Mining Intelligence and News
Mexico

EC120 (El Cajon & Zone 120) Project

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeUnderground
StageConstruction
Commodities
  • Silver
  • Copper
  • Gold
Mining Method
  • Post Pillar Cut & Fill
  • Overhand Cut & Fill
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SnapshotEC120 Project means the combined operation at El Cajón and Zone 120 silver-copper deposits which are part of Cosalá Operations.

In 2024 the Americas Gold and Silver plans to accelerate development into the Zone 120 and El Cajon orebodies to allow for sufficient operating faces to begin commercial production from EC120 in Q4 2024.

In late 2023 mining began in the Zone 120 deposit. The El Cajón mine is currently on care and maintenance.
Related AssetCosala Operation

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Americas Gold and Silver Corp. (operator) 100 % Indirect
The Cosalá Operations is 100% owned and operated by Americas’ wholly-owned subsidiaries, Platte River Gold Inc., Minera Platter River Gold S.A. de R.L. de C.V. and Minera Cosalá S.A. de C.V.

Deposit type

  • Skarn

Summary:

Zone 120 in the eastern portion of the San Rafael deposit contains silver-copper mineralization within garnet-pyroxene-calcite skarn. The strong metasomatic alteration and the close spatial relationship with a large dioritic intrusion suggest that Zone 120 represents a proximal skarn deposit. El Cajón is a proximal silver-copper skarn related to an adjacent nearly cylindrical diorite intrusive body. Mineralization at El Cajón is replacement type and occurs as horizons in recrystallized limestone which are connected by mineralized zones localized by steeply dipping contacts, faults and fractures.

Zone 120 occurs not as a single horizon, but as multiple bedding- and intrusive-contact-related mineralized horizons. As currently defined, the Zone 120 mineralization occurs within a rock volume that is approximately 600m long, 250m wide and extends to a depth of about 350m below the surface. It strikes in a direction of 330°, and below the massive sulphide, the bedding-related mineralization dips steeply to the northeast at approximately 50°. The Zone 120 mineralization is interpreted to occur along near-vertical contacts between diorite and skarn-altered lime rich volcarenites in the lower parts, and in quartz-sericite-pyrite-altered volc-arenites in the upper portions. The quartz altered material is now referred to as hornfels, differing from earlier interpretations. Hornfels seems to be developed in carbonate poor rocks whereas the more highly mineralized skarn is developed in more carbonate rich rocks. Carbonate content is judged based on fragments and inclusions with the Va2 or volc-arenite package. The Zone 120 mineralization extends upwards to overlap with the San Rafael Main Zone mineralization. Mineralization is associated with generally 2 to 10% sulphides and is more irregular in shape and more variable in mineral character than the San Rafael Main Zone. It consists of silver-copper-gold mineralization in the form of chalcopyrite and tetrahedrite with minor pyrite, galena, sphalerite, arsenopyrite, chalcocite, jalpaite, native silver, copper and bismuth. This mineralization accompanies pyroxene-garnet-calcite skarn alteration. Mineralization is best developed in unit Va2, a volcarenite with a high component of carbonaceous fragments and carbonate. These are contained with beds of the same unit which a more siliceous and from hornfels instead of calcareous skarn. The hornfels are not a favourable host generally. Both skarn alteration and sulphide mineralization are spatially associated with intermediate dikes, sills and small stocks.

El Cajón mineralization consists of mantos and chimneys developed in skarn and recrystallized limestone. El Cajón and Zone 120 mineralization are similar in character consisting of veinlets and replacements of chalcopyrite and tetrahedrite-tennantite. The El Cajón deposit is roughly oval shaped extending 550m east-west and 400m north-south, with the mineralization aligned along the general 330° strike and 20° northeast dip of the limestone country rock. It varies in depth from approximately 20m below surface to a depth of approximately 250m.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityProductUnitsAvg. AnnualLOM
Silver Payable metal koz 12,023
Silver Metal in concentrate koz 2,50012,524
Copper Payable metal M lbs 20
Copper Metal in concentrate M lbs 4.523
Copper Concentrate kt 44
Silver Equivalent Payable metal koz 15,479

Operational metrics

Metrics
Ore tonnes mined, LOM 2,877 kt *
Tonnes milled, LOM 2,877 kt *
* According to 2019 study.

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsAverage
Cash costs Silver USD 9.61 / oz *  
All-in sustaining costs (AISC) Silver USD 10.8 / oz *  
Assumed price Copper USD 3 / lb *  
Assumed price Silver USD 17.5 / oz *  
* According to 2019 study / presentation.

Operating Costs

Currency2019
UG mining costs ($/t mined) USD 18.1 *  
Processing costs ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe
G&A ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe
Total operating costs ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2019 study.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Initial CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Sustaining CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Total CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
UG OpEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Processing OpEx $M USD 36.2
Refining and transportation $M USD  ......  Subscribe
G&A costs $M USD 28.4
Total OpEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Mining Taxes $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Total Taxes $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Royalty payments $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Gross revenue (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Net revenue (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax Cash Flow (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax Cash Flow (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax NPV @ 5% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax NPV @ 10% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax NPV @ 7.5% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 5% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 10% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 7.5% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
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After-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax payback period, years  ......  Subscribe
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Required Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 21, 2024
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Aerial view:

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