solutions, leading to precipitation of chrysocolla, antofagastite and copper wad. The resultant high grade oxide copper ore is currently being exploited by Minera Centinela.


Mining Methods

  • Truck & Shovel / Loader


Summary:

Centinela mines sulphide and oxide deposits 1,350 km north of Santiago in the Antofagasta Region, one of Chile’s most important mining areas.

Centinela consists of Centinela Concentrates (Esperanza + Esperanza Sur and Encuentro Sulphide mostly sulphide porphyry deposits) and Centinela Cathodes (Tesoro Central and Tesoro Sur oxide deposits, including the oxide portion of the Mirador, Encuentro and Llano deposits).

Esperanza Sur is 4 km south of the Esperanza pit and is close to Centinela’s concentrator plant. The deposit contains 1.4 billion tonnes of reserves with a grade of 0.4% copper, 0.13 g/t of gold and 0.012% of molybdenum. Stripping was expected to start in early 2020 but was rescheduled in response to COVID-19 to the third quarter, and is now expected to be completed in the first half of 2022 at an unchanged capital cost of $175 million.

Minning operations is carried out via conventional truck and shovel drill and blast method.Of all Thr Centinela consumes the most diesel, operating some 120 mine haulage trucks and mining from six open pits.


Crushing and Grinding
Flow Sheet: Source
Crusher / Mill TypeModelSizePowerQuantity
SAG mill 1
Ball mill 2

Summary:

Concentrator Plant comprises three stages of crushing followed by primary SAG mill and two secondary ball mills.

Cathode Plant comprises three stages of crushing.


Processing

  • Crush & Screen plant
  • Sulfuric acid (reagent)
  • Flotation
  • Heap leach
  • ROM/dump leach
  • Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning

Flow Sheet: Subscription required

Summary:

There are two processing plants on site, Cathode Plant for treats oxides and Concentrator Plant for treats sulphides.

Concentrator Plant produces copper concentrate (containing gold and silver) through a milling and flotation process, and molybdenum concentrate.

Cathode Plant produces copper cathodes, using the solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) process.

Recoveries & Grades:

CommodityParameter202020192018201720162015
Copper Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required71.964.370.768.9
Copper Head Grade, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required0.730.940.810.98
Gold Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required6569.672.272.3
Gold Head Grade, g/t  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required0.210.220.280.24
Molybdenum Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required81.9
Molybdenum Head Grade, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required0.008

Production:

CommodityProductUnits2021202020192018201720162015
Copper Total kt  ......  Subscription required ^  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required248228236221
Gold Metal in concentrate koz  ......  Subscription required ^  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Molybdenum Metal in concentrate kt  ......  Subscription required ^  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Copper Cathode kt  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required92645676
Copper Metal in concentrate kt  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required156164180145
^ Guidance / Forecast.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Operational Metrics:

Metrics202020192018201720162015
Daily processing rate  ......  Subscription required141.3 kt142.3 kt117.8 kt114.2 kt109.6 kt
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Reserves at December 31, 2020:
The cut-off grade applied to the determination of ore reserves for Centinela Concentrates is 0.15% equivalent copper with 0.15% copper used as a cut-off grade for mineral resources. The cut-off grades used for Centinela Cathodes is 0.20% copper for ore reserves and 0.15% copper for mineral resources.

CategoryOreTypeTonnage CommodityGrade
Proven & Probable Sulphide 1,738 Mt Copper 0.41 %
Proven & Probable Oxide 323.9 Mt Copper 0.4 %
Proven & Probable Total 2,062 Mt Copper 0.41 %
Proven & Probable Sulphide 1,738 Mt Gold 0.14 g/t
Proven & Probable Sulphide 1,738 Mt Molybdenum 0.012 %
Measured & Indicated Sulphide 2,898 Mt Copper 0.41 %
Measured & Indicated Oxide 455.7 Mt Copper 0.38 %
Measured & Indicated Total 3,353 Mt Copper 0.41 %
Measured & Indicated Sulphide 2,898 Mt Gold 0.14 g/t
Measured & Indicated Sulphide 2,898 Mt Molybdenum 0.013 %
Inferred Sulphide 1,228 Mt Copper 0.31 %
Inferred Oxide 18.5 Mt Copper 0.34 %
Inferred Total 1,247 Mt Copper 0.31 %
Inferred Sulphide 1,228 Mt Gold 0.08 g/t
Inferred Sulphide 1,228 Mt Molybdenum 0.011 %

Commodity Production Costs:

CommodityUnits2021202020192018201720162015
Credits (by-product) Copper USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required -0.38 / lb -0.45 / lb -0.56 / lb
Cash costs Copper USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required 1.89 / lb 1.81 / lb 1.75 / lb 2.27 / lb
Cash costs Copper USD  ......  Subscription required ^†  ......  Subscription required†  ......  Subscription required† 1.51 / lb† 1.36 / lb† 1.19 / lb† 1.85 / lb†
^ Guidance / Forecast.
† Net of By-Product.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Financials:

Units202020192018201720162015
Capital expenditures M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required535.2   619.2   617.4   535.1  
Revenue M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required1,609   1,646   1,338   1,266  
Operating Income M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required229.6   579.1   246   -131  
Pre-tax Income M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required191.4   554.5   213.9   -163.5  
After-tax Income M USD  ......  Subscription required188.2   357.7   140.6   -113.9  
EBITDA M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required645   859.4   562.5   238.4  
Subscription required - Subscription is required


Heavy Mobile Equipment:
HME TypeModelSizeQuantityLeased or
Contractor
Ref. Date
Backhoe ....................... Subscription required Dec 7, 2016
Drill ....................... Subscription required Dec 7, 2016
Drill ....................... Subscription required Dec 7, 2016
Drill ....................... Subscription required Dec 7, 2016
Drill ....................... Subscription required Dec 7, 2016
Drill ....................... Subscription required Dec 7, 2016
Drill ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Apr 28, 2022
Loader (FEL) ....................... Subscription required Dec 7, 2016
Loader (FEL) ....................... Subscription required Dec 7, 2016
Loader (FEL) ....................... Subscription required Dec 7, 2016
Shovel ....................... Subscription required Dec 7, 2016
Shovel (rope) ....................... Subscription required Dec 7, 2016
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required 360 t Dec 7, 2016
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required 360 t Dec 7, 2016
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required 330 t Dec 7, 2016
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required 230 t Dec 7, 2016
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required 230 t Dec 7, 2016
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required 240 t ....................... Subscription required Leased Feb 23, 2022
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required 363 t ....................... Subscription required Apr 28, 2022
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 23, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 23, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 3, 2022
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 23, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 23, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 23, 2021
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Staff:

EmployeesContractorsYear
Subscription required 2020
Subscription required 2019
Subscription required 2018
Subscription required 2017
Subscription required 2016
Subscription required Subscription required 2015

Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2019
................................... Subscription required 2019
Annual Report 2018
Press Release 2018
Annual Report 2017
Press Release 2017
Press Release 2017
Corporate Presentation 2016
Annual Report 2015
Other 2015
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Aerial view:

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