Overview
Stage | Residual leach |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Processing |
- Heap leach
- Carbon in column (CIC)
- Carbon adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR)
- Cyanide (reagent)
|
Mine Life | 2021 |
Present activities are limited to residual leaching production that will continue until the end of 2021, as well as closure and reclamation activities. |
Source:
p. 26
Company | Interest | Ownership |
McEwen Mining Inc.
|
100 %
|
Indirect
|
Compania Minera Pangea S.A. de C.V.
|
100 %
|
Direct
|
The Company, through its Mexican subsidiary Compañia Minera Pangea S.A. de C.V. (“Minera Pangea”) owns 100% of the El Gallo 1 mine. El Gallo 1 mine refers to the open-pit mine, heap leach operation formerly known as the Magistral mine.
Deposit Type
- Epithermal
- Breccia pipe / Stockwork
- Vein / narrow vein
Summary:
Gold mineralization in the El Gallo 1 mine area occurs in six deposits along two distinct structural trends, northwest and northeast. A northwest trending structural zone hosts the Samaniego and San Rafael deposits. San Dimas also is hosted by a northwest-striking structure. The second structural trend is northeast-striking and includes the Sagrado Corazón, Lupita and Central deposits. Along these structural trends the mineralization is located within numerous sub-structures that may be parallel, oblique or even perpendicular to the principal trends. Mineralization among the various deposits of the El Gallo 1 area is generally similar, with the individual structural zones consisting of quartz stockwork, breccia, and local quartz vein mineralization occurring within propylitically altered andesitic volcanic rocks. The Samaniego, San Rafael, Lupita, Sagrado Corazon and Central deposits are characterized by gold accompanied by iron oxide and variable copper; the San Dimas deposit is polymetallic containing gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc.
Summary:
By the end of Q2 2018, mining and crushing activities at El Gallo ceased and were followed by residual heap leaching. Closure, reclamation and residual heap leaching activities are ongoing and will continue for several years.
Processing
- Heap leach
- Carbon in column (CIC)
- Carbon adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR)
- Cyanide (reagent)
Source:
Summary:
At the El Gallo 1 mine, mineralized material is processed using heap leaching. Heap leaching consists of stacking crushed material on impermeable pads, where a weak cyanide solution is applied to the surface of the heap to leach the gold and silver. The gold and silver-bearing solution is then collected and pumped to an Adsorption-Desorption-Recovery (“ADR”) processing plant consisting of carbon columns, stripping circuits and a precious metal refinery to process gold and silver into doré bars. Doré bars are then shipped from the mine to a third party refiner to obtain bullion.
Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Gold
|
Head Grade, g/t
| 1.51 | 2.07 | 2.14 | 3.41 | 1.58 | 1.22 |
Production:
Commodity | Units | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Gold
|
koz
| ......  | ......  | 46 | 55 | 63 | 38 |
Silver
|
koz
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
Gold Equivalent
|
koz
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré.
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Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Ore tonnes mined
| ......  | ......  | 1,048 kt | 1,209 kt | 1,271 kt | 1,278 kt |
Tonnes processed
| ......  | ......  | 1,108 kt | 1,128 kt | 1,463 kt | 1,255 kt |
Daily processing capacity
| ......  | ......  | 4,500 t | 4,500 t | 3,000 t | |
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Reserves at December 31, 2015:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Measured
|
2,419 kt
|
Gold
|
2.14 g/t
|
166.6 koz
|
Measured
|
2,419 kt
|
Silver
|
7.44 g/t
|
578.5 koz
|
Indicated
|
1,390 kt
|
Gold
|
2.24 g/t
|
100.1 koz
|
Indicated
|
1,390 kt
|
Silver
|
7.54 g/t
|
336.9 koz
|
Measured & Indicated
|
3,809 kt
|
Gold
|
2.18 g/t
|
266.7 koz
|
Measured & Indicated
|
3,809 kt
|
Silver
|
7.47 g/t
|
915.3 koz
|
Aerial view:
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