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Argentina
Pirquitas Mine (Puna Operation)

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 Location:
207 km NW from San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina

  Address:
San Martin 116 - Piso #1
4600 San Salvador de Jujuy
Argentina
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  • Overview
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  • Mining
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Overview

StatusInactive / Suspended
Mine TypeOpen Pit
Commodities
  • Silver
  • Zinc
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Processing
  • Flotation
Mine Life7 years (as of Jan 1, 2011)
The Pirquitas property achieved commercial production in 2009, with mining of the San Miguel open pit ceasing in January 2017. In 2017, Puna Operations processed Pirquitas stockpiles in the Pirquitas processing facilities.


Owners

 
CompanyInterestOwnership
SSR Mining Inc. 100 % Indirect

Deposit Type

  • Epithermal
  • Breccia pipe / Stockwork
  • Vein / narrow vein


Summary:

The Pirquitas deposit is an example of the Ag Sn sub-group of the epithermal class of mineral deposits (Panteleyev, 1996). Also known as Bolivian-type polymetallic deposits, examples of this deposit type are numerous in the Bolivian Silver -Tin Belt that extends between the San Rafael Sn(-Cu) deposit in southern Peru and the Pirquitas deposit in northwestern Argentina.

Bolivian-type Ag-Sn deposits generally consist of sulphide and quartz-sulphide vein systems typically containing cassiterite and a diverse suite of base and trace metals, including Ag in a complex assemblage of sulphide and sulfosalt minerals. The vein systems are generally spatially and likely genetically associated with epizonal (subvolcanic) quartz-bearing peraluminous intrusions one to two kilometres in diameter, although the mineralization may be entirely hosted by the country rocks into which the intrusive stocks were emplaced.

The suite of principal and subordinate ore minerals that characterize this deposit type includes, but is not limited to, pyrite, cassiterite, pyrrhotite, marcasite;,sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, stannite, arsenopyrite, tetrahedrite, scheelite, wolframite, andorite, jamesonite, boulangerite, ruby silver (pyrargyrite), stibnite, bismuthinite, native bismuth, molybdenite, argentite, gold and a variety of complex sulfosalt minerals. Metal zoning from depth to surface and from centers outward shows: Sn + W, Cu + Zn, Pb + Zn, Pb + Ag, and Ag ± Au; commonly there is considerable ‘telescoping’ of zones. Oxidized zones may have secondary silver minerals such as Ag halides.

Quartz and sericite are the main gangue minerals, with tourmaline appearing at deeper levels and kaolinite + chalcedony commonly present close to surface. Quartz-sericite pyrite alteration is characteristic of these deposits; it is pervasively developed in certain lithologies and restricted to narrow vein halos in rocks that are less susceptible to reactions with the hydrothermal fluids.

Sn-Ag vein deposits are believed to be the source of cassiterite that has been mined from placer deposits around the world, and the lodes themselves are extensively mined in South America, particularly Bolivia. At present, the San Rafael deposit in southern Peru is the world’s largest and richest underground tin mine, while the Pirquitas deposit is Argentina’s largest silver mine.

The fracture and breccia-hosted mineralization at the Pirquitas Mine consists of Fe and Zn sulphides with accessory cassiterite (Sn oxide) and a large variety of Ag-Sn-Zn (-Pb-Sb-As-Cu Bi) sulphides and sulfosalts. Crystalline quartz, along with chalcedony in the upper levels of the system, and kaolinite are the main gangue minerals in the veins and mineralized breccias. The main sulphides, specifically pyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite and wurtzite, form colloform bands parallel to vein margins, which together with crustiform and drusy vein textures suggest that the mineralization is epithermal in origin.


Mining Methods

  • Truck & Shovel / Loader


Summary:

Mining of the San Miguel open pit ceased in January 2017. Previously, the Pirquitas mine used a standard open pit mining method and conventional drilling and blasting activities with a pre-split to ensure stable wall rock conditions. RC grade control drilling was used in the pit to define the structurally controlled vein and breccia hosted ore zones. The depth and relatively lower grade of the ore body made the Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources at the Pirquitas mine amenable for open pit mining.


Crushing and Grinding


Processing

  • Flotation

Source: Subscription required

Summary:

The Pirquitas mine processing plant consists of primary, secondary and tertiary crushing operations which deliver ore to a stockpile. The maximum crushing circuit throughput is currently around 6,850 tonnes per day, although long-term plans allowing for good maintenance protocols call for rates around 6,000 tonnes per day. Crushed ore is reclaimed into a conventional closed circuit ball milling circuit.

The maximum milling throughput is currently 5,000 tonnes per day. Mill discharge is pumped through a cyclone system and oversize is fed back into the mill for additional grinding. The ground fines are fed into a conditioning and reagent addition tank and then flow into the silver flotation circuit. The tailings from the silver flotation process are routed to a separate conditioning tank and are then directed to the tailings thickener. Tailings are thickened and stored at a permitted facility on-site.

Milling is performed on the feed from the jig plant and can be a ........

Recoveries & Grades:

CommodityParameter2017201620152014
Silver Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Silver Head Grade, g/t 152235250221
Zinc Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Zinc Head Grade, % 0.621.79
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Production:

CommodityUnits2017201620152014
Silver koz 6,17710,42210,3398,733
Zinc k lbs  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate.

Operational Metrics:

Metrics20182017201620152014
Daily milling capacity  ......  Subscription required5,000 t5,000 t
Tonnes milled  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required1,774 kt1,557 kt1,587 kt
Total tonnes mined  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required9,142 kt11,900 kt16,391 kt
Ore tonnes mined  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required2,825 kt
Waste  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required6,317 kt9,090 kt14,389 kt
Daily milling rate  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required4,846 t
Stripping / waste ratio  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required2.2 3.2 7.2
Daily mining rate  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required36,000 t
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Reserves at December 31, 2019:

CategoryOreTypeTonnage CommodityGradeContained Metal
Probable Stockpiles 870 kt Silver 63.9 g/t 1,789 koz
Probable Stockpiles 870 kt Zinc 1.43 g/t 28 M lbs
Probable Stockpiles 870 kt Gold Equivalent 48 koz
Indicated Stockpiles 870 kt Silver 63.9 g/t 1,789 koz
Indicated In-Situ (UG) 2,634 kt Silver 292.4 g/t 24,756 koz
Indicated Stockpiles 870 kt Zinc 1.43 % 28 M lbs
Indicated In-Situ (UG) 2,634 kt Zinc 4.46 % 259 M lbs
Indicated Stockpiles 870 kt Gold Equivalent 51 koz
Indicated In-Situ (UG) 2,634 kt Gold Equivalent 594 koz
Inferred In-Situ (UG) 1,080 kt Silver 206.9 g/t 7,185 koz
Inferred In-Situ (UG) 1,080 kt Zinc 7.45 % 177 M lbs
Inferred In-Situ (UG) 1,080 kt Gold Equivalent 267 koz

Commodity Production Costs:

CommodityUnits2017201620152014
Cash costs (sold) Silver USD 13.1 / oz† 9 / oz† 10.7 / oz† 12.1 / oz†
All-in sustaining costs (sold) Silver USD 14.3 / oz† 10.2 / oz† 12.4 / oz† 16 / oz†
† Net of By-Product.

Operating Costs:

Units201620152014
OP mining costs ($/t mined) USD 3.693.472.94
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Financials:

Units2017201620152014
Sustaining costs M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required 9.32   10.1  
Revenue M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required 138.03   141.19  
Operating Income M USD  ......  Subscription required -92.1   -45.37  


Heavy Mobile Equipment as of September 30, 2011:
HME TypeModelSizeQuantity
Backhoe 1
Dozer ....................... Subscription required 3
Dozer ....................... Subscription required 2
Drill ....................... Subscription required 2
Drill ....................... Subscription required 1
Drill ....................... Subscription required 1
Drill ....................... Subscription required 1
Excavator 33 t 2
Grader 2
Loader ....................... Subscription required 2
Loader (FEL) 1
Shovel 170 t 1
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required 13
Truck (haul) 39 t 11
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Mar 10, 2020
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Mar 10, 2020
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Mar 10, 2020
Subscription required - Subscription is required.


Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
................................... Subscription required 2019
................................... Subscription required 2019
Annual Information Form 2017
Corporate Presentation 2017
Corporate Presentation 2017
Management Discussion & Analysis 2017
Press Release 2017
Annual Information Form 2016
Corporate Presentation 2016
Financial Review 2016
Annual Information Form 2015
Financial Review 2015
Management Discussion & Analysis 2015
Technical Report 2011
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Aerial view:

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