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Colado Operation

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Colado Operation

Location: 10 km NE from Lovelock, Nevada, United States

Address:

150 Coal Canyon Road
Lovelock
Nevada, United States
89419

Contacts:

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Categories

Summary

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Diatomaceous earth
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotColado site comprises a surface diatomaceous earth (DE) mining operation and a DE Lovelock Processing Plant. The Colado Mine (40° 16' 29.66" N latitude and 118° 43' 41.51" W longitude) is located approximately 19 miles northwest of the plant.

Lovelock facility is the world's largest producing diatomaceous earth (DE) plant. The facility manufactures products used as filtration media across many industries including brewing, corn wet milling, oil and gas, wineries, potable water, swimming pools and petrochemicals. In addition, filler products are used as an anti-block in polyethylene film and flattening agents in paint.

As of July 31, 2024, U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. was taken private, and since then, production data has not been made publicly available.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. 100 % Direct
U.S. Silica Holdings through U.S. Silica Company, own and operate the Colado site and Lovelock processing plant.

July 31, 2024, U.S. Silica Holdings and Apollo announced that funds managed by aliates of Apollo have completed the previously announced acquisition of the Company. The Company will continue to operate under the U.S. Silica name and brand. As of July 31, 2024, U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. was taken private.

Contractors

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SourceSource

Deposit type

  • Sedimentary

Summary:

Exploration and mining activities have identified several near-surface Diatomaceous Earth (DE) deposits on the Colado Mine property. DE, commonly known as diatomite, is a naturally occurring sedimentary rock that is a result of the accumulation of skeletal remains of diatoms, which are microscopic single-celled aquatic algae. Diatom skeletons are composed primarily of amorphous silica (non-crystalline SiO ). The cylindrical shape and high pore volume of these diatom skeletons provide high mechanical strength, natural filtration, and absorption capabilities.

The mineable DE on the Colado property is typically observed as consisting of between one to four beds (varies by pit) separated by friable tuffaceous (compacted volcanic ash) units. The DE beds are generally white or light pink in color and tend to be very clean, while the interbedded tuffaceous units are generally gray in color. The contrast in bed coloring makes visual selection during mining relatively easy.

Welded and lithic tuffs directly overly the DE beds, with Miocene to Pliocene (Tertiary) age basalt flows forming a weatheringresistant capping unit, which has helped preserve the underlying strata from being eroded.

Structure within the immediate area is considered to be relatively simple when compared to other uplifted blocks, as low dip angles (generally less than 10 degrees) are noted in most of the DE beds being mined.

Several high-angle displacement faults are present at the Colado Mine, however throughout the typical course of mining (overburden removal and benching into deeper DE beds), these areas are well exposed, allowing modified mining operations when required.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Commodity Production

CommodityUnits202220212020
Diatomaceous earth k tons  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Operational metrics

Metrics202320222021202020192018
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe144 k tons279 k tons
Annual production capacity  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe156,000 tons of diatomaceous earth156,000 tons of diatomaceous earth

Production Costs

CommodityUnits202220212020
Cash costs (sold) Diatomaceous earth USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Mine Financials

Units202320222021202020192018
Capital expenditures M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Revenue M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Book Value M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 33.6   42.6  

Personnel

Mine Management

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....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jul 24, 2025

Workforce

EmployeesYear
...... Subscription required 2024
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Aerial view:

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